登陆注册
3553300000144

第144章

(he rose in the morning) 'Azha'(he spent the forenoon) and 'bata'(he spent the night),are idiomatically used for 'to be in any state,to continue'without specification of time or season.

[268] Lit. 'my liver ;'which viscus,and not the heart,is held the seat of passion,a fancy dating from the oldest days.

Theocritus says of Hercules,'In his liver Love had fixed a wound'(Idyl. xiii.). In the Anthologia 'Cease,Love,to wound my liver and my heart'(lib. vii.). So Horace (Odes,i. 2);his Latin Jecur and the Persian 'Jigar'being evident congeners. The idea was long prevalent and we find in Shakespeare:

Alas,then Love may be called appetite,No motion of the liver but the palate.

[269] A marvellous touch of nature,love ousting affection;

the same trait will appear in the lover and both illustrate the deep Italian saying,'Amor discende,non ascende.'The further it goes down the stronger it becomes as of grandparent for grandchild and vice versa.

[270] This tenet of the universal East is at once fact and unfact. As a generalism asserting that women's passion is ten times greater than man's (Pilgrimage,ii. 282),it is unfact. The world shows that while women have more philoprogenitiveness,men have more amativeness;otherwise the latter would not propose and would nurse the doll and baby. Pact,however,in lowlying lands,like Persian Mazanderan versus the Plateau;Indian Malabar compared with Marathaland;California as opposed to Utah and especially Egypt contrasted with Arabia. In these hot damp climates the venereal requirements and reproductive powers of the female greatly exceed those of the male;and hence the dissoluteness of morals would be phenomenal,were it not obviated by seclusion,the sabre and the revolver. In colddry or hotdry mountainous lands the reverse is the case;hence polygamy there prevails whilst the low countries require polyandry in either form,legal or illegal (i,e. prostitution) I have discussed this curious point of 'geographical morality'(for all morality is,like conscience,both geographical and chronological),a subject so interesting to the lawgiver,the student of ethics and the anthropologist,in 'The City of the Saints 'But strange and unpleasant truths progress slowly,especially in England.

[271] This morning evacuation is considered,in the East,a sine qua non of health;and old AngloIndians are unanimous in their opinion of the 'bard fajar'(as they mispronounce the dawnclearance). The natives of India,Hindus (pagans) and Hindis (Moslems),unlike Europeans,accustom themselves to evacuate twice a day,evening as well as morning. This may,perhaps,partly account for their mildness and effeminacy;for:C'est la constipation qui rend l'homme rigoureux.

The English,since the first invasion of cholera,in October,1831,are a different race from their costive grandparents who could not dine without a 'dinnerpill.'Curious to say the clyster is almost unknown to the people of Hindostan although the barbarous West Africans use it daily to 'wash 'um belly,'as the Bonneymen say. And,as Sonnini notes to propose the process in Egypt under the Beys might have cost a Frankish medico his life.

[272] The Egyptian author cannot refrain from this characteristic polissonnerie;and reading it out is always followed by a roar of laughter. Even serious writers like Al Hariri do not,as I have noted,despise the indecency.

[273] ''Long beard and little wits,'is a saying throughout the East where the Kausaj (= man with thin,short beard) is looked upon as cunning and tricksy. There is a venerable Joe Miller about a schoolmaster who,wishing to singe his long beard short,burnt it off and his face to boot:which reminded him of the saying. A thick beard is defined as one which wholly conceals the skin;and in ceremonial ablution it must be combed out with the fingers till the water reach the roots. The Sunnat,or practice of the Prophet,was to wear the beard not longer than one hand and two fingers' breadth. In Persian 'Kuseh'(thin beard) is an insulting term opposed to 'Khushrish,'a wellbearded man. The Iranian growth is perhaps the finest in the world,often extending to the waist;but it gives infinite trouble,requiring,for instance,a bag when travelling. The Arab beard is often composed of two tufts on the chinsides and straggling hairs upon the cheeks;and this is a severe mortification,especially to Shaykhs and elders,who not only look upon the beard as one of man's characteristics,but attach a religious importance to the appendage. Hence the enormity of Kamar alZaman's behaviour. The Persian festival of the vernal equinox was called Kusehnishin (Thinbeard sitting). An old man with one eye paraded the streets on an ass with a crow in one hand and a scourge and fan in the other,cooling himself,flogging the bystanders and crying heat! heat! (garma! garma!).

For other particulars see Richardson (Dissertation,p. Iii.).

This is the Italian Giorno delle Vecchie,Thursday in Mid Lent,March 12 (1885),celebrating the death of Winter and the birth of Spring.

