in its quarters, and the raven croaking in its
thoroughfare-streets, and bewailing those who had been in it.

And the Emeer Moosa fainted with sorrow; his tears ran down upon his
cheeks, and he said: "By Allah, indifference to the world is the most
appropriate and the most sure course!"

And when they came back to the troops, they passed the day devising
means of entering the city; and the Emeer Moosa said to those of his
chief officers who were around him: "How shall we contrive to enter the
city, that we may see its wonders? Perhaps we shall find in it something
by which we may ingratiate ourselves with the Prince of the Faithful."
Talib replied: "Let us make a ladder, and mount upon it, and perhaps we
shall gain access to the gate from within." And the emeer said: "This is
what occurred to my mind, and excellent is the advice." Then he called
to the carpenters and blacksmiths, and ordered them to make straight
some pieces of wood, and to construct a ladder covered with plates of
iron. And they did so, and made it strong. They employed themselves in
constructing it a whole month, and many men were occupied in making it.
And they set it up and fixed it against the wall, and it proved to be
equal to the wall in height, as though it had been made for it before
that day. So the Emeer Moosa wondered at it, and said: "God bless you!
It seemeth, from the excellence of your work, as though ye had adapted
it by measurement to the wall." He then said to the people: "Which of
you will ascend this ladder, and mount upon the wall, and walk along it,
and contrive means of descending into the city, that he may see how the
case is, and then inform us of the mode of opening the gate?" And one of
them answered: "I will ascend it, O Emeer, and descend and open the
gate." The emeer therefore replied: "Mount. God bless thee!"
Accordingly, the man ascended the ladder until he reached the top of it;
when he stood, and fixed his eyes toward the city, clapped his hands,
and cried out with his loudest voice, saying: "Thou art beautiful!" Then
he cast himself down into the city, and was destroyed. So the Emeer
Moosa said: "If we do thus with all our companions, there will not
remain of them one; and we shall be unable to accomplish our affair, and
the affair of the Prince of the Faithful. Depart ye; for we have no
concern with this city." But one of them said: "Perhaps another than
this may be more steady than he." And a second ascended, and a