the¡¡dress£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡fingers¡¡apart£»¡¡and¡¡oh£»¡¡what¡¡happiness¡¡beamed¡¡from
her¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡her¡¡whole¡¡countenance£¡¡¡'To¡morrow¡¡you¡¡shall¡¡go
out¡¡in¡¡your¡¡new¡¡clothes£»'¡¡said¡¡her¡¡mother£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡little¡¡one¡¡looked
up¡¡at¡¡her¡¡hat£»¡¡and¡¡down¡¡at¡¡her¡¡frock£»¡¡and¡¡smiled¡¡brightly¡£¡¡'Mother£»'
she¡¡cried£»¡¡'what¡¡will¡¡the¡¡little¡¡dogs¡¡think£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡see¡¡me¡¡in¡¡these
splendid¡¡new¡¡things£¿'¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡SEVENTEENTH¡¡EVENING
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡spoken¡¡to¡¡you¡¡of¡¡Pompeii£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Moon£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡corpse
of¡¡a¡¡city£»¡¡exposed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡view¡¡of¡¡living¡¡towns£º¡¡I¡¡know¡¡another¡¡sight
still¡¡more¡¡strange£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡is¡¡not¡¡the¡¡corpse£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡spectre¡¡of¡¡a
city¡£¡¡Whenever¡¡the¡¡jetty¡¡fountains¡¡splash¡¡into¡¡the¡¡marble¡¡basins£»¡¡they
seem¡¡to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡be¡¡telling¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡the¡¡floating¡¡city¡£¡¡Yes£»¡¡the
spouting¡¡water¡¡may¡¡tell¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡the¡¡waves¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡may¡¡sing¡¡of¡¡her
fame£¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ocean¡¡a¡¡mist¡¡often¡¡rests£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡is
her¡¡widow's¡¡veil¡£¡¡The¡¡bridegroom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡is¡¡dead£»¡¡his¡¡palace¡¡and
his¡¡city¡¡are¡¡his¡¡mausoleum£¡¡¡Dost¡¡thou¡¡know¡¡this¡¡city£¿¡¡She¡¡has¡¡never
heard¡¡the¡¡rolling¡¡of¡¡wheels¡¡or¡¡the¡¡hoof¡tread¡¡of¡¡horses¡¡in¡¡her
streets£»¡¡through¡¡which¡¡the¡¡fish¡¡swim£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡black¡¡gondola¡¡glides
spectrally¡¡over¡¡the¡¡green¡¡water¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡show¡¡you¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¨¡¡continued
the¡¡Moon£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡largest¡¡square¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡will¡¡fancy¡¡yourself
transported¡¡into¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fairy¡¡tale¡£¡¡The¡¡grass¡¡grows¡¡rank
among¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡flagstones£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡twilight¡¡thousands¡¡of
tame¡¡pigeons¡¡flutter¡¡around¡¡the¡¡solitary¡¡lofty¡¡tower¡£¡¡On¡¡three¡¡sides
you¡¡find¡¡yourself¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡cloistered¡¡walks¡£¡¡In¡¡these¡¡the
silent¡¡Turk¡¡sits¡¡smoking¡¡his¡¡long¡¡pipe£»¡¡the¡¡handsome¡¡Greek¡¡leans
against¡¡the¡¡pillar¡¡and¡¡gazes¡¡at¡¡the¡¡upraised¡¡trophies¡¡and¡¡lofty¡¡masts£»
memorials¡¡of¡¡power¡¡that¡¡is¡¡gone¡£¡¡The¡¡flags¡¡hang¡¡down¡¡like¡¡mourning
scarves¡£¡¡A¡¡girl¡¡rests¡¡there£º¡¡she¡¡has¡¡put¡¡down¡¡her¡¡heavy¡¡pails¡¡filled
with¡¡water£»¡¡the¡¡yoke¡¡with¡¡which¡¡she¡¡has¡¡carried¡¡them¡¡rests¡¡on¡¡one¡¡of
her¡¡shoulders£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡leans¡¡against¡¡the¡¡mast¡¡of¡¡victory¡£¡¡That¡¡is
not¡¡a¡¡fairy¡¡palace¡¡you¡¡see¡¡before¡¡you¡¡yonder£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡church£º¡¡the¡¡gilded
