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in my Hand to light me, I paſſed from one Chamber to another, on that Side where the Voice came from him; I came to the Cloſet-Door, where I ſtood ſtill, no wiſe doubting that it came from thence. I ſet down my Torch upon the Ground, and looking through a Window, I found it to be an Oratory. In ſhort, it had, as we have in our Moſques, a Niche, that ſhews where we muſt turn to ſay our Prayers: There were alſo Lamps hung up, and two Candleſticks with large Tapers of white Wax burning.
I ſaw a little Carpet laid down like thoſe we have to kneel upon when we ſay Prayers, and a comely young Man ſat upon this Carpet reading the Alcoran, which lay before him upon a Desk, with great Devotion. At the ſight of this I was tranſported with Admiration, I wondred how it came to paſs that he ſhould be the only living Creature in a Town where all the People were turn’d into Stones, and I did not doubt but there was ſomething in it very extraordinary.
The Door being only half ſhut, I open’d it and went in, and ſtanding upright before the Niche, I ſaid this Prayer aloud, Praiſe be to God that has favour’d us with a happy Voyage, and may be graciouſly pleas’d to protect us in the ſame manner until we arrive again in our own Country. Hear me, O Lord, and grant my Requeſt.
The young Man caſt his Eyes upon me, and ſaid, My Lady, pray let me know who you are, and what has brought you to this deſolate City? And, in Requital, I will tell you who I am, what happened to me, why the Inhabitants of this City are reduced to that State you ſee them in, and why I alone am ſafe and ſound in the midſt of ſuch a terrible Diſaſter.
I told him in few Words from whence I came, what made me undertake the Voyage, and how I ſafely arrived at the Port after 20 Days ſailing ; and when I done, I pray’d him to perform his Promiſe, and told him how much I was ftruck by the frightful Deſolation which I had ſeen in all Places as I came along.
My dear Lady, ſays the young Man, have Patience for a Moment. At thoſe Words he ſhut the Alcoran, put it into a rich Caſe, and laid it in the Niche. I took that opportunity to obſerve him, and perceived ſo much good Nature and Beauty in him, that I felt ſuch ſtrange Commotions in myſelf
