Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 3.djvu/361

Rh while the tailor comforted him and exhorted him to patience and taught him tailoring, till he became expert in the craft. Now one day he went forth to the sea-shore and washed his clothes; after which he entered the bath and put on clean raiment; then he walked about the city, to divert himself with its sights and presently there met him on the way a woman of passing beauty and loveliness, without peer for grace and comeliness. When she saw him she raised her face-veil and signed to him by moving her eyebrows and her eyes with luring glances, and versified these couplets:—

I drooped my glance when seen thee on the way ○ As though, O slim-waist! felled by Sol's hot ray: Thou art the fairest fair that e'er appeared, ○ Fairer to-day than fair of yesterday: Were Beauty parted, a fifth part of it ○ With Joseph or a part of fifth would stay; The rest would fly to thee, shine ownest own; ○ Be every soul thy sacrifice, I pray!

When Amjad heard these her words, they gladdened his heart which inclined to her and his bowels yearned towards her and the hands of love sported with him; so he sighed to her in reply and spoke these couplets,