"Dunsany, Lord - A Tale Of London" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dunsany Lord)

would that he had seen the fountains there in silver basins
in the midst of the ways. I have seen small spires upon
their ebony houses and the spires were all of gold, birds
strutted there upon the copper roofs from golden spire to
spire that have no equal for splendour in all the woods of
the world. And over London the desiderate city the sky is
so deep a blue that by this alone the traveller may know
where he has come, and may end his fortunate journey. Nor
yet for any colour of the sky is there too great heat in
London, for along its ways a wind blows always from the
South gently and cools the city.
"Such, O Friend of God, is indeed the city of London,
lying very far off on the yonder side of Bagdad, without a
peer for beauty or excellence of its ways among the towns of
the earth or cities of song; and even so, as I have told,
its fortunate citizens dwell, with their hearts ever
devising beautiful things and from the beauty of their own
fair work that is more abundant around them every year,
receiving new inspirations to work things more beautiful
yet."
"And is their government good?" the Sultan said.
"It is most good," said the hasheesh-eater, and fell
backwards upon the floor.
He lay thus and was silent. And when the Sultan
perceived he would speak no more that night he smiled and
lightly applauded.
And there was envy in that palace, in lands beyond
Badgad, of all that dwell in London.