[274] I quote Torrens (p. 400) as these lines have occurred in Night xxxviii.

[275] Moslems have only two names for week days,Friday,AlJum'ah or meetingday,and AlSabt,Sabbath day,that is Saturday. The others are known by numbers after Quaker fashion with us,the usage of Portugal and Scandinavia.

[276] Our last night.

[277] Arab. 'Tayf'=phantom,the nearest approach to our 'ghost,'that queer remnant of Fetishism imbedded in Christianity;the phantasma,the shade (not the soul) of tile dead. Hence the accurate Niebuhr declares,'apparitions (i.e.,of the departed) are unknown in Arabia.'Haunted houses are there tenanted by Ghuls,Jinns and a host of supernatural creatures;

同类推荐
  • 佛说阿弥陀经疏

    佛说阿弥陀经疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Dickory Cronke

    Dickory Cronke

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 独立

    独立

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说无畏授所问大乘经

    佛说无畏授所问大乘经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 江岸秋思

    江岸秋思

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 独家宠爱:沈爷,您先请!

    独家宠爱:沈爷,您先请!

    【女扮男装,独家宠爱,家族恩怨】她女扮男装回归球坛,只为的完成哥哥的心愿。别人妹奴,她哥控。哥的人?绝对的好!哥的敌人?扔个火球直接烤!她的人?绝对宠!她的敌人,绝不留情!哥哥的女朋友?得供着!十五年孤岛生活的小白,一朝踏入尘世。一言不合就动手,两语不合拎着走,三句不合打一架。实力相当怎么办?再打一架看一看!好不容易拉个赞助,竟然还是赖上了她?某逸:“你是我的替身祭,嗯?想去哪?”某哥奴:“不认识,请让路。”
  • 戏精打脸日常

    戏精打脸日常

    叶秋不知道她是谁,几百年了,一直都是一个001的系统跟随她不断的过任务……姓名:叶秋功德值:15000好运加成10次,剩余8次
  • 这才是心理学

    这才是心理学

    本人心理学生一枚,学完四年心理学课程,不得不感慨一句:万万没想到,这才是心理学。进入心理学的世界,就像钻进了旋转的万花筒。生理心理学展示了身体和心理之间的秘密;实验心理学再次确认,心理学是一门采用实证研究方法的科学;人格心理学帮我结束“不知道自己是谁”的阶段;社会心理学拓宽视野,从心理学的角度看到整个社会、人类发展的历程……除此之外,本书还介绍了心理学学生的课余生活、学术生活、实习生活以及职业选择。想了解神奇的心理学,神秘的心理学学生,请赶紧翻开本书吧!
  • 早安:总裁老公大人

    早安:总裁老公大人

    狠心渣男的背叛,让遇佳音受了辱,入了狱,死了奶奶,能有再一次重见天日的机会,遇佳音决心报复,为此不惜失身,整容,离国……没想到当一切快要尘埃落定的时候,却有一个男人告诉她:仇,我帮你报,人,我帮你杀,你,归我就好……
  • 逐凰记

    逐凰记

    郑佳萌糊里糊涂地被三了,糊里糊涂地穿越了,更是糊里糊涂地住进了别人身体里。她想回家,她不想占据别人的身体,也不想卷入乱局之中,太可怕了!但是,身体原魂迫使她面对现实,夺回失去的一切。她怎么可能夺城掠地成为霸主?人生路漫漫,一切皆有可能这是一个软妹在小伙伴们的帮助下逐渐坚强的漫长故事。
  • 灵魄战神

    灵魄战神

    万年前,他是人人敬仰的千古父神。万年后,他是人人可欺的凡夫俗子。幽梦万载,一朝惊醒,重活一场,当不负这一世浮华,踏天再临!夜幕无尽,清晨永明。以月下之名,书乱世之春秋!
  • 挽红楼之潇湘怡情

