A hag to whom th' unlawful lawfullest * And witchcraft wisdom in her
sight are grown:
A mischief making brat, a demon maid, * A whorish woman and a pimping
crone.[FN#330]
When the old woman entered she salamed to me and kissing the ground
before me, said, "I have at home an orphan daughter and this night are
her wedding and her displaying.[FN#331] We be poor folks and strangers
in this city knowing none inhabitant and we are broken hearted. So do
thou earn for thyself a recompense and a reward in Heaven by being
present at her displaying and, when the ladies of this city shall hear
that thou art to make act of presence, they also will present
themselves; so shalt thou comfort her affliction, for she is sore
bruised in spirit and she hath none to look to save Allah the Most
High." Then she wept and kissed my feet reciting these couplets:—
"Thy presence bringeth us a grace * We own before thy winsome face:
And wert thou absent ne'er an one * Could stand in stead or take thy
place."
So pity get hold on me and compassion and I said, "Hearing is
consenting and, please Allah, I will do somewhat more for her; nor
shall she be shown to her bridegroom save in my raiment and ornaments
and jewelry." At this the old woman rejoiced and bowed her head to my
feet and kissed them, saying, "Allah requite thee weal, and comfort thy
heart even as thou hast comforted mine! But, O my lady, do not trouble
thyself to do me this service at this hour; be thou ready by supper
time,[FN#332] when I will come and fetch thee." So saying she kissed my
hand and went her ways. I set about stringing my pearls and donning my
brocades and making my toilette. Little recking what Fortune had in
womb for me, when suddenly the old woman stood before me, simpering and
smiling till she showed every tooth stump, and quoth she, "O my
mistress, the city madams have arrived and when I apprized them that
thou promisedst to be present, they were glad and they are now awaiting
thee and looking eagerly for thy coming and for the honour of meeting
thee." So I threw on my mantilla and, making the old crone walk before
me and my handmaidens behind me, I fared till we came to a street well
watered and swept neat, where the winnowing breeze blew cool and sweet.
Here we were stopped by a gate arched over with a dome of marble stone
firmly seated on solidest foundation, and leading to a Palace whose
walls from earth rose tall and proud, and whose pinnacle was crowned by
the clouds,[FN#333] and over the doorway were writ these couplets:—
I am the wone where Mirth shall ever smile; * The home of Joyance
through my lasting while:
And 'mid my court a fountain jets and flows, * Nor tears nor troubles
shall that fount defile:
The marge with royal Nu'uman's[FN#334] bloom is dight, * Myrtle,
Narcissus-flower and Chamomile.
Arrived at the gate, before which hung a black curtain, the old woman
knocked and it was opened to us; when we entered and found a vestibule
spread with carpets and hung around with lamps all alight and wax
candles in candelabra adorned with pendants of precious gems and noble
ores. We passed on through this passage till we entered a saloon, whose
like for grandeur and beauty is not to be found in this world. It was
hung and carpeted with silken stuffs, and was illuminated with branches
sconces and tapers ranged in double row, an avenue abutting on the
upper or noble end of the saloon, where stood a couch of juniper wood
encrusted with pearls and gems and surmounted by a baldaquin with
mosquito curtains of satin looped up with margaritas. And hardly had we
taken note of this when there came forth from the baldaquin a young
lady and I looked, O Commander of the Faithful, upon a face and form
more perfect than the moon when fullest, with a favour brighter than
the dawn gleaming with saffron-hued light, even as the poet sang when
he said—
Thou pacest the palace a marvel sight, * A bride for a Kisra's or
Kaisar's night!
Wantons the rose on thy roseate cheek, * O cheek as the blood of the
dragon[FN#335] bright!
Slim waisted, languorous, sleepy eyed, * With charms which promise all
love-delight:
And the tire which attires thy tiara'd brow * Is a night of woe on a
morn's glad light.
The fair young girl came down from the estrade and said to me, "Welcome
and well come and good cheer to my sister, the dearly beloved, the
illustrious, and a thousand greetings!" Then she recited these
couplets:—
"An but the house could know who cometh 'twould rejoice, * And kiss the
very dust whereon thy foot was placed
And with the tongue of circumstance the walls would say, * "Welcome and
hail to one with generous gifts engraced!"
Then sat she down and said to me, "O my sister, I have a brother who
hath had sight of thee at sundry wedding feasts and festive seasons: he
is a youth handsomer than I, and he hath fallen desperately in love
with thee, for that bounteous Destiny hath garnered in thee all beauty
and perfection; and he hath given silver to this old woman that she
might visit thee; and she hath contrived on this wise to foregather us
twain. He hath heard that thou art one of the nobles of thy tribe nor
is he aught less in his; and, being desirous to ally his lot with thy
lot, he hath practised this device to bring me in company with thee;
for he is fain to marry thee after the ordinance of Allah and his
Apostle; and in what is lawful and right there is no shame." When I
heard these words and saw myself fairly entrapped in the house, I said,
"Hearing is consenting." She was delighted at this and clapped her
hands;[FN#336] whereupon a door opened and out of it came a young man
blooming in the prime of life, exquisitely dressed, a model of beauty
and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace, with gentle winning
manners and eyebrows like a bended bow and shaft on cord, and eyes
which bewitched all hearts with sorcery lawful in the sight of the
Lord; even as saith some rhymer describing the like of him:—
His face as the face of the young moon shines * And Fortune stamps him
with pearls for signs.[FN#337]