一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第3部分

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　　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；　'May　God　dilate　thy　breast　and　do　away　thy　trouble！'　And　she　aaid；　'O　Mesrour；　I　am　used　to　play　at　chess：　knowest　thou　aught　of　the　game？'　'Yes；'　answered　he；　'I　am　skilled　therein；'　whereupon　she　bade　her　maid　Huboub　fetch　her　the　chessboard。　So　she　went　away　and　presently　returning　with　the　board；　set　it　before　her；　and　behold；　it　was　of　ebony　inlaid　with　ivory；　with　squares　traced　out　in　glittering　gold；　and　its　pieces　were　of　pearl　and　ruby。　Mesrour　was　amazed　at　this　and　she　said　to　him；　'Wilt　thou　have　red　or　white？'　'O　princess　of　fair　ones　and　adornment　of　the　morning；'　answered　he；　'do　thou　take　the　red；　for　they　are　handsome　and　fitter　for　the　like　of　thee；　and　leave　me　the　white。'　'So　be　it；'　answered　she　and　taking　the　red　pieces；　ranged　them　opposite　the　white；　then　put　out　her　hand　to　make　the　first　move。

He　looked　at　her　fingers；　which　were　white　as　paste；　and　was　confounded　at　their　beauty　and　elegant　shape；　whereupon　she　turned　to　him　and　said；　'O　Mesrour；　be　not　bewildered；　but　take　patience　and　calm　thyself。'　'O　thou　whose　beauty　puts　the　moons　to　shame；'　answered　he；　'how　shall　a　lover　look　on　thee　and　have　patience？'　'Checkmate！'　（7）　said　she　and　beat　him；　wherefore　she　knew　that　he　was　mad　for　love　of　her　and　said　to　him；　'O　Mesrour；　I　will　not　play　with　thee　save　for　a　set　stake。'　'I　hear　and　obey；'　answered　he　and　she　said；　'Swear　to　me　and　I　will　swear　to　thee　that　neither　of　us　will　cheat　the　other。'　So　they　swore　this　and　she　said；　'O　Mesrour；　if　I　beat　thee；　I　will　have　ten　dinars　of　thee；　and　if　thou　beat　me；　I　will　give　thee　nothing。'　'O　my　lady；'　rejoined　he；　'be　not　false　to　thine　oath；　for　I　see　thou　art　an　over　match　for　me　at　this　game！'　'Agreed；'　said　she　and　they　ranged　their　men　and　fell　again　to　playing。

Now　she　had　on　her　head　a　kerchief　of　blue　brocade；　so　she　laid　it　aside　and　tucking　up　her　sleeve；　showed　a　wrist　like　a　shaft　of　light　and　passed　her　hand　over　the　red　pieces；　saying　to　him；　'Look　to　thyself。'　But　he　was　dazzled　at　her　beauty　and　the　sight　of　her　charms　bereft　him　of　reason；　so　that　he　became　dazed　and　stupefied　and　put　out　his　hand　to　the　white　men；　but　it　lit　upon　the　red。　'O　Mesrour；'　said　she；　'where　are　thy　senses？　The　red　are　mine　and　the　white　thine。'　And　he　replied；　'Who　can　look　on　thee；　without　losing　his　senses？'　Then；　seeing　how　it　was　with　him；　she　took　the　white　from　him　and　gave　him　the　red；　and　they　played　and　she　beat　him。

He　ceased　not　to　play　with　her　and　she　to　beat　him；　whilst　he　paid　her　each　time　ten　dinars；　till；　seeing　him　to　be　distracted　for　love　of　her；　she　said　to　him；　'O　Mesrour；　thou　wilt　never　e　to　thy　desire；　except　thou　beat　me；　and　henceforth；　I　will　not　play　with　thee　save　for　a　stake　of　a　hundred　dinars　a　game。'　'With　all　my　heart；'　answered　he　and　they　went　on　playing；　whilst　she　still　beat　him　and　he　won　not　a　single　game；　but　paid　her　a　hundred　dinars　each　time；　and　on　this　wise　they　abode　till　the　morning；　when　he　rose。　Quoth　she；　'What　wilt　thou；　O　Mesrour？'　And　he　replied；　'I　mean　to　go　to　my　lodging　and　fetch　somewhat　of　money：　it　may　be　I　shall　attain　my　desire。'　'Do　as　seemeth　good　to　thee；'　said　she。　So　he　went　home　and　taking　all　the　money　he　had；　returned　to　her；　reciting　the　following　verses：

　　Methought　I　caught　a　bird　in　sleep；　as　I　did　deem；　All　in　a　garden　fair　with　smiling　flowers　agleam。
　　That　I　shall　get　of　thee　the　amorous　delight；　Th'　interpretation　is；　meseems；　of　this　my　dream。　
Then　they　fell　aplaying　again；　but　she　still　beat　him　and　he　could　not　beat　her　once；　and　on　this　wise　they　abode　three　days；　till　she　had　gotten　of　him　all　his　money：　whereupon；　'O　Mesrour；'　said　she；　'what　wilt　thou　do　now？'　And　he　answered；　'I　will　stake　thee　a　druggist's　shop。'　'What　is　its　worth？'　asked　she；　and　he　replied；　'Five　hundred　dinars。'　So　they　played　and　she　won　the　shop　of　him　in　five　bouts。　Then　he　staked　slavegirls　and　lands　and　houses　and　gardens；　and　she　won　them　all；　till　she　had　gotten　of　him　all　he　had；　whereupon　she　turned　to　him　and　said；　'Hast　thou　aught　left　to　stake？'　'By　Him　who　made　me　fall　into　the　snare　of　thy　love；'　answered　he；　'I　have　neither　money　nor　aught　else　left；　little　or　much！'　'O　Mesrour；'　said　she；　'the　end　of　that　whose　beginning　was　contentment　shall　not　be　repentance；　wherefore；　if　thou　repent　thee；　take　back　thy　good　and　begone　from　us；　and　I　e。'　'By　Him　who　decreed　these　things　to　us；'　replied　Mesrour；　'though　thou　soughtest　to　take　my　life；　it　were　a　little　thing；　pared　to　thine　approof；　for　I　love　none　but　thee！'

Then　said　she；　'Go　and　fetch　the　Cadi　and　the　witnesses　and　make　over　to　me　by　deed　all　thy　lands　and　possessions。'　'Willingly；'　replied　he　and　going　out　forthright；　returned　with　the　Cadi　and　the　witnesses。　When　the　magistrate　saw　her；　his　reason　fled　and　his　mind　was　troubled　by　reason　of　the　beauty　of　her　fingers；　and　he　said　to　her；　'O　my　lady；　I　will　not　draw　up　the　deed　of　conveyance；　save　upon　condition　that　thou　purchase　the　lands　and　houses　and　slavegirls　and　that　they　all　pass　under　thy　control　and　into　thy　possession。'　'We　are　agreed　upon　that；'