They arrived before an oval hole protected
by a grating. Then Matho, who was frightened by the silence, said to
Spendius:
"It is here that they mix the fresh water and the bitter."
"I have seen all that," returned the former slave, "in Syria, in
the town of Maphug"; and they ascended into the third enclosure by a
staircase of six silver steps.
A huge cedar occupied the centre. Its lowest branches were hidden
beneath scraps of material and necklaces hung upon them by the faithful.
They walked a few steps further on, and the front of the temple was
displayed before them.
Two long porticoes, with their architraves resting on dumpy pillars,
flanked a quadrangular tower, the platform of which was adorned with
the crescent of a moon. On the angles of the porticoes and at the four
corners of the tower stood vases filled with kindled aromatics. The
capitals were laden with pomegranates and coloquintidas. Twining knots,
lozenges, and rows of pearls alternated on the walls, and a hedge of
silver filigree formed a wide semicircle in front of the brass staircase
which led down from the vestibule.
There was a cone of stone at the entrance between a stela of gold and
one of emerald, and Matho kissed his right hand as he passed beside it.
The first room was very lofty; its vaulted roof was pierced by
numberless apertures, and if the head were raised the stars might be
seen.
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