(no subject)

[timelets]

How did I live all my life without knowing the definition of perfect beauty?!

Said the Sultan, “Thou sayest sooth,” presently adding, “Hast thou knowledge as to the points of excellence in beauty?” “Yes,” answered Badr al-Din Hasan, “Beauty consisteth in brightness of face, clearness of complexion, shapeliness of nose, gentleness of eyes, sweetness of mouth, cleverness of speech, slenderness of shape and seemliness of all attributes. But the acme of beauty is in the hair and,

indeed, al-Shihab the Hijazi hath brought together all these items in his doggrel verse of the metre Rajaz, and it is this:

Say thou to skin “Be soft,” to face “Be fair,” And gaze, nor shall they blame how so thou stare:
Fine nose in Beauty’s list is high esteemed; Nor less an eye full, bright and debonnair:
Eke did they well to laud the lovely lips (Which e’en the sleep of me will never spare);
A winning tongue, a stature tall and straight; A seemly union of gifts rarest rare:
But Beauty’s acme in the hair one views it; So hear my strain and with some few excuse it!”


--- 1001 Nights. Tale of Nur Al-din Ali and his Son, http://www.wollamshram.ca/1001/Vol_1/vol1.htm