一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第22部分

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　dirhems　of　him；　and　tomorrow　pay　him　the　whole　eighty　from　the　price　of　the　girdles。'

So　he　repaired　to　the　druggist　and　said　to　him；　'O　uncle；　lend　me　other　thirty　dirhems；　and　tomorrow；　God　willing；　I　will　repay　thee　the　whole　fourscore。'　The　old　man　counted　him　out　thirty　dirhems；　with　which　he　went　to　the　market　and　buying　meat　and　bread　and　dessert　and　fruit　and　flowers　as　before；　carried　them　home　to　the　damsel；　whose　name　was　Meryem；　the　girdlemaker。　She　rose　forthright　and　making　ready　rich　meats；　set　them　before　Noureddin；　after　which　she　brought　wine；　and　they　drank　and　plied　each　other　with　liquor。　When　the　wine　began　to　sport　with　their　senses；　his　beauty　and　grace　pleased　her　and　the　elegance　of　his　manners；　and　she　recited　the　following　verses：

　　Unto　a　slender　one；　who　with　a　goblet　came　With　musk　from　out　his　breath　perfumed；　to　give　it　zest。
　　Quoth　I；　'Was't　not　express　from　out　thy　cheeks？'　But　'Nay；'　He　answered；　'when　was　wine　from　roses　yet　exprest？'　
And　she　ceased　not　to　carouse　with　him　and　ply　him　　that　he　should　fill　to　her　and　give　her　to　drink　of　that　which　sweetens　the　spirits；　and　whenever　he　laid　his　hand　on　her；　she　drew　back　from　him；　out　of　coquetry。　The　wine　added　to　her　beauty　and　gee；　and　Noureddin　recited　these　verses：

　　A　slender　one；　desiring　wine；　unto　her　lover　said；　In　an　assembly；　whenas　he　did　sickness　for　her　dread；
　　'An　if　thou　give　me　not　to　drink；　I'll　banish　thee　my　bed　This　night：'　wherefore　he　feared　and　filled　to　her　the　vinejuice　red。　
They　gave　not　over　drinking　till　drunkenness　got　the　mastery　of　Noureddin　and　he　slept；　whereupon　she　rose　and　fell　to　work　upon　a　girdle；　according　to　her　wont。　When　she　had　wrought　it　to　end；　she　wrapped　it　in　paper　and　putting　off　her　clothes；　lay　down　by　his　side；　and　they　passed　the　night　in　dalliance　and　delight。

On　the　morrow；　she　gave　him　the　girdle　and　bade　him　carry　it　to　the　market　and　sell　it　for　twenty　dinars；　like　as　he　had　sold　its　fellow　the　day　before。　So　he　went　to　the　market　and　sold　the　girdle　for　twenty　dinars；　after　which　he　repaired　to　the　druggist　and　paid　him　back　the　four　score　diadems；　thanking　him　for　his　bounties　and　calling　down　blessings　upon　him。　'O　my　son；'　said　he；　'hast　thou　sold　the　damsel？'　'Wouldst　thou　have　me　sell　the　soul　out　of　my　body？'　answered　Noureddin　and　told　him　all　that　had　passed；　whereat　the　druggist　was　mightily　pleased　and　said　to　him；　'By　Allah；　O　my　son；　thou　rejoicest　me！　So　God　please；　mayst　thou　still　abide　in　prosperity！　Indeed　I　wish　thee　well　by　reason　of　my　affection　for　thy　father　and　the　continuance　of　our　friendship。'　Then　he　took　leave　of　him　and　going　to　the　market；　bought　meat　and　fruit　and　wine　and　all　that　he　needed；　as　of　wont；　and　returned　therewith　to　Meryem。

