erecting of a palace, which was unparalleled for
its solidity, its extent, and its magnificence. He erected in the
centre of it a kiosk, the walls of which were six hundred feet long,
and the cement and all the jointings of it were of silver. This kiosk
contained a thousand chambers, each of which enclosed a throne of
gold: he caused three hundred and sixty-five gates of crystal to be
made, which he placed in such a manner that every day throughout the
year the rising sun shone upon one of them. His palace had seven
hundred porters; sixty viziers were occupied in his affairs. There
were always in the hall of audience sixty thrones, on which were
seated those who had signalized themselves in war. He had seven
thousand astrologers, who assembled every day, and continually
declared to him the different influences of the stars. He was always
surrounded by ten thousand ichoglans, who wore girdles and crowns of
solid gold, and were most magnificently clad: they had no other
employment but that of being always ready to receive his orders. He
appointed sixty pashas, each of whom had under his command two
thousand well-made and valiant young men, who each in particular
commanded two thousand soldiers.

One day, when Dakianos was in the height of his splendour, an old man
arose from beneath the throne upon which he was seated. The King,
amazed, asked him who he was. He was an unbelieving genie, but, far
from confessing it,

"I am," he answered, "a prophet of God: I obey His orders by coming to
you. Know, therefore, that He has made me the god of the heavens, and
that He ordains that you should be the god of the earth."

Dakianos answered him, "Who will believe that I am so?"

And the genie immediately disappeared.

Some time after, Dakianos had again the same apparition, and the genie
repeated to him the same things; but he answered him,

"You deceive me. How can I be the god of the earth?"

"Your power, your great actions, and the care that Allah has taken of
you, ought to persuade you; but if you will not believe me," pursued
the old man, "do what I shall tell you, and you will soon be
convinced."

Dakianos, whose pride this flattered, and who had nothing more to
desire of human greatness, promised him to consent to everything.

"Let your throne be placed upon the shore of the sea," pursued the old
man.

What he desired was executed. And when Dakianos was placed there,
"Prince," said the genie to him, "there is at