一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第16部分

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　　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　merchant　heard　this　scurvy　gibing　from　the　damsel；　he　was　exceeding　wroth　and　said　to　the　broker；　'O　unluckiest　of　brokers；　thou　hast　not　brought　this　illconditioned　wench　into　the　market　but　to　flout　me　and　make　mock　of　me　before　the　merchants。'　Then　the　broker　took　her　aside　and　said　to　her；　'O　my　lady；　be　not　lacking　in　manners。　The　old　man　whom　thou　didst　mock　at　is　the　syndic　of　the　bazaar　and　inspector　of　weights　and　measures　thereof　and　one　of　the　council　of　the　merchants。'　But　she　laughed　and　said：

　　'It　behoveth　the　folk　that　bear　rule　in　our　time；　Yea；　'tis　one　of　the　duties　of　magistrateship；
　　To　hang　up　the　chief　of　police　o'er　his　door　And　beat　the　inspector　of　weights　with　a　whip。　
By　Allah；　O　my　lord；'　added　she；　'I　will　not　be　sold　to　yonder　old　man；　so　sell　me　to　other　than　him；　for　belike　he　will　be　abashed　at　me　and　sell　me　again　and　I　shall　bee　a　servant　and　it　beseems　not　that　I　sully　myself　with　menial　service；　and　indeed　thou　knowest　that　the　matter　of　my　sale　is　mitted　to　myself。'　'I　hear　and　obey；'　answered　he　and　carried　her　to　one　of　the　chief　merchants。　'How　sayst　thou；　O　my　lady？'　asked　he。　hundred　and　fifty　dinars？'　She　looked　at　him　and　seeing　him　to　be　an　old　man；　with　a　dyed　beard；　said　to　the　broker；　'Art　thou　mad；　that　thou　wouldst　sell　me　to　this　wornout　old　man？　Am　I　cotton　refuse　or　threadbare　rags　that　thou　marchest　me　about　from　graybeard　to　graybeard；　each　like　a　wall　ready　to　fall　or　an　Afrit　smitten　down　of　a　＇shooting＇　star？　As　for　the　first；　the　poet　had　him　in　mind　when　he　said：

　　'I　sought　of　a　fair　maid　to　kiss　her　lips　of　coral　red；　But；　〃No；　by　Him　who　fashioned　things　from　nothingness！〃　she　said。
　　〃Unto　the　white　of　hoary　hairs　I　never　had　a　mind；　And　shall　my　mouth　be　stuffed；　forsooth；　with　cotton；　ere　I'm　dead？〃　（66）　
And　how　goodly　is　the　saying　of　the　poet：

　　They　say　that　hoary　hair　is　as　a　shining　light；　The　face　with　venerance　and　lustre　that　doth　dight；
　　Yet；　till　the　writ　of　eld　appear　upon　my　crown；　I　hope　I　may　not　lack　o'　the　colour　of　the　night。
　　Although　the　beard　of　him；　who's　hoary　grown；　should　be　His　book　（67）　i'　the　world　to　e；　I　would　not　choose　it　white。　
And　yet　goodlier　is　the　saying　of　another：

　　A　guest　unhonoured　on　my　head　hath　stolen　by　surprise；　With　my　sidelocks　the　sword　than　he　had　dealt　on　milder　wise。
　　Begone　from　me；　O　whiteness　foul；　wherein　no　whiteness　（68）　is！　Indeed；　than　very　darkness'　self　thou'rt　blacker　in　mine　eyes。　
As　for　the　other；　he　is　a　reprobate　and　a　lewd　fellow　and　a　blackener　of　the　face　of　hoariness；　he　acts　the　foulest　of　lies；　and　the　tongue　of　his　case　reciteth　the　following　verses：

　　Quoth　she　to　me；　〃I　see　thou　dy'st　thy　hoariness；〃　and　I；　〃I　do　but　hide　it　from　thy　sight；　O　thou　mine　ear　and　eye！〃
　　She　laughed　out　mockingly　and　said；　〃A　wonder　'tis　indeed！　Thou　so　abounded　in　deceit　that　even　thy　hair's　a　lie。〃　
And　how　excellent　is　the　saying　of　the　poet：

　　O　thou　with　black　that　drest　thy　hoariness；　that　so　Lost　youth　with　thee　may　tarry　or　e　to　thee　once　mo'；
　　Of　old　my　worldly　portion　was　dyed　in　grain　with　black；　'Twill　never　fade；　believe　me；　nor　othercoloured　grow。'　
When　the　old　man　with　the　dyed　beard　heard　this；　he　was　exceeding　wroth　and　said　to　the　broker；　'O　most　illomened　of　brokers；　what　aileth　thee　to　bring　this　crack　brained　wench　into　our　market；　to　gibe　at　all　who　are　therein；　one　after　other；　and　flout　them　with　mocking　verses　and　idle　jests？'　And　he　came　down　from　his　shop　and　smote　the　broker　on　the　face。　So　he　took　her　and　carried　her　away；　in　a　rage；　saying　to　her；　'By　Allah；　never　in　my　life　saw　I　a　more　impudent　wench　than　thyself！　Thou　hast　spoilt　my　trade　and　thine　own　this　day　and　all　the　merchants　will　bear　me　a　grudge　on　thine　account。'

