a mighty sigh, she had embraced and kissed him:—­“I know not,” quoth she, “who but thou could have brought me to this, such a fire hast thou kindled in my soul, little dog of a Tuscan!” Whereupon she was pleased that they should undress, and get into the bath, and two of the slaves with them; which, accordingly, they did; and she herself, suffering none other to lay a hand upon him, did with wondrous care wash Salabaetto from head to foot with soap perfumed with musk and cloves; after which she let the slaves wash and shampoo herself.  The slaves then brought two spotless sheets of finest texture, which emitted such a scent of roses, that ’twas as if there was nought there but roses, in one of which having wrapped Salabaetto, and in the other the lady, they bore them both to bed, where, the sheets in which they were enfolded being withdrawn by the slaves as soon as they had done sweating, they remained stark naked in the others.  The slaves then took from the basket cruets of silver most goodly, and full, this of rose-water, that of water of orange-blossom, a third of water of jasmine-blossom, and a fourth of nanfa(1) water, wherewith they sprinkled them:  after which, boxes of comfits and the finest wines being brought forth, they regaled them a while.  To Salabaetto ’twas as if he were in Paradise; a thousand times he scanned the lady, who was indeed most beautiful; and he counted each hour as a hundred years until the slaves should get them gone, and he find himself in the lady’s arms.

At length, by the lady’s command, the slaves departed, leaving a lighted torch in the room, and then the lady and Salabaetto embraced, and to Salabaetto’s prodigious delight, for it seemed to him that she was all but dissolved for love of him, tarried there a good while.  However, the time came when the lady must needs rise:  so she called the slaves, with whose help they dressed, regaled them again for a while with wine and comfits, and washed their faces and hands with the odoriferous waters.  Then as they were going, quoth the lady to Salabaetto:—­“If it be agreeable to thee, I should deem it a very great favour if thou wouldst come to-night to sup and sleep with me.”  Salabaetto, who, captivated by her beauty and her studied graciousness, never doubted but he was dear to her as her very heart, made answer:—­“Madam, there is nought you can desire but is in the last degree agreeable to me; wherefore to-night and ever ’tis my purpose to do whatsoever you may be pleased to command.”  So home the lady hied her, and having caused a brave shew to be made in her chamber with her dresses and other paraphernalia, and a grand supper to be prepared, awaited Salabaetto; who, being come there as soon as ’twas dark, had of her a gladsome welcome, and was regaled with an excellent and well-served supper.  After which, they repaired to the chamber, where he was saluted by a wondrous sweet odour of aloe-wood, and observed that the bed was profusely furnished with birds,(2) after the fashion