Bronze bridges, so delicate and rare that they looked as if fashioned by jewel-smiths, spanned her lily ponds, and a bamboo grove screened her palace apart from all the palace.
My head was awhirl.

Sea-cuny that I was, I was no dolt with women, and I sensed more than idle curiosity in her sending for me.

I had heard love- tales of common men and queens, and was a-wondering if now it was my fortune to prove such tales true.
The Lady Om wasted little time.

There were women about her, but she regarded their presence no more than a carter his horses.

I sat beside her on deep mats that made the room half a couch, and wine was given me and sweets to nibble, served on tiny, foot-high tables inlaid with pearl.
Lord, Lord, I had but to look into her eyes--But wait.