Let us speak of this no longer, for the thoughts of the calm, clear, blue refulgence of a winter's lake, glimmering to stars and moonbeam, aggravate the horrors of this fiery desert, where, methinks, the very air which we breathe is like the vapour of a fiery furnace seven times heated." The Saracen looked on him with some attention, as if to discover in what sense he was to understand words which, to him, must have appeared either to contain something of mystery or of imposition.

At length he seemed determined in what manner to receive the language of his new companion.
"You are," he said, "of a nation that loves to laugh, and you make sport with yourselves, and with others, by telling what is impossible, and reporting what never chanced.

Thou art one of the knights of France, who hold it for glee and pastime to GAB, as they term it, of exploits that are beyond human power.

[Gaber.

This French word signified a sort of sport much used among the French chivalry, which consisted in vying with each other in making the most romantic gasconades.