一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第19章

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　　The　full　moon　ignorantly　vied　in　beauty　with　her　face；　But　was　eclipsed　and　split　in　twain　for　wrath　at　its　disgrace；
　　And　if　the　willowwand　be　fit　to　even　with　her　shape；　Perish　her　hands　who　is　bee　o'　the　faggotbearing　race！　（64）　
And　how　well　saith　another：

　　Say　to　the　fair　in　the　muffler　laced　and　wrought　with　gold；　'Hark　ye！　What　hast　thou　done　with　a　pious　man　was　like　a　monk　to　be？'
　　The　gleam　of　the　veil　and　the　brilliancy　of　thy　visage　under　it　The　hosts　of　the　darkness　put　to　rout　and　cause　them　turn　and　flee；
　　And　when　my　glance　eth　to　steal　a　look　at　thy　cheek　so　fresh　and　fair；　Its　guardian　sprites　with　a　shooting　star　still　cast　at　them　and　me。　（65）　
Then　said　the　broker　to　the　merchants；　'How　much　do　ye　bid　for　the　pearl　of　the　diver　and　prize　of　the　foine　for　a　hundred　dinars。'　And　another　said；　'Two　hundred；'　and　a　third；　'Three　hundred；'　and　they　ceased　not　to　bid；　one　against　another；　till　they　made　her　price　nine　hundred　and　fifty　dinars；　and　there　the　biddings　stopped。　Then　the　broker　went　up　to　the　Persian　and　said　to　him；　'The　biddings　for　this　thy　slavegirl　have　reached　nine　hundred　and　fifty　dinars：　wilt　thou　sell　her　at　that　price　and　take　the　money？'　'Doth　she　consent　to　this？'　asked　the　Persian。　'I　desire　to　consult　her　wishes；　for　I　fell　sick　on　my　journey　hither　and　she　tended　me　with　all　possible　care；　wherefore　I　swore　not　to　sell　her　but　to　him　of　whom　she　should　approve；　and　I　have　put　her　sale　in　her　own　hand。　So　do　thou　consult　her　and　if　she　say；　〃I　consent；〃　sell　her　to　whom　thou　wilt：　but　if　she　say　〃No；〃　sell　her　not。'

So　the　broker　went　up　to　her　and　said　to　her；　'Know；　O　princess　of　fair　ones；　that　thy　master　putteth　thy　sale　in　thine　own　hands；　and　thy　price　hath　reached　nine　hundred　and　fifty　dinars；　dost　thou　give　me　leave　to　sell　thee？'　'Show　me　him　who　is　minded　to　buy　me；'　answered　she；　'before　thou　clinch　the　bargain。'　So　he　brought　her　up　to　one　of　the　merchants；　a　very　old　and　decrepit　man；　and　she　looked　at　him　awhile；　then　turned　to　the　broker　and　said　to　him；　'O　broker；　art　thou　mad　or　afflicted　in　thy　wit？'　'Why　dost　thou　ask　me　this；　O　princess　of　fair　ones？'　said　he。　And　she　answered；　'Is　it　permitted　of　God　to　sell　the　like　of　me　to　yonder　decrepit　old　man；　who　saith　of　his　wife's　case　the　following　verses：

　　Quoth　she　to　me；and　sore　enraged　for　wounded　pride　was　she；　For　she　in　sooth　had　bidden　me　to　that　which　might　not　be；
　　〃An　if　thou　swine　me　not　forthright；　as　one　should　swive　his　wife；　If　thou　be　made　a　cuckold　straight；　reproach　it　not　to　me。
　　Meseems　thy　yard　is　made　of　wax；　for　very　flaccidness；　For　when　I　rub　it　with　my　hand；　it　softens　instantly。〃　
And　quoth　he　likewise　of　his　yard：

　　I　leave　a　yard　that　sleeps　on　base　and　shameful　wise；　Whenever　one　I　love　with　my　desire　plies；
　　But；　when　I'm　by　myself；　at　home；　it's　all　agog　To　thrust　and　ply　its　lone　the　amorous　exercise。　
And　again　quoth　he　thereof：

