一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第20部分

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ng　prize　of　all　who　were　therein；　sold　their　booty　in　the　city　of　Cairawan。　Meryem　herself　fell　into　the　hands　of　a　Persian　merchant；　who　was　impotent　and　for　whom　no　woman　had　ever　discovered　her　nakedness；　and　he　set　her　to　serve　him。

Presently　he　fell　ill　and　sickened　wellnigh　unto　death；　and　the　sickness　abode　with　him　two　months；　during　which　time　she　tended　him　after　the　goodliest　fashion；　till　God　made　him　whole　of　his　malady；　when　he　recalled　her　lovingkindness　to　him　and　the　zeal　with　which　she　had　tended　him　and　being　minded　to　requite　her　the　good　offices　she　had　done　him；　bade　her　ask　a　boon　of　him。　'O　my　lord；'　said　she；　'I　ask　of　thee　that　thou　sell　me　not　but　to　the　man　of　my　choice。'　'So　be　it；'　answered　he；　'I　grant　thee　this。　By　Allah；　O　Meryem；　I　will　not　sell　thee　but　to　him　of　whom　thou　shalt　approve；　and　I　put　thy　sale　in　thine　own　hand！'　And　she　rejoiced　mightily　in　this。　Now　the　Persian　had　expounded　Islam　to　her　and　she　became　a　Muslim　and　learnt　of　him　the　tes　and　observances　of　the　faith。　Moreover；　he　made　her　get　the　Koran　by　heart　and　taught　her　somewhat　of　the　theological　sciences　and　the　traditions　of　the　Prophet；　after　which；　he　brought　her　to　Alexandria　and　sold　her　to　Noureddin；　as　hath　been　before　set　out。

Meanwhile；　when　her　father；　the　King　of　France；　heard　what　had　befallen　his　daughter　and　her　pany；　he　was　sore　concerned　and　despatched　after　her　ships　full　of　knights　and　champions；　horsemen　and　footmen：　but　they　all　returned　to　him；　crying　out　and　saying；　'Alas！'　and　'Ruin！'　and　'Woe　worth　the　day！'　after　having　searched　the　islands　of　the　Muslims　and　e　on　no　tidings　of　her。　The　king　grieved　for　her　with　an　exceeding　grief　and　sent　after　her　that　oneeyed　lameter；　for　that　he　was　his　chief　vizier；　a　stubborn　tyrant　and　a　froward　devil；　（80）　full　of　craft　and　guile；　bidding　him　make　search　for　her　in　all　the　lands　of　the　Muslims　and　buy　her；　though　with　a　shipload　of　gold。　So　the　accursed　wretch　sought　her　in　all　the　lands　of　the　seas　and　all　the　cities　of　the　Muslims；　but　found　no　sign　of　her　till　he　came　to　Alexandria；　when　he　discovered　that　she　was　with　Noureddin　Ali　of　Cairo；　being　directed　to　the　trace　of　her　by　the　kerchief　aforesaid；　＇in　which　he　recognized　her　handiwork；＇　for　that　none　could　have　wrought　it　on　such　goodly　wise　but　she。　Then　he　bribed　the　merchants　to　help　him　in　getting　her　from　Noureddin　and　beguiled　the　latter　into　selling　her；　as　hath　been　already　related。

When　he　had　her　in　his　possession；　she　ceased　not　to　weep　and　lament：　so　he　said　to　her；　'O　my　lady　Meryem；　put　away　from　thee　this　mourning　and　weeping　and　return　with　me　to　thy　father's　city；　the　seat　of　thy　royalty　and　the　place　of　thy　power　and　thy　home；　so　thou　mayst　be　among　thy　servants　and　attendants　and　be　quit　of　this　abasement　and　stranglehold。　Enough　hath　betided　me　of　travel　and　weariness　and　expense　on　thine　account；　for　thy　father　bade　me　buy　thee　back　though　with　a　shipload　of　gold；　and　now　I　have　spent　nigh　a　year　and　a　half　in　travel　and　toil　and　ravishment　of　wealth。'　And　he　fell　to　kissing　her　feet　and　hands　and　humbling　himself　to　her；　but　she　only　redoubled　in　wrath　against　him；　for　all　he　could　do　to　appease　her；　and　said　to　him；　'O　Accursed　one；　may　God　the　Most　High　not　bring　thee　to　thy　desire！'

Then　his　servants　brought　her　a　mule　with　gold　embroidered　housings　and　mounting　her　thereon；　raised　over　her　head　a　silken　canopy；　with　staves　of　gold　and　silver；　and　the　Franks　walked　about　her；　till　they　brought　her　forth　the　city　by　the　seagate；　where　they　took　boat　with　her　and　rowing　out　to　a　great　ship　＇that　lay　in　the　harbour＇；　embarked　her　therein。　Then　the　vizier　cried　out　to　the　sailors；　saying；　'Up　with　the　mast！'　So　they　set　up　the　mast　and　spreading　the　sails　and　the　pendants；　manned　the　sweeps　and　put　out　to　sea。　Meryem　continued　to　gaze　upon　Alexandria　till　it　disappeared　from　her　eyes；　when　she　fell　aweeping　and　lamenting　passing　sore　and　recited　the　following　verses：

