Hatim walked for a few days till he reached the edge of a lake. Suddenly, he started feeling light, and soon he was surrounded by beautiful nymphs, who sang to allure him. They took him to a palace made of gold and silver. They made him sit on a thrown embedded with precious stones. They served him the most delicious food in beautiful bowls. Hatim Tai felt as if he were dreaming. He ate but was not satisfied. He saw beautiful nymphs but was not bored of the sight. It struck him that he was in the midst of some enchantment. He had to be resolute. He remembered the advice of the stranger. He had to hold the hand of a nymph. As soon as he did so, as if by magic, the whole scene changed. There was no palace, no music and no nymphs–just large expanses of sand everywhere. He was in Hawaida!
Hatim Tai in the Land of Nymphs