　　I　have　an　ill　yard；　passing　froward；　to　wit：　Him　who　honoureth　it；　with　reproach　it　doth　quit。
　　If　I　sleep；　it　stands　up；　if　I　rise；　it　lies　down；　God　no　ruth　have　on　him　who　hath　ruth　upon　it！'　
When　the　old　merchant　heard　this　scurvy　gibing　from　the　damsel；　he　was　exceeding　wroth　and　said　to　the　broker；　'O　unluckiest　of　brokers；　thou　hast　not　brought　this　illconditioned　wench　into　the　market　but　to　flout　me　and　make　mock　of　me　before　the　merchants。'　Then　the　broker　took　her　aside　and　said　to　her；　'O　my　lady；　be　not　lacking　in　manners。　The　old　man　whom　thou　didst　mock　at　is　the　syndic　of　the　bazaar　and　inspector　of　weights　and　measures　thereof　and　one　of　the　council　of　the　merchants。'　But　she　laughed　and　said：

　　'It　behoveth　the　folk　that　bear　rule　in　our　time；　Yea；　'tis　one　of　the　duties　of　magistrateship；
　　To　hang　up　the　chief　of　police　o'er　his　door　And　beat　the　inspector　of　weights　with　a　whip。　
By　Allah；　O　my　lord；'　added　she；　'I　will　not　be　sold　to　yonder　old　man；　so　sell　me　to　other　than　him；　for　belike　he　will　be　abashed　at　me　and　sell　me　again　and　I　shall　bee　a　servant　and　it　beseems　not　that　I　sully　myself　with　menial　service；　and　indeed　thou　knowest　that　the　matter　of　my　sale　is　mitted　to　myself。'　'I　hear　and　obey；'　answered　he　and　carried　her　to　one　of　the　chief　merchants。　'How　sayst　thou；　O　my　lady？'　asked　he。　hundred　and　fifty　dinars？'　She　looked　at　him　and　seeing　him　to　be　an　old　man；　with　a　dyed　beard；　said　to　the　broker；　'Art　thou　mad；　that　thou　wouldst　sell　me　to　this　wornout　old　man？　Am　I　cotton　refuse　or　threadbare　rags　that　thou　marchest　me　about　from　graybeard　to　graybeard；　each　like　a　wall　ready　to　fall　or　an　Afrit　smitten　down　of　a　＇shooting＇　star？　As　for　the　first；　the　poet　had　him　in　mind　when　he　said：

　　'I　sought　of　a　fair　maid　to　kiss　her　lips　of　coral　red；　But；　〃No；　by　Him　who　fashioned　things　from　nothingness！〃　she　said。
　　〃Unto　the　white　of　hoary　hairs　I　never　had　a　mind；　And　shall　my　mouth　be　stuffed；　forsooth；　with　cotton；　ere　I'm　dead？〃　（66）　
And　how　goodly　is　the　saying　of　the　poet：

　　They　say　that　hoary　hair　is　as　a　shining　light；　The　face　with　venerance　and　lustre　that　doth　dight；
　　Yet；　till　the　writ　of　eld　appear　upon　my　crown；　I　hope　I　may　not　lack　o'　the　colour　of　the　night。
　　Although　the　beard　of　him；　who's　hoary　grown；　should　be　His　book　（67）　i'　the　world　to　e；　I　would　not　choose　it　white。　
And　yet　goodlier　is　the　saying　of　another：

　　A　guest　unhonoured　on　my　head　hath　stolen　by　surprise；　With　my　sidelocks　the　sword　than　he　had　dealt　on　milder　wise。
　　Begone　from　me；　O　whiteness　foul；　wherein　no　whiteness　（68）　is！　Indeed；　than　very　darkness'　self　thou'rt　blacker　in　mine　eyes。　
As　for　the　other；　he　is　a　reprobate　and　a　lewd　fellow　and　a　blackener　of　the　face　of　hoariness；　he　acts　the　foulest　of　lies；　and　the　tongue　of　his　case　reciteth　the　following　verses：

　　Quoth　she　to　me；　〃I　see　thou　dy'st　thy　hoariness；〃　and　I；　〃I　do　but　hide　it　from　thy　sight；　O　thou　mine　ear　and　eye！〃
　　She　laughed　out　mockingly　and　said；　〃A　wonder　'tis　indeed！　Thou　so　abounded　in　deceit　that　even　thy　hair's　a　lie。〃　
And　how　excellent　is　the　saying　of　the　poet：

