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Then they displayed her in the seventh dress, coloured between

safflower [FN#416] and saffron, even as one of the poets saith:-

In vest of saffron pale and safflower red * Musk'd, sandal'd

ambergris'd, she came to front: "Rise!" cried her youth, "go

forth and show thyself!" * "Sit!" said her hips, "we cannot bear

the brunt!" And when I craved a bout, her Beauty said * "Do, do!"

and said her pretty shame, "Don't, don't!"

Thus they displayed the bride in all her seven toilettes before

Hasan al-Basri, wholly neglecting the Gobbo who sat moping alone;

and, when she opened her eyes [FN#417] she said, "O Allah make

this man my goodman and deliver me from the evil of this

hunchbacked groom." As soon as they had made an end of this part

of the ceremony they dismissed the wedding guests who went forth,

women, children and all, and none remained save Hasan and the

Hunchback, whilst the tirewomen led the bride into an inner room

to change her garb and gear and get her ready for the bridegroom.