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And swordlike glances that proclaim aloud Against Love's rebels； 'Allah is Most Great。' （24）
The young merchants invited him ＇to go with them＇； saying； 'O my lord Noureddin； we wish thee to go this day apleasuring with us in such a garden。' And he answered； '＇Wait＇ till I consult my father； for I cannot go without his consent。' As they were talking； up came Tajeddin； and his son turned to him and said； 'O my father； the sons of the merchants have invited me to go apleasuring with them in such a garden。 Dost thou give me leave to go？' 'Yes； O my son；' answered his father； 'go with them；' and gave him money。
So he mounted a mule and the other young men mounted mules and asses； and they all rode till they came to a garden； wherein was all the soul desireth and that charmeth the eye。 It was high walled and had a vaulted gateway； with a portico like a saloon and a skyblue door； as it were one of the gates of Paradise。 Moreover； the name of the doorkeeper was Rizwan； （25） and over the gate were trained a hundred trellises of grapes of various colours； the red like coral； the black like negroes' faces and the white like pigeons' eggs； growing in clusters and singly： even as saith of them the poet：
Grapes； as the taste of wine their savour is； I trow： The black thereof in hue are as the corbycrow；
And shining midst the leaves； like women's fingers dipped In henna or the like of dye； the white grapes show。
And as saith another：
Grapeclusters； that show； on their stalks as they sway； Like my body for languishment wasted away。
Like honey and water in vases are they And their juice bees wine； after sourness； one day。
Then they entered the arbour ＇that led into the garden＇ and saw there the gatekeeper sitting； as he were Rizwan； guardian of Paradise； and on the door were written these verses：
A garden watered was of God； until its clusters leant And dangled all and for excess of drink； its branches bent。
When in the Eastern zephyr's hand its sapling dance and sway； The clouds with fresh pearls handsel （26） them for very ravishment。
And within the arbour were written the following verses：
Enter with us； O friend； this garden fair； That cleanses from the heart its rust of care。
Its zephyrs stumble in their skirts ＇for haste＇ And in their sleeve （27） its flowers laugh everywhere。
So they entered and found within fruits of all kinds and birds of all sorts and colours； such as the ringdove and the nightingale and the curlew and the turtle and the cushat； carolling on the branches。 Therein were streams that ran with limpid water and delightsome flowers； and it was even as saith of it the poet：
The zephyr o'er its branches breathes and sways them to and fro； As they were girls that in their skirts still stumble as they go；
And like to swords； whenas the hands of horsemen draw them forth From out their scabbards' enveloped its silver channels show。
And again：
The river passes by and laves the branches with its flood And still it mirrors in its heart the younglings of the wood；
Which when the zephyr notes； it hastes to them for jealousy And forces them to bend away from out its neighbourhood。
On the trees of the garden were all manner fruits； each in two kinds； and amongst them the pomegranate； as it were a ball of silver dross； whereof saith the poet and saith well：
Pomegranates； fineskinned； like the breasts of a maid； Whenas； rounded and firm； to the sight they're displayed。
When I peel them； appear to us rubies galore； Such as well may the wit with amazement invade。
And as quoth another：
To him； who seeks to e at its inside； there are displayed Rubies together pressed and clad in raiment of brocade。
I liken the pomegranate； when I look on it； to domes Of alabaster or to breasts of unpolluted maid。
Therein is healing for the sick and thereanent to us A saying （28） of the Prophet pure tradition hath conveyed。
Yea； and a word most eloquent； written in the Book； （29） thereof God （may His majesty fore'er be magnified！） hath said。 （30）
There were apples； sugar and musk and Damani； amazing the beholder； whereof saith the poet：
The apple in itself two hues； that image to the sight The cheeks of lover and belov'd foregathering； doth unite；
Upon the boughs like two extremes of wonder they appear； This dark and swarthy （31） to behold； and ruddy that and bright。
Whenas they clipped； a spy appeared and frighted them； so this Flushed for confusion and that paled for passion and despite。
There also were apricots of various kinds； almond and camphor and Jilani and Antabi； whereof says the poet：
