The fountain itself was a tree of gold and silver[28] spreading into innumerable branches, covered with every variety of curious birds, their plumage appropriately imitated by the corresponding tints of precious stones, which warbled in beautiful melody as they poured forth from their bills the musical and refreshing element.
It was with difficulty that Alroy could refrain from an admiring exclamation, but Honain, ever quick, turned to him, with his finger pressed on his mouth, and quitting the quadrangle, they entered the gardens.
Lofty terraces, dark ma.s.ses of cypress, winding walks of acacia, in the distance an interminable paradise, and here and there a glittering pavilion and bright kiosk! Its appearance on the river had not prepared Alroy for the extent of the palace itself. It seemed infinite, and it was evident that he had only viewed a small portion of it. While they were moving on, there suddenly rose a sound of trumpets. The sound grew nearer and nearer, louder and louder: soon was heard the tramp of an approaching troop. Honain drew Alroy aside. A procession appeared advancing from a dark grove of cypress. Four hundred men led as many white bloodhounds with collars of gold and rubies.[29] Then came one hundred men, each with a hooded hawk; then six hors.e.m.e.n in rich dresses; after them a single horseman, mounted on a steed, marked on its forehead with a star.[30] The rider was middle-aged, handsome, and dignified. He was plainly dressed, but the staff of his hunting-spear was entirely of diamonds and the blade of gold.
He was followed by a company of Nubian eunuchs, with their scarlet dresses and ivory battle-axes, and the procession closed.
"The Caliph," whispered Honain, when they had pa.s.sed, placing at the same time his finger on his lip to prevent any inquiry. This was the first intimation that had reached Alroy of what he had already suspected, that he was a visitor to the palace of the Commander of the Faithful.
The companions turned down a wild and winding walk, which, after some time, brought them to a small and gently sloping lawn, surrounded by cedar-trees of great size. Upon the lawn was a kiosk, a long and many-windowed building, covered with blinds, and further screened by an overhanging roof. The kiosk was built of white and green marble, the ascent to it was by a flight of steps the length of the building, alternately of white and green marble, and nearly covered with rose-trees. Honain went up these steps alone, and entered the kiosk.
After a few minutes he looked out from the blinds and beckoned to Alroy.
David advanced, but Honain, fearful of some indiscretion, met him, and said to him in a low whisper between his teeth, "Remember you are deaf, a mute, and a eunuch." Alroy could scarcely refrain from smiling, and the Prince of the Captivity and the physician of the Caliph entered the kiosk together. Two women, veiled, and two eunuchs of the guard, received them in an antechamber. And then they pa.s.sed into a room which ran nearly the whole length of the kiosk, opening on one side to the gardens, and on the other supported by an ivory wall, with niches painted in green fresco, and in each niche a rose-tree. Each niche, also, was covered with an almost invisible golden grate, which confined a nightingale, and made him constant to the rose he loved. At the foot of each niche was a fountain, but, instead of water, each basin was replenished with the purest quicksilver.[31] The roof of the kiosk was of mother-of-pearl inlaid with tortoise-sh.e.l.l; the pavement, a mosaic of rare marbles and precious stones, representing the most delicious fruits and the most beautiful flowers. Over this pavement, a Georgian page flung at intervals refreshing perfumes. At the end of this elegant chamber was a divan of light green silk, embroidered with pearls, and covered with cushions of white satin and gold. Upon one of these cushions, in the middle of the divan, sat a lady, her eyes fixed in abstraction upon a volume of Persian poetry lying on her knees, one hand playing with a rosary of pearls and emeralds,[32] and the other holding a long gold chain, which imprisoned a white gazelle.
The lady looked up as Honain and his companion entered. She was very young, as youthful as Alroy. Her long light brown hair, drawn off a high white forehead covered with blue veins, fell braided with pearls over each shoulder. Her eyes were large and deeply blue; her nose small, but high and aquiline. The fairness of her face was dazzling, and, when she looked up and greeted Honain, her l.u.s.trous cheeks broke into dimples, the more fascinating from their contrast with the general expression of her countenance, which was haughty and derisive. The lady was dressed in a robe of crimson silk girded round her waist by a green shawl, from which peeped forth the diamond hilt of a small poniard.[33] Her round white arms looked infinitely small, as they occasionally flashed forth from their large loose hanging sleeves. One was covered with jewels, and the right arm was quite bare.
Honain advanced, and, bending, kissed the lady"s proffered hand. Alroy fell into the background.
"They told me that the Rose of the World drooped this morning," said the physician, bending again as he smiled, "and her slave hastened at her command to tend her."
"It was a south wind. The wind has changed, and the Rose of the World is better," replied the lady laughing.
Honain touched her pulse.
"Irregular," said the physician.
"Like myself," said the lady. "Is that a new slave?"
"A recent purchase, and a great bargain. He is good-looking, has the advantage of being deaf and dumb, and is harmless in every respect."
""Tis a pity," replied the lady; "it seems that all good-looking people are born to be useless. I, for instance."
"Yet rumour whispers the reverse," remarked the physician.
"How so?" inquired the lady.
"The young King of Karasme."
"Poh! I have made up my mind to detest him. A barbarian!"
"A hero!"
"Have you ever seen him?"
"I have."
"Handsome?"
"An archangel."
"And sumptuous?"
"Is he not a conqueror? All the plunder of the world will be yours."
"I am tired of magnificence. I built this kiosk to forget it."
"It is not in the least degree splendid," said Honain, looking round with a smile.
"No," answered the lady, with a self-satisfied air: "here, at least, one can forget one has the misfortune to be a princess."
"It is certainly a great misfortune," said the physician.
"And yet it must be the only tolerable lot," replied the lady.
"a.s.suredly," replied Honain.
"For our unhappy s.e.x, at least."
"Very unhappy."
"If I were only a man!"
"What a hero you would be!"
"I should like to live in endless confusion."
"I have not the least doubt of it."
"Have you got me the books?" eagerly inquired the Princess.
"My slave bears them," replied Honain.
"Let me see them directly."
Honain took the bag from Alroy, and unfolded its contents; the very volumes of Greek romances which Ali, the merchant, had obtained for him.
"I am tired of poetry," said the Princess, glancing over the costly volumes, and tossing them away; "I long to see the world."
"You would soon be tired of that," replied the physician.
"I suppose common people are never tired." said the Princess.
"Except with labour;" said the physician; "care keeps them alive."
"What is care?" asked the Princess, with a smile.
"It is a G.o.d," replied the physician, "invisible, but omnipotent. It steals the bloom from the cheek and lightness from the pulse; it takes away the appet.i.te, and turns the hair grey."
"It is no true divinity, then," replied the Princess, "but an idol we make ourselves. I am a sincere Moslem, and will not worship it. Tell me some news, Honain."