一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第16章

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Then　said　one　of　the　sons　of　the　merchants；　'My　life　on　thee；　O　my　lord　Noureddin；　drink　of　this　cup！'　And　another　conjured　him　by　the　oath　of　divorce　and　yet　another　stood　before　him；　till　he　was　ashamed　and　taking　the　cup　from　the　gardener；　drank　a　mouthful；　but　spat　it　out　again；　saying；　'It　is　bitter。'　'O　my　lord　Noureddin；'　said　the　gardener；　'knowest　thou　not　that　the　sweetest　things；　when　taken　by　way　of　medicine；　are　bitter？　Were　this　not　bitter；　it　would　lack　of　the　＇many＇　virtues　it　possesseth；　amongst　which　are　that　it　digesteth　food　and　doth　away　care　and　anxiety　and　dispelleth　vapours　and　clarifieth　the　blood　and　cleareth　the　plexion　and　enliveh　the　body　and　hearteh　the　poltroon　and　fortifieth　the　sexual　power；　but　to　name　all　its　virtues　would　be　tedious。　Quoth　one　of　the　poets：

　　We'll　drink；　for　God　His　clemency　enpasseth　the　soul　On　every　side：　I　medicine　my　ailments　with　the　bowl；
　　And　nought　（for　well　I　know　its　sin）　save　God　His　saw；　'Therein　Are　for　the　folk　advantages；'　（47）　doth　me　thereto　cajole。　
Then　he　opened　one　of　the　cupboards　there　and　taking　out　a　loaf　of　reined　sugar；　broke　of　a　great　piece；　which　he　put　in　Noureddin's　cup；　saying；　'O　my　lord；　if　thou　fear　to　drink　wine；　because　of　its　bitterness；　drink　now；　for　it　is　sweet。'　So　he　took　the　cup　and　emptied　it：　whereupon　one　of　his　rades　filled　him　another；　saying；　'I　am　thy　slave；'　and　another　＇did　the　like＇；　saying；　'I　am　one　of　thy　servants；'　and　a　third　said；　'For　my　sake！'　and　a　fourth；　'God　on　thee；　O　my　lord　Noureddin；　heal　my　heart！'　And　so　they　plied　him　with　wine；　till　they　had　made　him　drink　ten　cups。

Now　Noureddin's　body　wag　virgin　＇of　winebibbing＇；　nor　all　his　life　had　he　drunken　wine　till　then；　wherefore　its　fumes　mounted　to　his　brain　and　drunkenness　was　stark　upon　him　and　he　stood　up　（and　indeed　his　tongue　was　embarrassed　and　his　speech　thick）　and　said；　'O　pany；　by　Allah；　ye　are　fair　and　your　speech　and　place　are　goodly；　but　there　needs　the　hearing　of　sweet　music；　for　drink　without　music　lacks　the　chief　of　its　essentials；　even　as　saith　the　poet：

　　Pass　round　the　cup　to　the　old　and　the　young　man；　too；　And　take　the　bowl　from　the　hand　of　the　shining　moon；　（48）
　　But　without　music；　I　charge　you；　forbear　to　drink；　I　see　even　horses　drink　to　a　whistled　tune。'　（49）　
Therewith　up　rose　the　gardener　and　mounting　one　of　the　young　men's　mules；　was　absent　awhile；　after　which　he　returned　with　a　girl　of　Cairo；　as　she　were　a　delicate　fat　sheep's　tail　or　pure　silver　or　a　dinar　in　a　porcelain　dish　or　a　gazelle　in　the　desert。　She　had　a　face　that　put　to　shame　the　shining　sun　and　bewitching　eyes　（50）　and　brows　like　bended　bows　and　rosy　cheeks　and　pearly　teeth　and　sugared　lips　and　languishing　glances　and　ivory　breasts　and　slender　body；　full　of　folds　and　dimples；　and　buttocks　like　stuffed　pillows　and　thighs　like　columns　of　Syrian　marble；　and　between　them　what　was　like　a　sachet　＇of　spices＇　folded　in　a　wrapper。　Quoth　the　poet　of　her：

