Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - Volume 5.djvu/57

 when the day came round whereon the folk assembled for ballplay, the Minister's daughter seated herself at her lattice, to divert herself by looking on at the game; and, as they were at play, her glance fell upon a youth among the guards than whom never was seen a comelier face nor a goodlier form; for he was bright of favour showing white teeth when he smiled, tall-statured and broad-shouldered. She looked at him again and again and could not take her fill of gazing; and presently said to her nurse, "What is the name of yonder handsome young man among the troops?" Replied the nurse, "O my daughter, the dear fellows are all handsome. Which of them dost thou mean?" Said Rose-in-Hood, "Wait till he come past and I will point him out to thee." So she took an apple and as he rode by dropped it on him, whereupon he raised his head, to see who did this, and espied the Wazir's daughter at the window, as she were the moon of fullest light in the darkness of the night; nor did he withdraw his eyes, till his heart was utterly lost to her, and he recited these lines,

"Was't archer shot me, or was't thine eyes *         Ruined lover's heart that thy charms espies?     Was the notched shaft [FN#33] from a host outshot, *         Or from latticed window in sudden guise?"

When the game was at an end, and all had left the ground, she asked her nurse, "What is the name of that youth I showed thee?"; and the good woman answered, "His name is Uns al-Wujud;" whereat Rose-in-Hood shook her head and lay down on her couch, with thoughts a-fire for love. Then, sighing deeply, she improvised these couplets,

"He missed not who dubbed thee, 'World's delight,' *         A world's love conjoining to bounty's light: [FN#34]     O thou, whose favour the full moon favours, *         Whose charms make life and the living bright!     Thou hast none equal among mankind; *         Sultan of Beauty, and proof I'll cite: