一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第2部分

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　　The　Garden　of　Eternity　（3）　it　seemed；　the　which　unites　All　that　the　soul　can　weary　for　of　costly　meat　and　wine。　
Quoth　she；　'Thou　soughtest　to　drink　of　our　drink；　so　up　and　at　our　meat　and　drink！'　He　could　hardly　credit　his　ears　and　set　down　forthright　at　the　table；　whereupon　she　bade　her　nurse　（4）　give　him　a　cup；　that　he　might　drink。　Now　her　slavegirls　were　called；　one　Huboub；　another　Khutoub　and　the　third　Sukoub；　and　she　who　gave　him　the　cup　was　Huboub。　Presently；　the　breeze　blew　＇on　the　lady＇　and　the　scarf　（5）　fell　from　her　head　and　discovered　a　fillet　of　glittering　gold；　set　with　pearls　and　jewels　and　jacinths；　and　on　her　breast　was　a　necklace　of　all　manner　gems　and　precious　stones；　to　which　hung　a　sparrow　of　red　gold；　with　feet　of　red　coral　and　bill　of　white　silver　and　＇body＇　full　of　aloes　and　ambergris　and　odoriferous　musk。　Then　he　looked　at　the　breast　of　her　shift　and　saw　thereon　the　following　verse　wroughten　in　red　gold：

　　The　fragrance　of　musk；　that　breathes　from　the　breasts　of　the　fair；　The　zephyr　borrows；　to　sweeten　the　morning　air。　
Mesrour　marvelled　at　this　with　an　exceeding　wonder　and　was　confounded　at　her　charms　and　amazement　got　hold　upon　him。　Then　said　she　to　him；　'Begone　from　us　and　go　about　thy　business；　lest　the　neighbours　hear　of　and　even　us　with　the　lewd。'　'By　Allah；　O　my　lady；'　replied　he；　'suffer　me　to　enjoy　the　sight　of　thy　beauty　and　grace。'　With　this　she　was　wroth　with　him　and　leaving　him；　walked　in　the　garden；　followed　by　her　maids　＇Khutoub　and　Sukoub＇；　whilst　Huboub　abode　by　the　curtain　with　Mesrour；　who　entered　into　discourse　with　her　and　presently　said　to　her；　'O　Huboub；　hath　thy　mistress　a　husband　or　not？'　'She　hath　a　husband；'　answered　the　damsel；　'but　he　is　presently　abroad　on　a　journey　with　merchandise　of　his。'

When　he　heard　that　her　husband　was　abroad　on　a　journey；　his　heart　lusted　after　her　and　he　said；　'O　Huboub；　extolled　be　the　perfection　of　Him　who　created　this　damsel　and　fashioned　her！　How　sweet　is　her　beauty　and　her　grace　and　her　shape　and　symmetry！　Verily；　my　heart　is　in　sore　travail　for　her。　O　Huboub；　＇look＇　how　I　may　e　to　enjoy　her；　and　thou　shalt　have　of　me　what　thou　wilt　of　money　and　what　not　else。'　'O　Nazarene；'　answered　Huboub；　'if　she　heard　thee　speak　thus；　she　would　kill　thee；　or　else　she　would　kill　herself；　for　she　is　the　daughter　of　a　champion　（6）　of　the　Jews　nor　is　there　her　like　amongst　them。　Moreover；　she　hath　no　need　of　money　and　keepeth　herself　still　cloistered；　discovering　not　her　case　to　any。'　Quoth　Mesrour；　'O　Huboub；　an　thou　wilt　but　bring　me　to　enjoy　her；　I　will　be　thy　slave　and　thy　servant　and　will　serve　thee　all　my　life　and　give　thee　whatsoever　thou　seekest　of　me。'

But　she　said；　'O　Mesrour；　this　woman　hath　no　desire　for　money　nor　yet　for　men；　for　my　lady　Zein　el　Mewasif　is　straitly　cloistered；　going　not　forth　of　the　door　of　her　house；　lest　the　folk　see　her；　and　but　that　she　forbore　thee　by　reason　of　thy　strangerhood；　she　had　not　suffered　thee　to　pass　her　threshold；　no；　not　though　thou　wert　her　brother。'　'O　Huboub；'　rejoined　he；　'be　thou　our　gobetween　and　thou　shalt　have　of　me　an　hundred　gold　dinars　and　a　dress　worth　as　much　more；　for　that　the　love　of　her　hath　gotten　possession　of　my　heart。'　And　she　said；　'O　man；　let　me　go　about　with　her　in　talk　and　I　will　return　thee　an　answer　and　acquaint　thee　with　what　she　saith。　Indeed；　she　loves　those　who　berhyme　her　and　set　forth　her　charms　and　her　grace　and　beauty　in　verse；　and　we　may　not　avail　against　her　save　by　beguilement　and　soft　speech　and　craft。'

Then　she　rose　and　going　up　to　her　mistress；　talked　with　her　privily　of　this　and　that　and　presently　said　to　her；　'O　my　lady；　look　at　yonder　young　man；　the　Nazarene；　how　sweet　is　his　discourse　and　how　elegant　his　shape！'　When　Zein　el　Mewasif　heard　this；　she　turned　to　her　and　said；　'An　his　eliness　like　thee；　love　him　thyself。　Art　thou　not　ashamed　to　bespeak　the　like　of　me　with　these　words？　Go；　bid　him　begone　about　his　business；　or　it　shall　be　the　worse　for　him。'　So　Huboub　returned　to　Mesrour；　but　acquainted　him　not　with　that　which　her　mistress　had　said。　Then　the　latter　bade　her　go　to　the　door　and　look　if　she　saw　any　of　the　folk；　lest　foul　befall　them。　So　she　went　and　resuming；　said；　'O　my　lady；　there　are　folk　in　plenty　without　and　we　cannot　let　him　go　forth　tonight。'　Quoth　Zein　el　Mewasif；　'I　am　troubled　because　of　a　dream　I　have　had　and　am　fearful　by　reason　thereof。'　And　Mesrour　said；　'What　sawest　thou　＇in　thy　dream？＇　May　God　not　trouble　thy　heart！'　'I　was　asleep　in　the　middle　of　the　night；'　answered　she；　'and　behold　an　eagle　swooped　down　upon　me　from　the　highest　of　the　clouds　and　would　have　carried　me　off　from　behind　the　curtain；　wherefore　I　was　affrighted　at　him。　Then　I　awoke　from　sleep　and　bade　my　women　bring　me　meat　and　drink；　so　haply；　when　I　had　drunken；　the　terror　of　the　dream　would　cease　from　me。'

When　he　heard　this；　he　smiled　and　told　her　his　dream　and　how　he　had　caught　the　dove；　whereat　she　marvelled　exceedingly。　Then　he　went　on　to　talk　with　her　and　said；　'Now　am　I　certified　of　the　truth　of　my　dream；　for　thou　art　the　dove　and　I　the　eagle；　and　needs　must　this　be；　for；　whenas　I　set　eyes　on　thee；　thou　tookest　possession　of　my　vitals　and　settest　my　heart　on　fire　for　love　of　thee！'　Thereupon　Zein　el　Mewasif　became　exceeding　wroth　and　said　to　him；　'God　forfend　that　this　should　be！　God　on　thee；　begone　about　thy　business；　ere　the　neighbours　see　thee　and　there　betide　us　sore　reproach。'　Then；　'Harkye；　fellow！'　added　she。　'Let　not　thy　soul　covet　that　it　shall　not　attain　to。　Thou　weariest　thyself　＇in　vain＇；　for　I　am　a　merchant's　wife　and　a　merchant's　daughter　and　thou　art　a　druggist；　and　when　sawst　thou　a　druggist　and　a　merchant's　daughter　on　this　wise？'　'O　my　lady；'　answered　he；　'never　lacked　love　between　folk　＇of　different　condition＇；　so　cut　thou　not　off　from　me　hope　of　this　and　whatsoever　thou　seekest　of　me　of　money　and　raiment　and　trinkets　and　what　not　else；　I　will　give　thee。'

Then　he　abode　with　her　in　discourse　and　chiding　whilst　she　still　redoubled　in　anger；　till　nightfall；　when　he　said　to　her；　'O　my　lady；　take　this　dinar　and　fetch　me　a　little　wine；　for　I　am　athirst　and　heavy　at　heart。'　So　she　said　to　Huboub；　'Fetch　him　wine　and　take　nought　from　him；　for　we　have　no　need　of　his　dinar。'　＇So　she　went　to　fetch　the　wine；　whilst＇　Mesrour　held　his　peace　and　bespoke　not　Zein　el　Mewasif；　who　improvised　the　following　verses：

　　Harkye；　O　man！　Desist　from　this　thou　dost　design　Nor　to　the　crooked　ways　of　frowardness　incline。
　　Love　is　a　；　and　if　thou　fall　into　its　snare；　The　day　thereafterward　for　weariness　thou'lt　pine
　　Occasion　to　our　spy　thou'lt　give　for　talk　and　all　The　people　will　reproach　me　with　this　love　of　thine。
　　Small　marvel　'tis　if　thou　a　fair　one　love：　gazelles　Thou　seest　lions　chase　and　in　their　snares　entwine。　
And　he　answered　her　with　these：

　　O　cassiabranch；　delight　of　garth　and　knoll；　Spare　thou　my　heart；　who　dost　possess　my　soul。
　　The　cup　of　death　for　love　thou'st　made　me　drain；　Clad　me　in　wede　of　abjectness　and　dole。
　　How　shall　I　be　consoled；　since　thou　hast　taken　My　heart；　for　love　of　thee　a　redhot　coal！　
'Away　from　me！'　cried　she。　'Quoth　the　adage；　〃He　who　giveth　loose　to　his　eyes　wearieth　his　heart。〃　By　Allah；　I　am　tired　of　discourse　with　thee　and　chiding；　and　indeed　thy　soul　coveteth　that　which　shall　never　be　thine；　nay；　though　thou　gavest　me　my　weight　in　gold；　thou　shouldst　not　get　thy　wish　of　me；　for；　by　the　bounty　of　God　the　Most　High；　I　know　nought　of　the　things　of　the　world；　save　pleasant　life。'　'O　my　lady　Zein　el　Mewasif；'　answered　he；　'ask　of　me　what　thou　wilt　of　the　goods　of　the　world。'　Quoth　she；　'What　shall　I　ask　of　thee？　For　sure　thou　wilt　go　out　into　the　highway　＇and　discover　my　case　to　the　folk＇　and　I　shall　bee　a　laughingstock　among　them　and　they　will　make　a　byword　of　me　in　verse；　me　who　am　the　daughter　of　the　chief　of　the　merchants　and　whose　father　is　known　of　the　notables　of　the　people。　I　have　no　need　of　money　or　raiment　and　this　love　will　not　be　hidden　from　the　folk　and　I　shall　be　brought　to　shame；　I　and　my　family。'

With　this　Mesrour　was　confounded　and　could　make　her　no　answer；　but　presently　she　said；　'Indeed；　the　skilful　thief；　if　he　steal；　stealeth　not　but　what　is　worth　＇the　adventuring　of＇　his　neck；　and　every