Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/20

2 There, on both sides of the stream, are windows and balconies facing one another, and it may be we shall hear or see from one of these somewhat wherewith our hearts may be lightened.’

Jaafer’s counsel pleased the Khalif, so he rose from his place and taking with him the vizier and his brother El Fezl and Isaac the boon-companion and Abou Nuwas and Abou Delef and Mesrour the headsman, entered the wardrobe, where they all donned merchants’ habits. Then they went down to the Tigris and embarking in a gilded boat, dropped down with the stream, till they came to the place they sought, where they heard the voice of a damsel singing to the lute and chanting the following verses:

When the Khalif heard this, he said, ‘O Jaafer, how goodly is that voice!’ ‘O our lord,’ answered the vizier, ‘never smote my hearing aught sweeter or goodlier than this singing! But hearing from behind a wall is only half