people of his house a charge of this； before ing forth to the garden。 So； the tray being set before them； they fell to and ate their fill； and when they had made an end of eating； they rose from meat and washed their hands with pure water and soap scented with musk； and dried them with napkins embroidered with silk and bugles； but to Noureddin they brought a napkin laced with red gold； on which he wiped his hands。
Then coffee was served up and each drank what he would； after which they sat talking； till presently the keeper of the garden went away and returning with a basket full of roses； said to them； 'What say ye to flo； 'They are wele； （44） especially roses； which are not to be refused。' 'It is well；' answered the gardener： 'but it is of our wont not to give roses but in exchange for some contribution to the general amusement； so whoso would have aught thereof let him recite some apposite verses。' Now they were ten in number； so one of them said； 'Agreed： give me ＇of them＇； and I will recite thee somewhat of verse apt to the case。' So the gardener gave him a bunch of roses and he recited these verses：
The rose I honour over all； Because its beauties never pall。
All fragrant flowers are troops and it Their Amir most majestical。
When it's away； they're proud； but if It e； straightway they own them thrall。
Then he gave another a bunch and he recited the following verses：
Glory to thee my lord the rose！ The scent Of musk recalls the fragrance thou dost shed。
Thou'rt like a maid； on whom her lover looks And with her sleeves （45） she covers up her head。
Then he gave a third a bunch and he recited these verses：
A precious rose； the heart of man it gladdeh with its sight； Its scent the best of ambergris recalleth to the spright。
The branches strain it in its leaves for joyance； e'en as one Kisseth a mouth that knoweth nought of rigour or despite。
Then he gave a fourth a bunch and he recited these verses：
Seest not the rosebush in blossom？ Each mounted on its cane； Full many a marvel it holdeth； that ravish heart and brain。
As they were rubies with beryl enpassed about； they show； And each in the midst of its calyx doth somewhat of gold contain。
Then he gave a bunch to a fifth and he recited these verses：
Wands of green beryl fruit did bear； and when 'twas ripe； behold； As ingots to the sight it was of vegetable gold。
Ay； and the crystal drops that fell from out the tender leaves； Meseemed； were like to very tears from languorous eyelids rolled。
Then he gave a sixth a bunch and he recited the following verses：
O rose； thou dost all charms prise； that may amuse the wit； And God to thee the pleasantest of secrets doth mit。
Meseems as if a loved one's cheek it were and eke as if A longing lover with a piece of gold had handselled it。 （46）
Then he gave a bunch to a seventh and he recited these verses：
I said to the rose； 'What ails thy thorns to be So swift to wound and hurt all those that touch thy charms？'
It answered； 'All the flowers my soldiers are； in sooth； And I their Sultan am and these my thorns my arms。'
And he gave an eighth a bunch and he recited the following：
God watch o'er a rose that's grown yellow and bright； Resplendent； pure gold as it were to the sight；
And guard the fair boughs that have borne it； to boot； With the mock yellow suns of its flowerage bedight！
Then he gave a bunch to a ninth and he recited these verses：
The yellow roses stir to gladness uncontrolled The heart of every slave of passion； young or old。
A shrub that； strange to say； is water given to drink Of silver and for fruit； bears vegetable gold！
Then he gave a bunch of roses to the tenth and last and he recited the following verses：
Seest not the hosts of the rose； in raiment red And yellow that glitter from out their blossomingstead？
I liken the yellow rose； with its thorn therein； To an emerald lance； through a golden target sped。
Then the gardener brought the wineservice and setting it before them； on a tray of porcelain sprayed with red gold； recited the following verses：
Dawn heraldeth the light； so pour me out； I pray； Of wine； such wine as makes the faintesthearted gay。
So pure and bright it is； that whether wine in cup Or cup in wine be held； i' faith； 'tis hard to say。
Then he filled and drank and the cup went round； till it came to Noureddin's turn； whereupon the gardener filled the cup and handed it to him； but he said； 'I know not this thing nor have I ever drunken thereof； for therein is a great sin and the Almighty Lord hath forbidden it in His book。' 'O my lord Noureddin；' answered the gardener； 'if thou forbear to drink only by reason of the sin； verily God （blessed and exalted be He！） is bountiful； mild； fiving and passionate and pardoh the greatest sins。 His mercy embraceth all things and be it upon the poet who says：
Be as thou wilt and banish dread and care； For God is bountiful and debonair；
So of two things； the doing hurt to men And giving God a partner； thou beware。'
