THE HEARING BY THE VAZIR OF EGYPT OF ZULEI-KHA'S APPROACH, AND HIS ARISING WITH THE INTENT TO GO TO MEET HER, AND ADORNING HIMSELF WITH ORNAMENTS WITH HIS EGYPTIAN ATTENDANTS.

To Egypt's Vazír when the tale was brought,
Tow'rds his desire the world had turned, he thought.
Then he proclaimed that forth from Egypt's land
To march the army whole prepared should stand;
That what by way of ornament each thing
Each of them had he should produce and bring??
The army then came forth from foot to head
In gold and ornaments and gems* arrayed.
Thousands of slaves and maids assembled soon,
With face of rose and cheek that vied the moon.
Boy slaves with collar golden and with crown,
Like golden palm-tree from the saddle grown.
With their seven* ornaments the girls arrayed,
In litters that were curtained with brocade.
Singers, sweet-lipped, conceits repeating choice,
Congratulating all with pleasing voice.
Musicians, tuned of pleasure's harp the string,
Commenced the song of merriment to sing.
When to attune it the lute's ear is wrung,
Its sweet chords echo to the cheerful song.
Good news of meeting brings the flute's sweet sound,
And for the soul the hope of union 's found.
Freed by rebeck the soul from string of woe,
Its dulcet tones evokes the sounding bow.
The drum awakens too the friendly sound,
That in the travellers' hand the skin is found.*
As in this manner on their way they went,
Due meed was to the road of pleasure lent.
When like the moon two stages they went on,
They came of all those fair ones to the sun.
They found a country not removed from light,
A thousand cupolas had made it bright,
As if the cloud of heaven, without a bound,
Had rained full many stars like hail around.
Here, in the midst of royal tents displayed,
Of maidens fair an army was arrayed.
When Egypt's Vazír's sight that tent fell on,
He smiled as morning at the rising sun,
And lighting down from off his royal steed
Towards that tent he went with joyous speed.
The servants of the Haram might and main
To kiss his foot's dust ran, to honour gain.
Welcome he spoke to each assembled there,
And smiled upon them as a flower fair.
Of that fair moon he due enquiry made,
By air and toil how on the road delayed.
Then gave the offerings that he had brought,
Things to the eye with special pleasure fraught,
Of smiling girls all sweetness to behold,
Of loin-begirded youths with caps of gold,
Of horses on whose saddles gold was laid,
From tail to ears in jewels all arrayed,
Of garments, some of silk and some of hair,
And of rare jewels, all beyond compare:
Of sweets of Egypt what was rare and new
And of sweet draughts to drink of every hue;
With such the desert was adorned and laid,
Pleasant words spoken and excuses made.
Now for their march was fixed the coming day,
As to his own camp then he made his way.