第11部分(第1/7 页)

through　intermediates。　He　found　the　opportunity　to　appear　before　me　as　I　was

returning from the public baths。 His eyes were as brilliant as fire； and I

immediately fell in love。 He was a dark…haired； fair…skinned； green…eyed man

49

with　strong　arms；　but　at　heart；　he　was　innocent　and　quiet　like　a　sleepy　child。

Nevertheless； it seemed； to me at least； that he also had the tang of blood

about　him；　perhaps　because　he　expended　all　his　strength　slaying　men　in　battle

and　amassing　booty；　even　though　at　home　he　was　as　gentle　and　quiet　as　a　lady。

This man—whom my father looked upon as a penniless soldier； and hence；

disapproved of—was later allowed to marry me because I threatened to kill

myself　otherwise。　And　after　they　gave　him　a　military　fief　worth　ten　thousand

silver coins； a reward for his heroism in battle after battle wherein he

performed　the　greatest　acts　of　bravery；　truly；　everyone　envied　us。

Four years ago when he failed to return with the rest of the army from

warring　against　the　Safavids　I　wasn’t　worried　at　first。　For　the　more　experience

he had on the battlefield； the more adept and clever he became in creating

opportunities for himself； in bringing home greater spoils； in winning larger

fiefs；　and　in　enlisting　more　soldiers　of　his　own。　There　were　witnesses　who　said

he　fled　to　the　mountains　with　his　own　men　after　he　became　separated　from　a

division　of　the　army。　In　the　beginning；　I　suspected　a　scheme　and　hoped　he’d

return；　but　after　two　years；　I　slowly　grew　accustomed　to　his　absence；　and　when

I realized how many