Prevod
It is also related that Amr ibn Masadah said: Abu Isa ibn al-Rashid, the brother of al-Mamun, was in love with Qurrat al-Ayn, a slave girl belonging to Ali ibn Hisham, and she loved him in return. But Abu Isa concealed his passion, neither speaking of it nor lamenting it to anyone. He let no one into his secret, such was his pride and sense of honor. He tried by every means to buy her from her master, but could not succeed. At last, when his patience was exhausted, his longing had grown unbearable, and he could devise no way to obtain her, he went to al-Mamun on a festival day, after the people had withdrawn, and said, “Commander of the Faithful, if you were to put your courtiers to the test today, taking them unawares, you would discover which of them are men of true generosity, and learn each man’s worth and the measure of his spirit.” Abu Isa’s purpose in saying this was to contrive a meeting with Qurrat al-Ayn in her master’s house. “That is a sound idea,” replied al-Mamun. He then ordered his boat, called al-Tayyar, to be made ready. It was brought, and he embarked with a company of his intimates. The first palace he entered was that of Humayd al-Tawil al-Tusi. They came upon him unawares and found him seated … But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.
When it was the four hundred and fifteenth night
She said: I have heard, O fortunate King, that al-Mamun embarked with his intimates and went on until they reached the palace of Humayd al-Tawil al-Tusi. They entered without warning and found him seated on a mat, with musicians before him holding their instruments—lutes, flutes, and others. Al-Mamun sat for a while, and then food was set before him, consisting of meat but no poultry or game birds. He paid no attention to any of it. Abu Isa said, “Commander of the Faithful, we have come here unannounced, and the master of the house knew nothing of your coming. Let us rise and go to a reception room prepared for you and worthy of you.” So the caliph rose with his intimates, and his brother Abu Isa accompanied them to the house of Ali ibn Hisham. When Ali learned of their arrival, he gave them the warmest welcome and kissed the ground before the caliph. Then he led them into the palace and opened a reception room more beautiful than any eye had ever seen. Its floor, columns, and walls were faced with marbles of many kinds and adorned with all manner of Byzantine designs. The floor was spread with mats from Sind, over which lay Basran carpets extending the full length and breadth of the room. Al-Mamun sat for a while, studying the chamber, its ceiling, and its walls, then said, “Give us something to eat.” At once nearly a hundred dishes of chicken were brought before him, besides other birds, meat-and-bread stews, fried dishes, and cold delicacies. When he had eaten, he said, “Give us something to drink, Ali.” Thereupon wine reduced by boiling to a third, prepared with fruit and fragrant spices, was brought to him in vessels of gold, silver, and crystal. The pages who carried it into the room were as lovely as moons, dressed in Alexandrian garments woven with gold, with crystal flasks of musk-scented rosewater hanging upon their breasts. Al-Mamun marveled greatly at all he saw and called, “Abu al-Hasan!” Ali sprang forward, kissed the carpet, and stood before the caliph. “At your service, Commander of the Faithful,” he said. “Let us hear some delightful singing,” said al-Mamun. “I hear and obey, Commander of the Faithful,” he replied. Then he said to one of his attendants, “Bring in the singing girls.” “I hear and obey,” the man answered. The servant disappeared for a moment, then returned with ten attendants carrying ten golden chairs, which they set in place. After them came ten maidens, like unveiled full moons and gardens in bloom, dressed in black brocade, with golden crowns upon their heads. They advanced and seated themselves on the chairs, then sang in a variety of modes. Al-Mamun looked at one of them and was captivated by her grace and beauty. “What is your name, girl?” he asked. “My name is Sajah, Commander of the Faithful.” “Sing to us, Sajah,” he said. So she delighted them with her melodies and sang these verses:
“I came stealing along in fear, like a humbled man who sees two lion cubs at the watering place. My sword was submission, my heart enthralled and trembling; I feared the eyes of enemies and watchers. At last I entered where a tender maiden dwelt, like a gazelle upon the dunes that has not lost her young.” Al-Mamun said to her, “Well sung, girl! Whose verses are these?” “They are by Amr ibn Madikarib al-Zubaydi,” she answered, “and the music is by Mabad.” Then al-Mamun, Abu Isa, and Ali ibn Hisham drank. The girls withdrew, and ten others entered, each dressed in Yemeni figured silk woven with gold. They seated themselves on the chairs and sang in various modes. Al-Mamun looked at one of the maidens, who was like a white antelope of the sands, and asked, “What is your name, girl?” “My name is Zabyah, Commander of the Faithful.” “Sing to us, Zabyah,” he said. She raised her voice in song and sang these two verses:
“Fair, noble women, untouched by any thought of shame, like the gazelles of Mecca, whom none may hunt. Their gentle speech might make them seem wanton, yet Islam keeps them from indecency.” When she had finished her verses, al-Mamun said to her, “How gifted you are …” But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.
