登陆注册
3553400000087

第87章 STORY OF THE HUNCHBACK(9)

'For God's sake,'said we'tell us the reason of thy refusal to eat of the ragout!'If I must eat of it,'replied he'I will not do soexcept I may wash my hands forty times with soap,forty times with potash and forty times with galingalein all a hundred and twenty times.'So the master of the house ordered his servants to bring water and all that he required;and the young man washed his hands as he had said. Then he sat downas if afraidand dipping his hand into the ragoutbegan to eat,though with evident repugnance and as if doing himself violence,whilst we regarded him with the utmost wonder;for his hand trembled and we saw that his thumb had been cut off and he ate with his four fingers only. So we said to him'God on theewhat has become of thy thumb? Is thy hand thus by the creation of God or has it been mutilated by accident?'O my brothersanswered he'it is not this thumb alone that has been cut offbut also that of the other hand and the great toe of each of my feetas ye shall see.'Then he bared his left hand and his feetand we saw that the left hand was even as the right and that each of his feet lacked the great toe. At this sightour amazement increased and we said to him'We are impatient to know thy history and the manner of the cutting off of thy thumbs and great toes and the reason of thy washing thy hands a hundred and twenty times.'

'Know then,'answered he'that my father was chief of the merchants of Baghdad in the time of the Khalif Haroun er Reshid;

but he was given to drinking wine and listening to the lute and other instrumentsso that when he diedhe left nothing. I buried him and had recitations of the Koran made over him and mourned for him days and nights. Then I opened his shop and found he had left little but debts. HoweverI compounded with his creditors for time to pay and betook myself to buying and sellingpaying them something week by week on accounttill at last I succeeded in clearing off the debts and began to add to my capital. One dayas I sat in my shopthere came up to the entrance of the bazaar a ladythan whom my eyes never saw a fairerrichly clad and decked and riding on a mulewith one slave walking before and another behind her. She halted the mule at the entrance of the bazaar and enteredfollowed by an eunuch,who said to her'O my ladycome outwithout telling any one,or thou wilt bring us into trouble.'And he stood before herwhilst she looked at the shops. She found no shop open but mineso came upwith the eunuch behind herand sitting down in my shopsaluted me;never did I hear aught sweeter than her voice or more pleasant than her speech. Then she unveiled her face and I saw she was like the moon and stole at her a glance that cost me a thousand sighs. My heart was captivated with her love and I could not take my eyes off her face;and I repeated the following verses:

Say to the fairest fairher in the dove-coloured veil'Death would be welcome to meto save me from thy bale:

Grant me thy favoursI pray!so I may live perchance. Lo!I stretch forth my palm:let not thy bounties fail.'

When she heard thisshe answered me by repeating the following verses:

Power to forget theefor desirefails even unto me:My heart and all my soul will love none other after thee.

If my eyes ever look on aught except thy lovelinessMay union after severance ne'er brighten them with glee!

I've sworn an oath by my right hand ne'er to forget thy grace. My sad heart pineth for thy love and never may win free.

Passion hath given me to drink a brimming cup of love;Would it had given the self-same draught to drinkdear heartto thee!

If thou shouldst ask me what I'd crave most earnestly of God,'The Almighty's favour firstthen thine,'I'd say'my prayer shall be.'

Then she said to me'O youthhast thou any handsome stuffs?'O my lady,'answered I'thy slave is poor:but wait till the merchants open their shopsand I will get thee what thou wilt.'

Then we sat talkingshe and Iwhilst I was drowned in the sea of her love and dazed with passion for hertill the merchants opened their shopswhen I rose and fetched her all she sought,to the value of five thousand dirhems. She gave the stuffs to the slave and leaving the bazaarmounted the mule and rode away,without telling me whence she cameand I was ashamed to ask her.

So I became answerable to the merchants for the price of the goods and thus took on myself a debt of five thousand dirhems.

