before the threshold, however, it began to weave a carpet which was more beautiful than the eyes of man had ever yet beheld. lilies and roses blossomed on both sides of it, and on a golden ground in the centre green branches ascended, under which bounded hares and rabbits, stags and deer stretched their heads in between them, brightly-coloured birds were sitting in the branches above; they lacked nothing but the gift of song. the shuttle leapt hither and thither, and everything seemed to grow of its own accord.