( 61 )
fo much as heard of it; and yet, it’s now ſixty Years ſince I hunted beyond that Mountain, and thereabouts. The Sultan ask’d the Fiſherman, how ſar the Pond might be from the Palace; the Fiſherman anſwer’d, it was not above three Hours Journey: Upon this Aſſurance, and there being Day enough before hand, the Sultan commanded all his Court to take Horſe, and the Fiſherman ſerv’d ’em for a Guide. They all aſcended the Mountain, and at the Foot of it, they ſaw, to their great Surprize, avaſt Plain, that no body had obſerv’d till then, and at laſt they came to the Pond, which they found actually to be ſituated betwixt four Hills, as the Fiſherman had ſaid. The Water of it was ſo tranſparent, that they obſerv’d all the Fiſhes, to belike thoſe which the Fiſherman had brought to the Palace.
The Sultan ſtaid upon the Bank of the Pond, and after beholding the Fiſhes with Admiration, he demanded of his Emirs, and all his Courtiers, if it was poſſible they had never ſeen this Pond, which was within ſolittle a way of the Town. They all anſwered, that they had never ſo much as heard of it.
Since you all agree, ſays he, that you never heard of it, and that I am no leſs aftoniſhed than you are, at this Novelty, lam reſolved not to return to my Palace, till I know how this Pond comes hither, and why all the Fiſh in it are of four Colours. Having ſpoke thus, he order’d his Court to encamp, and immediately his Pavilion, and the Tents of his Houſhold, were planted upon the Banks of the Pond.
When Night came, the Sultan retir’d under his Pavilion, and ſpoke to the Grand Viſierby himſelf, thus: Viſier, my Mind is very uneaſy; this Pond tranſported hither; the Black that appear’d to us in my Cloſet, and the Fiſhes that we heard ſpeak; all this does ſo much whet my Curioſity, that I cannot reſiſt the impatient Deſire that I have to be ſatisfied in it. To this end, I am reſolv’d to withdraw alone from the Camp and I order you to keep my Abſence ſeeret; ftay in my Pavilion, and to-morrow Morning when the Emirs and Courtiers come to attend my Levee, ſend ’em away, and tell ’em that I am ſomewhat indiſpos’d, and have a Mind to be alone, and the following Day tell them the ſame thing, till I return.
