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- The Prophet is mild; to his mildness be praises;
- he opens to sinners his Paradise!
PEER [his eyes following ANITRA during the dance].
- Legs as nimble as drumsticks flitting.
- She's a dainty morsel indeed, that wench!
- It's true she has somewhat extravagant contours,-
- not quite in accord with the norms of beauty.
- But what is beauty? A mere convention,-
- a coin made current by time and place.
- And just the extravagant seems most attractive
- when one of the normal has drunk one's fill.
- In the law-bound one misses all intoxication.
- Either plump to excess or excessively lean;
- either parlously young or portentously old;-
- the medium is mawkish.-
- Her feet-they are not altogether clean;
- no more are her arms; in especial one of them.
- But that is at bottom no drawback at all.
- I should rather call it a qualification-
- Anitra, come listen!
ANITRA [approaching].
- Thy handmaiden hears!
PEER
- You are tempting, my daughter! The Prophet is touched.
- If you don't believe me, then hear the proof;-
- I'll make you a Houri in Paradise!
ANITRA
- Impossible, Lord!
