saw a damsel in the bath with her two little boys like moons, eye never espied her like, neither hath she her peer for beauty in the whole world. Surely, if the Commander of the Faithful knew of her he would slay her husband, Hasan of Bassorah, and take her from him." And Zubaydah cried, "Woe is thee, Tohfah, if she be not as thou sayest, for then, indeed, will I bid strike off thy head. But I must needs look on her." And she called Masrur, and said to him, "Go to the Wazir's house and bring me the damsel who dwelleth there, also her two children and the old woman. Haste, and tarry not." And Masrur hastened to Hasan's house and knocked at the door. Quoth the old woman, "Who is at the door?" "Masrur, servant of the Commander of the Faithful." So she opened the door and he entered and saluted her with the salaam, saying: "Lady Zubaydah, queen-wife of the Commander of the Faithful, summoneth thee and thy son's wife and children to her, for she hath been told of the lady's beauty." Saith the old woman, "O, my lord Masrur, we are foreign folk, and the girl's husband, who is away from home, hath bidden me not let her go forth in his absence, therefore I beseech thee, ask me not this thing." But Masrur replied, "O, my lady, there is naught to fear therein or I would not ask it of you. The Lady Zubaydah desireth to see her, and after that she may return." So Hasan's mother could not gainsay him and they all repaired to the palace of the Caliphate and presented themselves before Lady Zubaydah. And she said to
