Pagina 573 van 1116

Then they adorned her with the sixth toilette, a dress which was

green. And now she shamed in her slender straightness the

nut-brown spear; her radiant face dimmed the brightest beams of

full moon and she outdid the bending branches in gentle movement

and flexile grace. Her loveliness exalted the beauties of earth's

four quarters and she broke men's hearts by the significance of

her semblance; for she was even as saith one of the poets in

these lines:-

A damsel 'twas the tirer's art had decked with snares and

sleight.[FN#414] * And robed in rays as though the sun from her

had borrowed light: She came before us wondrous clad in

chemisette of green, * As veiled by its leafy screen pomegranate

hides from sight: And when he said "How callest thou the manner

of thy dress?" * She answered us in pleasant way with double

meaning dight; "We call this garment creve-coeur; and rightly is

it hight, * For many a heart wi' this we broke [FN#415] and

conquered many a sprite!"