Classic Audiobook Collection - Ardath by Marie Corelli ~ Full Audiobook [fantasy]

Starting point is 00:00:00 Ardath by Marie Carelli Part 1, Saint and Skeptic The Monastery What merest whim seems all this poor endeavor after fame To one who keeps within his steadfast aim a love immortal An immortal too Look not so wildered, for these things are true And never can be born of atomics

Starting point is 00:00:24 That buzz about our slumbers like brain flies, leaving us fancy sick. No, I am sure my restless spirit never could endure to brood so long upon one luxury, unless it did, though fearfully espy, a hope beyond the shadow of a dream. Keats Deep in the heart of the Caucasus Mountains, a wild storm was gathering. Drear shadows drooped and thickened above the pass of Dariel, that terrific gorge, which, like a mere thread seems to hang between the toppling frostbound heights above and the black abysmal depths below. Clouds fringed ominously with lurid green and white, drifted heavily yet swiftly

Starting point is 00:01:13 across the jagged peaks where, looming largely out of the mist, the snow-capped crest of Mount Kazbek rose coldly white against the darkness of the threatening sky. Night was approaching, though away to the west a broad gash of crimson, a seeming wound in the breast of heaven, showed where the sun had set an hour since. Now and again, the rising wind moaned sobbingly through the tall and spectral pines that, with knotted roots fast clenched in the reluctant earth,

Starting point is 00:01:48 clung tenaciously to their stony vantage ground. And mingling with its wailing murmur, there came a distant horse roaring as of tumbling torrent, while at far-off intervals could be heard the sweeping thud of an avalanche slipping from point to point on its disastrous downward way. Through the wreathing vapors, the steep bare sides of the near mountains were pallidly visible. Their icy pinnacles, like uplifted daggers, piercing with sharp glitter the density of the low-hanging haze, from which large drops of moisture began presently to ooze rather than fall. gradually the wind increased and soon with sudden fierce gusts shook the pine trees into shuddering anxiety the red slit in the sky closed and a gleam of forked lightning leapt athwart the driving darkness an appalling crash of thunder followed almost instantaneously its deep boom vibrating in sullenly grand echoes on all sides of the pass and then with a swirling hissing rush of

Starting point is 00:02:55 rain. The unbound hurricane burst forth alive and furious. On, on, splitting huge boughs and flinging them aside like straws, swelling the rivers into riotous floods that swept hither and thither, carrying with them masses of rock and stone and tons of loosened snow. On, on, with pitiless force and destructive haste, the tempest rolled, thundered, and shrieked its way through Dariel. As the night darkened and the clamor of the conflicting elements grew more sustained and violent, a sudden sweet sound floated softly through the turbulent air, the slow measured tolling of a bell. To and fro, two and fro, the silvery chime swung with mild distinctness. It was the Vesper bell ringing in the monastery of Lars, far up among the crags

Starting point is 00:03:50 crowning the ravine. There, the wind roared and blustered its side. loudest. It whirled round and round the quaint castellated building, battering at the gates and moving their heavy iron hinges to a most dolorous groaning. It flung rattling hailstones at the narrow windows, and raged and howled at every corner and through every crevice, while snaky twists of lightning played threateningly over the tall iron cross that surmounted the roof, as though bent on striking it down and splitting open the firm old walls it guarded. All was war and tumult without. But within, a tranquil peace prevailed, enhanced by the grave murmur of organ music. Men's voices

Starting point is 00:04:36 mingling together in mellow unison chanted the magnificent, and the uplifted steady harmony of the grand old anthem rose triumphantly above the noise of the storm. The monks who inhabited this mountain eerie, once a fortress, now a religious refuge, were assembled in their little chapel, a sort of grotto roughly hewn out of the natural rock. Fifteen in number, they stood in rows of three abreast, their white woolen robes touching the ground, their white cowls thrown back, and their dark faces and flashing eyes turned devoutly toward the altar, whereon blazed in strange and solitary brilliancy, a cross of fire. At the first glance, it was easy to see that they were a peculiar

Starting point is 00:05:22 community devoted to some peculiar form of worship, for their costume was totally different in character and detail from any such as are worn by the various religious fraternities of the Greek, Roman, or Armenian faith, and one especial feature of their outward appearance served as a distinctly marked sign of their severance from all known monastic orders. This was the absence of the disfiguring tonsure. They were all fine-looking men, seemingly in the prime of life, and they intoned the magnificent, not drowsily or droningly, but with a rich tunefulness and warmth of utterance,

Starting point is 00:06:02 that stirred to a faint surprise and contempt the jaded spirit of one reluctant listener present among them. This was a stranger who had arrived that evening at the monastery, and who intended remaining there for the night, A man of distinguished and somewhat haughty bearing, with a dark, sorrowful, poetic face, chiefly remarkable for its mingled expression of dreamy ardor and cold scorn. An expression, such as the unknown sculptor of Hadrian's era, caught and fixed in the marble of his ivy-crowned Bacchus Antinus,

Starting point is 00:06:38 whose half-sweet, half-cruel smile, suggests a perpetual doubt of all things and all men. He was clad in the rough and ready garb of the travelling Englishman, and his athletic figure, in its plain-cut modern attire, looked curiously out of place in that mysterious grotto, which, with its rocky walls and the flaming symbol of salvation, seemed suited only to the picturesque prophet-like forms of the white-gowned brethren, whom now he surveyed, as he stood behind their ranks with a gleam of something like mockery in his proud, weary eyes.

Starting point is 00:07:14 "'What sort of fellows are these?' he mused, fools or knaves. They must be one or the other, else they would not thus chant praises to a deity of whose existence there is, and can be, no proof. It is either sheer ignorance or hypocrisy, or both combined. I can pardon ignorance, but not hypocrisy. For however dreary the results of truth, yet truth alone prevails, its killing bolt destroys the elusive beauty of the universe. But what then? Is it not better so than that the universe should continue to seem beautiful,

Starting point is 00:07:49 only through the medium of a lie? His straight brows drew together in a puzzled frowning line as he asked himself this question, and he moved restlessly. He was becoming impatient. The chanting of the monks grew monotonous to his ears. The lighted cross on the altar dazzled him with its glare. Moreover, he disliked all forms of religious service, though as a lover of classic lore, it is probable he would have witnessed a celebration in honor of Apollo or Diana with the liveliest interest. But the very name of Christianity was obnoxious to him. Like Shelley, he considered that creed, a vulgar and barbarous superstition. Like Shelley, he inquired,

Starting point is 00:08:33 If God has spoken, why is the world not convinced? He began to wish he had never set foot inside this abode of what he deemed a pretended sanctity, although, as a matter of fact, he had a special purpose of his own in visiting the place, a purpose so utterly at variance with the professed tenets of his present life and character, that the mere thought of it secretly irritated him, even while he was determined to accomplish it. As yet, he had only made acquaintance with two of the monks, courteous, good-humoured personages, who had received him on his arrival with the customary hospitality, which it was the rule of the monastery to afford to all belated wayfarers,

Starting point is 00:09:18 journeying across the perilous path of Dario. They had asked him no questions as to his name or nation. They had simply seen in him a stranger, overtaken by the storm and in need of shelter, and had entertained him accordingly. They had conducted him to the refectory, where a well-piled log-fire was cheerfully blazing, and there had set before him an excellent supper, flavored with equally excellent wine. He had, however, scarcely begun to converse with them, when the Vesper bell had rung, and, obedient to its summons, they had hurried away, leaving him to enjoy his repast in solitude. When he had finished it, he had sat for a while, dreamily listening to the solemn strains of the organ, which penetrated to every part of the building, and then moved,

Starting point is 00:10:08 by a vague curiosity to see how many men there were, dwelling thus together in this lonely retreat, perched like an eagle's nest among the frozen heights of the Caucasus. He had managed to find his way, guided by the sound of the music, through various long corridors and narrow twisting passages, into the cavernous grot where he now stood, feeling infinitely bored and listlessly dissatisfied. His primary object in entering the chapel had been to get a good full view of the monks, and of their faces especially. But at present this was impossible,

Starting point is 00:10:46 as from the position he was obliged to occupy behind them, their backs alone were visible. And who knows, he thought moodily, how long they will go on in toning their dreary Latin doggerel, priestcraft and sham, there's no escape from it anywhere, not even in the wilds of Caucasus.

Starting point is 00:11:05 I wonder if the man I seek is really here, or whether, after all, I have been misled. There are so many contradictory stories told about him that one doesn't know what to believe. It seems incredible that he should be a monk. It is such an altogether foolish ending to an intellectual career. For whatever may be the form of faith professed by this particular fraternity, the absurdity of the whole system of religion remains the same. religion's day is done. The very sense of worship is a mere coward instinct, a relic of barbarism, which is being gradually eradicated from our natures by the progress of civilization. The world knows by this time

Starting point is 00:11:48 that creation is an empty jest. We are all beginning to understand its bathos. And if we must grant that there is some mischievous supreme farcour, who, safely shrouded in invisibility, continues to perpetrate so poor and purposeless a joke for his own amusement and our torture, we need not, for that matter, admire his wit, nor flatter his ingenuity. For life is nothing but vexation and suffering. Are we dogs that we should lick the hand that crushes us? At that moment, the chanting suddenly ceased. The organ went on, as though musically meditating to itself in minor chords, through which soft upper notes, like touches of light on a dark landscape flickered ripplingly. One monk separated himself from the clustered

Starting point is 00:12:35 group, and, stepping slowly up on the altar, confronted the rest of his brethren. The fiery cross shone radiantly behind him, its beams seeming to gather an illustrious halo round his tall, majestic figure. His countenance, fully illumined and clearly visible, was one never to be forgotten for the striking force, sweetness and dignity expressed in the world. in its every feature. The various scoffer that ever made mock of fine beliefs and fair virtues must have been momentarily awed and silenced in the presence of such a man as this, a man upon whom the grace of a perfect life seemed to have fallen like a royal robe, investing even his outward appearance with spiritual authority and grandeur.

Starting point is 00:13:23 At sight of him, the stranger's indifferent air rapidly changed to one of eager interest. Leaning forward, he regarded him intently with a look of mingled astonishment and unwilling admiration. The monk, meanwhile, extended his hands as though in blessing, and spoke aloud, his Latin words echoing through the rocky temple, with the measured utterance of poetical rhythm. Translated they ran thus, glory to God, the most high, the supreme and eternal. And with one harmonious murmur of a chord, the brethren responded. Glory forever and ever, amen. Glory to God, the ruler of spirits and master of angels. Glory forever and ever, amen.

Starting point is 00:14:11 Glory to God, who in love never wearies of loving. Glory forever and ever, amen. Glory to God in the name of His Christ our Redeemer. Glory forever and ever, amen. Glory to God for the joys of the past, the present, and God. future. Glory for ever and ever, amen. Glory to God for the power of will and the working of wisdom. Glory for ever and ever, amen. Glory to God for the briefness of life, the gladness of death, and the promised immortal hereafter. Glory for ever and ever, amen. Then came a pause,

Starting point is 00:14:54 during which the thunder outside added a tumultuous glory of its own to those already recited. The organ music died away into silence, and the monk now turning, so that he faced the altar, sank reverently on his knees. All present followed his example, with the exception of the stranger, who, as if in deliberate defiance, drew himself resolutely up to his full height, and folding his arms, gazed at the scene before him with a perfect, unmoved demeanor. He expected to hear some long prayer, but none came. There was an absolute stillness, unbroken, saved by the rattle of the raindrops against the high oriel window, and the whistling rush of the wind. And, as he looked, the fiery cross began to grow dim and pale,

Starting point is 00:15:45 little by little, its scintillating luster decreased, till at last it disappeared altogether, leaving no trace of its former brilliancy, but a small, bright flame that gradually took the shape of a seven-pointed star, which sparkled through the gloom like a suspended ruby. The chapel was left almost in complete darkness. He could scarcely discern even the white figures of the kneeling worshippers. A haunting sense of the supernatural seemed to permeate that deep hush and dense shadow,

Starting point is 00:16:18 and notwithstanding his habitual tendency to discerning, to despise all religious ceremonies, there was something novel and strange about this one, which exercised a peculiar influence upon his imagination. A sudden odd fancy possessed him, that there were others present besides himself and the brethren, but who these others were he could not determine. It was an altogether uncanny, uncomfortable impression, yet it was very strong upon him, and he breathed a sigh of intense relief when he heard the soft melody of the organ, once more, and saw the oaken doors of the grotto swing wide open to admit a flood of cheerful

Starting point is 00:16:56 light from the outer passage. The vespers were over, the monks rose and paced forth two by two, not with bent heads and downcast eyes, as though affecting an abased humility, but with the free and stately bearing of kings, returning from some high conquest. Drawing a little further back into his retired corner. He watched them pass, and was forced to admit to himself, that he had seldom or never seen finer types of splendid, healthful, and vigorous manhood at its best and brightest. As noble specimens of the human race alone, they were well worth looking at. They might have been warriors, princes, emperors, he thought, anything but monks. Yet monks they were, and followers of the Christian creed he so specially condemned. For each one

Starting point is 00:17:46 wore on his breast a massive golden crucifix, hung to a chain and fastened with a jeweled star. Cross and star, he mused, as he noticed this brilliant and singular decoration, an emblem of the fraternity, I suppose, meaning what, salvation and immortality? Alas, they are poor, witless builders on shifting sand, if they place any hope or reliance on those two empty words, signifying nothing. Do they? can they honestly believe in God, I wonder, or are they only acting the usual worn-out comedy of a feigned faith? And he eyed them somewhat wistfully as their white apparelled figures went by.

