Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 3.djvu/265

241 At this they both rejoiced, and Num, calling for a lute, tuned it and preluded enchantingly, then sang the following verses:

Then she gave the lute to Nimeh, saying, “Sing thou to us.” So he took it and playing a lively measure, sang these verses:

When he had made an end of his song, Num filled the cup and gave it to him, and he drank it off; then she filled again and gave the cup to the princess, who took it and emptied it; after which she in her turn took the lute and sang as follows:

Then she filled the cup and gave it to Num, who drank it off and taking the lute, sang the following verses:

They ceased not to sing and make merry and drink to the sweet sound of the strings, full of mirth and joyance and good cheer, till, behold, in came the Commander of VOL. III.