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whilst the chief damsel ducked the others, who dared not lay a finger on her. They ceased not to do thus till near the hour of afternoon-prayer, when they came forth of the pool and donning their feather-dresses, flew way, leaving Hassan distracted, with a heart on fire for love of the chief damsel and repenting him that he had not stolen her feather-dress. Wherefore he fell sick and abode on the roof, expecting her return and abstaining from meat and drink and sleep, till the new moon, when they again made their appearance and putting off their clothes, went down into the pool. So he stole the chief damsel’s feather-suit, knowing that she could not fly without it, and hid it, lest they should discover him and slay him. Then he waited till the rest had flown away, when he arose and seizing the damsel, carried her down into the castle.’
‘Where is she?’ asked her sisters; and she answered, ‘She is with him in such a chamber.’ Quoth they, ‘Describe her to us, O our sister.’ So she said, ‘She is fairer than the moon on the night of its full and her face is brighter than the sun; the water of her mouth is sweeter than honey and her shape more slender than the cane. She hath black eyes and flower-white forehead; a bosom like a jewel, breasts like twin pomegranates and cheeks like apples, a belly covered with dimples, with a navel like a casket of ivory full of musk, and legs like columns of alabaster. She ravishes all hearts with liquid black eyes and the fineness of a slender waist and heavy buttocks and speech that heals the sick. She is goodly of shape and sweet of smile, as she were the full moon.’ When the princesses heard this, they turned to Hassan and said to him, ‘Show her to us.’ So he arose, love-distraught, and carrying them to the chamber in which was the captive damsel, opened the door and entered, followed by the seven princesses.
When they saw her and noted her loveliness, they kissed
