صفحة 204 من 1116

Then she turned them over and, behold, the kitchen wall crave

asunder, and therefrom came a young lady, fair of form, oval of

face, perfect in grace, with eyelids which Kohl lines

enchase.[FN#106] Her dress was a silken head kerchief fringed and

tasseled with blue: a large ring hung from either ear; a pair of

bracelets adorned her wrists; rings with bezels of priceless gems

were on her fingers; and she hent in hand a long rod of rattan

cane which she thrust into the frying pan, saying, "O fish! O

fish! be ye constant to your covenant?" When the cookmaiden saw

this apparition she swooned away. The young lady repeated her

words a second time and a third time, and at last the fishes

raised their heads from the pan, and saying in articulate speech

"Yes! Yes!" began with one voice to recite:-

Come back and so will I! Keep faith and so will I! * And if ye

fain forsake, I'll requite till quits we cry!