书城公版Volume Seven
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第15章

Thereupon she signed to him to come out and walk under the windows of the pavilion,and,as the Lady Dunya stood looking from the casement,behold,her glance fell that way and she saw him and noting his beauty of face and form,said to the old woman,'O my nurse,whence cometh yonder handsome youth?'Replied the old woman,'I know nothing of him save that I think he must be some great King's son,for he attaineth comeliness in excess and extreme loveliness.'And the Lady Dunya fell in love with him to distraction;the spells which bound her were loosed and her reason was overcome by his beauty and grace;and his fine stature and proportions strongly excited her desires sexual.So she said,'O my nurse! this is indeed a handsome youth;'and the old woman replied,'Thou sayest sooth,O my lady,'and signed to Taj alMuluk to go home.And though desire and longing flamed in him and he was distraught for love,yet he went away and took leave of the Gardener and returned to his place,obeying the old woman and not daring to cross her.When he told the Wazir and Aziz that she had signed him to depart,they exhorted him to patience,saying,'Did not the ancient dame know that there was an object to be gained by thy departure,she had not signalled thee to return home.'Such was the case with Taj alMuluk,the Wazir and Aziz but as regards the King's daughter,the Lady Dunya,desire and passion redoubled upon her;she was overcome with love and longing and she said to her nurse,'I know not how I shall manage a meeting with this youth,but through thee.'Exclaimed the old woman,'I take refuge with Allah from Satan the stoned! Thou who art averse from men! How cometh it then that thou art thus afflicted with hope and fear of this young man?Yet,by Allah,none is worthy of thy youth but he.'Quoth the Lady Dunya,'O my nurse,further my cause and help me to foregather with him,and thou shalt have of me a thousand diners and a dress of honour worth as much more: but if thou aid me not to come at him,I am a dead woman in very sooth.'Replied the ancient dame,'Go to thy palace and leave me to devise means for bringing you twain together.I will throw away my life to content you both!'So the Lady Dunya returned to her palace,and the old woman betook herself to Taj alMuluk who,when he saw her,rose to receive her and entreated her with respect and reverence making her sit by his side.Then she said,'The trick hath succeeded,'and told him all that had passed between herself and the Princess.He asked her,'When is our meeting to be?';and she answered,'Tomorrow.'So he gave her a thousand diners and a dress of like value,and she took them and stinted not walking till she returned to her mistress,who said to her,'O my nurse! what news of the be loved?'Replied she,'I have learnt where he liveth and will bring him to thee tomorrow.'At this the Princess was glad and gave her a thousand diners and a dress worth as much more,and she took them and returned to her own place,where she passed the night till morning.Then she went to Taj alMuluk and dressing him in woman's clothes,said to him,'Follow me and sway from side to side[44] as thou steppest,and hasten not thy pace nor take heed of any who speaketh to thee.'And after thus charging him she went out,and the Prince followed her in woman's attire and she continued to charge and encourage him by the way,that he might not be afraid;nor ceased they walking till they came to the Palacegate.She entered and the Prince after her,and she led him on,passing through doors and vestibules,till they had passed seven doors.[45] As they approached the seventh,she said to him,'Hearten thy heart and when I call out to thee and say,'O damsel pass on!' do not slacken thy pace,but advance as if about to run.When thou art in the vestibule,look to thy left and thou wilt see a saloon with doors: count five doors and enter the sixth,for therein is thy desire.'Asked Taj alMuluk,'And whither wilt thou go?';and she answered,'Nowhere shall I go except that perhaps I may drop behind thee,and the Chief Eunuch may detain me to chat with him.'She walked on (and he behind her) till she reached the door where the Chief Eunuch was stationed and he,seeing Taj alMuluk with her dressed as a slave girl,said to the old woman,'What business hath this girl with thee?'Replied she,'This is a slave girl of whom the Lady Dunya hath heard that she is skilled in different kinds of work and she hath a mind to buy her.'Rejoined the Eunuch,'I know neither slave girls nor anyone else;and none shall enter here without my searching according to the King's commands.'And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the One Hundred and Thirtyfifth Night,She said,It hath reached me,O auspicious King,that the Chamberlain Eunuch cried to the old woman,'I know neither slave girl nor anyone else;and none shall enter here without my searching him according to the King's commands.'Then quoth she,feigning to be angry,'I thought thee a man of sense and good breeding;but,if thou be changed,I will let the Princess know of it and tell her how thou hinderest her slave girl;'and she cried out to Taj alMuluk,saying,'Pass on,O damsel!'So he passed on into the vestibule as she bade him,whilst the Eunuch was silent and said no more.The Prince counted five doors and entered the sixth where he found the Princess Dunya standing and awaiting him.As soon as she saw him,she knew him and clasped him to her breast,and he clasped her to his bosom.Presently the old woman came in to them,having made a pretext to dismiss the Princess's slave girls for fear of disgrace;and the Lady Dunya said to her,'Be thou our door keeper!'