"Volume XV" - читать интересную книгу автора (Burtons Version)
RELIGION, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE: MAHOMMEDANS.Ф
The sixth volume, whose second title is "Tales | selected from the Manuscript copy | of the | 1001 Nights | brought to Europe by Edward Wortley Montague, Esq.," ends with a general Appendix, of which ten pages are devoted to a description of the Codex and a Catalogue of its contents. Scott's sixth volume, like the rest of his version, is now becoming rare, and it is regretable that when Messieurs Nimmo and Bain reprinted, in 1882, the bulk of the work (4 vols. 8vo) they stopped short at volume five.
Lastly we find a third list dating from 1837 in the "Catalogi | Codicum Manuscriptorum Orientalium | Bibliothecц Bodleianц | Pars Secunda | Arabicos | complectens. | Confecit | Alexander Nicoll, J.C.D. | Nuper Linguц Heb. Professor Regius, necnon ╞dis Christi Canonicus. | Editionem absolvit | et Catalogum urianumа[FN#2] aliquatenus emendavit | G. B. Pusey S.T.B. | Viri desideratissimi Successor. | Oxonii, | E Topographio Academico | MDCCCXXXV." This is introduced under the head, "Codicil Arabici Mahommedani Narrationes Fictц sive Historiцs Romanenses | in Quarto (pp . 145-150).
I am not aware that any attempt has been made to trace the history of the Wortley Montague MS.; but its internal evidence supplies a modicum of information.
By way of colophon to the seventh and last volume we have, "On this wise end to us the Stories of the Kings and histories of various folk as foregoing in the Thousand Nights and a Night, perfected and completed, on the eighteenth day of Safar the auspicious, which is of the months of (the year A.H.) one thousand one hundred and seventy eight" (=A.D. 1764-65)
"Copied by the humblest and neediest of the poor, Omar-al-Safatэ, to whose sins may Allah be Ruthful!
ааааааааа"An thou find in us fault deign default supply,
ааааааааааAnd hallow the Faultless and Glorify."
The term "Suftah" is now and has been applied for the last century to the sons of Turkish fathers by Arab mothers, and many of these Mulattos live by the pen. On the fly leaf of vol. i. is written in a fine and flowing Persian (?) hand, strongly contrasting with the text of the tome, which is unusually careless and bad, "This book | The Thousand Nights and a Night of the Acts and deeds (Sэrat) of the Kings | and what befel them from sundry | women that were whorish | and witty | and various | Tales | therein." Below it also is a Persian couplet written in vulgar Iranian characters of the half-Shikastah type:--
Chih goyam, o chih poyam? аааааааа* Na mэ-dсnam hэch o p·ch.
(What shall I say or whither fly?аааа* This stuff and this nonsense know not I.)
Moreover, at the beginning of vol. i. is a list of fifteen tales written in Europeo-Arabic characters, after schoolboy fashion, and probably by Scott. In vol. ii. there is no initial list, but by way of Foreword we read, "This is volume the second of the Thousand Nights and a Night from the xciiid. Night, full and complete." And the Colophon declares, "And this is what hath been finished for us of the fourth (probably a clerical error for "second") tome of the Thousand Nights and a Night to the clxxviith. Night, written on the twentieth day of the month Sha'bсn A.H., one thousand one hundred and seventy-seven" (=A.D. 1764). This date shows that the MS. was finished during the year after incept.
The text from which our MS. was copied must have been valuable, and we have reason to regret that so many passages both of poetry and prose are almost hopelessly corrupt. Its tone and tenor are distinctly Nilotic; and, as Mr. E. Wortley Montague lived for some time in Egypt, he may have bought it at the Capital of the Nile-land. The story of the Syrian (v. 468) and that of the Two Lack facts (vi. 262), notably exalt Misr and Cairo at the expense of Shсm and Damascus; and there are many other instances of preferring Kemi the Black Soil to the so called "Holy Land." The general tone, as well as the special incidents of the book, argues that the stories may have been ancient, but they certainly have been modernised. Coffee is commonly used (passim) although tobacco is still unknown; a youth learns archery and gunnery (Zarb al-Risсs, vol. vii. 440); casting of cannon occurs (vol. v. 186), and in one place (vol. vi. 134) we read of "Taban-jatayn," a pair of pistols; the word, which is still popular, being a corruption of the Persian "Tabсncheh" = a slap or blow, even as the French call a derringer coup de poing. The characteristic of this Recueil is its want of finish. The stories are told after perfunctory fashion as though the writer had not taken the trouble to work out the details. There are no names or titles to the tales, so that every translator must give his own; and the endings are equally unsatisfactory, they usually content themselves, after "native" fashion, with "Intihс" = finis, and the connection with the thread of the work must be supplied by the story-teller or the translator. Headlines were not in use for the MSS. of that day, and the catchwords are often irregular, a new word taking the place of the initial in the following page.
