60 THE GARDENS OF THE TAJ 



the flights of steps and under the splendid arch, 

 over which, inlaid in black marble, the flowing 

 Arabic letters invite the pure of heart to enter 

 the Gardens of Paradise. Seen from within the 

 entrance portal, rising above the mists which 

 wrapped the cypress trees and blurred the 

 reflections in the wide canal, the Taj itself loomed 

 white and ghostly — cheerless against a pale grey 

 sky. Then, as I reached the water's edge, with 

 a flash the topmost golden iris of the spire took 

 the sun. Softly and rapidly the rosy light stole 

 round the exquisite curve of the dome, flushing 

 the smooth, pearly surface of the marble, till, 

 striking the sides of the building, the sunshine 

 at length reached the great white platform, 

 lighting up each arched recess in a marvel of 

 mauve shade and amber reflection ; a fairy 

 beauty, a spirit building, " whose gates were as 

 of pearl," hovering for a moment over earth. 

 With the warmth of the sunrise the garden 

 mists rose high, drifting away in turquoise 

 wreaths between the deep green of the guardian 

 cypress trees ; whose slender shapes and curving 

 topmost crests were now clearly mirrored in the 

 still water, while between their dark reflections 

 shone the Taj, a miracle revealed. 