When it was the four hundred and sixteenth night
She said: I have heard, O fortunate King, that when the girl had finished singing, al-Mamun said to her, “How gifted you are! Whose verses are these?” “They are by Jarir,” she answered, “and the music is by Ibn Surayj.” Then al-Mamun and his companions drank. The girls withdrew, and after them came ten others, lovely as rubies, wearing red brocade woven with gold and studded with pearls and jewels, their heads uncovered. They seated themselves on the chairs and sang in various modes. He looked at one of them, who was like the sun at midday, and asked, “What is your name, girl?” “My name is Fatin, Commander of the Faithful.” “Sing to us, Fatin,” he said. So she delighted them with her melodies and sang these verses:
“Grant me the joy of union now: its hour has come. Enough of separation have I tasted. Yours is the face in which all beauties meet, yet over it my patience lies in pieces. I have spent my life in loving you; would that the life I spent might buy your love.” “How gifted you are, Fatin!” he said. “Whose verses are these?” “They are by Adi ibn Zayd,” she replied, “and the melody is an old one.” Then al-Mamun, Abu Isa, and Ali ibn Hisham drank. The girls withdrew, and after them came ten others like shining stars, wearing figured silk woven with red gold, with jeweled girdles about their waists. They seated themselves on the chairs and sang in various modes. Al-Mamun said to one of them, slender as a willow wand, “What is your name, girl?” “My name is Rasha, Commander of the Faithful.” “Sing to us, Rasha,” he said. So she delighted them with her melodies and sang these verses:
“A dark-eyed youth, supple as a bough, whose presence heals love’s anguish, whose glance is a gazelle’s: beside his cheek I drank the wine, and we passed the cup between us till he yielded. He lay beside me through the night, and as we lay together I told my soul, ‘This is all I desire.’” Al-Mamun said to her, “Well sung, girl! Give us more.” The girl rose and kissed the ground before him, then sang this verse:
“She came slowly out to meet the travelers, in a gown steeped in fragrant perfume.” Al-Mamun was so deeply moved by this verse that, seeing his delight, the girl sang it over and over. Then al-Mamun said, “Bring al-Tayyar alongside,” intending to embark and depart. But Ali ibn Hisham rose and said, “Commander of the Faithful, I have a slave girl whom I bought for ten thousand dinars and who has taken complete possession of my heart. I wish to present her to the Commander of the Faithful. If she pleases him and he approves of her, she is his; if not, he may at least hear her sing.” “Bring her to me,” said the caliph. Then a girl came forth, slender as a willow wand, with bewitching eyes and eyebrows like two bows. Upon her head was a crown of red gold set with pearls and jewels, and beneath it a headband on which this verse was written in chrysolite:
“A jinni maiden, taught by jinn to pierce men’s hearts with a bow that has no string.” The girl advanced like a startled gazelle, lovely enough to tempt a holy man, and walked on until she seated herself on the chair. But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.
When it was the four hundred and seventeenth night
She said: I have heard, O fortunate King, that the girl advanced like a startled gazelle, lovely enough to tempt a holy man, and walked on until she seated herself on the chair. When al-Mamun saw her, he marveled at her loveliness and beauty. Abu Isa’s heart began to ache; his face grew pale, and his whole bearing changed. Al-Mamun asked him, “What ails you, Abu Isa? Why have you changed so?” “Commander of the Faithful,” he replied, “it is an ailment that seizes me from time to time.” “Did you know this girl before today?” the caliph asked. “Yes, Commander of the Faithful. Can the moon be hidden?” Then al-Mamun said to her, “What is your name, girl?” “My name is Qurrat al-Ayn, Commander of the Faithful.” “Sing to us, Qurrat al-Ayn,” he said. So she sang these two verses:
“Your loved ones left you in the darkness of the night; before dawn they journeyed with the pilgrims. Around their pavilions they pitched the tents of honor, and veiled themselves behind curtains of brocade.” The caliph said to her, “How gifted you are! Whose verses are these?” “They are by Dibil al-Khuzai,” she answered, “and the melody is by Zarzur the Younger.” Abu Isa gazed at her, choking back tears, until everyone in the gathering wondered at him. The girl turned to al-Mamun and said, “Commander of the Faithful, will you permit me to change the words?” “Sing whatever you please,” he replied. So she delighted them with her melodies and sang these verses:
“If you and a companion please each other when you meet, guard your affection all the more when you are apart. Disregard the slanderers’ tales: seldom does a slanderer seek anything but to part true lovers. They claim that lovers weary when brought near, and that distance cures the pangs of longing. We have tried both remedies, yet neither healed us; still, a dwelling close at hand is better than one far away. Yet even nearness is of little use when the one you love has no affection for you.” When she had finished her verses, Abu Isa said, “Commander of the Faithful …” But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.
When it was the four hundred and eighteenth night
She said: I have heard, O fortunate King, that when Qurrat al-Ayn had finished her verses, Abu Isa said, “Commander of the Faithful, once our secret is exposed, we may find relief. Will you allow me to answer her?” “Yes,” replied the caliph. “Say to her whatever you please.” He wiped away his tears and recited these two verses:
“I kept silent, never saying, ‘I am in love’; I hid my passion even from my inmost soul. Yet if love has shown itself within my eyes, she who awakened it is close as the shining moon.” Then Qurrat al-Ayn took up the lute, delighted them with her melodies, and sang these verses:
“If what you claim were true, you would not soothe yourself with idle hopes, nor bear to live apart from a maiden so wondrous in beauty and spirit. But all your claims amount to nothing beyond the words upon your tongue.” When Qurrat al-Ayn had finished her verses, Abu Isa began to weep and sob, writhing in his anguish. Then he raised his head toward her, heaved deep sighs, and recited these verses:
“Beneath my clothes a wasted body lies, and in my heart a care that leaves no room for other cares. My heart is sick with an unending sickness; my eyes pour forth their tears. Whenever some wise man leaves me in peace, a scolder rises to condemn my love and bring about my doom. O Lord, I cannot bear all this: let death come, or swift deliverance!” When Abu Isa had finished his verses, Ali ibn Hisham sprang to his feet and kissed them, saying, “My lord, God has answered your prayer and heard your whispered plea. He has granted that you take her, together with all her belongings, her treasures, and her precious things—unless the Commander of the Faithful desires her himself.” Al-Mamun said, “Even if we desired her, we would put Abu Isa before ourselves and help him gain his wish.” Then al-Mamun rose and embarked in al-Tayyar, while Abu Isa remained behind to receive Qurrat al-Ayn. He took her and went home with her, his heart filled with joy. Consider, then, the noble generosity of Ali ibn Hisham.
