一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第31章
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anded and making the ship fast to one of the Fulling Stones； took somewhat of the treasures that Meryem had brought with her； and said to her； 'O my lady； abide in the ship against I ＇return and＇ carry thee up into the city on such wise as I should wish。' Quoth she； 'It behoves that this be done quickly； for tardiness in affairs engenders repentance。' 'There is no tardiness in me；' answered he and leaving her in the ship； went up into the city to the druggist's house； to borrow of his wife for Meryem veil and muffler and mantle and walking boots； after the usage of the women of Alexandria； knowing not that there was appointed to betide him of the vicissitudes of time； the father of wonders； that which was not in his reckoning。
Meanwhile； when the King of France arose in the morning； he missed his daughter and questioned her eunuchs and women of her。 'O our lord；' answered they； 'she went out last night； to go to the church； and after that we know nothing of her。' But； as the king talked with them； there arose a great clamour of cries without the palace； that the place rang thereto； and he said； 。What is to do？' 'O king；' answered the folk； 'we have found ten men slain on the seashore； and thy ship is missing。 Moreover； we found the postern of the church； that gives upon the alley leading to the sea； open and the Muslim prisoner； who serves in the church； missing。' Quoth the king； 'If my ship be missing； without doubt my daughter is in it。' So he summoned the captain of the port and cried out at him； saying； 'By the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith； except thou overtake my ship forthright with troops and bring it back to me； with those who are therein； I will put thee to death after the foulest fashion and make an example of thee！'
The captain went out from before him； trembling； and betook himself to the old woman of the church； to whom said he； 'Heardest thou aught from the captive； that was with thee； concerning his native land and what countryman he was？' And she answered； 'He used to say； 〃I e from the town of Alexandria。〃' When the captain heard this； he returned forthright to the port and cried out to the sailors to make sail。 So they did his bidding and straightway putting out to sea； sailed night and day till they came in sight of the city of Alexandria； what time Noureddin landed； leaving the princess in the ship。 They soon espied the king's bark and knew it； so they moored their own vessel at a distance therefrom and putting off in a little ship they had with them； which drew but three feet of water and in which were a hundred fightingmen； amongst them the oneeyed vizier （for that he was a stubborn tyrant and a froward devil and a wily thief； none could avail against his craft； as he were Abou Mohammed el Bettal （92）） rowed up to the bark and boarding her； all at once； found none therein save the Princess Meryem。 So they took her and the ship； and returning to their own vessel； after they had landed and waited a long while； （93） set sail forthright for the land of the Franks； having acplished their errand； without drawing sword。
The wind blew fair for them and they sailed on； without hindrance； till they reached the city of France and landing with the princess； carried her to her father； who received her； seated on the throne of his kingship。 As soon as he saw her； he said to her； 'Out on thee； O traitress！ What ailed thee to leave the faith of thy forefathers and the safeguard of the Messiah； on whom is our reliance； and follow after the faith of the vagabonds； （94） to wit； the faith of Islam； the which arose with the sword against the Cross and the Images？' 'I am not at fault；' replied Meryem。 'I went out by night to the church； to visit the Lady Mary and seek a blessing of her； when there fell upon me； at unawares； a band of Muslim robbers； who gagged me and bound me fast and carrying me on board the bark； set sail with me for their own country。 However； I beguiled them and talked with them of their religion； till they loosed my bonds； and before I knew what was toward； thy men overtook me and delivered me。 And by the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith and the Cross and Him who was crucified thereof I rejoiced with an exceeding joy in my release from them and my bosom expanded and I was glad fob my deliverance from the bondage of the Muslims！' 'Thou liest； O shameless baggage！' rejoined the king。 'By the virtue of that which is revealed of prohibition and allowance in the manifest evangel； （95） I will assuredly slay thee after the foulest fashion and make of thee the vilest of examples！ Did it not suffice thee to do as thou didst the first time and put off thy lies upon us； but thou must return upon us with thy falsehoods？'
Then he manded to slay her and crucify her over the gate of the palace： but the oneeyed vizier； who had long been enamoured of the princess； came in to him and said； 'Slay her not； but give her to me to wife； and I will watch over her with the utmost vigilance； nor will I go in to her； till I have built her a palace of solid stone； exceeding high of fashion； so no thieves may avail to climb up to its roof； and when I have made an end of building it； I will sacrifice thirty Muslims before the gate thereof； as an expiatory offering to the Messiah for her and for myself。' The king granted his request and bade the priests and monks and patriarchs marry the princess to him； so they did his bidding； whereupon he gave mandment to set about building a strong and lofty palace； befitting her； and the workmen fell to work upon it。
To return to Noureddin。 When he came back with the veils and what not else he had borrowed of the druggist's wife； he 'found the air empty and the place of visitation distant；' whereupon his heart sank within him and he wept floods of tears and recited the following verses：
The phantom of Saada came to me by night； near the break of day； And roused me； whenas my rades all in the desert sleeping lay：
But； when I awoke to the dream of the night； that came to visit me； I found the air void and the wonted place of our rendezvous far away。
Then he walked on along the beach and turned right and left； till he saw people gathered together on the beach and heard them say； 'O Muslims； there abideth no sanctity in the city of Alexandria； since the Franks enter it and snatch away those who are therein and return to their own land at their leisure； unpursued of any of the Muslims or menofwar！' Quoth Noureddin to them； 'What is to do？' And they answered； 'O my son； one of the ships of the Franks； full of armed men； came down but now upon the harbour and carried off a ship that was moored here； with her who was therein； and made for their own land unhindered。' Noureddin fell down in a swoon； on hearing these words； and when he came to himself； they questioned him of his case and he told them all that had befallen him； whereupon they all fell to blaming him and railing at him； saying； 'Why couldst thou not bring her up into the town without veil and muffler？' And each gave him some grievous word； berating him with sharp speech； and shot at him each his shaft of reproach； albeit some said； 'Let him be； that which hath befallen him sufficeth him；' till he again fell down in a swoon。
At this moment； up came the old druggist； who； seeing the folk gathered together； drew near to learn what was the matter and found Noureddin lying aswoon in their midst。 So he sat down at his head and arousing him； said to him； 'O my son； what is this case in which I see thee？' 'O uncle；' replied Noureddin； 'I had brought back my slavegirl； whom I lost； from her father's city； after suffering all manner of perils and hardships； and when I came hither with her； I made the vessel fast to the shore and leaving her therein； repaired to thy dwelling and took of thy wife what was needful for her； that I might bring her up into the city； but the Franks came and taking the ship and the damsel therein； made off unhindered； and returned to their own land。'
When the druggist heard this； the light in his eyes became darkness and he grieved sore for Noureddin and said to him； 'O my son； why didst thou not bring her out of the ship into the city without a veil？ But talk availeth not at this seas
