一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第15部分

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ddin；　but　his　wife　withheld　him；　and　he　swore；　by　the　oath　of　divorcement　from　her；　that；　as　soon　as　it　was　day；　he　would　assuredly　cut　off　his　son's　right　hand。　When　she　heard　her　husband's　words；　her　breast　was　straitened　and　she　feared　for　her　son　and　ceased　not　to　soothe　and　appease　Tajeddin；　till　sleep　overcame　him。

Then　she　waited　till　the　moon　was　risen；　when　she　went　in　to　her　son；　whose　drunkenness　had　now　ceased　from　him；　and　said　to　him；　'O　Noureddin'　what　is　this　foul　thing　thou　hast　done　with　thy　father？'　'And　what　did　I　with　him？'　asked　he。　Quoth　she；　'Thou　dealtest　him　a　buffet　on　the　right　eye　and　struckest　it　out；　and　he　hath　sworn　by　the　oath　of　divorcement　that；　as　soon　as　it　is　day；　he　will　without　fail　cut　off　thy　right　hand。'　Noureddin　repented　him　of　that　which　he　had　done；　whenas　repentance　profited　him　nothing；　and　his　mother　said　to　him；　'O　my　son；　this　repentance　will　not　profit　thee；　nor　will　aught　serve　thee　but　that　thou　arise　forthright　and　seek　safety　in　flight。　Go　forth　the　house　privily　and　take　refuge　with　one　of　thy　friends　and　there　await　what　God　shall　do；　for　He　changeth　case　after　case。'

Then　she　opened　a　chest　and　taking　out　a　purse　of　a　hundred　dinars；　said　to　Noureddin；　'O　my　son；　take　these　dinars　and　provide　thyself　therewith；　and　when　they　are　at　an　end；　send　and　give　me　to　know　thereof　that　I　may　send　thee　other　than　these；　and　at　the　same　time　send　me　news　of　thyself　privily。　It　may　be　God　will　decree　thee　relief　and　thou　shalt　return　to　thy　dwelling。'　And　she　bade　him　farewell　and　wept　passing　sore。　Noureddin　took　the　purse　and　was　about　to　go　forth；　when　he　espied　a　great　purse　containing　a　thousand　dinars；　which　his　mother　had　fotten　beside　the　chest。　So　he　took　this　also　and　tying　the　two　purses　about　his　middle；　set　out　before　dawn　in　the　direction　of　Boulac；　where　he　arrived　whenas　the　day　broke　and　all　creatures　arose；　attesting　the　unity　of　God　the　Opener　＇of　the　gates　of　sustenance　and　mercy＇　and　went　forth　each　upon　his　several　business；　to　suffer　that　which　God　had　allotted　to　him。

He　walked　on　along　the　riverbank　till　he　saw　a　ship　with　her　gangway　out　and　her　four　grapnels　made　fast　to　the　land。　The　folk　were　going　up　into　her　and　ing　down　from　her；　and　Noureddin；　seeing　some　sailors　standing　there；　asked　them　whither　they　were　bound。　'To　the　city　of　Rosetta；'　answered　they；　and　he　said；　'Take　me　e　and　fair　wele　to　thee；　O　goodly　youth！'　So　he　betook　himself　forthright　to　the　market　and　buying　what　he　needed　of　victual　and　bedding　and　covering　＇for　the　voyage；＇　returned　to　the　port　and　went　on　board　the　ship；　which　was　ready　to　sail　and　tarried　with　him　but　a　little　while　before　it　weighed　anchor　and　fared　on；　without　stopping；　till　it　reached　Rosetta；　where　Noureddin　saw　a　small　boat　going　to　Alexandria。　So　he　embarked　in　it　and　traversing　the　＇Mehmoudiyeh＇　canal；　fared　on　till　he　came　to　a　bridge　called　El　Jami；　where　he　landed　and　entered　Alexandria　by　the　gate　called　the　Gate　of　the　Lotetree。

God　protected　him；　so　that　none　of　those　who　stood　At　the　gate　saw　him；　and　he　entered　the　city；　which　he　found　a　strongly　fortified　city；　goodly　of　pleasaunces；　delightful　to　its　inhabitants　and　inviting　to　abide　therein。　The　season　of　winter　had　departed　from　it　with　its　cold　and　the　season　of　spring　was　e　to　it　with　its　roses：　its　flowers　were　in　blossom　and　its　trees　in　full　leaf；　its　fruits　were　ripe　and　its　waters　welled　forth。　Indeed；　it　was　a　city　goodly　of　ordinance　and　construction；　its　folk　were　of　the　best　of　men；　and　when　the　gate　thereof　were　shut；　its　people　were　in　safety。　And　it　was　even　as　is　said　of　it　in　the　following　verses：

　　'Describe　Alexandria；　I　pray；'　Quoth　I　to　a　rade　one　day；
　　A　man　of　glib　speech　and　quick　wit。　''Tis　a　fair　frontier　town；'　（59）　did　he　say。
　　Quoth　I；　'Is　there　living　therein？'　And　he；　'If　the　wind　blow　that　way。'　
Or　as　saith　one　of　the　poets：

