一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第2部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ween　and　thou　shalt　have　of　me　an　hundred　gold　dinars　and　a　dress　worth　as　much　more；　for　that　the　love　of　her　hath　gotten　possession　of　my　heart。'　And　she　said；　'O　man；　let　me　go　about　with　her　in　talk　and　I　will　return　thee　an　answer　and　acquaint　thee　with　what　she　saith。　Indeed；　she　loves　those　who　berhyme　her　and　set　forth　her　charms　and　her　grace　and　beauty　in　verse；　and　we　may　not　avail　against　her　save　by　beguilement　and　soft　speech　and　craft。'

Then　she　rose　and　going　up　to　her　mistress；　talked　with　her　privily　of　this　and　that　and　presently　said　to　her；　'O　my　lady；　look　at　yonder　young　man；　the　Nazarene；　how　sweet　is　his　discourse　and　how　elegant　his　shape！'　When　Zein　el　Mewasif　heard　this；　she　turned　to　her　and　said；　'An　his　eliness　like　thee；　love　him　thyself。　Art　thou　not　ashamed　to　bespeak　the　like　of　me　with　these　words？　Go；　bid　him　begone　about　his　business；　or　it　shall　be　the　worse　for　him。'　So　Huboub　returned　to　Mesrour；　but　acquainted　him　not　with　that　which　her　mistress　had　said。　Then　the　latter　bade　her　go　to　the　door　and　look　if　she　saw　any　of　the　folk；　lest　foul　befall　them。　So　she　went　and　resuming；　said；　'O　my　lady；　there　are　folk　in　plenty　without　and　we　cannot　let　him　go　forth　tonight。'　Quoth　Zein　el　Mewasif；　'I　am　troubled　because　of　a　dream　I　have　had　and　am　fearful　by　reason　thereof。'　And　Mesrour　said；　'What　sawest　thou　＇in　thy　dream？＇　May　God　not　trouble　thy　heart！'　'I　was　asleep　in　the　middle　of　the　night；'　answered　she；　'and　behold　an　eagle　swooped　down　upon　me　from　the　highest　of　the　clouds　and　would　have　carried　me　off　from　behind　the　curtain；　wherefore　I　was　affrighted　at　him。　Then　I　awoke　from　sleep　and　bade　my　women　bring　me　meat　and　drink；　so　haply；　when　I　had　drunken；　the　terror　of　the　dream　would　cease　from　me。'

When　he　heard　this；　he　smiled　and　told　her　his　dream　and　how　he　had　caught　the　dove；　whereat　she　marvelled　exceedingly。　Then　he　went　on　to　talk　with　her　and　said；　'Now　am　I　certified　of　the　truth　of　my　dream；　for　thou　art　the　dove　and　I　the　eagle；　and　needs　must　this　be；　for；　whenas　I　set　eyes　on　thee；　thou　tookest　possession　of　my　vitals　and　settest　my　heart　on　fire　for　love　of　thee！'　Thereupon　Zein　el　Mewasif　became　exceeding　wroth　and　said　to　him；　'God　forfend　that　this　should　be！　God　on　thee；　begone　about　thy　business；　ere　the　neighbours　see　thee　and　there　betide　us　sore　reproach。'　Then；　'Harkye；　fellow！'　added　she。　'Let　not　thy　soul　covet　that　it　shall　not　attain　to。　Thou　weariest　thyself　＇in　vain＇；　for　I　am　a　merchant's　wife　and　a　merchant's　daughter　and　thou　art　a　druggist；　and　when　sawst　thou　a　druggist　and　a　merchant's　daughter　on　this　wise？'　'O　my　lady；'　answered　he；　'never　lacked　love　between　folk　＇of　different　condition＇；　so　cut　thou　not　off　from　me　hope　of　this　and　whatsoever　thou　seekest　of　me　of　money　and　raiment　and　trinkets　and　what　not　else；　I　will　give　thee。'

