Part 11

The messenger returned from that far land and came to the elders of Rome. When those wise priests saw the king's reply, and the rider who had come through so much hardship, they went from the palace hall to the king, into that famous royal court. The commander of India rejoiced, for he was freed from the threat of Alexander. Then they read the letter aloud, the message of that self-willed king. The elders chose a hundred Indians, wise, eloquent, and bright of soul. The king opened his effortless treasury and picked out armlets, crowns, and thrones. He selected uncut jewels and unstitched robes, whatever was most fitting to send. They loaded three hundred camels with cargo, robes and jewels worthy of a king. A hundred camels carried only gold coins, and a hundred more bore silver from the treasury. There was a precious litter of fresh aloe wood, woven over with gold and set with many gems. On ten elephants he placed a golden throne, and on one great elephant a saddle finer still. Faghestan wept tears of blood as she went, with the philosopher and the physician. A goblet in the hand of every noble, and all the chieftains drunk on the wine of the cup. When Faghestan came to the king's chamber, she wore a crown of dark musk upon her head. Like a pale rose against a purple bloom, at the sight of her even the weak grew glad. Tall as a slender cypress, her face a moon above; one could not gaze straight at such a moon. Two eyebrows like bows, two dark and languid eyes, the tips of her hair curled into ringlets. Her two eyes were like two narcissus flowers in paradise; you would say she was fashioned from grace itself. Alexander looked upon her stature, her hair and face, her head and feet. He said, 'Here indeed is the lamp of the world,' and quietly he offered praise. To the Just One who created the heavens and shaped such a stature and such a face. He commanded that all the wise men, all the priests of the army of Rome, come. They sat, and he took her in marriage by proper rite, in the way of Christ and a true union. He poured so many gold coins over her from the treasury that even the moon could scarcely find room to walk.