　　Alexandria's　a　frontier　seat；　（60）　The　water　of　its　lips　is　sweet。　How　fair　the　ing　to　it　is；　So　one　therein　no　raven　meet！　
Noureddin　walked　about　the　city　till　he　came　to　the　merchants'　bazaar；　whence　he　passed　on　to　the　bazaar　of　the　moneychangers　and　so　on　in　turn　to　those　of　the　confectioners　and　fruiterers　and　druggists；　marvelling；　as　he　went　at　the　city；　for　that　its　qualities　accorded　with　its　name。　（61）　As　he　walked　in　the　druggists'　bazaar；　an　old　man　came　down　from　his　shop　and　saluting　him；　took　him　by　the　hand　and　carried　him　to　a　fair　bystreet；　swept　and　sprinkled；　whereon　the　zephyr　blew　and　was　pleasant　and　the　leaves　of　the　trees　overshaded　it。　Therein　stood　three　houses　and　at　the　upper　end　a　mansion；　whose　foundations　were　stablished　in　the　water　and　its　roofs　rose　up　to　the　confines　of　the　sky。　The　space　before　it　was　paved　with　marble；　swept　and　sprinkled；　and　those　who　approached　it　smelt　the　fragrance　of　flowers；　borne　on　the　zephyr；　which　breathed　upon　the　place；　an　it　were　one　of　the　gardens　of　Paradise。

The　old　man　carried　Noureddin　into　the　house　and　set　food　before　him；　whereof　he　ate　with　him。　When　they　had　made　an　end　of　eating；　the　druggist　said　to　him；　'When　camest　thou　hither　from　Cairo？'　And　Noureddin　old　man；　'What　is　thy　name？'　And　he　replied；　'Ali　Noureddin。'　'O　my　son；　O　Noureddin；'　said　the　druggist；　'be　the　triple　divorcement　incumbent　on　me；　if　thou　leave　me　so　long　as　thou　abidest　in　this　town；　and　I　will　set　thee　apart　a　place　y　lord；　let　me　know　more　of　thee。'　And　the　other　answered；　'Know；　O　my　son；　that　years　ago　I　came　to　Cairo　with　merchandise；　which　I　sold　there　and　bought　other；　and　I　had　occasion　for　a　thousand　dinars。　So　thy　father　paid　them　down　for　me；　for　all　he　had　no　knowledge　of　me；　and　would　take　no　security　of　me；　but　had　patience　with　me　till　I　returned　hither　and　sent　him　the　amount　by　one　of　my　servants；　together　with　a　present。　I　saw　thee；　whilst　thou　wast　little；　and　if　it　please　God　the　Most　High；　I　will　repay　thee　somewhat　of　the　kindness　thy　father　did　me。'　When　Noureddin　heard　the　old　man's　story；　he　smiled　and　showed　joy　and　pulling　out　the　purse　of　a　thousand　dinars；　gave　it　to　his　host　and　said　to　him；　'Take　charge　of　this　for　me；　against　I　buy　me　therewith　somewhat　of　merchandise　whereon　to　trade。'

Then　he　abode　some　days　in　Alexandria；　eating　and　drinking　and　making　merry　and　taking　his　pleasure　in　its　thoroughfares；　till　he　had　made　an　end　of　the　hundred　dinars　he　had　kept　by　way　of　spendingmoney；　whereupon　he　repaired　to　the　old　druggist；　to　take　of　him　somewhat　of　the　thousand　dinars　to　spend；　but　found　him　not　in　his　shop　and　sat　down　there；　to　await　his　return。　As　he　sat　thus；　gazing　right　and　left　and　amusing　himself　with　watching　the　merchants　and　passersby；　there　came　into　the　bazaar　a　Persian　riding　on　a　mule　and　having　behind　him　a　damsel；　as　she　were　virgin　silver　or　a　turbot　in　a　tank　or　a　gazelle　in　the　desert。　Her　face　outvied　the　shining　sun　and　she　had　bewitching　eyes　and　breasts　of　ivory；　teeth　of　pearl；　slender　body　and　dimpled　sides　and　legs　like　fat　sheep's　tails；　and　indeed　she　was　perfect　in　beauty　and　grace　and　symmetry；　even　as　saith　one；　describing　her：

　　As　she　wished；　she　was　created；　after　such　a　wise　that　lo；　She　in　beauty's　mould　was　fashioned；　perfect；　neither　less　nor　mo'。
　　In　her　cheeks　the　roses　redden　for　confusion　and　the　fruit　（62）　On　the　sapling　of　her　figure　makes　a　fair　and　stately　show。
　　In　her　face　the　full　moon　glitters　and　the　branch　is　as　her　shape：　Musk　her　breath　is；　nor　midst　mortals　is　her　equal；　high　or　low。
　　'Tis　as　if　she　had　been　moulded　out　of　water　of　pure　pearls：　In　each　member　of　her　beauty　is　a　very　moon；　I　trow。　
The　Persian　lighted　down　from　his　mule　and　making　the　damsel　alight　also；　called　the　broker　and　said　to　him；　'Take　this　damsel　and　cry　her　for　sale　in　the　market。'　So　he　fetched　a　stool　of　ebony；　inlaid　with　ivory；　and　setting　it　amiddleward　the　bazaar；　seated　her　thereon。　Then　he　raised　her　veil　and　discovered　a　face　as　it　were　a　Median　targe　（63）　or　a　sparkling　star：　and　indeed　she　was　like　the　full　moon；　when　it　appears　on　its　fourteenth　night；　acplished　to　the　utmost　in　surpassing　beauty。　As　saith　the　poet：

