face beamed with light, as if the sun from her forehead arose and
the murks of the night from the locks of her brow; and the
fragrance of musk from her breath strayed and flowers bloomed in
her lovely face inlaid; the moon beamed from her forehead and in
her slender shape the branches swayed. She was like the full
moon shining in the nightly shade; her eyes wantoned, her
eyebrows were like a bow arched and her lips of coral moulded.
Her beauty amazed all who espied her and her glances amated all
who eyed her. Glory be to Him who formed her and fashioned her
and perfected her! Brief, she was even as saith the poet of one
who favoured her,

"When she's incensed thou seest folk like slain, * And when she's
pleased, their souls are quick again:
Her eyne are armed with glances magical * Wherewith she kills and
quickens as she's fain.
The Worlds she leadeth captive with her eyes * As tho' the Worlds
were all her slavish train."

Quoth the Lady Zubaydah, "Well come, and welcome and fair cheer
to thee, O Kut al-Kulub! Sit and divert us with thine art and
the goodliness of thine accomplishments." Quoth the damsel, "I
hear and I obey"; and, putting out her hand, took the tambourine,
whereof one of its praisers speaketh in the following verses,

"Ho thou o' the tabret, my heart takes flight * And love-smit
cries while thy fingers smite!
Thou takest naught but a wounded heart, * The while for
acceptance longs the wight:
So say thou word or heavy or light; * Play whate'er thou please