Starting point is 00:18:28 Ten had already left the chapel, two more past, than other two, and last of all came one alone, one who walked slowly with a dreamy, meditative air, as though he were deeply absorbed in thought. The light from the open door streamed fully upon him as he advanced. It was the monk who had recited the seven gloria's. The stranger no sooner beheld him, then he instantly stepped forward and touched him on the arm. Pardon, he said hastily in English. I think I am not mistaken.

Starting point is 00:18:59 Your name is, or used to be, Heliobus? The monk bent his handsome head in a slight yet graceful salutation and smiled. I have not changed it, he replied. I am Helobus still. and his keen, steadfast blue eyes rested half inquiringly, half compassionately, on the dark, weary, troubled face of his questioner, who, avoiding his direct gaze, continued. I should like to speak to you in private. Can I do so now, to-night, at once? By all means, assented the monk, showing no surprise at the request.

Starting point is 00:19:39 Follow me to the library. We shall be quite alone there. He led the way immediately out of the chapel, and through a stone-paved vestibule, where they were met by the two brethren, who had first received and entertained the unknown guest, and who, not finding him in the refectory where they had left him, were now coming in search of him. On seeing in whose company he was, however, they drew aside with a deep and reverential obeisance to the personage called Heliobus. He, silently acknowledging it, passed on, closely attended by the stranger, till he reached a spacious, well-lighted apartment, the walls of which were entirely lined with books. Here, entering and closing the door,

Starting point is 00:20:23 he turned and confronted his visitor, his tall, imposing figure, in its trailing white garments, calling to mind the picture of some saint or evangelist, and with grave yet kindly courtesy, said, Now, my friend, I am at your disposal. In what way can Heliobus, who is dead to the world, serve one for whom surely as yet the world is everything. End of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 of Ardath by Marie Carelli. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Confession His question was not very promptly answered.

Starting point is 00:21:12 The stranger stood still, regarding him intently for two or three minutes, with a look of peculiar pensiveness. and abstraction, the heavy double fringe of his long, dark lashes, giving an almost drowsy pathos to his proud and earnest eyes. Soon, however, this absorbed expression changed to one of somber scorn. "'The world?' he said slowly and bitterly. You think I care for the world? Then you read me wrongly at the very outset of our interview, and your once reputed skill as a seer goes for. not. To me, the world is a graveyard full of dead, worm-eaten things, and its imaginary creator, whom you have so be praised in your orisons tonight, is the sexton who entombs, and the ghoul

Starting point is 00:22:04 who devours his own hapless creation. I myself am one of the tortured and dying, and I have sought you, simply that you may trick me into a brief oblivion of my doom, and mock me with the mirage of a life that is not, and can never be. How can you serve me? Give me a few hours respite from wretchedness. That is all I ask. As he spoke, his face grew blanched and haggard, as though he suffered from some painfully repressed inward agony. The monk Heliobus heard him with an air of attentive patience, but said nothing. He, therefore, after waiting for a reply and receiving none, went on in colder and more even tones. I dare say my words seem strange to you, though they should not do so if, as reported, you have studied all the varying phases of that

Starting point is 00:23:00 purely intellectual despair, which, in this age of excessive over culture, crushes men who learn too much and think too deeply. But before going further, I had better introduce myself. My name is Alwyn. Theos Alwyn, the English author, I presume, interposed the monk interrogatively. Why, yes, this in accents of extreme surprise. How did you know that? Your celebrity, politely suggested Helobus, with a wave of the hand and an enigmatical smile that might have meant anything or nothing. Alwyn coloured a little. You mistake, he said, indifferently. I have no celebrity. The celebrities of my country are few, and among them, those most

Starting point is 00:23:50 admired are jockeys and divorced women. I merely follow in the rear line of the art or profession of literature. I am that always unluckiest and most undesirable kind of an author, a writer of verse. I lay no claim, not now at any rate, to the title of poet. While recently staying in Paris, I chanced to hear of you. The monk bowed ever so slightly. There was a dawning gleam of satire in his brilliant eyes. You won special distinction and renown there, I believe, before you adopted this monastic life, pursued Alwyn, glancing at him curiously.

Starting point is 00:24:30 Did I? And Heliobus looked cheerfully interested. Really, I was not aware of it, I assure you. Possibly my ways and doings may have occasionally furnished the purgey. with something to talk about instead of the weather, and I know I made some few friends, and an astonishing number of enemies, if that is what you mean by distinction and renown. Alwyn smiled. His smile was always reluctant, and had in it more of sadness than sweetness. Yet it gave his features a singular softness and beauty, just as a ray of sunlight,

Starting point is 00:25:08 falling on a dark picture will brighten the tints into a momentary warmth of seeming life. All reputation means that, I think, he said. Unless it be mediocre, then one is safe. One has scores of friends and scarce to foe. Mediocrity succeeds wonderfully well nowadays. Nobody hates it, because everyone feels how easily they themselves can attain to it. Exceptional talent is aggressive, actual genius is offensive. People are insulted, to have a thing held up for their admiration, which is entirely out of their reach. They become like bears climbing a greased pole. They see a great name above them, a tempting, sugary morsel,

Starting point is 00:25:50 which they would fain snatch and devour. And when their uncouth efforts fail, they huddle together on the ground beneath, look up with dull peering eyes, and impotently snarl. But you! And here his gaze rested doubtfully, yet questioningly on his companion's open, serene countenance. You, if rumor speaks truly, should have been able to tame your bears

Starting point is 00:26:15 and turn them into dogs, humble, and cushant. Your marvellous achievements as a mesmerist. Excuse me, interrupted Helobus quietly. I never was a mesmerist. Well, as a spiritualist then, though I cannot admit the existence of any such thing as spiritualism. "'Neither can I,' returned Helobus, with perfect good humor, "'according to the generally accepted meaning of the term.

Starting point is 00:26:44 "'Pray, go on, Mr. Alwyn.' "'Alewyn looked at him, a little puzzled and uncertain how to proceed. "'A curious sense of irritation was growing up in his mind against this monk, "'with a grand head and flashing eyes, "'eyes that seemed to strip bare his innermost thoughts, "'as lightning strips bark from a tumour. tree. I was told, he continued, after a pause, during which he had apparently considered and prepared his words, that you were chiefly known in Paris as being the possessor of some mysterious

Starting point is 00:27:19 internal force. Call it magnetic, hypnotic, or spiritual as you please, which, though perfectly inexplicable, was yet plainly manifested and evident to all who placed themselves under your influence. Moreover, that by this force you were able to deal scientifically and practically with the active principle of intelligence in man, to such an extent that you could, in some miraculous way, disentangle the knots of toil and perplexity in an overtaxed brain, and restore it to its pristine vitality and vigor. Is this true? If so, exert your power upon me, for something I know not what, has of late frozen up the once overflowing fountain of my thoughts, and I have lost all working ability. When a man can no longer work, it were best he should die, only unfortunately

Starting point is 00:28:15 I cannot die unless I kill myself, which it is possible I may do ere long. But in the meantime, he hesitated a moment, then went on. In the meantime, I have a strong wish to be deluded. I use the word advisedly and repeat it, deluded into an imaginary happiness, though I am aware that as an agnostic and searcher after truth, truth absolute, truth positive, such a desire on my part seems even to myself inconsistent and unreasonable. Still, I confess to having it, and therein I know I betray the weakness of my nature. It may be that I am tired, and he passed his hand across his brow with a troubled gesture, or, puzzled by the infinite, incurable distress of all living things, perhaps I am growing mad, who knows? But whatever my condition, you, if report be correct, have the magic skill

Starting point is 00:29:14 to ravish the mind away from its troubles, and transport it to a radiant elysium of sweet illusions and ethereal ecstasies. Do this for me, as you have done it for others, and whatever payment you demand, whether in gold or gratitude shall be yours. He ceased. The wind howled furiously outside, flinging gusty dashes of rain against the one window of the room, a tall arched casement that clattered noisily with every blow inflicted upon it by the storm. Heliobus gave him a swift, searching glance, half pitying, half disdainful. Hashi-shish or opium should serve your turn, he said curtly, I know of no other means whereby to temporarily still the clamorings of conscience. Alwyn flushed darkly.

Starting point is 00:30:08 Conscience? he began in rather a resentful tone. A, conscience, repeated Helobus firmly. There is such a thing. Do you profess to be wholly without it? Alwyn dained no reply. The ironical bluntness of the question annoyed him. You have formed a very unjust opinion of me, Mr. Alwyn. continued heliobus an opinion which neither honors your courtesy nor your intellect pardon me for saying so you ask me to mock and delude you as if it were my custom and delight to make dupes of my suffering fellow-creatures

Starting point is 00:30:45 you come to me as though i were a mesmerist or magnetizer such as you can hire for a few guineas in any civilized city in europe nay i doubt not but that you consider me that kind of so-called spiritualist whose enlightened intelligence and heaven-inspiring aims are demonstrated in the turning of tables and general furniture gyration. I am, however, hopelessly deficient in such knowledge. I should make a most unsatisfactory conjurer. Moreover, whatever you may have heard concerning me in Paris, you must remember I am in Paris no longer. I am a monk, as you see, devoted to my vocation. I am completely severed from the world, and my duties and occupations in the present are widely different to those which employed me in the past. Then I gave what aid I could to those who honestly needed it, and sought it without prejudice or personal distrust. But now my work among men is finished,

Starting point is 00:31:49 and I practice my science, such as it is, on others no more, except in very rare and special cases. All when heard, and the lines of his face hardened into an expression of frigid hauteur. I suppose I am to understand by this that you will do nothing for me, he said stiffly. Why, what can I do? returned Helobus, smiling a little. All you want, so you say, is a brief forgetfulness of your troubles. Well, that is easily obtainable through certain narcotics, if you choose to employ them and take the risk of their injurious action. on your bodily system. You can drug your brain and thereby fill it with drowsy suggestions of ideas.

Starting point is 00:32:34 Of course, they would only be suggestions, and very vague and indefinite ones too. Still, they might be pleasant enough to absorb and repress bitter memories for a time. As for me, my poor skill would scarcely avail you, as I could promise you neither self-oblivion nor visionary joy. I have a certain internal force it is true. A spiritual force which, when strongly exercised, overpowers and subdues the material, and by exerting this I could, if I thought it well to do so,

Starting point is 00:33:09 release your soul. That is, the inner intelligent spirit, which is the actual you, from its house of clay, and allow it an interval of freedom. But what its experience might be in that unfettered condition, whether glad or sorrowful, I am totally unable to predict,

Starting point is 00:33:28 all when looked at him steadfastly. You believe in the soul, he asked, most certainly. As a separate personality that continues to live on when the body perishes? Assuredly. And do you profess to be able to liberate it for a time from its mortal habitation? I do not profess, interposed Helobus quietly. I can do so. But with the success of the experiment your power ceases, you cannot foretell whether

Starting point is 00:33:59 the unimprisoned creature will take its course to an inferno of suffering, or a heaven of delight? Is this what you mean? Heliobus bent his head and grave assent. Alwyn broke into a harsh laugh. Come then, he exclaimed, with a reckless air. Begin your incantations at once. Send me hence, no matter where. So long as I am for a while escaped from this den of a world. dungeon with one small window, through which, with the death rattle in our throats, West are vacantly at the blank, unmeaning horror of the universe. Prove to me that the soul exists,

Starting point is 00:34:36 ye gods, prove it! And if mine can find its way straight to the mainspring of this revolving creation, it shall cling to the accursed wheels and stop them, that they may grind out the tortures of life no more. He flung up his hand with a wild gesture. His countenance, darkness, darkly threatening and defiant, was yet beautiful with the evil beauty of a rebellious and fallen angel. His breath came and went quickly. He seemed to challenge some invisible opponent. Heliobus, meanwhile, watched him, much as a physician might watch in his patient the workings of a new disease. Then he said in purposely cold and tranquil tones. A bold idea, singularly blasphemous, arrogant, and, fortunately for us all, impracticable.

