登陆注册
16284700000112

第112章 NOUREDDIN ALI AND THE DAMSEL ENIS EL JELIS.(1)

There was once a King in Bassora who cherished the poor and needy and loved his subjects and bestowed of his wealth on those who believed in Mohammed (whom God bless and preserve!) and he was even as the poet hath described him:

A King whowhen the hostile hosts assault him in the field,Smites them and hews themlimb from limbwith trenchant sword and spear Full many a character of red he writes upon the breasts What time the mailed horsemen break before his wild career.

His name was King Mohammed ben Suleiman ez Zeiniand he had two Viziersone called Muin ben Sawa and the other Fezl ben Khacan.

Fezl was the most generous man of his time;noble and upright of lifeall hearts concurred in loving himand the wise complied with his counselwhilst all the people wished him long life;for that he was a compend of good qualitiesencouraging good and preventing evil and mischief. The Vizier Muinon the contrary,was a hater of mankind and loved not goodbeing indeed altogether evil;even as says of him the poet:

Look thou consort with the generoussons of the gen'rous;for lo!The generoussons of the gen'rousbeget the gen'rous,I trow.

And let the mean-minded mensons of the mean-mindedgoFor the mean-mindedsons of the meanbeget none other than so.

And as much as the people loved Fezlso much did they hate Muin.

It befell one daythat the Kingbeing seated on his throne,with his officers of state about himcalled his Vizier Fezl and said to him'I wish to have a slave-girl of unsurpassed beauty,perfect in grace and symmetry and endowed with all praiseworthy qualities.'Said the courtiers'Such a girl is not to be had for less than ten thousand dinars!'whereupon the King cried out to his treasurer and bade him carry ten thousand dinars to Fezl's house. The treasurer did soand the Vizier went awayafter the King had charged him to go to the market every day and employ brokers and had given orders that no girl worth more than a thousand dinars should be soldwithout being first shown to the Vizier. Accordinglythe brokers brought him all the girls that came into their handsbut none pleased himtill one day a broker came to his house and found him mounting his horseto go to the palace;so he caught hold of his stirrup and repeated the following verses:

O thou whose bounties have restored the uses of the stateO Vizier helped of heavenwhose acts are ever fortunate!

Thou hast revived the virtues all were dead among the folk. May God's acceptance evermore on thine endeavours wait!

Then said he'O my lordshe for whom the august mandate was issued is here.'Bring her to me,'replied the Vizier. So he went away and returned in a little with a damsel of elegant shapeswelling-breastedwith melting black eyes and smooth cheeksslender-waisted and heavy-hippedclad in the richest of clothes. The dew of her lips was sweeter than syrupher shape more symmetrical than the bending branch and her speech softer than the morning zephyreven as says one of those who have described her:

A wonder of beauty!Her face full moon of the palace sky;Of a tribe of gazelles and wild cows the dearest and most high!

The Lord of the empyrean hath given her pride and state,Elegancecharm and a shape that with the branch may vie;

She hath in the heaven of her face a cluster of seven starsThat keep the ward of her cheek to guard it from every spy.

So if one think to steal a lookthe imps of her glance Consume him straight with a starthat shoots from her gleaming eye.

When the Vizier saw her she pleased him exceedinglyso he turned to the broker and said to him'What is the price of this damsel?'Her price is ten thousand dinars,'replied he'and her owner swears that this sum will not cover the cost of the chickens she hath eatenthe wine she hath drunk and the dresses of honour bestowed on her teachers;for she hath learnt penmanship and grammar and lexicology and the exposition of the Koran and the rudiments of law and theologymedicine and the calendaras well as the art of playing on instruments of music.'

Then said the Vizier'Bring me her master.'So the broker brought him at onceand beholdhe was a foreignerwho had lived so long that time had worn him to bones and skin. Quoth the Vizier to him'Art thou content to sell this damsel to the Sultan for ten thousand dinars?'By Allah,'replied the merchant'if I made him a present of herit were but my duty!'

So the Vizier sent for the money and gave it to the slave-dealer,who said'By the leave of our lord the VizierI have something to say.'Speak,'said the Vizier: and the slave-dealer said'If thou wilt be ruled by methou wilt not carry the damsel to the King to-dayfor she is newly off a journey;the change of air has affected her and the journey has fretted her. But let her abide in thy palace ten daysthat she may recover her good looks. Then send her to the bath and dress her in the richest of clothes and go up with her to the Sultanand this will be more to thy profit.'The Vizier considered the man's advice and approved it;so he took her to his palacewhere he appointed her a separate lodging and a daily allowance of meat and drink and so forthand she abode thus awhile.

Now the Vizier Fezl had a son like the rising full moonwith shining visagered cheeks covered with a tender down and a mole like a grain of ambergris;as says of him the poet and therein errs not:

A moonwhose glances slay the folkon whom he turns his eye;A branchwhose graces break all heartsas he goes stately by Slack as the night his browlocks arehis face the hue of gold;Fair is his personand his shape the spear-shaft doth outvie.

