Locks of the Zanj[FN#13] and golden glint of hair; * Sweet gait
and form a spear to have and hold:
Ah! hard of heart with softest slenderest waist, * That evil to
this weal why not remould?[FN#14]
Were thy form's softness placed in thy heart, * Ne'er would thy
lover find thee harsh and cold:
Oh thou accuser! be my love's excuser, * Nor chide if love-pangs
deal me woes untold!
I bear no blame: 'tis all my hear and eyne; * So leave thy
blaming, let me yearn and pine."

Now the handsome youth knew not the affair of the damsel; and his
father had enjoined her closely, saying, "Know, O my daughter,
that I have bought thee as a bedfellow for our King, Mohammed bin
Sulayman al-Zayni; and I have a son who is a Satan for girls and
leaves no maid in the neighbourhood without taking her
maidenhead; so be on thy guard against him and beware of letting
him see thy face or hear they voice." "Hearkening and obedience,"
said the girl; and he left her and fared forth. Some days after
this it happened by decree of Destiny, that the damsel repaired
to the baths in the house, where some of the slave women bathed
her; after which she arrayed herself in sumptuous raiment; and
her beauty and loveliness were thereby redoubled. Then she went
in to the Wazir's wife and kissed her hand; and the dame said to
her, "Naiman! May it benefit thee,[FN#15] O Anis al-
Jalis![FN#16] Are not our baths handsome?" "O my mistress," she
replied, "I lacked naught there save thy gracious presence."
Thereupon the lady said to her slave-women, "Come with us to the
Hammam, for it is some days since we went there:" they answered,
"To hear is to obey!" and rose and all accompanied her. Now she