The grand vizier. endeavoured to divert the sultan from this design; he represented to him the danger to which he might be exposed, and that all his labour might perhaps be in vain:  but it was to no purpose; the sultan was resolved.  He put on a suit fit for walking, and took his cimeter; and as soon as he found that all was quiet in the camp, went out alone, and passed over one of the hills without much difficulty; he found the descent still more easy, and when he came to the plain, walked on till the sun arose, and then he saw before him, at a considerable distance, a vast building.  He rejoiced at the sight, in hopes of receiving there the information he sought.  When he drew near, he found it was a magnificent palace, or rather a strong castle, of black polished marble, and covered with fine steel, as smooth as glass.  Being highly pleased that he had so speedily met with something worthy his curiosity, he stopped before the front of the castle, and considered it with attention.

He then advanced towards the gate, which had two leaves, one of them open; though he might immediately have entered, yet he thought it best to knock.  This he did at first softly, and waited for some time; but seeing no one, and supposing he had not been heard, he knocked harder the second time, and after that he knocked again and again, but no one yet appearing, he was exceedingly surprised; for he could not think that a castle in such repair was without inhabitants.  “If there be no one in it,” said he to himself, “I have nothing to fear; and if it be inhabited, I have wherewith to defend myself.”

At last he entered, and when he came within the porch, he cried, “Is there no one here to receive a stranger, who comes in for some refreshment as he passes by?” He repeated the same words two or three times; but though he spoke very loud, he was not answered.  The silence increased his astonishment:  he came into a spacious court, and looked on every side for inhabitants, but discovered none.

The sultan entered the grand halls, which were hung with silk tapestry, the alcoves and sofas were covered with stuffs of Mecca, and the porches with the richest stuffs of India, mixed with gold and silver.  He came afterwards into a superb saloon, in the middle of which was a fountain, with a lion of massy gold at each angle:  water issued from the mouths of the four lions; and as it fell, formed diamonds and pearls, resembling a jet d’eau, which springing from the middle of the fountain, rose nearly to the top of a cupola painted in Arabesque.

The castle, on three sides, was encompassed by a garden, with parterres of flowers, shrubbery, and whatever could concur to embellish it; and to complete the beauty of the place, an infinite number of birds filled the air with their harmonious notes, and always remained there, nets being spread over the garden, and fastened to the palace to confine them.  The sultan walked from apartment to apartment, where he found every thing