SHALNASS. Aye, for a pigeon-house, But scarcely for a chamber large enough To hold such rose-perfume as yonder vases Exhale, and yet not fill the air to stifling. GUeLISTANE. O see, what wondrous vases! SHALNASS. This is onyx, And that one Chrysophrase, beneath thy notice. Impenetrable they are called, but odors Can pass their walls as they were rotten wood. GUeLISTANE. How thank thee? [SHALNASSAR does not understand.] GUeLISTANE. How, I say, am I to thank thee? SHALNASS. By squandering all this: This desk of sandal-wood and inlaid pearl Use stead of withered twigs on chilly nights To warm thy bath: watch how the flames will sparkle, With sweet perfume! [A dog is heard to give tongue, then several.] GUeLISTANE. What sheer and fragile lace! [Lifts it up.] SHALNASS. Dead, lifeless stuff. I'll bring to thee a dwarf, Hath twenty tongues of beasts and men within him. Instead of apes and parrots I will give thee Most curious men, abortions of the trees That marry with the air. They sing by night. GUeLISTANE. Thou shalt have kisses. [The baying of the dogs grows stronger, seems nearer.] SHALNASS. Say, do young lovers Give better gifts? GUeLISTANE. What wretched blunderers In this great art, but what a master thou! [The Armenian slave comes, plucks SHALNASSAR by the sleeve, and whispers.] SHALNASS. A maiden sayst thou? Doubtless 'tis a woman, But young? I do not understand. GUeLISTANE. What maiden meanest thou. Beloved? SHALNASS. None, none. I merely bade this slave "remain," And thou misheardest. (To the slave.) Hither come, speak softly. SLAVE. She is half dead with fear, for some highwayman Pursued her here, and then the dogs attacked her And pulled her down. All out of breath she asked me, "Is this Shalnassar's house, the carpet-dealer?" SHALNASS. It is the wife of that sweet fool. He sent her. Be still. (He goes to GUeLISTANE, who is just putting a string of pearls about her throat.) O lovely! they're not worth their place. [He goes back to the slave.] SLAVE. She also speaks of Ganem. SHALNASS. Of my son? All one. Say, is she fair? SLAVE. I thought so. SHALNASS. What! SLAVE. But all deformed with fear.