"Here the soul has illumined its temporary dwelling with rays of
light--the gift of Heaven."
Among the children of poor parents taken care of and educated by my
orders, there was a beautiful girl named Sylifa, the daughter of a
labouring man who worked in the ravines.
In the early part of my reign I had been struck with her beauty and
intelligence, and directed that she should be brought up and educated in
my palace.
Her eyes were almond-shaped, large, long, lustrous, and languishing; and
might be pictured by fancy as beaming with ethereal flowers, crystalline
fountains in all their brightness, painting, sculpture, and poetry.
Her lovely mouth never gave utterance to a thought that was not kind and
good; indeed, all her features were beautiful, and the soft and
luxuriant hair hung down to her feet in graceful curls--the back hair
was much longer, and, when unbound, fell to the ground in rich masses.
She had a musical, merry laugh, which, whether they would or not, could
set all present laughing, however seriously inclined.
Her talents were many, her versatility was great; for she was
accomplished in various pursuits, and in most of them excelled. When
singing or playing the harp, her dreamy eyes were more than earthly, and
seemed as though beaming with poetry inspired of Heaven.
The beauty of her mind could be read in her face; she looked so
heavenly, that when grown into womanhood I have, in a moment of
enthusiasm, been almost tempted to fold her in my arms; but I never
forgot my great mission, even in the most perilous moments.
I took particular care of the lovely girl, and selected for her husband
a very handsome man and a great poet, who was chosen in due form by
Sylifa at one of our marriage "choice" meetings.
The union was happy, though, perhaps, they loved each other too well.
The married couple resided in my palace, and Sylifa continued to afford
to me and my guests the greatest recreation and amusement.
She was very luxurious, and very particular in her habits. I have seen
her, while amusing us, suddenly (perhaps designedly), stop short, and
direct her attendant to bring the golden salver, telling us at the same
time that her hand (and she had exquisite hands) was a little soiled.
She would moisten them with the perfumed water, and then resume her task
of amusing us; our attention having, in the meantime, been kept in
breathless suspense.
In my palace under the sea (for I had a submarine retreat, of which I
may speak hereafter) there was a large sheet or basin of water, in which
she would sport most gracefully, modestly attired, as a nymph of the
sea.
She always identified herself with the part she sustained. As a sea
nymph, she could never be induced to speak; but, when we addressed her,
she always replied in musical tones, because, according to our legends,
mermaids always discoursed in song.
In the basin of water there were willows, hung with small lyres, through
which Sylifa would show her face, and then, taking one of the lyres,
would play and sing exquisitely, always keeping up the illusion.
She was very fond of a lion brought up in my palace, with which, as a
cub, she had played when a child. As a woman, she had complete mastery
over the noble animal. Both as a child and as a woman, she, with the
lion, formed the subject of many of the beautiful pictures that adorned
my palaces.
For a particular reason, we once separated Sylifa from her husband for a
day. She refused to eat; neither would she retire to rest. As the day
was ending she walked into the room where I sat with my numerous guests.
She said, "Do you love Sylifa?" "Yes," was my answer. "Then give me back
my Oma. Without him I die; already I droop; to-morrow I shall be no
more."
When asked to amuse us, she said she could not; her heart was too heavy.
We tried to console her, but it was useless; she wept, and her long hair
was wet with her tears.
After two days, we were obliged to restore Oma to the devoted Sylifa.
Sylifa was enthusiastic in her love of flowers. It was she who suggested
that, at the _fête_ of which I have spoken, the camelopards should be
united by wreaths of flowers. She sought and obtained my permission to
mount the tallest of the stately animals, and appeared, resplendent in
beauty, amongst the beautiful women who graced the _fête_.