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！
to them； 'How came ye to take this madman on board？' So they said to each other； 'When we e to the next village； we will put him ashore and rid us of him。' When I heard this； I was sore troubled and summoned up all my courage； saying to myself； 'Nothing will serve me to deliver myself from their hands； except I make shift to acquaint her with my presence in the ship； so she may prevent my putting out。'
Then we sailed on till eventide； when we came to a hamlet （133） and the captain said； 'e； let us go ashore。' So they all landed； ＇leaving me in the ship＇ ： whereupon I rose and going behind the curtain took the lute and changed its accord； course （134） by course； and tuning it after a fashion of my own； （135） that she had learnt of me； returned to my place in the ship。 Presently； they came on board again and the moon shone out upon the river and bank。 Then said the Hashimi to the damsel； 'God upon thee； trouble not our lives！' So she took the lute； and touching it with her hand； gave a sob； that they thought her soul had departed ＇her body＇ ； and said； 'By Allah； my master is with us in the ship！' 'By Allah；' answered the Hashimi； 'were this so； I would not forbid him our pany！ Haply he would lighten thy chagrin； so we might enjoy thy singing： but it cannot be that he is on board。' But she said； 'I cannot sing nor play whilst my lord is i； 'Let us ask the sailors。' And she said； 'Do so。' So he questioned them； saying； 'Have ye carried any one with you？' And they said； 'No。'
Then I feared lest the enquiry should end there； so I laughed and said； 'Yes； I am her master and taught her； when I was her lord。' 'By Allah；' said she； 'that is my lord's voice！' So the servants carried me to the Hashimi； who knew me at once and said to me； 'Out on thee！ What plight is this in which I see thee and what has brought thee to this pass？' So I told him all that had befallen of my affair； weeping the while； and the damsel wailed aloud from behind the curtain。 The Hashimi wept sore； he and his brethren； for pity of me； and he said； 'By Allah； I have not drawn near the damsel nor lain with her； nor have I even heard her sing till this day！ I am a man to whom God hath been bountiful and I came to Baghdad but to hear singing and seek my allowances of the mander of the Faithful。 I acplished both my occasions and being about to return home； said to myself； 〃Let us hear somewhat of the singing of Baghdad。〃 Wherefore I bought this damsel； knowing not how it was with you both； and I take God to witness that； when I reach Bassora； I will free her and marry her to thee and assign you what shall suffice you； and more： but on condition that； whenever I have a mind to hear music； a curtain shall be hung for her and she shall sing to me from behind it； and thou shalt be of the number of my brethren and boonpanions。'
At this I rejoiced and he put his head within the curtain and said to her； 'Will that content thee？' Whereupon she fell to blessing and thanking him。 Then he called a servant and said to him； 'Take this young man and do off his clothes and clothe him in costly raiment and incense him （136） and bring him back to us。' So the servant did with me as his master bade him and brought me back to him； and he set wine before me； even as before the rest of the pany。 Then the damsel fell to singing after the goodliest fashion and chanted these verses：
They rail at me because； upon the parting day； I wept； when my belov'd farewell to me did say。
They never knew the taste of severance nor felt The fire that in my breast for sorrow rageth aye。
Only th' afflicted one of passion knoweth； he Whose heart amongst these steads is lost and gone astray。
The folk rejoiced in her song with an exceeding joy and my gladness redoubled； so that I took the lute from her and preluding after the most melodious fashion； sang the following verses：
Ask favours； if thou needs must ask； Of generous men； Who affluence all their lives have known and happy fate。
O' the generous to ask brings honour； but upon The asking from a churl blame and dishonour wait。
When thou must needs abase thyself； if thou must ask； I rede thee still abase thyself unto the great （137）
The generous to exalt no true abasement is ； To magnify the mean doth men humiliate。
