一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第34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！

dy；　and　he　went　to　the　house　of　perdition；　his　abode　was　Gehenna　and　evil　is　the　abidingplace　＇to　which　he　went＇。　The　Khalif　marvelled　at　the　power　of　her　arm　and　the　strength　of　her　mind；　and　they　carried　the　dead　vizier　forth　of　the　palace　and　burnt　him。　Then　the　mander　of　the　Faithful　bestowed　upon　Noureddin　a　splendid　dress　of　honour　and　assigned　them　a　lodging　in　his　palace。　Moreover；　he　appointed　them　stipends　and　allowances　and　manded　to　supply　them　with　all　that　they　needed　of　raiment　and　furniture　and　vessels　of　price。

They　sojourned　awhile　in　Baghdad　in　all　delight　and　solace　of　life；　till　Noureddin　longed　for　his　mother　and　father。　So　he　expounded　the　matter　to　the　Khalif　and　sought　his　permission　to　repair　to　his　native　land　and　visit　his　kinsfolk；　and　he　granted　him　the　leave　he　sought　and　calling　for　Meryem；　mended　them　to　each　other。　Moreover；　he　loaded　them　with　costly　presents　and　rarities　and　bade　write　letters　to　the　amirs　and　scribes　and　notables　of　Cairo　the　＇God＇guarded；　mending　Noureddin　and　his　wife　and　parents　to　their　care　and　charging　them　entreat　them　with　the　utmost　honour。

When　the　news　reached　Cairo；　the　merchant　Tajeddin　rejoiced　in　the　return　of　his　son　and　Noureddin's　mother　likewise　rejoiced　therein　with　an　exceeding　joy。　The　amirs　and　notables　of　the　city　went　forth　to　meet　him；　in　obedience　to　the　Khalif's　injunction；　and　indeed　it　was　for　them　a　notable　day；　wherein　the　lover　and　the　beloved　foregathered　and　the　seeker　attained　the　sought。　Moreover；　all　the　amirs　made　them　bridefeasts；　each　on　his　own　day；　and　rejoiced　in　them　with　an　exceeding　joy　and　vied　with　each　other　in　doing　them　honour。　When　Noureddin　foregathered　with　his　father　and　mother；　they　rejoiced　in　each　other　with　the　utmost　joy　and　care　and　affliction　ceased　from　them；　whilst　his　parents　rejoiced　no　less　in　the　Princess　Meryem　and　entreated　her　with　the　utmost　honour。　Every　day；　there　came　to　them　presents　from　all　the　amirs　and　great　merchants；　and　they　were　daily　in　new　delight　and　gladness　exceeding　the　gladness　of　festival。　Then　they　abode　in　joy　and　pleasance　and　good　cheer　and　abounding　prosperity；　eating　and　drinking　and　making　merry；　till　there　came　to　them　the　Destroyer　of　Delights　and　Sunderer　of　panies；　he　who　layeth　waste　houses　and　palaces　and　peopleth　the　bellies　of　the　tombs。　So　they　were　removed　from　the　world　and　became　of　the　number　of　the　dead；　and　glory　be　to　the　Living　One；　who　dieth　not　and　in　whose　hand　are　the　keys　of　the　Seen　and　the　Unseen！



THE　MAN　OF　UPPER　EGYPT　AND　HIS　FRANK　WIFE。

（Quoth　the　Amir　Shijaeddin；　Prefect　of　New　Cairo）　We　lay　one　night　in　the　house　of　a　man　of　Upper　Egypt；　and　he　entertained　us　and　entreated　us　with　the　utmost　hospitality。　Now　he　was　an　old　man；　exceeding　swarthy　of　favour；　and　he　had　little　children；　who　were　white；　of　a　white　mingled　with　red。　So　we　said　to　him；　'Harkye；　such　an　one；　how　es　it　that　these　thy　children　are　white；　whilst　thou　thyself　art　exceeding　sother　was　a　Frank　woman；　whom　I　took　in　the　days　of　El　Melik　en　Nasir　Selaheddin；　（116）　after　the　battle　of　Hittin；　（117）　when　I　was　a　young　man。'　'And　how　gottest　thou　her？'　asked　we；　and　he　said；　'I　had　a　rare　adventure　with　her。'　Quoth　we；　'Favour　us　with　it；'　and　he　answered；　'With　all　my　heart。

