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Hawks' bells of vegetable gold That swing from every branch and spray。
And ＇blood＇ oranges； as they were galingale； （41） whereof quoth the poet El Welhan：
Red oranges； that fill the hand； upon the boughs arow； Shining with loveliness； without they're fire； within they're snow。
Snow； for a marvel； melting not； though joined with firs it be； And fire that burns not； strange to say； for all its ruddy glow。
And quoth another and quoth well：
Trees of blood oranges； whose fruit； in beauty manifold； Unto his eye who draweth near； its brightness to behold；
Like unto women's cheeks appears； who have adorned themselves And decked them out for festival in robe of cloth of gold。
And yet another：
The hills of oranges； what time the zephyrs o'er them glide And to their touch the branches bend and sway from side to side；
Are like to cheeks； wherein there glows the light of loveliness And to meet which e other cheeks at salutationtide。
And a fourth：
One day of a young gazelle that he should praise Our garden and oranges we did require。
Quoth he； 'Your garden to me is as my face； And whoso gathers its oranges gathers fire。'
And citrons in colour as virgin gold； dropping from on high and dangling among the branches； as they were ingots of vegetable gold； as saith thereof the poet El Welhan：
Hast thou not seen a fruited wood of citrons； laden all So heavily that； when they bend； one feareth lest they fall？
When the breeze passed o'er them； as 'twere with ingots of pure gold It Seemed the bough were laden。 cast in many a gleaming ball。
And shaddocks； that hung among their boughs； an they were the breasts of gazellelike virgins contenting the utmost of desire； as saith of them the poet and saith well：
A shaddock； midst the garden ways； I saw； its leaves between； On a fresh branch； as a maid's shape with symmetry beseen。
When the wind bent it here and there； its fruits all rolled about； As balls of gold they were； at end of malls of beryl green。
And the lemon； sweet of savour； which resembles a hen's egg； but yellowness is the ornament of its ripe fruit； and its fragrance heartens him who plucks it； as saith the poet of it：
Beholdst not the lemon； that； whenas on high It shih； for brilliancy dazzles the eye？
Meseemeth as if 'twere a hen's egg； indeed； That the hand of the huckster with saffron doth dye。
Moreover in this garden were all manner sweetscented herbs and plants and fragrant powers； such as jessamine and henna and waterlilies （42） and spikenard and roses of all kinds and plaintain and myrtle and so forth： and indeed it was without parallel； seeming as it were a piece of Paradise to him who beheld it。 If a sick man entered it； he came forth from it like a raging lion； and the tongue availeth not to its description； by reason of that which was therein of wonders and rarities that are not found but in Paradise： and how should it not be thus； when its door keeper's name was Rizwan？ Though widely different were their stations。
When the sons of the merchants had walked about the garden and taken their pleasure therein ＇awhile＇； they sat down in one of its pavilions and seated Noureddin in their midst on a rug of leather of Et Taif； （43） embroidered with gold； leaning on a round cushion of minever； stuffed with ostrich down。 And they gave him a fan of ostrich feathers whereon were written the following verses：
A fan； whose breath is fragrant； it calleth aye to mind The days of joy and solace； when fortune still was kind；
And to the face of noble and freeborn youths restore Their sweetness at all seasons； with its perfumed wind。
Then they laid by their turbans and ＇upper＇ clothes and sat talking and contending with one another in discourse； while they all kept their eyes fixed on Noureddin and gazed on his beauty。 Presently； up came a slave with a tray on his head； wherein were dishes of china and crystal containing meats of all sorts； whatever walks ＇the earth＇ or wings the air or swims the waters； such as grouse and quails and pigeons and mutton and chickens and the most delicate of fish； for one of the young men had given the people of his house a charge of this； before ing forth to the garden。 So； the tray being set before them； they fell to and ate their fill； and when they had made an end of eating； they rose from meat and washed their hands with pure water and soap scented with musk； and dried them with napkins embroidered with silk and bugles； but to Noureddin they brought a napkin laced with red gold； on which he wiped his hands。