Then　he　abode　with　her　in　discourse　and　chiding　whilst　she　still　redoubled　in　anger；　till　nightfall；　when　he　said　to　her；　'O　my　lady；　take　this　dinar　and　fetch　me　a　little　wine；　for　I　am　athirst　and　heavy　at　heart。'　So　she　said　to　Huboub；　'Fetch　him　wine　and　take　nought　from　him；　for　we　have　no　need　of　his　dinar。'　＇So　she　went　to　fetch　the　wine；　whilst＇　Mesrour　held　his　peace　and　bespoke　not　Zein　el　Mewasif；　who　improvised　the　following　verses：

　　Harkye；　O　man！　Desist　from　this　thou　dost　design　Nor　to　the　crooked　ways　of　frowardness　incline。
　　Love　is　a　；　and　if　thou　fall　into　its　snare；　The　day　thereafterward　for　weariness　thou'lt　pine
　　Occasion　to　our　spy　thou'lt　give　for　talk　and　all　The　people　will　reproach　me　with　this　love　of　thine。
　　Small　marvel　'tis　if　thou　a　fair　one　love：　gazelles　Thou　seest　lions　chase　and　in　their　snares　entwine。　
And　he　answered　her　with　these：

　　O　cassiabranch；　delight　of　garth　and　knoll；　Spare　thou　my　heart；　who　dost　possess　my　soul。
　　The　cup　of　death　for　love　thou'st　made　me　drain；　Clad　me　in　wede　of　abjectness　and　dole。
　　How　shall　I　be　consoled；　since　thou　hast　taken　My　heart；　for　love　of　thee　a　redhot　coal！　
'Away　from　me！'　cried　she。　'Quoth　the　adage；　〃He　who　giveth　loose　to　his　eyes　wearieth　his　heart。〃　By　Allah；　I　am　tired　of　discourse　with　thee　and　chiding；　and　indeed　thy　soul　coveteth　that　which　shall　never　be　thine；　nay；　though　thou　gavest　me　my　weight　in　gold；　thou　shouldst　not　get　thy　wish　of　me；　for；　by　the　bounty　of　God　the　Most　High；　I　know　nought　of　the　things　of　the　world；　save　pleasant　life。'　'O　my　lady　Zein　el　Mewasif；'　answered　he；　'ask　of　me　what　thou　wilt　of　the　goods　of　the　world。'　Quoth　she；　'What　shall　I　ask　of　thee？　For　sure　thou　wilt　go　out　into　the　highway　＇and　discover　my　case　to　the　folk＇　and　I　shall　bee　a　laughingstock　among　them　and　they　will　make　a　byword　of　me　in　verse；　me　who　am　the　daughter　of　the　chief　of　the　merchants　and　whose　father　is　known　of　the　notables　of　the　people。　I　have　no　need　of　money　or　raiment　and　this　love　will　not　be　hidden　from　the　folk　and　I　shall　be　brought　to　shame；　I　and　my　family。'

With　this　Mesrour　was　confounded　and　could　make　her　no　answer；　but　presently　she　said；　'Indeed；　the　skilful　thief；　if　he　steal；　stealeth　not　but　what　is　worth　＇the　adventuring　of＇　his　neck；　and　every　woman　who　doth　lewdness　with　other　than　her　husband　is　styled　a　thief；　so；　if　it　must　be　thus　and　no　help；　thou　shalt　give　me　whatsoever　my　heart　desireth　of　money　and　raiment　and　trinkets　and　what　not。'　Quoth　he；　'An　thou　soughtest　of　me　the　world　and　all　that　is　therein；　from　East　to　West；　it　were　but　a　little　thing；　pared　with　thy　favour。'　And　she　said；　'I　will　have　of　thee　three　suits；　each　worth　a　thousand　dinars；　and　pearls　and　jewels　and　jacinths；　and　I　require　of　thee；　to　boot；　that　thou　swear　to　me　that　thou　wilt　keep　my　secret　nor　discover　it　to　any　and　that　thou　wilt　pany　with　none　but　me；　and　I　in　turn　will　swear　to　thee　a　true　oath　that　I　will　never　play　thee　false。'