Starting point is 00:35:27 Allow me to remark that you are over-excited, Mr. Alwyn. You talk as madmen may, but as reasonable men should not. Come, and he smiled, a smile that was both grave and sweet. Come and sit down, you are worn out with the force of your own desperate emotions. rest a few minutes and recover yourself. His voice, though gentle, was distinctly authoritative, and Alwyn, meeting the full gaze of his calm eyes, felt bound to obey the implied command.

Starting point is 00:36:02 He therefore sank listlessly into an easy-chair near the table, pushing back the short, thick curls from his brow, with a wearied movement. He was very pale, an uneasy sense of shame was upon him, and he sighed, a quick sigh of exhausted passion. Heliobus seated himself opposite and looked at him earnestly. He studied with sympathetic attention the lines of dejection and fatigue, which marred the attractiveness of features otherwise frank, poetic, and noble. He had seen many such men, men in their prime, who had begun life full of high faith, hope, and lofty aspiration, yet whose fair,

Starting point is 00:36:45 ideals once bruised in the mortar of modern atheistical opinion, had perished forever, while they themselves, like golden eagles, suddenly and cruelly shot while flying in mid-air, had fallen helplessly, broken-winged, among the dust-heaps of the world, never to rise and soar sunward again. Thinking this, his accents were touched with a certain compassion, when after a pause he said softly, Poor boy, poor, puzzled, tired brain that would fain judge infinity by merely finite perception. You were a far truer poet, Theos Alwyn, when, as a world foolish, heaven-inspired lad, you believed in God, and therefore in godlike gladness found all things good. All when looked up, his lips quivered.

Starting point is 00:37:41 Poet, poet, he murmured. Why taunt me with the name? He started upright in his chair. Let me tell you all, he said suddenly. You may as well know what has made me the useless wreck I am, though perhaps I shall only weary you. Far from it, answered Helobus gently. Speak freely.

Starting point is 00:38:02 But remember, I do not compel your confidence. On the contrary, I think you do. And again, that faint half-mornful smile shone for an instant in his deep, dark eyes. Though you may not be conscious of it. Anyhow, I feel impelled to unburden my heart to you. I have kept silence so long. You know what it is in the world. One must always keep silence, always shut in one's grief and force a smile,

Starting point is 00:38:30 in company with the rest of the tormented forced smiling crowd. We can never be ourselves, our veritable selves, for if we were, the air would resound with our ceaseless lamentations. It is horrible to think of all the pent-up sufferings of humanity, all the inconceivably hideous agonies that remain forever dumb and unrevealed. When I was young, how long ago that seems. Yes, though my actual years are but thirty, I feel an alder-eld of accumulated centuries upon me. When I was young, the dream of my life was Posi. Perhaps I inherited the fatal love of it

Starting point is 00:39:09 from my mother. She was a Greek, and she had a subtle music in her that nothing could quell, not even my father's English coldness. She named me Theos, little guessing what a dreary sarcasm that name would prove. It was well, I think, that she died early. Well for her, but perhaps not so well for you, said Heliobus, with a keen, kindly glance at him. Alwyn sighed. Nay, well for us both, for I should have chafed at her loving restraint, and she would unquestionably have been disappointed in me. My father was a conscientious, methodical businessman,

Starting point is 00:39:48 who spent all his days up to almost the last moment of his life in amassing money, though it never gave him any joy so far as I could see. and when at his death I became sole possessor of his hardly earned fortune, I felt far more sorrow than satisfaction. I wished he had spent his gold on himself and left me poor, for it seemed to me I had need of nothing save the little I earned by my pen. I was content to live like an anchorite and dine off a crust for the sake of the divine muse I worshipped. Fate, however, willed it otherwise, and though I scarcely cared for the wealth I inherited, it gave me at least one blessing,

Starting point is 00:40:30 that of perfect independence. I was free to follow my own chosen vocation, and for a brief wondering, while I deemed myself happy, happy as Keats must have been, when the fragment of Hyperion broke from his frail life as thunder breaks from a summer cloud. I was as a monarch,

Starting point is 00:40:49 swaying a sceptre that commanded both earth and heaven. A kingdom was mine, A kingdom of golden ether, peopled with shining shapes protean. Alas, its gates are shut upon me now, and I shall enter it no more. No more is a long time, my friend, interposed Helibus gently. You are too despondent, perchance too diffident, concerning your own ability. Ability, and he laughed wearily. I have none.

Starting point is 00:41:20 I am as weak and inapt as an untaught child. the music of my heart is silenced, yet there is nothing I would not do to regain the ravishment of the past. When the sight of the sunset across the hills or the moon's silver transfiguration of the sea filled me with deep and indescribable ecstasy, when the thought of love,

Starting point is 00:41:43 like a full cord struck from a magic harp, set my pulses throbbing with delirious delight. Fancy's, thick as leaves in summer, crowded my brain. Earth was a round charm hung on the breast of a smiling divinity. Men were gods, women were angels. The world seemed but a wide scroll for the signatures of poets, and mine, I swore, should be clearly written. He paused, as though ashamed of his own fervor, and glanced at Helobus, who, leaning a little forward in his chair, was regarding him with friendly and attentive interest. Then he continued more calmly. Enough. I think I had something in me then, something that

Starting point is 00:42:27 was new and wild, and though it may seem self-praised to say so, full of that witching glamour we name inspiration. But whatever that something was, call it genius, a trick of song, what you will, it was soon crushed out of me. The world is fond of slaying its singing birds and devouring them for daily fair. One rough pressure of finger and thumb on the little melodious throats, and they are mute forever. So I found when, at last, in mingled pride, hope, and fear, I published my poems, seeking for them no other recompense save fair hearing and justice. They obtained neither. They were tossed carelessly by a few critics from hand to hand, jeered at for a while, and finally flung back to me as lies, lies all, the finely spun web of airy fancy, the delicate interwoven

Starting point is 00:43:23 intricacies of thought. These were torn to shreds with as little compunction as idle children feel when destroying, for their own cruel sport, the velvety wonder of a moth's wing, or the radiant rose and emerald pinions of a dragonfly. I was a fool, so I was told with many a languid sneer, and stale jest, to talk of hidden mysteries in the whisper of the wind and the dash of the waves. Such sounds were but common cause and effect. The stars were merely conglomerated masses of heated vapor, condensed by the works of ages into meteorites, and from meteorites into worlds. And these went on rolling in their appointed orbits, for what reason nobody knew, but then nobody cared. and love, the keynote of the theme to which I had set my mistaken life in tune,

Starting point is 00:44:16 love was only a graceful word used to politely defined the low but very general sentiment of coarse animal attraction. In short, poetry such as mine was altogether absurd and out of date when confronted with the facts of everyday existence. Facts which plainly taught us that man's chief business here below was simply to live, breed, and die, the life of a silkworm or caterpillar on a slightly higher platform of ability. Beyond this, nothing. Nothing, murmured Helobus, in a tone of suggestive inquiry. Really nothing? Nothing, repeated Alwyn, with an air of resigned hopelessness, for I learned that according to the results arrived at by the most advanced thinkers of the day, there was no God, no soul, no hereafter, the loftiest efforts of the highest heaven- aspiring

Starting point is 00:45:13 minds were doomed to end in non-fruition, failure, and annihilation. Among all the desperately hard truths that came rattling down upon me, like a shower of stones, I think this was the crowning one that killed whatever genius I had. I use the word genius foolishly, though, after all, genius itself is nothing to boast of, since it is only a morbid and unhealthy condition of the intellectual faculties, or at least was demonstrated to me as such by a scientific friend of my own, who, seeing I was miserable, took great pains to make me more so, if possible. He proved, to his own satisfaction, if not altogether to mine, that the abnormal position of certain molecules in the brain produced an eccentricity of peculiar bias in one.

Starting point is 00:46:04 direction, which, practically viewed, might be described as an intelligent form of monomania, but which most people chose to term genius. And that, from a purely scientific standpoint, it was evident that the poets, painters, musicians, sculptors, and all the widely renowned great ones of the earth, should be classified as so many brains, more or less affected by abnormal molecular formation, which, strictly speaking, amounted to brain deformity. He assured me that to the properly balanced, healthy, organized brain of the human animal, genius was an impossibility. It was a malady as unnatural as rare. And it is singular, very singular, he added, with a complacent smile, that the world should owe all its finest art and literature merely to a few varieties of

Starting point is 00:46:59 molecular disease. I thought it singular enough, too. However, I did not care to argue with him. I only felt that if the illness of genius had at any time affected me, it was pretty well certain I should now suffer no more from its delicious pangs and honey-sweet fever. I was cured. The probing knife of the world's cynicism had found its way to the musically throbbing center of divine disquietude in my brain, and had there cut down the growth of fair imaginations forever. I thrust aside the bright illusions that had once been my gladness. I forced myself to look with unflinching eyes at the wide waste of universal nothingness revealed to me by the rigid positivists and iconoclasts of the century.

Starting point is 00:47:48 But my heart died within me. My whole being froze, as it were, into an icy apathy. no more. I doubt whether I shall ever write again. Of a truth, there is nothing to write about. All has been said. The days of the troubadours are past. One cannot string canticles of love for men and women whose ruling passion is the greed of gold. Yet, I have sometimes thought life would be drearier even than it is, were the voices of poets altogether silent. And I wish— Yes, I wish I had it in my power to brand me. my sign manual on the brazen face of this coldly callous age,

Starting point is 00:48:29 branded deep in those letters of living fire called fame. A look of baffled longing and ungratified ambition came into his musing eyes. His strong, shapely white hand clenched nervously, as though it grasped some unseen, yet perfectly tangible substance. Just then, the storm without, which had partially lulled during the last few minutes, began its wrath anew, a glare of lightning blazed against the uncurtained window, and a heavy clap of thunder burst overhead with the sudden crash of an exploding bomb. "'You care for fame?' asked Heliobus abruptly,

Starting point is 00:49:11 as soon as the terrific uproar had subsided into a distant, dull, rumbling, mingled with the pattering dash of hail. "'I care for it, yes,' replied Alwyn, and his voice was very low and dreamy. For though the world is a graveyard, as I have said, full of unmarked tombs, still, here and there we find graves, such as Shelley's or Byron's,

Starting point is 00:49:36 were on pale flowers, like sweet suggestions of ever-silenced music, break into continuous bloom. And shall I not win my own death-garland of Asphodel? There was an indescribable, almost heart-rending pathos, in his manner of uttering these last words, a hopelessness of effort,

Starting point is 00:49:57 and a despairing sense of failure, which he himself seemed conscious of. For meeting the fixed and earnest gaze of Heliobus, he quickly relapsed into his usual tone of indolent indifference. You see, he said with a forced smile, my story is not very interesting. No hair-breadth escapes, no thrilling adventures, no love intrigues,

Starting point is 00:50:22 but mental misery, for which few people have any sympathy. A child with a cut finger gets more universal commiseration than a man with a tortured brain and breaking heart. Yet there can be no question as to which is the more intense and long-enduring anguish of the two. However, such as my troubles are, I have told you all. I have laid bare my wound of living, a wound that throbs and burns and aches more intolerably, with every passing out, and day. It is not unnatural, I think, that I should seek for a little cessation of suffering, a brief dreaming space in which to rest for a while, and escape from the dreadful truth. Truth that, like the flaming sword placed east of the fabled Garden of Eden,

Starting point is 00:51:10 turns ruthlessly every way, keeping us out of the fortified paradise of imaginative aspiration, which made the men of old time great, because they deemed themselves immortal. It was a glorious faith, that strong consciousness, that in the change and upheaval of whole universes, the soul of man should forever override disaster. But now that we know ourselves to be of no more importance, relatively speaking, than the animal cule in a drop of stagnant water, what great works can be done, what noble deeds accomplished in the face of the declared and proved futility of everything. Still, if you can, as you say, liberate me from this flesh-like, prison and give me new sensations and different experiences. Why then, let me depart with all possible

Starting point is 00:51:59 speed, for I am certain I shall find in the storm-swept areas of space, nothing worse than life as lived in this present world. Remember, I am quite incredulous as to your professed power. He paused and glanced at the white-robed priestly figure opposite. Then added lightly, but I am curious to test it all the same. Are you ready to begin your spells? And shall I say, the nuke dimetus? End of chapter two. Chapter 3 of Ardath by Marie Carelli. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Departure. Helobus was silent. He seemed engaged in deep and anxious thought, and he kept his steadfast eyes fixed on Alwyn's countenance, as though he sought there the clue to some difficult problem.

