一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第32章

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uslim　captive　that　used　to　tend　the　church　and　who　took　her　aforetime！　Indeed　I　knew　him　right　well　and　none　delivered　him　from　my　hand　save　this　oneeyed　vizier；　but　now　is　he　requited　his　deed。'

Then　he　called　his　three　sons；　who　were　three　doughty　champions；　each　of　whom　could　cope　with　a　thousand　horse　in　the　field　and　the　stead　of　strife；　and　bade　them　mount。　So　they　took　horse　forthwith　and　the　King　and　the　flower　of　his　knights　and　nobles　and　officers　mounted　with　them　and　followed　in　the　track　of　the　fugitives　till　they　came　up　with　them　in　the　valley　aforesaid。　When　Meryem　saw　them；　she　mounted　her　horse　and　girt　on　her　sword　and　took　her　arms。　Then　she　said　to　Noureddin；　'How　is　it　with　thee　and　how　is　thy　stomach　for　battle　and　strife　and　contention？'　Quoth　he；　'Verily；　my　steadfastness　in　battle　is　as　the　steadfastness　of　the　stake　in　bran。'　And　he　recited　the　following　verses：

　　I　prithee；　Meryem；　spare　me　reproaches　and　despite　And　do　not　thou　my　slaughter　or　torment　long　invite。
　　I　whom　a　raven's　croaking　affeareth　passing　sore；　How　should　I　be　a　warrior　or　have　a　mind　to　fight？
　　Lo；　if　I　but　set　eyes　on　a　mouse；　I　quake　for　fear；　Yea；　I　bepiss　my　hosen　for　terror　and　affright。
　　Indeed；　I　love　not　thrusting　except　in　bed　it　be！　The　kaze　my　pintle's　prowess　ignoreth　not　by　night。
　　This　is　the　way　of　thinking　of　every　prudent　man；　And　who　deems　not　as　I　do　deems　otherwise　than　right。　
When　she　heard　his　speech　and　his　verses；　she　laughed　and　said；　'O　my　lord　Noureddin；　abide　in　thy　place　and　I　will　keep　thee　from　their　mischief；　though　they　be　as　the　sands　of　the　sea　in　number。　But　mount　and　be　behind　me；　and　if　we　be　defeated　and　put　to　flight；　beware　of　falling；　for　none　can　overtake　thy　charger。'　So　saying；　she　couched　her　lance　and　gave　her　horse　the　rein；　whereupon　he　darted　off　with　her；　like　the　storm　wind　or　like　water　poured　forth　of　the　strictness　of　the　pipes。　Now　Meryem　was　the　doughtiest　of　the　folk　of　her　time　and　the　unique　pearl　of　her　age；　for　her　father　had　taught　her；　whilst　she　was　yet　little；　to　ride　on　horseback　and　plunge　auto　the　ocean　of　battle　in　the　darkness　of　the　night。

When　the　King　saw　her　pricking　towards　them；　he　knew　her　but　too　well　and　said　to　his　eldest　son；　'O　Bertaut；　thou　who　art　surnamed　Ras　el　Killaut；　（107）　this　is　certainly　thy　sister　Meryem　who　charges　upon　us；　and　she　seeks　to　do　battle　and　wage　war　with　us。　So　go　thou　out　to　her　and　give　her　battle：　and　I　charge　thee　by　the　Messiah　and　the　True　Faith；　if　thou　get　the　better　of　her；　kill　her　not　till　thou　have　propounded　to　her　the　Nazarene　faith。　If　she　return　to　her　old　faith；　bring　her　to　me　prisoner；　but　if　she　refuse；　slay　her　after　the　foulest　fashion　and　make　of　her　the　vilest　of　examples；　as　well　as　of　the　accursed　wretch　who　is　with　her。'　'I　hear　and　obey；'　replied　Bertaut　and　pricking　out　forthright　to　meet　his　sister；　said　to　her；　'O　Meryem；　doth　not　what　hath　already　befallen　on　thine　account　suffice　thee；　but　thou　must　leave　the　faith　of　thy　fathers　and　forefathers　and　follow　after　the　faith　of　the　rovers　in　the　lands；　that　is　to　say；　the　faith　of　Islam？　By　the　virtue　of　the　Messiah　and　the　True　Faith；　except　thou　return　to　the　faith　of　the　kings　thy　forefathers　and　walk　therein　after　the　goodliest　wise；　I　will　put　thee　to　an　ill　death　and　make　of　thee　the　most　shameful　of　examples！'

