In the shadow of the palace rose two high towers,
obelisk-shaped from the pure white stone. Scattered about the slope
were detached buildings, consisting of marble monoliths resting upon
double bases and crowned with carved cornices, or of truncated
pyramids and pyramidions. These had plinths of delicately-coloured
stone over which the light diffused so that they looked luminous,
and the small blocks used to fill the apertures of the courses shone
like precious things. Adjacent to one of the porches were two
conical shrines, for images and little lamps; and, near-by, a fallen
pillar of immense proportions lay undisturbed upon the court of
sward across which it had some time shivered down.
But if the palace had been discovered to be the preserved and
transported Temple of Solomon it could not have stayed St. George
for one moment of admiration. He was off up the slope, seeing only
the great closed portals, and with Amory beside him he ran boldly up
the long steps. It was a part of the unreality of the place that
there seemed absolutely no sign of life about the King's palace.
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