Читать книгу Art in Theory - Группа авторов - Страница 100

Dinarzade, to make amends for her neglect the Night before, never laid Eye together, and when she thought it was time, wak’d the Sultaness, saying to her, My Dear Sister, pray give us an account of what happened in the fine Castle, where you left us yesterday.

Scheherazade forthwith resum’d her Story, and addressing herself to Schahriar says, Sir, the Sultan perceiving nobody in the Court, enter’d the Great Halls, which were hung with Silk Tapestry, the Alcoves and Sofas were cover’d with Stuffs of Mecca, and the Porches with the richest Stuffs of the Indies, mixt with Gold and Silver. He came afterwards into an admirable Saloon, in the middle of which there was a great Fountain, with a Lion of massy Gold at each corner. Water issued at the Mouths of the Four Lions, and this Water, as it fell, form’d Diamonds and Pearls, that very well answer’d a Jett of Water, which springing from the middle of the Fountain, rose as high almost as the bottom of a Cupulo, painted after the Arabian manner.

The Castle on three sides was encompassed by a Garden, with Flower‐Pots, Waterworks, Groves, and a thousand other fine things concurr’d to embellish it; and what completed the Beauty of the place, was an infinite number of Birds, which fill’d the Air with their harmonious Notes, and always staid there, Nets being spread over the Trees, and fasten’d to the Palace to keep them in. The Sultan walked a long time from Apartment to Apartment, where he found every thing very great and magnificent. Being tir’d with walking, he sat down in an open Closet, which had a view over the Garden.