One of the host am I of lovers sad and sere For waiting long
     drawn out and expectation drear. 
My patience underneath the loss of friends and folk With pallor’s
     sorry garb hath clad me, comrades dear. 
Abasement, misery and heart-break after those I suffer who
     endured before me many a year. 
All through the day its light and when the night grows dark, My
     grief forsakes me not, no, nor my heavy cheer. 
My tears flow still, nor aye of bitterness I’m quit, Bewildered
     as I am betwixten hope and fear.

Therewithal Queen Es Shuhba was moved to exceeding delight and said, ’Well done, O queen of delight!  None can avail to describe thee.  Sing to us on the apple,’ Quoth Tuhfeh, ’Hearkening and obedience.’  Then she improvised and sang the following verses: 

Endowed with amorous grace past any else am I; Graceful of shape
     and lithe and pleasing to the eye. 
The hands of noble folk do tend me publicly; With waters clear
     and sweet my thirsting tongue they ply. 
My clothes of sendal are, my veil of the sun’s light, The very
     handiwork of God the Lord Most High. 
Whenas my sisters dear forsake me, grieved that they Must leave
     their native place and far away must hie,
The nobles’ hands, for that my place I must forsake, Do solace me
     with beds, whereon at ease I lie. 
Lo! in the garden-ways, the place of ease and cheer, Still, like
     the moon at full, my light thou mayst espy.

Queen Es Shubha rejoiced in this with an exceeding delight and said, ‘Well done!  By Allah, there is none surpasseth thee.’  Tuhfeh kissed the earth, then returned to her place and improvised on the tuberose, saying: 

My flower a marvel on your heads doth show, Yet homeless[FN#237]
     am I in your land, I trow. 
Make drink your usance in my company And flout the time that
     languishing doth go. 
Camphor itself to me doth testify And in my presence owns me
     white as snow. 
So make me in your morning a delight And set me in your houses,
     high and low;
So shall we quaff the cups in ease and cheer, In endless joyance,
     quit of care and woe.

At this Queen Es Shuhba was stirred to exceeding delight and said, ’Well done, O queen of delight!  By Allah, I know not how I shall do to render thee thy due!  May God the Most High grant us to enjoy thy long continuance [on life]!’ Then she strained her to her breast and kissed her on the cheek; whereupon quoth Iblis (on whom be malison!), ‘Indeed, this is an exceeding honour!’ Quoth the queen, ’Know that this lady Tuhfeh is my sister and that her commandment is my commandment and her forbiddance my forbiddance.  So hearken all to her word and obey her commandment.’  Therewithal the kings rose all and kissed the earth before Tuhfeh, who rejoiced in this.  Moreover, Queen Es Shuhba put off on her a suit adorned with pearls and jewels