صفحة 472 من 1116

He hath heard that thou art one of the nobles of thy tribe nor is

he aught less in his; and, being desirous to ally his lot with

thy lot, he hath practised this device to bring me in company

with thee; for he is fain to marry thee after the ordinance of

Allah and his Apostle; and in what is lawful and right there is

no shame." When I heard these words and saw myself fairly

entrapped in the house, I said, "Hearing is consenting." She was

delighted at this and clapped her hands;[FN#336] whereupon a door

opened and out of it came a young man blooming in the prime of

life, exquisitely dressed, a model of beauty and loveliness and

symmetry and perfect grace, with gentle winning manners and

eyebrows like a bended bow and shaft on cord, and eyes which

bewitched all hearts with sorcery lawful in the sight of the

Lord; even as saith some rhymer describing the like of him:-

His face as the face of the young moon shines * And Fortune

stamps him with pearls for signs.[FN#337]