THE THIRD CALENDER. TI5

returned the next day, and the pleasure I should have experi-
enced in receiving them ought to have acted as a restraint upon
my curiosity ; but through a weakness, which I shall never cease
to lament, I yielded to the temptation of some evil spirit, who
did not suffer me to rest till I had subjected myself to the pain
and punishment I have since experienced.

I opened the fatal door, though I had promised not to attemp*
it. Before I even set my foot withinside, a very agreeable odour
struck me, but so powerful, it made me faint. I soon, however,
recovered, but instead of profiting by such warning, instantly
shutting the door, and giving up all idea of satisfying my curio-
sity, I entered; having first waited till the odour was lessened
and dispersed through the air. I then felt no inconvenience
from it. I found a very large and vaulted room, the floor of
which was strewed with saffron. It was illuminated with
lights made of aloe-wood and ambergris, and placed on golden
stands ; these afforded a strong smell. The brightness caused
by these was still farther heightened by many lamps of silver and
gold, which were filled with oil composed of many perfumes.

Among the numerous objects which attracted my attention,
was a black horse, the best-formed and most beautiful that ever
was seen. I went close to it in order to observe it more atten-
tively. The saddle and bridle, which were on it, were of massive
gold, richly worked. On one side of its manger there was clean
barley and sesame, and the other was filled with rose-water ; I
then took hold of its bridle, and led it towards the light, to exa-
mine it the better. I mounted it, and endeavoured to make it
go, but as it would not move, I struck it with a switch, which I
had found in its magnificent stable. It had hardly felt the
stroke, before it began to neigh in a most dreadful manner ;
then spreading its wings, which I had not till that moment per-
ceived, it rose so high in the air, that I lost sight of the ground.
I now thought only of holding fast on its back; nor did I ex-
perience any injury if I except the great terror with which I was
seized. At length it began to descend towards the earth, where
it alighted ; then, without giving me time to get down, it shook
me so violently, that I fell off behind, and with the end of its tail
it dashed out my right eye.

This was the way I became blind, and the prediction of the
ten young lords was now instantly brought to my recollection