Then she told the travelers to be of brave heart and of valiant hope, because there lay before them an ordeal demanding all their prowess, and after that the prospect of a great reward.  “Now,” she said, “that you have learned to love me, and to desire to have your dwelling here with me, you must go forth to prove your knighthood.  I am not inaccessible, but no man must think to win me for his lady unless he first justify his fealty by noble service.  The world to which you now go is a world of mirage and of phantasms, which appear real only to those who have never reached and seen this realm of mine on the heavenward side of the sun.  You will have to pass through ways beset by monstrous spectres, over wastes where rage ferocious hydras, chimeras, and strange dragons breathing flame.  You must journey past beautiful shadowy islets of the summer sea, in whose fertile bays the cunning sirens sing; you must brave the mountain robber, the goblins of the wilderness, and the ogre whose joy is to devour living men.  But fear nothing, for all these are but phantoms; nor do you need any sword or spear to slay them, but only a loyal mind and an unswerving purpose.  Let not your vision be deceived, nor your heart beguiled; return to me unscathed through all these many snares, and doubt not the worth and greatness of the guerdon I shall give.  Nor think you go unaided.  With each of you I send a guide and monitor; heed well his voice and follow where he leads.”

II.

Now, when the three travelers had received their presents, and had looked their last upon the shining face of the donor, they went out of the palace and through the golden gate of the wonderful city in which she dwelt, and so, once again, they came into the land which lies this side of the sun.

Then their ordeal began; but, indeed, they saw no sirens or dragons or gorgons, but only people like themselves going and coming along the highways.  Some of these people sauntered, some ran, some walked alone and pensively, others congregated in groups together and talked or laughed or shouted noisy songs.  Under the pleasant trees on the greensward were pavilions, beautifully adorned; the sound of music issued from many of them, fair women danced there under the new-blossoming trees, tossing flowers into the air, and feasts were spread, wine flowed, and jewels glittered.  And the music and the dancing women pleased the ear and eye of one of the three travelers, so that he turned aside from his companions to listen and to look.  Then presently a group of youths and girls drew near and spoke to him.  “It is our festival,” they said; “we are worshippers of Queen Beauty; come and feast with us.  The moon of May is rising; we shall dance all night in her beautiful soft beams.”  But he said, “I have just returned from a country the beauty of which far surpasses that of anything one can see