I rose and in my palace walked awhile, ✿ Then wandered thro’ the halls of Haremry:
Till chanced I on a blackness, which I found ✿ A white girl hid in hair for napery:
Here to her for a moon of brightest sheen! ✿ Like willow-wand and veiled in pudency:
I quaffed a cup to her; then drew I near, ✿ And kissed the beauty-spot on cheek had she:
She woke astart, and in her sleep’s amaze, ✿ Swayed as the swaying branch in rain we see;
Then rose and said to me, “O Trusted One ✿ Of Allah, O Amin, what may this be?”
Quoth I, “A guest that cometh to thy tents ✿ And craves till morn thy hospitality.”
She answered, “Gladly I, my lord, will grace ✿ And honour such a guest with ear and eye.”
Cried the Caliph, “Allah strike thee dead! it is as if thou hadst been present with us.”[[389]] Then he took him by the hand and carried him to the damsel and, when Abu Nowas saw her clad in a dress and veil of blue, he expressed abundant admiration and improvised these couplets:—
Say to the pretty one in veil of blue, ✿ “By Allah, O my life, have ruth on dole!