he wild beasts, behold the
trees thinned out, and the moon shone out upon a meadow as it were one
of the meads of paradise, and he heard therein the noise of talk and
pleasant laughter, such as ravishes the wit of men. So King Sherkan
dismounted, and tying his horse to a tree, fared on a little further,
till he espied a stream of running water, and heard a woman talking and
saying in Arabic, "By the virtue of the Messiah, this is not handsome of
you! But whoso speaks the word I will throw her down and bind her with
her girdle!" He followed in the direction of the voice, and saw gazelles
frisking and wild cattle pasturing, and birds in their various voices
expressing joy and gladness; and the earth was embroidered with all
manner flowers and green herbs, even as says of it the poet, in the
following verses:--

Earth has no fairer sight to show than this its
blossom-time, With all the gently running streams
that wander o'er its face,
It is indeed the handiwork of God Omnipotent, The
Lord of every noble gift, and Giver of all grace!

Midmost the meadow stood a monastery, and within the inclosure a citadel
that rose high into the air in the light of the moon. The stream passed
through the midst of the monastery; and therenigh sat ten damsels like
moons, high-bosomed maids clad in dresses and ornaments that dazzled the
eyes, as says of them the poet:--

The meadow glitters with the troops Of lovely ones
that wander there;
Its grace and beauty doubled are By these that are
so passing fair;
Virgins, that with their swimming gait, The hearts of
all that see ensnare,
Along whose necks, like trails of grapes, Stream down
the tresses of their hair;
Proudly they walk, with eyes that dart The shafts and
arrows of despair,
And all the champions of the world Are slain by
their seductive air.

Sherkan looked at the ten girls, and saw in their midst a lady like the
moon at its full, with ringleted and shining forehead, great black eyes
and curling brow-locks, perfect in person and attributes, as says
the poet:--

Her beauty beamed on me with glances wonder-bright: The
slender Syrian spears are not so straight and slight:
She laid her veil aside, and, lo, her cheeks rose-red! All manner
of loveliness was in their sweetest sight
The locks that o'er her brow fell down, were like the