of us. So he called upon his head the protection
of Allah, and went swifter, to chase from his limbs
the shudder of awe; and there were some that slept
not, but stared at him with fixed eyes, eyes frozen
by the light of the Lily, and he shunned those, for
they were like spectres, haunting spirits. After
he had coursed the length of the palace, he came to
a steep place outside it, a rock with steps cut in
stairs, and up these he went till he came to a small
door in the rock, and lying by it a bar; so he seized
the bar and smote the door, and the door shivered,
for on his right wrist were the hairs of Garraveen.
Bending his body, he slipped through the opening,
and behold, an orchard dropping blossoms and ripe
golden fruits, streams flowing through it over sands,
and brooks bounding above glittering gems, and long
dewy grasses, profusion of scented flowers, shade
and sweetness. So he let himself down to the
ground, which was an easy leap from the aperture, and
walked through the garden, holding the Lily behind
him, for here it darkened all, and the glowing orchard
was a desert by its light. Presently, his eye
fell on a couch swinging between two almond trees,
and advancing to it he beheld the black-eyed Queen
gathered up, folded temptingly, like a swaying fruit;
she with the gold circlet on her head, and she was
fair as blossom of the almond in a breeze of the wafted
rose-leaf. Sweetly was she gathered up, folded
temptingly, and Shibli Bagarag refrained from using
the Lily, thinking, “Tis like the great things
foretold of me, this having of Queens within the very
grasp, swinging to and fro as if to taunt backwardness!’
Then he thought, “Tis an enchantress!
I will yet try her.’ So he made a motion
of flourishing the Lily once or twice, but forbore,
fascinated, for she had on her fair face the softness
of sleep, her lips closed in dimples, and the wicked
fire shut from beneath her lids. Mastering his
mind, the youth at last held the Lily to her, and
saw a sight to blacken the world and all bright things
with its hideousness. Scarce had he time to
thrust the Lily in his robes, when the Queen started
up and clapped her hands, crying hurriedly, ’Abarak!
Abarak!’ and the little man appeared in a moment
at the door by which Shibli Bagarag had entered the
orchard. So, she cried still, ‘Abarak!’
and he moved toward her. Then she said, ’How
came this youth here, prying in my private walks,
my bowers? Speak!’
He answered, ’By the aid of Garraveen only, O Queen! and there is no force resisteth the bar so wielded.’
Rabesqurat looked under her brows at Shibli Bagarag and saw the horror on his face, and she cried out to Abarak in an agony, ‘Fetch me the mirror!’ Then Abarak ran, and returned ere the Queen had drawn seven impatient breaths, and in one hand he bore a sack, in the other a tray: so he emptied the contents of the sack on the surface of the tray; surely they were human eyes! and the Queen flung aside her