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finished. “Whose song is that?” “The words are by Adi ben Zeid,” answered she, “and the tune is an old one.” Then they drank, whilst the damsels retired and were succeeded by other ten, as they were sparkling stars, clad in flowered silk, embroidered with gold, and girt with jewelled zones. They sat down and sang various airs; and the Khalif said to one of them, who was like a willow-wand, “What is thy name, O damsel!” “My name is Reshaa, O Commander of the Faithful,” answered she. “Sing to us, O Reshaa,” said he. So she played a lively measure and sang the following verses:
There’s a houri healing passion [with her kiss], Like a sapling or a wild gazelle at gaze.
Wine I quaff unto the vision of her cheeks[1] And dispute the goblet with her, till she sways.
Then she lies and sleeps the night long in my arms, And I say, “This is the wish of all my days.”
“Well done, O damsel!” said the Khalif. “More.” So she rose and kissing the ground before him, sang the following verse:
She came out to gaze on the bridal at leisure, In a tunic with ambergris smeared, worth a treasure.
The Khalif was much pleased with this verse, which when Reshaa saw, she repeated it several times. Then said El Mamoun, “Bring up the barge,” being minded to embark and depart: but Ali said to him, “O Commander of the Faithful, I have a slave-girl, whom I bought for ten thousand dinars; she hath taken my whole heart, and I would fain show her to the Commander of the Faithful. If she please him and he will accept of her, she is his: and if not, let him hear something from her.” “Bring her to me,” said the Khalif; and there came forth a damsel, as she were a willow-wand, with heart-seducing
- ↑ i.e. as to the sound of music.
