पृष्ठ 830 / 1116

Is all well with thee?" "O my lady," he answered, "all with me is

right well." Then she bade bring in food, and they set before her

delicate viands; so she sat down to eat, making a show of

affection to my brother and jesting with him, though all the

while she could not refrain from laughing; but as often as he

looked at her, she signed towards her handmaidens as though she

were laughing at them. My brother (the ass!) understood nothing;

but, in the excess of his ridiculous passion, he fancied that the

lady was in love with him and that she would soon grant him his

desire. When they had done eating, they set on the wine and there

came in ten maidens like moons, with lutes ready strung in their

hands, and fell to singing with full voices, sweet and sad,

whereupon delight gat hold upon him and he took the cup from the

lady's hands and drank it standing. Then she drank a cup of wine

and my brother (still standing) said to her "Health," and bowed

to her.