一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第39章

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　to　your　own　country。〃

So　her　visits　were　cut　off　from　me　and　I　betook　myself　to　getting　in　the　price　of　my　flax；　that　I　had　sold　upon　credit；　and　bartering　what　remained　in　my　hands　for　other　modities。　Then　I　took　with　me　goodly　mer　chandise　and　departing　Acre；　full　of　love　and　longing　for　the　Frankish　woman；　for　that　she　had　taken　my　heart　and　my　money；　repaired　to　Damascus；　where　I　sold　my　merchandise；　that　I　had　brought　from　Acre；　at　a　great　price；　because　of　the　cutting　off　of　munication　by　reason　of　the　expiry　of　the　truce；　and　God　（blessed　and　exalted　be　He！）　vouchsafed　me　a　good　profit。　Then　I　fell　to　trafficking　in　captive　slavegirls；　thinking　thus　to　ease　my　heart　of　its　longing　for　the　Frankish　woman；　and　on　this　wise　I　abode　three　years；　till　there　befell　between　El　Melik　en　Nasir　and　the　Franks　what　befell　of　the　battle　of　Hittin　and　other　encounters　and　God　gave　him　the　victory　over　them；　so　that　he　took　all　their　kings　prisoners　and　opened　（120）　the　cities　of　the　coast　（121）　by　His　leave。

One　day；　after　this；　there　came　a　man　to　me　and　sought　of　me　a　slavegirl　for　El　Melik　en　Nasir。　Now　I　had　a　handsome　girl；　so　I　showed　her　to　him　and　he　bought　her　of　me　for　a　hundred　dinars　and　gave　me　niy　thereof；　leaving　ten　still　due　to　me；　for　that　there　was　no　more　found　with　the　king　that　day；　because　he　had　expended　all　his　treasures　in　waging　war　against　the　Franks。　So　they　took　counsel　with　him　and　he　said；　〃Carry　him　to　the　tent　（122）　where　are　the　captives　and　give　him　his　choice　among　the　damsels　of　the　Franks；　so　he　may　take　one　of　them　for　the　ten　dinars　that　are　due　to　him。〃　So　they　brought　me　to　the　prisoners'　lodging　and　showed　me　all　who　were　therein；　and　I　saw　amongst　them　the　Frank　damsel　with　whom　I　had　fallen　in　love　at　Acre　and　knew　her　right　well。

Now　she　was　the　wife　of　one　of　the　cavaliers　of　the　Franks。　So　I　said；　〃Give　me　this　one；〃　and　carrying　her　to　my　tent；　said　to　her；　〃Dost　thou　know　me？〃　She　answered　〃No；〃　and　I　said；　〃I　am　the　flax　merchant　with　whom　thou　hadst　to　do　at　Acre。　Thou　tookst　money　of　me　and　saidst；　'Thou　shalt　never　again　see　me　but　for　five　hundred　dinars。'　And　now　thou　art　bee　my　property　for　ten　dinars。〃　Quoth　she；　〃This　is　a　mystery。　Thy　faith　is　the　true　one；　and　I　testify　that　there　is　no　god　but　God　and　that　Mohammed　is　the　Apostle　of　God！〃　And　she　made　hearty　profession　of　Islam。　Then　said　I　to　myself；　〃By　Allah；　I　will　not　go　in　to　her　till　I　have　set　her　free　and　acquainted　the　Cadi；　＇so　he　may　marry　us！＇〃　So　I　betook　myself　to　Ibn　Sheddad　（123）　and　told　him　what　had　passed　and　he　married　me　to　her。　Then　I　lay　with　her　that　night　and　she　conceived；　after　which　the　troops　departed　and　we　returned　to　Damascus。

Presently　there　came　an　ambassador　from　the　king　of　the　Franks；　to　seek　the　prisoners；　according　to　the　treaty　between　the　kings。　So　El　Melik　en　Nasir　restored　all　the　men　and　women　he　held　in　captivity；　till　there　remained　but　the　woman　who　was　with　me　and　the　Franks　said；　〃The　wife　of　such　an　one　the　knight　is　not　here。〃　So　they　enquired　after　her　and　making　instant　search　for　her；　found　that　she　was　with　me；　whereupon　they　demanded　her　of　me　and　I　went　in　to　her；　pale　and　sore　concerned；　and　she　said　to　me；　〃What　ails　thee　and　what　hath　befallen　thee？〃　Quoth　I；　〃A　messenger　is　e　from　the　king　to　take　all　the　captives；　and　they　demand　thee　of　me。〃　〃Have　no　fear；〃　answered　she；　〃bring　me　to　the　king　and　I　know　what　to　say　to　him。〃　So　I　carried　her　before　the　Sultan　El　Melik　en　Nasir；　who　was　seated；　with　the　ambassador　of　the　king　of　the　Franks　on　his　right　hand；　and　said　to　him；　〃This　is　the　woman　that　is　with　me。〃

Then　said　the　king　and　the　ambassador　to　her；　〃Wilt　thou　go　to　thy　country　or　to　（124）　thy　husband？　For　God　hath　loosed　thy　bonds　and　those　of　thy　felloe　a　Muslim　and　am　great　with　child；　as　ye　may　see；　and　the　Franks　shall　have　no　more　profit　of　me。〃　〃Whether　is　dearer　to　thee；〃　asked　the　ambassador；　〃this　Muslim　or　thy　husband　the　knight　such　an　one？〃　And　she　answered　him　even　as　she　had　answered　the　Sultan。　Then　said　he　to　the　Franks　with　him；　〃Heard　ye　her　words？　〃　They　answered；　〃Yes。〃　And　he　said　to　me；　〃Take　thy　wife　and　depart　with　her。〃　So　I　took　her　and　went　away；　but　the　ambassador　sent　after　me　in　haste　and　said；　〃Her　mother　sent　her　a　charge　by　me；　saying；　'My　daughter　is　a　captive　and　naked：　and　I　would　have　thee　carry　her　this　chest。'　So　take　it　thou　and　deliver　it　to　her。〃