Know　that　I　once　sowed　a　crop　of　flax　in　these　parts　and　pulled　it　and　scutched　it　and　spent　five　hundred　dinars　on　it；　after　which　I　would　have　sold　it；　but　could　get　no　more　than　this　＇that　I　had　spent＇　for　it；　and　the　folk　said　to　me；　〃Carry　it　to　Acre：　for　there　thou　wilt　assuredly　make　a　good　profit　by　it。〃　Now　Acre　was　then　in　the　hands　of　the　Franks；　（118）　so　I　carried　my　flax　thither　and　sold　part　of　it　at　six　months'　credit。　One　day；　as　I　was　selling；　there　came　up　a　Frankish　woman；　（now　it　is　the　custom　of　the　women　of　the　Franks　to　go　about　the　marketplace　＇and　the　streets＇　with　unveiled　faces；）　to　buy　flax　of　me；　and　I　saw　of　her　beauty　what　dazzled　my　wit。　So　I　sold　her　somewhat　of　flax　and　was　easy　with　her　concerning　the　price；　and　she　took　it　and　went　away。　Some　days　after；　she　returned　and　bought　more　flax　of　me　and　I　was　yet　easier　with　her　about　the　price；　and　she　repeated　her　visits　to　me；　seeing　that　I　was　in　love　with　her。

Now　she　was　used　to　go　in　pany　of　an　old　woman　；　so　I　said　to　the　latter；　〃I　am　sore　enamoured　of　thy　mistress。　Canst　thou　contrive　to　bring　me　to　enjoy　her？〃　Quoth　she；　〃I　will　contrive　this　for　thee；　but　the　secret　must　not　go　beyond　us　three；　and　needs　must　thou　be　lavish　with　money；　to　boot。〃　And　I　answered；　〃Though　my　life　were　the　price　of　her　favours；　it　were　no　great　matter。〃　So　it　was　agreed　that　I　should　pay　her　fifty　dinars　and　that　she　should　e　to　me；　whereupon　I　procured　the　money　and　gave　it　to　the　old　woman。　She　took　it　and　said；　〃Make　ready　a　place　for　her　in　thy　house；　and　she　will　e　to　thee　this　night。〃　So　I　went　home　and　made　ready　what　I　could　of　meat　and　drink　and　wax　candles　and　sweet　meats。　Now　my　house　overlooked　the　sea　and　it　was　the　season　of　summer；　so　I　spread　the　bed　on　the　roof　of　the　house。

Presently；　the　Frank　woman　came　and　we　ate　and　drank　and　the　night　fell　down。　We　lay　down　under　the　sky；　with　the　moon　shining　on　us；　and　fell　to　watching　the　reflection　of　the　stars　in　the　sea：　and　I　said　to　myself；　〃Art　thou　not　ashamed　before　God　（to　whom　belong　might　and　majesty！）　and　thou　a　stranger；　under　the　heavens　and　in　presence　of　the　sea；　to　disobey　Him　with　a　Nazarene　woman　and　merit　the　fiery　torment？〃　Then　said　I；　〃O　my　God；　I　call　thee　to　witness　that　I　abstain　from　this　Christian　woman　this　night；　of　shamefastness　before　Thee　and　fear　of　Thy　wrath！〃　So　I　slept　till　the　morning；　and　she　arose　at　peep　of　day　and　went　away；　full　of　anger。　I　went　to　my　shop　and　sat　there；　and　presently　she　passed；　as　she　were　the　moon；　followed　by　the　old　woman；　who　was　angry；　whereat　my　heart　sank　within　me　and　I　said　to　myself；　〃Who　art　thou　that　thou　shouldst　forbear　yonder　damsel？　Art　thou　Seri　es　Seketi　or　Bishr　Barefoot　or　Junaid　of　Baghdad　or　Fuzail　ben　Iyaz？〃　（119）

