Under the bosom of her shift the garths of Eden are ✿ And the full-moon revolveth still upon her neck-rings’ sphere.[[287]]

She seemed a full moon rising and a gazelle browsing, a girl of nine plus five[[288]] shaming the moon and sun, even as saith of her the sayer eloquent and ingenious:—

Semblance of full-moon Heaven bore, ✿ When five and five are conjoined by four;

‘Tis not my sin if she made of me ✿ Its like when it riseth horizon o’er.[[289]]

Clean of skin, odoriferous of breath, it seemed as if she were of fire fashioned and of crystal moulded; rose-red was the cheek of her and perfect the shape and form of her; even as one saith of her, describing her:—

Scented with sandal[[290]] and musk, right proudly doth she go, ✿ With gold and rose and saffron-colour aglow.

A flower in a garden she is, a pearl in an ouch of gold ✿ Or an image in chapel[[291]] set for worship of high and low.

Slender and shapely she is; vivacity bids her arise, ✿ But the weight of her hips says, “Sit, or softly and slowly go.”

Whenas her favours I seek and sue for my heart’s desire, ✿ “Be gracious,” her beauty says; but her coquetry answers, “No.”

Glory to Him who made beauty her portion, and that ✿ Of her lover to be the prate of the censurers, heigho![[292]]