They　abode　thus　a　whole　year　in　eating　and　drinking　and　sport　and　merriment　and　love　and　good　cheer；　and　every　night　she　made　a　girdle　and　he　sold　it　on　the　morrow　for　twenty　dinars；　wherewith　he　bought　what　they　needed　and　gave　the　rest　to　her；　to　keep　against　a　time　of　need。　After　this；　she　said　to　him　one　day；　'O　my　lord；　when　thou　sellest　the　girdle　tomorrow；　buy　me　silk　of　six　colours　with　its　price；　for　I　have　a　mind　to　make　thee　a　kerchief　to　wear　on　thy　shoulders；　such　as　never　son　of　merchant；　no；　nor　king's　son；　ever　rejoiced　in　its　fellow。'　So　next　day　he　brought　her　what　she　aught　and　she　wrought　at　the　kerchief　a　whole　week；　for；　every　night；　when　she　had　made　an　end　of　the　girdle；　she　would　work　awhile　at　the　kerchief。　When　it　was　finished；　she　gave　it　to　Noureddin；　who　put　it　on　his　shoulders　and　went　out　to　walk　in　the　market；　whilst　all　the　merchants　and　people　and　notables　of　the　town　crowded　about　him；　to　gaze　on　his　beauty　and　that　of　the　kerchief。

One　night；　after　this；　he　awoke　from　sleep　and　found　Meryem　weeping　passing　sore　and　reciting　the　following　verses：

　　The　severance　of　friends　draws　near　and　nearer　aye：　Alas　for　severance！　Alas；　the　parting　day！
　　My　heart　is　rent　in　twain；　and　O　my　grief　for　those　The　nights　of　our　delight　that　now　are　past　away！
　　Needs　must　the　envier　look　on　us　with　evil　eye　And　e　to　his　desire　of　that　he　doth　essay；
　　For　nought　can　irk　us　more　than　envy　and　the　eyes　Of　backbiters　and　spies；　nor　work　us　more　dismay。　
'O　my　lady　Meryem；'　said　he；　'what　ails　thee　to　weep？'　'I　weep　for　the　anguish　of　parting；'　answered　she；　'for　my　heart　forebodes　me　thereof。'　Quoth　he；　'O　lady　of　fair　ones；　and　who　shall　part　us；　seeing　that　I　love　and　tender　thee　above　all　creatures？'　And　she　replied；　'And　I　love　thee　twice　as　well　as　thou　me；　but　＇blind＇　confidence　in　fortune　still　causes　folk　fall　into　affliction；　and　right　well　saith　the　poet：

　　Thou　thoughtest　well　of　Fate；　whilst　yet　the　days　for　thee　were　fair；　And　fearedst　not　the　unknown　ills　that　destiny　might　bring。
　　The　nights　were　calm　and　safe　for　thee；　thou　wast　deceived　by　them；　For　in　the　peace　of　night　betides　full　many　a　troublous　thing。
　　Lo；　in　the　skies　are　many　stars；　no　one　can　tell　their　tale；　But　to　the　sun　and　moon　alone　eclipse　brings　darkening。
　　The　earth　bears　many　a　pleasant　herb　and　many　a　plant　and　tree；　But　none　is　stoned　save　only　that　to　which　the　fair　fruits　cling。
　　Seest　not　the　sea　and　how　the　waifs　float　up　upon　the　foam？　But　in　its　deepest　depths　of　blue　the　pearls　have　sojourning。　
O　my　lord　Noureddin；'　added　she；　'if　thou　desire　to　avert　separation；　be　on　thy　guard　against　a　swartvisaged；　bushybearded　old　Frank；　blind　of　the　right　eye　and　lame　of　the　left　leg；　for　he　it　is　who　will　be　the　cause　of　our　separation。　I　saw　him　enter　the　city　＇today＇　and　methinks　he　is　e　hither　in　quest　of　me。'　'O　lady　of　fair　ones；'　replied　Noureddin；　'if　my　eyes　light　on　him；　I　will　slay　him　and　make　an　example　of　him。'　'O　my　lord；'　rejoined　she；　'slay　him　not；　but　talk　not　nor　trade　with　him；　neither　buy　nor　sell　with　him　nor　sit　nor　walk　with　him　nor　speak　one　word　to　him；　no；　not　even　to　make　the　prescribed　answer；　（78）　and　I　pray　God　to　keep　us　from　his　craft　and　mischief！'

