"Captured me six, all bright with youthful blee; * Then on all six be best salams from me! They are my hearing, seeing, very life; * My meat, my drink, my joy, my jollity: I'll ne'er forget the favours erst so charmed * Whose loss hath turned my sleep to insomny: Alack, O longsome pining and O tears! * Would I had farewelled all humanity: Those eyes, with bowed and well arched eyebrows[FN#386] dight, * Like bows have struck me with their archery."
Now when the letter came to the hands of Al-Maamun, he robed the six damsels in rich raiment; and, giving them threescore thousand dinars, sent them back to their lord who joyed in them with exceeding joy[FN#387] (more especially for the monies they brought him), and abode with them in all the comfort and pleasance of life, till there came to th
