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Their hearts were so troubled that they let fall their veils from

before their faces and said, "Happy she who belongeth to this

youth or to whom he belongeth!"; and they called down curses on

the crooked groom and on him who was the cause of his marriage to

the girl-beauty; and as often as they blessed Badr al-Din Hasan

they damned the Hunchback, saying, "Verily this youth and none

else deserveth our Bride: Ah, well-away for such a lovely one

with this hideous Quasimodo; Allah's curse light on his head and

on the Sultan who commanded the marriage!" Then the singing-girls

beat their tabrets and lulliloo'd with joy, announcing the

appearing of the bride; and the Wazir's daughter came in

surrounded by her tirewomen who had made her goodly to look upon;

for they had perfumed her and incensed her and adorned her hair;

and they had robed her in raiment and ornaments befitting the

mighty Chosroes Kings.