458 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS’ ENTERTAINMENTS.

 

- The six ladies obeyed; and Abou Hassan, taking notice that out of
respect they did not eat, helped them himself, and invited them to eat
in the most pressing and obliging terms. Afterwards he asked their
names, which they told him were Alabaster Neck, Coral Lips, Moon
Face, Sunshine, Eye’s Delight, Heart’s Delight, and she who fanned
him was Sugar Cane. The many soft things he said upon their names
showed him to be a man of sprightly wit, and it is not to be conceived
how much it increased the esteem which the caliph (who saw every-
thing) had already conceived for him.

When the ladies observed that Abou Hassan had done eating, one of
them said to the slaves who waited, ‘The Commander of the Faithful
will go into the hall where the dessert is laid—bring some water ;’ upon
which they all rose from the table, and taking from the slaves, one a
gold basin, another a ewer of the same metal, and a third a towel,
kneeled before Abou Hassan, and presented them to him to wash his
hands. As soon as he had done, he got up and went, preceded by the
chief officer, who never left him, into another hall, as large as the
former, adorned with paintings by the best artists, and furnished with
gold and silver vessels, carpets, and other rich furniture. There the
sultan’s musicians began a serenade as soon as Abou Hassan appeared.
In this hall there were seven large lustres, a table in the middle covered
with dried sweetmeats, the choicest and most exquisite fruits of the
season, raised in pyramids, in seven gold basins ; and seven other beau-
tiful ladies standing round it, each with a fan in her hand.

These new objects raised still greater admiration in Abou Hassan,
who, after he had made a full stop, and given the most sensible marks
of surprise and astonishment, went directly to the table, where, sitting
down, he gazed a considerable tims at the seven ladies, with an em-
barrassment that plainly showed he knew not to which to give the
preference. At last he ordered them all to lay aside their fans, and sit
down, and eat with him, telling them that it was not so hot but he could
spare them that trouble.

When the ladies were all placed about him, the first thing he did was
to ask their names, which were different from the other seven, and ex-
pressed some perfection of mind or body which distinguished them from
one another ; upon which he took an opportunity, when he presented
them with fruit, etc., to say something gallant. By these sallies Abou
Hassan more and more amused the caliph, who was delighted with his
words and actions, and pleased to think he had found in him aman who
diverted him so agreeably.

By this time, the day beginning to close, Abou Hassan was conducted
into a fourth hall, much more superb and magnificently furnished, and
lighted with wax in seven gold lustres, which gave a splendid light.
Abou Hassan found there what he had not observed in any of the other
halls, a beaufet, set out with seven large silver flagons, full of the
choicest wines, and by them seven crystal glasses of the finest work-
manship.