So she went up， and he after her； whilst he looked at her back and saw her buttocks smiting against each other， like the billows in the troubled sea； and he recited the following verses：
In her face an advocate harbours， who blots out her every fault From the hearts of mankind， for he is mighty to intercede.
Whenas I look at her face， I cry in my wonder aloud， "The moon of the skies in the night of her full is risen indeed！"
If the Afrit of Belkis[FN#11] himself should wrestle a fall with her， Her charms would throw him forthright， for all his strength and speed.
They went on till they reached a vaulted gate， arched over with marble. This she opened and entered with Sherkan into a long vestibule， vaulted with ten arches from each of which hung a lamp of crystal， shining like the rays of the sun. The damsels met her at the end of the vestibule， bearing perfumed flambeaux and having on their heads kerchiefs embroidered with all manner jewels and went on before her， till they came to the inward of the monastery， where Sherkan saw couches set up all around，facing one another and overhung with curtains spangled with gold.
The floor was paved with all kinds of variegated marbles， and in the midst was a basin of water， with four-and-twenty spouts of gold around it， from which issued water like liquid silver；
whilst at the upper end stood a throne covered with silks of royal purple. Then said the damsel， "O my lord， mount this throne." So he seated himself on it， and she withdrew： and when she had been absent awhile， he asked the servants of her， and they said， "She hath gone to her sleeping-chamber； but we will serve thee as thou shalt order." So they set before him rare meats and he ate till he was satisfied， when they brought him a basin of gold and an ewer of silver， and he washed his hands.
Then his mind reverted to his troops， and he was troubled，knowing not what had befallen them in his absence and thinking how he had forgotten his father"s injunctions， so that he abode oppressed with anxiety and repenting of what he had done， till the dawn broke and the day appeared， when he lamented and sighed and became drowned in the sea of melancholy， repeating the following verses：
I lack not of prudence and yet in this case I"ve been fooled； so what shift shall avail unto me？
If any could ease me of love and its stress， Of my might and my virtue I"d set myself free.
But alas！ my heart"s lost in the maze of desire， And no helper save God in my strait can I see.
Hardly had he finished， when up came more than twenty damsels like moons， encompassing the young lady， who appeared amongst them as the full moon among stars. She was clad in royal brocade and girt with a woven girdle set with various kinds of jewels，that straitly clasped her waist and made her buttocks stand out as they were a hill of crystal upholding a wand of silver； and her breasts were like double pomegranates. On her head she wore a network of pearls， gemmed with various kinds of jewels， and she moved with a coquettish swimming gait， swaying wonder-gracefully，whilst the damsels held up her skirts. When Sherkan saw her beauty and grace， he was transported for joy and forgot his army and the Vizier Dendan end springing to his feet， cried out，"Beware， beware of that girdle rare！" and repeated the following verses：
Heavy of buttocks， languorous of gait， With limber shape and breasts right delicate，She hides what passion in her bosom burns； Yet cannot I my heat dissimulate.
Her maidens， like strung pearls， behind her fare， Now all dispersed now knit in ordered state.
She fixed her eyes on him and considered him awhile， till she was assured of him， when she came up to him and said， "Indeed the place is honoured and illumined by thy presence， O Sherkan！ How didst thou pass the night， O hero， after we went away and left thee？ Verily lying is a defect and a reproach in kings，especially in great kings； and thou art Sherkan， son of King Omar ben Ennuman； so henceforth tell me nought but truth and strive not to keep the secret of thy condition， for falsehood engenders hatred and enmity. The arrow of destiny hath fallen on thee， and it behoves thee to show resignation and submission." When Sherkan heard what she said， he saw nothing for it but to tell her the truth so he said， "I am indeed Sherkan， son of Omar ben Ennuman，whom fortune hath afflicted and cast into this place： so now do whatsoever thou wilt." She bowed her head a long while， then turned to him and said， "Reassure thyself and be of good cheer；
for thou art my guest， and bread and salt have passed between us；