    挽红楼之潇湘怡情

    细读红楼,掩卷思之惊采绝绝的黛玉,不该迷恋一个懦弱无能的纨绔子弟而是应有一个疼她惜她,有能力护卫她的人弘昼,雍正第五子,历史上有名的荒唐王爷荒唐之下却蕴含深情不争皇位,不在乎名利,在乎的只是那颗真挚深情的心这样的人,才能真正带给黛玉幸福美好的人生窃以为,黛玉恋上宝玉,只是因大观园中刀光剑影,宝玉是个尚有情意的人,情窦初开的黛玉才会喜欢上了他,若是在黛玉年幼之时,身边多了一个真正懂得疼惜自己的人,她曾经历的悲剧命运,是否还会再次发生呢?当命运之轮在开始初期就发生了变化,黛玉是否能少一分忧思,多一分快乐?且看竹子带给大家一个别样的红楼故事。————————————————————————————————————为报神瑛侍者的灌溉之情,绛珠仙子以一生之眼泪偿还,最终泪尽人亡。但那西方神龙的赠心之情,她又将如何偿还呢?听闻宝玉宝钗成亲讯息的黛玉在病重之际梦游太虚,知其尚有另一段恩情未报,当她再次下凡之时,将如何以真情回报真心呢?那昔日的西方神龙、今日的怡亲王爷又将和黛玉演绎上怎么样一出旷世情缘呢?一切尽在《挽红楼之潇湘怡情》!作者的话:不舍得仙姿绰约的林妹妹为一个纨绔子弟泪尽人亡,因此给她一个更能配得上她的人,第一次写文,请大家多多支持。竹子新作红楼文:《挽红楼之黛昼情缘》竹子的小说群,欢迎亲们进入:35772371,敲门砖小说名哦!竹子的新浪博客:http://m.wkkk.net/zhuyingran推荐好友的文:月下波笔《红楼梦之禛点黛》:沫筱然《奉纸成婚》:卿舞沐歌《我的妖孽佞王》
  • 福建通志台湾府

    福建通志台湾府

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 盗墓日记之龙印

    盗墓日记之龙印

    世界末日即将来临,一个神仙墓的消息从百鬼口中传了出来。神仙墓里有什么,金银珠宝,仙家宝贝,长生不老、掌权天下的秘诀,或是一个惊天大阴谋……是要在末日拯救世界,还是在跟随世界一起灭亡重整宇宙?谁在千万年前策划了一场阴谋,谁又会在今日揭开谜底?世界末日真的会来临吗?阎王小鬼真的存在的吗?古墓真的有机关和粽子吗?谁说生死由命,逆天一场又如何!
  • 红楼尘梦

    红楼尘梦

    ★佛说:姻缘前定,宿孽关情。★一块美玉,见证百年情缘;一株仙草,演出红尘故事;一个路者,救得一颗七窍心;一泓清水,饶得………★你道是阆苑仙葩,你道是美玉无瑕,都需看这女儿国中的神瑛使者同咱们同忆那看惯春月秋风的红楼尘梦。★潇湘妃子、绛珠仙草,红楼尘世。依然美的不可一世……她。既因为美丽而可爱,也因为可爱而美丽,更因为善良而美丽……★这一场尘梦,又岂止木石前盟那么简单,水木缘,金玉缘,缘来缘去,甄宝玉贾宝玉水澈水溶水洛水湛还有忠顺王甚至浩瀚国的蒙古国的铮铮铁骨,这些迷失在绛珠仙草美貌与善良下的灵魂,叫她不得不面对着国与家个人与黎民战争与和平时究竟该作何选择……★亲们快来收藏,话说此文貌似慢热,但是也许亲们以前读红楼的许多不解都会得到一个解释呢~呵呵拭目以待吧……第一卷:缘起第二卷:追本溯源演说水林第三卷:红楼八载风刀霜剑第四卷:缘去缘来谁慰黛心第五卷:有情人长相守第六卷:林梦儿的红楼百宝囊――――――――――林梦儿,初次撰文,未涉世事,愿用小女子最真诚的心,最美好天真的文字,重新温故那段永垂不朽的红楼尘梦……看不出色彩的书名,看不出感情的文字,我希望娓娓道来的可以是恩怨分明,可以是红尘最不俗的爱情,可以是幸福的纯真善良,是一段你我都希翼的美丽洒脱平淡欢乐……梦儿的群—65923346—红楼尘梦——敲门砖:红楼尘梦或者林梦儿喜欢的可以加偶,亲们的一些意见梦儿会考虑的……如果现在不行也还有以后呢……(*^__^*)嘻嘻……推荐梦儿自己的新文《冷月点颦玉生情》梦儿自己的完结文《红楼尘梦》梦儿自己的玄幻爱情《第一情狐》推荐好友菁菁苜蓿的完结文《红楼梦之潇湘妃子》——★★★★★—【推荐:脂砚斋出品的精彩美文】—★★★★★——《一梦潇湘冷清秋》瑾瑜地址:《挽红楼之玉亦狂》落花楼主地址:《穿越红楼之黛倾天下》雁无痕地址:《红楼尘梦》林梦儿地址:《红楼寻梦之情满潇湘》沧海明珠地址:《红楼之雍皇夺玉》曲阑地址:《情续红楼画眉蹙》梅灵地址:——★★★★★—【脂砚斋出品·绝不抄袭·绝对完文】—★★★★★——