一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第30章

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d　landgates？'　And　he　said；　'Yes。'　Quoth　she；　'Knowest　thou　the　way　to　the　offertorychest　of　the　church？'　'Yes；'　replied　he；　and　she　said；　'Since　thou　knowest　all　this；　as　soon　as　the　first　watch　of　the　ing　night　is　over；　go　to　the　offertory　chest　and　take　thence　what　thou　wilt。　Then　open　the　door；　that　gives　upon　the　passage　leading　to　the　sea；　and　go　down　to　the　harbour；　where　thou　wilt　find　a　little　ship　and　ten　men　therein；　and　when　the　captain　sees　thee；　he　will　put　out　his　hand　to　thee。　Give　him　thy　hand　and　he　will　take　thee　up　into　the　ship；　and　do　thou　wait　there　till　I　e　to　thee。　But　have　a　care　lest　sleep　overtake　thee　this　night；　or　thou　wilt　repent　whenas　repentance　shall　avail　thee　nothing。'

Then　she　took　leave　of　him　and　going　forth　from　him；　roused　her　women　and　the　rest　of　the　damsels；　with　whom　she　betook　herself　to　the　church　door　and　knocked；　whereupon　the　old　woman　opened　to　her　and　she　went　forth　and　found　the　knights　and　servingmen　standing　without。　They　brought　her　a　dapple　mule　and　she　mounted：　whereupon　they　raised　over　her　head　a　canopy　with　curtains　of　silk；　and　the　knights　took　hold　of　the　mule's　halter。　Then　the　guards　enpassed　her　about　with　drawn　swords　in　their　hands　and　fared　on　with　her；　followed　by　her　maidens；　till　they　brought　her　to　the　palace　of　the　king　her　father。

Meanwhile；　Noureddin　abode　concealed　behind　the　curtain；　under　cover　of　which　Meryem　and　he　had　passed　the　night；　till　it　was　high　day；　when　the　＇great＇　door　was　opened　and　the　church　became　full　of　people。　Then　he　mingled　with　the　folk　and　accosted　the　old　woman；　who　said　to　him；　'Where　didst　thou　lie　last　night？'　'In　the　town；'　answered　he；　'as　thou　badest　me。'　'O　my　son；'　answered　she；　'thou　didst　well；　for；　hadst　thou　passed　the　night　in　the　church；　she　had　slain　thee　on　the　foulest　wise。'　And　he　said；　'Praised　be　God　who　hath　delivered　me　from　the　peril　of　this　night！'　Then　he　busied　himself　with　the　service　of　the　church；　till　the　day　departed　and　the　night　came　with　the　darkness；　when　be　opened　the　offertorychest　and　took　thence　of　jewels　what　was　light　of　weight　and　great　of　worth。

Then　he　waited　till　the　first　watch　of　the　night　was　past；　when　he　made　his　way　to　the　postern　and　opening　it；　went　forth；　calling　on　God　for　protection；　and　fared　on；　till　he　came　to　the　sea。　Here　he　found　the　vessel　moored　to　the　shore；　near　the　gate；　with　her　captain；　a　tall　old　man　of　ely　aspect；　with　a　long　beard；　standing　in　the　waist；　surrounded　by　his　ten　men。　Noureddin　gave　him　his　hand；　as　Meryem　had　bidden　him；　and　the　captain　took　it　and　pulling　him　on　board；　cried　out　to　his　crew；　saying；　'Cast　off　the　moorings　and　put　out　to　sea　with　us；　ere　the　day　break。'　'O　my　lord　the　captain；'　said　one　of　the　sailors；　'how　shall　we　put　out　now　when　the　king　hath　notified　us　that　tomorrow　he　will　embark　in　this　ship　and　go　round　about　this　sea；　being　fearful　for　his　daughter　Meryem　from　the　Muslim　thieves？'　But　the　captain　cried　out　at　them；　saying；　'Woe　to　you；　O　accursed　ones！　Dare　ye　gainsay　me　and　bandy　words　with　me？'　So　saying；　he　drew　his　sword　and　dealt　the　sailor　who　had　spoken　a　thrust　in　the　throat；　that　the　steel　came　out　gleaming　from　his　nape；　and　quoth　another　of　the　sailors；　'What　crime　hath　our　rade　mitted；　that　thou　shouldst　cut　off　his　head？'　The　captain　replied　by　putting　his　hand　to　his　sword　and　striking　off　the　speaker's　head；　nor　did　he　leave　smiting　the　rest　of　the　sailors；　till　he　had　slain　them　all　and　cast　their　bodies　ashore。　Then　he　turned　to　Noureddin　and　cried　out　at　him　with　a　terrible　great　cry；　that　made　him　tremble；　saying；　'Go　down　and　pull　up　the　mooringstake。'　Noureddin　feared　lest　he　should　strike　him　also　with　the　sword；　so　he　leapt　ashore　and　pulling　up　the　stake；　sprang　aboard　again；　swiftlier　than　the　dazzling　lightning。　The　captain　ceased　not　to　bid　him　do　this　and　do　that　and　tack　and　wear　and　look　at　the　stare　and　Noureddin　did　all　that　he　bade　him；　with　heart　atremble　for　fear；　whilst　he　himself　spread　the　sails　and　the　ship　stretched　out　with　them　with　a　fair　wind　into　the　surging　sea；　swollen　with　clashing　billows。　Noureddin　held　on　to　the　tackle；　drowned　in　the　sea　of　solicitude　and　knowing　not　what　was　hidden　for　him　in　the　future；　and　whenever　he　looked　at　the　captain；　his　heart　quaked　and　he　knew　not　whither　he　went　with　him。

