一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第7章

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g　the　grace　and　goodliness　of　his　new　partner。　As　soon　as　it　was　night；　his　wife　brought　him　the　evening　meal　and　they　sat　down　to　eat。

Now　he　had　a　mockingbird；　that　was　used；　whenas　he　sat　down　to　meat；　to　e　and　eat　with　him　and　hover　about　his　head；　but　in　his　absence　it　was　grown　familiar　with　Mesrour　and　used　to　eat　with　him　and　hover　about　him。　When　its　master　returned；　it　knew　him　not　and　would　not　draw　near　him；　and　this　made　him　thoughtful。　As　for　Zein　el　Mewasif；　she　could　not　sleep　for　thinking　of　Mesrour；　and　thus　it　was　with　her　three　nights；　till　the　Jew　became　aware　of　her　distraction　and　watching　her；　began　to　suspect　something　wrong。　On　the　fourth　night；　he　awoke　in　the　middle　of　the　night　and　heard　his　wife　talking　in　her　sleep　and　calling　upon　Mesrour；　what　while　she　lay　in　her　husband's　arms；　wherefore　he　misdoubted　of　her；　but　he　dissembled　his　suspicions　and　on　the　morrow　betook　himself　to　his　shop　and　sat　there。　Presently；　up　came　Mesrour　and　saluted　him。　He　returned　his　greeting　and　said　to　him；　'Wele；　O　my　brother！　I　have　wished　for　thee；'　and　he　sat　talking　with　him　awhile；　after　which　he　said　to　him；　'O　my　brother；　e　with　me　to　my　house；　that　we　may　enter　into　the　pact　of　brotherhood。'　（12）　'With　all　my　heart；'　replied　Mesrour　and　they　went　to　the　Jew's　house；　where　the　latter　went　in　and　told　his　wife　of　Mesrour's　ing；　saying；　'Make　us　ready　a　goodly　entertainment；　and　needs　must　thou　be　present　and　witness　our　brotherhood。'　But　she　answered；　'God　on　thee；　cause　me　not　show　myself　to　this　strange　man；　for　I　have　no　mind　to　pany　with　him。'　So　he　forbore　to　press　her　and　bade　the　waitingwomen　bring　meat　and　drink。　Then　he　called　the　mockingbird；　but　it　knew　him　not　and　settled　in　Mesrour's　lap；　and　the　Jew　said　to　him；　'O　my　lord；　what　is　thy　name？'　and　he　answered；　'Mesrour。'　Whereupon　the　Jew　remembered　that　this　was　the　name　which　his　wife　had　repeated　all　night　long　in　her　sleep。

Presently；　he　raised　his　head　and　saw　her　making　signs　to　Mesrour　and　motioning　to　him　with　her　eyebrows；　wherefore　he　knew　that　he　had　been　tricked　and　said；　'O　my　lord；　excuse　me　awhile；　till　I　fetch　my　kinsmen；　so　they　may　be　present　at　our　treaty　of　brotherhood。'　'Do　what　seemeth　good　to　thee；'　answered　Mesrour；　whereupon　the　Jew　went　forth　the　house　and　returning　privily　by　a　back　way；　betook　himself　to　a　window　that　gave　upon　the　saloon　and　whence　he　could　watch　them；　unseen　of　them。　Quoth　Zein　el　Mewasif　to　her　maid　Sukoub；　'Whither　is　thy　master　gone？'　And　she　said；　'He　is　gone　without　the　house。'　'Lock　the　door；'　said　Zein；　'and　bar　it　with　iron　and　open　not　till　he　knock；　after　thou　hast　told　me。'　'So　be　it；'　answered　Sukoub。

