136 FLORA HISTORICA. 



fairy scenes of the Arabian Nights' tales in the 

 shade. 



Vases of the purest crystal, filled with the gayest 

 Tulips the world produces, are scattered over the 

 scene, like the stars which look down upon them 

 for number ; galleries, amphitheatres, and pagodas 

 are erected, and covered with lights that form gar- 

 lands of emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and diamonds, 

 entwined with lights that present to the imagination 

 the sparkling of every jewel which nature has pro- 

 duced or art polished; showers of rose-water refresh 

 the air, and the very tapers shed the most exquisite 

 odours ; the banks are covered with carpets, whose 

 colours are as vivid as the clouds which surround 

 the setting sun ; pyramids of cooling fruits meet 

 the eye at every turn, whilst innumerable birds of 

 song, whose golden cages are suspended by strings 

 of pearl, seem to mistake the scene for the arrival 

 of Phoebus, and being awoke by the delights of the 

 feast, mix their warbling with the melodious sounds 

 of the instruments which seem touched by invisible 

 musicians. 



In the centre of the seraglio, a splendid pavilion 

 shades the Sultan, who carelessly reposes on the 

 skins of the most costly and curious animals, with 

 all the nobles of his court in their richest robes and 

 shawls, seated at his feet, to behold the winding 

 dances of the lovely women of his court, in all the 