So　he　swore　to　her　the　oath　she　required　and　she　swore　to　him；　and　they　agreed　upon　this；　after　which　she　said　to　her　nurse　Huboub；　'Tomorrow　go　thou　with　Mesrour　to　his　lodging　and　seek　somewhat　of　musk　and　ambergris　and　aloes　and　rosewater　and　see　what　he　hath。　If　he　be　a　man　of　condition；　we　will　take　him　into　favour；　else　will　we　leave　him。'　Then　said　she　to　him；　'O　Mesrour；　I　desire　somewhat　of　musk　and　ambergris　and　aloeswood；　so　do　thou　send　it　me　by　Huboub。'　And　he　answered；　'I　hear　and　obey；　my　shop　is　at　thy　mandment。'　Then　the　wine　went　round　between　them　and　their　session　was　pleasant；　but　Mesrour's　heart　was　troubled　for　the　passion　and　longing　that　possessed　him；　and　when　Zein　el　Mewasif　saw　him　in　this　plight；　she　said　to　her　slavegirl　Sukoub；　'Arouse　Mesrour　from　his　stupor；　mayhap　he　will　awake。'　'Willingly；'　answered　Sukoub　and　sang　the　following　verses：

　　An　if　thou　be　in　love；　bring　gold　and　gear　and　in　thy　lays　Set　forth　thy　love；　so　thou　mayst　win　the　aim　of　thine　essays
　　And　taste　the　favours　of　a　fawn；　softeyed　and　smilinglipped；　Whose　shape　is　as　the　cassiabranch；　when　to　the　breeze　it　sways。
　　Look　on　her；　in　her　charms　thou'lt　see　matter　for　wonderment　And　pour　thy　life　out；　ere　the　term　appointed　to　thy　days。
　　These　be　the　attributes　of　love；　an　thou　but　knewst　thereof；　But；　if　the　gold　delude　thee；　leave　the　gold　and　go　thy　ways。　
Mesrour　apprehended　＇her　meaning＇　and　said；　'I　hear　and　understand。　Never　was　stress　but　after　came　relief；　and　He　who　afflicteth　will　order　＇the　issue＇。'　Whereupon　Zein　el　Mewasif　recited　the　following：

　　Awake；　O　Mesrour；　from　love's　stupor；　for　lo；　I　fear　lest　our　love　bring　thee　travail　and　woe。
　　Sure　proverbs　on　us　East　and　West　shall　be　made　And　the　folk　our　report　for　a　wonder　shall　know。
　　Leave　loving　my　like；　or　for　sure　thou'lt　have　blame。Why　cleav'st　thou　to　me　of　all　women？　I　trow；
　　One　wellborn　shouldst　thou　love。Thou'lt　a　byword　bee　And　find　not　a　pitying　friend　high　or　low
　　I'm　a　Pharisee's　child　and　the　folk　fear　my　wrath：　Would　the　term　of　my　life　were　acplished；　heigho！　
And　Mesrour　answered　her　with　these　verses：