She　laughed　at　his　speech　and　replied；　'Avaunt！　God　forbid　that　the　past　should　return　or　that　he　who　is　dead　should　live　again！　I　will　make　thee　drink　the　sorest　of　regrets！　By　Allah；　I　will　not　forsake　the　faith　of　Mohammed　the　son　of　Abdallah；　who　directed　all　peoples　into　the　right　road；　for　it　is　the　true　faith；　nor　will　I　leave　the　way　of　righteousness；　though　I　drink　the　cup　of　perdition！'　When　the　accursed　Bertaut　heard　this；　the　light　in　his　eye　became　darkness　and　there　befell　a　sore　battle　between　them。　They　swayed　to　and　fro；　lighting；　throughout　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　valley；　whilst　all　eyes　were　fixed　upon　them　in　admiration：　after　which　they　wheeled　about　and　foiled　and　feinted　a　great　while；　and　as　often　as　Bertaut　opened　on　his　sister　a　gate　of　war；　（108）　she　parried　his　attack　and　put　it　to　nought；　of　the　goodliness　of　her　fashion　and　her　strength　and　skill　in　horsemanship　and　the　use　of　arms。

They　abode　on　this　wise　till　the　dust　hung　vaulted　over　their　heads　and　they　were　hidden　from　men's　eyes；　and　she　ceased　not　to　baffle　Bertaut　and　stop　the　way　upon　him；　till　he　was　weary　and　his　courage　ebbed　and　his　resolution　was　broken　and　his　strength　weakened；　whereupon　she　smote　him　on　the　nape；　that　the　sword　came　out　gleaming　from　the　tendons　of　his　throat　and　God　hurried　his　soul　to　the　fire　and　ill　is　the　abidingplace　＇to　which　he　went＇。　Then　Meryem　wheeled　about　in　the　midfield　and　the　stead　of　strife　and　offered　battle；　crying　out　and　saying；　'Who　is　for　fighting？　Who　is　for　jousting？　Let　no　sluggard　or　weakling　e　forth　to　me　today；　ay；　let　none　e　forth　to　me　but　the　champions　of　the　enemies　of　the　Faith；　that　I　may　give　them　to　drink　the　cup　of　ignominious　punishment。　O　worshippers　of　idols；　O　misbelievers；　O　froward　folk；　verily　this　day　shall　the　faces　of　the　people　of　the　True　Faith　be　whitened　and　theirs　be　blackened　who　deny　the　passionate　One！'

When　the　king　saw　his　eldest　son　slain；　he　smote　his　face　and　rent　his　clothes　and　called　out　to　his　second　son；　saying；　'O　Bertous；　thou　who　art　surnamed　Khura　es　Sous；　（109）　go　forth；　O　my　son；　in　haste　and　do　battle　with　thy　sister　Meryem；　avenge　me　thy　brother's　death　on　her　and　bring　her　to　me　a　prisoner；　abject　and　humiliated！'　'I　hear　and　obey；　O　my　father；'　answered　he　and　setting　spurs　to　his　horse；　drove　at　his　sister；　who　met　him　in　midcareer；　and　they　fought；　he　and　she；　a　sore　battle；　yet　sorer　than　the　first。　Bertous　soon　found　himself　unable　to　cope　with　her　and　would　have　sought　safety　in　flight；　but　could　not　avail　unto　this；　of　the　greatness　of　her　prowess；　for；　as　often　as　he　turned　to　flee；　she　drove　after　him　and　still　clave　to　him　and　pressed　him　hard；　till　presently　she　smote　him　with　the　sword　in　his　throat；　that　it　issued　gleaming　from　his　nape；　and　sent　him　after　his　brother。　Then　she　wheeled　about　in　the　midfield；　crying　out　and　saying；　'Where　are　the　horsemen？　Where　are　the　braves？　Where　is　the　oneeyed　vizier；　the　cripple；　the　man　of　the　crooked　（110）　faith？'