domes¡¡and¡¡shining¡¡orbs¡¡flash¡¡back¡¡my¡¡beams£»¡¡the¡¡glorious¡¡bronze¡¡horses
up¡¡yonder¡¡have¡¡made¡¡journeys£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡bronze¡¡horse¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fairy¡¡tale£º
they¡¡have¡¡come¡¡hither£»¡¡and¡¡gone¡¡hence£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡returned¡¡again¡£¡¡Do¡¡you
notice¡¡the¡¡variegated¡¡splendour¡¡of¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡and¡¡windows£¿¡¡It¡¡looks
as¡¡if¡¡Genius¡¡had¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡caprices¡¡of¡¡a¡¡child£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡adornment¡¡of
these¡¡singular¡¡temples¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡see¡¡the¡¡winged¡¡lion¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pillar£¿
The¡¡gold¡¡glitters¡¡still£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡wings¡¡are¡¡tied¡¡¡the¡¡lion¡¡is¡¡dead£»¡¡for
the¡¡king¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡is¡¡dead£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡halls¡¡stand¡¡desolate£»¡¡and¡¡where
gorgeous¡¡paintings¡¡hung¡¡of¡¡yore£»¡¡the¡¡naked¡¡wall¡¡now¡¡peers¡¡through¡£¡¡The
lazzarone¡¡sleeps¡¡under¡¡the¡¡arcade£»¡¡whose¡¡pavement¡¡in¡¡old¡¡times¡¡was
to¡¡be¡¡trodden¡¡only¡¡by¡¡the¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡high¡¡nobility¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡deep
wells£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡from¡¡the¡¡prisons¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Bridge¡¡of¡¡Sighs£»¡¡rise¡¡the
accents¡¡of¡¡woe£»¡¡as¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡the¡¡tambourine¡¡was¡¡heard¡¡in¡¡the
gay¡¡gondolas£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡golden¡¡ring¡¡was¡¡cast¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Bucentaur¡¡to
Adria£»¡¡the¡¡queen¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seas¡£¡¡Adria£¡¡¡shroud¡¡thyself¡¡in¡¡mists£»¡¡let
the¡¡veil¡¡of¡¡thy¡¡widowhood¡¡shroud¡¡thy¡¡form£»¡¡and¡¡clothe¡¡in¡¡the¡¡weeds
of¡¡woe¡¡the¡¡mausoleum¡¡of¡¡thy¡¡bridegroom¡¡¡the¡¡marble£»¡¡spectral¡¡Venice¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡EIGHTEENTH¡¡EVENING
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡great¡¡theatre£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Moon¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡house
was¡¡crowded£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡new¡¡actor¡¡was¡¡to¡¡make¡¡his¡¡first¡¡appearance¡¡that
night¡£¡¡My¡¡rays¡¡glided¡¡over¡¡a¡¡little¡¡window¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a
painted¡¡face¡¡with¡¡the¡¡forehead¡¡pressed¡¡against¡¡the¡¡panes¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the
hero¡¡of¡¡the¡¡evening¡£¡¡The¡¡knighly¡¡beard¡¡curled¡¡crisply¡¡about¡¡the
chin£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡were¡¡tears¡¡in¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡eyes£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hissed
off£»¡¡and¡¡indeed¡¡with¡¡reason¡£¡¡The¡¡poor¡¡Incapable£¡¡¡But¡¡Incapables¡¡cannot
be¡¡admitted¡¡into¡¡the¡¡empire¡¡of¡¡Art¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡deep¡¡feeling£»¡¡and¡¡loved¡¡his
art¡¡enthusiastically£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡art¡¡loved¡¡not¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡prompter's¡¡bell
