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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 e 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 stretched on a couch of dyed lion skins； and
a gerfalcon perched upon his wrist。 behind him stood a brass…
turbaned nubian； naked down to the waist； and with heavy earrings
in his split ears。 on a table by the side of the couch lay a
mighty scimitar of steel。
when the emperor saw me he frowned； and said to me； 〃what is thy
name？ knowest thou not that i am emperor of this city？〃 but i
made him no answer。
he pointed with his finger at the scimitar； and the nubian seized
it； and rushing forward struck at me with great violence。 the
blade whizzed through me； and did me no hurt。 the man fell
sprawling on the floor； and when he rose up his teeth chattered
with terror and he hid himself behind the couch。
the emperor leapt to his feet； and taking a lance from a stand of
arms； he threw it at me。 i caught it in its flight； and brake the
shaft into two pieces。 he shot at me with an arrow； but i held up
my hands and it stopped in mid…air。 then he drew a dagger from a
belt of white leather； and stabbed the nubian in the throat lest
the slave should tell of his dishonour。 the man writhed like a
trampled snake； and a red foam bubbled from his lips。
as soon as he was dead the emperor turned to me； and when he had
wiped away the bright s