一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第40章

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　letters　and　clerkship　and　thy　handwriting　is　good　and　thy　breeding　excellent：　seek　out；　then；　whom　thou　wilt　of　the　viceroys　（128）　and　throw　thyself　on　his　bounty。　It　may　be　God　will　reunite　thee　with　thy　slavegirl。'

I　hearkened　to　his　words　（and　indeed　my　mind　was　fortified　and　I　was　somewhat　forted）　and　resolved　to　betake　myself　to　Wasit；　（129）　where　I　had　kinsfolk。　So　I　went　down　to　the　riverside；　where　I　saw　a　ship　moored　and　the　sailors　carrying　goods　and　rich　stuffs　on　board。　I　asked　them　to　take　me　with　them　and　carry　me　to　Wasit；　but　they　replied；　'We　cannot　do　that；　for　the　ship　belongs　to　a　Hashimi。'　However；　I　tempted　them　with　＇promise　of＇　reward；　and　they　said；　'We　cannot　take　thee　on　this　fashion；　（130）　if　it　must　be；　put　off　those　fine　clothes　of　thine　and　don　sailors'　clothes　and　sit　with　us；　as　thou　wert　one　of　us。'　So　I　went　away　and　buying　sailors'　clothes；　put　them　on；　after　which　I　bought　me　somewhat　of　victual　＇for　the　voyage＇　and　returning　to　the　vessel；　which　was　bound　for　Bassora；　embarked　with　the　crew。

Before　long　I　saw　my　slavegirl　herself　＇e　on　board＇　；　attended　by　two　waitingwomen；　whereupon　my　chagrin　subsided　and　I　said　in　myself　'Now　shall　I　see　her　and　hear　her　singing；　till　we　e　to　Bassora。'　Soon　after；　up　rode　the　Hashimi；　with　a　party　of　folk；　and　they　embarked　in　the　ship；　which　dropped　down　the　river　with　them。　Presently　the　Hashimi　brought　out　food　and　ate　with　the　damsel；　whilst　the　rest　ate　amidships。　Then　said　he　to　her；　'How　long　wilt　thou　abstain　from　singing　and　persist　in　this　mourning　and　weeping？　Thou　art　not　the　first　that　hath　been　parted　from　a　beloved　one。'　Wherefore　I　knew　what　she　suffered　for　love　of　me。　Then　he　hung　a　curtain　before　her　in　the　side　of　the　ship　and　calling　those　who　ate　apart；　sat　down　with　them　without　the　curtain；　and　I　enquired　concerning　them　and　behold；　they　were　his　brethren。　（131）　Then　he　set　before　them　what　they　needed　of　wine　and　dessert；　and　they　ceased　not　to　press　the　damsel　to　sing；　till　she　called　for　the　lute　and　tuning　it；　sang　the　following　verses：

　　The　pany　have　passed　away　with　those　whom　I　adore；　By　night　they　went　nor　to　depart　with　my　desire　forbore。
　　And　since　their　caravan　fared　hence；　live　coals　of　tamariskwood　Within　the　lover's　heart　rage　high　and　higher　evermore。　
Then　weeping　overpowered　her　and　she　threw　down　the　lute　and　left　singing；　whereat　the　folk　were　troubled　and　I　fell　down　in　a　swoon。　They　thought　I　was　possessed　（132）　and　one　of　them　fell　to　reciting　exorcisms　in　my　ear；　nor　did　they　cease　to　fort　her　and　beseech　her　to　sing；　till　she　tuned　the　lute　again　and　sang　these　verses：

　　I　stand　lamenting　travelers　who　bound　their　burdens　on；　Within　my　heart　their　dwelling　is；　though　far　away　they're　gone
　　Hard　by　the　ruined　camp　I　stand　and　question　it　of　them：　Waste　is　the　campingplace　and　void　the　dwellings　thereupon。　
Then　she　fell　down　in　a　swoon　and　weeping　arose　amongst　the　folk；　and　I　also　cried　out　and　fainted　away。　The　sailors　were　vexed　with　me　and　one　of　the　Hashimi's　servants　said　to　them；　'How　came　ye　to　take　this　madman　on　board？'　So　they　said　to　each　other；　'When　we　e　to　the　next　village；　we　will　put　him　ashore　and　rid　us　of　him。'　When　I　heard　this；　I　was　sore　troubled　and　summoned　up　all　my　courage；　saying　to　myself；　'Nothing　will　serve　me　to　deliver　myself　from　their　hands；　except　I　make　shift　to　acquaint　her　with　my　presence　in　the　ship；　so　she　may　prevent　my　putting　out。'

Then　we　sailed　on　till　eventide；　when　we　came　to　a　hamlet　（133）　and　the　captain　said；　'e；　let　us　go　ashore。'　So　they　all　landed；　＇leaving　me　in　the　ship＇　：　whereupon　I　rose　and　going　behind　the　curtain　took　the　lute　and　changed　its　accord；　course　（134）　by　course；　and　tuning　it　after　a　fashion　of　my　own；　（135）　that　she　had　learnt　of　me；　returned　to　my　place　in　the　ship。　Presently；　they　came　on　board　again　and　the　moon　shone　out　upon　the　river　and　bank。　Then　said　the　Hashimi　to　the　damsel；　'God　upon　thee；　trouble　not　our　lives！'　So　she　took　the　lute；　and　touching　it　with　her　hand；　gave　a　sob；　that　they　thought　her　soul　had　departed　＇her　body＇　；　and　said；　'By　Allah；　my　master　is　with　us　in　the　ship！'　'By　Allah；'　answered　the　Hashimi；　'were　this　so；　I　would　not　forbid　him　our　pany！　Haply　he　would　lighten　thy　chagrin；　so　we　might　enjoy　thy　singing：　but　it　cannot　be　that　he　is　on　board。'　But　she　said；　'I　cannot　sing　nor　play　whilst　my　lord　is　i；　'Let　us　ask　the　sailors。'　And　she　said；　'Do　so。'　So　he　questioned　them；　saying；　'Have　ye　carried　any　one　with　you？'　And　they　said；　'No。'