Then said one of the sons of the merchants； 'My life on thee； O my lord Noureddin； drink of this cup！' And another conjured him by the oath of divorce and yet another stood before him； till he was ashamed and taking the cup from the gardener； drank a mouthful； but spat it out again； saying； 'It is bitter。' 'O my lord Noureddin；' said the gardener； 'knowest thou not that the sweetest things； when taken by way of medicine； are bitter？ Were this not bitter； it would lack of the ＇many＇ virtues it possesseth； amongst which are that it digesteth food and doth away care and anxiety and dispelleth vapours and clarifieth the blood and cleareth the plexion and enliveh the body and hearteh the poltroon and fortifieth the sexual power； but to name all its virtues would be tedious。 Quoth one of the poets：
We'll drink； for God His clemency enpasseth the soul On every side： I medicine my ailments with the bowl；
And nought （for well I know its sin） save God His saw； 'Therein Are for the folk advantages；' （47） doth me thereto cajole。
Then he opened one of the cupboards there and taking out a loaf of reined sugar； broke of a great piece； which he put in Noureddin's cup； saying； 'O my lord； if thou fear to drink wine； because of its bitterness； drink now； for it is sweet。' So he took the cup and emptied it： whereupon one of his rades filled him another； saying； 'I am thy slave；' and another ＇did the like＇； saying； 'I am one of thy servants；' and a third said； 'For my sake！' and a fourth； 'God on thee； O my lord Noureddin； heal my heart！' And so they plied him with wine； till they had made him drink ten cups。
Now Noureddin's body wag virgin ＇of winebibbing＇； nor all his life had he drunken wine till then； wherefore its fumes mounted to his brain and drunkenness was stark upon him and he stood up （and indeed his tongue was embarrassed and his speech thick） and said； 'O pany； by Allah； ye are fair and your speech and place are goodly； but there needs the hearing of sweet music； for drink without music lacks the chief of its essentials； even as saith the poet：
Pass round the cup to the old and the young man； too； And take the bowl from the hand of the shining moon； （48）
But without music； I charge you； forbear to drink； I see even horses drink to a whistled tune。' （49）
Therewith up rose the gardener and mounting one of the young men's mules； was absent awhile； after which he returned with a girl of Cairo； as she were a delicate fat sheep's tail or pure silver or a dinar in a porcelain dish or a gazelle in the desert。 She had a face that put to shame the shining sun and bewitching eyes （50） and brows like bended bows and rosy cheeks and pearly teeth and sugared lips and languishing glances and ivory breasts and slender body； full of folds and dimples； and buttocks like stuffed pillows and thighs like columns of Syrian marble； and between them what was like a sachet ＇of spices＇ folded in a wrapper。 Quoth the poet of her：
A fair one； to idolaters if she herself should show； They'd leave their idols and her face for only Lord would know。
If in the Eastward she appeared unto a monk； for sure He'd cease from turning to the West （51） and to the East bend low；
And if into the briny sea one day she chanced to spit； Assuredly the salt sea's floods straight fresh and sweet would grow。
And quoth another：
More brilliant than the moon at full； with liquid languorous eyes； She seems an antelope that takes the lionwhelps to prize。
The midnight of her locks lets fall o'er her a tent of hair； （52） Unfixed of tentpegs； that protects her beauty from the spies。
The fire； that in th' unfading rose still burh of her cheek； Is fed with entrails that consume and hearts and lovers' sighs。
An if the beauties of the time beheld her； unto her； Saying； 'Unto the precedent the palm；' they would arise。
And how well saith a third：
Three things for ever hinder her to visit us； for fear Of the intriguing spy and eke the rancorous envier；
Her forehead's lustre and the sound of all her ornaments And the sweet scent her creases hold of ambergris and myrrh。
Grant with the border of her sleeve she hide her brow and doff Her ornaments； how shall she do her scent （53） away from her？
She was like the moon； when it appears on its fourteenth night； and was clad in a garment of blue； with a veil of green； over a flowerwhite forehead； that amazed all wits and confounded those of understanding。 And indeed she was possessed of the utmost grace and beauty and symmetry； as it were she of whom the poet would speak when he saith：
She es in a robe the colour of ultramarine； Blue as the stainless sky unflecked with white。
I view her with yearning eyes and she seems to me A moon of the summer set in a winter's night。
And how goodly is the saying of another and how excellent！
She came unto me； straitly veiled； and I to her did say； 'Thy face； the bright； resplendent moon； uncover and display。'
Quoth she； 'I fear reproach；' and I； 'Forbear this idle talk： Let not the shifts of time and fate affright thee or dismay。'
So from her face she raised the veil that hid her charms and tears Upon the jewels of her cheeks fell； like a crystal spray。
Indeed