"Wednesday it was, the day of Mercury; the heavens were as clear and as blue and as smooth as a lake; not a cloud was to be seen. And in blue robes the king did dress himself and hastened forth, toward the turquoise pavilion. Swifter was he even than Mercury, as he thought eagerly upon the pleasures that awaited him there. “So sweet was my fourth bride, can the fifth be even sweeter?” he asked.The birds that soared against the azure sky sang out, “Yes, yes, oh king!” For in the turquoise pavilion was the princess Azarene, the daughter of the king of Maghreb. She was dressed in blue, from her headdress to her slippers, and she had adorned herself with many rings and bracelets set with turquoise, and all about, in bowls glazed blue, delicate blue flowers put their blossoms forth. But bluer than the flowers were the princess’ eyes. All that day Bahram Gur gazed into her eyes and lost himself in their blue depths, until, at last, night came, and one by one the stars appeared."