Sutlememe, who excelled in dressing a salad, having filled
large bowls of porcelain with eggs of small birds, curds turned with
citron juice, slices of cucumber, and the inmost leaves of delicate
herbs, handed it round from one to another, and gave each their shares in
a large spoon of Cocknos. Gulchenrouz, nestling as usual in the bosom of
Nouronihar, pouted out his vermilion little lips against the offer of
Sutlememe, and would take it only from the hand of his cousin, on whose
mouth he hung like a bee inebriated with the quintessence of flowers. One
of the eunuchs ran to fetch melons, whilst others were employed in
showering down almonds from the branches that overhung this amiable
party.
In the midst of this festive scene there appeared a light on the top of
the highest mountain, which attracted the notice of every eye; this light
was not less bright than the moon when at full, and might have been taken
for her, had it not been that the moon was already risen. The phenomenon
occasioned a general surprise, and no one could conjecture the cause; it
could not be a fire, for the light was clear and bluish, nor had meteors
ever been seen of that magnitude or splendour.
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