Next　morning；　Noureddin　carried　the　girdle　to　the　market；　where　he　sat　down　on　a　bench　before　a　shop　and　talked　with　the　young　merchants；　till　drowsiness　overcame　him　and　he　lay　down　on　the　bench　and　fell　asleep。　Presently；　up　came　the　Frank　whom　the　damsel　had　described　to　him；　in　pany　of　seven　others；　and　seeing　Noureddin　lying　asleep　on　the　bench；　with　his　head　wrapped　in　the　kerchief　which　Meryem　had　made　him　and　the　end　thereof　in　his　hand；　sat　down　by　him　and　took　the　end　of　the　kerchief　in　his　hand　and　examined　it。　This　disturbed　Noureddin　and　he　awoke　and　seeing　the　very　man　sitting　by　him　of　whom　Meryem　had　warned　him；　cried　out　at　him　with　a　great　cry；　that　startled　him。　Quoth　the　Frank；　'What　ails　thee　to　cry　out　thus　at　us？　Have　we　taken　aught　from　thee？'　'By　Allah；　O　accursed　one；'　replied　Noureddin；　'hadst　thou　taken　aught　from　me；　I　would　hale　thee　before　the　master　of　police！'

Then　said　the　Frank；　'O　Muslim；　I　conjure　thee　by　thy　faith　and　by　that　in　which　thou　believest；　tell　me　whence　thou　hadst　that　kerchief。'　And　Noureddin　answered；　'It　is　the　handiwork　of　my　mother；　who　made　it　for　me　with　her　own　hand。'　'Wilt　thou　sell　it　to　me？'　asked　the　Frank。　'By　Allah；　O　accursed　one；'　replied　Noureddin；　'I　will　not　sell　it　to　thee　nor　to　any　other；　for　she　made　none　other　than　it。'　'Sell　it　to　me；'　repeated　the　Frank；　'and　I　will　give　thee　to　its　price　eve　hundred　dinars　ready　money；　and　let　her　who　made　it　make　thee　another　and　handsomer。'　But　Noureddin　said；　'I　will　not　sell　it　at　all；　for　there　is　not　the　like　of　it　in　this　city。'　'O　my　lord；'　insisted　the　Frank；　'wilt　thou　sell　it　for　six　hundred　dinars　of　fine　gold？'　And　he　went　on　to　add　to　his　offer　hundred　by　hundred；　till　he　bid　nine　hundred　dinars；　but　Noureddin　said；　'God　will　provide　me　otherwise　than　by　my　selling　it。　I　will　never　sell　it；　no；　not　for　two　thousand　dinars　nor　more　than　that。'

Then　the　Frank　went　on　to　tempt　him　with　money；　till　he　bid　him　a　thousand　dinars；　and　the　merchants　present　said；　'We　sell　thee　the　kerchief　at　that　price：　pay　down　the　money。'　Quoth　Noureddin；　'By　Allah；　I　will　not　sell　it！'　But　one　of　the　merchants　said　to　him；　'O　my　son；　the　worth　of　this　kerchief　is　a　hundred　dinars　at　most　and　that　to　an　eager　purchaser；　and　if　this　Frank　pay　thee　down　a　thousand　for　it；　thy　profit　will　be　nine　hundred　dinars；　and　what　profit　canst　thou　desire　greater　than　that？　Wherefore　it　is　my　counsel　that　thou　sell　him　the　kerchief　at　that　price　and　gain　nine　hundred　dinars　by　this　accursed　Frank；　the　enemy　of　God　and　of　the　faith；　and　bid　her　who　wrought　it　make　thee　other　or　handsomer　than　it。'

Noureddin　was　abashed　at　the　merchants　and　sold　the　kerchief　to　the　Frank；　who；　in　their　presence；　paid　him　down　the　thousand　dinars；　with　which　he　would　have　returned　to　Meryem；　to　tell　her　what　had　passed；　but　the　stranger　said；　'Harkye；　O　pany　of　merchants；　stop　my　lord　Noureddin；　for　you　and　he　are　my　guests　this　night。　I　have　a　pitcher　of　old　Greek　wine　and　a　fat　lamb　and　fruit　and　flowers　and　confections；　wherefore　needs　must　ye　all　cheer　me　with　your　pany　tonight　and　not　one　of　you　tarry　behind。'　So　the　merchants　said　to　Noureddin；　'O　my　lord　Noureddin；　we　desire　that　thou　be　with　us　on　the　like　of　this　n