The Khalif El-Mamoun was sitting one day in his palace，surrounded by his grandees and officers of stateand there were present also before him all his poets and minionsamongst the rest one named Mohammed of Bassora. Presentlythe Khalif turned to the latter and said to him'O MohammedI wish thee to tell me something that I have never before heard.'O Commander of the Faithful，'answered Mohammed'shall I tell thee a thing that I have heard with my ears of a thing that I have seen with my eyes？'Tell me whichever is the rarer，'said El Mamoun.
'Know thenO Commander of the Faithful，'began Mohammed'that there lived once a wealthy manwho was a native of Yemen；but he left his native land and came to this city of Baghdadwhose sojourn so pleased him that he transported hither his family and possessions. Now he had six slave-girlsthe first fairthe second darkthe third fatthe fourth thinthe fifth yellow and the sixth blackall fair of face and perfectly accomplished and skilled in the arts of singing and playing upon instruments of music. One day he sent for them all and called for meat and drink；and they ate and drank and made merry. Then he filled the cup and taking it in his handsaid to the blonde'O new-moon-facelet us hear somewhat pleasing.'So she took the lute and tuning itmade music thereon with such melodious trills and modulations that the place danced to the rhythm；after which she played a lively measure and sang the following verses：
I have a friendwhose form is mirrored in mine eyeAnd deep within my breasthis name doth buried lie.
Whenas I call him back to mindI am all heartAnd when on him I gazeall eyes indeed am I.
'Forswear the love of him，'my censor says；and I'That which is not to behow shall it be？'reply.
'Go forth from me，'quoth I'and leave mecensor mine： Feign not that eath and lightthat's grievous to aby.'
At this their master was moved to mirth and drinking off his cup，gave the damsels to drinkafter which he said to the brunette，'O light of the brasier and delight of soulslet us hear thy lovely voicewherewith all that hearken are ravished.'So she took the lute and trilled upon ittill the place was moved to mirth；thentaking all hearts with her graceful bendingsshe sang the following verses：
As thy face livethnone but thee I'll love nor cherish e'er，Till deathnor ever to thy love will I be falseI swear.
O full moonshroudedas it were a veilwith lovelinessAll lovely ones on earth that be beneath thy banners fare.
Thouthat in pleasantness and grace excellest all the fairMay Godthe Lord of heaven and earthbe with thee everywhere！
The man was pleased and drank off his cup；after which he filled again and taking the goblet in his handbeckoned to the plump girl and bade her sing and play. So she took the lute and striking a grief-dispelling measuresang as follows：
If but thy consent be assuredO thou who art all my desireBe all the folk angered 'gainst me；I set not a whit by their ire.
And if thou but show me thy facethy brilliant and beautiful faceI reck not if all the kings of the earth from my vision retire.
Thy favourO thou unto whom all beauty must needs be referred，Of the goods and the sweets of the world is all that I seek and require.
The man was charmed and emptying his cupgave the girls to drink. Then he beckoned to the slender girl and said to her'O houri of Paradisefeed thou our ears with sweet sounds.'So she took the lute and tuning itpreluded and sang the following verses：
Is it not martyrdom that I for thine estrangement dreeSeeing，indeedI cannot liveif thou depart from me？
Is there no judgein Love its lawto judge betwixt us twainto do me justice on thy head and take my wreak of thee？
Their lord rejoiced and emptying the cupgave the girls to drink. Then he signed to the yellow girl and said to her'O sun of the daylet us hear some pleasant verses.'So she took the lute and preluding after the goodliest fashionsang as follows：
I have a loverwhenas I draw him nighHe bares upon me a sword from either eye.
May God avenge me some whit of him！ For loHe doth oppress me，whose heart in 's hand doth lie.
Oft though'Renounce himmy heart，'I sayyet it Will to none other than him itself apply.
He's all I ask forof all created things；Yet jealous Fortune doth him to me deny.
The man rejoiced and drank and gave the girls to drink；then he filled the cup and taking it in his handsigned to the black girlsaying'O apple of the eyelet us have a taste of thy fashionthough it be but two words.'So she took the lute and preluded in various modesthen returned to the first and sang the following verses to a lively air：
O eyesbe large with tears and pour them forth amainForlo，for very love my senses fail and wane.
All manner of desire I suffer for his sake I cherishand my foes make merry at my pain.
My enviers me forbid the roses of a cheek；And yet I have a heart that is to roses fain.
Ayonce the cups went round with joyance and delight And to the smitten lutesthe goblets did we drain，What time my love kept troth and I was mad for him And in faith's heaventhe star of happiness did reign.
But lohe turned away from mesans fault of mine！ Is there a bitterer thing than distance and disdain？
Upon his cheeks there bloom a pair of roses redBlown ready to be plucked；ah Godthose roses twain！
Were't lawful to prostrate oneself to any else Than GodI'd sure prostrate myself upon the swain.