Zgodba o Badru ad Dinu, jemenskem vezirju, in šejku

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Zgodba o Badru ad Dinu, jemenskem vezirju, in šejku

Among the tales told is that the Sahib Badr al-Din, vizier of Yemen, had a brother of extraordinary beauty, over whom he kept a most watchful eye. He sought someone to teach him and found a venerable shaykh, a man of dignity and gravity, chastity and piety. He lodged him in a house beside his own, and for some days the shaykh went daily to the Sahib Badr al-Din’s house to teach his brother, then returned to his lodging. In time, however, the shaykh’s heart became enamored of the young man; his passion grew fierce, and longing tormented him. One day he confessed his plight to the youth, who said, “What can I do? I cannot leave my brother by night or day, for, as you see, he is always at my side.” The shaykh replied, “My house adjoins yours. When your brother falls asleep, you can retire to your private chamber and let everyone suppose you have gone to bed. Then come to the wall on the roof, and I shall help you over from the other side. You can sit with me a little while, then return without your brother knowing.” “I hear and obey,” said the young man. So the shaykh prepared such delicacies as befitted his guest’s station.

Such was the shaykh’s part in the affair. As for the young man, he retired to his private chamber and waited until his brother had lain down. An hour of the night passed, and when his brother was deep in sleep, he rose and walked to the wall, where he found the shaykh standing in wait. He held out his hand, and the shaykh took it, helped him over, and brought him into the sitting room. It was the night of the full moon. They sat together in convivial intimacy, passing cups of wine between them, and the shaykh began to sing as the moon cast its rays upon them. While they were thus rejoicing in pleasure and delight, in bliss that dazzled mind and eye and beggared description, the Sahib Badr al-Din awoke and found his brother gone. He sprang up in alarm and found the door open. Going out, he heard voices murmuring, so he climbed the wall to the roof and saw a bright light shining in the house. He peered from behind a wall and found the two of them passing the cup between them. The shaykh, who had the cup in his hand, became aware of him and, raising his voice in a sweet melody, sang these verses:

He gave me wine to drink from the nectar of his mouth, and greeted me with his downy cheek and all beside it. All night he lay embracing me, cheek pressed to cheek, a beauty without equal among men. All night the full moon watched us from above: beseech him not to tell upon his brother. Such was the Sahib Badr al-Din’s gracious wit that, on hearing these verses, he said, “By God, I shall not tell upon you two!” And he went away, leaving them in perfect bliss.