The Story of Zobeide we 118i

 

On each side of the bed’s head there stood a lighted torch, but for
what use I could not comprehend; however, it made me imagine that
there was some living creature in this place, for I could not believe

_that these torches continued thus burning of themselves.

The doors being all-open, or but half shut, I surveyed some
other. apartments that were as fine as those I had already seen.
I looked into the offices'and store-rooms, which were full of infinite
riches, and I was so much taken with the sight of all the
wonderful things that I forgot myself, and did not think of my

ship or my sisters; my whole design was to satisfy my curiosity.
Meantime night came on, which put me in mind that it was
time to retire. I was for returning by the way I came in, but I
could ‘not find it; I lost myself among the apartments; and
finding I was come back again to that large room where the
throne, the couch, the large diamond, and the torches stood, I
resolved to take my night’s lodging there, and to depart the next
morning betimes, to get aboard my ship. I laid myself down:
upon the couch, not without some dread of being alone: in a
desolate place;.and this fear hindered my sleep.
About midnight I heard’ a voice like that of a man 1 reading
the Koran, after the same manner and. in the same tone as wé
read in our mosques.. Being extremely glad to hear it, I got up
immediately, and; taking a torch in my hand to light me, I. passed
from one chamber to another on that side where the voice came
from: I came to a door, where I stood still, nowise doubting that it’
came from thence. I set. down my torch upon the ground, and
looking through a window I found it to be an oratory. In short, it

- had, as we have in our mosques, a niche that shows where we must
turn to say our prayers; there were also lamps hung up, and two
candlesticks with large tapers of white wax burning.

I saw a little carpet laid down, like those we have to kneel upon
when we say our prayers, and a comely young man sat upon this