Page:The book of wonder voyages (1919).djvu/172

 the beautiful damsel, who was veiled, "Wilt thou not uncover thy face that I may look on it?" And as she did so the Queen and all her court were amazed at such marvelous beauty, for all who looked upon her became Jinn-mad. And Zubaydah embraced her and made her sit by her on the couch. Moreover, she bade decorate the palace in her honor and put upon her the richest raiment and a necklace of the rarest ornaments. And unto her she said, "O liege lady of fair ones, what arts knowest thou?" And she replied, "O, my lady, I have a dress of feathers, and if I put it on thou wouldst see one of the fairest of fashions and wouldst marvel thereat." "Where is this dress of thine?" asked Zubaydah. And the damsel answered, "It is with my husband's mother; seek it of her." So Zubaydah turned to the old woman, "O, my lady, the pilgrimess! O, my mother! fetch us the feather dress, afterwards thou mayest take it back again." But the old woman replied, "O my lady, this damsel is a liar. Hast thou ever seen any woman with a feather dress, such belongeth only to birds?" And the damsel said, "As thou livest, O my lady, she hath a feather dress of mine. It is in a chest buried in a store cupboard in the house." Then Zubaydah took from her neck a necklace of jewels worth all the treasures of Chosroe and Caesar, and gave it the old woman, saying: "O, my mother, I conjure thee by thy life, take this necklace and fetch us this dress." But she sware she had never seen any such dress and knew not what the damsel meant. Then Lady