Accordingly　I　carried　the　chest　home　and　gave　it　to　her。　She　opened　it　and　found　in　it　all　her　clothes；　and　therein　I　saw　the　two　purses　of　fifty　and　a　hundred　dinars；　that　I　had　given　her；　untouched　and　tied　up　with　my　own　tying；　wherefore　I　praised　God　the　Most　High。　These　are　my　children　by　her　and　she　is　yet　alive　and　it　was　she　dressed　you　this　food。'　And　we　marvelled　at　his　story　and　at　that　which　had　befallen　him　of　good　fortune；　and　God　＇alone＇　is　＇All＇knowing。



THE　RUINED　MAN　OF　BAGHDAD　AND　HIS　SLAVEGIRL。

There　was　once　at　Baghdad；　of　old　time；　a　man　of　condition；　who　had　inherited　wealth　galore　from　his　father。　He　fell　in　love　with　a　slavegirl；　so　he　bought　her　and　she　loved　him　as　he　loved　her；　and　he　ceased　not　to　spend　upon　her；　till　all　his　wealth　was　gone　and　naught　remained　thereof；　wherefore　he　sought　a　means　of　getting　his　livelihood；　but　availed　not　thereunto。　Now　he　had　been　used；　in　the　days　of　his　blies　of　those　who　were　versed　in　the　art　of　singing　and　had　thus　attained　to　the　utmost　skill　therein。

So　he　took　counsel　with　one　of　his　friends；　who　said　to　him；　'Meseems　thou　canst　not　do　better　than　sing；　thou　and　thy　slavegirl；　＇for　your　living＇　；　for　on　this　wise　thou　wilt　get　money　in　plenty　and　wilt　eat　and　drink。'　But　he　misliked　this；　he　and　the　damsel；　and　she　said　to　him；　'I　have　bethought　me　of　a　means　of　relief　for　thee。'　'What　is　it？'　asked　he　and　she　said；　'Do　thou　sell　me；　so　shall　we　win　quit　of　this　strait；　thou　and　I；　and　I　shall　be　in　affluence；　for　none　will　buy　the　like　of　me　save　a　man　of　fortune；　and　with　this　I　will　contrive　for　my　return　to　thee。'

So　he　carried　her　to　the　market　and　the　first　who　saw　her　was　a　Hashimi　（125）　of　Bassora；　a　man　of　taste　and　breeding　and　generosity；　who　bought　her　for　fifteen　hundred　dinars。　（Quoth　the　young　man；　the　girl's　owner）。　When　I　had　received　the　price；　I　repented　me　and　wept；　I　and　the　damsel；　and　I　sought　to　cancel　the　sale；　but　the　purchaser　would　not　consent。　So　I　took　the　money　in　a　bag；　knowing　not　whither　I　should　go；　now　my　house　was　desolate　of　her；　and　buffeted　my　face　and　wept　and　wailed　as　I　had　never　done。　Then　I　entered　a　mosque　and　sat　weeping；　till　I　was　stupefied　and　losing　my　senses；　fell　asleep；　with　the　bag　of　money　under　my　head　for　a　pillow。　Presently；　before　I　could　be　ware；　a　man　pulled　the　bag　from　under　my　head　and　ran　off　with　it：　whereupon　I　started　up　in　affright　and　would　have　run　after　him；　but　lo；　my　feet　were　bound　with　a　rope　and　I　fell　on　my　face。　So　I　fell　aweeping　and　buffeting　myself；　saying；　'Thy　soul　（126）　hath　left　thee　and　thy　wealth　is　lost！'　Then；　of　the　excess　of　my　chagrin；　I　betook　myself　to　the　Tigris　and　wrapping　my　face　in　my　gown；　cast　myself　into　the　river。

The　bystanders　saw　me　and　said；　'Sure；　＇he　hath　done＇　this　because　of　some　great　trouble　that　hath　betided　him。'　So　they　cast　themselves　in　after　me　and　bringing　me　ashore；　questioned　me　of　my　case。　I　told　them　what　had　befallen　me　and　they　condoled　with　me。　Then　an　old　man　of　them　came　to　me　and　said；　'Thou　hast　lost　thy　money；　but　why　goest　thou　about　to　do　away　thy　life　and　bee　of　the　people　of　the　fire？　（127）　Arise；　e　with　me；　that　I　may　see　thine　abode。'　So　I　went　with　him　to　my　house　and　he　sat　with　me　awhile；　till　I　became　calmer；　when　I　thanked　him　and　he　went　away。　When　he　was　gone；　I　was　like　to　kill　myself；　but　bethought　me　of　the　life　to　e　and　the　fire；　so　I　fled　forth　my　house　to　one　of　my　friends　and　told　him　what　had　befallen　me。　He　wept　for　pity　of　me　and　gave　me　fifty　dinars；　saying；　'Take　my　advice　and　go　out　forthright　from　Baghdad　and　let　this　provide　thee　till　thy　heart　be　diverted　from　the　love　of　her　and　thou　fet　her。　Thou　art　a　man　of　letters　and　clerkship　and　thy　handwriting　is　good　and　thy　breeding　excellent：　seek　out；　then；　whom