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Cupids; in front of the two large fire…places stood great screens

broidered with parrots and peacocks; and the floor; which was of

sea…green onyx; seemed to stretch far away into the distance。  Nor

was he alone。  Standing under the shadow of the doorway; at the

extreme end of the room; he saw a little figure watching him。  His

heart trembled; a cry of joy broke from his lips; and he moved out

into the sunlight。  As he did so; the figure moved out also; and he

saw it plainly。The Birthday of the Infanta







A PROTECTED COUNTRY







'The kings of each city levied tolls on us; but would not suffer us

to enter their gates。  They threw us bread over the walls; little

maize…cakes baked in honey and cakes of fine flour filled with

dates。  For every hundred baskets we gave them a bead of amber。



'When the dwellers in the villages saw us coming; they poisoned the

wells and fled to the hill…summits。  We fought with the Magadae who

are born old; and grow younger and younger every year; and die when

they are little children; and with the Laktroi who say that they are

the sons of tigers; and paint themselves yellow and black; and with

the Aurantes who bury their dead on the tops of trees; and

themselves live in dark caverns lest the Sun; who is their god;

should slay them; and with the Krimnians who worship a crocodile;

and give it earrings of green glass; and feed it with butter and

fresh fowls; and with the Agazonbae; who are dog…faced; and with the

Sibans; who have horses' feet; and run more swiftly than horses。  A

third of our company died in battle; and a third died of want。  The

rest murmured against me; and said that I had brought them an evil

fortune。  I took a horned adder from beneath a stone and let it

sting me。  When they saw that I did not sicken they grew afraid。



'In the fourth month we reached the city of Illel。  It was night…

time when we came to the grove that is outside the walls; and the

air was sultry; for the Moon was travelling in Scorpion。  We took

the ripe pomegranates from the trees; and brake them; and drank

their sweet juices。  Then we lay down on our carpets; and waited for

the dawn。



'And at dawn we rose and knocked at the gate of the city。  It was

wrought out of red bronze; and carved with sea…dragons and dragons

that have wings。  The guards looked down from the battlements and

asked us our business。  The interpreter of the caravan answered that

we had come from the island of Syria with much merchandise。  They

took hostages; and told us that they would open the gate to us at

noon; and bade us tarry till then。



'When it was noon they opened the gate; and as we entered in the

people came crowding out of the houses to look at us; and a crier

went round the city crying through a shell。  We stood in the market…

place; and the negroes uncorded the bales of figured cloths and

opened the carved chests of sycamore。  And when they had ended their

task; the merchants set forth their strange wares; the waxed linen

from Egypt and the painted linen from the country of the Ethiops;

