and jacinths, worth an hundred thousand dinars, and wrote her on a sheet of paper a patent in her own hand, appointing her her deputy.  So Tuhfeh rose and kissed the earth before the queen, who said to her, ’Sing to us, of thy favour, concerning the rest of the sweet-scented flowers and herbs, so I may hear thy singing and divert myself with witnessing thy skill.’  ’Hearkening and obedience, O lady mine,’ answered Tuhfeh and taking the lute, improvised the following verses: 

Midst colours, my colour excelleth in light And I would every eye
     of my charms might have sight. 
My place is the place of the fillet and pearls And the fair are
     most featly with jasmine bedight,
How bright and how goodly my lustre appears!  Yea, my wreaths are
     like girdles of silver so white.

Then she changed the measure and improvised the following: 

I’m the crown of every sweet and fragrant weed; When the loved
     one calls, I keep the tryst agreed. 
My favours I deny not all the year; Though cessation be desired,
     I nothing heed. 
I’m the keeper of the promise and the troth, And my gathering is
     eath, without impede.

Then she changed the measure and the mode [and played] so that she amazed the wits of those who were present, and Queen Es Shuhba was moved to mirth and said, ’Well done, O queen of delight!’ Then she returned to the first mode and improvised the following verses on the water-lily: 

I fear to be seen in the air, Without my consent, unaware;
So I stretch out my root neath the flood And my branches turn
     back to it there.

Therewithal Queen Es Shuhba was moved to delight and said, ’Well done, O Tuhfeh!  Let me have more of thy singing.’  So she smote the lute and changing the mode, improvised the following verses on the moss-rose: 

Look at the moss-rose, on its branches seen, Midmost its leafage,
     covered all with green. 
Tis gazed at for its slender swaying shape And cherished for its
     symmetry and sheen. 
Lovely with longing for its love’s embrace, The fear of his
     estrangement makes it lean.

Then she changed the measure and the mode and sang the following verses: 

O thou that questionest the lily of its scent, Give ear unto my
     words and verses thereanent. 
Th’ Amir (quoth it) am I whose charms are still desired; Absent
     or present, all in loving me consent.

When she had made an end of her song, Queen Es Shuhba arose and said, ‘Never heard I from any the like of this.’  And she drew Tuhfeh to her and fell to kissing her.  Then she took leave of her and flew away; and all the birds took flight with her, so that they walled the world; whilst the rest of the kings tarried behind.