all that presented itself to my view, so that there was only the hundredth door left, which I was forbidden to open.
The fortieth day after the departure of the princesses arrived, and had I but retained the self-command I ought to have had, I should have been this day the happiest of all mankind, whereas now I am the most unfortunate. But through my weakness, which I shall ever repent, I opened that fatal door! Before I had moved my foot to enter, a smell, pleasant enough, but too powerful for my senses, made me faint away. However, I soon recovered; instead of taking warning from this incident to close the door and restrain my curiosity, I entered, and found myself in a spacious vaulted apartment, illuminated by several large tapers placed in candlesticks of solid gold.
Among the many objects that attracted my attention was a black horse, of the most perfect symmetry and beauty. I approached in order the better to observe him, and found he had on a saddle and bridle of massive gold, curiously wrought. One part of his manger was filled with clean barley, and the other with rose water. I laid hold of his bridle, and led him out to view him by daylight. I mounted, and endeavored to make him move; but finding he did not stir, I struck him with a switch I had taken up in his magnificent stable. He had no sooner felt the whip, than he began to neigh in a most horrible manner, and extending wings,
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