Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Gaelic Maundeville (Author: John Maundeville)
paragraph 249
I will here relate somewhat of the description of the court of Prester John, to wit: The city in which he usually
p.291
dwells is Sas. On the top of the greatest castle therein are two golden apples in which are two carbuncles that in the night greatly illuminate the whole city. And the principal gates in the city are of a precious stone called sardenis, and the windows of his hall and chambers are of crystal, and the table on which he partakes of food is of gold and the noblest stones in his country, and its trestles are of the same kind. And in his chamber are carbuncles which illuminate the night, and though the chamber is made light by them, there are twelve crystal lamps therein full of balm aflame and giving a good odour to the chamber and expelling evil air. And the form of his bed is of gold and of sapphire to keep him from desire of lechery, and to put him to sleep, for he lies with his wife only thrice in the year to engender children. And there are usually in his own court more than thirty thousand men besides those that come and go; and those thirty thousand, nor the thirty thousand that be at the court of Magnus Khan, do not consume as much food and drink as two thousand of folk of our country.