rising sun. Behind them the green hills of Palestine died out as
a rainbow dies out, and now there was sand before them and now bleak
mountains, and by day the wind was swift and hot and by night it was
black and cold. And moons were born and died. . .

And they passed through the land of the King of Armenia, and they
passed Ararat, the mountain where Noah brought his ark to anchor,
and where it still is, and where it can be seen still, but cannot
be reached, so cold and high and terrible is that mountain.

And they passed ruined Babel, that was built of Nimrod, the first
king of the world, and now is desolation. They passed it on a waning
moon. And out of the ruins the dragons came and hissed at them, and
strange, obscene birds flapped their wings in the air and cawed and
pecked at them, and over the desert the satyr called unto her mate. . .

And they passed through the Kingdom of Georgia, whose kings are born
with the mark of an eagle on their right shoulder. They passed
through Persia, where the magicians worship fire. And they passed
through the city of Saba, where sleep the three magi who came to
worship at Bethlehem, and their names were Kaspar, Balthlasar, and
Melchior.

And they passed through Camadi, where great ruins are and robbers
roam through the magical darkness. And they passed northward of
the Perilous Valley, where the Devil's Head is in black stone, and
that is one of the nine entrances to hell; and passed the Valley of
the Cockadrills, where there are serpents five fathoms in length;
and passed the Valley of Cruel Women, who have precious stones in
place of eyes. . .