النحو ولما أشهد معركة ولم أحضر معمعة ثم لا تصبر أنت عليه وقد مارست الحروب وشاهدت الوقائع وشممت فيها روائح الرمم.
الباشا نعم شممت ارواح الرمم ولكن في الخلوات والفلوات ولم أشمها منحصرة انحصارها في هذا المكان ومع ذلك فاني اتجلد معك كيلا يفوتني شيء من بداية الامر الى نهايته في ما نحن بصدده.
ʿĪsā ibn Hishām said: As we sat there for a while, we were aware that we could hardly breathe. Our lives seemed shortened because of the disgusting stench that wafted from all corners—the smell of wine dregs, body sweat, lamp oil, tobacco and hashish, coupled with drunken breath and lavatories unflushed by water. An equally foul stench rose from the floor which was littered with filth and dirt. When all these smells intermingled and clustered together like a black cloud from the ceiling, all kinds of pestilence rained down. People inhaled it and sucked it into their lungs; as a result their bodies became emaciated. It was enough to make light wicks go dim just as they do inside pits and caves. We almost choked and felt sick. The Pāshā got up to leave, but I grabbed him and said:
ʿĪsā Huh! If someone like me, a person who’s never seen a battle in his life or witnessed the turmoils of war, can tolerate staying in a place like this, how is it that someone like you cannot stand it? You’ve been involved in wars, seen battles fought, and inhaled clouds of dust!
Pāshā True enough. I’ve inhaled clouds of dust, but that was in open and unconfined spaces. I’ve never had to inhale smells like the ones bottled up in this place. Even so, I’ll grin and bear it like you. Then I won’t miss anything and can carry through our intentions from beginning to end.
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قال عيسى بن هشام: وما أتم الباشا كلامه حتى رأيت صاحبًا لي قد وقف بجانبي فسلم عليّ متبسمًا متعجبًا من وجودي في هذا المحل كتعجبي من وجوده فيه أيضًا فابتدرته السؤال.
عيسى بن هشام ما الذي جاء بك الى هنا؟
الصاحب اني أبحث على رجل احتال اليوم عليّ في امر وأعلم ان هذا المحل وأمثاله ممثوى لمثله من المحتالين فجئته على كره مني بعد أن كنت حرمت على نفسي دخوله منذ زمان ولكن حكم الضرورة مطاع وأنت فقل لي كيف دخلت في هذا العش عش الشيطان وهذا الوكر وكر الافاعي؟
عيسى بن هشام أدخلنا حب الاستكشاف وبنية الاستطلاع وأنت تعلم انني فيه غريب فهل لك أن تجلس معنا برهة تكشق لنا فيها ما يخفى علينا من غوامض ما يجري ههنا.
Hardly had the Pāshā finished talking before I noticed a friend of mine standing right beside me. He greeted me with a smile and expressed his surprise at finding me in such a place. I in turn expressed my surprise at finding him here as well. I immediately asked him:
ʿĪsā ibn Hishām What’s brought you here?
Friend I’m looking for someone who’s swindled me on a business matter. I’m well aware that places like this one are regular haunts for tricksters like him. So, even though I’ve been staying well clear of this place for some time, I’ve reluctantly come here again. When necessity calls, one must obey. Tell me, though, what’s brought you to this den of Satan and nest of vipers?
ʿĪsā ibn Hishām We’ve come here to study and observe people’s customs and morals. But, as you’re aware, I’m a complete stranger here. Can you sit with us for a while and tell us about some of the covert and invisible things going on in this place?
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قال عيسى بن هشام: فيجلس الصاحب معهما وما يستقر مكانه ويأخذ يحدثنا من نوادر ما رآه أيام كان يكثر الترداد على هذه الاماكن ويخبرنا باصل نشأتها ومبدأ أمرها ورضا الحكومة بانتشارها الا يدخل رجل يتمايل سكرا فتخترق صفوف الجالسين وهو يقع بينهم ويقوم وهم سكوت منصتون لغناء احدى القيان المشهورات عندهم مشرئبة اليها أعناقهم شاخصة أبصارهم كأنما هم في سكوتهم تحت المنبر يستمعون حسن الحديث من وعظ الخطيب ولا يزال الرجل في عربدته حتى يصل الى منصة الرقص والغناء فيضرب عليها بعصا في يده مرارًا ويقول:
ʿĪsā ibn Hishām said: My friend sat down with us both. After settling in his seat, he started telling us stories from the time when he used to frequent such haunts and giving us details about how they got started, how they were run, and how the government sanctioned their expansion. However, it was only a moment before a drunkard came in, staggering his way through the rows of seated customers. He stopped at a place between them and another group that was sitting there quietly, listening to a famous singer. They were all craning their necks and staring at her; it was as though they were sitting silently beneath a pulpit during a preacher’s sermon listening to the most flawless of discourse. The drunkard kept making a fuss till he reached the stage set up for singing and dancing. He banged on it with a cane he was carrying.
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يكفي الغناء وعلينا بالرقص فيوافقه بعض الحاضرين ويقولون: نعم الرقص ارقص, فيغضب طالب دور الغناء ومن معه فيقولون مع بقية المستمعين: لا بل الغناء الغناء فيلتفت السكران يسبهم ويهزأ بذوقهم ويسفههم في سوء اختيارهم فيجاوبه سفيه منهم فيهجم عليه السكران بعصاه فيقفز صاحب المكان من محله ويهرول حتى يصل الى السكران فيمسك بتلابيبه يجره الى الخارج ويقوم طالب الغناء يشبعه شتمًا
