一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第3章
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l thief； if he steal； stealeth not but what is worth ＇the adventuring of＇ his neck； and every woman who doth lewdness with other than her husband is styled a thief； so； if it must be thus and no help； thou shalt give me whatsoever my heart desireth of money and raiment and trinkets and what not。' Quoth he； 'An thou soughtest of me the world and all that is therein； from East to West； it were but a little thing； pared with thy favour。' And she said； 'I will have of thee three suits； each worth a thousand dinars； and pearls and jewels and jacinths； and I require of thee； to boot； that thou swear to me that thou wilt keep my secret nor discover it to any and that thou wilt pany with none but me； and I in turn will swear to thee a true oath that I will never play thee false。'
So he swore to her the oath she required and she swore to him； and they agreed upon this； after which she said to her nurse Huboub； 'Tomorrow go thou with Mesrour to his lodging and seek somewhat of musk and ambergris and aloes and rosewater and see what he hath。 If he be a man of condition； we will take him into favour； else will we leave him。' Then said she to him； 'O Mesrour； I desire somewhat of musk and ambergris and aloeswood； so do thou send it me by Huboub。' And he answered； 'I hear and obey； my shop is at thy mandment。' Then the wine went round between them and their session was pleasant； but Mesrour's heart was troubled for the passion and longing that possessed him； and when Zein el Mewasif saw him in this plight； she said to her slavegirl Sukoub； 'Arouse Mesrour from his stupor； mayhap he will awake。' 'Willingly；' answered Sukoub and sang the following verses：
An if thou be in love； bring gold and gear and in thy lays Set forth thy love； so thou mayst win the aim of thine essays
And taste the favours of a fawn； softeyed and smilinglipped； Whose shape is as the cassiabranch； when to the breeze it sways。
Look on her； in her charms thou'lt see matter for wonderment And pour thy life out； ere the term appointed to thy days。
These be the attributes of love； an thou but knewst thereof； But； if the gold delude thee； leave the gold and go thy ways。
Mesrour apprehended ＇her meaning＇ and said； 'I hear and understand。 Never was stress but after came relief； and He who afflicteth will order ＇the issue＇。' Whereupon Zein el Mewasif recited the following：
Awake； O Mesrour； from love's stupor； for lo； I fear lest our love bring thee travail and woe。
Sure proverbs on us East and West shall be made And the folk our report for a wonder shall know。
Leave loving my like； or for sure thou'lt have blame。Why cleav'st thou to me of all women？ I trow；
One wellborn shouldst thou love。Thou'lt a byword bee And find not a pitying friend high or low
I'm a Pharisee's child and the folk fear my wrath： Would the term of my life were acplished； heigho！
And Mesrour answered her with these verses：
Leave me to my affliction； to love thee I'm content； And blame me not； for censure my passion doth augment。
Over my heart ye lord it in tyrantwise； whilst I Fare westward neither eastward for very languishment。
Forbidden 'tis to slay me of passion's law； they say； 'The slain of love's a victim； oppressed and innocent。'
Were there a judge in passion； to him I'd make my moan； Mayhap he'd do me justice in his arbitrament。
They ceased not from chiding and discourse till the morning beamed； when Zein el Mewasif said to him； 'O Mesrour； it is time for thee to depart； lest one of the folk see thee and foul befall us。' So he arose and going forth； fared on； acpanied by Huboub； till they came to his lodging； where he talked with her and said to her； 'All thou seekest of me thou shalt presently have； so but thou wilt bring me to her enjoyment。' Quoth Huboub； 'fort thy heart；' whereupon he rose and gave her a hundred dinars； saying； 'O Huboub； I have by me a dress worth a hundred dinars。' 'O Mesrour；' answered she； 'make haste with the dresses and what not else thou didst promise her； ere she change her mind； for we may not avail to take her save with craft and beguilement； and she loveth the recitation of verses。' Quoth he； 'I hear and obey；' and bringing her the musk and ambergris and aloeswood and rosewater； returned with her to Zein el Mewasif and saluted her。 She returned his greeting with the sweetest of speech； and he was confounded at her beauty and improvised the following verses：
O sun； midmost the dark that shinest in the skies； O thou that hast benumbed my wit with great black eyes；
O loveling sweet； that 'st with neck surpassing fair； Whose cheek the gardenrose eclipses and outvies；
Blind not with thy disdain our sights； for thy disdain A grievous matter is； the heart that terrifies。
Passion took up its stead with me； and 'tis forbid To it to carry off the life's last lingering sighs。
Indeed； the love of you doth lord it in my heart； And save to you； I find no issue anywise。
Yet haply thou'lt relent towards a lover sad； So shall his darkness flee and morning bright arise。
When she heard his verses； she cast at him a look； that bequeathed him a thousand regrets and his heart and soul were ravished thereby and answered him as follows：
Think not from her； of whom thou art enamoured； aye To win delight； so put desire from thee away。
Leave that thou hop'st； for 'gainst her rigours whom thou lov'st Among the fair； in vain is all thou canst essay。
My looks to lovers bring disfiture and woe： Indeed； I make no count of that which thou dost say。
When he heard this； he dissembled and took patience； saying in himself； 'There is nothing for it but patience against calamity；' and on this wise they abode till nightfall； when she called for food and they set before her a tray； wherein were all manner meats； quails and pigeons and mutton and so forth； of which they ate till they had enough。 Then she bade take away the tables and they did so and brought washing gear。 So they washed their hands； after which she ordered her women to bring the candlesticks； and they set on candlesticks and candles therein of camphorated wax。
Then said she； 'By Allah； my breast is straitened to night and I am fevered。' Quoth Mesrour； 'May God dilate thy breast and do away thy trouble！' And she aaid； 'O Mesrour； I am used to play at chess： knowest thou aught of the game？' 'Yes；' answered he； 'I am skilled therein；' whereupon she bade her maid Huboub fetch her the chessboard。 So she went away and presently returning with the board； set it before her； and behold； it was of ebony inlaid with ivory； with squares traced out in glittering gold； and its pieces were of pearl and ruby。 Mesrour was amazed at this and she said to him； 'Wilt thou have red or white？' 'O princess of fair ones and adornment of the morning；' answered he； 'do thou take the red； for they are handsome and fitter for the like of thee； and leave me the white。' 'So be it；' answered she and taking the red pieces； ranged them opposite the white； then put out her hand to make the first move。
He looked at her fingers； which were white as paste； and was confounded at their beauty and elegant shape； whereupon she turned to him and said； 'O Mesrour； be not bewildered； but take patience and calm thyself。' 'O thou whose beauty puts the moons to shame；' answered he； 'how shall a lover look on thee and have patience？' 'Checkmate！' （7） said she and beat him； wherefore she knew that he was mad for love of her and said to him； 'O Mesrour； I will not play with thee save for a set stake。' 'I hear and obey；' answered he and she said； 'Swear to me and I will swear to thee that neither of us will cheat the other。' So they swore this and she said； 'O Mesrour； if I beat thee； I will have ten dinars of thee； and if thou beat me； I will give thee nothing。' 'O my lady；' rejoined he； 'be not false to thine oath； for I see thou art an over match for me at this game！' 'Agreed；' said she and they ranged their men and fell again to playing。
Now she had on her head a kerchief of blue brocade； so she laid it aside and tucking up her sleeve； showed a wrist like a shaft of light and passed her hand over the red pieces； saying to him； 'Look to thyself。' But he was dazzled at her beauty and the sight of her char