　　A　fair　one；　to　idolaters　if　she　herself　should　show；　They'd　leave　their　idols　and　her　face　for　only　Lord　would　know。
　　If　in　the　Eastward　she　appeared　unto　a　monk；　for　sure　He'd　cease　from　turning　to　the　West　（51）　and　to　the　East　bend　low；
　　And　if　into　the　briny　sea　one　day　she　chanced　to　spit；　Assuredly　the　salt　sea's　floods　straight　fresh　and　sweet　would　grow。　
And　quoth　another：

　　More　brilliant　than　the　moon　at　full；　with　liquid　languorous　eyes；　She　seems　an　antelope　that　takes　the　lionwhelps　to　prize。
　　The　midnight　of　her　locks　lets　fall　o'er　her　a　tent　of　hair；　（52）　Unfixed　of　tentpegs；　that　protects　her　beauty　from　the　spies。
　　The　fire；　that　in　th'　unfading　rose　still　burh　of　her　cheek；　Is　fed　with　entrails　that　consume　and　hearts　and　lovers'　sighs。
　　An　if　the　beauties　of　the　time　beheld　her；　unto　her；　Saying；　'Unto　the　precedent　the　palm；'　they　would　arise。　
And　how　well　saith　a　third：

　　Three　things　for　ever　hinder　her　to　visit　us；　for　fear　Of　the　intriguing　spy　and　eke　the　rancorous　envier；
　　Her　forehead's　lustre　and　the　sound　of　all　her　ornaments　And　the　sweet　scent　her　creases　hold　of　ambergris　and　myrrh。
　　Grant　with　the　border　of　her　sleeve　she　hide　her　brow　and　doff　Her　ornaments；　how　shall　she　do　her　scent　（53）　away　from　her？　
She　was　like　the　moon；　when　it　appears　on　its　fourteenth　night；　and　was　clad　in　a　garment　of　blue；　with　a　veil　of　green；　over　a　flowerwhite　forehead；　that　amazed　all　wits　and　confounded　those　of　understanding。　And　indeed　she　was　possessed　of　the　utmost　grace　and　beauty　and　symmetry；　as　it　were　she　of　whom　the　poet　would　speak　when　he　saith：

　　She　es　in　a　robe　the　colour　of　ultramarine；　Blue　as　the　stainless　sky　unflecked　with　white。
　　I　view　her　with　yearning　eyes　and　she　seems　to　me　A　moon　of　the　summer　set　in　a　winter's　night。　
And　how　goodly　is　the　saying　of　another　and　how　excellent！

　　She　came　unto　me；　straitly　veiled；　and　I　to　her　did　say；　'Thy　face；　the　bright；　resplendent　moon；　uncover　and　display。'
　　Quoth　she；　'I　fear　reproach；'　and　I；　'Forbear　this　idle　talk：　Let　not　the　shifts　of　time　and　fate　affright　thee　or　dismay。'
　　So　from　her　face　she　raised　the　veil　that　hid　her　charms　and　tears　Upon　the　jewels　of　her　cheeks　fell；　like　a　crystal　spray。
　　Indeed；　I　thought　to　kiss　her　cheek；　that　thereanent　to　God　She　might　make　moan　of　me　upon　the　Resurrection　Day；
　　So　were　we　twain　the　first　to　plead　of　lovers；　each　'gainst　each；　Whenas　the　dead　shall　rise；　before　the　Lord　whom　all　obey；
　　And　I；　'Prolong　our　standingup　and　reckoning；'　would　say；　'That　so　mine　eyes　may　feed　their　fill　upon　my　loved　one　aye。'　
Then　said　the　gardener　to　her；　'O　lady　of　fair　ones　and　mistress　of　every　shining　star；　know　that　we　sought　not；　in　bringing　thee　hither；　but　that　thou　shouldst　entertain　this　ely　youth　here；　my　lord　Noureddin；　for　he　hath　only　e　to　this　place　this　day。'　And　she　answered；　saying；　'Would　thou　hadst　told　me；　that　I　might　have　brought　what　I　have　with　me！'　'O　my　lady；'　rejoined　the　gardener；　'I　will　go　and　fetch　it　to　thee。'　'As　thou　wilt；'　replied　she：　and　he　said；　'Give　me　a　token。'　So　she　gave　him　a　handkerchief　and　he　went　away　in　haste　and　returned　after　awhile；　bearing　a　bag　of　green　satin；　with　cords　of　gold。　　She　took　the　bag　from　him　and　opening　it；　shook　it；　whereupon　there　fell　thereout　twoandthirty　pieces　of　wood；　which　she　fitted；　one　into　another；　till　they　became　a　polished　lute　of　Indian　workmanship。

