The groves were motionless; and in the meadows, like goblins, the shadows advanced and retreated.

Full before me, lay the Mardian fleet of isles, profoundly at anchor within their coral harbor.

Near by was one belted round by a frothy luminous reef, wherein it lay, like Saturn in its ring.
From all their summits, went up a milk-white smoke, as from Indian wigwams in the hazy harvest-moon.

And floating away, these vapors blended with the faint mist, as of a cataract, hovering over the circumvallating reef.

Far beyond all, and far into the infinite night, surged the jet-black ocean.
But how tranquil the wide lagoon, which mirrored the burning spots in heaven! Deep down into its innermost heart penetrated the slanting rays of Hesperus like a shaft of light, sunk far into mysterious Golcondas, where myriad gnomes seemed toiling.