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 shall the house our presence cheered once more unite us two？ Shall it my heart's desire and thine be given us to attain？
Take my bones with thee by the way and where thou lightest down； Bury them near thee； so they may with thee for aye remain。
Had I a pair of hearts； with one I'd make a shift to live And leave the other to consume for love of thee in vain；
And if； 'What wouldst thou leave of God？' 'twere asked of me； I'd say； 'Th' Almighty's favours first； then hers； my prayer to seek were fain。'
As he was in this case； weeping and crying out； 'O Meryem！' an old man landed from a vessel and ing up to him； saw him weeping and heard him recite these verses：
O Meryem of loveliness； （81） return to me again； My eyeballs are as clouds that pour with neverceasing rain。
Do thou but ask； concerning me； of those at me that rail； They'll tell thee that my lids lie drowned within their fountains twain。
'O my son；' said the old man； 'meseems thou weepest for the damsel who sailed yesterday with the Frank？' When Noureddin heard his words； he fell down in a swoon and lay awhile without life； then； ing to himself； he wept passing sore and recited the following verses：
Is union after severance with her past hoping for And will the perfectness of cheer return to me no more？
Anguish and love have taken up their lodging in my heart： The plate and gabble of the spies and railers irks me sore。
I pass the day long in amaze； confounded； and anights To visit me in dreams of sleep her image I implore。
Never； by God； a moment's space am I for love consoled！ How should it be so； when my heart the envious doth abhor？
A leveling； soft and delicate of sides and slim of waist； She hath a beaming eye； whose shafts are lodged in my heart's core。
Her shape is as the willowwand i' the gardens and her grace For goodliness outshames the sun and shines his splendour o'er。
Feared I not God （extolled be His majesty！） I'd say； 'Extolled be Her。 majesty； the fair whom I adore！
The old man looked at him and noting his beauty and grace and symmetry and the eloquence of his tongue and the seductiveness of his charms； took passion on him and his heart mourned for his case。 Now he was the captain of a ship； bound to the damsel's city； and in this ship were a hundred Muslim merchants： so he said to Noureddin； 'Have patience and all shall yet be well； God willing； I will bring thee to her。' 'When shall we set out？' asked Noureddin； and the other said； 'e but three days more and we will depart in peace and prosperity。' Noureddin was mightily rejoiced at the captain's words and thanked him for his bounty and kindness。 Then he recalled the days of lovedelight and union with his slave girl without peer； and he wept sore and recited the following verses：
Will the passionate； indeed； unite us； me and thee； And shall I win to my desire by favouring Fate's decree？
And shall time's shifts vouchsafe me yet a visit from my fair And shall mine eyelids seize upon thine image greedily？
Were thine enjoyment to be bought； I'd buy it with my life。 But thy possession is； alack！ too dear for me； I see。
Then he went to the market and bought what he needed of victual and other necessaries for the voyage and returned to the captain； who said to him； 〃O my son； what is that thou hast with thee？' 'My provisions and that whereof I have need for the voyage；' answered Noureddin。 'O my son；' said the old man； laughing； 'art thou going apleasuring to Pompey's Pillar？ Verily； between thee and that thou seekest is two months' journey； if the wind be favourable and the weather fair。' Then he took of him somewhat of money and going to the market； bought him all that he needed for the voyage and filled him a cask with fresh water。 Noureddin abode in the ship three days； till the merchants had made an end of their preparations and embarked； when they set sail and putting out to sea； fared on oneandfifty days。 After this； there came out upon them corsairs； who sacked the ship and taking Noureddin and the rest prisoners； carried them to the city of France and showed them to the king； who bade cast them into prison。
At this moment the galleon arrived with the Princess Meryem and the oneeyed vizier； and when it reached the harbour； the latter landed and going up to the king； gave him the glad news of his daughter's safe return： whereupon they beat the drums for good tidings and decorated the city after the goodliest fashion。 Then the king took horse； with all his guards and nobles； and rode down to the sea to meet her。 Presently； she landed and the king embraced her and mounting her on a horse； carried her to the palace； where her mother received her with open arms and asked her how she did and whether she was yet a maid。 'O my mother；' replied Meryem； 'how should a girl who has been sold from merchant to merchant in the land of the Muslims； ＇a slave＇ manded； abide a maid ？ The merchant who bought me threatened me with beating and forced me and did away my maidenhead； after which he sold me to another and he fain to a third。'
When the queen heard this； the light in her eyes became darkness and she repeated her words to the king； who was sore chagrined thereat and his affair was grievous to him。 So he expounded her case to his grandees and patriarchs； （82） who said to him； 'O king； she hath been defiled by the Muslims； and nothing will purify her save the striking off of a hundred of their heads。' Whereupon the king sent for the prisoners and manded to strike off their heads。 So they beheaded them； one after another； beginning with the captain； till there was none left but Noureddin。 They tore off a strip of his skirt and binding his eyes therewith； set him on the carpet of blood and were about to cut off his head； when an old woman came up to the king and said； 'O my lord； thou didst vow to bestow upon the church five Muslim captives； to help us in the service thereof； so God would restore thee thy daughter the Princess Meryem； and now she is restored to thee； so do thou fulfil thy vow。' 'O my mother；' replied the king； 'by the virtue of the Messiah and the True Faith； there remaih to me but this one captive； whom they are about to put to death： so take him to help thee in the service of the church； till there e to me ＇other＇ prisoners of the Muslims； when I will send thee other four。 Hadst thou e earlier； before they cut of the heads of these； I had given thee as many as thou wouldst。'
The old woman thanked him and wished him continuance Of life and glory and prosperity。 Then she went up to Noureddin and seeing him to be a ely and elegant youth； with a delicate skin and a face like the moon at her full； carried him to the church； where she said to him； 'O my son； put of these clothes that are upon thee； for they are fit only for the king's service。' So saying； she brought him a gown and cowl of black wool and a broad girdle； in which she clad him； and bade him do the service of the church。 Accordingly； he tended the church seven days； at the end of which time the old woman came up to him and said； 'O Muslim； don thy silken clothes and take these ten dirhems and go out forthright and divert thyself abroad this day； and tarry not here a moment；