Then　she　rose　and　filling　a　cup　with　wine；　flavoured　with　powdered　musk　and　rosewater；　went　up　to　Mesrour；　who　rose　to　meet　her；　saying；　'By　Allah；　the　water　of　thy　mouth　is　sweeter　than　this　wine！'　'Here　it　is　for　thee；'　quoth　she　and　filling　her　mouth　with　wine；　gave　him　to　drink　thereof；　whilst　he　did　the　like　with　her；　after　which　she　sprinkled　him　with　rosewater　from　head　to　foot；　till　he　scented　the　whole　place。　All　this　while；　the　Jew　was　looking　on　and　marvelling　at　the　greatness　of　the　love　that　was　between　them；　and　his　heart　was　filled　with　rage　for　what　he　saw　and　he　was　jealous　with　an　exceeding　jealousy。　Then　he　went　out　again　and　ing　to　the　door；　found　it　locked　and　knocked　loudly；　of　the　excess　of　his　anger；　y　lady；　here　is　my　master。'　'Open　to　him；'　replied　Zein　el　Mewasif；　'would　God　had　not　brought　him　back　in　safety！'

So　she　went　and　opened　the　door　to　the　Jew；　who　said　to　her；　'What　ailed　thee　to　lock　the　door？'　Quoth　she；　'It　hath　never　ceased　to　be　locked　thus　during　thine　absence；　nor　hath　it　been　opened　night　nor　day。'　'Thou　hast　done　well；'　answered　he；　'this　pleases　me。'　Then　he　went　in　to　Mesrour；　laughing　and　dissembling　his　chagrin；　and　said　to　him；　'O　Mesrour；　let　us　put　off　the　conclusion　of　our　treaty　of　brotherhood　till　another　day。'　'As　thou　wilt；'　replied　Mesrour　and　went　away；　leaving　the　Jew　pondering　his　case　and　knowing　not　what　to　do；　for　his　heart　was　sore　troubled　and　he　said　in　himself；　'Even　the　mockingbird　disavows　me　and　the　slavegirls　shut　the　door　in　my　face　and　favour　another。'　And　of　the　excess　of　his　chagrin；　he　fell　to　reciting　the　following　verses：

　　A　life　made　fair　with　all　delight　of　days　and　solacement　Mesrour　doth　live；　what　while　my　life　is　severed　and　forspent。
　　Fortune　hath　played　the　knave　with　me　in　her　whom　I　adore　And　all　my　heart's　on　flames　of　fire；　that　rage　without　relent。
　　Once　with　the　fair　a　time　was　bright　for　thee；　'tis　past　and　gone；　Yet　art　thou　ever　lovedistraught　that　lovely　one　anent。
　　Mine　eyes　her　goodly　beauty　saw　and　in　the　love　of　her；　My　heart　to　passion　thrall　became；　for　very　ravishment。
　　Of　the　sweet　water　of　her　lips　she　poured　me　out；　fine　wine　On　thirst；　whilst　yet　the　time　endured　of　favour　and　content。
　　What　ails　thee；　O　my　mockingbird；　that　thou　forsakest　me　And　to　another　than　myself　in　love　dost　yield　consent？
　　Strange　things；　indeed；　mine　eyes　have　seen；　that　from　my　lids；　if　they　Were　ever　drowsed　with　slumber；　sleep　would　chase　incontinent。
　　I　see　my　loved　one　hath　forsworn　the　love　of　me　and　eke　My　mockingbird　round　me　no　more　hovers　with　blandishment。
　　By　the　worlds'　Lord；　who；　when　upon　His　creatures　He'd　fulfil　His　ordinance；　afflicteth　them　with　many　a　dour　event；
　　The　evildoer　I'll　requite　with　that　which　he　deserves　Who　frowardly　to　her　draws　near；　on　her　enjoyment　bent！　
When　Zein　el　Mewasif　heard　this；　she　trembled　in　every　nerve　and　said　to　her　handmaid；　'Heardest　thou　that？'　Quoth　she；　'I　never　heard　him　recite　the　like　of　these　verses；　but　let　him　say　what　he　will。'　Then　the　Jew；　having　assured　himself　of　the　truth　of　his　suspicions；　began　to　sell　all　his　property；　saying　in　himself；　'Except　I　remove　her　from　her　native　land　＇and　separate　them＇；　they　will　never　turn　back　from　this　that　they　are　engaged　in。'　So；　when　he　had　turned　all　his　possessions　into　money；　he　fed　a　letter；　purporting　to　e　from　his　kinsmen　and　inviting　him　to　visit　them；　him　and　his　wife；　and　read　it　to　her。　'How　long　shall　we　tarry　with　them？'　asked　she；　and　he　replied；　'Twelve　days。'　So　she　consented　to　this　and　said；　'Shall　I　take　any　of　my　maids　with　me？'　'Take　Huboub　and　Sukoub；'　answered　he；　'and　leave　Khutoub　here。'

