一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第19部分

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chants　said　to　Noureddin；　'O　my　lord　Noureddin；　we　desire　that　thou　be　with　us　on　the　like　of　this　night；　so　we　may　talk　together；　we　and　thou；　and　we　pray　thee；　of　thy　favour；　to　bear　us　pany；　so　we　may　be；　we　and　thou；　the　guests　of　this　Frank；　for　he　is　a　hospitable　man。'　And　they　conjured　him　by　the　oath　of　divorce　and　hindered　him　by　force　from　going　home。

Then　they　rose　forthright　and　shutting　up　their　shops　took　Noureddin　and　went　with　the　Frank；　who　brought　them　to　a　goodly　and　spacious　saloon；　wherein　were　two　estrades。　Here　he　made　them　sit　and　laid　before　them　＇a　tray　covered　with＇　a　scarlet　cloth　of　rare　and　goodly　workmanship；　wroughten　in　gold　with　figures　of　breaker　and　broken；　lover　and　beloved；　asker　and　asked；　whereon　he　set　precious　vessels　of　porcelain　and　crystal；　full　of　the　costliest　fruits　and　flowers　and　confections；　and　brought　them　a　pitcher　of　old　Greek　wine。　Then　he　manded　to　slaughter　a　fat　lamb　and　kindling　fare；　proceeded　to　roast　of　its　flesh　and　feed　the　merchants　therewith　and　give　them　to　drink　of　the　wine；　winking　them　the　while　to　ply　Noureddin　with　liquor。　So　they　plied　him　with　wine　till　he　became　drunken　and　took　leave　of　his　wits；　which　when　the　Frank　saw；　he　said　to　him；　'O　my　lord　Noureddin；　thou　gladdenest　us　with　thy　pany　tonight：　wele；　a　thousand　times　wele　to　thee！'

Then　he　drew　near　unto　him　and　dissembled　with　him　awhile　in　talk；　till　he　＇found　his　opportunity　and＇　said　to　him；　'O　my　lord；　wilt　thou　sell　me　thy　slavegirl；　whom　thou　boughtest　a　year　ago　for　a　thousand　dinars；　in　presence　of　these　merchants？　I　will　give　thee　five　thousand　dinars　for　her　and　thou　wilt　thus　make　four　thousand　dinars　profit。'　Noureddin　refused　but　the　Frank　ceased　not　to　ply　him　with　meat　and　drink　and　tempt　him　with　money；　still　adding　to　his　offers；　till　he　bid　him　ten　thousand　dinars　for　her；　whereupon　Noureddin；　in　his　drunkenness；　said；　in　the　presence　of　the　merchants；　'I　sell　her　to　thee　for　ten　thousand　dinars；　hand　over　the　money。'　At　this　the　Frank　rejoiced　mightily　and　took　the　merchants　to　witness　of　the　sale。

They　passed　the　night　in　eating　and　drinking　and　making　merry；　till　the　morning；　when　the　Frank　cried　out　to　his　servants；　saying；　'Bring　me　the　money。'　So　they　brought　it　to　him　and　he　counted　out　ten　thousand　dinars　to　Noureddin；　saying；　'O　my　lord；　take　the　price　of　thy　slavegirl；　whom　thou　soldest　to　me　last　night；　in　the　presence　of　these　Muslim　merchants。'　'Thou　liest；　O　accursed　one；'　replied　Noureddin。　'I　sold　thee　nothing　and　have　no　slavegirls。'　Quoth　the　Frank；　'Verily　thou　didst　sell　her　to　me　and　these　merchants　were　witnesses　to　the　bargain。'　'Yes；'　said　they　all；　'thou　soldest　him　thy　slavegirl　before　us　for　ten　thousand　dinars；　O　Noureddin；　and　we　will　all　bear　witness　against　thee　of　the　sale。　e；　take　the　money　and　deliver　him　the　girl；　and　God　will　give　thee　a　better　than　she　in　her　stead。　Doth　it　mislike　thee；　O　Noureddin；　that　thou　boughtest　the　girl　for　a　thousand　dinars　and　hast　enjoyed　her　beauty　and　grace　and　taken　thy　fill　of　her　pany　and　converse　night　and　day　for　a　year　and　a　half；　wherein　thou　hast　gained　half　a　score　thousand　dinars　by　the　sale　of　the　girdle　which　she　made　thee　every　day　and　thou　soldest　for　twenty　dinars；　and　after　all　this　thou　hast　sold　her　again　at　a　profit　of　nine　thousand　dinars　over　and　above　her　original　price？　And　withal　thou　deniest　the　sale　and　belittlest　the　profit！　What　gain　is　greater　than　this　gain　and　what　profit　wouldst　thou　have　greater　than　this？　If　thou　love　her；　thou　hast　had　thy　fill　of　her　all　this　time：　so　take　the　money　and　buy　another　handsomer　than　she；　or　we　will　marry　thee　to　one　of　our　daughters　lovelier　than　she；　at　a　dowry　of　less　than　half　this　price；　and　the　rest　of　the　money　will　remain　in　thy　hand　an　capital。'　And　they　ceased　not　to　ply　him　with　persuasion　and　argument　till　he　took　the　ten　thousand　dinars；　the　price　of　the　damsels　and　the　Frank　straightway　fetched　Cadis　and　witnesses；　who　drew　up　the　contract　of　sale。