Thereupon　the　king　her　father　cried　out　with　a　bleeding　heart　and　eyes　ulcerated　with　tears；　saying；　'By　the　virtue　of　the　Messiah　and　the　true　faith；　she　hath　killed　my　second　son！'　And　he　cried　out　to　his　youngest　son；　saying；　'O　Fusyan；　surnamed　Selh　es　Subyan；　（111）　go　forth；　O　my　son；　to　do　battle　with　thy　sister　and　take　of　her　the　bloodrevenge　for　thy　brothers　and　fall　on　her；　e　what　may；　and　if　thou　conquer　her；　kill　her　without　mercy！'　So　he　pricked　out　to　Meryem；　who　ran　at　him　with　the　best　of　her　skill　and　courage　and　prowess　and　said　to　him；　'O　accursed　one；　O　enemy　of　God　and　the　Muslims；　I　will　assuredly　send　thee　after　thy　brothers；　and　woeful　is　the　abidingplace　of　the　unbelievers！'　So　saying；　she　drew　her　sword　and　smote　him　and　cut　off　his　head　and　arms　and　sent　him　after　his　brothers　and　God　hurried　his　soul　to　the　fire　and　ill　is　the　abidingplace　＇to　which　he　went＇。

When　the　knights　and　horsemen　who　rode　with　her　father　saw　his　three　sons　slain；　who　were　the　doughtiest　of　the　folk　of　their　day；　there　fell　on　their　hearts　terror　of　the　Princess　Meryem　and　they　bowed　their　heads　in　affright　and　confusion　and　made　sure　of　destruction。　So　they　turned　their　backs　and　addressed　themselves　to　flight。　When　the　king　saw　his　sons　slain　and　his　troops　in　full　flight；　there　fell　on　him　dismay　and　bewilderment　and　his　heart　was　on　fire。　'Verily；'　quoth　he；　'the　Princess　Meryem　hath　the　better　of　us；　and　if　I　venture　myself　and　go　out　against　her　alone；　most　like　she　will　overe　me　and　slay　me　without　pity；　even　as　she　slew　her　brothers；　and　make　of　me　the　foulest　of　examples；　for　she　hath　no　longer　any　desire　for　us　nor　have　we　any　hope　of　her　return。　Wherefore；　meseemeth　I　were　better　guard　my　honour　and　return　to　my　capital　city。'　So　he　gave　reins　to　his　horse　and　returned　to　the　city。

When　he　found　himself　in　his　palace；　fire　was　loosed　in　his　heart　for　rage　and　chagrin　for　the　death　of　his　sons　and　the　defeat　of　his　troops　and　the　violation　of　his　honour；　nor　did　he　abide　half　an　hour　before　he　summoned　his　grandees　and　officers　of　state　and　plained　to　them　of　that　which　his　daughter　had　done　with　him　of　the　slaughter　of　her　brothers　and　all　he　suffered　of　grief　and　chagrin　therefrom；　and　sought　counsel　of　them。　They　all　counselled　him　to　write　to　the　Vicar　of　God　in　His　earth；　the　mander　of　the　Faithful；　Haroun　er　Reshid；　and　acquaint　him　with　the　case。　So　he　wrote　a　letter　to　the　Khalif　containing；　after　the　usual　salutations；　the　following　words：　'Know　that　we　have　a　daughter　called　Meryem；　and　a　Muslim　captive；　by　name　Noureddin　Ali；　son　of　the　merchant　Tajeddin　of　Cairo；　hath　debauched　her　from　us　and　taken　her　by　night　and　gone　forth　with　her　to　his　own　country：　wherefore　I　beg　of　the　favour　of　our　lord　the　mander　of　the　Faithful　that　he　write　to　all　the　lands　of　the　Muslims　to　seize　her　and　send　her　back　to　us　by　a　trusty　messenge