sounded£»¡¡'the¡¡hero¡¡enters¡¡with¡¡a¡¡determined¡¡air£»'¡¡so¡¡ran¡¡the¡¡stage
direction¡¡in¡¡his¡¡part£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡appear¡¡before¡¡an¡¡audience¡¡who
turned¡¡him¡¡into¡¡ridicule¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡piece¡¡was¡¡over£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡form
wrapped¡¡in¡¡a¡¡mantle£»¡¡creeping¡¡down¡¡the¡¡steps£º¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡vanquished
knight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡evening¡£¡¡The¡¡scene¡shifters¡¡whispered¡¡to¡¡one¡¡another£»
and¡¡I¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡fellow¡¡home¡¡to¡¡his¡¡room¡£¡¡To¡¡hang¡¡one's¡¡self¡¡is
to¡¡die¡¡a¡¡mean¡¡death£»¡¡and¡¡poison¡¡is¡¡not¡¡always¡¡at¡¡hand£»¡¡I¡¡know£»¡¡but
he¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡both¡£¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡how¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡his¡¡pale¡¡face¡¡in¡¡the¡¡glass£»
with¡¡eyes¡¡half¡¡closed£»¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡he¡¡should¡¡look¡¡well¡¡as¡¡a¡¡corpse¡£¡¡A
man¡¡may¡¡be¡¡very¡¡unhappy£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡exceedingly¡¡affected¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡of
death£»¡¡of¡¡suicide£»¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡he¡¡pitied¡¡himself£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡wept
bitterly£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡a¡¡man¡¡has¡¡had¡¡his¡¡cry¡¡out¡¡he¡¡doesn't¡¡kill¡¡himself¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Since¡¡that¡¡time¡¡a¡¡year¡¡had¡¡rolled¡¡by¡£¡¡Again¡¡a¡¡play¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be
acted£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡a¡¡little¡¡theatre£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡a¡¡poor¡¡strolling¡¡company¡£¡¡Again
I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡well¡remembered¡¡face£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡painted¡¡cheeks¡¡and¡¡the
crisp¡¡beard¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡me¡¡and¡¡smiled£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hissed
off¡¡only¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡before¡¡¡hissed¡¡off¡¡from¡¡a¡¡wretched¡¡theatre£»¡¡by¡¡a
miserable¡¡audience¡£¡¡And¡¡tonight¡¡a¡¡shabby¡¡hearse¡¡rolled¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the
town¡gate¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡suicide¡¡¡our¡¡painted£»¡¡despised¡¡hero¡£¡¡The¡¡driver¡¡of
the¡¡hearse¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡person¡¡present£»¡¡for¡¡no¡¡one¡¡followed¡¡except
my¡¡beams¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡churchyard¡¡the¡¡corpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡suicide
was¡¡shovelled¡¡into¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡and¡¡nettles¡¡will¡¡soon¡¡be¡¡growing
rankly¡¡over¡¡his¡¡grave£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sexton¡¡will¡¡throw¡¡thorns¡¡and¡¡weeds¡¡from
the¡¡other¡¡graves¡¡upon¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡NINETEENTH¡¡EVENING
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡come¡¡from¡¡Rome£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Moon¡£¡¡¡¨In¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡upon
one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seven¡¡hills£»¡¡lie¡¡the¡¡ruins¡¡of¡¡the¡¡imperial¡¡palace¡£¡¡The¡¡wild
