第468页 / 共1116页

Little recking what Fortune had in womb for me, when suddenly the

old woman stood before me, simpering and smiling till she showed

every tooth stump, and quoth she, "O my mistress, the city madams

have arrived and when I apprized them that thou promisedst to be

present, they were glad and they are now awaiting thee and

looking eagerly for thy coming and for the honour of meeting

thee." So I threw on my mantilla and, making the old crone walk

before me and my handmaidens behind me, I fared till we came to a

street well watered and swept neat, where the winnowing breeze

blew cool and sweet. Here we were stopped by a gate arched over

with a dome of marble stone firmly seated on solidest foundation,

and leading to a Palace whose walls from earth rose tall and

proud, and whose pinnacle was crowned by the clouds,[FN#333] and

over the doorway were writ these couplets:-