A Cool Retreat.

Chapter X.—A Cool Retreat.

And a certain one amongst them—a rich man, and possessing a garden of evergreen plants—said:  “Since it is very hot, let us retire for a little from the city to my gardens.”  Accordingly they went forth, and sat down in a place where there were pure streams of cool water, and a green shade of all sorts of trees.  There I sat pleasantly, and the others round about me; and they being silent, instead of a verbal request made to me, showed by their eager looks to me that they required the proof of my assertion.  And therefore I proceeded to speak thus:—