The almondapricot most like a lover is； To whom his loved one came and dazed his wit and will。
The traits of passion's slave that mark it are enough； Its outward's yellow； （32） and its heart is broken still。 （33）
And saith another and saith well：
In the apricot's coverage whole gardens there be： Consider them straitly their brightness thou'll see。
When the boughs bloom in springtime； it blossoms with them； Like the softshining stars； midst the leaves on the tree。
There likewise were plums and thence： and grapes that heal the sick of ＇all＇ diseases and do away giddiness and bile from the head； and figs on the branches； parcel red and green； amazing sight and sense even as saith the poet：
'Tis as the fig； whose whiteness； with mingling green bedight； Amongst the treeleaves fruited； appeareth to the sight；
Where Greeks （34） on palaceturrets that keep the ward： the shades Close o'er them and in darkness they watch the livelong night。
And saith another and saith well：
Hail to the fig！ It es to us On dishes in fair order laid；
As 'twere a tablecloth； （35） drawn up Into a bag； without string's aid。
And saith a third alike well：
Give me the fig； with beauty that's clad and good to eat： Its outward with its inward accordeth； as is meet。
It fruiteth and thou pluckst it； and when thou eatst thereof； As camomiles its smell is； its taste as sugar sweet；
And when into its platters 'tis poured； it seemeth balls Made of green silk and fashioned in goodliness plete。
And how excellent is the saying of one of them：
Quoth they （and I on the fig； forsooth； was wont my fill to feed And Made no count of the other fruits to which they gave the meed；）
'Why dost thou love the fig？' And I； 'The fig hath its folk；' replied； 'And the sycamore fruit hath folk and folk thereto； in very deed。' （36）
And still goodlier that of another：
The fig to me is pleasing above all fruits that be； Whenas it's ripe and dangles upon its shining tree。
What while the clouds are raining； for fear of God Most High； Full many a tear it sheddeth； as 'twere a devotee。
There were also pears of various kinds； Sinai； Aleppo and Greek； growing singly and in clusters； parcel green and parcel yellow； amazing the beholder； as saith of them the poet：
Fair fall thee of a pear； whose hue is grown Even as a lover pale （37） for love and moan；
Like to a virgin in her harem shut； Her face by curtains half concealed； Half shown。
And Sultani （38） peaches of various shades of red and yellow whereof saith the poet：
'Tis as the peach； i' the gardens； when with red； like unto dragon's blood； 'tis all o'erspread；
Were very balls of yellow gold； whose cheeks Are dyed with gouts of blood upon them shed。
And green almonds of exceeding sweetness； resembling the heart （39） of the palmtree； with their kernels hidden within three tunics of the handiwork of the Munificent King； even as is said of them：
A tender body； various of attributes and pent In tunics three； the handiwork of God Omnipotent。
Duresse envelopes it both night and day and therewithal It doth； though guiltless of offence； endure imprisonment。
And as well saith another：
Dost thou not see the almonds； when from the parent stem The gentle hand of a plucker pulls and detaches them？
The peeling of them shows us the kernels therewithin； As when from one an oyster one pulls the hidden gem。
And as saith a third better than he：
How goodly is the almond green！ The smallest fills the hand； I ween。
Its nap is as the down upon A minion's cheeks of satin sheen。
Double and single； as may chance； Its kernels in the husk are seen；
As pearls they were of lucent white； That cased and lapped in beryls been。
And as saith yet another and saith well：
Mine eyes have not looked on the like of the almond For beauty； with blossoms in springtime bedight。
Whilst the down on its cheek in the leaftime yet sprouteth； Its head is already for hoariness white。
And jujubeplums of various colours； growing singly and in clusters； whereof saith one； describing them：
Look at the jujubeplums； upon the branches all arrayed； Like wondergoodly apricots （to dry） on osiers laid。 （40）
Such is their brightness that they seem； to the beholder's eye； As cascabels of gold they were； of purest bullion made。
And as saith another and saith well：
The lotetree doth itself array In some fresh beauty every day。
'Tis as the fruit upon it were （And th' eye so deems it； sooth to say；）
Hawks' bells of vegetable gold That swing from every branch and spray。
And ＇blood＇ oranges； as they were gali