同类推荐
  • Wolfville

    Wolfville

    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。
  • 蒙求集注

    蒙求集注

    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。
  • 月林师观禅师语录

    月林师观禅师语录

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Padre Ignacio

    Padre Ignacio

    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。
  • Mudfog and Other Sketches

    Mudfog and Other Sketches

    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。
热门推荐
  • 普照禅师修心诀

    普照禅师修心诀

    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。
  • 季羡林人生智慧全集

    季羡林人生智慧全集

    从季老丰富的阅历中抽取那些最能体现其锋芒、感情与人生转折的片段,加以淳朴、本色而富有敬意的点评,编织成一本智慧的集锦,希望可以通过本书继承先生的学识,发扬先生的学风,秉承先生的遗志,广大先生的精神。
  • 花神三妙传

    花神三妙传

    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。
  • 特种兵迎战天下

    特种兵迎战天下

    这是一个生死未知的战场,这注定是强者的路。热血男儿,保家卫国。林子豪被父亲一脚踹着就当了兵,一步一步,成为特种兵,华丽蜕变,成为特种兵中的王者。迎战天下,我怕谁。
  • 离天堂最近的地方

    离天堂最近的地方

    他是一个江湖混混,为人正义,她是富家千金,从小生活在象牙塔中,她和他的相遇是一个偶然,因为一次英雄救美的开始,可是爱情终究不能抵挡门第的悬殊,她为了和他在一起,和父母反目,他为了得到她父母的认可,愿意为爱人脱离江湖,一次受伤,差一点阴阳相隔,以为风雨之后就会看到彩虹,可是死神再一次无情的拆散了他和她的爱情,她得了脑癌,三个月的生命,为了能让他坚强的活下去,故意制定了五年的契约,伊人带着满满的爱踏上了异国他乡,她以为成全了他,没有想到,他被人算计死亡,有情人在天堂见面,离天堂最近的地方是哪里?
  • 南水北调:东线源头探索与实践

    南水北调:东线源头探索与实践

    《南水北调:东线源头探索与实践》旨在追寻南水北调工程历史的渊源,回顾从1952年毛泽东主席提出“南水北调”的伟大设想到2002年动工建设期间的历程;介绍南水北调总体布局和东线工程规划,从社会、经济、生态三个方面分析东线工程对受水区的影响尤其是对江苏的影响,阐述江苏受水要领,并回答一些社会热点问题;展示南水北调东线工程的建设和运行管理情况,探讨东线工程建设、管理变革的主要方面,以答谢人们对南水北调工程建设的关注。
  • 你要光荣还是梦想:我的人生笔记

    你要光荣还是梦想:我的人生笔记

    其实,人这一生就如同做一篇文章一样。一篇好的文章,每个章节里都应该有好的、鲜活的细节,让这些鲜活的细节打动人。我们一生每个年龄段里,也应该有让我们终生记忆的细节。善良的待入,宽容的看待生活,对事业、对亲人、对朋友多份责任和爱心,人生就丰富了。日日年年,积攒到人生的后半段,再回望自己的一生时,便会发现自己这一生一世写了一篇满意的文章。
  • 终此一生只为你

    终此一生只为你

    人的一生会遇到两类人,一类惊艳了时光,一类温暖了时光。一场救赎,一场教导,从此,世间再无人能入她的眼,世间也再无人能走进他的心。她原以为,这辈子,考一个好的大学,找一份好的工作,然后,因为家族联姻的需要,嫁给她一个不爱的人,从此相敬如宾,为他生个孩子,平平淡淡,就这样,过完一辈子。他原以为,他这一辈子,身居高位,与黑暗为伍,再也不会触碰到光明与爱,从此,孤生一人,直到生命的尽头。直到,他们彼此相遇。多么幸运,爱的那个人,惊艳了年少时光,也温暖了余生。
  • 小食物·大功效全集

    小食物·大功效全集

    如果你想了解更多的食物常识,掌握养生保健食疗、美容食疗以及疾病食疗方法,成为自己生活中的营养师,那么请翻开此书,相信作为一本健康手册,它将带给你最实用、最新颖、最完整的饮食帮助,成为你健康生活的良师益友。
  • 明朝宫廷秘史

    明朝宫廷秘史

    《明朝宫廷秘史》共一百二十回,以小说的形式向读者讲述宫廷内部的政治与情感斗争。皇帝在管理整个国家的用人与做事方面都有描写,在宫廷之中皇帝又是如何对待自己的感情问题,妃子与妃子之间又是如何争宠夺利的,皇后通过什么手段来保证自己至高无上的位置……许啸天专著的《明朝宫廷秘史》为您揭开埋藏几百年的宫廷秘密。