登陆注册
16284700000095

第95章 STORY OF THE HUNCHBACK(17)

Therewithalfire flamed up in my heart and my mind was taken up with herand my hatred (of women) was changed to love. I continued sitting therelost to the worldtill sundownwhen the Cadi of the city came riding up the streetwith slaves before him and servants behind himand alightingentered the very house at which the young lady had appeared. By this I guessed that he was her father;so I went homesorrowfuland fell on my bedoppressed with melancholy thoughts. My women came in to me and sat round mepuzzled to know what ailed me;but I would not speak to them nor answer their questionsand they wept and lamented over me. Presentlyin came an old womanwho looked at me and saw at once what was the matter with me. So she sat down at my head and spoke me fair and said'O my sontell me what ails theeand I will bring thee to thy desire.'So I told her what had happened to meand she said'O my sonthis girl is the Cadi's daughter of Baghdad;she is kept in strict seclusion,and the window at which thou sawest her is that of her apartment,where she dwells aloneher father occupying a great suite of rooms underneath. I often visit herand thou shalt not come at her but through me;so gird thy middle and be of good cheer.'So sayingshe went awaywhilst I took comfort at what she said and arose in the morning wellto the great satisfaction of my people. By-and-by the old woman came inchopfallenand said to me'O my sondo not ask how I have fared with her!When I opened the subject to hershe said to me'An thou leave not this talkpestilent hag that thou artI will assuredly use thee as thou deserves!'But needs must I have at her again.'When I heard thisit added sickness to my sickness: but after some daysthe old woman came again and said to me'O my sonI must have of thee a present for good news.'With thislife returned to meand I said'Whatever thou wilt is thine.'Then said she,'O my sonI went yesterday to the young ladywho seeing me broken-spirited and tearful-eyedsaid to me'O my auntwhat ails thee that I see thy heart thus straitened?'Whereupon I wept and replied'O my ladyI am just come from a youth who loves thee and is like to die for thy sake.'Quoth she (and indeed her heart was moved to pity)'And who is this youth of whom thou speakest?'He is my son,'answered I'and the darling of my heart. He saw theesome days sinceat the windowtending thy flowersand fell madly in love with thee. I told him what passed between thee and me the other daywhereupon his disorder increased and he took to his bed and will surely die.'At this her colour changed and she said'Is all this on my account?'

'Yeaby Allah!'answered I. 'What wouldst thou have me do?'Then said she'Go back to him and salute him for me and tell him that my sufferings are twice as great as his. And on Fridaybefore the time of prayerlet him come hither and I will come down and open the door to him. Then I will carry him to my chamberwhere we can converse awhile and he can go awaybefore my father comes back from the mosque.''When I heard thismy anguish ceased and my heart was comforted. So I took off the clothes I was wearing and gave them to the old woman;and she said'Be of good cheer.'

'There is no pain left in me,'answered I;and she went away. My household and friends rejoiced in my restoration to healthand I abode thus till Fridaywhen the old woman entered and asked me how I didto which I replied that I was well and in good case.

Then I dressed and perfumed myself and sat down to await the going in of the folk to the mosquethat I might betake myself to the young lady. But the old woman said to me'Thou hast time and to spare;so thou wouldst do well to go to the bath and have thy head shavedto do away the traces of thy disorder.'It is well thought,'answered I;'I will first have my head shaved and then go to the bath.'Then I said to my servant'Go to the market and bring me a barberand look that he be no meddlerbut a man of sensewho will not split my head with his much talk.'So he went out and returned with this wretched old man. When he came inhe saluted meand I returned his salutation. Then said he'Surely,I see thee thin of body.'And I replied'I have been ill.'Quoth he'God cause affliction and trouble and anxiety to depart from thee!'May God hear thy prayer!'answered I: and he said'Be of good cheerO my lordfor indeed recovery is come to thee. Dost thou wish to be polled or let blood? Indeedit is reportedon the authority of Ibn Abbas (whom God accept!)that the Prophet said'Whoso is polled on a FridayGod shall avert from him threescore and ten diseases;'and again'He who is cupped on a Friday is safe from loss of sight and a host of other ailments.''Leave this talk,'said I;'comeshave my head at oncefor I am yet weak.'With this he pulled out a handkerchief,from which he took an astrolabe with seven platesmounted in silverand going into the courtyardheld the instrument up to the sun's rays and looked for some time. Then he came back and said to me'Know that eight degrees and six minutes have elapsed of this our daywhich is Fridaythe tenth of Seferin the six hundred and fifty-third year of the Flight of the Prophet (upon whom be the most excellent of blessing and peace!) and the seven thousand three hundred and twentieth year of the Alexandrian era,and the planet now in the ascendantaccording to the rules of mathematicsis Marswhich being in conjunction with Mercury,denotes a favourable time for cutting hair;and this also indicates to me that thou purposest to foregather with some one and that your interview will be propitious;but after this there occurs a signrespecting a thing which I will not name to thee.'

