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stood before them fourscore damsels, each as it were she said to the full moon, “Rise, so I may sit in thy place;” and in each one’s hand was an instrument of mirth and music. So they tuned their instruments and touched their strings and struck up with plaintive[1] airs that dilated the mourning heart.[2] The Sultan was cheered and the time was pleasant to him and he rejoiced and said, “Verily, Kings and Kaisers would fail of[3] this thing.”
Then they fell to eating and drinking and the cup went round among them till they had taken their sufficiency, when there came sweetmeats[4] and various kinds of fruits and so forth; and these were laid in another saloon. So they removed thither and took their fill of those dainties; after which the Sultan arose, that he might see if the work of the jewellers and goldsmiths likened that of the palace. So he went up to them and viewed their work and how they wrought and saw that they were far from availing to do work like that [of the rest] of Alaeddin’s palace.[5] Moreover[6] they told
