Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/100

88 in the lengthened shadow. After a little consideration, he took a spade, and where the shadow ceased, dug to the depth of about three feet. This brought him to a number of steps, which led into a subterranean cavity. Not a little exhilarated with his discovery, the clerk prosecuted the adventure. Descending the steps, he entered the hall of a magnificent palace, in which he perceived a number of persons seated at table, and the hall itself filled with men. They were all habited in costly apparel; and kept the most rigid silence. Looking about, he beheld, in one corner of the place, a polished stone, called a carbuncle, by the single aid of which the hall was enlighted. In the opposite corner, stood a man armed with a bow and arrow, in the act of taking aim at the precious stone. Upon his brow was inscribed, "I am what I am: my shaft is inevitable; nor can yon luminous carbuncle escape its stroke." The clerk, amazed at what he saw, entered the bed-chamber, and found a multitude of beautiful women arrayed in purple garments, but not a sound escaped them. From thence he