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Then the lady took the cup, and drank it off to her sisters'

health, and they ceased not drinking (the Porter being in the

midst of them), and dancing and laughing and reciting verses and

singing ballads and ritornellos. All this time the Porter was

carrying on with them, kissing, toying, biting, handling,

groping, fingering; whilst one thrust a dainty morsel in his

mouth, and another slapped him; and this cuffed his cheeks, and

that threw sweet flowers at him; and he was in the very paradise

of pleasure, as though he were sitting in the seventh sphere

among the Houris[FN#157] of Heaven. They ceased not doing after

this fashion until the wine played tricks in their heads and

worsted their wits; and, when the drink got the better of them,

the portress stood up and doffed her clothes till she was mother

naked.