第30章

'but he kept that intention hidden in his heart.Such was the case with Sharrkan；but what happened in the matter of the damsel was as follows.She was a Roumiyah，a Greek girl，by name Sofiyah or Sophia，[145] whom the King of Roum and Lord of Caesarea had sent to King Omar as a present，together with great store of gifts and of rarities：she was the fairest of favour and loveliest of all his handmaids and the most regardful of her honour；and she was gifted with a wit as penetrating as her presence was fascinating.Now she had served the King on the night of his sleeping with her，saying to him，'O King！I desire of the God of the Heavens that he bless thee this night with a male child by me，so I may bring him up with the best of rearing，and enable him to reach man's estate perfect in intelligence，good manners and prudent bearing'[146]--a speech which much pleased the King.During her pregnancy she was instant in prayer，fervently supplicating the Lord to bless her with a goodly male child and make his birth easy to her；and Allah heard her petition so that after her months were accomplished she sat safely upon the birth stool.[147] Now the King had deputed a eunuch to let him know if the child she should bring forth were male or female；and in like way his son Sharrkan had sent one to bring him tidings of the same.In due time Sophia was delivered of a child，which the midwives examined and found to be a girl with a face sheenier than the moon.So they announced this to all present in the room，whereupon the King's messenger carried the news to him；and Sharrkan's eunuch did the like with his master who rejoiced with exceeding joy.But，after the two had departed，quoth Sophia to the midwives，'Wait with me awhile，for I feel as if there were still somewhat in my womb.'Then she cried out and the pains of child bed again took her；and Allah made it easy to her and she gave birth to a second child.The wise women looked at it and found it a boy like the full moon，with forehead flower white，and cheek ruddy bright with rosy light；whereupon the mother rejoiced，as did the eunuchs and attendants and all the company；and Sophia was delivered of the after birth whilst all in the palace sent forth the trill of joy.[148]The rest of the concubines heard it and envied her lot；and the tidings reached Omar son of Al- Nu'uman，who was glad and rejoiced at the excellent news.Then he rose and went to her and kissed her head，after which he looked at the boy；and，bending over him，kissed him，whilst the damsels struck the tabors and played on instruments of music；and the King gave order that the boy should be named Zau al-Makan and his sister Nuzhat al-Zaman.[149]