Meanwhile；　Meryem　sat　awaiting　Noureddin　from　morning　till　sundown　and　from　sundown　till　midnight；　and　when　he　returned　not；　she　was　troubled　and　wept　sore。　The　druggist　heard　her　weeping　and　sent　his　wife　to　her；　who　went　in　to　her　and　finding　her　in　tears　said　to　her；　'O　my　lady；　what　ails　thee　to　weep？'　'O　my　mother；'　answered　she；　'I　have　sat　awaiting　my　lord　Noureddin　all　day；　but　he　eth　not；　and　I　fear　lest　some　one　have　put　a　cheat　on　him；　to　make　him　sell　me；　and　he　have　fallen　into　the　snare　and　sold　me。'　'O　my　lady　Meryem；　rejoined　the　druggist's　wife；　'were　they　to　give　thy　lord　this　room　full　of　gold　to　thy　price；　yet　would　he　not　sell　thee；　for　what　I　know　of　his　love　to　thee。　Belike　there　be　folk　e　frown　his　parents　at　Cairo　and　he　hath　made　them　an　entertainment　in　their　lodging；　being　ashamed　to　bring　them　hither；　for　that　the　place　is　overstrain　for　them　or　maybe　their　condition　is　less　than　that　he　should　bring　them　to　his　own　house；　or　belike　he　preferred　to　conceal　thine　affair　from　them；　so　passed　the　night　with　them；　and　if　it　be　the　will　of　God　the　Most　High；　tomorrow　he　will　e　to　thee；　safe　and　well。　So　burden　not　thy　soul　with　care　nor　anxiety；　O　my　lady；　for　of　a　certainty　this　is　the　cause　of　his　absence　from　thee　and　I　will　abide　with　thee　this　night　and　fort　thee；　till　thy　lord　return。'

So　she　abode　with　her　and　cheered　her　with　talk　till　the　morning；　when　Meryem　saw　Noureddin　enter　the　street；　followed　by　the　Frank　and　a　pany　of　merchants；　whereupon　she　trembled　in　every　nerve　and　her　colour　changed　and　she　fell　ashaking；　as　the　ship　shakes　in　midocean　for　the　violence　of　the　winds。　When　the　druggist's　wife　saw　this；　she　said　to　her；　'O　my　lady　Meryem；　what　ails　thee　that　I　see　thy　case　changed　and　thy　face　grown　pale　and　disfeatured？'　'By　Allah；　O　my　mother；'　replied　she；　'my　heart　forebodeth　me　of　parting　and　severance　of　union！'　And　she　bemoaned　herself　and　sighed　heavily；　reciting　the　following　verses：

　　Incline　not　to　parting；　I　pray；　For　bitter　its　savour　is　aye。
　　E'en　the　sun　at　his　setting　turns　pale；　To　think　he　must　part　from　the　day；
　　And　so；　at　his　rising；　for　joy　Of　reunion；　he's　radiant　and　gay。　
Then　she　wept　passing　sore；　making　sure　of　separation；　and　said　to　the　druggist's　wife；　'O　my　mother；　said　I　not　to　thee　that　my　lord　Noureddin　had　been　tricked　into　selling　me？　I　doubt　not　but　he　hath　sold　me　this　night　to　yonder　Frank；　albeit　I　bade　him　beware　of　him；　but　precaution　availeth　not　against　destiny。　So　the　truth　of　my　words　is　made　manifest　to　thee。'　Whilst　they　were　talking；　in　came　Noureddin；　and　she　looked　at　him　and　saw　that　his　colour　was　changed　and　that　he　trembled　and　there　appeared　on　his　face　signs　of　grief　and　repentance：　so　she　said　to　him；　'O　my　lord　Noureddin；　meseemeth　thou　hast　sold　me。'　Whereupon　he　wept　sore　and　groaned　and　lamented　and　recited　the　following　verses：

　　Twas　Fate；　and　taking　thought　avails　not　anything；　If　thou　err；　it　errs　not　in　its　foreordering。
　　When　God　upon　a　man　endowed　with　hearing；　sight　And　reasoning；　His　will　in　aught　to　pass　would　bring；
　　He　stops　has　ears　and　blinds　his　eyes　and　draws　his　wit　From　him；　as　one　draws　out　the　hairs　to　paste　that　cling；
　　Till；　His　decrees　fulfilled；　He　gives　him　back　his　wit；　That　therewithal　he　may　receive　admonishing。
　　Say　not　of　aught　that　haps；　'How　happened　it？'　For　fate　And　fortune　foreordained　do　order　everything。　
Then　he　began　to　excuse　himself　to　her；　saying；　'O　my　lady　Meryem；　verily　the　pen　runh　with　what　God　hath　decreed。　The　folk　put　a　cheat　on　me；　to　make　me　sell　thee；　and　I　fell　into　the　snare　and　sold　thee。　Indeed；　I　have　sorely　failed　of　my　duty　to　thee；　but　peradventure　He　who　decreed　our　parting　will　vouchsafe　us　reunion。'　Quoth　she；　'I　warned　thee　against　this；　for　this　it　was　I　feared。'　Then　she　strained　him　to　her　bosom　and　kissed　him　between　the　eyes；　reciting　the　following　verses：

