Scripto | Transcribe Page

with their instruments of music as thought and Izrut Afra was appointed to hand round the goblet—“but don’t” says the Princess maliciously “give a single cup to Melech Mahommed.” They merrily tossed off their cups but poor Melech Mahommed sat biting his thumbs and muttering:

“If I should lose my lady’s grace

Compound this ugly [Hang dog face?]

And should her favor light amiss

A sign [poot?] seize this clumsy [phizz?].

Ghete Afroz could not resist laughter and added, “Well give the poor fellow a cup to console him.” Whenever Izzut handed round the cup the Shah fixed his ardent eyes on her as much to say:

“To one loved from my fancy flies

I kiss her cheeks I kiss her eyes

And still where playful fancy drays

Mine eyes would ever sleepless gaze.”

Ghete Afroz then called the bearers of the car who immediately took it up and ascended through the air with extreme velocity till they almost touched the azure vault of heaven. The army of the Shah beheld this strange spectacle in the