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the description whereof mortal man availeth not, and they ate till they had enough; after which the tables were removed and the trays and platters[1] set on, and they ranged the bottles and flagons and vessels and phials, together with all manner fruits and sweet-scented flowers.
The first to take the cup was Iblis the Accursed, who said, ‘O Tuhfet es Sudour, sing over my cup.’ So she took the lute and touching it, sang the following verses:
Awaken, O ye sleepers all, and profit, whilst it’s here By what’s vouchsafed of fortune fair and life untroubled, clear.
Drink of the first-run wine, that shows as very flame it were, When from the pitcher ’tis outpoured, or ere the day appear.
O skinker of the vine-juice, let the cup ’twixt us go round, For in its drinking is my hope and all I hold most dear.
What is the pleasance of the world, except it be to see My lady’s face, to drink of wine and ditties still to hear?
So Iblis drank off his cup, and when he had made an end of his draught, he waved his hand to Tuhfeh, and putting off that which was upon him of clothes, delivered them to her. Amongst them was a suit worth ten thousand dinars and a tray full of jewels worth a great sum of money. Then he filled again and gave the cup to his son Es Shisban, who took it from his hand and kissing it, stood up and sat down again. Now there was before him a tray of roses; so he said to
- ↑ Containing the dessert.
