I am the wone where Mirth shall ever smile; * The home of Joyance through my lasting while: And 'mid my court a fountain jets and flows, * Nor tears nor troubles shall that fount defile: The marge with royal Nu'uman's[FN#334] bloom is dight, * Myrtle, Narcissus-flower and Chamomile. Arrived at the gate, before which hung a black curtain, the old woman knocked and it was opened to us; when we entered and found a vestibule spread with carpets and hung around with lamps all alight and wax candles in candelabra adorned with pendants of precious gems and noble ores. We passed on through this passage till we entered a saloon, whose like for grandeur and beauty is not to be found in this world. It was hung and carpeted with silken stuffs, and was illuminated with branches sconces and tapers ranged in double row, an avenue abutting on the upper or noble end of the saloon, where stood a couch of juniper wood encrusted with pearls and gems and surmounted by a baldaquin with mosquito curtains of satin looped up with margaritas. 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:— "An but the house could know who cometh 'twould rejoice, * And kiss the very dust whereon thy foot was placed And with the tongue of circumstance the walls would say, * "Welcome and hail to one with generous gifts engraced!"