sentinels of the palace, and saw them where they lay drowsy with
intoxication: so she knew that the China jar and the dress of Samarcand
had been used that night, and for no purpose friendly to her wishes.
Then she passed down the palace steps, and through the gates of the
palace and the city, till she came to the shore of the sea; there she
launched the cockle-shell and took the wind in her garments, and sat in
it, filling it to overflowing, yet it floated. And Shibli Bagarag waded
to the cockle-shell and took hold of it, and was drawn along by its
motion swiftly through the waters, so that a foam swept after him; and
Goorelka marked the foam. Now, they had passage over the billows
smoothly, and soon the length of the sea was darkened with two high
rocks, and between them there was a narrow channel of the sea, roughened
with moonlight. So they sped between the rocks, and came upon a purple
sea, dark-blue overhead, with large stars leaning to the waves. There
was a soft whisperingness in the breath of the breezes that swung there,
and many sails of charmed ships were seen in momentary gleams, flapping
the mast idly far away. Warm as new milk from the full udders were the
waters of that sea, and figures of fair women stretched lengthwise with
the current, and lifted a head as they rushed rolling by. Truly it was
enchanted even to the very bed!