一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第27部分

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ffertorychest　and　took　thence　of　jewels　what　was　light　of　weight　and　great　of　worth。

Then　he　waited　till　the　first　watch　of　the　night　was　past；　when　he　made　his　way　to　the　postern　and　opening　it；　went　forth；　calling　on　God　for　protection；　and　fared　on；　till　he　came　to　the　sea。　Here　he　found　the　vessel　moored　to　the　shore；　near　the　gate；　with　her　captain；　a　tall　old　man　of　ely　aspect；　with　a　long　beard；　standing　in　the　waist；　surrounded　by　his　ten　men。　Noureddin　gave　him　his　hand；　as　Meryem　had　bidden　him；　and　the　captain　took　it　and　pulling　him　on　board；　cried　out　to　his　crew；　saying；　'Cast　off　the　moorings　and　put　out　to　sea　with　us；　ere　the　day　break。'　'O　my　lord　the　captain；'　said　one　of　the　sailors；　'how　shall　we　put　out　now　when　the　king　hath　notified　us　that　tomorrow　he　will　embark　in　this　ship　and　go　round　about　this　sea；　being　fearful　for　his　daughter　Meryem　from　the　Muslim　thieves？'　But　the　captain　cried　out　at　them；　saying；　'Woe　to　you；　O　accursed　ones！　Dare　ye　gainsay　me　and　bandy　words　with　me？'　So　saying；　he　drew　his　sword　and　dealt　the　sailor　who　had　spoken　a　thrust　in　the　throat；　that　the　steel　came　out　gleaming　from　his　nape；　and　quoth　another　of　the　sailors；　'What　crime　hath　our　rade　mitted；　that　thou　shouldst　cut　off　his　head？'　The　captain　replied　by　putting　his　hand　to　his　sword　and　striking　off　the　speaker's　head；　nor　did　he　leave　smiting　the　rest　of　the　sailors；　till　he　had　slain　them　all　and　cast　their　bodies　ashore。　Then　he　turned　to　Noureddin　and　cried　out　at　him　with　a　terrible　great　cry；　that　made　him　tremble；　saying；　'Go　down　and　pull　up　the　mooringstake。'　Noureddin　feared　lest　he　should　strike　him　also　with　the　sword；　so　he　leapt　ashore　and　pulling　up　the　stake；　sprang　aboard　again；　swiftlier　than　the　dazzling　lightning。　The　captain　ceased　not　to　bid　him　do　this　and　do　that　and　tack　and　wear　and　look　at　the　stare　and　Noureddin　did　all　that　he　bade　him；　with　heart　atremble　for　fear；　whilst　he　himself　spread　the　sails　and　the　ship　stretched　out　with　them　with　a　fair　wind　into　the　surging　sea；　swollen　with　clashing　billows。　Noureddin　held　on　to　the　tackle；　drowned　in　the　sea　of　solicitude　and　knowing　not　what　was　hidden　for　him　in　the　future；　and　whenever　he　looked　at　the　captain；　his　heart　quaked　and　he　knew　not　whither　he　went　with　him。

He　abode　thus；　distraught　with　concern　and　inquietude；　till　it　was　broad　day；　when　he　looked　at　the　captain　and　saw　him　take　hold　of　his　beard　and　pull　at　it；　whereupon　it　came　off　in　his　hand　and　Noureddin；　examining　it；　saw　that　it　was　but　a　false　beard　stuck　on。　So　he　considered　the　captain　straitly；　and　behold；　it　was　the　Princess　Meryem；　his　mistress　and　the　beloved　of　his　heart；　who　had　waylaid　the　captain　and　killed　him　and　skinned　off　his　beard；　which　she　had　clapped　on　to　her　own　face。　At　this　Noureddin　was　transported　for　joy　and　his　breast　dilated　and　he　marvelled　at　her　valour　and　prowess　and　the　stoutness　of　her　heart　and　said　to　her；　'Wele；　O　thou　my　hope　and　my　desire　and　the　end　of　all　my　wishes！'　Then　desire　and　gladness　agitated　him　and　he　made　sure　of　attaining　his　hope　and　his　wish　；　wherefore　he　broke　out　into　carol　and　sang　the　following　verses：

