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Sir, ſaid ſhe, I went out of the Chamber where the petrified Queen was, and came thro’ ſeveral other Apartments and Cloſets richly furniſh’d: and at laſt came into a vaſt large Room, where there was a Throne of maſſy Gold, rais’d ſeveral Steps above the Floor, and enrich’d with large inchas’d Emeralds, and a Bed upon the Throne of rich Stuff, embroidered with Pearls. That which ſurprized me more than all the reſt, was a ſparkling Light which came from above the Bed: Being curious to know from whence it came, I mounted the Steps, and lifted up my Head I ſaw a Diamond as big as the Egg of an Oſtrich, lying upon a low Stool; it was ſo pure, that I could not find the leaſt Blemiſh in it, and it ſparked fo bright, that I could not endure the Luſtre of it, when I ſaw it by Day.
On each fide of the Bed’s head there ſtood a lighted Flambeau, but to what Uſe I could not apprehend: However, it made me imagine that there was ſome living Creature in this Place; for I could not believe that theſe Torches continued thus burning of themſelves: Several other Rarities detained my Curiolity in this Room, which was ineſtimable, were it only for the Diamond I mentioned.
The Doors being all open. or but half-ſhut, I ſurvey’d ſome other Apartments, that were as fine as thoſe I had already ſeen. I look’d into all the Offices and Store-Rooms, which were full of infinite Riches, and I was fo much taken with the Sight of all theſe wonderful Things, that I forgot my ſelf, and did not think on my Ship, or my Siſters; my whole Deſign was to ſatisfy my Curioſity: Mean time Night came on, which put me in Mind that it was Time to retire, I was for returning by the ſame Way I came in, but I could not find it, I loſt my ſelf among the Apartments; and finding I was come back again to that large Room where the Throne, the Couch, the large Diamond and the Torches ſtood, I reſolved to make my Night’s Lodging there, and to depart next Morning betimes, to get aboard my Ship. I laid my ſelf down on the Couch, not without ſome Dread to be alone in a wild Place; and this Fear hinder’d my Sleep.
About Midnight I heard a Voice like that of a Man reading the Alcoran, after the ſame manner, and in the ſame Tone as we uſe to read it in our Moſques. Being extreamly glad to hear it, I got up immediately, and taking a Torchin
