But if a full-blown rose she tenders,
    Its open chalice is a token
  Which boldest hope in me engenders;
    Through it her love is clearly spoken.

On the ensuing evening Mirza-Schaffy presented himself promptly at the appointed place, prepared with a love-song which he knew none of womankind could resist.  The evening was calm and clear, and on the housetop, alone with Fatima, was plainly discernible Zuleikha, her veil slightly drawn aside in token of favor.  Taking courage, the enamored Mirza pushed back his cap in order to display his freshly shaven head, of whose whiteness he was excessively proud, and which he felt to be irresistible to maidens’ eyes, and began to sing his song, having first cast a written copy folded about a double almond-kernel, as a keepsake at the feet of beauty.  The song given at this point is excessively flowery, and declares the maiden’s eyes to be brighter than those of the wild gazelle, her form more ethereal than the slender pine, and pronounces the wooer, his heart and his tuneful lay to be but slaves of her loveliness.  This by way of preparation, the highest point of the offering being the concluding stanzas: 

  With faithful heart and hopefully
    Approach I now Love’s sacred bower,
  And cast this wistful song at thee,
    This fragrant song, as question-flower.

  Accept with joy or scornfully,
    Give my heart death or consolation,
  Cast rosebud, rose, or thorn at me,
    I humbly wait thy revelation.

Smilingly the maiden cast a rosebud at her waiting suitor, and for the first time fully displayed to him her beauteous face.  From this moment new life dawned on our Mirza, and for six weeks he basked in the sunshine of felicity ere threatening clouds loomed up in his horizon.  Then Ibrahim Chan returned from the war, and with him came his daughter’s suitor.  A troop of horsemen had been despatched to Avaria for the bridal gift, and on their return they were to conduct Achmed Chan and his chosen lady home.  Prize combats and festivities were planned to celebrate the return of the heroes, and at Zuleikha’s request a singing festival was likewise to take place.  All the singers of the land were invited and bidden to prepare their choicest lays extolling the sovereign lady of the fete:  to the victorious competitor would be accorded the right to break the instruments of his opponents.

Now was the time for Mirza-Schaffy to gather all his courage, for he knew the crisis of his destiny to be at hand.  He arranged with Fatima that the day of the singing festival should be likewise that of his flight with Zuleikha, for he was troubled with no doubt concerning the success of his lyrical efforts.  An Armenian who was about setting forth with a caravan was confided in, and engaged to reserve camels for and accord protection to the fugitives.