As regards the metrical part Dr. Steingass writes to me, "The verses in Al-Hayfс and Y·suf, where not mere doggerel, are spoiled by the spelling. I was rarely able to make out even the metre and I think you have accomplished a feat by translating them as you have done."
The language of the MS. is generally that of the Fellah and notably so in sundry of the tales, such as, "The Goodwife of Cairo and her four Gallants" (v. 444). Of this a few verbal and phrasal instances will suffice. Adэnэ = here am I (v. 198); Ahnс (passim, for nahnu) nakhсf = we fear; 'Alaykэ (for 'alayki) = on thee; and generally the long vowel (-ki) for the short (-kэ) in the pronoun of the second person feminine; Antah (for ante) = thou (vi. 96) and Ant· (for antum) = you (iii. 351); Arсha and even ar·ha, r·hat and r·ha (for rсha) = he went (Vii. 74 and iv. 75) and Ar·h· (for r·h·) = go ye (iv. 179); Bakarah * * * allazi (for allatэ) = a cow (he) who, etc.; (see in this vol., p. 253) and generally a fine and utter contempt for genders, e.g. Hum (for hunna) masc. for fem. (iii. 91; iii. 146; and v. 233); Tс 'сli (for taТсl) fem. for masc. (vi. 96 et passim); Bэhэm (for bi-him) = with them (v. 367); Bi-kсm (for bi-kum) = with you (iii. 142) are fair specimens of long broad vowels supplanting the short, a peculiarity known in classical Arab., e.g. Miftсh (for Miftah) = a key. Here, however, it is exaggerated, e.g. Bс'эd (for ba'эd) = far (iv. 167); Kсm (for kam) = how many? K·m (for kum) = you (v. 118); K·l-hс (for kul-ha) = tell it (iv 58); Mэn (for man) = who? (iii. 89); Mirwсd (for Mirwad)= a branding iron; Natanсshshad (for natanashshad) = we seek tidings (v. 211); Rсjal (pron. Rсgil, for Rajul) = a man (iv. 118 and passim); Sсhal (for sahal) = easy, facile (iv. 7I); Sэr (for sir) = go, be off! (v. 199); Shэl (for shil) =carry away (i. 111); and Zсhab (for zahab) = gold (v. 186). This broad Doric or Caledonian articulation is not musical to unaccustomed organs. As in popular parlance the Dсl supplants the Zсl; e.g. Dahaba (for zahaba) = he went (v. 277 and passim); also T takes the place of Th, as Tult for thulth = one third (iii. 348) and Tamrat (for thamrat) = fruit (v. 260), thus generally ignoring the sibilant Th after the fashion of the modern Egyptians who say Tumm (for thumma) = again; "Kattir (for kaththir) Khayrak" = God increase thy weal, and Lattama (for laththama) = he veiled. Also a general ignoring of the dual, e.g. Hсzс 'usfurayn (for 'Usfurсni) = these be birds (vi. 121); Nazal· al-Wazirayn (do) = the two Wazirs went down (vii. 123); and lastly Al-Wuzarс al-itnayn (for Al-Wazэrсni) = the two Wazirs (vii. 121). Again a fine contempt for numbers, as Nanzur ana (for Anzur) = I (we) see (v. 198) and Innэ (for innс) nar·hu = indeed I (we) go (iii. 190). Also an equally conscientious disregard for cases, as Min mсl ab·-hс (for abэ-hс) = out of the moneys of her sire (iv. 190); and this is apparently the rule of the writer.