　　The　full　moon　ignorantly　vied　in　beauty　with　her　face；　But　was　eclipsed　and　split　in　twain　for　wrath　at　its　disgrace；
　　And　if　the　willowwand　be　fit　to　even　with　her　shape；　Perish　her　hands　who　is　bee　o'　the　faggotbearing　race！　（64）　
And　how　well　saith　another：

　　Say　to　the　fair　in　the　muffler　laced　and　wrought　with　gold；　'Hark　ye！　What　hast　thou　done　with　a　pious　man　was　like　a　monk　to　be？'
　　The　gleam　of　the　veil　and　the　brilliancy　of　thy　visage　under　it　The　hosts　of　the　darkness　put　to　rout　and　cause　them　turn　and　flee；
　　And　when　my　glance　eth　to　steal　a　look　at　thy　cheek　so　fresh　and　fair；　Its　guardian　sprites　with　a　shooting　star　still　cast　at　them　and　me。　（65）　
Then　said　the　broker　to　the　merchants；　'How　much　do　ye　bid　for　the　pearl　of　the　diver　and　prize　of　the　foine　for　a　hundred　dinars。'　And　another　said；　'Two　hundred；'　and　a　third；　'Three　hundred；'　and　they　ceased　not　to　bid；　one　against　another；　till　they　made　her　price　nine　hundred　and　fifty　dinars；　and　there　the　biddings　stopped。　Then　the　broker　went　up　to　the　Persian　and　said　to　him；　'The　biddings　for　this　thy　slavegirl　have　reached　nine　hundred　and　fifty　dinars：　wilt　thou　sell　her　at　that　price　and　take　the　money？'　'Doth　she　consent　to　this？'　asked　the　Persian。　'I　desire　to　consult　her　wishes；　for　I　fell　sick　on　my　journey　hither　and　she　tended　me　with　all　possible　care；　wherefore　I　swore　not　to　sell　her　but　to　him　of　whom　she　should　approve；　and　I　have　put　her　sale　in　her　own　hand。　So　do　thou　consult　her　and　if　she　say；　〃I　consent；〃　sell　her　to　whom　thou　wilt：　but　if　she　say　〃No；〃　sell　her　not。'

So　the　broker　went　up　to　her　and　said　to　her；　'Know；　O　princess　of　fair　ones；　that　thy　master　putteth　thy　sale　in　thine　own　hands；　and　thy　price　hath　reached　nine　hundred　and　fifty　dinars；　dost　thou　give　me　leave　to　sell　thee？'　'Show　me　him　who　is　minded　to　buy　me；'　answered　she；　'before　thou　clinch　the　bargain。'　So　he　brought　her　up　to　one　of　the　merchants；　a　very　old　and　decrepit　man；　and　she　looked　at　him　awhile；　then　turned　to　the　broker　and　said　to　him；　'O　broker；　art　thou　mad　or　afflicted　in　thy　wit？'　'Why　dost　thou　ask　me　this；　O　princess　of　fair　ones？'　said　he。　And　she　answered；　'Is　it　permitted　of　God　to　sell　the　like　of　me　to　yonder　decrepit　old　man；　who　saith　of　his　wife's　case　the　following　verses：

　　Quoth　she　to　me；and　sore　enraged　for　wounded　pride　was　she；　For　she　in　sooth　had　bidden　me　to　that　which　might　not　be；
　　〃An　if　thou　swine　me　not　forthright；　as　one　should　swive　his　wife；　If　thou　be　made　a　cuckold　straight；　reproach　it　not　to　me。
　　Meseems　thy　yard　is　made　of　wax；　for　very　flaccidness；　For　when　I　rub　it　with　my　hand；　it　softens　instantly。〃　
And　quoth　he　likewise　of　his　yard：

　　I　leave　a　yard　that　sleeps　on　base　and　shameful　wise；　Whenever　one　I　love　with　my　desire　plies；
　　But；　when　I'm　by　myself；　at　home；　it's　all　agog　To　thrust　and　ply　its　lone　the　amorous　exercise。　
And　again　quoth　he　thereof：

　　I　have　an　ill　yard；　passing　froward；　to　wit：　Him　who　honoureth　it；　with　reproach　it　doth　quit。
　　If　I　sleep；　it　stands　up；　if　I　rise；　it　lies　down；　God　no　ruth　have　on　him　who　hath　ruth　upon　it！'　
When　the　old　mer