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255 255 Chapter 18 Bad Luck The reason I gave the nib of my pen a little rest from the snapping teeth of the Fāriyāq’s name, after leaving him with the self-denying priest, and distracted myself by talking about snow was that I was so angry at the two of them. Where the priest’s concerned, I was angry that he’d betrayed his friend who had taken him in and had played fast and loose with his womenfolk; had the Almighty given that merchant a son whom he’d accepted in good conscience as his own—or, in other words, had He “opened his wife’s womb,” as it says in the Old Testament274—four quarters of the child would have been from the priest and the rest, which is his name, from the merchant, the latter thus putting himself in the position of a raiser of bastards, though the first male to open a womb is, as the Old Testament says, “blessed and magnified among the nations.”275 That is why, among the British, the right of inheritance goes to the eldest, or the “opener of the womb.”276 How could the priest have attempted, by doing so, to bring both a curse and a blessing down on the head of any of God’s creatures? It’s unthinkable. As to the Fāriyāq, I was angry because he was the cause of the secret’s being revealed277 through the obstinacy and blustering that he demonstrated in hanging on to his verses, in which, I have no doubt, he was guilty of falsity, overstatement, and objectionable exaggeration to no purpose (despite which he thinks he’s a great poet). As for the claim that the child’s physical resemblance to its father constitutes definitive proof of his being his son, there is no consensus. Some believe it is an insufficient indication because it is possible that the mother, even while fornicating, might be thinking about her husband and picturing him to herself, in which case the fetus would take on the form of that image. Others say that the mother, 1.18.1 1.18.2 256 256 ‫س‬��‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ل‬��� ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ � � ‫ف‬ � � � 3،18،1 ‫ب‬ �‫�ه‬ ‫ذ‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ر‬ ّ ‫و‬�‫ص‬� �‫ت‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫�ذ‬ �‫�ه‬ ‫ب‬ �‫س‬��‫ح‬ �‫ب‬ � ‫ي�ن‬ ��‫ن‬ � ‫�ج‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫�غ‬ � ‫�ي‬ �‫�ز‬ ‫و‬� ‫ت‬ �� ‫ى‬ � ‫�ت‬� ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ة‬ �‫ر‬‫و‬�‫ص‬� �‫ت‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ‫�ج‬ �‫و‬�� ‫�ز‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ة‬ �‫ر‬‫ك‬ � � �‫ف‬ ��‫م‬� ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ �‫ب‬ ��‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ���‫م‬� ‫�اد‬ ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫�ض‬� � ‫ع‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ى‬ � ‫�ت‬� ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �� ‫�د‬‫ق‬ ��‫ف‬ � � � ‫�غ‬ � ‫�ي‬ �‫�ز‬ ‫و‬�‫ت‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ � ‫ڡ‬ � � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ل‬� � ‫ة‬ ��‫ي‬ �‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬�‫د‬��‫ح‬ �‫و‬�� ‫م‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫�ض‬� � ‫ع‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ر‬‫�م‬� ‫ت‬ �‫�س‬�‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ى‬ � ‫�غ‬ � ‫ب‬ � ‫ن‬ ��‫ي‬ �� ‫ن‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ط‬ �� � ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ه‬�‫ت‬ ��‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫�د‬ ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ه‬� ّ ‫م‬�‫ا‬ ‫ك�ن‬ � � �‫�ت‬ ‫م‬ � ‫�ل‬ � ‫�ن‬‫�م‬‫م‬� ‫ر‬ ‫خ‬ � � ‫آ‬ � � ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫خ‬ � �‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬� ّ ‫�م‬‫ع‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ل‬� � ‫و‬� ‫�ق‬ � � ‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ة‬ �� ّ ‫�ص‬ � ‫غ‬ � �‫ب‬ �� ‫ا‬�‫ن‬��‫د‬��‫ح‬ �‫ا‬ ‫�ض‬� �‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ج‬ � �‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫و‬��‫د‬ ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ق‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ع‬ �‫م‬�‫ا‬�‫س‬��‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ض‬ �� �‫ر‬‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ة‬ ��‫ص‬� � ‫ق‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ ��‫ل‬��‫ئ‬ ��‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ��� ‫ب‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ق‬ ��‫ع‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫س‬��‫و‬�‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ل‬��� ‫ا‬ ‫س‬��‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ � ‫ع‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ط‬ �� � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫د‬��‫ل‬� �ُ ‫و‬�� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ ��‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ف‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ب‬ �‫ا‬� ‫ت‬ �‫ك‬ � � �‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫�ذ‬ �‫�ه‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫م‬ �‫�د‬‫ق‬ ��‫�ت‬� ‫�د‬ ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫س‬��‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ل‬��� ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫�ه‬ ‫م‬ � ‫ل‬ ��‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ر‬‫و‬�‫ث‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬��‫ع‬ � ‫ف‬ ��‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ط‬ �� �‫ر‬‫��س‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫س‬��‫ي‬ ��‫ت‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ب‬ �‫�ن‬� ‫�ذ‬ �‫ب‬ �� ‫ه‬�‫ت‬ � ‫ظ‬ � �� �‫ق‬ ��‫�ي‬� ‫ي‬ � ‫ڡ‬ � � ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫س‬�� ‫ن‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ � ‫�ز‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫م‬ � ‫ا�ز‬� ‫ل‬�‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫س‬��‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ل‬��� ‫ا‬� ‫ف‬ � � � * ‫ق‬ � � �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ف‬ ��‫م‬� ‫س‬��‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�� ‫م‬ � ‫ا�ز‬� ‫ل‬�‫م‬� ‫س‬��‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ � ‫ي�ن‬ ��‫م‬�‫س‬�� ‫�ق‬ � � ‫ف‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫خ‬ � � ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ق‬ � � �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ف‬ ��‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫س‬��‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ل‬��� ‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ �‫�ت‬�‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �� ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ل‬�‫�ك‬ � �� ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � �‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ح‬ �‫ا‬‫و‬��‫ور‬�� ‫ه‬‫و‬��‫�د‬ ‫�غ‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ه‬� ‫ب‬ ��‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ���‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ل‬��‫ك‬ � �� ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫م‬�‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ه‬�‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫�ز‬‫ل‬� � ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫�ي‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ر‬‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫و‬��‫د‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ح‬ � ‫ي‬ � ‫ڡ‬ � � ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫س‬�� ‫ن‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ � ‫�ز‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ى‬ � ‫ن‬�‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ك‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ذ‬ � ‫ت‬ �‫ا‬�‫ي‬ �‫�ه‬‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫م‬ � ‫ث‬ � * ‫ك‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ذ‬ �‫و‬�‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ب‬ �‫ا‬� ‫ت‬ �‫ك‬ � ��� ‫ف‬ ��‫ي‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ت‬ ��‫و‬�� ‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ ��‫س‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫�ج‬ �‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫�ز‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ش‬ ���‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ �‫ر‬‫ي‬ ��‫ط‬ �� �‫�خ‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ح‬ � ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫ة‬ ��‫ق‬ �� ‫ب‬ ��‫ر‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ة‬ �‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫ح‬ � ‫م‬ ‫ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ �‫�د‬‫ق‬ ��‫ع‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � �� ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�‫ك‬ � � �‫�ي‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬� ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫�م‬ ‫�ف‬ � � * ‫ا‬� ‫ض‬ �� �‫ي‬ ��‫ا‬ ‫ة‬ ��‫ف‬ ��‫ل‬��‫ت‬ �‫�خ‬ � ‫م‬� ‫م‬ � ‫ا�ز‬� ‫ل‬�‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬ ‫س‬��‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ �‫ل‬��� ‫ا‬ ‫آ‬ �‫ر‬ِ‫غ‬ � �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫ح‬ �‫ا‬�‫ت‬ � ‫�ف‬�‫م‬� ‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫ب‬ �� ‫ل‬� ‫ف‬ ���‫ق‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ك‬��‫ب‬ � ‫ش‬ ���‫م‬ ‫�ل‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫�د‬‫ت‬ ��‫و‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫م‬�‫س‬��‫م‬ ‫ل‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � �� ‫ة‬ ��‫م‬�‫و‬��ُ ‫ر‬‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � �� ‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ق‬ � �‫ب‬ � ِ‫ط‬ �� � ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ق‬ � �‫ب‬ ��‫د‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� * ‫س‬��‫ا‬‫ر‬ ِ ‫ش‬ ���‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫ذ‬ �‫ا‬�‫ج‬ � �ِ ‫ل‬��‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ج‬ � � ‫م‬�ِ‫�غ‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫��س�د‬ ‫�ج‬ � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ص‬� �‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ع‬ �‫ي‬ �‫�م‬‫�ج‬ � ‫ى‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ى‬ � �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫س‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ �‫د‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫د‬��‫ل‬��‫ج‬ � � ‫ل‬�� ‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬‫ِ�ز‬ ‫ل‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ط‬ �� � ْ ‫ر‬ َ ‫ث‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ * ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫�ت‬ ‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ب‬ �‫�ئ‬�‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫�ت‬ ‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ل‬��‫ش‬ ���‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫ش‬ ���‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫س�ن‬��‫ا‬�‫س�ن‬��‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ل‬��‫ئ‬ ��‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫س‬��‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ � ‫�ج‬ �‫ا‬�‫ن‬ � ‫�ج‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ل‬��‫ص‬� �‫ا‬�‫ف‬ ��‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ت‬ ��‫ا‬� ‫ل‬� َ‫ض‬ �� � َ ‫ع‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬‫ر‬ ‫خ‬ � �‫ا‬ ‫�ذ‬ �‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ت‬ ��‫ا‬� ‫ل‬� َ ‫ب‬ �� َ ‫ور‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ �‫�ن‬�‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ح‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ف‬ �� ‫�ي‬ �‫ر‬ ‫ا‬� ‫ض‬ �� � ‫غ‬ � �‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ �‫�ن‬�‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ب‬ ��‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ف‬ ��‫ي‬ �‫�س‬�‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ���‫و‬�� ‫�ده‬‫ي‬ ��‫ور‬��‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬‫ر‬‫و‬�‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫ن‬��‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ي�ن‬ � ‫�ف‬ � � ‫ا‬�‫س‬��‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬� ‫�غ‬ �‫د‬‫ا‬‫ر‬‫م‬�‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�‫ص‬� � ‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬‫ر‬‫د‬‫ا‬‫و‬�‫ب‬ ��‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ب‬ �‫�ص‬ � ‫ع‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ���‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫ن‬ ��‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ط‬ �� �‫ئ‬ ��‫ا‬�‫ن‬��‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫خ‬ � � ‫ب‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫م‬�‫و‬� ‫�ق‬�‫ل‬��‫ح‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ق‬ ��‫ي‬ �‫ل‬�� ‫ف‬ � � �‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ئ‬ � ‫�ي‬ �ۤ ‫ر‬‫م‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�ْ ‫ي‬ � َ ‫ع‬ � ‫د‬��‫خ‬ � �‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ه‬� ْ ‫ي‬ �� َ ‫ر‬‫ه‬ �‫�س‬�‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫ي‬ ��‫ت‬ ��‫و‬��‫و‬�� ‫ه‬� ْ ‫�ي‬ َ ‫��س‬‫ي‬ ��‫س‬�� ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ن‬ �‫ي‬ �� ‫ي‬ ��‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ش‬ ���‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ش‬ ���‫ه‬�‫ا‬‫و‬��‫ور‬�� * ‫ه‬‫ا‬� ‫ظ‬ � �� � ‫ش‬ ���‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫�ت‬َ‫ن‬ � ِ‫ف‬ �� َ‫�ث‬�‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬‫ا‬‫ر‬ ‫ف‬ � � � ِ‫ذ‬�‫و‬�� ‫ه‬�‫ج‬ � �‫ا‬‫د‬‫و‬�� ‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ع‬ � ‫ا‬�‫خ‬ � � ‫ن‬ �‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ � ‫ل‬ � � ‫ه‬�‫ن‬��‫ا‬ ‫ر‬‫ي‬ �� ‫�غ‬ � * ‫ع‬ ‫و‬�‫ن‬ �‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫�ذ‬ �‫�ه‬ ‫�ن‬‫م‬� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � �� ‫ق‬ � � � ‫ا‬�‫ي‬ ��‫ر‬ ‫ا‬�‫ف‬ ��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫س‬��‫ح‬ � ‫ن‬ � ‫ف‬ �� � � * ‫ه‬�‫ئ‬ ��‫ا‬‫و‬� ‫ش‬ ���‫ا‬‫و‬�� ‫ده‬‫و‬�‫م‬�‫ع‬ �‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ئ‬ ��‫ا‬� ‫ل‬�‫ش‬ ���‫ا‬‫و‬�� * ‫ه‬�‫ي‬ � ‫ف‬ � � � ‫ا‬� ً‫ج‬ � � ‫ا‬ � ّ ‫ل‬ � � ‫و‬�� ‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫ه‬��‫ك‬ � � �‫ف‬ ��‫س‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬�ّ ‫ب‬ �‫ح‬ � ‫م‬� ‫و‬�� ‫ا‬ ‫م‬ �‫د‬��‫ل‬� � ‫ا‬ ‫ر‬‫ي‬ �� ‫ث‬ �‫ك‬ � �� ‫ى‬ � � ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬� ‫ي‬ ��‫و‬�‫م‬�‫د‬ ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬�‫ك‬ � ��‫ه‬�‫ن‬��‫ا‬ ‫ا‬�‫ن‬ �‫�ه‬ ‫م‬�‫ه‬ � ‫ف‬ ��‫�ي‬� ‫ن‬ �‫ا‬ ‫ى‬ � ‫�غ‬ � ‫ب‬ � ‫ن‬ ��‫ي‬ �� 4،18،1 [3.145.47.253] Project MUSE (2024-04-26 17:44 GMT) 257 257 Bad Luck on her own, has no role in the shaping of the fetus; some children come out looking like their paternal or maternal uncles, or someone their mothers never ever set eyes on. Now I must resume my tale, presenting it to the reader’s ears without leading either of us to choke on his tears. Thus I declare: as stated earlier in this book, the Fāriyāq was born with the misfortune of having misfortune everywhere in the ascendant, the Scorpion raising its tail to strike at the Kid, or Billy Goat, and the Crab set on a collision course with the horn of the Ox. Here you must know that bad luck is of two kinds—inseparable bad luck and separable bad luck. Inseparable bad luck is the kind that dogs a person in his waking and sleeping, his eating and drinking, in his setting off of a morning and his coming home at night, and in everything that comes his way. Separable bad luck is the contrary, by which I mean that it is the kind that dogs a person under certain conditions and not others, the best-known such conditions being the critical ones, such as marriage, travel, writing a book, and the like. The specificities of inseparable bad luck are various too. One kind is like a tightly tied knot, another like a noose, another like a nail, another like a peg, another like a clip, and another like a lock without a key; one is like fish glue, another like corn glue, another like flour paste, another like bookbinder ’s paste, another like birdlime or mistletoe slime, or like arrow-feather glue or shoe-maker’s glue or chrysocolla; one is like the skin and another like the blood that courses through the body’s every joint and member278— the breastbones and polyps, the vertebrae tips and osmotic membranes, the thoraces and collarbones, the rib cartilage and shoulder blades, the gristle and the four long ribs, the upper thighs and lower belly, the muscles and the sinews of the arm, the veins and the flesh between the shoulder and the neck, the intestines and fatty deposits, the...

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