Now when it was the Seven Hundred and Ninety-sixth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Lady Zubaydah, having taken the key from Hasan’s mother, handed it to Masrur, saying, “Take this key and open such a closet; then bring forth of it the chest; break it open; bring me the feather-dress which is therein and set it before me.” “Hearkening and obedience,” replied he and taking the key went forth, whereupon the old woman arose and followed him, weeping-eyed and repenting her of having given ear to the damsel and gone with her to the bath, for her desire to go thither was but a device. So she went with him to the house and opened the door of the closet, and he entered and brought out the chest. Then he took therefrom the feather-dress and wrapping it in a napkin, carried it to the Lady Zubaydah, who took it and turned it about, marvelling at the beauty of its make; after which she gave it to the damsel, saying, “Is this thy dress of feathers?” She replied, “Yes, O my lady,” and at once putting forth her hand, took it joyfully. Then she examined it and rejoiced to find it whole as it was, not a feather gone. So she rose and came down from beside the Lady Zubaydah and taking her sons in her bosom, wrapped herself in the feather-dress and became a bird, by the ordinance of Allah (to whom belong Might and Majesty!), whereat Zubaydah marvelled as did all who were present. Then she walked with a swaying and graceful gait and danced and sported and flapped her wings, whilst all eyes were fixed on her and all marvelled at what she did. Then said she with fluent tongue, “Is this goodly, O my ladies?”; and they replied, “Yes, O Princess of the fair! All thou dost is goodly.” Said she, “And this, O my mistresses, that I am about to do is better yet.” Then she spread her wings and flying up with her children to the dome of the palace, perched on the saloon-roof whilst they all looked at her, wide-eyed and said, “By Allah, this is indeed a rare and peregrine fashion! Never saw we its like.” Then, as she was about to take flight for her own land, she bethought her of Hasan and said, “Hark ye, my mistresses!” and she improvised these couplets[94]:—
O who hast quitted these abodes and faredst lief and light ✿ To other objects of thy love with fain and fastest flight! Deem’st thou that ’bided I with you in solace and in joy ✿ Or that my days amid you all were clear of bane and blight? When I was captive ta’en of Love and snarèd in his snare, ✿ He made of Love my prison and he fared fro’ me forthright: So when my fear was hidden, he made sure that ne’er should I ✿ Pray to the One, th’ Omnipotent to render me my right: He charged his mother keep the secret with all the care she could, ✿ In closet shut and treated me with enemy’s despight: But I o’erheard their words and held them fast in memory ✿ And hoped for fortune fair and weal and blessings infinite: My faring to the Hammam bath then proved to me the means ✿ Of making minds of folk to be confounded at my sight: Wondered the Bride of Al-Rashíd to see my brilliancy ✿ When she beheld me right and left with all of beauty dight: Then quoth I, “O our Caliph’s wife, I once was wont to own ✿ A dress of feathers rich and rare that did the eyes delight: An it were now on me thou shouldst indeed see wondrous things ✿ That would efface all sorrows and disperse all sores of sprite:” Then deigned our Caliph’s Bride to cry, “Where is that dress of thine?” ✿ And I replied, “In house of him kept darkling as the night.”