Ah mehow hard his hearthow soft and slender is his waist!Why is the softness not transferred from this to thatah why?

Were but the softness of his sides made over to his heartHe'd ne'er to lovers be unjust nor leave them thus to sigh.

O thou that blam'st my love of theeexcuse me rather thouNor chide meif my body pine for languor like to die.

The faultindeedlies not with mebut with my heart and eye;So chide me notbut let me be in this my misery.

同类推荐
  • 啸亭续录

    啸亭续录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 至正直记

    至正直记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 严复集

    严复集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 幼科证治准绳

    幼科证治准绳

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 鼎镌国朝名公神断详刑公案

    鼎镌国朝名公神断详刑公案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 为君解罗裳:妖女倾天下

    为君解罗裳:妖女倾天下

    这东南国,谁人不知,谁人不晓,这要嫁的王爷,是传说中的暴君,杀人不眨眼,嗜血成狂的一个魔君的?圣旨一下,要千家的女儿嫁给东南国国的这个平南王爷,千家一听,仿佛是立马炸开了锅一样的,你不愿意去,我不愿意去,自然,就是由这个痴儿傻儿嫁过去了?
  • 花都天王

    花都天王

    老头子问:“说说,你强在哪?”上官云咧嘴坏笑道:“我有‘三只眼’,看过的马上会,比孙悟空吃了才会牛逼多了。看他牛逼哄哄大是不爽,问:“武道一途永无止境,你虽然会一直修炼下去,但其他的呢?”上官云嘿嘿怪笑,道:“书读多了会读成书呆子,练武练多了,会练的满脑子肌肉,而我?嘿嘿……”老头子一瞪眼,哼道:“有屁就放,打什么哑谜?”上官云一仰脖子,很是邪气凛然的说道:“权利、金钱、美女,我都要!”
  • 穴道按摩治百病(中华传统医学养生精华)

    穴道按摩治百病(中华传统医学养生精华)

    本书所介绍的穴道按摩疗法,正是我国传统医学宝库里的一朵奇葩。根据中国传统医学的经络理论,人体布满各种各样的穴道,它们和人体的各种器官之间有着密切的联系。通过对穴道的多种处治手段,诸如针刺、按摩、挤压等,可以对相关器官起到明显的保健和治疗作用。这一神奇疗法目前已传遍全世界,人们对其显著的疗效啧啧称奇之余,竞相效法。
  • 驱魔少女:神尊你完了

    驱魔少女:神尊你完了

    此文属于短文。是本作者心血来潮写的,请不要介意!!!!!
  • 陈秋意

    陈秋意

    姐弟恋,到人鬼途殊!杀人无数?爱一个人就该相信她?可事实出现的时候。鬼鬼的斗争……
  • 你不可不知的100个养生妙招

    你不可不知的100个养生妙招

    《你不可不知的100个养生妙招》分别从饮食养生、运动养生、以静养生、心理养生、日常起居养生、四季养生、保健养生各方面给大家深入地介绍了一些养生的原理、方法和建议。希望广大读者能够通过阅读本书而更加关爱自己、热爱生活、珍惜健康和生命,增强生活中的养生意识,真正做到防患于未然,治病于未发。
  • 600题让你精通心理学4

    600题让你精通心理学4

    “一个人完全可以用心理学的方式来彻底解剖。无论你身在何处,无论你从事什么职业,无论你在家庭中承担什么角色,无论你在人生的哪个阶段,心理学始终是对你最有帮助的一门学问。”本书荟萃100多个问题,配以通俗易懂的讲解,全面介绍了心理学领域的基础知识,让你一学就通!
  • 元诀

    元诀

    原本是一名豪门大少的李峰被人暗算重生到一个新的世界,但在偶然的机会下发现了这个新的世界竟然存在传说中的修行者,自此李峰便踏上了这条不归路。成,则万人敬仰。败,则生死道消。且看主角如何在这条充满艰辛的路上冲出一条通往巅峰的道路。
  • 血染凤服

    血染凤服

    你曾说是我的良人,为何在我离去时,你却爱上了她?你曾说是我的娘子,为何在我绝望时,你却弃我而去。战场上,刀光剑影。染澈,今日不是你死,便是我亡。那立着的墓碑,诉说着,一个女尊的失魂落魄。【“冰封诀,呵,我竟忘了,她是一个无心的女人,又怎会对我动情?!”利用紫珊将夜冷一剑刺死,让灵雨沦为洛染澈男宠,将丞相文博割为阉人,令元绝尘被野狼撕咬,当安枫墨白发苍苍,浑身瑟缩之时,又是谁的凤眸染上妖冶的红。】
  • EXO之我知道我爱你

    EXO之我知道我爱你

    毛线菌第一次发文求支持啊~王道文灿白勋鹿开度繁星城堡棉桃。文笔不咋地求谅解