Shorter novels, vol. 3 : $b Eighteenth centuryJohnson, Samuel
General
Shorter novels, vol. 3 : $b Eighteenth century
Johnson, Samuel
English fiction -- 18th century
The halls of this mighty dive, who reigned in the mountains of Kaf,
contained the statues of the seventy-two Solimans, and the portraits of
the various creatures subject to them; not one of which bore the
slightest similitude to man. Some had many heads, others many arms, and
some consisted of many bodies. Their heads were all very extraordinary,
some resembling the elephant’s, the buffalo’s, and the boar’s; whilst
others were still more monstrous.--D’HERBELOT, p. 820. Some of the idols
worshipped to this day in Hindostan answer to this description.
PAGE 272. _... holding his right hand, motionless, on his heart_
Sandys observes that the application of the right hand to the heart is
the customary mode of Eastern salutation; but the perseverance of the
votaries of Eblis in this attitude was intended to express their
devotion to him both heart and hand.
PAGE 273. _In my lifetime I filled, etc._
This recital agrees perfectly with those in the Koran, and other Arabian
legends.
PAGE 274. _... an unrelenting fire preys on my heart_
Hariri, to convey the most forcible idea of extreme anxiety, represents
the heart as tormented by fierce burning coals. This form of speech, it
is observed, is _proverbial_; but do we not see whence the proverb
arose?--CHAPPELOW’S _Six Assemblies_, p. 106.
PAGE 275. _Carathis on the back of an afrit_
The expedition of the afrit in fetching Carathis is characteristic of
this order of dives. We read in the Koran that another of the fraternity
offered to bring the Queen of Sheba’s throne to Solomon before he could
rise from his place.--Ch. xxvii.
PAGE 277. _... glanced off in a rapid whirl that rendered her invisible_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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