　　Say　to　those　who　know　nought　of　my　transport　and　heat　For　a　loved　one；　whose　favours　they　never　may　meet；
　　'Ask　my　folk　of　my　passion：　my　verses　are　sweet　And　dainty　the　ditties　of　love　I　repeat　
　　On　a　people　whose　thought　in　my　heart　hath　its　seat。'
　　Their　mention　with　me　chaseth　sickness　away　From　my　bosom　and　heals　me　of　pain　and　dismay；
　　My　love　and　my　longing　increase　on　me　aye　And　my　heart　is　distracted　with　ecstasy；　yea；　
　　I'm　a　byword　bee　'mongst　the　folk　in　the　street。
　　I　will　not　accept　aught　of　blame　on　their　part　Nor　seek　solace　in　other　than　them　for　love's　smart。
　　Love　hath　pierced　me；　for　grief　and　regret；　with　a　dart　and　hath　kindled　a　brazier　therefrom　in　my　heart；　
　　Yea；　still　in　my　liver　there　rageth　its　heat。
　　My　sickness　the　folk　for　a　wonderment　cite　And　my　wakefulness　all　through　the　darkness　of　night。
　　What　ailed　them　my　weakness　with　rigour　to　smite？　In　passion　the　shedding　my　blood　they　deem　right；　
　　Yet　justly　they　me　with　injustice　entreat。
　　I　wonder　who　charged　you　to　drive　to　despair　A　youth　who　still　loves　and　will　love　you　fore'er？
　　By　my　life　and　by　Him　your　Creator　I　swear；　If　a　saying　of　you　should　the　backbiters　bear；　
　　By　Allah；　they　lie　in　the　tale　they　repeat！
　　May　God　not　dispel　from　me　sickness　and　pain　Nor　my　heart　of　its　thirst　and　its　longing　assain；
　　Of　your　love　for　satiety　when　I　plain！　Indeed；　to　none　other　that　you　am　I　fain。
　　Wring　my　heart　or　show　favour；　as　seems　to　you　meet。
　　My　heart　to　your　mem'ry　shall　ever　be　true；　Though　your　rigours　should　rack　it　and　cause　it　to　rue；
　　Rejection　abides　and　acceptance　with　you：　So　whatever　you　will　with　your　bondman；　that　do；　
　　He'll　grudge　not　his　life　to　lay　down　at　your　feet。　
The　princess　marvelled　at　his　song　and　thanked　him　therefor；　saying；　'Him　whose　case　is　thus　it　behoveth　to　walk　the　ways　of　men　and　eschew　the　fashion　of　losers　and　poltroons。'　Now　she　was　stout　of　heart　and　versed　in　the　sailing　of　ships　over　the　salt　sea；　and　she　knew　all　the　winds　and　their　changes　and　all　the　courses　of　the　sea。　'O　my　lady；'　said　Noureddin；　'hadst　thou　prolonged　this　case　on　me；　（91）　I　had　surely　died　for　excess　of　fear　and　chagrin；　more　by　token　of　the　fire　of　passion　and　love　longing　and　the　cruel　anguish　of　separation。'　She　laughed　at　his　speech　and　presently　rising；　brought　out　somewhat　of　meat　and　drink；　and　they　ate　and　drank　and　made　merry。　Then　she　brought　out　rubies　and　other　gems　and　precious　stones　and　trinkets　of　gold　and　silver　and　all　manner　things　of　price；　light　of　carriage　and　great　of　worth；　that　she　had　taken　from　the　palace　of　her　father　and　his　treasuries；　and　showed　them　to　Noureddin；　who　rejoiced　therein　with　an　exceeding　joy。