Starting point is 00:53:00 "'What do you know of the nunc dimetus?' he asked at last, with a half-smile. "'You might as well say the paternoster. Both canticle and prayer would be equally unmeaning to you, for poet as you are, or let me say as you were, inasmuch as no atheist was ever a poet at the same time. You are wrong, interrupted Alwyn quickly. Shelly was an atheist. Shelley, my good friend, was not an atheist. Footnote. See the last two verses of Adonias. End of footnote. He strove to be one. Nay, he made pretense to be one. But throughout his poems, we hear the voice of his inner and better self, appealing to that divinity and eternity which, in spite of the material part of him, he instinctively felt existent in his own being.

Starting point is 00:53:55 I repeat, poet as you were and poet as you will be again, when the clouds on your mind are cleared. You present the strange but not uncommon spectacle of an immortal spirit fighting to disprove its own immortality. In a word, you will not believe in the soul. I cannot, said Alwyn, with a hopeless gesture. Why? Science can give us no positive proof of its existence. It cannot be defined. What do you mean by science? demanded Heliobus, the foot of the mountain, at which men now stand, groveling and uncertain how to climb, or the glittering summit itself, which touches God's throne. Alwyn made no answer. Tell me, pursued Helobus. How do you define the vital principle?

Starting point is 00:54:46 what mysterious agency sets the heart beating and the blood flowing. By the small porter's lantern of today's so-called science, will you fling a light on the dark riddle of an apparently purposeless universe and explain to me why we live at all? Evolution, responded Alwyn shortly, and necessity. Evolution from what? persisted Helobus. From one atom, what atom? And from whence came the atom?

Starting point is 00:55:16 And why the necessity of any atom? The human brain reels at such questions, said Alwyn, vexedly and with impatience. I cannot answer them. No one can. No one? Heliobus smiled very tranquilly. Do not be too sure of that. And why should the human brain reel? The sagacious, calculating, clear human brain that never gets tired or puzzled or perplexed,

Starting point is 00:55:44 that settles everything in the most practical and common-sense manner, and disposes of God altogether as an extraneous sort of bargain not wanted in the general economy of our little solar system? Aye, the human brain is a wonderful thing, and yet, by a sharp, well-directed knock with this, and he took up from the table a paper knife with a massive, silver-mounted, weighty horn handle. I could deaden it in such wise that the soul could no more hold any communication with it, and it would lie an inert mass in the cranium, of no more use to its owner than a paralyzed limb. You mean to infer that the brain cannot act without the influence of the soul? Precisely, if the hands on the telegraph dial will not respond to the electric battery,

Starting point is 00:56:38 the telegram cannot be deciphered. But it would be foolish to deny the existence of the electric battery because the dial is unsatisfactory. In like manner, when, by physical incapacity or inherited disease, the brain can no longer receive the impressions or electric messages of the spirit. It is practically useless. Yet the spirit is there all the same, dumbly waiting for release and another chance of expansion. Is this the way you account for idiot? and mania? asked Alwyn incredulously. Most certainly, idiocy and mania always come from man's

Starting point is 00:57:20 interference with the laws of health and of nature, never otherwise. The soul placed within us by the creator is meant to be fostered by man's unfettered will. If man chooses to employ that unfettered will in wrong directions, he has only himself to blame for the disastrous results that follow. You may perhaps ask why God has thus left our wills unfettered. The answer is simple, that we may serve him by choice and not by compulsion. Among the myriad million worlds that acknowledge his goodness gladly and undoubtedly, why should he seek to force unwilling obedience from us castaways? As we are all in a few, we are all in a while. As we are are on this subject, said Alwyn, with a tinge of satire in his tone. If you grant a God

Starting point is 00:58:10 and make him out to be supreme love, why in the name of his supposed inexhaustible beneficence should we be castaways at all? Because in our overweening pride and egotism, we have elected to be such, replied Heliobus. As angels have fallen, so have we. But we are not altogether castaways now, since this signal, and he touched the cross on his breast, shone in heaven. Alwyn shrugged his shoulders disdainfully. Pardon me, he murmured coldly. With every desire to respect your religious scruples, I really cannot, personally speaking, except the tenets of a worn-out faith, which all the most intellectual minds of the day reject as mere ignorant superstition. The carpenters,

Starting point is 00:59:03 son of Judea, was no doubt a very estimable person, a socialist teacher, whose doctrines were very excellent in theory, but impossible of practice. That there was anything divine about him, I utterly deny, and I confess, I am surprised that you, a man of evident culture, do not seem to see the hollow absurdity of Christianity as a system of morals and civilization. It is an ever-sprouting seed of discord and hatred between nations. It has served as a cassis belly of the most fanatical and merciless character. It is answerable for a whole seas of cruel and unnecessary bloodshed. Have you nothing new to say on the subject? Interposed Heliobus with a slight smile. I have heard all this so often before, from diverse kinds of men,

Starting point is 00:59:55 both educated and ignorant, who have a willful habit of forgetting all that Christ himself prophesied concerning his creed of self-renunciation, so difficult to selfish humanity. Think not that I come to send peace on the earth. I come not to send peace but a sword. Again, ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake, and ye shall be offended because of me. such plain words as these seem utterly thrown away upon this present generation. And do you know, I find a curious lack of originality among so-called free thinkers. In fact, their thoughts can hardly be designated as free, when they all run in such extremely narrow grooves of similitude.

Starting point is 01:00:43 A flock of sheep, mildly trotting under the guidance of the butcher to the slaughterhouse, could not be more tamely alike in their bleeding ignorance as to where they are going. Your opinions, for instance, differ scarce a whit from those of the common boar, who, reading his penny radical paper, thinks he can dispense with God and talk of the carpenter's son of Judea, with the same easy flippancy and scant reverence as yourself. The intellectual minds of the day, to which you allude, are extraordinarily limited of comprehension, and none of them, literary or otherwise, have such a grasp of knowledge. Have such a grasp of knowledge as any of these dead and gone authors. And he waved his hand toward the surrounding

Starting point is 01:01:28 loaded bookshelves, who lived centuries ago and are now, as far as the general public is concerned, forgotten. All the volumes you see here are vellum manuscripts copied from the original slabs of baked clay, stone tablets, and engraved sheets of ivory, and among them is an ingenious treatise by one Raminidronos, chief astronomer to the then king of Babylonia, setting forth the atom and evolution theory with far more clearness and precision than any of your modern professors. All such propositions are old, old as the hills, I assure you, and these days in which you live are more suggestive of the second childhood of the world than its progressive prime, especially in your own country, the general dotage seems to have reached a sort of climax.

Starting point is 01:02:24 For there, you have the people actually forgetting, deriding, or denying their greatest men, who form the only lasting glories of their history. They have ever done their futile best to tarnish the unsoilable fame of Shakespeare. In that land, you, who, according to your own showing, started for the race of life, full of high hopes and inspiration, to still higher endeavor, you have been poisoned by the tainted atmosphere of atheism, which is slowly and insidiously spreading itself through all ranks, particularly among the upper classes, who, while becoming every day more lax in their morals and more dissolute of behavior, consider themselves far too

Starting point is 01:03:08 wise and highly cultured to believe in anything. is a most unwholesome atmosphere charged with the morbidities and microbes of national disease and downfall. It is difficult to breathe it without becoming fever-smitten, and in your denial of the divinity of Christ, I do not blame you any more than I would blame a poor creature struck down by a plague. You have caught the negative, agnostic, and atheistical infection from others. It is not the natural, healthy condition of your temperament. On the contrary, it is, so far as that point goes, said Alwyn, with sudden heat. I tell you, I am amazed, utterly amazed, that you, with your intelligence, should uphold such a barbaric

Starting point is 01:03:57 idea as the divinity of Christ. Human reason revolts at it, and after all, make as light of it as you will, reason is the only thing that exalts us a little above the level of the beasts. Nay, the beasts share the gift of reason in common with us, replied Heliobus, and man only proves his ignorance if he denies the fact. Often indeed the very insects show superior reasoning ability to ourselves. Any thoroughly capable naturalist would bear me out in this assertion. Well, well, and Alwyn grew impatient, reason or no reason, I again repeat that the legend on which Christianity is founded is absurd and preposterous. Why, if there were a grain of truth in it, Judas Ascariot, instead of being universally condemned, ought to be honored and canonized

Starting point is 01:04:51 as the first of the saints. Must I remind you of your early lesson days? asked Helibus mildly. You will find it written in a book you appear to have forgotten, that Christ expressly prophesied, woe to that man by whom he was betrayed. I tell you, little as you credit it, there is not a word that the sinless one uttered while on this earth that has not been or shall not be in time fulfilled. But I do not wish to enter into any controversies with you. You have told me your story. I have heard it with interest, and I may add with sympathy. You are a poet struck dumb by materialism, because you lacked strength to resist the shock. You would fain recover your singing speech, and this is, in truth, the reason why you have come to me. You think that if you could gain some of the strange

Starting point is 01:05:46 experiences which others have had while under my influence, you might win back your lost inspiration. Though you do not know why you think this, neither do I. I can only guess. And your guess is, demanded Alwyn, with an air of affected indifference. difference? That some higher influence is working for your rescue and safety, replied Heliobus. What influence I dare not presume to imagine, but there are always angels near. Angels? Alwyn laughed aloud. How many more fairy tales are you going to weave for me out of your fertile oriental imagination? Angels? See here, my good Helobus, I am perfectly willing to grant that you may be a very clever man with an odd prejudice in favor of Christianity, but I must request that

Starting point is 01:06:41 you will not talk to me of angels and spirits or any such nonsense, as if I were a child waiting to be amused, instead of a full-grown man with—with so full-grown and intellect that it has outgrown God? finished Helibus serenely. Quite so. Yet angels, after all, are only immortal souls, such as yours or mine, when set free of their earthly tenements. For instance, when I look at you thus, and he raised his eyes with a lustrous piercing glance, I see the proud, strong, and rebellious angel in you, far more distinctly than your outward shape of man, and you, when you look at me. He broke off, for Alwyn at that moment sprang from his chair, and staring fixedly at him, uttered a quick, fierce exclamation.

Starting point is 01:07:34 Ah, I know you now, he cried in sudden and extraordinary excitement. I know you well. We have met before. Why, after all that has passed, do we meet again? This singular speech was accompanied by a still more singular transfiguration of countenance. A dark, fiery glory burned in his eyes, and in the stern, frowning wonder and defiance of his expression. and attitude, there was something grand yet terrible, menacing yet supernaturally sublime. He stood so for an instance space, majestically somber, like some haughty, discrowned emperor confronting his conqueror. A rumbling, long-continued roll of thunder outside seemed to recall him to himself, and he pressed his hands tightly over his eyelids as though to shut out some

Starting point is 01:08:26 overwhelming vision. After a pause, he looked up again wildly, confusedly, almost beseechingly, and Heliobus, observing this, rose and advanced toward him. Peace, he said in low, impressive tones. We have recognized each other, but on earth, such recognitions are brief and soon forgotten. He waited for a few seconds, then resumed lightly. Come, look at me now, what do you see? Alwyn scanned his features eagerly and with some bewilderment. Nothing but yourself, he replied, sighing deeply as he spoke. Yet, oddly enough, a moment ago, I fancied you had altogether a different appearance, and I thought I saw.

