Quote by Oscar Wilde
Marco Polo had seen the inhabitants of Zipangu place rose-colored pearls in the mouths of the dead. A sea-monster had been enamoured of the pearl that the diver brought to King Perozes, and had slain the thief, and mourned for seven moons over its loss.
Summary
This quote describes a story Marco Polo witnessed during his travels. It mentions the people of Zipangu (Japan) placing rose-colored pearls in the mouths of the dead as a tradition. The quote also recounts a legend about a sea-monster being captivated by a pearl retrieved by a diver for King Perozes. The diving thief was killed by the sea-monster, which then mourned the loss of the precious pearl for seven months. Overall, the quote highlights unique customs and mythical tales from different cultures encountered by Marco Polo.
By Oscar Wilde