Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/127

109 So he joined him and they walked about the garden together and ate of its fruits.

Meanwhile, the two princesses came to the pavilion and entering, sat down on the couch of gold, beside which was a window that gave upon the garden. The eunuchs set before them all manner rich meats and they ate, Dauleh Khatoun feeding her foster-sister by mouthfuls, till they were satisfied; when the former called for divers kinds of sweetmeats, and they ate what they would of them and washed their hands. After this, Dauleh Khatoun made ready wine and set on the drinking-vessels and flagons and proceeded to fill and give Bediya to drink, filling for herself and drinking in turn. Then Bediya looked from the window into the garden and gazed upon the fruits and branches that were therein, till her eyes fell on Seif el Mulouk, as he wandered about the garden, followed by Saïd, and she heard him recite verses, pouring forth copious tears the while.

The sight cost her a thousand sighs and she turned to Dauleh Khatoun and said to her (and indeed the wine sported with her senses), ‘O my sister, who is that young man I see in the garden, distraught, love-lorn, melancholy, sighing?’ Quoth Dauleh Khatoun, ‘Dost thou give me leave to bring him hither, that we may look on him?’ And Bediya answered, ‘If thou canst avail to bring him, do so.’ So Dauleh Khatoun called to him, saying, ‘O king’s son, come up hither and bring us thy beauty and thy grace!’ Seif knew her voice and came up into the pavilion; but no sooner had he set eyes on Bediya el Jemal, than he fell down in a swoon; whereupon Dauleh Khatoun sprinkled a little rose-water on him and he came to himself.

Then he rose and kissed the earth before Bediya, who was amazed at his beauty and loveliness; and Dauleh