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thee and are looking eagerly for thy coming.” So I veiled myself and taking my serving-maids with me, followed the old woman, till we came to a street swept and watered, through which blew a pleasant breeze. Here she stopped at a handsome portico vaulted with marble and leading to a palace that rose from the ground and took hold upon the clouds. The gateway was hung with a black curtain and lighted by a lamp of gold curiously wrought; and on the door were written the following verses:
I am a dwelling, builded for delight; My time is still for joyance day and night.
Right in my midst a springing fountain wells, Whose waters banish anguish and despite,
Whose marge with rose, narcissus, camomile, Anemone and myrtle, is bedight.
The old woman knocked at the gate, which opened; and we entered a carpeted vestibule hung with lighted lamps and candles and adorned with pendants of precious stones and minerals. Through this we passed into a saloon, whose like is not to be found in the world, hung and carpeted with silken stuffs and lighted by hanging lamps and wax candles in rows. At the upper end stood a couch of juniper-wood, set with pearls and jewels and canopied with curtains of satin, looped up with pearls. Hardly had I taken note of all this, when there came out from the alcove a young lady more perfect than the moon at its full, with a forehead brilliant as the morning, when it shines forth, even as says the poet:
Upon the imperial necks she walks, a loveling bright, For bride-chambers of kings and emperors bedight.
The blossom of her cheek is red as dragon’s blood, And all her face is flowered with roses red and white.
Slender and sleepy-eyed and languorous of gait, All manner loveliness is in her sweetest sight.
The locks upon her brow are like a troubled night, From out of which there shines a morning of delight.
