第18章

When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-first Night； She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that Hasan said to his sister，'Do thou tell them my tale，for before them I stand abashed nor can I face them with these words.' So she said to them，'O my sisters，when we went away and left alone this unhappy one，the palace was straitened upon him and he feared lest some one should come in to him，for ye know that the sons of Adam are light of wits.So，he opened the door of the staircase leading to the roof，of his loneliness and trouble，and sat there，looking upon the Wady and watching the gate，in his fear lest any should come thither.One day，as he sat thus，suddenly he saw ten birds approach him，making for the palace，and they lighted down on the brink of the basin which is in the pavilion-terrace.He watched these birds and saw，amongst them；one goodlier than the rest，which pecked the others and flouted them，whilst none of them dared put out a claw to it.Presently；they set their nails to their neck-collars and，rending their feather-suits，came forth therefrom and became damsels，each and every，like the moon on fullest night.Then they doffed their dress and plunging into the water，fell to playing with one another，whilst the chief damsel ducked the others，who dared not lay a finger on her and she was fairest of favour and most famous of form and most feateous of finery.They ceased not to be in this case till near the hour of mid-afternoon prayer，when they came forth of the basin and，donning their feather-shifts，flew away home.Thereupon he waxed distracted，with a heart afire for love of the chief damsel and repenting him that he had not stolen her plumery.Wherefore he fell sick and abode on the palace-roof expecting her return and abstaining from meat and drink and sleep，and he ceased not to be so till the new moon showed，when behold，they again made their appearance according to custom and doffing their dresses went down into the basin.So he stole the chief damsel's feather-suit，knowing that she could not fly save therewith，hiding himself carefully lest they sight him and slay him.Then he waited till the rest had flown away，when he arose and seizing the damsel，carried her down from the terrace into the castle.'Her sisters asked，'Where is she？'；and she answered，'She is with him in such a chamber.'Quoth they；'Describe her to us，O our sister：'so quoth she，'She is fairer than the moon on the night of fullness and her face is sheenier than the sun；the dew of her lips is sweeter than honey and her shape is straighter and slenderer than the cane；one with eyes black as night and brow flower-white；a bosom jewel-bright；breasts like pomegranates twain and cheeks like apples twain，a waist with dimples overlain，a navel like a casket of ivory full of musk in grain，and legs like columns of alabastrine vein.She ravisheth all hearts with Nature-kohl'd eyne，and a waist slender-fine and hips of heaviest design and speech that heals all pain and pine： she is goodly of shape and sweet of smile，as she were the moon in fullest sheen and shine.' When the Princesses heard these praises，they turned to Hasan and said to him，'Show her to us.' So he arose with them，all love-distraught，and carrying them to the chamber wherein was the captive damsel，opened the door and entered，preceding the seven Princesses.Now when they saw her and noted her loveliness，they kissed the ground between her hands，marvelling at the fairness of her favour and the significance which showed her inner gifts；and said to her，'By Allah，O daughter of the Sovran Supreme；this is indeed a mighty matter： and haddest thou heard tell of this mortal among women thou haddest marvelled at him all thy days.Indeed，he loveth thee with passionate love；yet，O King's daughter，he seeketh not lewdness，but desireth thee only in the way of lawful wedlock.Had we known that maids can do without men，we had impeached him from his intent，albeit he sent thee no messenger，but came to thee in person；and he telleth us he hath burnt the feather dress；else had we taken it from him.' Then one of them agreed with the Princess and becoming her deputy in the matter of the wedding contract，performed the marriage ceremony between them，whilst Hasan clapped palms with her；laying his hand in hers，and she wedded him to the damsel by consent；after which they celebrated her bridal feast，as beseemeth Kings' daughters，and brought Hasan in to her.So he rose and rent the veil and oped the gate and pierced the forge[74] and brake the seal，whereupon affection for her waxed in him and he redoubled in love and longing for her.Then；since he had gotten that which he sought，he gave himself joy and improvised these couplets；'Thy shape's temptation，eyes as Houri's fain * And sheddeth Beauty's sheen[75] that radiance rare：

My glance portrayed thy glorious portraiture： * Rubies one-half and gems the third part were：

Musk made a fifth： a sixth was ambergris * The sixth a pearl but pearl without compare.

Eve never bare a daughter evening thee * Nor breathes thy like in Khuld's[76] celestial air.

An thou would torture me'tis wont of Love * And if thou pardon'tis thy choice I swear：

Then，O world bright'ner and O end of wish！ * Loss of thy charms who could in patience bear？'

--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-second Night； She continued，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that when Hasan went in unto the King's daughter and did away her maidenhead，he enjoyed her with exceeding joy and affection for her waxed in him and he redoubled in love-longing for her；so he recited the lines aforesaid.