fig¡¡tree¡¡grows¡¡in¡¡the¡¡clefts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡covers¡¡the¡¡nakedness
thereof¡¡with¡¡its¡¡broad¡¡grey¡green¡¡leaves£»¡¡trampling¡¡among¡¡heaps¡¡of
rubbish£»¡¡the¡¡ass¡¡treads¡¡upon¡¡green¡¡laurels£»¡¡and¡¡rejoices¡¡over¡¡the¡¡rank
thistles¡£¡¡From¡¡this¡¡spot£»¡¡whence¡¡the¡¡eagles¡¡of¡¡Rome¡¡once¡¡flew
abroad£»¡¡whence¡¡they¡¡'came£»¡¡saw£»¡¡and¡¡conquered£»'¡¡our¡¡door¡¡leads¡¡into
a¡¡little¡¡mean¡¡house£»¡¡built¡¡of¡¡clay¡¡between¡¡two¡¡pillars£»¡¡the¡¡wild
vine¡¡hangs¡¡like¡¡a¡¡mourning¡¡garland¡¡over¡¡the¡¡crooked¡¡window¡£¡¡An¡¡old
woman¡¡and¡¡her¡¡little¡¡granddaughter¡¡live¡¡there£º¡¡they¡¡rule¡¡now¡¡in¡¡the
palace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Caesars£»¡¡and¡¡show¡¡to¡¡strangers¡¡the¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡its¡¡past
glories¡£¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡splendid¡¡throne¡hall¡¡only¡¡a¡¡naked¡¡wall¡¡yet¡¡stands£»¡¡and
a¡¡black¡¡cypress¡¡throws¡¡its¡¡dark¡¡shadow¡¡on¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡where¡¡the¡¡throne
once¡¡stood¡£¡¡The¡¡dust¡¡lies¡¡several¡¡feet¡¡deep¡¡on¡¡the¡¡broken¡¡pavement£»
and¡¡the¡¡little¡¡maiden£»¡¡now¡¡the¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡imperial¡¡palace£»
often¡¡sits¡¡there¡¡on¡¡her¡¡stool¡¡when¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡bells¡¡ring¡£¡¡The¡¡keyhole
of¡¡the¡¡door¡¡close¡¡by¡¡she¡¡calls¡¡her¡¡turret¡¡window£»¡¡through¡¡this¡¡she¡¡can
see¡¡half¡¡Rome£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡cupola¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡Peter's¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨On¡¡this¡¡evening£»¡¡as¡¡usual£»¡¡stillness¡¡reigned¡¡around£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the
full¡¡beam¡¡of¡¡my¡¡light¡¡came¡¡the¡¡little¡¡granddaughter¡£¡¡On¡¡her¡¡head¡¡she
carried¡¡an¡¡earthen¡¡pitcher¡¡of¡¡antique¡¡shape¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡water¡£¡¡Her
feet¡¡were¡¡bare£»¡¡her¡¡short¡¡frock¡¡and¡¡her¡¡white¡¡sleeves¡¡were¡¡torn¡£¡¡I
kissed¡¡her¡¡pretty¡¡round¡¡shoulders£»¡¡her¡¡dark¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡black¡¡shining
hair¡£¡¡She¡¡mounted¡¡the¡¡stairs£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡steep£»¡¡having¡¡been¡¡made¡¡up
of¡¡rough¡¡blocks¡¡of¡¡broken¡¡marble¡¡and¡¡the¡¡capital¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fallen¡¡pillar¡£
The¡¡coloured¡¡lizards¡¡slipped¡¡away£»¡¡startled£»¡¡from¡¡before¡¡her¡¡feet£»¡¡but
she¡¡was¡¡not¡¡frightened¡¡at¡¡them¡£¡¡Already¡¡she¡¡lifted¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡pull
the¡¡door¡bell¡¡¡a¡¡hare's¡¡foot¡¡fastened¡¡to¡¡a¡¡string¡¡formed¡¡the
bell¡handle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡imperial¡¡palace¡£¡¡She¡¡paused¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡¡of¡¡what
might¡¡she¡¡be¡¡thinking£¿¡¡Perhaps¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beautiful¡¡Christ¡child£»
dressed¡¡in¡¡gold¡¡and¡¡silver£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡down¡¡below¡¡in¡¡the¡¡chapel£»
where¡¡the¡¡silver¡¡candlesticks¡¡gleamed¡¡so¡¡bright£»¡¡and¡¡where¡¡her
little¡¡friends¡¡sung¡¡the¡¡hymns¡¡in¡¡which¡¡she¡¡also¡¡could¡¡join£¿¡¡I¡¡know
not¡£¡¡Presently¡¡she¡¡moved¡¡again¡¡¡she¡¡stumbled£º¡¡the¡¡earthen¡¡vessel
fell¡¡from¡¡her¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡broke¡¡on¡¡the¡¡marble¡¡steps¡£¡¡She¡¡burst¡¡into
