Quoth I, “An she be fair as her verse hath grace, the thing is complete in every case.” Then I came down from my bench[FN#115] and was about to go away, when behold, the door opened and out came a slave-girl, who said to me, “Sit, O Shaykh!” So I climbed up and sat down again when she gave me a scroll, wherein was written, in characters of the utmost beauty, with straight Alifs,[FN#116] big-bellied Hás and rounded Waws, the following:—We would have the Shaykh (Allah lengthen his days!) to know that we are three maidens, sisters, sitting in friendly converse, who have laid down each an hundred dinars, conditioning that whoso recite the goodliest and sweetest couplet shall have the whole three hundred dinars; and we appoint thee umpire between us: so decide as thou seest best, and the Peace be on thee! Quoth I to the girl, Here to me inkcase and paper. So she went in and, returning after a little, brought me a silvered inkcase and gilded pens[FN#117] with which I wrote these couplets:— They talked of three beauties whose converse was quite * Like the talk of a man with experience dight: Three maidens who borrowed the bloom of the dawn * Making hearts of their lovers in sorriest plight. They were hidden from eyes of the prier and spy * Who slept and their modesty mote not affright; So they opened whatever lay hid in their hearts * And in frolicsome fun began verse to indite. Quoth one fair coquette with her amorous grace * Whose teeth for the sweet of her speech flashèd bright:— Would he come to my bed during sleep ’twere delight * But a visit on wake were delightsomer sight! When she ended, her verse by her smiling was gilt: * Then the second ‘gan singing as nightingale might:— Naught came to salute me in sleep save his shade * But ‘welcome, fair welcome,’ I cried to the spright! But the third I preferred for she said in reply, * With expression most apposite, exquisite:— My soul and my folk I engage for the youth * Musk-scented I see in my bed every night! So when I considered their words to decide, * And not make me the mock of the cynical wight; I pronounced for the youngest, declaring her verse * Of all verses be that which is nearest the right.’