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 said one of the sons of the merchants； 'My life on thee； O my lord Noureddin； drink of this cup！' And another conjured him by the oath of divorce and yet another stood before him； till he was ashamed and taking the cup from the gardener； drank a mouthful； but spat it out again； saying； 'It is bitter。' 'O my lord Noureddin；' said the gardener； 'knowest thou not that the sweetest things； when taken by way of medicine； are bitter？ Were this not bitter； it would lack of the ＇many＇ virtues it possesseth； amongst which are that it digesteth food and doth away care and anxiety and dispelleth vapours and clarifieth the blood and cleareth the plexion and enliveh the body and hearteh the poltroon and fortifieth the sexual power； but to name all its virtues would be tedious。 Quoth one of the poets：
We'll drink； for God His clemency enpasseth the soul On every side： I medicine my ailments with the bowl；
And nought （for well I know its sin） save God His saw； 'Therein Are for the folk advantages；' （47） doth me thereto cajole。
Then he opened one of the cupboards there and taking out a loaf of reined sugar； broke of a great piece； which he put in Noureddin's cup； saying； 'O my lord； if thou fear to drink wine； because of its bitterness； drink now； for it is sweet。' So he took the cup and emptied it： whereupon one of his rades filled him another； saying； 'I am thy slave；' and another ＇did the like＇； saying； 'I am one of thy servants；' and a third said； 'For my sake！' and a fourth； 'God on thee； O my lord Noureddin； heal my heart！' And so they plied him with wine； till they had made him drink ten cups。
Now Noureddin's body wag virgin ＇of winebibbing＇； nor all his life had he drunken wine till then； wherefore its fumes mounted to his brain and drunkenness was stark upon him and he stood up （and indeed his tongue was embarrassed and his speech thick） and said； 'O pany； by Allah； ye are fair and your speech and place are goodly； but there needs the hearing of sweet music； for drink without music lacks the chief of its essentials； even as saith the poet：
Pass round the cup to the old and the young man； too； And take the bowl from the hand of the shining moon； （48）
But without music； I charge you； forbear to drink； I see even horses drink to a whistled tune。' （49）
Therewith up rose the gardener and mounting one of the young men's mules； was absent awhile； after which he returned with a girl of Cairo； as she were a delicate fat sheep's tail or pure silver or a dinar in a porcelain dish or a gazelle in the desert。 She had a face that put to shame the shining sun and bewitching eyes （50） and brows like bended bows and rosy cheeks and pearly teeth and sugared lips and languishing glances and ivory breasts and slender body； full of folds and dimples； and buttocks like stuffed pillows and thighs like columns of Syrian marble； and between them what was like a sachet ＇of spices＇ folded in a wrapper。 Quoth the poet of her：
A fair one； to idolaters if she herself should show； They'd leave their idols and her face for only Lord would know。
If in the Eastward she appeared unto a monk； for sure He'd cease from turning to the West （51） and to the East bend low；
And if into the briny sea one day she chanced to spit； Assuredly the salt sea's floods straight fresh and sweet would grow。
And quoth another：
More brilliant than the moon at full； with liquid languorous eyes； She seems an antelope that takes the lionwhelps to prize。
The midnight of her locks lets fall o'er her a tent of hair； （52） Unfixed of tentpegs； that protects her beauty from the spies。
The fire； that in th' unfading rose still burh of her cheek； Is fed with entrails that consume and hearts and lovers' sighs。
An if the beauties of the time beheld her； unto her； Saying； 'Unto the precedent the palm；' they would arise。
And how well saith a third：
Three things for ever hinder her to visit us； for fear Of the intriguing spy and eke the rancorous envier；
Her forehead's lustre and the sound of all her ornaments And the sweet scent her creases hold of ambergris and myrrh。
Grant with the border of her sleeve she hide her brow and doff Her ornaments； how shall she do her scent （53） away from her？
She was like the moon； when it appears on its fourteenth night； and was clad in a garment of blue； with a veil of green； over a flowerwhite forehead； that amazed all wits and confounded those of understanding。 And indeed she was possessed of the utmost grace and beauty and symmetry； as it were she of whom the poet would speak when he saith：