Then coffee was served up and each drank what he would； after which they sat talking； till presently the keeper of the garden went away and returning with a basket full of roses； said to them； 'What say ye to flo； 'They are wele； （44） especially roses； which are not to be refused。' 'It is well；' answered the gardener： 'but it is of our wont not to give roses but in exchange for some contribution to the general amusement； so whoso would have aught thereof let him recite some apposite verses。' Now they were ten in number； so one of them said； 'Agreed： give me ＇of them＇； and I will recite thee somewhat of verse apt to the case。' So the gardener gave him a bunch of roses and he recited these verses：
The rose I honour over all； Because its beauties never pall。
All fragrant flowers are troops and it Their Amir most majestical。
When it's away； they're proud； but if It e； straightway they own them thrall。
Then he gave another a bunch and he recited the following verses：
Glory to thee my lord the rose！ The scent Of musk recalls the fragrance thou dost shed。
Thou'rt like a maid； on whom her lover looks And with her sleeves （45） she covers up her head。
Then he gave a third a bunch and he recited these verses：
A precious rose； the heart of man it gladdeh with its sight； Its scent the best of ambergris recalleth to the spright。
The branches strain it in its leaves for joyance； e'en as one Kisseth a mouth that knoweth nought of rigour or despite。
Then he gave a fourth a bunch and he recited these verses：
Seest not the rosebush in blossom？ Each mounted on its cane； Full many a marvel it holdeth； that ravish heart and brain。
As they were rubies with beryl enpassed about； they show； And each in the midst of its calyx doth somewhat of gold contain。
Then he gave a bunch to a fifth and he recited these verses：
Wands of green beryl fruit did bear； and when 'twas ripe； behold； As ingots to the sight it was of vegetable gold。
Ay； and the crystal drops that fell from out the tender leaves； Meseemed； were like to very tears from languorous eyelids rolled。
Then he gave a sixth a bunch and he recited the following verses：
O rose； thou dost all charms prise； that may amuse the wit； And God to thee the pleasantest of secrets doth mit。
Meseems as if a loved one's cheek it were and eke as if A longing lover with a piece of gold had handselled it。 （46）
Then he gave a bunch to a seventh and he recited these verses：
I said to the rose； 'What ails thy thorns to be So swift to wound and hurt all those that touch thy charms？'
It answered； 'All the flowers my soldiers are； in sooth； And I their Sultan am and these my thorns my arms。'
And he gave an eighth a bunch and he recited the following：
God watch o'er a rose that's grown yellow and bright； Resplendent； pure gold as it were to the sight；
And guard the fair boughs that have borne it； to boot； With the mock yellow suns of its flowerage bedight！
Then he gave a bunch to a ninth and he recited these verses：
The yellow roses stir to gladness uncontrolled The heart of every slave of passion； young or old。
A shrub that； strange to say； is water given to drink Of silver and for fruit； bears vegetable gold！
Then he gave a bunch of roses to the tenth and last and he recited the following verses：
Seest not the hosts of the rose； in raiment red And yellow that glitter from out their blossomingstead？
I liken the yellow rose； with its thorn therein； To an emerald lance； through a golden target sped。
Then the gardener brought the wineservice and setting it before them； on a tray of porcelain sprayed with red gold； recited the following verses：
Dawn heraldeth the light； so pour me out； I pray； Of wine； such wine as makes the faintesthearted gay。
So pure and bright it is； that whether wine in cup Or cup in wine be held； i' faith； 'tis hard to say。
Then he filled and drank and the cup went round； till it came to Noureddin's turn； whereupon the gardener filled the cup and handed it to him； but he said； 'I know not this thing nor have I ever drunken thereof； for therein is a great sin and the Almighty Lord hath forbidden it in His book。' 'O my lord Noureddin；' answered the gardener； 'if thou forbear to drink only by reason of the sin； verily God （blessed and exalted be He！） is bountiful； mild； fiving and passionate and pardoh the greatest sins。 His mercy embraceth all things and be it upon the poet who says：
Be as thou wilt and banish dread and care； For God is bountiful and debonair；
So of two things； the doing hurt to men And giving God a partner； thou beware。'
Then said one of the sons of the merchants； 'My life o