Then　he　made　ready　a　handsome　camel　litter　for　his　wife　and　her　women　and　prepared　to　set　out　with　them；　whilst　she　sent　to　Mesrour；　telling　him　what　had　happened　and　saying；　'If　the　trystingtime　（13）　that　is　between　us　pass　and　I　e　not　＇back＇；　know　that　he　hath　put　a　cheat　on　us　and　laid　a　plot　to　separate　us　from　each　other；　so　fet　thou　not　the　plighted　faith　betwixt　us；　for　I　fear　his　craft　and　perfidy。'　Then　she　fell　aweeping　and　lamenting　and　no　peace　was　left　her；　night　or　day。　Her　husband　saw　this；　but　took　no　note　thereof；　and　when　she　saw　there　was　no　help　for　it；　she　gathered　together　her　clothes　and　gear　and　deposited　them　with　her　sister；　telling　her　what　had　befallen　her。　Then　she　took　leave　of　her　and　going　out　from　her；　weeping；　returned　to　her　own　house；　where　she　found　her　husband　had　brought　the　camels　and　was　busy　loading　them；　having　set　apart　the　handsomest　for　her　riding；　and　when　she　saw　this　and　knew　that　needs　must　she　be　separated　from　Mesrour；　she　was　distracted。

Now　it　chanced　that　the　Jew　went　out　on　some　occasion　of　his；　so　she　went　forth　to　the　outer　door　and　wrote　thereon　the　following　verses：

　　O　dove　of　this　our　dwellingplace；　our　parting　greeting　bear　From　lover　to　beloved　one　and　tell　him　I　shall　ne'er
　　Cease　to　regret　the　past　delight　and　all　its　ravishments　And　all　the　sweetness　of　the　days　for　us　whilom　that　were；
　　And　bid　him　also　never　leave　to　be　the　slave　of　love；　Fulfilled　of　grief　for　our　content　that's　past　and　gone　for　e'er。
　　Indeed；　we　passed　our　time　awhile　in　solace　and　in　cheer　And　lovedelight　both　night　and　day　we　did　enjoy　whilere；
　　But；　when　we　woke；　the　raven　gave　us　morrow　（14）　with　his　croak　And　did　against　us　twain　the　doom　of　severance　declare。
　　Now　must　we　journey　far　away　and　leave　the　dwellings　void：　Would　we　might　ne'er　depart　the　lands　nor　breathe　a　foreign　air！　
Then　she　went　to　the　second　door　and　wrote　thereon　the　following　verses：

　　O　thou　to　this　door　that　est；　by　Allah；　watch　for　the　grace　Of　my　loved　one　midmost　the　darkness　and　tell　him　I　weep　apace；
　　When　I　think　of　the　time　of　union　with　him；　and　the　tears　that　e　Of　my　weeping　for　him　cease　never　to　ripple　adown　my　face；
　　And　say　to　him；　'If　no　patience　for　what　is　fallen　on　me　Thou　findest；　I　rede　thee　sprinkle　thy　head　with　the　dust　of　the　place
　　And　travel　the　lands　to　Eastward　and　Westward　and　look　thou　live　In　patience；　for　God　hath　ordered　and　yet　will　order　the　case。'　
Then　she　went　to　the　third　door　and　wept　sore　and　wrote　thereon　these　verses：

　　Harkye；　Mesrour；　an　if　thou　e　to　this　her　dwelling；　see　Thou　read　upon　the　doors　the　lines　that　she　hath　writ　for　thee。
　　How　oft　thou'st　tasted　of　the　sweet　and　bitter　of　the　nights！　Fet　thou　not　the　pact　of　love；　if　thou　a　true　man　be。　
　　By　Allah；　do　not　thou　fet　her　neighbourhood；　Mesrour；　For　in　thyself　her　solace　all　and　gladness　leaveth　she！
　　Weep　for　th