He　abode　thus；　distraught　with　concern　and　inquietude；　till　it　was　broad　day；　when　he　looked　at　the　captain　and　saw　him　take　hold　of　his　beard　and　pull　at　it；　whereupon　it　came　off　in　his　hand　and　Noureddin；　examining　it；　saw　that　it　was　but　a　false　beard　stuck　on。　So　he　considered　the　captain　straitly；　and　behold；　it　was　the　Princess　Meryem；　his　mistress　and　the　beloved　of　his　heart；　who　had　waylaid　the　captain　and　killed　him　and　skinned　off　his　beard；　which　she　had　clapped　on　to　her　own　face。　At　this　Noureddin　was　transported　for　joy　and　his　breast　dilated　and　he　marvelled　at　her　valour　and　prowess　and　the　stoutness　of　her　heart　and　said　to　her；　'Wele；　O　thou　my　hope　and　my　desire　and　the　end　of　all　my　wishes！'　Then　desire　and　gladness　agitated　him　and　he　made　sure　of　attaining　his　hope　and　his　wish　；　wherefore　he　broke　out　into　carol　and　sang　the　following　verses：

　　Say　to　those　who　know　nought　of　my　transport　and　heat　For　a　loved　one；　whose　favours　they　never　may　meet；
　　'Ask　my　folk　of　my　passion：　my　verses　are　sweet　And　dainty　the　ditties　of　love　I　repeat　
　　On　a　people　whose　thought　in　my　heart　hath　its　seat。'
　　Their　mention　with　me　chaseth　sickness　away　From　my　bosom　and　heals　me　of　pain　and　dismay；
　　My　love　and　my　longing　increase　on　me　aye　And　my　heart　is　distracted　with　ecstasy；　yea；　
　　I'm　a　byword　bee　'mongst　the　folk　in　the　street。
　　I　will　not　accept　aught　of　blame　on　their　part　Nor　seek　solace　in　other　than　them　for　love's　smart。
　　Love　hath　pierced　me；　for　grief　and　regret；　with　a　dart　and　hath　kindled　a　brazier　therefrom　in　my　heart；　
　　Yea；　still　in　my　liver　there　rageth　its　heat。
　　My　sickness　the　folk　for　a　wonderment　cite　And　my　wakefulness　all　through　the　darkness　of　night。
　　What　ailed　them　my　weakness　with　rigour　to　smite？　In　passion　the　shedding　my　blood　they　deem　right；　
　　Yet　justly　they　me　with　injustice　entreat。
　　I　wonder　who　charged　you　to　drive　to　despair　A　youth　who　still　loves　and　will　love　you　fore'er？
　　By　my　life　and　by　Him　your　Creator　I　swear；　If　a　saying　of　you　should　the　backbiters　bear；　
　　By　Allah；　they　lie　in　the　tale　they　repeat！
　　May　God　not　dispel　from　me　sickness　and　pain　Nor　my　heart　of　its　thirst　and　its　longing　assain；
　　Of　your　love　for　satiety　when　I　plain！　Indeed；　to　none　other　that　you　am　I　fain。
　　Wring　my　heart　or　show　favour；　as　seems　to　you　meet。
　　My　heart　to　your　mem'ry　shall　ever　be　true；　Though　your　rigours　should　rack　it　and　cause　it　to　rue；
　　Rejection　abides　and　acceptance　with　you：　So　whatever　you　will　with　your　bondman；　that　do；　
　　He'll　grudge　not　his　life　to　lay　down　at　your　feet。　
The　princess　marvelled　at　his　song　and　thanked　him　therefor；　saying；　'Him　whose　case　is　thus　it　behoveth　to　walk　the　ways　of　men　and　eschew　the　fashion　of　losers　and　poltroons。'　Now　she　was　stout　of　heart　and　versed　in　the　sailing　of　ships　over　the　salt　sea；　and　she　knew　all　the　winds　and　their　changes　and　all　the　courses　of　the　sea。　'O　my　lady；'　said　Noureddin；　'hadst　thou　prolonged　this　case　on　me；　（91）　I　had　surely　died　for　excess　of　fear　and　chagrin；　more　by　token　of　the　fire　of　passion　and　love　longing　and　the　cruel　anguish　of　separation。'　She　laughed　at　his　speech　and　presently　rising；　brought　out　somewhat　of　meat　and　drink；　and　they　ate　and　drank　and　made　merry。　Then　she　brought　out　rubies　and　other　gems　and　precious　stones　and　trinkets　of　gold　and　silver　and　all　manner　things　of　price；　light　of　carriage　and　great　of　worth；　that　she　had　taken　from　the　palace　of　her　father　and　his　treasuries；　and　showed　them　to　Noureddin；　who　rejoiced　therein　with　an　exceeding　joy。

Meanwhile　the　wind　blew　fair　for　them　and　they　sailed　on；　without　hindrance；　till　they　drew　near　the　city　of　Alexandria　and　sighted　its　landmarks；　old　and　new；　and　Pompey's　Pillar。　When　they　reached　the　port；　Noureddin　landed　and　making　the　ship　fast　to　one　of　the　Fulling　Stones；　took　somewhat　of　the　treasures　that　Mer