　　O　dwelling　of　the　loved；　shall　there　returning　ever　be　To　thee？　But　what　know　I　of　that　which　Allah　shall　decree？
　　The　ships　of　separation　fare　with　us　in　haste　away：　Mine　eyes　be　blotted　out　with　tears　that　flow　unceasingly；
　　For　severance　from　a　friend；　who　was　the　end　of　my　desire；　With　whom　my　sicknesses　were　healed　and　pains　effaced　from　me。
　　Be　thou　my　substitute　with　him；　O　God；　for　that　which　is　mitted　to　Thy　charge　one　day　shall　not　be　lost　with　Thee。　
The　knights　came　up　to　her　and　would　have　forted　her；　but　she　heeded　them　not；　being　distracted　with　passion　and　lovelonging。　And　she　wept　and　moaned　and　plained　and　recited　the　following　verses：

　　The　tongue　of　passion　in　my　heart　bespeaketh　thee　of　me　And　giveth　thee　to　know　that　I　enamoured　am　of　thee。
　　I　have　a　liver　all　consumed　with　passion's　coals　of　fire；　A　heart；　sore　wounded　by　thy　loss；　that　throbs　incessantly。
　　How　shall　I　hide　the　love　that　burns　my　life　away？　My　lids　Are　ulcered　and　my　tears　adown　my　cheeks　for　ever　flee。　
In　this　plight　she　abode　during　all　the　voyage；　no　peace　was　left　her　nor　would　patience　e　at　her　call。

Meanwhile；　when　the　ship　had　sailed　with　Meryem；　the　world　was　straitened　upon　Noureddin　and　he　had　neither　peace　nor　patience。　He　returned　to　the　lodging　where　they　had　dwelt　he　and　she；　and　it　appeared　black　and　gloomy　in　his　sight。　Then　he　saw　the　pins　and　silk　with　which　she　had　been　wont　to　make　the　girdles　and　her　clothes　that　had　been　upon　her　body：　so　he　pressed　them　to　his　breast；　whilst　the　tears　streamed　from　his　eyes　and　he　recited　the　following　verses：

　　Will　union　after　severance　return　to　me　some　day；　After　my　longcontinued　tale　of　sorrow　and　dismay？
　　Shall　I　with　my　love's　pany　be　ever　blest　again？　Now　God　forfend　that　what　is　past　should　ne'er　return！　I　say。
　　I　wonder　will　He　yet　rebait　our　separated　loves　And　will　my　dear　ones　keep　the　troth　we　plighted；　I　and　they？
　　And　will　she　yet　preserve　my　love；　whom　of　my　ignorance　I　lost；　and　guard　our　plighted　troth　and　friendship　from　decay？
　　Since　they　departed；　as　one　dead　am　I：　will　my　belov'd　Consent　that　he　who　loves　them　dear　should　fall　to　death　a　prey？
　　Alas；　my　sorrow！　But　lament　the　mourner　profits　not。　For　stress　of　yearning　and　regret　I'm　melted　all　away。
　　Lost　are　the　days　of　my　delight：　will　Fortune　e'er　vouchsafe　To　me；　I　wonder；　my　desire　and　so　my　pains　allay？
　　O　heart；　redouble　in　desire　and　O　mine　eyes；　o'erflow　With　tears。　till　not　a　tear　to　weep　within　mine　eyelids　stay。
　　Alas　for　loved　ones　far　away　and　patience　lost　to　me！　My　helpers　fail　me　and　my　woes　full　sorely　on　me　weigh。
　　To　God　the　Lord　of　all；　that　He　vouchsafe　me　the　return　Of　my　belov'd　and　our　delight；　as　of　old　time；　I　pray。　
Then　he　wept　passing　sore　and　looking　about　the　place；　recited　these　verses　also：

　　I　see　their　traces　and　pine　for　longing　pain；　My　tears　rain　down　on　the　empty　dwellingplace；
　　And　I　pray　to　God；　who　willed　that　we　should　part　One　day　to　grant　us　reunion；　of　His　grace。　
Then　he　rose　and　locking　the　door　of　the　house；　went　out；　running；　to　the　shore　of　the　sea；　where　he　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　place　of　the　ship　that　had　carried　her　off；　whilst　sighs　burst　from　his　breast　and　he　recited　the　following　verses：

　　Peace　be　upon　thee！　Nought　to　me　can　pensate　for　thee：　I'm　in　two　cases；　near　in　thought；　yet　distant　verily。
　　I　long　for　thee　each　time　and　tide；　even　as　a　man　athirst　Longs　for　the　distant　wateringplace；　that　still　from　him　doth　flee。
　　With　thee　my　hearing　and　my　sight；　my　heart　and　spirit　are：　Thy　memory　than　honey's　self　is　sweeter　far　to　me。
　　O　my　despair；　whenas　your　train　departed　and　your　ship　Fared　from　the　vision　of　mine　eyes　with　thee　across　the　sea。　
And　he　wept　and　wailed　and　bemoaned　himself；　crying　out　and　saying；　'O　Meryem！　O　Meryem！　Was　it　but　in　sleep　I　saw　thee　or　in　the　illusions　of　dreams？'　And　by　reason　of　that　which　waxed　on　him　of　regrets；　he　recited　these　verses：

