elcoming smile in his face.
His throne was elevated so that his feet were on the level of the heads
of the kinsmen of the Blood Royal beneath him, and they in silk and
ermine and fine brocades and jewels. And beneath these were the barons
and dukes and knights. And beneath these were the captains of the
fighting men, three thousand and three. And beneath these were the
musicians and the sorcerers. And behind Kubla Khan, very big, very
erect, stood his three great servants, the Keeper of the Hunting
Leopards, the Keeper of the Speaking Drums, and the Keeper of the
Khan's Swords.

And beside Kubla Khan, on a little throne, sat Golden Bells... And it
was the sight of her more than the sight of the great assembly that
dumbed the words in his mouth. And Kubla was smiling at him, and she
was smiling, too.

And Kubla saw there was something wrong with him, that there was
embarrassment on him and he rose from his: throne.

"There is welcome for you here, Marco Polo, and no enmity. There is
interest, in and eagerness for your message. There is none here will
criticize you or make it hard for you. Let there be no shame on you in
speaking before so many people. Say what you have to say as if there
were nobody here, if that will help you, barring myself and the little
daughter beside me..."

"O Emperor," the words came back to Marco Polo, "and ye, great princes,
dukes, and marquises, counts, knights, and burgesses, and people of all
degrees who desire the light of the world, grace be to you and peace,
from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ!

"The message I have to give you, I shall give in the words of Him,
Whose perfect message it is:

"'Beati pauperes spiritu,--Blessed are the poor in spirit.

"'Quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum,--for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.

"'Beati mites,--Blessed are the meek...'"

And Marco Polo went on and quoted for them the words that were spoken
on the Mount in Galilee. And they listened to him with great civility
and attention. And little Golden Bells leaned forward, with her chin
on her hands, and Kubla leaned back in his throne, with his eyes half
closed.

"'But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil, but whoever shall smite
thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.'" And at this the
great Khan looked up puzzled, and a movement went through the fighting
men in the hall. But wee Golden Bells never budged a minute, and Marco
Polo went on:

"