　　O　thou　with　black　that　drest　thy　hoariness；　that　so　Lost　youth　with　thee　may　tarry　or　e　to　thee　once　mo'；
　　Of　old　my　worldly　portion　was　dyed　in　grain　with　black；　'Twill　never　fade；　believe　me；　nor　othercoloured　grow。'　
When　the　old　man　with　the　dyed　beard　heard　this；　he　was　exceeding　wroth　and　said　to　the　broker；　'O　most　illomened　of　brokers；　what　aileth　thee　to　bring　this　crack　brained　wench　into　our　market；　to　gibe　at　all　who　are　therein；　one　after　other；　and　flout　them　with　mocking　verses　and　idle　jests？'　And　he　came　down　from　his　shop　and　smote　the　broker　on　the　face。　So　he　took　her　and　carried　her　away；　in　a　rage；　saying　to　her；　'By　Allah；　never　in　my　life　saw　I　a　more　impudent　wench　than　thyself！　Thou　hast　spoilt　my　trade　and　thine　own　this　day　and　all　the　merchants　will　bear　me　a　grudge　on　thine　account。'

Then　they　saw　in　the　way　a　merchant　called　Shihabeddin；　who　bid　ten　dinars　more　for　her；　and　the　broker　asked　her　leave　to　sell　her　to　him。　Quoth　she；　'Let　me　see　him　and　question　him　of　a　certain　thing；　which　if　he　have　in　his　house；　I　will　be　sold　to　him；　and　if　not；　not。'　So　the　broker　left　her　standing　there　and　going　up　to　Shihabeddin；　said　to　him；　'O　my　lord；　know　that　yonder　damsel　tells　me　she　hath　a　mind　to　ask　thee　of　somewhat；　which　if　thou　have　in　thy　house；　she　will　be　sold　to　thee。　Now　thou　hast　heard　what　she　said　to　thy　fellows　the　＇other＇　merchants；　and　by　Allah；　I　fear　to　bring　her　to　thee；　lest　she　do　with　thee　like　as　she　did　with　thy　neighbours　and　so　I　fall　into　disgrace　with　thee：　but；　if　thou　bid　me　bring　her　to　thee；　I　erchant；　'Bring　her　to　me。'　'I　hear　and　obey；'　answered　the　broker　and　fetched　the　damsel；　who　looked　at　him　and　said；　'O　my　lord　Shihabeddin；　hast　thou　in　thy　house　cushions　stuffed　with　minever　parings？'　'Yes；　O　princess　of　fair　ones；'　replied　Shihabeddin；　'I　have　half　a　score　such　cushions　at　home；　but　I　conjure　thee　by　Allah；　tell　me；　what　wilt　thou　do　with　them？'　Quoth　she；　'I　will　wait　till　thou　be　asleep；　when　I　will　lay　them　on　thy　mouth　and　nose　＇and　press　on　them＇　till　thou　die。'

Then　she　turned　to　the　broker　and　said　to　him；　'O　filthiest　of　brokers；　meseemeth　thou　art　mad；　for　that；　this　hour　past；　thou　slowest　me；　first　to　a　pair　of　graybeards；　in　each　of　whom　are　two　faults；　and　then　to　my　lord　Shihabeddin　here；　in　whom　are　three　defects；　first；　he　is　short　of　stature；　secondly；　he　hath　a　big　nose；　and　thirdly；　he　hath　a　long　beard。　Of　him　quoth　one　of　the　poets：

　　Ne'er　saw　we　in　our　lives　nor　heard　of　such　a　wight　Of　all　that　live　and　be　beneath　the　sun　his　light：
　　A　beard　a　cubit　long　and　nose　a　span　he　hath；　Whilst　he　himself　is　but　a　finger's　breadth　in　height。　
And　quoth　another　poet：

　　The　mosque's　minaret　from　his　visage　doth　spring；　As　the　ringfinger　juts　from　the　round　of　the　ring。
　　If　all　it　could　house　were　to　enter　his　nose；　The　world　were　soon　void　of　each　creature　and　thing。'　
When　Shihabeddin　heard　this；　he　came　down　from　his　shop　and　seized　the　broker　by　the　collar；　saying；　'O　scurviest　of　brokers；　what　ails　thee　to　bring　us　a　damsel　to　flout　and　make　mock　of　us；　one　after　other；　with　idle　talk　and　verses？'　So　the　broker　took　h