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princesses, and she lorded it over her attendants even as doth this one.’ ‘O Hassan,’ said the old woman, ‘is this thy wife?’ ‘No, by thy life, O my lady,’ replied he, ‘this is not my wife, nor ever in my life have I set eyes on her; neither among all the girls I have seen in these islands is there the like of my wife nor her match for beauty and grace and symmetry!’
Then said Shewahi, ‘Describe her to me and acquaint me with all her attributes, that I may have her in my mind; for I know every girl in the islands, being commander of the army of maids and governor over them; wherefore, if thou describe her to me, I shall know her and will contrive for thee to take her.’ Quoth he, ‘My wife is of surpassing beauty, dulcet of speech and sweet of fashion, as she were a bending branch. She hath a fair face, a slender shape, smooth cheeks, high breasts, great liquid black eyes, white teeth and soft red lips like coral. On her right cheek is a mole and on her belly, under her navel, is a sign; her face shines as the round of the moon, her waist is slight, her buttocks heavy, and the water of her mouth healeth the sick, as it were Kauther or Selsebil.’[1] ‘Give me some plainer account of her,’ said the old woman, ‘may God increase thee of passion for her!’ Quoth he, ‘My wife hath a lovely face, oval cheeks like twin roses, long neck and melting black eyes, mouth like a seal of cornelian and flashing teeth, that stand one in stead of cup and ewer. She is cast in the mould of pleasantness and between her thighs is the throne of the Khalifate, there is no such sanctuary among the holy places; as saith in its praise the poet:
The letters of that which hath made Me distraught are renowned among men:
They are four, multiplied into five, Thereafter and six into ten.’[2]
