一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第24章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
And quoth a third：
Unveiled； new moons they shine； and all displayed； like moons at full； They burn： like boughs they sway； and eke like antelopes they turn：
And in their midst's a blackeyed maid； for whose sweet beauty's sake； To be the earth whereon she treads the Pleiades would yearn。
So he turned to her and pressing her to his bosom； sucked first her under lip and then her upper lip and slid his tongue into her mouth。 Then he rose to her and found her an unpierced pearl and a filly that none but he had mounted。 So he did away her maidenhead and had of her the amorous delight and there was contracted between them love that might never know breach nor severance。 He rained down kisses upon her cheeks； like the falling of pebbles into water； and beset her with stroke upon stroke； like the thrusting of spears in the mellay； for that Noureddin still yearned after clipping of necks and sucking of lips and letting down of tresses and pressing of waists and biting of cheeks and pinching of breasts； with Cairene motitations and Yemani wrigglings and Abyssinian sobbings and Hindi torsions and Nubian lasciviousness and Rifi （76） legliftings and Damiettan gruntings and Upper Egyptian heat and Alexandrian languor； and this damsel united in herself all these attributes； together with excess of beauty and amorous grace； and indeed she was even as saith of her the poet：
By Allah； I will never all my life long fet her； my dear； And those only will I tender who shall bring her to me to draw near！
Now glory to her Maker and Creator be given evermore！ As the full moon of the heavens in her aspect and her gait she doth appear。
Though my sin； indeed； be sore and my offending in loving her be great； I know repentance not； whilst of her favours a hope to me be clear。
She； indeed； hath made me weariful and wakeful； full of sorrow； sick for love： Yea； my heart is all confounded at her beauty； dazed for trouble and for fear；
And I go a line of verse for e'er repeating that none knoweth 'mongst the folk Save the man who rhymes and verses hath recited and studied many a year。
None knoweth of lovelonging save he only who hath its pains endured And none but he can tell the taste of passion； who's Proved its woe and cheer。
So Noureddin lay with the damsel in solace and delight； clad in the straitlinked garments of emplacement； secure against the accidents of night and day； and they passed the night after the goodliest fashion； fearing not； in lovedelight； abundance of talk and prate。 As says of them the right excellent poet：
Cleave fast to her thou lov'st and let the envious rail amain； For calumny and envy ne'er to favour love were fain。
Lo； the passionate hath made no fairer thing to see Than when one couch in its embrace enfolders lovers twain；
Each to the other's bosom clasped； clad in their own delight； Whilst hand with hand and arm with arm about their necks enchain。
Lo； when two hearts are straitly knit in passion and desire； But on cold iron smite the folk that chide at them in vain。
Thou that for loving censurest the votaries of love； Canst thou assain a mind diseased or heal a cankered brain？
If in thy time thou find but one to love thee and be true； I rede thee cast the world away and with that one remain。
When the morning appeared and gave forth its light and shone； Noureddin awoke from sleep and found that she had brought water： （77） so they washed； he and she； and he acquitted that which behoved him of prayer to his Lord； after which she brought him meat and drink； and he ate and drank。 Then she put her hand under her pillow and pulling out the girdle； gave it to Noureddin； who said； 'Whence eth this girdle？' 'O my lord；' answered she； 'it is the silk thou boughtest yesterday for twenty dirhems。 Rise now and go to the Persian bazaar and give it to the broker； to cry for sale； and sell it not for less than twenty dinars； money down。' 'O princess of fair ones；' said Noureddin； 'how can a thing； that cost twenty dirhems and will sell for as many dinars； be made in a single night？' 'O my lord；' replied she； 'thou knowest not its value； but go to the market and give it to the broker； and when he cries it； its worth will appear to thee。'
So he carried the girdle to the market and gave it to the broker； bidding him cry it； whilst he himself sat down on a bench before a shop。 After awhile； the broker returned and said to him； 'O my lord； rise and take the price of thy girdle； for it hath fetched twenty dinars。' When Noureddin heard this； he marvelled exceedingly and shook with delight。 Then he rose； between belief and disbelief to take the money and when he had received it； he spent it all on silk of various colours and returning home； gave the silk to the damsel； saying； 'Make this all into girdles and teach me likewise how to make them； that I may work with thee； for never in my life saw I a goodlier craft than this nor a more abounding in profit。 By Allah； it is a thousand times better than the trade of A merchant！' She laughed and said； 'Go to thy friend the druggist and borrow other thirty dirhems of him； and tomorrow pay him the whole eighty from the price of the girdles。'
So he repaired to the druggist and said to him； 'O uncle； lend me other thirty dirhems； and tomorrow； God willing； I will repay thee the whole fourscore。' The old man counted him out thirty dirhems； with which he went to the market and buying meat and bread and dessert and fruit and flowers as before； carried them home to the damsel； whose name was Meryem； the girdlemaker。 She rose forthright and making ready rich meats； set them before Noureddin； after which she brought wine； and they drank and plied each other with liquor。 When the wine began to sport with their senses； his beauty and grace pleased her and the elegance of his manners； and she recited the following verses：
Unto a slender one； who with a goblet came With musk from out his breath perfumed； to give it zest。
Quoth I； 'Was't not express from out thy cheeks？' But 'Nay；' He answered； 'when was wine from roses yet exprest？'
And she ceased not to carouse with him and ply him that he should fill to her and give her to drink of that which sweetens the spirits； and whenever he laid his hand on her； she drew back from him； out of coquetry。 The wine added to her beauty and gee； and Noureddin recited these verses：
A slender one； desiring wine； unto her lover said； In an assembly； whenas he did sickness for her dread；
'An if thou give me not to drink； I'll banish thee my bed This night：' wherefore he feared and filled to her the vinejuice red。
They gave not over drinking till drunkenness got the mastery of Noureddin and he slept； whereupon she rose and fell to work upon a girdle； according to her wont。 When she had wrought it to end； she wrapped it in paper and putting off her clothes； lay down by his side； and they passed the night in dalliance and delight。
On the morrow； she gave him the girdle and bade him carry it to the market and sell it for twenty dinars； like as he had sold its fellow the day before。 So he went to the market and sold the girdle for twenty dinars； after which he repaired to the druggist and paid him back the four score diadems； thanking him for his bounties and calling down blessings upon him。 'O my son；' said he； 'hast thou sold the damsel？' 'Wouldst thou have me sell the soul out of my body？' answered Noureddin and told him all that had passed； whereat the druggist was mightily pleased and said to him； 'By Allah； O my son； thou rejoicest me！ So God please； mayst thou still abide in prosperity！ Indeed I wish thee well by reason of my affection for thy father and the continuance of our friendship。' Then he took leave of him and going to the market； bought meat and fruit and wine and all that he needed； as of wont； and returned therewith to Meryem。
They abode thus a whole year in eating and drinking and sport and merriment and love and good cheer； and every night she made a girdle and he sold it on the morrow for twenty dinars； wherewith he bought what they needed and gave the rest to her； to keep against a time of need。 After this； she said to him one day； 'O my lord； when thou sellest the girdle tomorrow； buy me silk of
