"Pleasure and health, good cheer, good appetite * To Azzah, freest with our name and fame! By Allah! would I near her off she flies * At tangent, granting less the more I claim: I dote on Azzah, but when clear I off * My rivals, clears me too that dearest dame; Like wandering wight that chose for shade a cloud * Which, ere siesta done, thin air became."
When she heard this she said, "Verily Al-Kuthayyir[FN193] was conspicuous for sweet speech and chaste, and he was superlative in his praise of Azzah when he sang" (and she began to recite),
"Did Azzah deal behest to Sun o' noon, * The judge had judged her beauty's bestest boon; And girls who come to me and carp at her, * God make their rosy cheeks her sandal-shoon!
And indeed," quoth she, "'twas said that Azzah boasted exceeding beauty a
