14. Night 23

吵架的兄弟之一已经死去了，留下了英俊的儿子。他会找到和自己有指腹为婚之约的堂妹吗？

"Sister!"

"Hmmm." said Scheherazade.

"Wife?"

"Yes." said Scheherazade.

Ja'far saw that the caliph was enthralled. Maybe he really could save his servant. He continued the tale.

enthralled，被迷住的

WHEN BADR AL-DIN HUSAN TOLD THE MERCHANT HIS NAME, THE merchant was amazed. He had known the youth's father. And he knew that the father's merchant ship was soon coming loaded with goods. He gave the youth a thousand dinars for those goods. Badr al-Din Hasan put the dinars in the purse hanging from his belt. Then he slept on his father's tomb.

The jinniya of that cemetery saw him and was smitten. "Feast your eyes," she said to a jinni as she showed him the sleeping youth. "He is handsome," said the jinni. "But in Cairo I saw a girl whose loveliness makes the stars, moon, and sun drip with envy. She's daughter of vizier Shams al-Din Muhammad. The king wanted to marry her. But the vizier had just learned that his brother had died in Basra, leaving behind a son — and the girl was betrothed to him."

cemetery，坟墓

betrothed，许配

"What a lunatic," said the jinniya. "Who turns down a king?"

"Indeed. Outraged, the king ordered the girl to marry a cockroach of a man. And the poor girl is the most magnificent human ever."

a cockroach of a man，人中之蟑螂

"No," said the jinniya. "This youth is more magnificent."

"Well, then he's the husband for her. Let's bring him to her fast." The two jinn carried the youth to Cairo, and set him on a bench. Badr al-Din Hasan woke and looked around bewildered. The jinni bid him go to the bathhouse. A man there was preparing for marriage. He should join the wedding procession. If anyone from the bride's procession approached him, he should reach into his purse, where he would find gold coins, and give out handfuls.

bewildered，疑惑的

Badr al-Din Hasan threw gold coins into the singing women's tambourines. The procession went to the home of the vizier, who was the youth's uncle, unbeknownst to them. At the door, the guards turned away strangers, but the singing women insisted the youth who had given them gold be admitted.

unbeknownst，不知情的

Badr al-Din Hasan sat at the groom's right. The groom picked his nose, scratched his buttocks, spit everywhere, and scowled. In contrast, the youth had a gentle, curious smile.

scowl，皱眉

The women played tambourines and flutes as the bride entered. Her braids looped over pearled pouches perfumed with cardamom, ambergris, sandalwood. Birds with ruby eyes, green beryl feet, and golden bills decorated her robe. At her throat hung round blue gems. Yet all that glitter couldn't detract from her eyes, liquid and innocent. 

cardamom, ambergris, sandalwood，各式香料

ruby，beryl，gems，各式宝石

Badr al-Din Hasan swam in those eyes and nearly drowned. The girl entered the hall fearful. She prayed that the one known as the cockroach had a good heart. But now she saw a youth that looked so much like her he could be taken for her brother. He looked back at her with a hunger that made her blush. Could that be the groom?

swim，眩晕

The girl dropped her veil. She stood before the youth and nearly wished to die. This was not the groom, for no one would call him a cockroach. Her groom must be the nose-picker beside him.

The guests departed. The groom said to Badr al-Din Hasan, "Leave, stranger. The night belongs to the bride and me."

Badr al-Din Hasan walked away. The jinni stopped him. "Wait here," he said. "When the groom goes to the privy, hurry into the bedchamber. Tell the bride you are her true husband."

privy，厕所

The twittering of a white wagtail announced the coming day.

"Tell more in the coming night," said Shah Rayar.

Scheherazade rolled to her side and faced the king. Her fingers played along the pillow fringe.

"What do you think? Should the youth trust the jinn?"

"He must! That girl is his cousin. They're betrothed."

"But what about his father's first piece of advice?" Scheherazade feigned confusion. "He said, 'Live alone. None can be trusted.'"

feign，假装

"Now and then, we must trust. The trick is in knowing when and who." Shah Rayar replied.

Good, thought Scheherazade. Now to get the king to laugh.

To be continued...

Badr al-Din Hasan会听从精灵的吩咐，进入婚房，和自己的堂妹成亲吗？

Scheherazade已经让国王说出应该信任别人的话了，下面，她要让国王开怀大笑。她能做到吗？