Then　I　ran　after　the　old　woman　and　said　to　her；　〃Bring　her　to　me　again。〃　〃By　the　virtue　of　the　Messiah；〃　answered　she；　〃she　will　not　return　to　thee　but　for　a　hundred　dinars！〃　Quoth　I；　〃I　will　give　thee　a　hundred　dinars。〃　So　I　paid　her　the　money　and　the　damsel　came　to　me　a　second　time；　but　no　sooner　was　she　with　me　than　I　returned　to　my　former　way　of　thinking　and　abstained　from　her　and　forbore　her　for　the　sake　of　God　the　Most　High。　So　she　went　away　and　I　betook　me　to　my　shop；　and　presently　the　old　woman　came　up；　in　a　rage。　Quoth　I　to　her；　〃Bring　her　to　me　again。〃　And　she　answered；　〃By　the　virtue　of　the　Messiah；　thou　shalt　never　again　rejoice　in　her　presence　with　thee；　except　for　five　hundred　dinars；　and　thou　shalt　perish　miserably！〃　At　this　I　trembled　and　resolved　to　sacrifice　the　whole　price　of　my　flax　and　ransom　myself　therewith。　But；　before　I　could　think；　I　heard　the　crier　proclaiming　and　saying；　〃Ho；　all　ye　Muslims；　the　truce　that　was　between　us　and　you　is　expired；　and　we　give　all　of　you　who　are　here　a　week　from　this　time　to　make　an　end　of　your　business　and　depart　to　your　own　country。〃

So　her　visits　were　cut　off　from　me　and　I　betook　myself　to　getting　in　the　price　of　my　flax；　that　I　had　sold　upon　credit；　and　bartering　what　remained　in　my　hands　for　other　modities。　Then　I　took　with　me　goodly　mer　chandise　and　departing　Acre；　full　of　love　and　longing　for　the　Frankish　woman；　for　that　she　had　taken　my　heart　and　my　money；　repaired　to　Damascus；　where　I　sold　my　merchandise；　that　I　had　brought　from　Acre；　at　a　great　price；　because　of　the　cutting　off　of　munication　by　reason　of　the　expiry　of　the　truce；　and　God　（blessed　and　exalted　be　He！）　vouchsafed　me　a　good　profit。　Then　I　fell　to　trafficking　in　captive　slavegirls；　thinking　thus　to　ease　my　heart　of　its　longing　for　the　Frankish　woman；　and　on　this　wise　I　abode　three　years；　till　there　befell　between　El　Melik　en　Nasir　and　the　Franks　what　befell　of　the　battle　of　Hittin　and　other　encounters　and　God　gave　him　the　victory　over　them；　so　that　he　took　all　their　kings　prisoners　and　opened　（120）　the　cities　of　the　coast　（121）　by　His　leave。

One　day；　after　this；　there　came　a　man　to　me　and　sought　of　me　a　slavegirl　for　El　Melik　en　Nasir。　Now　I　had　a　handsome　girl；　so　I　showed　her　to　him　and　he　bought　her　of　me　for　a　hundred　dinars　and　gave　me　niy　thereof；　leaving　ten　still　due　to　me；　for　that　there　was　no　more　found　with　the　king　that　day；　because　he　had　expended　all　his　treasures　in　waging　war　against　the　Franks。　So　they　took　counsel　with　him　and　he　said；　〃Carry　him　to　the　tent　（122）　where　are　the　captives　and　give　him　his　choice　among　the　damsels　of　the　Franks；　so　he　may　take　one　of　them　for　the　ten　dinars　that　are　due　to　him。〃　So　they　brought　me　to　the　prisoners'　lodging　and　showed　me　all　who　were　therein；　and　I　saw　amongst　them　the　Frank　damsel　with　whom　I　had　fallen　in　love　at　Acre　and　knew　her　right　well。

Now　she　was　the　wife　of　one　of　the　cavaliers　of　the　Franks。　So　I　said；　〃Give　me　this　one；〃　and　carrying　her　to　my　tent；　said　to　her；　〃Dost　thou　know　me？〃　She　answered　〃No；〃　and　I　said；　〃I　am　the　flax　merchant　with　whom　thou　hadst　to　do　at　Acre。　Thou　tookst　money　of　me　and　saidst；　'Thou　shalt　never　again　see　me　but　for　five　hundred　dina