And where, like full moon at its rise, my light ✿ ’Mid the garden-fruits thou shalt ever see.
Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced in this with exceeding joy and cried, “Brava! By Allah, there is none excelleth thee.” Tohfah kissed the ground, then returned to her place and versified on the Tuberose, saying:—
I’m a marvel-bloom to be worn on head! ✿ Though a stranger among you fro’ home I fled:
Make use of wine in my company ✿ And flout at Time who in languish sped.
E’en so doth camphor my hue attest, ✿ O my lords, as I stand in my present stead.
So gar me your gladness when dawneth day, ✿ And to highmost seat in your homes be I led:
And quaff your cups in all jollity, ✿ And cheer and ease shall ne’er cease to be.
At this Queen Al-Shahba rejoiced with exceeding joy and cried, “Brava, O queen of delight! By Allah, I know not how I shall do to give thee thy due! May the Most High grant us the grace of thy long continuance!” Then she strained her to her breast and bussed her on the cheek; whereupon quoth Iblis (on whom be a curse!), “This is a mighty great honour!” Quoth the queen, “Know that this lady Tohfah is my sister and that her biddance is my biddance and her forbiddance my forbiddance. So all of you hearken to her word and render her worshipful obedience.” Therewith the kings rose in a body and kissed ground before Tohfah, who rejoiced in this. Moreover, Queen Al-Shahba doffed dress and habited her in a suit adorned with pearls, jewels and jacinths, worth an hundred thousand ducats, and wrote for her on a slip of paper[[231]] a patent appointing her to be her deputy. So the Songstress rose and kissed ground before the Queen, who said to her, “Of thy favour, sing to us somewhat concerning the rest of the sweet-scented flowers and herbs, so I may hear thy chant and solace myself with witnessing thy skill.” She replied, “To hear is to obey, O lady mine,” and, taking the lute, improvised these couplets:—
My hue excelleth all hues in light, ✿ And I would all eyes should enjoy my sight:
My site is the site of fillets and pearls ✿ Where the fairest brows are with jasmine dight: