…有生命的鏡子
保存著親切的奇蹟，
原屬於伊斯蘭，今日屬於你我。
…
阿拉伯人說
誰都看不完《一千零一夜》。
它就是時間，從不入睡。
…
──博爾赫斯《夜晚的故事》
一千零一個夜晚計數之前，真善美被吞噬，太平國度崩塌；每一夜的故事，皆為恢復天下太平而說。
好的故事，是神聖的；好的故事，是真善美的回歸。因爲我有一個好的故事，誰都得聽完它再行其他事；因爲我有一個好的故事，無論發生什麼事，我都要讓它被說完；因爲我有一個好的故事，以真主之名，死亡也得讓我把它說完；我幸有一千零一個好的故事：話說在很久很久以前──
木谷人右
二〇二五年十一月三日，北角
正文
之後。誠然，前人之作為與言語，已成為當今世人的鑑誡與典範，使人得以觀察他人身上曾遭遇之警示與變故，引以爲戒；亦得以細讀古老民族的史記及所遭逢之一切，因而自律且節制：——故當讚美祂，使往昔之歷史化為當下之訓誡！諸如此類之事，便是那些被稱為《一千零一夜》的故事，連同它們聞名遐邇的傳說與奇蹟。
據其所載（惟真主獨知隱秘，臨御萬政，尊榮無上，恩賜無窮，仁慈憫懷！）[1]，在往昔之潮、久遠之時，有一位出自薩珊氏族的諸王之王，他統御印度與中國之間的諸島，為軍隊、兵衛、侍僕與屬臣之主。[2]他僅留下兩子，長子正值壯年，次子尚年少；兩者皆是騎士與勇士，只是長兄在騎術上更為出眾。後來長子嗣位繼國；他以公正治理國家，以德行對待臣民，因此深受王宮內外、國土上下人民的愛戴。
他的名字叫舍赫亞爾王[3]；他任命弟弟舍赫‧扎曼為蠻地撒馬罕的國王。兩兄弟各守疆國，法令井然，治政公正，待民誠厚，國中安樂，宮廷無虞；如此太平之世，持續了整整二十年。然而，就在第二十個十二月之末，舍赫亞爾王忽然想念弟弟，心想應再見他一面。他便與宰相[4]商議前去拜訪，但宰相認為此行不妥，奉勸他改以書信與禮物，邀請弟弟前來相會。國王採納此議，隨即命人備辦華麗厚禮：有鑲滿寶石的金鞍良馬；馬木路克，白膚奴僕；容色絕倫的侍女、芳華正發的處女，以及錦繡珍布與珍貴之物。於是他寫信給舍赫‧扎曼，以表達深切的愛意及和弟弟相見的強烈渴望，信末寫道：「因此，我等寄望於吾所愛之手足的恩惠與情誼，願他屈尊起身，轉顏向吾處。此外，我等已派遣宰相，為此次行程預作一切安排。我等唯一且至誠的願望，是在死前再見汝一面；若汝遲疑或令我等失望，我等將不堪此打擊而不復生存。藉此，願平安臨於汝！」
舍赫亞爾王將信封好，交給宰相，囑他攜帶那些厚禮，整裝待發、加快腳步，迅速往返。「謹遵旨！」宰相答道，旋即啟行，未敢躊躇，收拾行囊、一切就緒，毫不遲滯。這事費了三日的工夫，直至第四日的黎明，他辭別國王啟程上路，越過荒漠與山徑，石野與芬芳草原，晝夜兼行，不曾停歇。可每當他經過隸屬於舍赫亞爾王的國度，當地便奉上金銀珍寶與各式奇珍之禮相迎，他依慣例停留三日[5]，行滿賓禮之期；至第四日啟程離開時，亦有隆重的護衛隨行，恭送他一整天的路程。
當宰相抵近舍赫‧扎曼王在撒馬罕的宮殿時，他便派遣一位入殿高官拜見國王，通報自己抵達的消息；那人伏身吻地，並奉上口信。於是舍赫‧扎曼王命令國中諸侯與重臣啟程，到相距一日之地迎接哥哥的宰相；眾人恭敬相迎，祝頌安康，並組成儀仗列隊行進。宰相入城後，徑直赴宮，入殿覲見舍赫‧扎曼王；他伏身吻地，為國王祈願安康如意，並祝禱他凱捷無敵，並轉達兄王對他殷切思念，懇請得蒙一會之榮。
舍赫‧扎曼王接過宰相奉上的書信覽讀：信中筆墨含蓄，寓意深遠，必須細索；而國王心領其意後，說道：「我已聽命，我願遵愛兄之召。」隨即又對宰相說：「但在出發之前，須行滿賓禮之期三日。」他為宰相安排了合宜的住處，並為隨行軍士搭設帳幕，供應他們所需的一切飲食與諸般物品。
到了第四日，他整裝待發，匯聚奢華禮品，以符長兄威嚴，並任命首席宰相在他外出之時代攝國政。隨後他命人牽出帳幕、駱駝與騾馬，將它們連同貨物、行李、侍從與護衛一同於城外可見之處紮營，預備翌日啟程前往兄王的都城。然而夜半之時，他忽然想起自己遺漏了一件隨身之物在宮中，便暗地返身潛入寢宮，竟看見王后正睡在他的私人臥榻上，雙臂緊摟着一個相貌可憎、滿身廚油汙垢的黑廚。他見此情景，眼前世界頓時晦黯，自道：「若此事在我尚未遠離都城便發生，那麼在我長赴兄王宮殿期間，這該死的淫婦將有何作為？」於是他拔出彎刀，一劍之下將二人斬作四段，棄於毯上，旋即返營，未使任何人知曉此事。隨後，他下令立即啟程、馬上出發，就此開始了他的旅程；但他無法停止思索妻子的背叛，不斷反躬自問：「她怎能如此待我？她怎能親手鑄下自己的死？」直至被錐心之痛吞噬，使他臉色發黃，日漸羸弱，最終病入膏肓，命在旦夕。故此，宰相延緩行程，久駐在各個水源處，竭力撫慰國王。正當舍赫‧扎曼漸近其兄王之都時，他派遣前驅信使與報喜的使節，通報自己即將抵達的消息，舍赫亞爾王聞訊，率眾宰相、諸侯與重臣，親身迎接；向他致禮，慶賀無盡喜悅，並命全城張燈結彩以示尊榮。然而兄弟相見之時，長兄不免察覺弟弟氣色轉變，便詢問其緣由。弟弟答道：「這是奔波勞頓所致，加上水土不服，使我不適，尚需調養！但仍當讚美真主，使我得與如此摯愛且珍罕的兄長重聚！」他如此掩飾，隱藏了真相，又補充說：「噢，時間之王、潮流之哈里發啊，不過是勞累令我面染黃膽，雙目深陷於眼窩。」
二人榮歸王宮後，長兄命人以一座俯瞰御苑的宮殿安置弟弟，又過了一段時日，見他形色依舊沒有好轉，便以為是思鄉懷國所致，便任他自便，且不復多問，直至某一日，長兄又道：「噢，弟弟，我見你形體愈加虛弱，面色更為枯黃。」
「噢，哥哥，」舍赫‧扎曼答道：「我內心有傷。」[6]但他仍未肯吐露所目睹自己妻子之行。於是舍赫亞爾王召集醫師與外科醫生，命他們依醫術之法診治弟弟，施治整整一月；可是他們的糖漿與湯藥毫無功效，因他仍沉湎於妻子之所為，抑鬱非但未減，反愈加重，醫術療程終告失敗。
原文
In the Name of Allah,
the Compassionating, the Compassionate!
RAISE BE TO ALLAH ✿ THE BENEFICENT KING ✿ THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE ✿ LORD OF THE THREE WORLDS ✿ WHO SET UP THE FIRMAMENT WITHOUT PILLARS IN ITS STEAD ✿ AND WHO STRETCHED OUT THE EARTH EVEN AS A BED ✿ AND GRACE, AND PRAYER-BLESSING BE UPON OUR LORD MOHAMMED ✿ LORD OF APOSTOLIC MEN ✿ AND UPON HIS FAMILY AND COMPANION-TRAIN ✿ PRAYER AND BLESSINGS ENDURING AND GRACE WHICH UNTO THE DAY OF DOOM SHALL REMAIN ✿ AMEN! ✿ O THOU OF THE THREE WORLDS SOVEREIGN!
And afterwards. Verily the works and words of those gone before us have become instances and examples to men of our modern day, that folk may view what admonishing chances befel other folk and may therefrom take warning; and that they may peruse the annals of antique peoples and all that hath betided them, and be thereby ruled and restrained:—Praise, therefore, be to Him who hath made the histories of the Past an admonition unto the Present! Now of such instances are the tales called "A Thousand Nights and a Night," together with their far-famed legends and wonders. Therein it is related (but Allah is All-knowing of His hidden things and All-ruling and All-honoured and All-giving and All-gracious and All-merciful![1]) that, in tide of yore and in time long gone before, there was a King of the Kings of the Banu Sásán in the Islands of India and China, a Lord of armies and guards and servants and dependents.