Starting point is 01:09:14 No matter what, I cannot describe it. His brows contracted in a puzzled line. It was a curious phenomenon, very curious, and it affected me strangely. He stopped abruptly, then added, with a slight flush of annoyance on his face. I perceive you are an adept in the art of optical illusion. Heliobus laughed softly. Of course. What else can you expect of a charlatan, a trickster, and a monk to boot? Deception, deception throughout, my dear sir. And have you not asked to be deceived? There was a fine, scarcely perceptible satire in his manner. He glanced at the tall

Starting point is 01:09:55 oaken clock that stood in one corner of the room. Its hands pointed to eleven. Now, Mr. Alwyn, he went on, I think we have talked quite enough for this evening, and my advice is that you retire to rest and think over what I have said to you. I am willing to help you if I can, but with your beliefs, or rather your non-beliefs, I do not hesitate to tell you frankly that the exertion of my internal force upon yours, in your present condition, might be fraught with extreme danger and suffering. You have spoken of truth, the dreadful truth. This being, however, nothing but truth, according to the world's opinion, which changes with every passing generation, and therefore is not truth at all. There is another truth, the everlasting truth, the pivot of all life, which never changes,

Starting point is 01:10:49 and it is with this alone that my science deals. Were I to set you at liberty as you desire, were your intelligence too suddenly awakened to the blinding awfulness of your mistaken notions of life, death, and futurity, the result might be more overpowering than either you or I can imagine. I have told you what I can do.

Starting point is 01:11:14 Your incredulity does not alter the fact of my capacity. I can sever you, that is, your soul, which you cannot define, but which nevertheless exists from your body, like a moth from its chrysalis. But I dare not even picture to myself what scorching flame the moth might not heedlessly fly into. You might, in your temporary state of release, find that new impetus to your thoughts you so ardently desire, or you might not. In short, it is impossible to form a guess as to whether your experience might be one of supernal ecstasy or inconceivable horror. He paused a moment. Alwyn was watching him with a close intentness

Starting point is 01:11:59 that bordered on fascination, and presently he continued. It is best, from all points of view, that you should consider the matter more thoroughly than you have yet done. Think it over well and carefully until this time tomorrow. Then, if you are quite resolved, I am resolved now, said Alwyn slowly and determinedly. If you are so certain of your influence, come, unbar my chains, open the prison door, let me go hence tonight. There is no time like the present. Tonight! And Helibus turned his keen, bright eyes full upon him, with a look of amazement and reproach.

Starting point is 01:12:41 Tonight, without faith, preparation or prayer, you are willing. willing to be tossed through the realms of space like a grain of dust in a whirling tempest, beyond the glittering gyration of unnumbered stars, through the sword-like flash of streaming comets, through darkness, through light, through depths of profoundest silence, over heights of vibrating sound, you, you will dare to wander in these God-invested regions, you, a blasphemer and a doubter of God?

Starting point is 01:13:13 His voice thrilled with passion, his aspect was so solemn and earnest and imposing that Alwyn, awed and startled, remained for a moment mute. Then, lifting his head proudly, answered, Yes, I dare. If I am immortal, I will test my immortality. I will face God and find these angels you talk about. What shall prevent me? Find the angels? Helobus surveyed him sadly as he spoke. nay, pray rather that they may find thee. He looked long and steadfastly at Alwyn's countenance, on which there was just then the faint glimmer of a rather mocking smile, and, as he looked,

Starting point is 01:13:58 his own face darkened suddenly, into an expression of vague trouble and uneasiness, and a strange quiver passed visibly through him from head to foot. "'You are bold, Mr. Alwyn,' he said at last, moving a little of a little, away from his guest, and speaking with some apparent effort, bold to a fault. But at the same time, you are ignorant of all that lies behind the veil of the unseen. I should be much to blame if I sent you hence tonight, utterly unguided, utterly uninstructed. I myself must think and pray, before I venture to incur so terrible a responsibility. Tomorrow, perhaps. Tonight, no, I cannot, Moreover, I will not.

Starting point is 01:14:46 Alwyn flushed hotly with anger. Trickster, he thought. He feels he has no power over me, and he fears to run the risk of failure. Did I hear you aright? He said aloud in cold, determined accents. You cannot, you will not? By heaven!

Starting point is 01:15:04 And his voice rose. I say you shall! As he uttered these words, a rush of indescribable sensations overcame him. He seemed all. at once invested with some mysterious, invincible, supreme authority. He felt twice a man and more than half a god, and, moved by an irresistible impulse, which he could neither explain nor control, he made two or three hasty steps forward. When Helibus, swiftly retreating, waved him off with

Starting point is 01:15:35 an eloquent gesture of mingled appeal and menace. Back, back, he cried warningly. If you come one inch nearer to me, I cannot answer for your safety. Back, I say, good God, you do not know your own power. Alwyn scarcely heated him. Some fatal attraction drew him on, and he still advanced. When all suddenly, he paused, trembling violently. His nerves began to throb acutely.

Starting point is 01:16:05 The blood in his veins was like fire. there was a curious strangling tightness in his throat that interrupted and depressed his breathing. He stared straight before him with large, luminous, impassioned eyes. What? What was that dazzling something in the air that flashed and whirled and shone, like glittering wheels of golden flame? His lips parted. He stretched out his hands in the uncertain manner of a blind man feeling his way. Oh, God, God! He muttered, as though stricken by some sudden amazement. Then, with a smothered gasping cry, he staggered and fell heavily forward on the floor. Insensible. At the self-same instant, the window blew open with a loud crash.

Starting point is 01:16:51 It swung backward and forward on its hinges, and a torrent of rain poured through it slant-wise into the room. A remarkable change had taken place in the aspect and bearing of Heliobus. He stood as though rooted to the spot, trembling from head to foot. He had lost all his usual composure. He was deathly pale and breathed with difficulty. Presently, recovering himself a little, he strove to shut the swinging casement, but the wind was so boisterous that he had to pause a moment to gain strength for the effort, and instinctively he glanced out at the tempestuous night. The clouds were scurrying over the sky like great black vessels on a foaming sea. sea, the lightning flashed incessantly, and the thunder reverberated over the mountains in

Starting point is 01:17:41 tremendous volleys as of besieging cannon. Stinging drops of icy sleet dashed his face, and the front of his white garb as he inhaled the stormy freshness of the strong upward sweeping blast for a few seconds. And then, with the air of one gathering together all his scattered forces, He shut to the window firmly and barred it across. Turning now to the unconscious Alwyn, he lifted him from the floor to a low couch near at hand, and there laid him gently down. This done, he stood looking at him with an expression of the deepest anxiety,

Starting point is 01:18:20 but made no attempt to rouse him from his death-like swoon. His own habitual serenity was completely broken through. He had all the appearance of having received some unexpected and overwhelming shock. His very lips were blanched and quivered nervously. He waited for several minutes, attentively watching the recumbent figure before him, till gradually, very gradually,

Starting point is 01:18:46 that figure took upon itself the pale, stern beauty of a corpse, from which life has but recently and painlessly departed. The limbs grew stiff and rigid, the features smoothed into that mysteriously wise, placidity, which is so often seen in the faces of the dead. The closed eyelids looked purple and livid, as though bruised. There was not a breath, not a tremor, to offer any outward suggestion of returning animation. And when, after some little time, Heliobus bent down and listened, there was no pulsation of the heart. It had ceased to beat. To all appearances, Alwyn was dead.

Starting point is 01:19:31 physician would have certified the fact, though how he had come by his death, there was no evidence to show. And in that condition, stirless, breathless, white as marble, cold and inanimate as stone, Helibus left him, not in indifference, but in sure knowledge, knowledge far beyond all mere medical science, that the senseless clay would in due time again arise to life and motion, the casket was but temporarily bereft of its jewel, and that the jewel itself, the soul of the poet, had, by a superhuman access of will, managed to break its bonds and escape elsewhere, but wither, into what vast realms of translucent light or drear shadow? This was a question to which the mystic monk, gifted as he was with a powerful spiritual insight into things unseen and

Starting point is 01:20:31 eternal, could find no satisfactory answer. And in his anxious perplexity, he betook himself to the chapel, and there, by the red glimmer of the crimson star that shone dimly above the altar, he knelt alone and prayed in silence till the heavy night had passed, and the storm had slain itself with the sword of its own fury on the dark slopes of the pass of Daryel. End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of Ardath by Marie Carelli This Librevox recording is in the public domain Angelus Domini

Starting point is 01:21:18 The next morning dawned palidly over a sea of grey mist Not a glimpse of the landscape was visible Nothing but a shadowy vastness of floating vapor That moved slowly, fold upon fold, wave upon wave, as though bent on blotting out the world. A very faint, chill light, peered through the narrow arched window of the room where Alwyn lay, still wrapped in that profound repose, so like that last long sleep, from which some of our modern scientists tell us there can be no awakening. His condition was unchanged. The wan beams of the early day, falling across his features,

Starting point is 01:22:02 intensified their waxen stillness and pallor. The awful majesty of death was on him, the pathetic helplessness and perishableness of body without spirit. Presently, the monastery bell began to ring for matins, and as its clear chime struck through the deep silence, the door opened, and Heliobus, accompanied by another monk whose gentle countenance and fine soft eyes betokened the serenity of his disposition, entered the apartment.

Starting point is 01:22:35 Together they approached the couch and gazed long and earnestly at the supernaturally slumbering man. He is still far away, said Helibus at last, sighing as he spoke. So far away that my mind misgives me, alas, hilarious! How limited is our knowledge? Even with all the spiritual aids of spiritual love, life, how little can be accomplished. We learn one thing, and another presents itself. We conquer one difficulty, and another instantly springs up to obstruct our path. Now, if I had only had the innate perception required to foresee the possible flight of this released immortal creature, might I not have

Starting point is 01:23:22 saved it from some incalculable misery and suffering? I think not, answered, in rather than, musing accents, the monk called Hilarian. I think not. Such protection can never be exercised by mere human intelligence. If this soul is to be saved or shielded in its invisible journeyings, it will be by some means that not all the marvels of our science can calculate. You say he was without faith? Entirely. What was his leading principle? A desire for what he called truth, replied Heliobus. He, like many others of his class, never took the trouble to consider very deeply the inner meeting of Pilate's famous question. What is truth?

Starting point is 01:24:10 We know what it is, as generally accepted. A few so-called facts, which in a thousand years will all be contradicted, mixed up with a few finite opinions, propounded by unstable-minded men. In brief, truth, according to the world, is simply whatever the world is pleased to consider as truth, for the time being. Tis a somewhat slight thing to stake one's immortal destinies upon. Hilarion raised one of Alwyn's cold, pulseless hands. It was stiff and white as marble. I suppose, he said, there is no doubt of his returning hither. None whatever, answered Heliobus decisively. His life on earth is assured for many years yet, inasmuch as his penance is not finished.

