whilst others warmed water and washed my hands and feet and changed my clothes, and others made ready sherbets and gave us to drink; and all gathered around me being full of joy and gladness at my coming. Then they sat down and conversed with me till nightfall, when five of them arose and laid the trays and spread them with flowers and fragrant herbs and fruits, fresh and dried, and confections in profusion. At last they brought out a fine wine-service with rich old wine; and we sat down to drink and some sang songs and others played the lute and psaltery and recorders and other instruments, and the bowl went merrily round. Hereupon such gladness possessed me that I forgot the sorrows of the world one and all and said, "This is indeed life; O sad that 'tis fleeting!" I enjoyed their company till the time came for rest; and our heads were all warm with wine, when they said, "O our lord, choose from amongst us her who shall be thy bed-fellow this night and not lie with thee again till forty days be past." So I chose a girl fair of face and perfect in shape, with eyes Kohl-edged by nature's hand;[289] hair long and jet black with slightly parted teeth[290] and joining brows: 'twas as if she were some limber graceful branchlet or the slender stalk of sweet basil to amaze and to bewilder man's fancy; even as the poet said of such an one:— To even her with greeny bough were vain ✿ Fool he who finds her beauties in the roe: When hath the roe those lively lovely limbs ✿ Or honey dews those lips alone bestow? Those eyne, soul-piercing eyne, which slay with love, ✿ Which bind the victim by their shafts laid low? My heart to second childhood they beguiled ✿ No wonder: love-sick man again is child! And I repeated to her the maker's words who said:— None other charms but thine shall greet mine eyes, ✿ Nor other image can my heart surprize: Thy love, my lady, captives all my thoughts ✿ And on that love I'll die and I'll arise. So I lay with her that night; none fairer I ever knew; and, when it was morning, the damsels carried me to the Hammam-bath and bathed me and robed me in fairest apparel. Then they served up food, and we ate and drank and the cup went round till nightfall when I chose from among them one fair of form and face, soft-sided and a model of grace, such an one as the poet described when he said:— On her fair bosom caskets twain I scanned, ✿ Sealed fast with musk-seals lovers to withstand; With arrowy glances stand on guard her eyes, ✿ Whose shafts would shoot who dares put forth a hand.