Of Egyptianisms and vulgarisms we have Ant, mс ghibtshayy = thou, hast thou not been absent at all? with the shayy (a thing) subjoined to the verb in this and similar other phrases; Baksэsh for Bakhshish (iv. 356); Al-Jawсz (for al-zэwсj) = marriage (i. 14); Fakэ or Fakэ (for fakih) = a divine (vi. 207 and passim); Finjсl (for finjсn) = a coffee-cup (v. 424, also a Najdэ or Central Arabian corruption); Kuwayyis = nice, pretty (iv. 179); Lсyсlэ (for liallс) = lest that (v. 285); Luh·mсt (for luk·m) = meats, a mere barbarism (v. 247); Matah (for Matс) =when? (v. 464); Ma'сyah (for ma'э) =with me (vi. 13 et passim); Shuwayy (or shuwayyah) Mayah, a double diminutive (for Muwayy or Muwayh) = a small little water, intensely Nilotic (iv. 44); Mbarih or Embсrah (for Al-bсrihah) = yesterday (v. 449); Takkat (for Dakkat) = she rapped (iv. 190); ┌zbсshс and Uzbсshс (for Y·zbсshэ) = a centurion, a captain (v.430 et passim); Zсэdjah for Zсijah (vi. 329); Zarсghэt (for Zaghсrэt) = lullilooing (iv. 12); Zэnah (for Zinс) = adultery, and lastly Z·da (for Zсda) = increased (iv. 87). Here the reader will cry jam satis; while the student will compare the list with that given in my Terminal Essay (vol. x. 149).
The two Appendices require no explanation. No. I. is a Catalogue of the Tales in the Wortley Montague MS., and No. II. contains Notes upon the Storiology of the Supplemental Volumes IV. and V. by the practiced pen of Mr. W. P. Kirby. The sheets during my absence from England have been passed through the press and sundry additions and corrections have been made by Dr. Steingass.
In conclusion I would state that my hope was to see this Volume (No. xv.) terminate my long task; but circumstance is stronger than my will and I must ask leave to bring out one more--The New Arabian Nights.
RICHARD F. BURTON.
ATHEN╞UM CLUB, September 1st, 1888.
THE HISTORY OF THE KINGТS SON OF SIND AND THE LADY FATIMAH.а[FN#3]
It is related that whilome there was a King of the many Kings of Sind who had a son by other than his wife. Now the youth, whenever he entered the palace, would revileа[FN#4] and abuse and curse and use harsh words to his step-mother, his fatherТs Queen, who was beautiful exceedingly; and presently her charms were changed and her face waxed wan and for the excess of what she heard from him she hated life and fell to longing for death. Withal she could not say a word concerning the Prince to his parent. One day of the days, behold an aged woman (which had been her nurse) came in to her and saw her in excessive sorrow and perplext as to her affair for that she knew not what she could do with her stepson. So the ancient dame said to her, УO my lady, no harm shall befal thee; yet is thy case changed into other case and thy colour hath turned to yellow.Ф Hereupon the Queen told her all that had befallen her from her step-son of harsh language and revilement and abuse, and the other rejoined, УO my lady, let not thy breast be straitened, and when the youth shall come to thee and revile thee and abuse thee, do thou say him, СPull thy wits somewhat together till such time as thou shalt have brought back the Lady Fatimah, daughter of ТAmir ibn al-NuТumсn.ТУ The old woman taught her these words by heart, and anon went forth from her, when the Prince entered by the door and spoke harsh words and abused and reviled her; so his fatherТs wife said to him, УLower thy tone and pull thy wits somewhat together, for thou be a small matter until thou shalt bring back the daughter of the Sultan, hight Fatimah, the child of ТAmir ibn al-NuТuman.Ф Now when he heard these words he cried, УBy Allah, Тtis not possible but that I go and return with the said Lady Fatimah;Ф after which he repaired to his sire and said, УТTis my desire to travel; so do thou prepare for me provision of all manner wherewith I may wend my way to a far land, nor will I return until I win to my wish.Ф Hereupon his father fell to transporting whatso he required of victuals, various and manifold, until all was provided, and he got ready for him whatso befitted of bales and camels and pages and slaves and eunuchs and negro chattels. Presently they loaded up and the youth, having farewelled his father and his friends and his familiars, set forth seeking the country of Fatimah bint Amir, and he travelled for the first day and the second day until he found himself in the middle of the wilds and the Wadys, and the mountains and the stony wastes. This lasted for two months till such time as he reached a region wherein were Gh·ls and ferals, and to one and all who met him and opposed him he would give something of provaunt and gentle them and persuade them to guide him upon his way. After a time he met a Shaykh well stricken in years; so he salamed to him and the other, after returning his greeting, asked him saying, УWhat was it brought thee to this land and region wherein are naught but wild beasts and Ghuls?