Their
progress, however, was at length impeded by a vast portal of ebony, which
the Caliph without difficulty recognised; here the Giaour awaited them
with the key in his hand.
"Ye are welcome," said he to them, with a ghastly smile, "in spite of
Mahomet and all his dependants. I will now admit you into that palace
where you have so highly merited a place."
Whilst he was uttering these words he touched the enamelled lock with his
key, and the doors at once expanded, with a noise still louder than the
thunder of mountains, and as suddenly recoiled the moment they had
entered.
The Caliph and Nouronihar beheld each other with amazement, at finding
themselves in a place which, though roofed with a vaulted ceiling, was so
spacious and lofty that at first they took it for an immeasurable plain.
But their eyes at length growing familiar to the grandeur of the objects
at hand, they extended their view to those at a distance, and discovered
rows of columns and arcades, which gradually diminished till they
terminated in a point, radiant as the sun when he darts his last beams
athwart the ocean; the pavement, strewed over with gold dust and saffron,
exhaled so subtle an odour as almost overpowered them; they, however,
went on, and observed an infinity of censers, in which ambergris and the
wood of aloes were continually burning; between the several columns were
placed tables, each spread with a profusion of viands, and wines of every
species sparkling in vases of crystal.
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