then shaking off the diamonds from their wings, rose
into the air with a gush of melody, pouring out their souls to their
Maker. And all gentle and exquisite creatures were met together in that
spot, to glad the eye with life--the soft-eyed gazelle, the swift
antelope, the graceful stag, the Java deer, smallest of its kind:
nothing was absent which could add beauty and variety to the scene.

Amid such innocent joys, drinking in poetry at its very fount, several
days were passed, each shorter than the one preceding. Their hunger was
satisfied with delicious fruits; and when weary, a natural couch of moss
received them, and the trees locked their arms together, and bent over
them, as if to keep off all harm, if harm could have existed in that
place. It seemed that life could glide away in perfect bliss in those
gardens of beauty, where naught repulsive or annoying could enter, and
delight succeeded delight. Could glide away, did I say?--not there; for
in the centre of that Paradise flowed the fountain of eternal youth, and
over its brink hung the bush whose magic roses were famed abroad.

The sight of them awoke the sleeping energies of the noble and resolute
knight. "And shall I falsify my motto?" said he. "Shall the bliss of the
present satisfy me, while so much remains unaccomplished--while might is
triumphant over right, innocence is oppressed, and brute force bears
rule upon the earth? Shall I lap my soul in indolent ease while the
work of life is before me? Not so: still must I seek what is higher,
purer, nobler; still must my heart pant for excellence; still must I
learn bravely to endure."

Speaking thus, he plucked three roses from the magic tree, and placed
them upon his breast, and as the sun approached the western horizon, the
comrades drew near to the gate which separated them from the world of
common life. The stony barrier opened before the charmed words, and when
they had emerged from its gloom, closed again with a clap of thunder.
Never since has mortal man profaned those regions of unclouded
happiness.

Their little fairy skiff speedily conveyed them to the cave, and with
the early morning they resumed their journey. Their route lay, as
before, through an attractive country, and the peasants, in picturesque
costumes, were engaged in the various labors of rural life: but how
changed did all at first appear! It seemed as if scales had fallen off
their eyes, showing coarseness and deformity, where previo