Party hostess? Must henna!: from Medieval Moorish Spain
Posted by CAtherine Cartwright Jones on December 20, 1999 at 17:42:33:
One for the party season.....
From "Andalusian Lyrical Poetry and Old Spanish Love Songs"; Linda
Fish Compton, New York University Press 1976
12th century
"Pass us the drinking glass to help us forget the passion of love,
And summon the companions, as friendship requires.
Submit to desire like a law as long as you live, oh, my friend.
Don't listen to the speech of one who blames you,
For it is a rule that wine shuld be brought to you by one with
Fingertips of jujube* and candied fruit of the rose
Bordered by two locks of myrtle which curve round the cheek."
(*Jujube fruit is deep red to near black like freshly hennaed
fingertips ; the candied fruit refers to the lady having sweet lips.)
And a reminder that adding a few pounds over the holidays makes you
more tradtionally beautiful in a henna sort of way:
12th century, Ibn Ruhaym of Seville
"I ransom by my father the one with the perfumed sleeves
And bewitching glances'
Rounded breasts and a willoy waist over corpulent hips,
Who brings together everything that is beautiful
In a way which cannot be described,
A full moon surrounded by a night
Of luxurient black hair
Under which is a cheek of lilies
Splashed with musk
Embellished with beautiful adornments,*
A joyful countenance, and ornaments."
(* adornaments refers to either harquus or henna, depending on whether
cheek or rest of body is meant)
Medieval hennaed Spanish Moorish lady copied from original Moorish
manuscript illustration on my website, link below...