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And hardly had we taken note of this when there came forth from

the baldaquin a young lady and I looked, O Commander of the

Faithful, upon a face and form more perfect than the moon when

fullest, with a favour brighter than the dawn gleaming with

saffron-hued light, even as the poet sang when he said-

Thou pacest the palace a marvel sight, * A bride for a Kisra's or

Kaisar's night! Wantons the rose on thy roseate cheek, * O cheek

as the blood of the dragon[FN#335] bright! Slim waisted,

languorous, sleepy eyed, * With charms which promise all

love-delight: And the tire which attires thy tiara'd brow * Is a

night of woe on a morn's glad light.

The fair young girl came down from the estrade and said to me,

"Welcome and well come and good cheer to my sister, the dearly

beloved, the illustrious, and a thousand greetings!" Then she

recited these couplets:-