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new moon the young emperor came forth from his palace and went into
the mosque to pray。 his hair and beard were dyed with rose…leaves；
and his cheeks were powdered with a fine gold dust。 the palms of
his feet and hands were yellow with saffron。
at sunrise he went forth from his palace in a robe of silver； and
at sunset he returned to it again in a robe of gold。 the people
flung themselves on the ground and hid their faces； but i would not
do so。 i stood by the stall of a seller of dates and waited。 when
the emperor saw me； he raised his painted eyebrows and stopped。 i
stood quite still； and made him no obeisance。 the people marvelled
at my boldness； and counselled me to flee from the city。 i paid no
heed to them； but went and sat with the sellers of strange gods；
who by reason of their craft are abominated。 when i told them what
i had done； each of them gave me a god and prayed me to leave them。
that night； as i lay on a cushion in the tea…house that is in the
street of pomegranates； the guards of the emperor entered and led
me to the palace。 as i went in they closed each door behind me；
and put a chain across it。 inside was a great court with an arcade
running all round。 the walls were of white alabaster； set here and
there with blue and green tiles。 the pillars were of green marble；
and the pavement of a kind of peach…blossom marble。 i had never
seen anything like it before。
as i passed across the court two veiled women looked down from a
balcony and cursed me。 the guards hastened on； and the butts of
the lances rang upon the polished floor。 they opened a gate of
wrought ivory； and i found myself in a watered garden of seven
terraces。 it was planted with tulip…cups and moonflowers； and
silver…studded aloes。 like a slim reed of crystal a fountain hung
in the dusky air。 the cypress…trees were like burnt…out torches。
from one of them a nightingale was singing。
at the end of the garden stood a little pavilion。 as we
approached it two eunuchs came out to meet us。 their fat bodies
swayed as they walked； and they glanced curiously at me with their
yellow…lidded eyes。 one of them drew aside the captain of the
guard； and in a low voice whispered to him。 the other kept
munching scented pastilles； which he took with an affected gesture
out of an oval box of lilac enamel。
after a few moments the captain of the guard dismissed the
soldiers。 they went back to the palace； the eunuchs following
slowly behind and plucking the sweet mulberries from the trees as
they passed。 once the elder of the two turned round； and smiled at
me with an evil smile。
then the captain of the guard motioned me towards the entrance of
the pavilion。 i walked on without trembling； and drawing the heavy
curtain aside i entered in。
the young emperor was stretched on a couch of dyed lion skins； and
a gerfalcon perched upon his wrist。 behind him stood a brass…
turbaned nubian； naked down to the waist； and with heavy earrings
in his split ears。 on a table by the side of the couch lay a
mighty scimitar of steel。
when the emperor saw me he frowned； and said to me； 〃what is thy
name？ knowest thou not that i am emperor of this city？〃 but i
made him no answer。
he pointed with his finger at the scimitar； and the nubian seized
it； and rushing forward struck at me with great violence。 the
blade whizzed through me； and did me no hurt。 the man fell
sprawling on the floor； and when he rose up his teeth chattered
with terror and he hid himself behind the couch。
the emperor leapt to his feet； and taking a lance from a stand of
arms； he threw it at me。 i caught it in its flight； and brake the
shaft into two pieces。 he shot at me with an arrow； but i held up
my hands and it stopped in mid…air。 then he drew a dagger from a
belt of white leather； and stabbed the nubian in the throat lest
the slave should tell of his dishonour。 the man writhed like a
trampled snake； and a red foam bubbled from his lips。
as soon as he 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 a