Then　I　feared　lest　the　enquiry　should　end　there；　so　I　laughed　and　said；　'Yes；　I　am　her　master　and　taught　her；　when　I　was　her　lord。'　'By　Allah；'　said　she；　'that　is　my　lord's　voice！'　So　the　servants　carried　me　to　the　Hashimi；　who　knew　me　at　once　and　said　to　me；　'Out　on　thee！　What　plight　is　this　in　which　I　see　thee　and　what　has　brought　thee　to　this　pass？'　So　I　told　him　all　that　had　befallen　of　my　affair；　weeping　the　while；　and　the　damsel　wailed　aloud　from　behind　the　curtain。　The　Hashimi　wept　sore；　he　and　his　brethren；　for　pity　of　me；　and　he　said；　'By　Allah；　I　have　not　drawn　near　the　damsel　nor　lain　with　her；　nor　have　I　even　heard　her　sing　till　this　day！　I　am　a　man　to　whom　God　hath　been　bountiful　and　I　came　to　Baghdad　but　to　hear　singing　and　seek　my　allowances　of　the　mander　of　the　Faithful。　I　acplished　both　my　occasions　and　being　about　to　return　home；　said　to　myself；　〃Let　us　hear　somewhat　of　the　singing　of　Baghdad。〃　Wherefore　I　bought　this　damsel；　knowing　not　how　it　was　with　you　both；　and　I　take　God　to　witness　that；　when　I　reach　Bassora；　I　will　free　her　and　marry　her　to　thee　and　assign　you　what　shall　suffice　you；　and　more：　but　on　condition　that；　whenever　I　have　a　mind　to　hear　music；　a　curtain　shall　be　hung　for　her　and　she　shall　sing　to　me　from　behind　it；　and　thou　shalt　be　of　the　number　of　my　brethren　and　boonpanions。'

At　this　I　rejoiced　and　he　put　his　head　within　the　curtain　and　said　to　her；　'Will　that　content　thee？'　Whereupon　she　fell　to　blessing　and　thanking　him。　Then　he　called　a　servant　and　said　to　him；　'Take　this　young　man　and　do　off　his　clothes　and　clothe　him　in　costly　raiment　and　incense　him　（136）　and　bring　him　back　to　us。'　So　the　servant　did　with　me　as　his　master　bade　him　and　brought　me　back　to　him；　and　he　set　wine　before　me；　even　as　before　the　rest　of　the　pany。　Then　the　damsel　fell　to　singing　after　the　goodliest　fashion　and　chanted　these　verses：

　　They　rail　at　me　because；　upon　the　parting　day；　I　wept；　when　my　belov'd　farewell　to　me　did　say。
　　They　never　knew　the　taste　of　severance　nor　felt　The　fire　that　in　my　breast　for　sorrow　rageth　aye。
　　Only　th'　afflicted　one　of　passion　knoweth；　he　Whose　heart　amongst　these　steads　is　lost　and　gone　astray。　
The　folk　rejoiced　in　her　song　with　an　exceeding　joy　and　my　gladness　redoubled；　so　that　I　took　the　lute　from　her　and　preluding　after　the　most　melodious　fashion；　sang　the　following　verses：

　　Ask　favours；　if　thou　needs　must　ask；　Of　generous　men；　Who　affluence　all　their　lives　have　known　and　happy　fate。
　　O'　the　generous　to　ask　brings　honour；　but　upon　The　asking　from　a　churl　blame　and　dishonour　wait。
　　When　thou　must　needs　abase　thyself；　if　thou　must　ask；　I　rede　thee　still　abase　thyself　unto　the　great　（137）　
　　The　generous　to　exalt　no　true　abasement　is　；　To　magnify　the　mean　doth　men　humiliate。　
The　pany　rejoiced　in　me　with　an　exceeding　joy　and　they　ceased　not　from　pleasure　and　delight；　whilst　anon　I　sang　and　anon　the　damsel；　till　we　came　to　one　of　the　landingplaces；　where　the　vessel　moored　and　all　on　board　went　ashore　and　I　with　them。　Now　I　was　drunken　ake　water；　but　drowsiness　overcame　me　and　I　slept；　and　the　folk　returned　to　the　ship；　without　missing　me；　for　that　they　also　were　drunken；　and　continued　their　voyage　till　they　reached　Bassora。　As　for　me；　I　slept　on　till　the　heat　of　the　sun　aroused　me；　when　I　arose　and　looked　about　me；　but　saw　no　one。　Now　I　had　given　my　spendingmoney　to　the　damsel　and　had　not　a　rap　left。　Moreover；　I　had　fotten　to　ask　the　Hashimi　his　name　and　titles　and　where　his　house　was　at　Bassora；　so　I　was　confounded　and　it　was　as　if　my　joy　at　meeting　the　damsel　had　been　but　a　dream；　and　I　abode　in　perplexity　till　there　came　up　a　great　vessel；　in　which　I　embarked　and　she　carrie