ks of his ministers, favorites, and other people of his court.
Before him, upon the same elephant, an officer carries a golden
lance[68] in his hand; and behind him there is another, who stands
with a rod of gold, on the top of which is an emerald, half a foot
long and an inch thick. He is attended by a guard of one thousand men,
clad in cloth of gold and silk, and mounted on elephants richly
caparisoned. The officer who is before him on the same elephant, cries
from time to time, with a loud voice, 'Behold the great monarch, the
potent and redoubtable Sultan of the Indies, the monarch greater than
Solomon, and the powerful Maharaja.' After he has pronounced those
words, the officer behind the throne cries, in his turn, 'This
monarch, so great and so powerful, must die, must die, must die.'[69]
And the officer before replies, 'Praise alone be to Him who liveth
forever and ever.'"

[Footnote 67: "The king is honorably distinguished by various kinds of
ornaments, such as a collar set with jewels, sapphires, emeralds, and
rubies of immense value."--Marco Polo, p. 384.]

[Footnote 68: "Throwing the lance was a favorite pastime among the
young Arabians, and prepared them for the chase or war."--Notes to
_Vathek_, p. 295.]

[Footnote 69: Thus the Roman slave, on the triumph of an imperator,
"Respice post te, hominem te esse memento"; or the page of Philip of
Macedonia, who was made to address him every morning, "Remember,
Philip, thou art mortal."]

The caliph was much pleased with my account, and sent me home with a
rich present.

* * * * *

Here Sindbad commanded another hundred sequins to be paid to Hindbad,
and begged his return on the morrow to hear his seventh and last
voyage.

THE SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

On my return home from my sixth voyage I had entirely given up all
thoughts of again going to sea; for, besides that my age now required
rest, I was resolved no more to expose myself to such risks as I had
encountered, so that I thought of nothing but to pass the rest of my
days in tranquillity. One day, however, an officer of the caliph's
inquired for me.

"The caliph," said he, "has sent me to tell you that he must speak
with you."

I followed the officer to the palace, where, being presented to the
caliph, I saluted him by prostrating myself at his feet.

"Sindbad," said he to me, "I stand in need of your service; you must
carry my answer and pr