[2] He left only two sons, one in the prime of manhood and the other yet a youth, while both were Knights and Braves, albeit the elder was a doughtier horseman than the younger. So he succeeded to the empire; when he ruled the land and lorded it over his lieges with justice so exemplary that he was beloved by all the peoples of his capital and of his kingdom. His name was King Shahryár,[3] and he made his younger brother, Shah Zamán hight, King of Samarcand in Barbarian-land. These two ceased not to abide in their several realms and the law was ever carried out in their dominions; and each ruled his own kingdom, with equity and fair-dealing to his subjects, in extreme solace and enjoyment; and this condition continually endured for a score of years. But at the end of the twentieth twelvemonth the elder King yearned for a sight of his younger brother and felt that he must look upon him once more. So he took counsel with his Wazir[4] about visiting him, but the 3Minister, finding the project unadvisable, recommended that a letter be written and a present be sent under his charge to the younger brother with an invitation to visit the elder. Having accepted this advice the King forthwith bade prepare handsome gifts, such as horses with saddles of gem-encrusted gold; Mamelukes, or white slaves; beautiful handmaids, high-breasted virgins, and splendid stuffs and costly. He then wrote a letter to Shah Zaman expressing his warm love and great wish to see him, ending with these words, "We therefore hope of the favour and affection of the beloved brother that he will condescend to bestir himself and turn his face us-wards. Furthermore we have sent our Wazir to make all ordinance for the march, and our one and only desire is to see thee ere we die; but if thou delay or disappoint us we shall not survive the blow. Wherewith peace be upon thee!" Then King Shahryar, having sealed the missive and given it to the Wazir with the offerings aforementioned, commanded him to shorten his skirts and strain his strength and make all expedition in going and returning. "Harkening and obedience!" quoth the Minister, who fell to making ready without stay and packed up his loads and prepared all his requisites without delay. But whenever he entered a realm whose ruler was subject to his Suzerain, where he was greeted with magnificent gifts of gold and silver and all manner of presents fair and rare, he would tarry there three days,[5] the term of the guest-rite; and, when he left on the fourth, he would be honourably escorted for a whole day's march. As soon as the Wazir drew near Shah Zaman's court in Samarcand he despatched to report his arrival one of his high officials, who presented himself before the King; and, kissing ground between his hands, delivered his message. Hereupon the King commanded sundry of his Grandees and Lords of his realm to fare forth and meet his brother's Wazir at the distance of a full day's journey; which they did, greeting him respectfully and wishing him all prosperity and forming an escort and a procession. When he entered the city he proceeded straightway to the palace, where he presented himself in the royal presence; and, after kissing ground and praying for the King's health and happiness and for victory over all his enemies, he informed him that his brother was yearning to see him, and prayed for the pleasure of a visit. He then delivered the letter which Shah Zaman took from his hand and read: it contained sundry hints and allusions which required thought; but, when the King had fully comprehended its import, he said, "I hear and I obey the commands of the beloved