صفحة 653 من 1116

Quoth the King, "Fair comparison, O Hasan! [FN#487] thou hast

spoken excellently well and hast proved thyself accomplished in

every accomplishment! Now explain to me how many meanings be

there in the Arabic language [FN#488] for the word Khal or mole."

He replied, "Allah keep the King! Seven and fifty and some by

tradition say fifty." Said the Sultan, "Thou sayest sooth,"

presently adding, "Hast thou knowledge as to the points of

excellence in beauty?" "Yes," answered Badr al-Din Hasan, "Beauty

consisteth in brightness of face, clearness of complexion,

shapeliness of nose, gentleness of eyes, sweetness of mouth,

cleverness of speech, slenderness of shape and seemliness of all

attributes. But the acme of beauty is in the hair and, indeed,

al-Shihab the Hijazi hath brought together all these items in his

doggrel verse of the metre Rajaz, [FN#489] and it is this: