一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第24部分

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cteth　me。'　
Now　this　damsel　was　the　daughter　of　the　King　of　France；　the　which　is　a　wide　and　spacious　city；　（79）　abounding　in　arts　and　manufactures　and　rarities　and　trees　and　flowers　and　other　plants；　and　resembleth　the　city　of　Constantinople：　and　for　her　going　forth　of　her　father's　city　there　was　an　extraordinary　cause　and　thereby　hangs　a　rare　story；　that　we　will　set　out　in　due　order；　to　divert　and　delight　the　reader。　She　was　reared　with　her　father　and　mother　in　honour　and　indulgence　and　learnt　rhetoric　and　penmanship　and　arithmetic　and　martial　exercises　and　all　manner　crafts　both　of　men　and　women；　such　as　broidery　and　sewing　and　weaving　and　girdlemaking　and　silkcord　making　and　enamelling　gold　on　silver　and　silver　on　gold；　till　she　became　the　pearl　of　her　time　and　the　unique　＇jewel＇　of　her　age　and　her　day。　Moreover；　God　（to　whom　belong　might　and　majesty）　had　endowed　her　with　such　beauty　and　grace　and　elegance　and　perfection　that　she　excelled　therein　all　the　folk　of　her　time；　and　the　kings　of　the　isles　sought　her　in　marriage　of　her　father；　but　he　refused　to　give　her　to　wife　to　any　of　her　suitors；　for　that　he　loved　her　with　an　exceeding　love　and　could　not　brook　to　be　parted　from　her　an　hour。　Moreover；　he　had　no　other　daughter　than　herself　albeit　he　had　many　sons；　but　she　was　dearer　to　him　than　they。

It　chanced　one　year　that　she　fell　sick　of　an　exceeding　sickness　and　came　nigh　upon　death；　wherefore　she　made　a　vow　that；　if　she　recovered　from　her　sickness；　she　would　make　the　pilgrimage　to　a　certain　monastery；　situate　in　much　an　island；　which　was　high　in　repute　among　the　Franks　who　used　to　make　vows　to　it　and　look　for　a　blessing　therefrom。　When　she　was　whole　of　her　sickness　she　wished　to　acplish　her　vow　and　her　father　despatched　her　to　the　convent　in　a　little　ship；　with　sundry　knights　and　daughters　of　the　chief　men　of　the　city　to　wait　upon　her。　As　they　drew　near　the　island；　there　came　out　upon　them　a　ship　of　the　ships　of　the　Muslims；　champions　of　the　faith；　warring　in　the　way　of　God；　who　boarded　the　vessel　and　making　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　followin