Blest he she nights with by the grace of her, ✿ Who dies in her with oath by days of her!
So Zayn al-Mawasif thanked her and went up to Masrur, as she were full moon displayed. But when he saw her, he rose to his feet and exclaimed, “An my thought deceive me not, she is no human, but one of the brides of Heaven!” Then she called for food and they brought a table, about whose marge were written these couplets[[327]]:—
Dip thou with spoons in saucers four and gladden heart and eye With many a various kind of stew and fricassee and fry.
Thereon fat quails (ne’er shall I cease to love and tender them) And rails and fowls and dainty birds of all the kinds that fly.
Glory to God for the Kabobs, for redness all aglow, And potherbs, steeped in vinegar, in porringers thereby!
Fair fall the rice with sweet milk dressed, wherein the hands did plunge And eke the forearms of the fair were buried, bracelet-high!
How my heart yearneth with regret over two plates of fish That by two manchet-cakes of bread of Tewarij[[328]] did lie!
Then they ate and drank and made mirth and merriment, after which the servants removed the table of food and set on the wine service; so cup and tasse[[329]] passed round between them and they were gladdened in soul. Then Masrur filled the cup and saying, “O whose thrall am I and who is my mistress!”[[330]] chanted these improvised couplets:—
Mine eyes I admire that can feed their fill ✿ On charms of a girl rising worlds to light:
In her time she hath none to compare for gifts ✿ Of spirit and body a mere delight.