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！
Then she said to him； 'Harkye； sirrah！ Begone about thy business； for we are none of the women who are neither thine nor another's。' （2） And he answered； 'O my lady； I said nothing ill。' Quoth she； 'Thou soughtest to divert thyself with the sight ＇of the garden＇ and thou hast looked on it； so go thy ways。' 'O my lady；' said he； 'belike ＇thou wilt give me＇ a draught of water； for I am athirst。' Quoth she； 'How canst thou drink of a Jew's water； and thou a Nazarene？' But he replied； 'O my lady； your water is not forbidden to us nor ours to you； for we are all ＇as＇ one creature。' So she said to her slavegirl； 'Give him to drink。' And she did so。 Then she called for the table of food； and there came four damsels； highbosomed maids； bearing four trays ＇of meats＇ and four flagons full of old wine； as it were the tears of a slave of love for clearness； and ＇set them down before him on＇ a table around whose marge were graven the following verses：
They set a table down before the boon panions' eyne； For eating； borne on wroughten feet of gold and silver fine；
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 H