Ф whereto he answered, УO Shaykh, I came hither for the sake of the Lady Fatimah, daughter of ТAmir ibn al-NuТuman.Ф Hereat exclaimed the greybeard, УDeceive not thyself, for assuredly thou shalt be lost together with what are with thee of men and moneys, and the maiden in question hath been the cause of destruction to many Kings and Sultans. Her father hath three tasks which he proposeth to every suitor, nor owneth any the power to accomplish a single one, and he conditioneth that if any fail to fulfil them and avail not so to do, he shall be slain. But I, O my son, will inform thee of the three which be these: First the King will bring together an ardabb of sesame grain and an ardabb of clover-seed and an ardabb of lentils; and he will mingle them one with other, and he will say:--Whoso seeketh my daughter to wife, let him set apart each sort, and whoso hath no power thereto I will smite his neck. And as all have failed in the attempt their heads were struck off next morning and were hung up over the Palace gateway. Now the second task is this: the King hath a cisternа[FN#5] full of water, and he conditioneth that the suitor shall drink it up to the last drop, under pain of losing his life; and the third is as follows: he owneth a house without doors and windows, and it hathа[FN#6] three hundred entrances and a thousand skylights and two thousand closets: so he covenanteth with the suitor that he make for that place whatever befitteth of doors and lattices and cabinets, and the whole in a single night. Now here is sufficient to engross thine intellect, O my son, but take thou no heed and I will do thy task for thee.Ф Quoth the other, УO my uncle, puissance and omnipotence are to Allah!Ф and quoth the Shaykh, УGo, O my son, and may the Almighty forward the works of thee.Ф So the Prince farewelled him and travelled for the space of two days, when suddenly the ferals and the Ghuls opposed his passage and he gave them somewhat of provaunt which they ate, and after they pointed out to him the right path. Then he entered upon a Wady wherein flights of locusts barred the passage, so he scattered for them somewhat of fine flour which they picked up till they had eaten their sufficiency. Presently he found his way into another valley of iron-bound rocks, and in it there were of the Jсnn what could not be numbered or described, and they cut and crossed his way athwart that iron tract. So he came forward and salamТd to them and gave them somewhat of bread and meat and water, and they ate and drank till they were filled, after which they guided him on his journey and set him in the right direction. Then he fared forwards till he came to the middle of the mountain, where he was opposed by none, or mankind or Jinn-kind, and he ceased not marching until he drew near the city of the Sultan whose daughter he sought to wife. Here he set up a tent and sat therein seeking repose for a term of three days; then he arose and walked forwards until he entered the city, where he fell to looking about him leftwards and rightwards till he had reached the palaceа[FN#7] of the King. He found there over the gateway some hundred heads which were hanging up, and he cried to himself, УVeil me, O thou Veiler! All these skulls were suspended for the sake of the Lady Fatimah, but the bye-word saith, СWhoso dieth not by the sword dieth of his life-term,Т and manifold are the causes whereas death be singlefold.Ф Thereupon he went forwards to the palace gate--And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day, and fell silent and ceased saying her permitted say. Then quoth her sister Dunyazad, УHow sweet and tasteful is thy tale, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!Ф Quoth she, УAnd where is this compared with that I would relate to you on the coming night an the Sovran suffer me to survive?Ф Now when it was the next night and that was
The Four Hundred and Ninety-fifth Night,
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