Starting point is 01:24:57 his recompense not won. Thus far my knowledge of his fate is certain. Then you will bring him back today, pursued Hilarian. Bring him back, I, I cannot, said Helobus, with a touch of sad humility in his tone. And for this very reason I feared to send him hence, and would not have done so, not without preparation at any rate, could I have had my way. His departure was more strange than I have ever known. Moreover, it was his own doing, not mine. I had positively refused to exert my influence upon him, because I felt he was not in my sphere, and that therefore neither I nor any of those higher intelligences with which I am in communication

Starting point is 01:25:46 could control or guide his wanderings. He, however, was as positively determined that I should exert it, and to this end he suddenly concentrated all the pent-up fire of his nature in one rapid effort of will and advanced upon me. I warned him, but in vain. Quick as lightning flash meets lightning flash, the two invisible immortal forces within us sprang into instant opposition, with this difference, that while he was ignorant and unconscious of his power, I was cognizant and fully conscious of mine. was focused, as it were, upon him. His was untrained and scattered. The result was that mine won the victory. Yet, understand me well, Hilarian. If I could have held myself in, I would have done so. It was he, he who drew my force out of me, as one would draw a sword out of its

Starting point is 01:26:44 scabbard. The sword may be ever so stiffly fixed in its sheath, but the strong hand will wrench it forth somehow, and use it for battle when needed. Then, said Hilarian, wonderingly, you admit this man possesses a power greater than your own? I, if he knew it, returned Helibus quietly, but he does not know. Only an angel could teach him, and in angels he does not believe. He may believe now. He may, he will, he must, if he has gone where I would have him go. A poet, is he not? Quaried Hilarian softly,

Starting point is 01:27:26 bending down to look more attentively at the beautiful Antinus-like face, colorless and cold as sculptured alabaster. An uncrowned monarch of a world of song, responded Heliobus, with a tender inflection in his rich voice. A genius, such as the earth sees but once in a century, but he has been smitten with the disease of unbelief and deprived of hope,

Starting point is 01:27:53 and where there is no hope, there is no lasting accomplishment. He paused, and with a touch as gentle as a woman's, rearranged the cushions under Alwyn's heavy head, and laid his hand in grave benediction on the broad white brow, shaded by its clustering waves of dark hair. May the infinite love bring him out of danger into peace and safety. he said solemnly. Then turning away, he took his companion by the arm, and they both left the room, closing the door quietly behind them. The chapel bell went on tolling slowly, slowly,

Starting point is 01:28:32 sending muffled echoes through the fog for some minutes, then it ceased, and a profound stillness reigned. The monastery was always a very silent habitation, situated as it was on so lofty and barren a crag. It was far beyond the singing reach of the smaller, sweet-throated birds. Now and then, an eagle clove the mist with a whir of wings and a discordant scream on his way toward some distant mountain eerie. But no other sound of awakening life broke the hush of the slowly widening dawn. An hour passed, and Alwyn still remained in the same position. As pallidly quiescent as a corpse, stretched to the hour past. And Alwynne still remained in the same position. out for burial. By and by, a change began to thrill mysteriously through the atmosphere,

Starting point is 01:29:24 like the flowing of amber wine through crystal. The heavy vapors shuddered together as though suddenly lashed by a whip of flame. They rose, swayed to and fro, and parted asunder. Then, dissolving into thin, milk-white veils of fleecy film, they floated away, disclosing as they vanished, the giant summits of the encircling mountains, that lifted themselves to the light one above another in the form of frozen billows. Over these, a delicate pink flush flitted in tremulous wavy lines. Long arrows of gold began to pierce the tender shimmering blue of the sky.

Starting point is 01:30:08 Soft puffs of cloud, tinged with vivid crimson and pale green, were strewn along the eastern horizon, like flowers in the path of an advancing hero. And then, all at once, there was a slight cessation of movement in the heavens, an attentive pause as though the whole universe waited for some great splendor as yet unrevealed. That splendor came, in a red blaze of triumph the sun rose, pouring a shower of beamy brilliancy over the white vastness of the heights, covered with perpetual snow, jagged peaks, sharp as cimitars, and sparkling with ice, caught fire,

Starting point is 01:30:51 and seemed to melt away in an absorbing sea of radiance. The wading clouds moved on, redecked in deeper hues of royal purple, and the full morning glory was declared, as the dazzling effulgence streamed through the window and flooded the couch where Alwyn lay. A faint tinge of color returned to his face, his lips moved, his broad chest heaved with struggling sighs, his eyelids quivered, his before rigid hands relaxed, and folded themselves together in an attitude of peace and prayer. Like a statue becoming slowly and magically flushed with life, the warm hues of the naturally flowing blood deepened through the whiteness of his skin, His breathing grew more and more easy and regular.

Starting point is 01:31:44 His features gradually assumed their wanted appearance, and presently, without any violent start or exclamation, he awoke. But was it a real awakening, or rather a continuation of some strange impression received in slumber? He rose to his feet, pushing back the hair from his brow, with an entranced look of listening wonderment. His eyes were humid yet brilliant. His whole aspect was that of one inspired. He paced once or twice up and down the room. But he was evidently unconscious of his surroundings. He seemed possessed by thoughts which absorbed his whole being. Presently, he seated himself at the table,

Starting point is 01:32:27 and absently fingering the writing materials that were upon it, he appeared meditatively to question their use and meaning. Then, drawing several sheets of paper toward him, he began to write with extraordinary rapidity and eagerness. His pen traveled on smoothly, uninterrupted by blot or erasure. Sometimes he paused, but when he did, it was always with an upraised, attentively listening expression. Once he murmured aloud, Ardath! Nay, I shall not forget. We will meet at Ardath. And again he resumed his occupation. Page after page he covered with close writing, no weak, uncertain scrawl,

Starting point is 01:33:11 but with a firm, bold, neat calligraphy, his own peculiar characteristic hand. The sun mounted higher and higher in the heavens, hour after hour passed, and still he wrote on, apparently unaware of the flitting time. At midday the bell, which had not rung since early dawn, began to swing quickly to and fro in the chapel turret. The deep base of the organ breathed on the silence,

Starting point is 01:33:39 a thunderous monotone, and a bee-like murmur of distant voices proclaimed the words, Angelus Domini, Nontievit Maria. At the first sound of this chant, the spell that enchained Alwyn's mind was broken, drawing a quick dashing line under what he had written, he sprang up erect and dropped his pen. Heliobus, he cried loudly, Heliobus, where is the field of Ardath?

Starting point is 01:34:08 His voice seemed strange and unfamiliar to his own ears. He waited, listening, and the chanting went on. At verbum carofactum est, at habitavit in nobus. Suddenly, as if he could endure his solitude no longer, he rushed to the door and threw it open, thereby, nearly flinging himself against Heliobus, who was entering the room at the same moment. He drew back, stared wildly, and passing his hand across his forehead confusedly, forced to laugh. "'I have been dreaming,' he said. Then with a passionate gesture he added,

Starting point is 01:34:46 "'God, if the dream were true!' He was strongly excited, and Helobus, slipping one arm round him in a friendly manner, led him back to the chair he had vacated. observing him closely as he did so. You call this dreaming? He inquired, with a slight smile, pointing to the table strewn with manuscript on which the ink was not yet dry.

Starting point is 01:35:11 Then dreams are more productive than active exertion. Here is goodly matter for printers, a fair result, it seems, of one morning's labor. Alwyn started up, seized the written sheets, and scanned them eagerly. It is my handwriting, he muttered, in a few way. tone of stupefied amazement. Of course, whose handwriting should it be?

Starting point is 01:35:34 returned Helobus, watching him with scientifically keen, yet kindly interest. Then it is true, he exclaimed. True by the sweetness of her eyes. True by the lovelet radiance of her smile. True, O thou God, whom I dared to doubt. True by the marvels of thy matchless wisdom. And with this strange outburst, He began to read in feverish haste what he had written.

Starting point is 01:36:02 His breath came and went quickly. His cheeks flushed, his eyes dilated. Line after line he perused with apparent wonder and rapture. When suddenly interrupting himself, he raised his head and recited in a half-whisper. With thundering notes of song sublime, I cast my sins away from me. On stairs of sound I mount, I climb, the angels wait and pray for me. I heard that stanza somewhere when I was a boy. Why do I think of it now?

Starting point is 01:36:32 She has waited, so she said, these many thousand days. He paused meditatively, and then resumed his reading. Heliobus touched his arm. It will take you some time to read that, Mr. Alwyn, he gently observed. You have written more than you know. Alwyn roused himself and looked straight at the speaker, putting down his manuscript and resting one hand upon it, he gazed with an air of solemn inquiry, into the noble face, turned steadfastly toward his own.

Starting point is 01:37:07 "'Tell me,' he said wistfully, "'how has it happened? This composition is mine and yet not mine, "'for it is a grand and perfect poem, of which I dare not call myself the author, "'I might as well snatch her crown of starry flowers, and call myself an angel.' He spoke with mingled fervor and humility. To any ordinary observer, he would have seemed to be laboring under some strange hallucination, but Heliobus was more deeply instructed. Come, come, your thoughts are wide of this world, he said kindly. Try to recall them.

Starting point is 01:37:42 I can tell you nothing, for I know nothing. You have been absent many hours. Absent? Yes. And Alwyn's voice thrilled with an infinite regret. absent from earth ah would de god i might have stayed with her in heaven my love my love where shall i find her if not on the field of ardath end of chapter four chapter five of ardath by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain a mystic trist as he uttered the last words his eyes darkened into a soft expression of musing tenderness, and he remained silent for many minutes, during which the entranced,

Starting point is 01:38:39 almost unearthly beauty of his face, underwent a gradual change. The mystic light that had for a time transfigured it, faded and died away, and by degrees he recovered all his ordinary self-possession. Presently glancing at Heliobus, who stood patiently waiting till he should have overcome whatever emotions were at work in his mind. He smiled. You must think me mad, he said. Perhaps I am, but if it so, it is the madness of love that has seized me. Love! It is a passion I have never known before. I have used it as a mere thread. We're on to string madrigals, a background of uncertain tint, serving to show off the brighter hues of Posi. But now, now I am enslaved and bound, conquered and utterly subdued by love.

Starting point is 01:39:33 Love for the sweetest, queenliest, most radiant creature that ever captured or commanded the worship of man. I may seem mad, but I know I am sane. I realize the actual things of this world about me. My mind is clear, my thoughts are collected, and yet I repeat, I love, A, with all the force and fervor of this strongly beating human heart of mine. and he touched his breast as he spoke. And it comes to this most wise and worthy Heliobus,

Starting point is 01:40:06 if your spells have conjured up this vision of immortal youth and grace and purity that has suddenly assumed such sovereignty over my life, then you must do something further. You must find, or teach me how to find, the living reality of my dream. Helobus surveyed him with some wonder and commiseration. A moment ago, and you yourself declared your dream was true, he observed, this, and he pointed to the

Starting point is 01:40:37 manuscript on the table, seemed to you sufficient to prove it. Now you have altered your opinion? Why? I have worked no spells upon you, and I am entirely ignorant as to what your recent experience has been. Moreover, what do you mean by a living reality? The flesh and blood, bone and substance, that perishes into brief 70 years or so, and crumbles into indistinguishable dust? Surely, if, as I conjecture from your words, you have seen one of the fair inhabitants of higher spheres than ours. You would not drag her spiritual and death-unconscious brightness down to the level of the reality of a merely human life? Nay, if you would, you could not. Alwyn looked at him inquiringly and with a perplexed air.

Starting point is 01:41:29 You speak in enigmas, he said somewhat vexedly. However, the whole thing is an enigma and would puzzle the most sagacious head, that the physical workings of the brain, in a state of trance, should arouse in me a passion of love for an imaginary being, and, at the same time, enable me to write a poem, such as must make the fame of any man, is certainly a remarkable and noteworthy result of scientific mesmerism. Now, my dear sir, interrupted Heliobus in a tone of good-natured remonstrance.

Starting point is 01:42:04 Do not, if you have any respect for science at all. Do not, I beg of you, talk to me of the physical workings of a dead brain. A dead brain, echoed Alwyn. What do you mean? What I say, returned Helobus composedly, Physical workings of any kind are impossible unless the motive power of physical life be in action. You, regarded as a human creature merely, had, during several hours practically ceased to be. The vital principle no longer existed in your body, having taken its departure with its inseparable companion, the soul. When it returned, it set the clockwork of your material mechanism in motion again,

Starting point is 01:42:50 obeying the sovereignty of the spirit that sought to express by material means the utterance of heaven-inspired thought. Thus your hand mechanically found its way to the pen. Thus you wrote, unconscious of what you were writing, yielding yourself entirely to the guidance of the spiritual part of your nature, which at that particular juncture was absolutely predominant, though now weighted anew by earthly influences, it has partially relaxed its supernal sway. All this I readily perceive and understand. But what you did, and where you were conducted, during the time of your complete severance from the tenement of clay,

Starting point is 01:43:35 in which you are again imprisoned, this I have yet to learn. While Heliobus was speaking, Alwyn's countenance had grown vaguely troubled, and now into his deep, poetic eyes, there came a look of sudden penitence. "'True,' he said softly, almost humbly, "'I will tell you everything while I remember it, "'though it is not likely I shall ever forget.

Starting point is 01:44:00 "'I believe there must be some truth, after all, "'in what you say concerning the soul. "'At any rate, I do not at present feel inclined "'to call your theories in question. "'To begin with, I find myself unable altogether "'to explain what it was that happened to me "'during my conversation with you last night. It was a very strange sensation.