the purple sponges from Tyre and the blue hangings from Sidon; the

cups of cold amber and the fine vessels of glass and the curious

vessels of burnt clay。  From the roof of a house a company of women

watched us。  One of them wore a mask of gilded leather。



'And on the first day the priests came and bartered with us; and on

the second day came the nobles; and on the third day came the

craftsmen and the slaves。  And this is their custom with all

merchants as long as they tarry in the city。



'And we tarried for a moon; and when the moon was waning; I wearied

and wandered away through the streets of the city and came to the

garden of its god。  The priests in their yellow robes moved silently

through the green trees; and on a pavement of black marble stood the

rose…red house in which the god had his dwelling。  Its doors were of

powdered lacquer; and bulls and peacocks were wrought on them in

raised and polished gold。  The tilted roof was of sea…green

porcelain; and the jutting eaves were festooned with little bells。

When the white doves flew past; they struck the bells with their

wings and made them tinkle。



'In front of the temple was a pool of clear water paved with veined

onyx。  I lay down beside it; and with my pale fingers I touched the

broad leaves。  One of the priests came towards me and stood behind

me。  He had sandals on his feet; one of soft serpent…skin and the

other of birds' plumage。  On his head was a mitre of black felt

decorated with silver crescents。  Seven yellows were woven into his

robe; and his frizzed hair was stained with antimony。



'After a little while he spake to me; and asked me my desire。



'I told him that my desire was to see the god。'The Fisherman and

His Soul







THE BLACKMAILING OF THE EMPEROR







'As soon as the man was dead the Emperor turned to me; and when he

had wiped away the bright sweat from his brow with a little napkin

of purfled and purple silk; he said to me; 〃Art thou a prophet; that

I may not harm thee; or the son of a prophet; that I can do thee no

hurt?  I pray thee leave my city to…night; for while thou art in it

I am no longer its lord。〃



'And I answered him; 〃I will go for half of thy treasure。  Give me

half of thy treasure; and I will go away。〃



'He took me by the hand; and led me out into the garden。  When the

captain of the guard saw me; he wondered。  When the eunuchs saw me;

their knees shook and they fell upon the ground in fear。



'There is a chamber in the palace that has eight walls of red

porphyry; and a brass…sealed ceiling hung with lamps。  The Emperor

touched one of the walls and it opened; and we passed down a

corridor that was lit with many torches。  In niches upon each side

stood great wine…jars filled to the brim with silver pieces。  When

we reached the centre of the corridor the Emperor spake the word

that may not be spoken; and a granite door swung back on a secret

spring; and he put his hands before his face lest his eyes should be

dazzled。



'Thou couldst not believe how marvellous a place it was。  There were

huge tortoise…shells full of pearls; and hollowed moonstones of

great size piled up with red rubies。  The gold was stored in coffers

of elephant…hide; and the gold…dust in leather bottles。  There were

opals and sapphires; the former in cups of crystal; and the latter

in cups of jade。  Round green emeralds were ranged in order upon

thin plates of ivory; and in one corner were silk bags filled; some

with turquoise…stones; and others with beryls。  The ivory horns were

heaped with purple amethysts; and the horns of brass with

chalcedonies and sards。  The pillars; which were of cedar; were hung

with strings of yellow lynx…stones。  In the flat oval shields there

were carbuncles; both wine…coloured and coloured like grass。  And

yet I have told thee but a tithe of what was there。



'And when the Emperor had taken away his hands from before his face

he said to me:  〃This is my house of treasure; and half that is in

it is thine; even as I promised to thee。  And I will give thee

camels and camel drivers; and they shall do thy bidding and take thy

share of the treasure to whatever part of the world thou desirest to

go。  And the thing shall be done to…night; for I would not that the

Sun; who is my father; should see that there is in my city a man

whom I cannot slay。〃



'But I answered him; 〃The gold that is here is thine; and the silver

also is thine; and thine are the precious jewels and the things of

price。  As for me; I have no need of these。  Nor shall I take aught

from thee but that little ring that thou wearest on the finger of

thy hand。〃



'And the Emperor frowned。  〃It is but a ring of lead;〃 he cried;

〃nor has it any value。  Therefore take thy half of the treasure and

go from my city。〃



'〃Nay;〃 I answered; 〃but I will take nought but that leaden ring;

for I know what is written within it; and for what purpose。〃



'And the Emperor trembled; and besought me and said; 〃Take all the

treasure and go from my city。  The half that is mine shall be thine

also。〃



'And I did a strange thing; but what I did matters not; for in a

cave that is but a day's journey from this place have; I hidden the

Ring of Riches。  It is but a day's journey from this place; and it

waits for thy coming。  He who has this Ring is richer than all the

kings of the world。  Come therefore and take it; and the world's

riches shall be thine。'The Fisherman and His Soul







COVENT GARDEN







Where he went he hardly knew。  He had a dim memory of wandering

through a labyrinth of sordid houses; of being lost in a giant web

of sombre streets; and it was bright dawn when he found himself at

last in Piccadilly Circus。  As he strolled home towards Belgrave

Square; he met the great waggons on their way to Covent Garden。  The


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