'By Allah,'exclaimed I'thou weariest me and pesterest me with thy foolish augurieswhen I only sent for thee to shave my head!

同类推荐
  • 法书考

    法书考

    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。
  • 新镌绣像麴头陀济颠全传

    新镌绣像麴头陀济颠全传

    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。
  • 易纬坤灵图

    易纬坤灵图

    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。
  • The Love-Chase

    The Love-Chase

    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。
  • 楚辞芳草谱

    楚辞芳草谱

    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
  • 魔幻梦呈

    魔幻梦呈

    在显示屏闪亮的夜晚,你或许会幻想傲视天下,却发现现实的无奈,谁言宅男不成器,涅槃重生傲九天,林羽尘将会用现实证明,宅男会害怕,会懦弱,但是我们被人欺压会生气,看到孤儿会同情,我们也有资格追寻梦想。宅男不是屌丝的代名,我们只是拥有更加宏伟的愿望。
  • 微创业三十六策

    微创业三十六策

    书中叙述的是一个潜心20年研究并实践微创业者走向成功的故事,他从反向思维出发,通过不断修炼和探索,努力创业,他最终成为微创业领域的成功者。作者采取了“故事+悟道”的写作方式,你纯看故事,它是一本独立成章的创业情景剧;你纯看悟道,它又是一本说理透彻的创业感悟。
  • 老婆,狠角色

    老婆,狠角色

    她以为他对她只有恨跟利用,即使心碎,却也难以割舍。当“他”再世为人,命中注定的再次交缠,谁能想得到,他是曾经的“他”。以为相爱的,却不过是寒冷时的相互慰藉,以为不屑的,却才是命中注定。这辈子,他们注定相守!
  • 蓝鬼

    蓝鬼

    一段民间传说,揭示了一个鲜有人知的故事;一曲山民绝恋,引发了一场人鬼纠缠的恩怨;一路亡命打拼,解读了一种催人泪下的人生。情义恩仇、前缘今命,交织成一部山民社会的演义史。当年,在桂北的越城岭上,一名迷路的蓝眼睛鬼子及其后人的故事由此展开……
  • 最强保镖

    最强保镖

    何猛,何必的何,威猛的猛,何必这么威猛——一个自恋到白痴的表述。有人叫他猛哥,有人叫他何少,有人叫他何先生。在称呼他的人中,有富二代,有慈善家,有模特总监,有江湖大佬,有走私商,还有高官。唯有最熟悉他的人才知道,他的所有身份其实只有一个——来自外星的全能高手。
  • 重生三国之游龙戏凤

    重生三国之游龙戏凤

    一次偶然重生到三国时期,看看男主马超是如何驰骋三国战场,打造自己的天下。
  • 死神之最强斩魄刀

    死神之最强斩魄刀

    “那一年,我抢了小乌……那一年,我又遇到了小葛,于是劫了个色……额不,是劫了下来!”“谁说是花姐!明明是小乌,在乱说信不信我撕烂你的嘴啊!”“什么音梦?花姐,替我打他!额不,小乌,给我掌嘴!!”“让你妹的说实话,我呸!是瞎话!!”————闲暇玩笑之作,不定时更新。
  • 冰冻星球

    冰冻星球

    一夜之间,全球冰封,人类死伤无数,科技几近消亡,九界入口被打开,各种魔怪横行,地球已沦为战场,常生要如何拯救世界,一切尽在冰冻星球。
  • 地府城管在都市

    地府城管在都市

    执掌城管大印,叶欣管辖的是整个地府在地球的事务。在这个自己的一亩三分地上,他唯一需要做的,就是——城管无敌!!
  • 天命仙途

    天命仙途

    世界末日,大地开裂,亿万生灵死于浩劫,却也使得上古遗迹重现,九块上古天道碑,林萧偶得其一,从此踏上仙途!修神通、闯秘境、降灵狐,天下谁人可挡?为兄弟,他敢与皇族相抗!为红颜,他敢灭大派满门!霸气修仙之道!要成仙,需九碑归一,杀尽其他传承者!