brother!" adding to the Wazir, "But we will not march till after the third day's hospitality." He appointed for the Minister fitting quarters of the palace; and, pitching tents for the troops, rationed them with whatever they might require of meat and drink and other necessaries. On the fourth day he made ready for wayfare and got together sumptuous presents befitting his elder brother's majesty, and stablished his chief Wazir viceroy of the land during his absence. Then he caused his tents and camels and mules to be brought forth and encamped, with their bales and loads, attendants and guards, within sight of the city, in readiness to set out next morning for his brother's capital. But when the night was half spent he bethought him that he had forgotten in his palace somewhat which he should have brought with him, so he returned privily and entered his apartments, where he found the Queen, his wife, asleep on his own carpet-bed, embracing with both arms a black cook of loathsome aspect and foul with kitchen grease and grime. When he saw this the world waxed black before his sight and he said, "If such case happen while I am yet within sight of the city what will be the doings of this damned whore during my long absence at my brother's court?" So he drew his scymitar and, cutting the two in four pieces with a single blow, left them on the carpet and returned presently to his camp without letting anyone know of what had happened. Then he gave orders for immediate departure and set out at once and began his travel; but he could not help thinking over his wife's treason and he kept ever saying to himself, "How could she do this deed by me? How could she work her own death?," till excessive grief seized him, his colour changed to yellow, his body waxed weak and he was threatened with a dangerous malady, such an one as bringeth men to die. So the Wazir shortened his stages and tarried long at the watering-stations and did his best to solace the King. Now when Shah Zaman drew near the capital of his brother he despatched vaunt-couriers and messengers of glad tidings to announce his arrival, and Shahryar came forth to meet him with his Wazirs and Emirs and Lords and Grandees of his realm; and saluted him and joyed with exceeding joy and caused the city to be decorated in his honour. When, however, the brothers met, the elder could not but see the change of complexion in the younger and questioned him of his case whereto he replied, "'Tis caused by the travails of wayfare and my case needs care, for I have suffered from the change of water and air! but Allah be praised for reuniting me with a brother so dear and so rare!" On this wise he dissembled and kept his secret, adding, "O King of the time and Caliph of the tide, only toil and moil have tinged my face yellow with bile and hath made my eyes sink deep in my head." Then the two entered the capital in all honour; and the elder brother lodged the younger in a palace overhanging the pleasure garden; and, after a time, seeing his condition still unchanged, he attributed it to his separation from his country and kingdom. So he let him wend his own ways and asked no questions of him till one day when he again said, "O my brother, I see that art grown weaker of body and yellower of colour." "O my brother," replied Shah Zaman "I have an internal wound:"[6] still he would not tell him what he had witnessed in his wife. Thereupon Shahryar summoned doctors and surgeons and bade them treat his brother according to the rules of art, which they did for a whole month; but their sherbets and potions naught availed, for he would dwell upon the deed of his wife, and despondency, instead of diminishing, prevailed, and leechcraft treatment utterly failed.
