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is no god but God and Mohammed is the Apostle of God!’ Quoth Mousa, ‘I hear thee praise God and hallow him and [meseems] thou rejoicest.’ ‘O Amir,’ answered Abdussemed, ‘rejoice, for God (blessed and exalted be He!) hath delivered us from the frightful deserts and thirsty wastes.’ ‘How knowest thou that?’ asked Mousa, and the other, ‘I know it for that my father told me of my grandfather that he said, ‘We were once journeying in this land and straying from the road, came to this palace and thence to the City of Brass;” between which and the place thou seekest is two months’ travel; but thou must take to the sea-shore and leave it not, for there be wells and watering and camping places, established by King Iskender Dhoulkernein; for, when he went in quest of Morocco, he found by the way thirsty deserts and wastes and wilds and dug therein wells and built cisterns.’ Quoth Mousa, ‘May God rejoice thee with good news!’ and Abdussemed said, ‘Come, let us go look upon yonder palace and its marvels, for it is an admonition to whoso will be admonished.’
So the Amir went up to the palace, with the Sheikh and his chief officers, and coming to the gate, found it open. Now this gate was builded with lofty columns and porticoes whose walls were inlaid with gold and silver and precious stones, and there led up to it flights of steps, among which were two wide stairs of coloured marble, never was seen their like; and over the doorway was a tablet, whereon were graven letters of gold in the ancient Greek character. ‘O Amir,’ said the Sheikh, ‘shall I read?’ ‘Read and may God bless thee!’ replied Mousa. ‘For all that betideth us in this journey dependeth upon thy blessing.’ So the Sheikh, who was a very learned man and versed in all tongues and characters, went up to the tablet and read the following verses:
