face that stands before me. She resembles thee as a twinkling star
resembles a radiant sun. Three years of her life has she accomplished,
she has now entered upon her fourth summer, and still no husband has
been destined for her. This very morning when thou hadst turned thy face
away from me I saw a vision. And this was the vision I saw. Thy three
children, Aisha, Hadishra, and Eminah, were sitting in the open piazza,
beneath splendid, sparkling pavilions. There were three pavilions
standing side by side: the first was white, the second violet, and the
third of a vivid green. In these three pavilions, I say, the princesses,
thy daughters, were sitting, clothed in _kapanijaks_ of cloth of silver,
with round _selmiks_ on their heads, and embellished with the seven
lucky circles which bring the blessings of prosperity to womenkind. Thou
knowest what these circles are, oh Padishah! They are the ishtifan or
diadem, the necklace, the ear-ring, the finger-ring, the girdle, the
bracelet, and the mantle-ring-clasp--the seven gifts of felicity, oh
Padishah, that the bridegroom giveth to the bride. Beside these
pavilions, moreover, were a countless multitude of other tents--of three
different hues of blue and three different hues of green--and in these
tents abode a great multitude of Emir Defterdars, Reis-Effendis,
Muderises, and Sheiks. And in front of the Seraglio were set up three
lofty palm-trees, which elephants drew about on great wheeled cars, and
there were three gardens there, the flowers whereof were made of sugar,
and then the chiefs of the viziers arose and the celebration of the
festival began. After the usual kissing of hands, the nuptials were
proceeded with, the Kiaja representing the bridegroom and the
Kizlar-Aga the bride, and everyone received a present. Then came the
bridal retinue with the bridal gifts, a hundred camels laden with
flowers and fruits, and an elephant bearing gold and precious stones and
veils meet for the land of the peris. Two eunuchs brought mirrors inlaid
with emeralds, and the _miri achorok_ held the reins of splendidly