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！
ght；
But； when from sleep I woke； no whit of that fair dream found I Save lovelonging and pain； the rest had fled with morninglight。
And since I've looked on her； I'm grown； by day； as I were mad； Anights I'm drunken without wine； a lonedistracted wight。
O waftings of the zephyr； go； to them I prithee bear The salutation of my love and longing for their sight；
And say to them； 'Him； whom ye knew； the shifts of sorry Fate Have given to drink the cup of death； of destiny's despite。'
Then he went out and ceased not to weep till he came to her house and looking on it； saw it deserted。 Presently； it seemed to him he saw her image before him； whereupon fires flamed in him and his sorrows redoubled and he fell down in a swoon。 When he came to himself； he recited the following verses：
I snuff the scent of balm from them； wherewith the air is fraught And fare away； with heart fulfilled of passion； lovedistraught。
A miserable slave of love； my longings with the sight Of dwellings； void of all their charms； to salve in vain I've sought。
It doth but sicken me for woe and severance and desire And all the pasttime with my friends recalleth to my thought。
When he had made an end of these verses； he heard a raven croak beside the house and wept； saying； 'Glory be to God！ The raven croaks not save over a ruined house。' Then he sighed and groaned and recited the following verses：
What aileth the raven to croon o'er the house of my love？ As I hear； The fires in my bosom rage high； their burning my entrails doth sear；
For regret for the days of their love； bygone； my heart wanders； for woe； In the mountains of misery lost； distracted with passion and fear。
I die of lovelonging； the flames of desire in my liver still rage； And letters I write； which； alas！ I have none to convey to my dear。
Alas for my body worn waste and my sorrow！ My loved one is gone。 Will they ever； I wonder； return； her nights； with their solace and cheer？
O breeze of the East； in the dawn if thou visit the camp of her tribe； Salute her； I prithee； for me； and stay by her stead thy career。
Now Zein el Mewasif had a sister； by name Nesim； （17） who was looking on him from a high p1ace； and when she saw him in this plight； she wept and sighed and recited these verses：
Harkye！ How oft； bewailing the steads； wilt e and go？ Indeed； the house its builder bemoah； of its woe。
Gladness； ere they departed who did inhabit here； Was rife within the dwelling and suns （18） in it did glow。
Where are the full moons （19） vanished； that shone so bright？ The shifts Of fate their lucent beauties have blotted out； I trow
Leave what is past of fair ones； with whom thou didst consort： Mayhap； the days； returning； them forth again will show：
Except for thee； its dwellers had not departed hence Nor thou in its high places hadst seen the corbycrow。
When Mesrour heard these verses and apprehended their meaning； he wept sore。 Now Nesim knew that which was between him and her sister of love and longing and passion； so she said to him； 'God on thee； O Mesrour； forbear this house； lest any see thee and deem thou est on my account！ Thou hast caused my sister depart and now thou wouldst drive me also away。 Thou knowest that； but for thee； the house would not now be void of its inhabitants： so be consoled for her and leave her； for what is past is past。' When he heard this； he said to her； 'O Nesim； if I could； I should fly for longing after her； so how can I be forted for her？' Quoth she； 'Thou hast nothing for it but patience。' And he said； 'I beseech thee； for God's sake； write me a letter to her； as from thyself； and get me an answer from her； to fort my heart and quench the fire that rages in my vitals。'
'With all my heart；' answered she and took inkhorn and paper； whilst Mesrour began to set out to her the violence of his longing and what he suffered for the anguish of separation； saying； 'This letter is from the despairing and sorrowful lover； the wretched bereaved one； with whom no peace abides； night nor day； but he still weeps copious tears。 Indeed； tears have ulcerated his eyelids and his sorrows have kindled a fire in his liver。 His lamentation is prolonged and restlessness is sore on him； as he were a bird that hath lost its mate； and his death is at hand。 Alas； my desolation for the loss of thee and my yearning affliction for thy panionship！ Indeed； emaciation hath wasted my body and my tears are bee a torrent； mountains and plains are straitened upon me； and of the excess of my passion； I go； saying：
My yearning o'er this stead's eternal and my pain； And longings for its folk still wax on me amain。