She es in a robe the colour of ultramarine； Blue as the stainless sky unflecked with white。
I view her with yearning eyes and she seems to me A moon of the summer set in a winter's night。
And how goodly is the saying of another and how excellent！
She came unto me； straitly veiled； and I to her did say； 'Thy face； the bright； resplendent moon； uncover and display。'
Quoth she； 'I fear reproach；' and I； 'Forbear this idle talk： Let not the shifts of time and fate affright thee or dismay。'
So from her face she raised the veil that hid her charms and tears Upon the jewels of her cheeks fell； like a crystal spray。
Indeed； I thought to kiss her cheek； that thereanent to God She might make moan of me upon the Resurrection Day；
So were we twain the first to plead of lovers； each 'gainst each； Whenas the dead shall rise； before the Lord whom all obey；
And I； 'Prolong our standingup and reckoning；' would say； 'That so mine eyes may feed their fill upon my loved one aye。'
Then said the gardener to her； 'O lady of fair ones and mistress of every shining star； know that we sought not； in bringing thee hither； but that thou shouldst entertain this ely youth here； my lord Noureddin； for he hath only e to this place this day。' And she answered； saying； 'Would thou hadst told me； that I might have brought what I have with me！' 'O my lady；' rejoined the gardener； 'I will go and fetch it to thee。' 'As thou wilt；' replied she： and he said； 'Give me a token。' So she gave him a handkerchief and he went away in haste and returned after awhile； bearing a bag of green satin； with cords of gold。 She took the bag from him and opening it； shook it； whereupon there fell thereout twoandthirty pieces of wood； which she fitted； one into another； till they became a polished lute of Indian workmanship。
Then she uncovered her wrist and laying the lute in her lap； bent over it； as the mother bends over her child； and swept the strings with the tips of her fingers； whereupon it moaned and resounded and yearned after its former habitations； and it remembered the waters that gave it to drink ＇whilst yet in the tree；＇ and the earth whence it sprang and wherein it grew up and the carpenters who cut it and the polishers who polished it and the merchants who exported it and the ships that carried it； and it cried out and wailed and lamented； and it was as if she questioned it of all these things and it answered her with the tongue of the case； reciting the following verses：
Whilom I was a tree； wherein the nightingales did nest； Whilst green my head； I swayed for them with longing and unrest。
They made melodious moan on me； and I their plaining learnt； And so my secret was by this lament made manifest。
The woodman felled me to the earthy though guiltless of offence； And wrought of me a slender lute； by singers' hands carest；
But； when their fingers sweep my strings； they tell that I am slain； One with duresse amongst mankind afflicted and oppress；
Wherefore each boonpanion； when he heareth my lament； Grows mad with love and drunkenness o'ermasters every guest；
And God inclih unto me their hearts and I indeed Am to the highest place advanced in every noble breast。
All who in loveliness excel do clip my waist and in The arms of every languorouseyed gazelle my form is prest。
May God the Lord ne'er sever us； nor live the loved one aye Who with estrangement and disdain her lover would molest！
Then she was silent awhile； but presently taking the lute in her lap； bent over it； as the mother bends over her child； and preluded in many different modes； then； returning to the first； she sang the following verses：
An they'd unto the lover incline or visit pay； From off his back the burden of longing he might lay。
A nightingale o' the branches vies with him； as she were A lover whose beloved hath lighted far away。
Up and awake！ The midnights of lovedelight are clear And bright； With union's splendour； as very break of day。
Behold； to love and joyance the lutestrings summon us And eke today our enviers are heedless of our play。
Seest not that unto pleasance four several things； to wit； Rose； gillyflower and myrtle and lights （54） unite alway？
And here today assemble four things； by favouring fate； Lover； beloved； money and wine； to make us gay。
So seize upon thy fortune i' the world； for its delights Pass by and but traditions and chronicles do stay。
When Noureddin heard this； he looked on her with eyes of love and could scarce contain himself for the violence of his inclination to her； and on like wise was it with her； because she looked at the pany who were present of the sons of the merchan