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Then they displayed her in the fourth dress, and she shone forth like the rising sun, swaying to and fro with amorous languor and turning from side to side with gazelle-like grace. And she pierced hearts with the arrows of her eyelashes; even as says the poet:
A sun of beauty she appears to all that look on her, Glorious in arch and amorous grace, with coyness beautified;
And when the sun of morning sees her visage and her smile, Conquered, he hasteneth his face behind the clouds to hide.
Then they displayed her in the fifth dress, with her ringlets let down. The downy hair crept along her cheeks, and she swayed to and fro, like a willow-wand or a gazelle bending down to drink, with graceful motions of the neck and hips. As says the poet, describing her:
Like the full moon she doth appear, on a calm night and fair; Slender of shape and charming all with her seductive air.
She hath an eye, whose glances pierce the hearts of all mankind, Nor can cornelian with her cheeks for ruddiness compare.
The sable torrent of her locks falls down unto her hips; Beware the serpents of her curls, I counsel thee, beware!
Indeed, her glance, her sides are soft, but none the less, alas! Her heart is harder than the rock; there is no mercy there.
The starry arrows of her looks she darts above her veil; They hit and never miss the mark, though from afar they fare.
When I clasp hands about her waist, to press her to my heart, The swelling apples of her breast compel me to forbear.
Alas, her beauty! it outdoes all other loveliness; Her shape transcends the willow-wand and makes the branch despair.
Then they unveiled her in the sixth dress, which was green. In this she reached the utmost bounds of loveliness, outvying in slender straightness the tawny spear-shaft, and in suppleness and flexile grace the bending branch, whilst the splendours of her face outshone the radiance of the full moon. Indeed, she transcended the fair of all quarters of the world and all hearts were broken by her loveliness; for she was even as says the poet:
