And at last we came upon a hill where blue waters played, and white marble lay upon the earth. I said to God, “What was here once?”
God said, “A pleasure house.”
I looked, and at my feet great pillars lay. I cried aloud for joy to God, “The marble blossoms!”
God said, “Ay, ‘twas a fairy house. There has not been one like to it, nor ever shall be. The pillars and the porticoes blossomed; and the wine cups were as gathered flowers: on this side all the curtain was broidered with fair designs, the stitching was of gold.”
I said to God, “How came it that it fell?”
God said, “On the side of the wine-press it was dark.”
And as we travelled, we came where lay a mighty ridge of sand, and a dark river ran there; and there rose two vast mounds.
I said to God, “They are very mighty.”
God said, “Ay, exceeding great.”
And I listened.