Starting point is 01:44:23 I recollect that I had expressed a wish to be placed under your magnetic or electric influence, and that you had refused my request. Then an odd idea suggested itself to me, namely, that I could, if I chose, compel your assent. And filled with this notion, I think I addressed you, or was about to address you, in a rather peremptory manner, when, all at once, a flash of blinding light struck me fiercely across the eyes like a scourge, stung with a hot pain, and dazzled by the glare, I turned away from you and fled, or so it seemed, fled on my own instinctive impulse into darkness. He paused and drew a long, shuddering breath, like one who has narrowly escaped imminent destruction.

Starting point is 01:45:13 darkness, he went on in low accents that thrilled with the memory of a past fear. Dense, horrible, frightful darkness, darkness that palpitated heavily with the labored motion of unseen things. Darkness that clung and closed about me in masses of clammy, tangible thickness. Its advancing and resistless weight rolled over me like a huge waveless ocean, and absorbed within it, I was drawn. down, down, down toward some hidden, impalpable, but all supreme agony. The dull, unceasing throbs of which I felt, yet could not name. Oh, God, I cried aloud, abandoning myself to wild despair.

Starting point is 01:45:59 Oh, God, where art thou? Then I heard a great rushing sound as of a strong wind beaten through with wings, and a voice, grand and sweet as a golden trumpet blown suddenly in the sight. silence of night, answered, Here, and everywhere. With that, a slanting stream of opaline radiance cleft the gloom with the sweep of a sword-blade, and I was caught up quickly.

Starting point is 01:46:27 I know not how, for I saw nothing. Again he paused, and looked wistfully at Heliobus, who in turn regarded him with gentle steadfastness. It was wonderful, terrible, he continued slowly, yet beautiful, that invisible strength that rescued, surrounded, and uplifted me, and here he hesitated, and a faint flush colored his cheeks and stole up to the roots of his clustering hair. Dream or no dream, I feel I cannot now altogether reject the idea of an existing divinity. In brief, I believe in God.

Starting point is 01:47:08 Why? asked Helobus quietly. Alwyn met his gaze, frankly, and with a soft brightening of his handsome features. I cannot give you any logical reason, he said. Moreover, logical reasoning would not now affect me in a manner, which seems to me more full of conviction than any logic. I believe simply because I believe. Heliobus smiled, a very warm and kindly smile, but said nothing, and Alwyn resumed his narrative. As I tell you, I was caught up, snatched out of that black profundity, with inconceivable swiftness, and when the ascending movement ceased, I found myself floating lightly, like a wind-blown leaf, through twining arches of amber mist, colored here and there, with rays of living flame.

Starting point is 01:48:02 I heard whispers and fragments of song and speech, all sweeter than the sweetest of our known music, and still I saw nothing. Presently, someone called me by name. Theos! Theos! I strove to answer, but I had no words wherewith to match that silver-toned,

Starting point is 01:48:21 far-reaching utterance. And once again, the rich vibrating notes peeled through the vaporous fire-tinted air. Thios, my beloved, higher, higher! All my being thrilled and quivered to that call. I yearned to obey.

Starting point is 01:48:38 I struggled. to rise. My efforts were in vain, when, to my joy and wonder, a small, invisible hand, delicate yet strong, clasped mine, and I was born aloft with breathless, indescribable lightning-like rapidity, on, on, and ever upward, till at last, alighting on a smooth, fair turf, thick-grown with fragrant blossoms of strange loveliness and soft hues. I beheld her, and she bade me welcome. And who? questioned Helobus,

Starting point is 01:49:12 in tones of hushed reverence. Who was this being that thus enchance your memory? I know not, replied Alwyn, with a dreamy smile of rapture on his lips and in his eyes. And yet, her face, oh, the entrancing beauty of that face, was not altogether unfamiliar. I felt that I must have loved

Starting point is 01:49:34 and lost her ages upon ages ago, crowned with white flowers, and robed in a garb that seemed spun from midsummer moonbeams she stood. A smiling maiden sweetness in a paradise of glad sights and sounds. Ah, Eve, with the first sunrise radiance on her brows, was not more divinely fair. Venus knew springing from the silver sea foam was not more queenly glorious. I will remember. "'Remind thee of all thou hast forgotten,' she said, "'and I understood her soft, half-reproachful accents. "'It is not yet too late.

Starting point is 01:50:16 "'Thou hast lost much and suffered much, "'and thou hast blindly erred. "'But notwithstanding all these things, "'Thou art my beloved since these many thousand days.' "'Days which the world counts as years,' murmured Heliobus. "'You saw no one but her?' No one. We were alone together. A vast woodland stretched before us. She took my hand and led me beneath broad arching trees, to where a lake, silvered by some strange radiance, glittered diamond-like in the

Starting point is 01:50:51 stirrings of a balmy wind. Here she bade me rest and sank gently on the flowery bank beside me. Then, viewing her more closely, I greatly feared her beauty, for I saw a wondrous halo, wide and dazzling, a golden Oriole that spread itself around her in scintillating points of light, light that reflected itself also on me, and bathed me in its luminous splendor. And as I gazed at her in speechless awe, she leaned toward me nearer and nearer, her deep, pure eyes burning softly into mine. Her hands touched me, her arms closed round me, her bright head lay in all its shining loveliness on my breast. A tremulous ecstasy thrilled me as with fire.

Starting point is 01:51:40 I gazed upon her as one might gaze on some fluttering, rare plumaged bird. I dared not move or speak. I drank her sweetness down into my soul. Now and then a sound as of distant harps playing broke the love-weighted silence, and thus we remain together, a heavenly breathing space. of wordless rapture, till suddenly and swiftly, as though she had received an invisible summons, she arose, her looks expressing a saintly patience, and laying her two hands upon my brows. "'Write,' she said, "'write and proclaim a message of hope to the sorrowful star.

Starting point is 01:52:22 "'Write and let thine utterance be a true echo of the eternal music, with which these spheres are filled, right to the rhythmic beat of the harmonies within thee. For lo, once more, as in aforetime, my changeless love renews in thee the power of perfect song. With that she moved away serenely and beckoned me to follow. I obeyed in haste and trembling. Long rays of rosy light swept after her, like trailing wings. And as she walked, the golden nimbus round her form glowed with a thousand brilliards. and changeful hues, like the rainbows seen in the spray of falling water. Through lush green grass thick with blossom, under groves heavy with fragrant leaves,

Starting point is 01:53:09 and laden with the songs of birds, over meadows cool and mountain sheltered, on we went. She, like the goddess of advancing spring, I, eagerly treading in her radiant footsteps. And presently we came to a place where two paths met, one all overgrown, with azure and white flowers, that ascended away and away into undecerned distance, the other sloping steeply downward and full of shadows, yet dimly illumined by a pale, mysterious splendor, like frosty moonlight streaming on sad-colored seas. Here she turned and faced me, and I saw her divine eyes droop with the moisture of unshed tears.

Starting point is 01:53:53 "'Theos, Theos!' she cried, "'and the passionate cadence of her voice "'was as the singing of a nightingale in lonely woodlands. "'Again, again, again we must part. "'Part, oh, my beloved, my beloved, "'how long wilt thou sever me from thy soul, "'and leave me alone and sorrowful amid the joys of heaven?' "'As she thus spoke, a sense of utter shame and loss and failure overwhelmed me,

Starting point is 01:54:20 pierced to the very core of my being by an unexplained yet most bitter remorse. I cast myself down in deep abasement before her. I caught her glittering robe. I strove to say, forgive, but I was speechless as a convicted traitor in the presence of a wronged queen. All at once, the air about us was rent by a great noise of thunder, intermingled with triumphal music. She drew her sheenie garment from my touch in haste. And stooping to me where I knelt, she kissed my forehead. Thy road lies there, she murmured into quick, soft tones, pointing to the vista of varying light

Starting point is 01:55:00 and shadow. Mine yonder! And she looked toward the flower garlanded avenue. Hason, it is time thou wert far hence. Return to thine own star, lest its portals be closed on thee forever, and thou be plunged into deeper darkness. Seek thou the field of Ardath, as Christ'st lives, I will meet thee there. Farewell. With these words she left me, passing away, arrayed in glory, treading on flowers, and ever ascending till she disappeared. While I, stricken with a great repentance, went slowly, as she bade me, down into the shadow, and a rippling breeze-like melody, as of harps and lutes most tenderly attuned, followed me as I descended. And now, said Alwyn, interrupting his narrative and speaking with emphatic decision,

Starting point is 01:55:55 surely there remains but one thing for me to do, that is, to find the field of Ardath. Heliobus smiled gravely. Nay, if you consider the whole episode a dream, he observed, why trouble yourself? Dreams are seldom realized, and as to the name of Ardath, have you ever heard it before? Never, replied Alwyn. Still, if there be such a place on this planet, I will most certainly journey thither. Maybe you know something of its whereabouts. Finish your story, said Heliobus, quietly evading the question. I am curious to hear the end of your strange adventure. There is not much more to tell. And Alwyn sighed a little as he spoke. I wandered further and further into the gloom, oppressed by many thoughts.

Starting point is 01:56:46 and troubled by vague fears. Till presently it grew so dark that I could scarcely see where I was going, though I was able to guide myself in the path that stretched before me by means of the pale, luminous rays that frequently pierced the deepening obscurity. And these rays I now noticed, fell ever downward in the form of a cross. As I went on, I was pursued, as it were, by the sound of those delicate harmonies, played on invisible sweet strings, and, after a while, I perceived at the extreme end of the long, dim vista, a door standing open, through which I entered, and found myself alone in a quiet room. Here I sat down to rest.

Starting point is 01:57:29 The melody of the distant harps and lutes still floated in soft echoes on the silence. And presently words came breaking through the music like buds breaking from their surrounding leaves, words that I was compelled to write down as quickly as I heard them, and I wrote on and on, obeying that symphonious and rhythmical dictation with a sense of growing ease and pleasure, when all suddenly a dense darkness overcame me, followed by a gradual dawning gray and golden light. The words dispersed into fragmentary half-syllables. The music died away. I started up amazed to find myself here, here in this monastery of Lars, listening to the chanting of the Angelus. He ceased and looked wistfully out through the window at the white,

Starting point is 01:58:18 encircling rim of the opposite snow mountains, now bathed in the full splendor of noon. Heliobus advanced, and laid one hand kindly on his shoulder. And do not forget, he said, that you have brought with you from the higher regions, a poem that will in all probability make your fame. Fame, fame, fame, next grandest word to God. So wrote one of your craft, and no doubt you echo the sentiment. Have you not desired to blazon your name on the open scroll of the world? Well, now you can have your wish.

Starting point is 01:58:56 The world waits to receive your signature. That is all very well, and Alwyn smiled rather dubiously as he glanced at the manuscript on the table beside him. But the question is, considering how it was very well, written, can I, dare I call this poem mine? Most assuredly you can, returned Helobus, though your hesitation is a worthy one, and as rare as it is worthy. Well, would it be for all poets and artists, were they to pause thus, and consider before rashly calling their work their own?

Starting point is 01:59:31 Self-appreciation is the death-blow of genius. The poem is as much yours as your life is yours, no more and no less. In brief, you have recovered your lost inspiration. The lately dumb oracle speaks again. And are you not satisfied? No, said Alwyn quickly, with a sudden brightening of his eyes, as he meant the keenly searching glance that accompanied this question. No, for I love!

Starting point is 02:00:00 And the desire of love burns in me as ardently as the desire of fame. He paused, and in quieter tones continued. You see, I speak freely and frankly to you as though—' And he laughed a little. As though I were a good Catholic and you, my father, confessor. Good heavens! If some of the men I know in London were to hear me, they would think me utterly crazed. But craze or no craze, I feel I shall never be satisfied now, till I find out whether there is anywhere in the world, a place called Ardath. Can you? Will you help me in the search? I am almost a sure. ashamed to ask you, for you have already done so much for me, and I really owe to your wonderful

Starting point is 02:00:44 power my trance or soul liberty or whatever it may be called. You owe me nothing, interposed Helobus calmly, not even thanks. Your own will accomplished your freedom, and I am not responsible for either your departure or your return. It was a predestined occurrence, yet perfectly scientific and easy of explanation. Your inward force attracted mine down upon you in one strong current, with the result that your spirit instantly parted asunder from your body, and in that released condition you experienced what you have described. But I had no more to do with that experience,

Starting point is 02:01:26 then I shall have with your journey to the field of Ardath, should you decide to go there. There is an Ardath, then, cried Alwyn, excitedly. Heliobus eyed him with something of scorn. Naturally, are you still so much of a skeptic that you think an angel would have bidden you seek a place that had no existence? Oh, yes, I see you are inclined to treat your ethereal adventure as a mere dream, but I know it was a reality, more real than anything in this present world. and turning to the loaded bookshelves he took down a large volume and spread it open on the table.