tears¡£¡¡The¡¡beautiful¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡imperial¡¡palace¡¡wept¡¡over¡¡the
worthless¡¡broken¡¡pitcher£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡bare¡¡feet¡¡she¡¡stood¡¡there
weeping£»¡¡and¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡pull¡¡the¡¡string£»¡¡the¡¡bell¡rope¡¡of¡¡the
imperial¡¡palace£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡TWENTIETH¡¡EVENING
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡fortnight¡¡since¡¡the¡¡Moon¡¡had¡¡shone¡£¡¡Now¡¡he
stood¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡round¡¡and¡¡bright£»¡¡above¡¡the¡¡clouds£»¡¡moving¡¡slowly
onward¡£¡¡Hear¡¡what¡¡the¡¡Moon¡¡told¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨From¡¡a¡¡town¡¡in¡¡Fezzan¡¡I¡¡followed¡¡a¡¡caravan¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡margin¡¡of
the¡¡sandy¡¡desert£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡salt¡¡plain£»¡¡that¡¡shone¡¡like¡¡a¡¡frozen¡¡lake£»
and¡¡was¡¡only¡¡covered¡¡in¡¡spots¡¡with¡¡light¡¡drifting¡¡sand£»¡¡a¡¡halt¡¡was
made¡£¡¡The¡¡eldest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡company¡¡¡the¡¡water¡¡gourd¡¡hung¡¡at¡¡his¡¡girdle£»
and¡¡on¡¡his¡¡head¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡bag¡¡of¡¡unleavened¡¡bread¡¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡square¡¡in
the¡¡sand¡¡with¡¡his¡¡staff£»¡¡and¡¡wrote¡¡in¡¡it¡¡a¡¡few¡¡words¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Koran£»
and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡caravan¡¡passed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡consecrated¡¡spot¡£¡¡A¡¡young
merchant£»¡¡a¡¡child¡¡of¡¡the¡¡East£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡by¡¡his¡¡eye¡¡and¡¡his
figure£»¡¡rode¡¡pensively¡¡forward¡¡on¡¡his¡¡white¡¡snorting¡¡steed¡£¡¡Was¡¡he
thinking£»¡¡perchance£»¡¡of¡¡his¡¡fair¡¡young¡¡wife£¿¡¡It¡¡was¡¡only¡¡two¡¡days
ago¡¡that¡¡the¡¡camel£»¡¡adorned¡¡with¡¡furs¡¡and¡¡with¡¡costly¡¡shawls£»¡¡had
carried¡¡her£»¡¡the¡¡beauteous¡¡bride£»¡¡round¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡while
drums¡¡and¡¡cymbals¡¡had¡¡sounded£»¡¡the¡¡women¡¡sang£»¡¡and¡¡festive¡¡shots£»¡¡of
which¡¡the¡¡bridegroom¡¡fired¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡number£»¡¡resounded¡¡round¡¡the
camel£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡he¡¡was¡¡journeying¡¡with¡¡the¡¡caravan¡¡across¡¡the¡¡desert¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨For¡¡many¡¡nights¡¡I¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡train¡£¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡them¡¡rest¡¡by¡¡the
wellside¡¡among¡¡the¡¡stunted¡¡palms£»¡¡they¡¡thrust¡¡the¡¡knife¡¡into¡¡the
breast¡¡of¡¡the¡¡camel¡¡that¡¡had¡¡fallen£»¡¡and¡¡roasted¡¡its¡¡flesh¡¡by¡¡the
fire¡£¡¡My¡¡beams¡¡cooled¡¡the¡¡glowing¡¡sands£»¡¡and¡¡showed¡¡them¡¡the¡¡black
rocks£»¡¡dead¡¡islands¡¡in¡¡the¡¡immense¡¡ocean¡¡of¡¡sand¡£¡¡No¡¡hostile¡¡tribes
met¡¡them¡¡in¡¡their¡¡pathless¡¡route£»¡¡no¡¡storms¡¡arose£»¡¡no¡¡columns¡¡of
sand¡¡whirled¡¡destruction¡¡over¡¡the¡¡journeying¡¡caravan¡£¡¡At¡¡home¡¡the
beautiful¡¡wife¡¡prayed¡¡for¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡and¡¡her¡¡father¡£¡¡'Are¡¡they¡¡dead£¿'
she¡¡asked¡¡of¡¡my¡¡golden¡¡crescent£»¡¡'Are¡¡they¡¡dead£¿'¡¡she¡¡cried¡¡to¡¡my¡¡full
disc¡£¡¡Now¡¡the¡¡desert¡¡lies¡¡behind¡¡them¡£¡¡This¡¡evening¡¡they¡¡sit¡¡beneath
the¡¡lofty¡¡palm¡¡trees£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡crane¡¡flutters¡¡round¡¡them¡¡with¡¡its
long¡¡wings