New Naqqali
The Blind Owl · scene 11 of 77 · part one

Wine through clenched teeth

Thinking she may be hungry, he again takes down the inherited flask from the high shelf. He pours a cup of wine between her clenched teeth as she sleeps like an exhausted child, and feels calm for the first time in his life.

Scene 11 of The Blind Owl, Wine through clenched teeth: ink-and-wash drawing
Lines
P037.L01–P038.L06
Where
room (house outside the city)
Who
narrator; the girl
Kind
action · Optional scene
Echoes
Scene 4: The uncle arrives on the thirteenth of Nowruz

Who and what is here

For the illustration The narrator bending over the sleeping girl, tipping a cup of wine to her lips.

The text of the scene

Sadegh Hedayat’s Persian beside our literal English, line by line.

P037.L01

به‌فکرم رسید که شاید گرسنه و یا تشنه‌اش باشد! رفتم در پستوی اطاقم تا چیزی برایش پیدا کنم؛ اگرچه می‌دانستم که هیچ چیز در خانه به‌هم نمی‌رسد.

It occurred to me that perhaps she was hungry or thirsty! I went into the back closet of my room to find something for her, although I knew that nothing could be found in the house.

P037.L02

اما مثل اینکه به من الهام شد؛ بالای رف یک بغلی شراب کهنه که از پدرم به من ارث رسیده بود داشتم.

But it was as though I received an inspiration; on the high shelf I had a flask of old wine that I had inherited from my father.

P037.L03

چهارپایه را گذاشتم، بغلی شراب را پایین آوردم، پاورچین پاورچین کنار تختخواب رفتم، دیدم مانند بچهٔ خسته و کوفته‌ای خوابیده بود.

I set down the stool, brought down the flask of wine, went tiptoe, tiptoe beside the bed, and saw that she was sleeping like a tired, worn-out child.

P037.L04

او کاملاً خوابیده بود و مژه‌های بلندش مثل مخمل به‌هم رفته بود.

She was completely asleep, and her long eyelashes had come together like velvet.

P037.L05

سر بغلی را باز کردم و یک پیاله شراب از لای دندانهای کلیدشده‌اش آهسته در دهان او ریختم.

I opened the flask and slowly poured a cup of wine into her mouth through her clenched teeth.

P038.L01

برای اولین‌بار در زندگیم احساس آرامش ناگهان تولید شد.

For the first time in my life, a feeling of calm suddenly arose.

P038.L02

چون دیدم این چشمهای بسته‌شده، مثل اینکه سلاتونی که مرا شکنجه می‌کرد و کابوسی که با چنگال آهنیش درون مرا می‌فشرد، کمی آرام گرفت.

For I saw these closed eyes, as though a cancer that tormented me and a nightmare that pressed my insides with its iron claws had quieted a little.

P038.L03

صندلی خودم را آوردم، کنار تخت گذاشتم و به‌صورت او خیره شدم.

I brought my chair, put it beside the bed, and stared at her face.

P038.L04

چه صورت بچگانه، چه حالت غریبی!

What a childlike face, what a strange expression!

P038.L05

آیا ممکن بود که این زن، این دختر، یا این فرشتهٔ عذاب ـ چون نمی‌دانستم چه اسمی رویش بگذارم ـ آیا ممکن بود که این زندگی دوگانه را داشته باشد؟

Was it possible that this woman, this girl, or this angel of torment—for I did not know what name to give her—was it possible that she had this double life?

P038.L06

آنقدر آرام، آنقدر بی‌تکلف؟

So calm, so unassuming?

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