The pany rejoiced in me with an exceeding joy and they ceased not from pleasure and delight； whilst anon I sang and anon the damsel； till we came to one of the landingplaces； where the vessel moored and all on board went ashore and I with them。 Now I was drunken ake water； but drowsiness overcame me and I slept； and the folk returned to the ship； without missing me； for that they also were drunken； and continued their voyage till they reached Bassora。 As for me； I slept on till the heat of the sun aroused me； when I arose and looked about me； but saw no one。 Now I had given my spendingmoney to the damsel and had not a rap left。 Moreover； I had fotten to ask the Hashimi his name and titles and where his house was at Bassora； so I was confounded and it was as if my joy at meeting the damsel had been but a dream； and I abode in perplexity till there came up a great vessel； in which I embarked and she carried me to Bassora。
Now I had never entered the place and knew none there； so I accosted a grocer and taking of him inkhorn and paper； sat down to write。 He admired my handwriting and seeing my dress soiled； questioned me of my case； to which I replied that I was a stranger and poor。 Quoth he； 'Wilt thou abide with me and order the accounts of my shop and I will give thee thy food and clothing and half a dirhem a day？' 'It is well；' answered I and abode with him and kept his accounts and ordered his inings and outgoings for a month； at the end of which time he found his receipts increased and his expenses lessened； wherefore he thanked me and made my wage a dirhem a day。 When the year was out； he proposed to me to marry his daughter and bee his partner in the shop。 I agreed to this and went in to my wife and applied me to the shop。 But I was broken in heart and spirit； and grief was apparent upon me； and the grocer used to drink and invite me thereto； but I refused for melancholy。
On this wise I abode two years； till； one day； as I sat in the shop； there passed by a pany of people with meat and drink； and I asked the grocer what was to do。 Quoth he； 'This is the day of the pleasuremakers； when all the musicians and dancers of the town go forth with the young men of fortune to the banks of the Ubulleh river （138） and eat and drink among the trees there。 My heart prompted me to divert myself with the sight of this thing and I said in myself； 'Belike； I may foregather with her I love among these people。' So I told the grocer that I had a mind to this and he said； 'Up and go with them。' And he made me ready meat and drink and I went till I came to the Ubulleh river； when； behold； the folk were going away。
I was about to follow； when I espied the very bark in which the Hashimi had been with the damsel going along the river and the captain in her。 So I cried out to him and he and his pany knew me and took me on board with them and said to me； 'Art thou yet alive？' And they embraced me and questioned me of my case。 So I told them my story and they said； 'Indeed； we thought that drunkenness had gotten the mastery of thee and that thou ＇hadst fallen into the water and＇ wast drowned。' Then I asked them of the damsel； and they answered； 'When she came to know of thy loss； she rent her clothes and burnt the lute and fell to buffeting herself and lamenting； till we reached Bassora； when we said to her； 'Leave this weeping and sorrowing。' Quoth she； 'I will don black and make me a tomb beside the house and abide thereby and repent from singing。' So we suffered her to do this and on this wise she abideth to this day。'
Then they carried me to the Hashimi's house； where I saw the damsel as they had said。 When she saw me； she gave a great cry； methought she had died； and I embraced her with a long embrace。 Then said the Hashimi to me； 'Take her。' And I answered； 'It is well but do thou free her and marry her to me； according to thy promise。' So he did this and gave us costly goods and store of raiment and furniture and five hundred dinars； saying； 'This is the amount of that which I purpose to allow you monthly； but on condition that thou be my boonpanion and that I hear the girl sing ＇when I will＇ 。' Moreover； he assigned us a house and bade transport thither all that we needed； so； when I went to the house； I found it full of furniture and stuffs and carried the damsel thither。 Then I betook me to the grocer and told him all that had befallen me； begging him to hold me excused for putting away his daughter； without offence on her part； and I paid her her dowry （139） and what else behoved me。 （140） I abode with the Hashimi on this wise two years and became a man of great wealth and was restored wellnigh to the former estate of prosperity wherein I had been at Baghdad； I and the damsel。 And indeed God the Bountiful put an end to our troubles and vouchsafed us abundant good fortune and caused our patience to issue in the attainment of our desire： wherefore to Him be the praise in this world and the next。
KING JELYAAD OF HIN