Then　they　saw　in　the　way　a　merchant　called　Shihabeddin；　who　bid　ten　dinars　more　for　her；　and　the　broker　asked　her　leave　to　sell　her　to　him。　Quoth　she；　'Let　me　see　him　and　question　him　of　a　certain　thing；　which　if　he　have　in　his　house；　I　will　be　sold　to　him；　and　if　not；　not。'　So　the　broker　left　her　standing　there　and　going　up　to　Shihabeddin；　said　to　him；　'O　my　lord；　know　that　yonder　damsel　tells　me　she　hath　a　mind　to　ask　thee　of　somewhat；　which　if　thou　have　in　thy　house；　she　will　be　sold　to　thee。　Now　thou　hast　heard　what　she　said　to　thy　fellows　the　＇other＇　merchants；　and　by　Allah；　I　fear　to　bring　her　to　thee；　lest　she　do　with　thee　like　as　she　did　with　thy　neighbours　and　so　I　fall　into　disgrace　with　thee：　but；　if　thou　bid　me　bring　her　to　thee；　I　erchant；　'Bring　her　to　me。'　'I　hear　and　obey；'　answered　the　broker　and　fetched　the　damsel；　who　looked　at　him　and　said；　'O　my　lord　Shihabeddin；　hast　thou　in　thy　house　cushions　stuffed　with　minever　parings？'　'Yes；　O　princess　of　fair　ones；'　replied　Shihabeddin；　'I　have　half　a　score　such　cushions　at　home；　but　I　conjure　thee　by　Allah；　tell　me；　what　wilt　thou　do　with　them？'　Quoth　she；　'I　will　wait　till　thou　be　asleep；　when　I　will　lay　them　on　thy　mouth　and　nose　＇and　press　on　them＇　till　thou　die。'

Then　she　turned　to　the　broker　and　said　to　him；　'O　filthiest　of　brokers；　meseemeth　thou　art　mad；　for　that；　this　hour　past；　thou　slowest　me；　first　to　a　pair　of　graybeards；　in　each　of　whom　are　two　faults；　and　then　to　my　lord　Shihabeddin　here；　in　whom　are　three　defects；　first；　he　is　short　of　stature；　secondly；　he　hath　a　big　nose；　and　thirdly；　he　hath　a　long　beard。　Of　him　quoth　one　of　the　poets：

　　Ne'er　saw　we　in　our　lives　nor　heard　of　such　a　wight　Of　all　that　live　and　be　beneath　the　sun　his　light：
　　A　beard　a　cubit　long　and　nose　a　span　he　hath；　Whilst　he　himself　is　but　a　finger's　breadth　in　height。　
And　quoth　another　poet：

　　The　mosque's　minaret　from　his　visage　doth　spring；　As　the　ringfinger　juts　from　the　round　of　the　ring。
　　If　all　it　could　house　were　to　enter　his　nose；　The　world　were　soon　void　of　each　creature　and　thing。'　
When　Shihabeddin　heard　this；　he　came　down　from　his　shop　and　seized　the　broker　by　the　collar；　saying；　'O　scurviest　of　brokers；　what　ails　thee　to　bring　us　a　damsel　to　flout　and　make　mock　of　us；　one　after　other；　with　idle　talk　and　verses？'　So　the　broker　took　her　and　carried　her　away　from　before　him；　saying；　'By　Allah；　all　my　life　long；　since　I　have　plied　this　craft；　I　never　set　eyes　on　the　like　of　thee　for　unmannerliness　nor　aught　more　curst　to　me　than　thy　star；　for　thou　hast　cut　off　my　livelihood　this　day　and　I　have　gained　nought　by　thee　save　cuffs　on　the　neck　and　taking　by　the　collar！'　Then　he　brought　her　to　the　shop　of　another　merchant；　owner　of　slaves　and　servants；　and　stationing　her　before　him；　said　to　her；　'Wilt　thou　be　sold　to　this　my　lord　Alaeddin？'　She　looked　at　him　and　seeing　him　to　be　humpbacked；　said；　'This　fellow　is　a　hunchback；　and　quoth　the　poet　of　him：

　　Shoulders　drawn　in　and　spine　thrust　out；　'twould　seem　as　if　to　find　A　tar　that　Satan　promised　him；　indeed；　he　had　a　mind；
　　Or　as　the　first　stroke　of　a　whip　he'd　tasted　of　and　stood　Still　for　amaze；　whilst　of　the　stroke　to　e　he　felt　the　wind。　
And　saith　another：

　　Whene'er　a　hunchback　mounts　a　mule；　straightway　A　laughingstock　to　all　mankind　are　they。
　　Is　he　not　laughable？　So　marvel　not　If　she　take　fright　with　him　and　run　away。　
And　another：

