Читать книгу Art in Theory - Группа авторов - Страница 99

[…] They all ascended the Mountain, and at the foot of it they saw, to their great surprize a vast Plain that nobody had observed till then, and at last they came to the Pond, which they found actually to be situated betwixt four Hills, as the Fisher‐man had said.

The water of it was so transparent that they observ’d all the Fishes to be like those which the Fisher‐man had brought to the Palace. The Sultan stayed upon the Bank of the Pond, and after beholding the Fishes with Admiration, he demanded of his Emirs and all his Courtiers if it was possible they had never seen this Pond, which was within so little a Way of the Town. They all answered that they had never so much as heard of it. Since you all agree, says he, that you never heard of it, and that I am no less astonished than you are at this Novelty, I am resolved not to return to my Palace till I know how this Pond comes hither, and why all the Fish in it are of four Colours. […]

He put on a Suit fit for walking, and took his Scimiter, and as soon as he saw that all was quiet in the Camp, he goes out alone, and went over one of the Hills without much difficulty, he found the descent still more easy, and when he came to the Plain, walked on till the Sun rose, and then he saw before him, at a considerable distance, a great Building. He rejoyc’d at the sight, in hopes to be inform’d there of what he had a mind to know. When he came near, he found it was a magnificent Palace, or rather a very strong Castle, of fine black polish’d Marble, and cover’d with fine Steel, as smooth as a Looking‐glass. Being mightily pleas’d that he had so speedily met with something worthy of his Curiosity, he stopp’d before the front of the Castle, and consider’d it with abundance of Attention. […] At last he enter’d, and when he came within the Porch, he cried, Is there nobody here to receive a stranger, who comes in for some Refreshment as he passes by? He repeated the same two or three times; but tho’ he spoke very high, no body answer’d. This silence increased his Astonishment; he came into a very spacious Court, and looking on every side, to see if he could perceive any body, he saw no living thing – But, Sir, says Scheherazade, Day appears, and I must stop.

Ah! Sister, says Dinarzade, you break off at the very best of the Story. It is true, answers the Sultaness, but Sister, you see I am forc’d to do so. If my Lord the Sultan pleases, you may hear the rest to Morrow. Schahriar agreed to this, not so much to please Dinarzade, as to satisfy his own Curiosity, being mighty impatient to know what adventure the Prince met with in the Castle.