lord’s summons.  But the Prince of True Believers walked over the terrace-roof with the lightest tread and not audible, lest his footsteps frighten the inmates, till he came to the parapet[FN#159] and looking adown therefrom upon the hall he saw a site like the Garden of Paradise which had been newly pranked and painted, whilst the lighted wax-candles and candelabra showed the young lady, the bride, sitting upon her bedstead adorned with gems and jewellery.  She was like a Sun shedding sheen in sky serene, or a full moon at the fullest seen, with brow flower-bright and eyes black and white and beauty-spots fresh as greenth to the sight; brief she was as one of whom the poet saith,

“She’s a wonder! her like none in universe see, * For beauty and
     graces and softest blee: 
That fairest of blossoms she blooms on earth * Than gardens the
     sheeniest sheenier she: 
And soft is the rose of her cheek to the touch * ’Twixt apple’s
     and Eglantine’s lenity,
And the forelock-falls on the brow of her * Death-doom to the
     World and the Faith decree;
And she shames the branchlet of Basil when * She paces the Garden
     so fair and free. 
An water doubted her soft sweet gait * She had glided with water
     o’er greenery: 
When she walketh the world like the Hur al-Ayn[FN#160] * By the
     tongue of looks to her friends say we:—­
’O Seeker, an soughtest the heart of me * Heart of other thou
     never hadst sought for thee: 
O lover, an filled thee my love thou ne’er * ’Mid lovers hadst
     dealt me such tyranny. 
Praise Him who made her an idol for man * And glory to Him who to
     her quoth ‘be’!’”

The Caliph was astonishment-struck at what he sighted of her beauty and loveliness whilst her mother stood before her saying, “O my child, how shall be our case with these tyrants,[FN#161] especially we being women and sans other recourse save Allah Almighty?  Would Heaven I wot whence came to us this Robber who, had thy sire been on life, would have been far from able to stand at the door.  But this is the doom of Destiny upon us by God’s will.”  Replied the young lady, “O mother mine, and how long wilt thou put me to shame for this young man and call him ‘Robber,’ this whom the Almighty hath made my portion; and haply had he been a good man and no thief he had been given to some other?[FN#162] However he is my lot, and lauds to the Lord and gratitude for that He hath bestowed and made my portion.”  When the ancient dame heard these words she pursued, “I hope to Heaven, O my daughter, that thy portion may not come hither this night, otherwise sore I fear they will seize him and do him a harm and well-away for his lost youthtide!” All this took place between mother and daughter whilst the Caliph stood upon the terrace-roof listening to their say, and presently he picked up a pebble the size of a vetchling[FN#163] and, setting it between his thumb and forefinger,