　　Shall　mine　eyes　ever　look　on　thee；　after　this　parting's　pain；　And　shall　I　ever　hear　thy　call　by　house　and　camp　again？
　　And　shall　the　house　our　presence　cheered　once　more　unite　us　two？　Shall　it　my　heart's　desire　and　thine　be　given　us　to　attain？
　　Take　my　bones　with　thee　by　the　way　and　where　thou　lightest　down；　Bury　them　near　thee；　so　they　may　with　thee　for　aye　remain。
　　Had　I　a　pair　of　hearts；　with　one　I'd　make　a　shift　to　live　And　leave　the　other　to　consume　for　love　of　thee　in　vain；
　　And　if；　'What　wouldst　thou　leave　of　God？'　'twere　asked　of　me；　I'd　say；　'Th'　Almighty's　favours　first；　then　hers；　my　prayer　to　seek　were　fain。'　
As　he　was　in　this　case；　weeping　and　crying　out；　'O　Meryem！'　an　old　man　landed　from　a　vessel　and　ing　up　to　him；　saw　him　weeping　and　heard　him　recite　these　verses：

　　O　Meryem　of　loveliness；　（81）　return　to　me　again；　My　eyeballs　are　as　clouds　that　pour　with　neverceasing　rain。
　　Do　thou　but　ask；　concerning　me；　of　those　at　me　that　rail；　They'll　tell　thee　that　my　lids　lie　drowned　within　their　fountains　twain。　
'O　my　son；'　said　the　old　man；　'meseems　thou　weepest　for　the　damsel　who　sailed　yesterday　with　the　Frank？'　When　Noureddin　heard　his　words；　he　fell　down　in　a　swoon　and　lay　awhile　without　life；　then；　ing　to　himself；　he　wept　passing　sore　and　recited　the　following　verses：

　　Is　union　after　severance　with　her　past　hoping　for　And　will　the　perfectness　of　cheer　return　to　me　no　more？
　　Anguish　and　love　have　taken　up　their　lodging　in　my　heart：　The　plate　and　gabble　of　the　spies　and　railers　irks　me　sore。
　　I　pass　the　day　long　in　amaze；　confounded；　and　anights　To　visit　me　in　dreams　of　sleep　her　image　I　implore。
　　Never；　by　God；　a　moment's　space　am　I　for　love　consoled！　How　should　it　be　so；　when　my　heart　the　envious　doth　abhor？
　　A　leveling；　soft　and　delicate　of　sides　and　slim　of　waist；　She　hath　a　beaming　eye；　whose　shafts　are　lodged　in　my　heart's　core。
　　Her　shape　is　as　the　willowwand　i'　the　gardens　and　her　grace　For　goodliness　outshames　the　sun　and　shines　his　splendour　o'er。
　　Feared　I　not　God　（extolled　be　His　majesty！）　I'd　say；　'Extolled　be　Her。　majesty；　the　fair　whom　I　adore！　
The　old　man　looked　at　him　and　noting　his　beauty　and　grace　and　symmetry　and　the　eloquence　of　his　tongue　and　the　seductiveness　of　his　charms；　took　passion　on　him　and　his　heart　mourned　for　his　case。　Now　he　was　the　captain　of　a　ship；　bound　to　the　damsel's　city；　and　in　this　ship　were　a　hundred　Muslim　merchants：　so　he　said　to　Noureddin；　'Have　patience　and　all　shall　yet　be　well；　God　willing；　I　will　bring　thee　to　her。'　'When　shall　we　set　out？'　asked　Noureddin；　and　the　other　said；　'e　but　three　days　more　and　we　will　depart　in　peace　and　prosperity。'　Noureddin　was　mightily　rejoiced　at　the　captain's　words　and　thanked　him　for　his　bounty　and　kindness。　Then　he　recalled　the　days　of　lovedelight　and　union　with　his　slave　girl　without　peer；　and　he　wept　sore　and　recited　the　following　verses：

　　Will　the　passionate；　indeed；　unite　us；　me　and　thee；　And　shall　I　win　to　my　desire　by　favouring　Fate's　decree？
　　And　shall　time's　shifts　vouchsafe　me　yet　a　visit　from　my　fair　And　shall　mine　eyelids　seize　upon　thine　image　greedily？
　　Were　thine　enjoyment　to　be　bought；　I'd　buy　it　with　my　life。　But　thy　possession　is；　alack！　too　dear　for　me；　I　see。　
Then　he　went　to　the　market　and　bought　what　he　needed　of　victual　and　other　necessaries　for　the　vo