Then　she　uncovered　her　wrist　and　laying　the　lute　in　her　lap；　bent　over　it；　as　the　mother　bends　over　her　child；　and　swept　the　strings　with　the　tips　of　her　fingers；　whereupon　it　moaned　and　resounded　and　yearned　after　its　former　habitations；　and　it　remembered　the　waters　that　gave　it　to　drink　＇whilst　yet　in　the　tree；＇　and　the　earth　whence　it　sprang　and　wherein　it　grew　up　and　the　carpenters　who　cut　it　and　the　polishers　who　polished　it　and　the　merchants　who　exported　it　and　the　ships　that　carried　it；　and　it　cried　out　and　wailed　and　lamented；　and　it　was　as　if　she　questioned　it　of　all　these　things　and　it　answered　her　with　the　tongue　of　the　case；　reciting　the　following　verses：

　　Whilom　I　was　a　tree；　wherein　the　nightingales　did　nest；　Whilst　green　my　head；　I　swayed　for　them　with　longing　and　unrest。
　　They　made　melodious　moan　on　me；　and　I　their　plaining　learnt；　And　so　my　secret　was　by　this　lament　made　manifest。
　　The　woodman　felled　me　to　the　earthy　though　guiltless　of　offence；　And　wrought　of　me　a　slender　lute；　by　singers'　hands　carest；
　　But；　when　their　fingers　sweep　my　strings；　they　tell　that　I　am　slain；　One　with　duresse　amongst　mankind　afflicted　and　oppress；
　　Wherefore　each　boonpanion；　when　he　heareth　my　lament；　Grows　mad　with　love　and　drunkenness　o'ermasters　every　guest；
　　And　God　inclih　unto　me　their　hearts　and　I　indeed　Am　to　the　highest　place　advanced　in　every　noble　breast。
　　All　who　in　loveliness　excel　do　clip　my　waist　and　in　The　arms　of　every　languorouseyed　gazelle　my　form　is　prest。
　　May　God　the　Lord　ne'er　sever　us；　nor　live　the　loved　one　aye　Who　with　estrangement　and　disdain　her　lover　would　molest！　
Then　she　was　silent　awhile；　but　presently　taking　the　lute　in　her　lap；　bent　over　it；　as　the　mother　bends　over　her　child；　and　preluded　in　many　different　modes；　then；　returning　to　the　first；　she　sang　the　following　verses：

　　An　they'd　unto　the　lover　incline　or　visit　pay；　From　off　his　back　the　burden　of　longing　he　might　lay。
　　A　nightingale　o'　the　branches　vies　with　him；　as　she　were　A　lover　whose　beloved　hath　lighted　far　away。
　　Up　and　awake！　The　midnights　of　lovedelight　are　clear　And　bright；　With　union's　splendour；　as　very　break　of　day。
　　Behold；　to　love　and　joyance　the　lutestrings　summon　us　And　eke　today　our　enviers　are　heedless　of　our　play。
　　Seest　not　that　unto　pleasance　four　several　things；　to　wit；　Rose；　gillyflower　and　myrtle　and　lights　（54）　unite　alway？
　　And　here　today　assemble　four　things；　by　favouring　fate；　Lover；　beloved；　money　and　wine；　to　make　us　gay。
　　So　seize　upon　thy　fortune　i'　the　world；　for　its　delights　Pass　by　and　but　traditions　and　chronicles　do　stay。　
When　Noureddin　heard　this；　he　looked　on　her　with　eyes　of　love　and　could　scarce　contain　himself　for　the　violence　of　his　inclination　to　her；　and　on　like　wise　was　it　with　her；　because　she　looked　at　the　pany　who　were　present　of　the　sons　of　the　merchan