　　A　hunchback　often　foulness　adds　to　his　deformity；　And　all　men's　eyes　upon　the　wight　look　with　antipathy；
　　As　'twere　a　dry　distorted　branch；　whose　citrons；　perched　upon　Its　back；　have　bowed　it　to　the　ground；　for　length　of　days；　is　he。'　
With　this　the　broker　hurried　up　to　her　and　carrying　her　to　another　merchant；　said　to　her；　'Wilt　thou　be　sold　to　this　man？'　She　looked　at　him　and　said；　'This　man　is　blueeyed；　how　wilt　thou　sell　me　to　him？　Quoth　one　of　the　poets　of　him：

　　Ophthalmia's　disorders　him　ply；　They　have　broken　his　strength　down　well　nigh。　O　people；　I　rede　you　arise　And　look　at　the　mote　in　his　eye。'　
Then　the　broker　carried　her　to　another　and　she　looked　at　him　and　seeing　that　he　had　a　long　beard；　said　to　the　broker；　'Out　on　thee！　This　is　a　ram；　whose　tail　has　sprouted　from　his　gullet。　Wilt　thou　sell　me　to　him；　O　unluckiest　of　brokers？　Hast　thou　not　heard　that　all　longbearded　men　are　little　of　wit？　Indeed；　after　the　measure　of　the　length　of　the　beard　is　the　lack　of　understanding；　and　this　is　a　wellknown　thing　among　men　of　sense。　As　saith　one　of　the　poets：

　　No　man；　whose　beard　is　long；　although　he　gain　some　whit　In　gravity　of　mien　and　dignity　by　it；
　　There　lives；　but　every　inch　that's　added　to　his　beard　In　length　the　like　thereof　is　taken　from　his　wit。　
And　quoth　another：

　　I　have　a　friend；　who　hath　a　beard　that　God　Caused　flourish　without　profit；　till；　behold；
　　'Tis；　as　it　were；　to　look　upon；　a　night　Of　middle　winter；　long　and　dark　and　cold。'　
With　this　the　broker　took　her　and　turned　away　with　her；　and　she　said　to　him；　'Whither　guest　thou　with　me？'　'Back　to　thy　master　the　Persian；'　answers　he；　'it　suffices　me　what　hath　befallen　me　because　of　thee　this　day；　for　thou　hast　spoilt　both　my　trade　and　his　by　thine　unmannerliness。'　Then　she　looked　about　the　market　right　and　left　and　front　and　rear；　till；　as　fate　would　have　it；　her　eyes　fell　on　Ali　Noureddin。　So　she　looked　at　him　and　saw　him　to　be　a　ely　youth；　fourteen　years　old；　like　the　moon　on　the　night　of　its　full；　surpassing　in　beauty　and　loveliness　and　elegance　and　amorous　grace；　smooth　faced　and　slendershaped；　with　flowerwhite　forehead　and　rosy　cheeks；　neck　like　alabaster　and　teeth　like　jewels　and　spittle　sweeter　than　sugar；　even　as　saith　of　him　one　of　his　describers：

　　Full　moons　and　fawns　with　him　conclusions　came　to　try　In　beauty　and　in　grace；　but　'Soft！'　to　them　quoth　I。
　　'Forbear；　gazelles；　indeed；　ye　are　no　match　for　him；　And　spare　your　pains；　O　moons；　'tis　vain　with　him　to　vie。　
And　how　well　saith　another　：

　　A　slender　one；　from　his　brows　and　the　night　of　his　jetty　hair；　Mankind　in　alternate　gloom　and　splendour　of　light　do　fare。
　　Blame　not　the　mole　on　his　cheek；　is　an　anemone's　cup　Perfect；　except　in　its　midst　an　eyelet　of　black　it　bear？　
When　she　saw　him　he　interposed　between　her　and　her　wit；　the　love　of　him　sat　stark　hold　upon　her　soul　and　her　heart　was　taken　with　passion　for　him；　so　she　turned　to　the　broker　and　said　to　him；　'Will　not　yonder　young　merchant　in　the　striped　gown　bid　for　me？'　'O　lady　of　fair　ones；'　replied　the　broker；　'yonder　young　man　is　a　stranger　from　Cairo；　where　his　father　is　chief　of　the　merchants　and　hath　the　pass　over　all　the　merchants　and　notables　of　the　place。　He　is　but　lately　e　to　our　city　and　lodgeth　with　one　of　his　father's　friends；　but　he　hath　made　no　bid　for　thee；　more　nor　less。'

When　she　heard　this；　she　drew　from　her　finger　a　ruby　ring　of　price　and　said　to　the　broker；　'Carry　me　to　yonder　youth；　and　if　he　buy　me；　this　ring　shall　be　thine；　in　requital　of　thy　toil　with　me　this　day。'　The　broker　rejoiced　at　this　and　brought　her　up　to　Noureddin；　and　she　considered　him　straitly　and　found　him　like　the　full　moon；　acplished　in　grace　and　elegance　and　symmetry；　even　as　saith　of　him　one　of　his　describers：

　　The　waters　of　grace　in　his　visage　run　clear　And　his　glances　cast　arrows　at　all　who　draw　near：
　　Sweet　his　favours；　but　lovers　still　choke；　if　he　give　Them　to　drink　of　the　gall　of　his　rigours　austere。
　　His　brow　is　perfection；　per