They brought with them fruits of the East and the South in golden dishes, tasty fishes and game, rare wines and incense, and pillows for sleeping on.

During its progress the procession met black figures carrying a dead man.

The body lay swathed in white linen on a high board, and a raven circled round it in the air.

Simeon turned indignantly away; he had a horror of all that was dead.

He scattered coins among the mourners, for he would have liked to throw a gay covering adorned with precious stones over all sorrow and mourning.
When he reached the mountains his horse began to stumble and falter.
The steed's hoofs were insecure on the ringing flat stones; he reared his head and snorted, and would not go on.