Then they rose and standing before them，played and sang and recited verses： and indeed each one of them was a seduction to the servants of the Lord. Whilst they were thus busied there entered other ten damsels like unto them，highbosomed maids and of an equal age，with blackeyes and cheeks like the rose，joined eyebrows and looks languorous；a very fascination to every faithful wight and to all who looked upon them a delight；clad in various kinds of coloured silks，with ornaments that amazed man's intelligence. They took up their station at the door，and there succeeded them yet other ten damsels even fairer than they，clad in gorgeous array，such as no tongue can say；and they also stationed themselves by the doorway. Then in came a band of twenty damsels and amongst them the lady，Shams alNahar hight，as she were the moon among the stars swaying from side to side，with luring gait and in beauty's pride. And she was veiled to the middle with the luxuriance of her locks，and clad in a robe of azure blue and a mantilla of silk embroidered with gold and gems of price；and her waist was girt with a zone set with various kinds of precious stones. She ceased not to advance with her graceful and coquettish swaying，till she came to the couch that stood at the upper end of the chamber and seated herself thereon. But when Ali bin Bakkar saw her，he versified with these verses，'Source of mine evils，truly，she alone's，Of long lovelonging and my groans and moans；Near her I find my soul in melting mood，For love of her and wasting of my bones.'
And finishing his poetry he said to Abu alHasan，'Hadst thou Dealt more kindly with me thou haddest forewarned me of these things ere I came hither，that I might have made up my mind and taken patience to support what hath befallen me.'And he wept and groaned and complained. Replied Abu alHasan，'O my brother，I meant thee naught but good；but I feared to tell thee this，lest such transport should betide thee as might hinder thee from foregathering with her，and be a stumblingblock between thee and her. But be of good cheer and keep thine eyes cool and clear；[177] for she to thee inclineth and to favour thee designeth.'Asked Ali bin Bakkar，'What is this young lady's name？'Answered Abu alHasan，'She is hight Shams alNahar，one of the favourites of the Commander of the Faithful，Harun alRashid，and this is the palace of the Caliphate.'Then Shams alNahar sat gazing upon the charms of Ali bin Bakkar and he upon hers，till both were engrossed with love for each other.
Presently she commanded the damsels，one and all，to be seated，each in her rank and place，and all sat on a couch before one of the windows，and she bade them sing；whereupon one of them took up the lute and began caroling，'Give thou my message twice Bring clear reply in trice！
To thee，O Prince of Beau ty[178] with complaint I rise：
My lord，as heartblood dear And Life's most precious prize！
Give me one kiss in gift Or loan，if thou devise：
And if thou crave for more Take all that satisfies.[179]
Thou donn'st me sicknessdress Thee with health's weed I bless.'
Her singing charmed Ali bin Bakkar，and he said to her，'Sing me more of the like of these verses.'So she struck the strings and began to chaunt these lines，'By stress of parting，O beloved one，Thou mad'st these eyelids torment race to run：
Oh gladness of my sight and dear desire，Goal of my wishes，my religion！
Pity the youth whose eyne are drowned in tears Of lover gone distraught and clean undone.'
When she had finished her verses，Shams alNahar said to another damsel，'Let us hear something from thee！'So she played a lively measure and began these couplets，'His[180] looks have made me drunken，not his wine；His grace of gait disgraced sleep to these eyne：
Dazed me no cup，but cop with curly crop；
His gifts overcame me not the gifts of vine：
His winding locks my patienceclue unwound：
His robed beauties robbed all wits of mine.'
When Shams AlNahar heard this recital from the damsel，she sighed heavily and the song pleased her. Then she bade another damsel sing；so she took the lute and began chanting，'Face that with Sol in Heaven lamping vies；Youthtide's fair fountain which begins to rise；Whose curly sidebeard writeth writ of love，And in each curl concealeth mysteries：
Cried Beauty，'When I met this youth I knew
'Tis Allah's loom such gorgeous robe supplies.'
When she had finished her song，Ali bin Bakkar said to the slavemaiden nearest him，'Sing us somewhat，thou O damsel.'So she took the lute and began singing，'Our trystingtime is all too short For this long coyish coquetry：
How long this'Nay，Nay！'and'Wait，wait？'
This is not old nobility！
And now that Time deigns lend delight
Profit of th'opportunity.'
When she ended，Ali bin Bakkar followed up her song with flowing tears；and，as Shams alNahar saw him weeping and groaning and complaining，she burned with lovelonging and desire；and passion and transport consumed her. So she rose from the sofa and came to the door of the alcove，where Ali met her and they embraced with arms round the neck，and fell down fainting in the doorway；whereupon the damsels came to them and carrying them into the alcove，sprinkled rosewater upon them both. When they recovered，they found not Abu alHasan who had hidden himself by the side of a couch，and the young lady said，'Where is Abu alHasan？'So he showed himself to her from beside the couch and she saluted him，saying，'I pray Allah to give me the means of requiting thee，O kindest of men！'