　　Nay；　by　your　love；　I'll　ne'er　fet　the　troth　betwixt　us　plight；　Though　my　life　perish　for　desire　and　yearning　for　your　sight。
　　E'en　as　the　ringdove　doth　lament　upon　the　sandhills'　trees；　So　will　I　weep　for　you　and　wail　all　tides　of　day　and　night。
　　My　life　is　troubled　after　you；　beloved：　since　from　me　You're　gone；　no　meetingplace　have　I　nor　sojourn　of　delight。　
At　this　juncture；　the　Frank　came　in　to　them　and　went　up　to　Meryem；　to　kiss　her　hands；　but　she　dealt　him　a　buffet　on　the　cheek；　saying；　'Avaunt；　O　accursed　one！　Thou　hast　followed　after　me　without　cease；　till　thou　hast　tricked　my　lord　into　selling　me！　But　please　God；　all　shall　yet　be　well。'　The　Frank　laughed　at　her　speech　and　wondered　at　her　deed　and　excused　himself　to　her；　saying；　'O　my　lady　Meryem；　what　is　my　offence？　Thy　lord　Noureddin　here　sold　thee　of　his　full　consent　and　of　his　free　will。　Had　he　loved　thee；　by　the　virtue　of　the　Messiah；　he　had　not　transgressed　against　thee！　And　had　he　not　acplished　his　desire　of　thee；　he　had　not　sold　thee。　Quoth　one　of　the　poets：

　　Whoso　of　me　is　weary；　my　presence　let　him　flee：　If　e'er　again　I　name　him；　to　call　me　fool　thou'rt　free。
　　The　world　in　all　its　wideness　on　me　is　not　so　strait　That　thou　shouldst　see　me　languish　for　who　rejecteth　me。'　
Now　this　damsel　was　the　daughter　of　the　King　of　France；　the　which　is　a　wide　and　spacious　city；　（79）　abounding　in　arts　and　manufactures　and　rarities　and　trees　and　flowers　and　other　plants；　and　resembleth　the　city　of　Constantinople：　and　for　her　going　forth　of　her　father's　city　there　was　an　extraordinary　cause　and　thereby　hangs　a　rare　story；　that　we　will　set　out　in　due　order；　to　divert　and　delight　the　reader。　She　was　reared　with　her　father　and　mother　in　honour　and　indulgence　and　learnt　rhetoric　and　penmanship　and　arithmetic　and　martial　exercises　and　all　manner　crafts　both　of　men　and　women；　such　as　broidery　and　sewing　and　weaving　and　girdlemaking　and　silkcord　making　and　enamelling　gold　on　silver　and　silver　on　gold；　till　she　became　the　pearl　of　her　time　and　the　unique　＇jewel＇　of　her　age　and　her　day。　Moreover；　God　（to　whom　belong　might　and　majesty）　had　endowed　her　with　such　beauty　and　grace　and　elegance　and　perfection　that　she　excelled　therein　all　the　folk　of　her　time；　and　the　kings　of　the　isles　sought　her　in　marriage　of　her　father；　but　he　refused　to　give　her　to　wife　to　any　of　her　suitors；　for　that　he　loved　her　with　an　exceeding　love　and　could　not　brook　to　be　parted　from　her　an　hour。　Moreover；　he　had　no　other　daughter　than　herself　albeit　he　had　many　sons；　but　she　was　dearer　to　him　than　they。

It　chanced　one　year　that　she　fell　sick　of　an　exceeding　sickness　and　came　nigh　upon　death；　wherefore　she　made　a　vow　that；　if　she　recovered　from　her　sickness；　she　would　make　the　pilgrimage　to　a　certain　monastery；　situate　in　much　an　island；　which　was　high　in　repute　among　the　Franks　who　used　to　make　vows　to　it　and　look　for　a　blessing　therefrom。　When　she　was　whole　of　her　sickness　she　wished　to　acplish　her　vow　and　her　father　despatched　her　to　the　convent　in　a　little　ship；　with　sundry　knights　and　daughters　of　the　chief　men　of　the　city　to　wait　upon　her。　As　they　drew　near　the　island；　there　came　out　upon　them　a　ship　of　the　ships　of　the　Muslims；　champions　of　the　faith；　warring　in　the　way　of　God；　who　boarded　the　vessel　and　making　prize　of　all　who　were　therein；　sold　their　booty　in　the　city　of　Cairawan。　Meryem　herself　fell　into