'"He remembereth the leaves of the forest, O Hafiz! and the grains of sand on the sea-shore. He is the father of all wisdom."
'"I am but a poor corporal of foot," said I, remembering the rattan of our adjutant, which I had felt more often than the finger of the Prophet.
'"A weak mortal, assuredly—but a true Believer."
'"Bechesm! Upon thy beautiful eyes be it, that I am."
'A fire seemed to rage within me, and I strove to reach and embrace her; but in vain, for lo! there suddenly rose around her a hedge of thorns and brambles—the fuel of hell—that pricked and tore my heated flesh.
'The maiden smiled with all her alluring sweetness of lips and eyes, and almost laughed as she held up a beautiful hand to deprecate my folly; while the wound in my breast caused me almost to swoon with a sudden pang of agony.
'"What is your name?" I asked.
'"Noura."
'"Which meaneth—"
'"Light."