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of the sea； and called to the young Fisherman； and he rose out of
the deep and said； 'Why dost thou call to me？'
And the Soul answered； 'Come nearer； that I may speak with thee；
for I have seen marvellous things。'
So he came nearer； and couched in the shallow water； and leaned his
head upon his hand and listened。
And the Soul said to him； 'When I left thee； I turned my face to
the South and journeyed。 From the South cometh everything that is
precious。 Six days I journeyed along the highways that lead to the
city of Ashter； along the dusty red…dyed highways by which the
pilgrims are wont to go did I journey； and on the morning of the
seventh day I lifted up my eyes； and lo！ the city lay at my feet；
for it is in a valley。
'There are nine gates to this city； and in front of each gate
stands a bronze horse that neighs when the Bedouins come down from
the mountains。 The walls are cased with copper； and the watch…
towers on the walls are roofed with brass。 In every tower stands
an archer with a bow in his hand。 At sunrise he strikes with an
arrow on a gong； and at sunset he blows through a horn of horn。
'When I sought to enter； the guards stopped me and asked of me who
I was。 I made answer that I was a Dervish and on my way to the
city of Mecca； where there was a green veil on which the Koran was
embroidered in silver letters by the hands of the angels。 They
were filled with wonder； and entreated me to pass in。
'Inside it is even as a bazaar。 Surely thou shouldst have been
with me。 Across the narrow streets the gay lanterns of paper
flutter like large butterflies。 When the wind blows over the roofs
they rise and fall as painted bubbles do。 In front of their booths
sit the merchants on silken carpets。 They have straight black
beards； and their turbans are covered with golden sequins； and long
strings of amber and carved peach…stones glide through their cool
fingers。 Some of them sell galbanum and nard； and curious perfumes
from the islands of the Indian Sea； and the thick oil of red roses；
and myrrh and little nail…shaped cloves。 When one stops to speak
to them； they throw pinches of frankincense upon a charcoal brazier
and make the air sweet。 I saw a Syrian who held in his hands a
thin rod like a reed。 Grey threads of smoke came from it； and its
odour as it burned was as the odour of the pink almond in spring。
Others sell silver bracelets embossed all over with creamy blue
turquoise stones； and anklets of brass wire fringed with little
pearls； and tigers' claws set in gold； and the claws of that gilt
cat； the leopard； set in gold also； and earrings of pierced
emerald； and finger…rings of hollowed jade。 From the tea…houses
comes the sound of the guitar； and the opium…smokers with their
white smiling faces look out at the passers…by。
'Of a truth thou shouldst have been with me。 The wine…sellers
elbow their way through the crowd with great black skins on their
shoulders。 Most of them sell the wine of Schiraz； which is as
sweet as honey。 They serve it in little metal cups and strew rose
leaves upon it。 In the market…place stand the fruitsellers； who
sell all kinds of fruit： ripe figs； with their bruised purple
flesh； melons； smelling of musk and yellow as topazes； citrons and
rose…apples and clusters of white grapes； round red…gold oranges；
and oval lemons of green gold。 Once I saw an elephant go by。 Its
trunk was painted with vermilion and turmeric； and over its ears it
had a net of crimson silk cord。 It stopped opposite one of the
booths and began eating the oranges； and the man only laughed。
Thou canst not think how strange a people they are。 When they are
glad they go to the bird…sellers and buy of them a caged bird； and
set it free that their joy may be greater； and when they are sad
they scourge themselves with thorns that their sorrow may not grow
less。
'One evening I met some negroes carrying a heavy palanquin through
the bazaar。 It was made of gilded bamboo； and the poles were of
vermilion lacquer studded with brass peacocks。 Across the windows
hung thin curtains of muslin embroidered with beetles' wings and
with tiny seed…pearls； and as it passed by a pale…faced Circassian
looked out and smiled at me。 I followed behind； and the negroes
hurried their steps and scowled。 But I did not care。 I felt a
great curiosity come over me。
'At last they stopped at a square white house。 There were no
windows to it； only a little door like the door of a tomb。 They
set down the palanquin and knocked three times with a copper
hammer。 An Armenian in a caftan of green leather peered through
the wicket； and when he saw them he opened； and spread a carpet on
the ground； and the woman stepped out。 As she went in； she turned
round and smiled at me again。 I had never seen any one so pale。
'When the moon rose I returned to the same place and sought for the
house； but it was no longer there。 When I saw that； I knew who the
woman was； and wherefore she had smiled at me。
'Certainly thou shouldst have been with me。 On the feast of the
New Moon the young Emperor came forth from his palace and went into
the mosque to pray。 His hair and beard were dyed with rose…leaves；
and his cheeks were powdered with a fine gold dust。 The palms of
his feet and hands were yellow with saffron。
'At sunrise he went forth from his palace in a robe of silver； and
at sunset he returned to it again in a robe of gold。 The people
flung themselves on the ground and hid their faces； but I would not
do so。 I stood by the stall of a seller of dates and waited。 When
the Emperor saw me； he raised his painted eyebrows and stopped。 I
stood quite still； and made him no obeisance。 The people marvelled
at my boldness； and counselled me to flee from the city。 I paid no
heed to them； but went and sat with the sellers of strange gods；
who by reason of their craft are abominated。 When I told them what
I had done； each of them gave me a god and prayed me to leave them。
'That night； as I lay on a cushion in the tea…house that is in the
Street of Pomegranates； the guards of the Emperor entered and led
me to the palace。 As I went in they closed each door behind me；
and put a chain across it。 Inside was a great court with an arcade
running all round。 The walls were of white alabaster； set here and
there with blue and green tiles。 The pillars were of green marble；
and the pavement of a kind of peach…blossom marble。 I had never
seen anything like it before。
'As I passed across the court two veiled women looked down from a
balcony and cursed me。 The guards hastened on； and the butts of
the lances rang upon the polished floor。 They opened a gate of
wrought ivory； and I found myself in a watered garden of seven
terraces。 It was planted with tulip…cups and moonflowers； and
silver…studded aloes。 Like a slim reed of crystal a fountain hung
in the dusky air。 The cypress…trees were like burnt…out torches。
From one of them a nightingale was singing。
'At the end of the garden stood a little pavilion。 As we
approached it two eunuchs came out to meet us。 Their fat bodies
swayed as they walked； and they glanced curiously at me with their
yellow…lidded eyes。 One of them drew aside the captain of the
guard； and in a low voice whispered to him。 The other kept
munching scented pastilles； which he took with an affected gesture
out of an oval box of lilac enamel。
'After a few moments the captain of the guard dismissed the
soldiers。 They went back to the palace； the eunuchs following
slowly behind and plucking the sweet mulberries from the trees as
they passed。 Once the elder of the two turned round； and smiled at
me with an evil smile。
'Then the captain of the guard motioned me towards the entrance of
the pavilion。 I walked on without trembling； and drawing the heavy
curtain aside I entered in。
'The young Emperor was stretch