ABSTRACT
Departing thence he led the army on To where a novel water came in view. Around it there were reeds as large as trees : Thou wouldst have said : " They are the mighty stems Of planes." They were above ten cubits thick, And measured forty cubits in their height. The houses were of reeds and built thereon. They might not tarry in that reed-bed ; no one Drank of its water for 'twas salt. Sikandar Fared thence until a deepsome lake appeared ; The world was jocund, water honey-like ; The soil exhaled the scent of musk. They ate, And set themselves to sleep, when from the water Came writhing snakes in swarms while from the wood Flame-coloured scorpions issued, and the world Grew black and straitened to those slumberers. On every side there perished multitudes, Men great in lore and war. On one side came Herds of wild boars with long tusks diamond-bright, And on the other lions that out-bulked An ox ; none could withstand them ; so the host, Withdrawing from the mere and flinging fire