　　Leave　me　to　my　affliction；　to　love　thee　I'm　content；　And　blame　me　not；　for　censure　my　passion　doth　augment。
　　Over　my　heart　ye　lord　it　in　tyrantwise；　whilst　I　Fare　westward　neither　eastward　for　very　languishment。
　　Forbidden　'tis　to　slay　me　of　passion's　law；　they　say；　'The　slain　of　love's　a　victim；　oppressed　and　innocent。'
　　Were　there　a　judge　in　passion；　to　him　I'd　make　my　moan；　Mayhap　he'd　do　me　justice　in　his　arbitrament。　
They　ceased　not　from　chiding　and　discourse　till　the　morning　beamed；　when　Zein　el　Mewasif　said　to　him；　'O　Mesrour；　it　is　time　for　thee　to　depart；　lest　one　of　the　folk　see　thee　and　foul　befall　us。'　So　he　arose　and　going　forth；　fared　on；　acpanied　by　Huboub；　till　they　came　to　his　lodging；　where　he　talked　with　her　and　said　to　her；　'All　thou　seekest　of　me　thou　shalt　presently　have；　so　but　thou　wilt　bring　me　to　her　enjoyment。'　Quoth　Huboub；　'fort　thy　heart；'　whereupon　he　rose　and　gave　her　a　hundred　dinars；　saying；　'O　Huboub；　I　have　by　me　a　dress　worth　a　hundred　dinars。'　'O　Mesrour；'　answered　she；　'make　haste　with　the　dresses　and　what　not　else　thou　didst　promise　her；　ere　she　change　her　mind；　for　we　may　not　avail　to　take　her　save　with　craft　and　beguilement；　and　she　loveth　the　recitation　of　verses。'　Quoth　he；　'I　hear　and　obey；'　and　bringing　her　the　musk　and　ambergris　and　aloeswood　and　rosewater；　returned　with　her　to　Zein　el　Mewasif　and　saluted　her。　She　returned　his　greeting　with　the　sweetest　of　speech；　and　he　was　confounded　at　her　beauty　and　improvised　the　following　verses：

　　O　sun；　midmost　the　dark　that　shinest　in　the　skies；　O　thou　that　hast　benumbed　my　wit　with　great　black　eyes；
　　O　loveling　sweet；　that　'st　with　neck　surpassing　fair；　Whose　cheek　the　gardenrose　eclipses　and　outvies；
　　Blind　not　with　thy　disdain　our　sights；　for　thy　disdain　A　grievous　matter　is；　the　heart　that　terrifies。
　　Passion　took　up　its　stead　with　me；　and　'tis　forbid　To　it　to　carry　off　the　life's　last　lingering　sighs。
　　Indeed；　the　love　of　you　doth　lord　it　in　my　heart；　And　save　to　you；　I　find　no　issue　anywise。
　　Yet　haply　thou'lt　relent　towards　a　lover　sad；　So　shall　his　darkness　flee　and　morning　bright　arise。　
When　she　heard　his　verses；　she　cast　at　him　a　look；　that　bequeathed　him　a　thousand　regrets　and　his　heart　and　soul　were　ravished　thereby　and　answered　him　as　follows：

　　Think　not　from　her；　of　whom　thou　art　enamoured；　aye　To　win　delight；　so　put　desire　from　thee　away。
　　Leave　that　thou　hop'st；　for　'gainst　her　rigours　whom　thou　lov'st　Among　the　fair；　in　vain　is　all　thou　canst　essay。
　　My　looks　to　lovers　bring　disfiture　and　woe：　Indeed；　I　make　no　count　of　that　which　thou　dost　say。　
When　he　heard　this；　he　dissembled　and　took　patience；　saying　in　himself；　'There　is　nothing　for　it　but　patience　against　calamity；'　and　on　this　wise　they　abode　till　nightfall；　when　she　called　for　food　and　they　set　before　her　a　tray；　wherein　were　all　manner　meats；　quails　and　pigeons　and　mutton　and　so　forth；　of　which　they　ate　till　they　had　enough。　Then　she　bade　take　away　the　tables　and　they　did　so　and　brought　washing　gear。　So　they　washed　their　hands；　after　which　she　ordered　her　women　to　bring　the　candlesticks；　and　they　set　on　candlesticks　and　candles　therein　of　camphorated　wax。

Then　said　she；　'By　Allah；　my　breast　is　straitened　to　night　and　I　am　fevered。'　Quoth　Mesrour；　'M