KINGS IN GARDENS 



with fiery flowers, we rest. Strange shadows flit 

 about in dim vistas through the palms, noiselessly, 

 white, scented. 



Says the king : " It was such a place as this 

 that gave to Mahomet his idea of Paradise. In 

 the Koran you will find how all the Faithful 

 shall go to a garden when they die. They 

 repose there on couches of white silk lined with 

 crimson, and drink wine that does not intoxicate 

 them ; ' wine that shall have the odour of musk, 

 in bottles none but themselves shall open, mixt 

 with the water of the fountain of Paradise, where 

 the Cherubins do drink.' After the heat of the 

 desert and the burning sand and the strife of 

 life they are promised time and time again the 

 pleasures of a garden where they live for ever 

 like kings, waited upon by pages in shining 

 robes of green silk, adored by women as white 

 as pearls, with coal-black eyes. It is of shade 

 and rivers, of fruit and ease and scent and wine 

 they dream. 



" Look at this garden where we sit and see how 

 it is to these Arabs an earthly Paradise. The 

 fruits of the earth grow here, and a man can live 

 by stretching out his hand. There are figs and 



14 



