Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/124

Rh colours, and possessed of wings and crests." He said, "Bring them at once." So they brought them. And he commanded, saying, "Place them on either side of the road, and put their food before them on the gold and silver." Then he said to the genii, "Bring your children." And they brought many. And he ordered them to be ranged on the right hand and on the left on either side of the road. Then King Solomon seated himself on his throne in the midst of his councillors. And around him were chairs—four thousand on his right and four thousand on his left. Then he said to the genii, "Place yourselves in array, and let each row be three miles long." And he ordered men the same, and beasts and wild beasts the same.

Then Mundzîr arrived. And when he saw the road, and strange animals which he had never before beheld, eating off the ground and soiling the gold and silver, he grew little in his own sight. Then he observed four empty spaces left amongst the golden bricks of the road; so he placed therein the four golden bricks from Balkîs. And when he beheld the genii, he was afraid. But they said to him, "Fear not; proceed." So he passed between them until he reached King Solomon,