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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