Pagina 329 de 1116

When I awoke I found her rubbing and shampooing my feet;[FN#209]

so I again thanked her and blessed her and we sat for awhile

talking. Said she, "By Allah, I was sad at heart, for that I have

dwelt alone underground for these five and twenty years; and

praise be to Allah, who hath sent me some one with whom I can

converse!" Then she asked, "O youth, what sayest thou to wine?"

and I answered, "Do as thou wilt." Whereupon she went to a

cupboard and took out a sealed flask of right old wine and set

off the table with flowers and scented herbs and began to sing

these lines:-

"Had we known of thy coming we fain had dispread * The cores of

our hearts or the balls of our eyes; Our cheeks as a carpet to

greet thee had thrown * And our eyelids had strown for thy feet

to betread."