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world after another than thyself. Night cxxxviii.Entertain her honourably and enrich her poverty.”
Meanwhile, Kanmakan and Kuzia Fekan grew up and flourished, like unto two fruit-laden saplings or two shining moons, till they reached the age of fifteen. As for the girl, she was indeed the fairest of the cloistered maids, with lovely face and smooth cheeks, slender waist, heavy hips and arrowy shape, lips sweeter than old wine and spittle as it were the fountain Selsebil of Paradise, even as saith the poet, describing her:
From her mouth’s honeyed dew, meseems, the first-pressed wine is drawn And on her sweetest lips the grapes, from which it’s crushed, are grown;
And when thou makest her to bend, its vines sway in her shape. Blesséd be He who fashioned her and may not be made known!
For indeed God had united in her every attribute of beauty: her shape put to shame the willow-wand and the rose sought grace before her cheeks; the water of her mouth made mock of clear wine, and she gladdened heart and eyes, even as saith of her the poet:
Goodly and glorious she is, and perfect in every charm. Her eyelashes put to shame kohl and the users of kohl.
Even as a sword in the hand of Ali, the Vicar of God, So is the glance of her eye to a lover’s heart and soul.
As for Kanmakan, he was no less accomplished in grace and excelling in perfection; there was none could match with him in beauty and qualities, and valour shone from between his liquid black eyes, testifying for him and not against him. The hardest hearts inclined to him; and when the tender down of his lips and cheeks began to sprout, many were the poems made in his honour: as for example quoth one:
Unshown was my excuse, till on his cheek the hair Grew and the darkness crept, bewildered, here and there.
A fawn, when eyes of men are fixed upon his charms, His glances straight on them a trenchant poniard bare.
