nd fruit and flowers。' So he went to the market and buying her all she sought； returned to her therewith； whereupon she rose and tucking up her sleeves； cooked food after the most skilful fashion； and set it before him。 He ate and she ate with him； till they had enough； after which she set on the wine； and they drank； and she ceased not to ply him with drink and entertain him with talk； till he became drunken and fell asleep： whereupon she arose and taking out of her budget a sachet of Tain leather； （73） opened it and brought out a pair of knittingpins； with which she fell to work and stinted not； till she had made a beautiful girdle。 She cleaned it and ironed it and folding it in a piece of rag； laid it under the pillow。
Then she put off her clothes and lying down beside Noureddin； kneaded him till he awoke and found by his side a girl like virgin silver； softer than silk and more delicate than a fat sheep's tail； more conspicuous than a standard （74） and goodlier than the red camels； （75） low of stature； with swelling breasts； eyes like gazelles' eyes and brows like bended bows and cheeks like bloodred anemones； slender belly； full of dimples； and a navel holding an ounce of benzoin ointment； thighs like bolsters stuffed with ostrich down； and between them what the tongue fails to describe and at mention whereof the tears pour forth。 Indeed it seemed as it were she to whom the poet alludes in the following verses：
Her hair is night； her forehead day； her cheeks a blossomed rose And wine the honeyed dews wherewith her mouth for ever flows。
Heaven in her favours is and hell in her disdain； her teeth Are very pearls and in her face the moon at full doth glow。
And how excellent is another's saying：
She shih forth； a moon； and bends； a willowwand； And breathes out ambergris and gazes； a gazelle。
Meseems as if grief loved my heart and when from her Estrangement I abide； possession to it fell。
She hath a face outshines the very Pleiades And brows whose lustre doth the crescent moon excel。
And quoth a third：
Unveiled； new moons they shine； and all displayed； like moons at full； They burn： like boughs they sway； and eke like antelopes they turn：
And in their midst's a blackeyed maid； for whose sweet beauty's sake； To be the earth whereon she treads the Pleiades would yearn。
So he turned to her and pressing her to his bosom； sucked first her under lip and then her upper lip and slid his tongue into her mouth。 Then he rose to her and found her an unpierced pearl and a filly that none but he had mounted。 So he did away her maidenhead and had of her the amorous delight and there was contracted between them love that might never know breach nor severance。 He rained down kisses upon her cheeks； like the falling of pebbles into water； and beset her with stroke upon stroke； like the thrusting of spears in the mellay； for that Noureddin still yearned after clipping of necks and sucking of lips and letting down of tresses and pressing of waists and biting of cheeks and pinching of breasts； with Cairene motitations and Yemani wrigglings and Abyssinian sobbings and Hindi torsions and Nubian lasciviousness and Rifi （76） legliftings and Damiettan gruntings and Upper Egyptian heat and Alexandrian languor； and this damsel united in herself all these attributes； together with excess of beauty and amorous grace； and indeed she was even as saith of her the poet：
By Allah； I will never all my life long fet her； my dear； And those only will I tender who shall bring her to me to draw near！
Now glory to her Maker and Creator be given evermore！ As the full moon of the heavens in her aspect and her gait she doth appear。
Though my sin； indeed； be sore and my offending in loving her be great； I know repentance not； whilst of her favours a hope to me be clear。
She； indeed； hath made me weariful and wakeful； full of sorrow； sick for love： Yea； my heart is all confounded at her beauty； dazed for trouble and for fear；
And I go a line of verse for e'er repeating that none knoweth 'mongst the folk Save the man who rhymes and verses hath recited and studied many a year。
None knoweth of lovelonging save he only who hath its pains endured And none but he can tell the taste of passion； who's Proved its woe and cheer。
So Noureddin lay with the damsel in solace and delight； clad in the straitlinked garments of emplacement； secure against the accidents of night and day； and they passed the night after the goodliest fashion； fearing not； in lovedelight； abundance of talk and prate。 As says of them the right excellent poet：
Cleave fast to her thou lov'st and let the envious rail amain； For calumny and envy ne'er to favour love were fain。
Lo； the passionate hath made no fairer thing to see Than when one couch in its embrace enfolders lovers twain；
Each to the other's bosom clasped； clad in their own delight； Whilst hand with hand and arm with arm about their necks enchain。
Lo； when two hearts are straitly knit in passion and desire； But on cold iron smite the folk that chide at them in vain。
Thou that for loving censurest the votaries of love； Canst thou assain a mind diseased or heal a cankered brain？
If in thy time thou find but one to love thee and be true； I rede thee cast the world away and with that one remain。
When the morning appeared and gave forth its light and shone； Noureddin awoke from sleep and found that she had brought water： （77） so they washed； he and she； and he acquitted that which behoved him of prayer to his Lord； after which she brought him meat and drink； and he ate and drank。 Then she put her hand under her pillow and pulling out the girdle； gave it to Noureddin； who said； 'Whence eth this girdle？' 'O my lord；' answered she； 'it is the silk thou boughtest yesterday for twenty dirhems。 Rise now and go to the Persian bazaar and give it to the broker； to cry for sale； and sell it not for less than twenty dinars； money down。' 'O princess of fair ones；' said Noureddin； 'how can a thing； that cost twenty dirhems and will sell for as many dinars； be made in a single night？' 'O my lord；' replied she； 'thou knowest not its value； but go to the market and give it to the broker； and when he cries it； its worth will appear to thee。'
So he carried the girdle to the market and gave it to the broker； bidding him cry it； whilst he himself sat down on a bench before a shop。 After awhile； the broker returned and said to him； 'O my lord； rise and take the price of thy girdle； for it hath fetched twenty dinars。' When Noureddin heard this； he marvelled exceedingly and shook with delight。 Then he rose； between belief and disbelief to take the money and when he had received it； he spent it all on silk of various colours and returning home； gave the silk to the damsel； saying； 'Make this all into girdles and teach me likewise how to make them； that I may work with thee； for never in my life saw I a goodlier craft than this nor a more abounding in profit。 By Allah； it is a thousand times better than the trade of A merchant！' She laughed and said； 'Go to thy friend the druggist and borrow other thirty dirhems of him； and tomorrow pay him the whole eighty from the price of the girdles。'
So he repa