I send to you my tale of love； the cupbearer Still giveth me the cup of love for you to drain。
And for your faring hence and absence from the lands； With everstreaming tears my wounded eyelids rain。
O litterleader； stay； turn back with the belov'd； For all my heart's afire with flames that never wane。
My greeting to my love bear thou and say to her； 〃There's nought but damask lips his sorrows can assain。
Time bore him off and rent his loves apart and cleft His entrails with a shaft of severance in twain。〃
Give them to know of all my transport for their loss And what I bear for love and longing all in vain。
Yea； by the love of you； I swear I will fulfil The covenant of love； whatever Fate ordain。
I'll never change nor yet fet your love： how shall Fetfulness betide the wistful； longing swain？
Peace； salutationwise； from me； with musk mixt In letters； be on you again and yet again！'
Nesim marvelled at his eloquence and the goodliness of his speech and the elegance of his verses and was moved to passion for him。 Then she sealed the letter with virgin musk and incensed it with aloeswood and ambergris； after which she mitted it to a merchant； bidding him deliver it not save to Zein el Mewasif or her maid Huboub。
When the letter reached her sister； she knew it for Mesrour's inditing and recognized himself in the grace of its expression。 So she kissed it and laid it on her eyes； whilst the tears streamed from her lids and she gave not over weeping； till she fainted。 When she came to herself； she called for pen and paper and wrote him the following answer： 'This letter is to my lord and master； the king of my heart and my secret soul。 Indeed； wakefulness agitateth me and melancholy increaseth on me and I have no patience to endure thine absence； O thou whose beauty excels the sun and moon！ Desire deprives me of rest and passion destroys me； and how should it be otherwise with me； seeing that I am of the number of the perishing？ O glory of the world and ornament of life； shall her cup be sweet； whose vital spirits are cut off？ For that she is neither with the quick nor with the dead。' And she added these verses：
Thy letter； O Mesrour； hath stirred affliction up in me； I have no patience for thy loss nor solacement； perdie。
My bowels； when I read the script； yearn and the desert herbs I water with my tears that flow for ever like a sea。
Were I a bird； I'd fly to thee； upon the wings of night： I know not； after thee； if wine or sweet or bitter be。
Forbidden unto me is life； since thy departure hence： I have no power to brook the fire of severance from thee。
Then she sprinkled the letter with powdered musk and ambergris and mitted it to a merchant； bidding him deliver it to none save her sister Nesim。 When it reached the latter； she sent it to Mesrour； who kissed it and laid it on his eyes and wept till he fainted。
Presently； the Jew heard of their correspondence and began again to travel from place to place with Zein el Mewasif and her damsels； till she said to him； 'Glory to God！ How long wilt thou journey with us and carry us afar from our homes？' Quoth he； 'I will fare on with you a year's journey； so no more letters may reach you from Mesrour。 I see how you take all my good and give it to him； so all that I miss I shall take from you： and I shall see if Mesrour will profit you or avail to deliver you from my hand。' Then he stripped her and her damsels of their silken apparel and clad them in raiment of haircloth； after which he repaired to a blacksmith and bade him make three pairs of iron shackles。 When they were ready； he brought the smith in to his wife and said to him； 'Put the shackles on the legs of these three damsels。'
The first that came forward was Zein el Mewasif； and when the blacksmith saw her； his reason forsook him and he bit his fingers and his wit fled forth his head and sore was his transport。 So he said to the Jew； 'What is these women's crime？' 'They are my slavegirls；' answered the other； 'and have stolen my good and fled from me。' 'May God disappoint thine expectation！' cried the smith。 'Were this girl before the Chief Cadi； he would not reprove her； though she mitted a hundred offences a day。 Indeed； she hath no thief's favour and she may not brook the laying of irons on her legs。' And he went on to intercede with him； beseeching him not to fetter her。 When she saw this； she said to her husband； 'I conjure thee by Allah； bring me not forth before yonder strange man！' Quoth he； 'Why then camest thou out before Mesrour？' And she made him no reply。 Then he accepted the blacksmi