The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 03 (of 10)
General
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 03 (of 10)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
And (the relator continueth) as for Kanmakan, he became unique in
loveliness and excelling in perfection no less; none could even him in
qualities as in seemliness and the sheen of velour between his eyes was
espied, testifying for him while against him it never testified. The
hardest hearts inclined to his side; his eyelids bore lashes black as
by Kohl; and he was of surpassing worth in body and soul. And when the
down of lips and cheeks began to sprout bards and poets sang for him
far and near,
"Appeared not my excuse till hair had clothed his cheek, *
And gloom o'ercrept that side-face (sight to stagger!)
A fawn, when eyes would batten on his charms, *
Each glance deals thrust like point of Khanjar-dagger."
And saith another,
"His lovers' souls have drawn upon his cheek *
An ant that perfected its rosy light:
I marvel at such martyrs Lazá-pent *
Who yet with greeny robes of Heaven are dight.''[FN#67]
Now it chanced one holiday, that Kuzia Fakan fared forth to make
festival with certain kindred of the court, and she went surrounded by
her handmaids. And indeed beauty encompassed her, the roses of her
cheeks dealt envy to their mole; from out her smiling lips levee
flashed white, gleaming like the chamomile[FN#68]; and Kanmakan began
to turn about her and devour her with his sight, for she was the moon
of resplendent light. Then he took heart and giving his tongue a start
began to improvise,
"When shall the disappointed heart be healed of severance, *
And lips of Union smile at ceasing of our hard mischance?
Would Heaven I knew shall come some night, and with it surely
bring * Meeting with friend who like myself endureth
sufferance."[FN#69]
When Kuzia Fakan heard these couplets, she showed vexation and
disapproval and, putting on a haughty and angry air, said to him, "Dost
thou name me in thy verse, to shame me amongst folk? By Allah, if thou
turn not from this talk, I will assuredly complain of thee to the Grand
Chamberlain, Sultan of Khorasan and Baghdad and lord of justice and
equity; that disgrace and punishment may befal thee!" Kanmakan made no
reply for anger but he returned to Baghdad; and Kuzia Fakan also
returned to her palace and complained of her cousin to her mother, who
said to her, "O my daughter, haply he meant thee no harm, and is he
aught but an orphan? Withal, he said nought of reproach to thee; so
beware thou tell none of this, lest perchance it come to e Sultan's
ears and he cut short his life and blot out his name and make it even
as yesterday, whose memory hath passed away." However, Kanmakan's love
for Kuzia Fakan spread abroad in Baghdad, so that the women talked of
it. Moreover, his breast became straitened and his patience waned and
he knew not what to do, yet he could not hide his condition from the
world. Then longed he to give vent to the pangs he endured, by reason
of the lowe of separation; but he feared her rebuke and her wrath; so
he began improvising,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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