Prevod

It is related that al-Nu‘man ibn al-Mundhir, king of the Arabs, had a daughter named Hind. One Easter, the Christian festival, she went out to worship in the White Church. She was eleven years old, and the fairest maiden of her age and time. That same day, ‘Adi ibn Zayd had arrived in al-Hirah from the court of Chosroes, bearing a gift for al-Nu‘man, and entered the White Church to worship, accompanied by a company of his people. He was tall, graceful in manner, with handsome eyes and clear cheeks. With Hind, daughter of al-Nu‘man, was a maid named Mariyah, who was in love with ‘Adi but could find no way to approach him. When she saw him in the church, she said to Hind, “Look at that young man. By God, he is handsomer than anyone who ever decked himself in finery.” “Who is he?” asked Hind. “‘Adi ibn Zayd,” she replied. Hind, daughter of al-Nu‘man, said, “I fear he may recognize me if I draw near to look at him closely.” Mariyah answered, “How could he recognize you when he has never seen you?” So she drew near him as he jested with the young men who accompanied him. He outshone them all in beauty, pleasing speech, eloquence, and the richness of his clothes. When she looked at him, she was captivated: her wits deserted her and her color changed. Seeing her inclination toward him, Mariyah said, “Speak to him.” She spoke to him, then turned away. But when he saw her and heard her voice, he too was captivated: his wits deserted him, his heart trembled, and his color changed, so that the young men noticed something amiss. He whispered to one of them to follow her and discover who she was. The young man went after her, then returned and told him that she was Hind, daughter of al-Nu‘man. ‘Adi left the church so overcome with love that he could not tell which way to go. Then he recited these two verses:

My two companions, grant me this kindness, if toward those lands you journey: turn aside for me to Hind’s abode, then return and tell me all. When he had finished his verses, he went to his lodgings and passed the night in restless anguish, without tasting sleep. And dawn overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the four hundred and sixth night

She said: It has reached me, O fortunate King, that when ‘Adi had finished his verses, he went home and passed the night in restless anguish, without tasting sleep. In the morning Mariyah put herself in his path. When he saw her, he greeted her warmly, though before this he had paid her no heed. Then he asked, “What do you wish?” She said, “I have a favor to ask of you.” “Name it,” he replied. “By God, there is nothing you can ask that I will not give you.” She told him that she loved him and wished to be alone with him. He agreed, on condition that she contrive to bring Hind and him together. Then he took her into a wine merchant’s shop in one of the lanes of al-Hirah and lay with her. Afterward she went out and came to Hind, saying, “Would you not like to see ‘Adi?” Hind replied, “How may I do so? Longing for him has tormented me, and since yesterday I have had no peace.” Mariyah said, “I will arrange to meet him at such and such a place, and you can look down at him from the palace.” “Do as you please,” said Hind, and they agreed upon the place. ‘Adi came, and she looked down at him. At the sight of him, she nearly fell from her perch. Then she said, “Mariyah, unless you bring him to me tonight, I shall perish.” With that she fell into a swoon, and her handmaids carried her into the palace. Mariyah hastened to al-Nu‘man and told him what had happened, concealing nothing. “She is madly in love with ‘Adi,” she said, and warned him that unless he married her to him, she would be disgraced and die of love, bringing shame upon him among the Arabs. There was no remedy, she said, but to marry her to him. Al-Nu‘man bowed his head for a while, pondering her plight, and repeatedly murmured, “To God we belong, and to Him we return.” Then he said, “Woe to you! How can I arrange her marriage to him when I do not wish to be the first to speak of it?” Mariyah replied, “He is even more deeply in love than she is, and more eager for her. I shall contrive it so that he never knows you have learned of his feelings. You need not expose yourself, O King.” Then she went to ‘Adi, told him what had passed, and said, “Prepare a feast and invite the king. When the wine has taken hold of him, ask him for her hand, and he will not refuse you.” ‘Adi said, “I fear this may anger him and breed enmity between us.” She answered, “I came to you only after settling the matter with him.” Then she returned to al-Nu‘man and said, “Ask him to entertain you in his house.” “Very well,” he replied. Three days later, al-Nu‘man asked ‘Adi to entertain him and his companions at dinner, and ‘Adi agreed. Al-Nu‘man came to his house, and when the wine had taken its effect, ‘Adi rose and asked him for his daughter’s hand. The king consented and married her to him, and three days later sent her to join him. She lived with him for three years, and they enjoyed the most comfortable and blissful of lives. And dawn overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving her tale untold.

When it was the four hundred and seventh night

She said: It has reached me, O fortunate King, that ‘Adi lived with Hind, daughter of al-Nu‘man ibn al-Mundhir, for three years, and they enjoyed the most comfortable and blissful of lives. Then al-Nu‘man grew angry with ‘Adi and had him killed. Hind grieved for him with a terrible grief. She built herself a convent on the outskirts of al-Hirah and became a nun there, lamenting and weeping for him until she died. Her convent is still known to this day on the outskirts of al-Hirah.