Meanwhile　the　wind　blew　fair　for　them　and　they　sailed　on；　without　hindrance；　till　they　drew　near　the　city　of　Alexandria　and　sighted　its　landmarks；　old　and　new；　and　Pompey's　Pillar。　When　they　reached　the　port；　Noureddin　landed　and　making　the　ship　fast　to　one　of　the　Fulling　Stones；　took　somewhat　of　the　treasures　that　Meryem　had　brought　with　her；　and　said　to　her；　'O　my　lady；　abide　in　the　ship　against　I　＇return　and＇　carry　thee　up　into　the　city　on　such　wise　as　I　should　wish。'　Quoth　she；　'It　behoves　that　this　be　done　quickly；　for　tardiness　in　affairs　engenders　repentance。'　'There　is　no　tardiness　in　me；'　answered　he　and　leaving　her　in　the　ship；　went　up　into　the　city　to　the　druggist's　house；　to　borrow　of　his　wife　for　Meryem　veil　and　muffler　and　mantle　and　walking　boots；　after　the　usage　of　the　women　of　Alexandria；　knowing　not　that　there　was　appointed　to　betide　him　of　the　vicissitudes　of　time；　the　father　of　wonders；　that　which　was　not　in　his　reckoning。

Meanwhile；　when　the　King　of　France　arose　in　the　morning；　he　missed　his　daughter　and　questioned　her　eunuchs　and　women　of　her。　'O　our　lord；'　answered　they；　'she　went　out　last　night；　to　go　to　the　church；　and　after　that　we　know　nothing　of　her。'　But；　as　the　king　talked　with　them；　there　arose　a　great　clamour　of　cries　without　the　palace；　that　the　place　rang　thereto；　and　he　said；　。What　is　to　do？'　'O　king；'　answered　the　folk；　'we　have　found　ten　men　slain　on　the　seashore；　and　thy　ship　is　missing。　Moreover；　we　found　the　postern　of　the　church；　that　gives　upon　the　alley　leading　to　the　sea；　open　and　the　Muslim　prisoner；　who　serves　in　the　church；　missing。'　Quoth　the　king；　'If　my　ship　be　missing；　without　doubt　my　daughter　is　in　it。'　So　he　summoned　the　captain　of　the　port　and　cried　out　at　him；　saying；　'By　the　virtue　of　the　Messiah　and　the　True　Faith；　except　thou　overtake　my　ship　forthright　with　troops　and　bring　it　back　to　me；　with　those　who　are　therein；　I　will　put　thee　to　death　after　the　foulest　fashion　and　make　an　example　of　thee！'

The　captain　went　out　from　before　him；　trembling；　and　betook　himself　to　the　old　woman　of　the　church；　to　whom　said　he；　'Heardest　thou　aught　from　the　captive；　that　was　with　thee；　concerning　his　native　land　and　what　countryman　he　was？'　And　she　answered；　'He　used　to　say；　〃I　e　from　the　town　of　Alexandria。〃'　When　the　captain　heard　this；　he　returned　forthright　to　the　port　and　cried　out　to　the　sailors　to　make　sail。　So　they　did　his　bidding　and　straightway　putting　out　to　sea；　sailed　night　and　day　till　they　came　in　sight　of　the　city　of　Alexandria；　what　time　Noureddin　landed；　leaving　the　princess　in　the　ship。　They　soon　espied　the　king's　bark　and　knew　it；　so　they　moored　their　own　vessel　at　a　distance　therefrom　and　putting　off　in　a　little　ship　they　had　with　them；　which　drew　but　three　feet　of　water　and　in　which　were　a　hundred　fightingmen；　amongst　them　the　oneeyed　vizier　（for　that　he　was　a　stubborn　tyrant　and　a　froward　devil　and　a　wily　thief；　none　could　avail　against　his　craft；　as　he　were　Abou　Mohammed　el　Bettal　（92））　rowed　up　to　the　bark　and　boarding　her；　all　at　once；　found　none　therein　save　the　Princess　Meryem。　So　they　took　her　and　the　ship；　and　returning　to　their　own　vessel；　after　they　had　landed　and　waited　a　long　while；　（93）　set　sail　forthright　for　the　land　of　the　Franks；　having　acplished　their　errand；　without　drawing　sword。

The　wind　blew　fair　for　them　and　they　sailed　on；　without　hind