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
  • 上清众真教戒德行经

    上清众真教戒德行经

    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。
  • 测字秘牒

    测字秘牒

    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。
  • Love's Labour's Lost

    Love's Labour's Lost

    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。
  • 续佛祖统纪

    续佛祖统纪

    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。
  • 子渊诗集

    子渊诗集

    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。
热门推荐
  • 最是元曲销魂

    最是元曲销魂

    这个王朝的曲调比横跨欧亚的辽阔疆域更有绵长的生命力。随口吟来,莫不令人销魂,但最销魂不是心头最美的那抹朱砂,而是万缕情丝,夜深漏静,不经意辗转缠绕,便是三更无眠。曲中漫及人生感怀,世事悟道,塞北西风虽烈,却不乏江南小巷柔情。
  • 大秦第一学渣

    大秦第一学渣

    被俘又如何,受虐又如何,待到本源之力觉醒,我就是保卫大秦的战神!剧毒又如何,虫蛊又如何,喝我一滴精血,包你药到病除,吃嘛嘛香!没有资源又如何、没钱泡妞又如何,超神兑换一秒搞定。古剑换AK,美玉换香水,只要你有,我就敢换!手指日月摘星辰,世间无我这般人!以我学渣之身,还你一个永恒的大秦,可否?*****************************************(新书不易,每天认真更新,求收藏支持!)
  • 农门春,医路荣华

    农门春,医路荣华

    新文《药门贵女,神医弃妃》已经发文,欢迎收藏~医毒双绝,身手无双,一朝穿冷宫弃妃。欺负我?银针、毒药、开膛剖肚随你们选!还有灵宠开道,分分钟咬死人不偿命!————————————————————————穿越到不知名的朝代,父亲愚孝、叔婶厉害、祖母的心偏到天边,母亲体弱多病、姐姐心悸哮喘性情古怪偏激、弟弟痨病咯血半死不活,还有一个三天两头嫌弃找麻烦的未来婆婆,左春霞内牛满面:老天爷你把姐送到这是什么地儿!好吧,既来之,则安之!我命由我不由天,予我万丈荆棘,势要踏出一片锦绣!有病咱不慌,好歹是中医世家出身,治病没问题;分家就分家,小家齐心协力咱努力奔小康。喂喂喂,三天两头来找茬,当姐软柿子好捏是不是?嫌弃就嫌弃,嫌弃我穷没嫁妆,我还看不上你家的门和你家的人呢!什么?未婚夫不肯退婚执意要娶?那得看你有多少诚意、看姐乐不乐意了!“你娘这么嫌弃我,我看我们还是算了吧!”某女烦不胜烦推脱道。某男眼睛一亮,大喜:“原来你是担心这个,别怕,交给我处理!”***********************“为什么不要郡主做平妻?”她轻轻问道。小别重逢,他紧紧的拥着她,,口齿不清含糊的问道:“那个破鞋,给你提鞋也不配!她?我只要一出生就定给我的媳妇!”“夫君,你真好......”她轻喘着甜甜的笑了。是啊,她一出生就定给他做媳妇了,所以天注定,他只是她的!***********************简介无能的人求支持,那个,简介将来会完善的!谢了!推荐好友羌笛菱歌的新文《俏厨娘,秀色可餐》,链接:http://novel.hongxiu.com/a/808233/,作者坑品良好,大家放心跳~~(o)/~
  • 自从和阎王结拜了兄弟

    自从和阎王结拜了兄弟

    想的是好好和俏丽的媳妇过好这一辈子,可惜自己原来是地神,七十九次转生过后,才发现自己得罪过天庭,要经过百世轮回,而且每世必然英年早逝,十八岁就挂,到了阎罗殿和阎王这个狗东西结拜了兄弟……
  • 鬼域帝都

    鬼域帝都

    鬼是百族之一,鬼是不同于人的物种。鬼也是有情有义,有血有肉。有爱情。何时起,鬼既然成了恐怖的代名词。何时,鬼成了不祥之物。一切竟在鬼域帝朝。揭露,鬼究竟为何物,是正义还是邪恶。鬼域,一片混乱。各类鬼王占领一方。鬼众没有一方庇护之所。鬼诞生于地,为天理不容.生于血池.方经历十八劫难才可以得道。鬼按实力划分:鬼婴儿-鬼众-鬼卒-鬼将-鬼帅-鬼王-鬼神-鬼仙。及其传说中的鬼帝.出生时鬼婴儿成虚无飘渺之形。经历七七四十九天凝聚鬼体方成鬼众.鬼众为凝聚九纹成鬼卒本书讲述:无名小鬼武凌帆从一默默无名的鬼卒成长为鬼帝,守护鬼域建立帝朝的故事。
  • 重生未来之传承

    重生未来之传承

    钟绮灵倒下的时候带着深深地不甘,她觉得以后自己要奋起,只为自己而活!可是,当她醒了之后,一切都不一样了。幸好有个随身空间陪着她一起面对这一切。但是谁来告诉她,为什么这个面瘫非要跟她一起传承生命?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 圣血弑天

    圣血弑天

    苍穹下,万物为刍狗,天地不仁,当举剑问苍天。这是一个武者逆天的故事,当一个少年从边荒小镇中走出,弑天之路由此开始。
  • 身变

    身变

    这个世界到底对我隐瞒了多少?我又了解自己多少?究竟要怎么界定一个人是谁?而我又是谁?揭开世界真正的面目、探索自己的真正身份,这并不是一个愉快的过程。与世界为敌,还是和大多数人一样、顺从的接受一切?————————————————————————————以《身变》为名,是以向灵感的来源致敬,如果有兴趣猜一猜是哪本书,请在留言区留言哦
  • 桃花攻心:美人泪三千

    桃花攻心:美人泪三千

    他纤长的手指从她的发梢上拈下桃花瓣,她的指尖轻轻拂过他的眉梢,他蹙眉轻说:“就算死我也不许你离开我。”她眸光潋滟,娇艳一笑。曾为谁痴,为谁欢,看似幽梦一帘。那一袭白衣胜雪的男子,却因她一抹笑颜而至死相护,美人的泪滴落在他的手心,她的唇低喃,“如果有来世,再也不愿与你们相识。”她手臂上的桃花烙印在黑夜中与他额间的烙印心心相惜,他寻找了五百年的女子,她手中的长剑穿透他的肩,血溅在他飞舞的黑丝上,他的笑摄人心魂,指尖穿过她的发,抹去脸上的泪痕,“活了那么多年,真好,终于可以安安稳稳的睡去。”绿罗衣,年年芳草萋萋,一场小清新穿越,一个王室更替的阴谋,众多渴望爱与被爱的人儿……翩翩公子,俊美不凡,风流天下,招蜂引蝶,美男成群,你更爱谁?
  • 幻杀

    幻杀

    他是一个足球运动员,一个被誉为天才的足球运动员;他是一个歌坛的明星,一个被称为天王的超级巨星;他是一个古武的高手,一个被当为神龙的武林高手;他是一个复仇的煞星,一个被叫为魔鬼的冷血杀手;他是一个商界的帝王,一个被尊为上帝的商界巨头;他是一个佣兵的传奇,一个被称为黑魔鬼的佣兵传奇;