
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
برای اولینبار در زندگیم احساس آرامش ناگهان تولید شد.
For the first time in my life, a feeling of calm suddenly arose.
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.
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.
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?
← Scene 10: Eyes like black diamond in tearsScene 12: Cold hair: the dead girl and the mandrake embrace →
New Naqqali