Starting point is 02:02:08 You know this book? he asked. Alwyn glanced at it. The Bible? Of course, he replied indifferently. Everybody knows it. Pardon? And Heloboth smiled. It would be more correct to say, nobody knows it. To read is not always to understand.

Starting point is 02:02:28 There are meanings and mysteries in it. which have never yet been penetrated, and which only the highest and most spiritually gifted intellects can ever hope to unravel. Now, and he turned over the pages carefully, till he came to the one he sought. I think there is something here that will interest you. Listen.

Starting point is 02:02:49 And he read aloud. The angel Uriel came unto me and said, Go into a field of flowers, where no house is builted, and eat only the flowers. of the field, taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only, and pray unto the highest continually, and then will I come and talk to thee. So I went my way into the field which is called Ardath. The very place, exclaimed Alwyn, eagerly bending over the sacred book. Then, drawing back with

Starting point is 02:03:23 a gesture of disappointment, he added, but you are reading from Esdras, the apocrypha, an editor unreliable source of information. On the contrary, as reliable as any history ever written, rejoined Heliobus calmly. Study it for yourself. You will see that the prophet was at that time, resident in Babylon. The field he mentions was near the city. Yes, was, was, interrupted Alwyn, incredulously. Was and is, continued Helobus. No earthquake has crumbled it. No sea, has invaded it, and no house has been built thereon. It is, as it was then, a waste field, lying about four miles west of the Babylonian ruins, and there is nothing whatever to hinder you from journeying thither when you please. Alwyn's expression, as he heard this, was one of

Starting point is 02:04:20 stupefied amazement. Part of his so-called dream had actually proved itself true. A field of Ardath actually existed. You are certain of what you say, he demanded. Positively certain, returned Heliobus. There was a silence, during which a little tinkling bell resounded in the outer corridor, followed by the tread of sandaled feet on the stone pavement. Helobus closed the Bible and returned it to its shelf. That was the dinner bell, he announced cheerfully.

Starting point is 02:04:52 Will you accompany me to the refectory, Mr. Alwyn? We can talk further of this matter afterward. Alwyn roused himself from the fit of abstraction into which he had fallen, and gathering together the loose sheets of his so strangely written manuscript, he arranged them all in an orderly heap without speaking. Then he looked up and met the earnest eyes of Helobus with an expression of settled resolve in his own. I shall set out for Babylon tomorrow, he said quietly, as well go there as anywhere, and on the result of my journey I shall stay

Starting point is 02:05:28 my future. In the meantime, he hesitated, then suddenly extending his hand with a frank grace that became him well. In spite of my Bruce Quarry last night, I trust we are friends. Why, most assuredly we are, returned Helobus, heartily pressing the proffered palm. You had your doubts of me, and you have them still, but what if that? I take no offense at unbelief. I pity those who suffer from its destroying influence too profoundly to find room in my heart for anger. Moreover, I never tried to convert anybody. It is so much more satisfactory when skeptics convert themselves, as you are unconsciously doing.

Starting point is 02:06:14 Come, shall we join the brethren? Over Alwyn's face flitted a transient shade of uneasiness and hauteur. I would rather they knew nothing about all this, he began. "'Make your mind quite easy on that score,' rejoined Heliobus. "'None of my companions here are aware of your recent departure, "'except my very old personal friend, Hilarian, "'who, with myself, saw your body while in its state of temporary death. "'But he is one of those remarkably rare wise men,

Starting point is 02:06:48 "'who know when it is best to be silent. "'Then again, he is ignorant as to the results of your soul transmigration, and will, as far as I am concerned, remain in ignorance. Your confidence, I assure you, is perfectly safe with me, as safe as though it had been received under the sacred seal of confession. With this understanding, Alwyn seemed relieved and satisfied, and thereupon they left the apartment together. End of Chapter 5.

Starting point is 02:07:28 Chapter 6 of Ardath by Marie Carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain nurehama and the original estrus later on in the afternoon of the same day when the sun poised above the western mountain range appeared to be lazily looking about him with a drowsy golden smile of farewell before descending to his rest alwin was once more alone in the library twilight shadows were already gathering in the corners of the long low room but he had moved the writing-table to the window in order to enjoy the magnificence of the surrounding scenery and sat where the light fell full upon his face as he leaned back in his chair with his hands clasped behind his head in an attitude of pleased half-meditative he had just finished reading from beginning to end the poem he had composed in his trance there was not a line in it he could have wished altered not a word that would have been better omitted the only thing it lacked was a title and this was the question on which he now pondered the subject of the poem itself was not new to him it was a story he had known from boyhood an old eastern love legend fantastically beautiful as many such legends are full of grace and passionate fervor a theme fitted for the nightingale utterance of a singer like the persian

Starting point is 02:08:56 though even hafitts would have found it difficult to match the exquisitely choice language and delicately ringing rhythm in which this quaint idol of long past ages was now most perfectly set like a jewel in fine gold alwin himself entirely realized the splendid literary value of the composition he knew that nothing more artistic in conception or more finished in treatment had appeared since the st agnes eve of keats and as he thought of this he yielded to a growing sense of self-complacent satisfaction which gradually destroyed all the deeply devout humility he had at first felt concerning the high and mysterious origin of self-complacient satisfaction which gradually destroyed all the deeply devout humility he had at first felt concerning the high and mysterious origin of his inspiration the old inherent pride of his nature reasserted itself he reviewed all the circumstances of his trance in the most practical manner and calling to mind how the poet coleridge had improvised the delicious fragment of cougoucancan in a dream he began to see nothing so very remarkable in his own unconscious production of a complete poem while under mesmeric or magnetic influences after all he mused the matter is simple enough when one reasons it out i have been unable to write anything worth writing for a long time and i told elobus as much he knowing my apathetic condition of brain employed his force accordingly though he denies having done so and this poem is evidently the result of my long pent-up thoughts that struggled for utterance yet could not before fine vent in words the only mysterious part of the affair is this field of ardath how its name haunts me and how her face shines before the eyes of my memory

Starting point is 02:10:49 that she should be a phantom of my own creation seems impossible for when have i even in my wildest freaks of fancy ever imagined a creature half so fair his gaze rested dreamily on the opposite snow-clad peaks above which large fleecy clouds themselves like moving mountains were slowly passing their edges glowing with purple and gold as they neared the sinking sun presently rousing himself he took up a pen and first of all addressing an envelope to the hon francis villiers constitutional club london he rapidly wrote off the following letter monastery of lars pass of dariel caucasus my dear villiers start not at the above address i am not yet vowed to perpetual seclusion silence or celibacy that i of all men in the world should be in a monastery will seem to you who know my prejudices in the last degree absurd nevertheless here i am though here i do not remain as it is my fixed intention to-morrow at daybreak to depart to depart straightway from hence on route for the supposed site and ruins of babylon yes babylon why not perished greatness has always been a more interesting subject of contemplation to me than existing littleness and i dare say i shall wander among the tumuli of the ancient fallen city with more satisfaction than in the hot humanity-packed streets of london paris or vienna all destined to become tumuli in their turn moreover i am on the track of an adventure on the search for a new sensation having tried nearly all the old ones and found them nil

Starting point is 02:12:43 you know my nomadic and restless disposition perhaps there is something of the greek gipsy about me a craving for constant change of scene and surroundings however as my absence from you in england is likely to be somewhat prolonged i send you in the meantime a poem there season your admiration for a while and hear me out patiently i am perfectly aware of all you would say concerning the utter folly and uselessness of writing poetry and uselessness of writing poetry at all in this present age of milk and watery literature shilling sensationales and lascivious society dramas and i have a very keen recollection too of the way in which my last book was maltreated by the entire press good heavens how the critics yelped like dogs about my heels snapping sniffing and snarling i could have wept then like the sense of the fool i was i can laugh now in brief my friend for for you are my friend and the best of all possible goodfellas i've made up my mind to conquer those that have risen against me to break through the ranks of pedantic and preconceived opinions and to climb the heights of fame regardless of the little popular pipers of tame verso that obstruct my path and blow their tin whistles in the public ears to drown if possible my song i will be heard and to this end i pen my faith on the work i now transmit to your care have it published immediately and in the best style i will cover all expenses advertised sufficiently yet with becoming modesty for puffery is a thing i heartily despised and were the whole press to turn round and applaud me as much as it has hitherto abused and ridiculed me i would not have one of its penny lines of condescendingly ignorant approval quoted in connection with what must be a perfectly unostentatious and simple announcement of this new production from my pen

Starting point is 02:14:46 the manuscript is exceptionally clear even for me who do not as a mail write a very bad scrawl so that you can scarcely have much bother with the proof correcting though even were this the case and the printers turned out to be incorrigible blockheads and blunderers i know you would grudge neither time nor trouble expended in my service good frank villiers how much i owe you and yet i willingly incur another debt of gratitude by placing this matter in your hands and am content to borrow more of your friendship but only believe me in order to repay it again with the truest interest by the way do you remember when we visited the last paris salon together how fascinated we were by one picture the head of a monk whose eyes looked out like a veritable illumination from under the folds of a drooping white cow and on referring to our catalogues we found it described as the portrait of one heliobus an eastern mystic a psychist formerly well known in paris but since retired into monastic life well i've discovered him here he is apparently the superior or chief of this order though what order it is and when found it is more than i can tell there are fifteen monks altogether living contentedly in this old half-ruined habitation among the barren steeps of the frozen caucasus splendid princely looking fellows all of them hiliobus himself being an exceptionally fine specimen of his race i have just dined with the whole community and have been fairly astonished by the fluent brilliancy and wit of their conversation they speak all languages english included and no subject comes amiss to them

Starting point is 02:16:34 for they are familiar with the latest political situations in all countries they know all about the newest scientific discoveries which by the by they smile at blandly as though these last were mere child's play and they discuss our modern social problems and theories with a socratic like incisiveness and composure such as our parliamentary hollers would do well to imitate their doctrine is but i will not bore you by a theological disquisition enough to say it is founded on christianity and that at present i don't quite know what to make of it and now my dear villiers farewell an answer to this is unnecessary besides i can give you no address as it is uncertain where i shall be for the next two or three months if i don't get as much pleasure as i anticipate from the contemplation of the babylonian ruins i shall probably take up my abode in baghdad for a time and try to fancy myself back in the days of good haroun al-rashid in any rate whatever becomes of me i know i haven't trusted my poem to save hands and all i ask of you is that it may be brought out with the least possible delay for its immediate publication seems to me just now the most vitally important thing in the world except the adventure on which i am at present engaged of which more hereafter when we meet until then think as well of me as you can and believe me ever and most truly your friend theos this letter finished folded and sealed awen once more took up his manuscript and meditated anew concerning its title stay why not call it by the name of the ideal heroine whose heart passion and sorrow formed the nucleus of the legend

Starting point is 02:18:21 a name that he in very truth was all unconscious of having chosen but which occurred frequently with musical persistence throughout the entire poem nurhamma it had a soft sound it seemed to breathe of eastern languor and love-singing it was surely the best title he could have straightway deciding thereon he wrote it clearly at the top of the first page thus nurahma a love-legion of the past then turning to the end he signed his own name with a bold flourish thus attesting his indisputable right to the authorship of what was not only destined to be the most famous poetical masterpiece of the day but was all also to prove the most astonishing complex and humiliating problem ever suggested to his brain carefully numbering the pages he folded them in a neat packet which he tied strongly and sealed then addressing it to his friend he put letter and packet together and eyed them both somewhat wistfully feeling that with them went his great chance of immortal fame immortal fame what a grand vista of fair possibilities those words unveiled to his imagination lost in pleasant musings he looked out again on the landscape the sun had sunk behind the mountains so far that nothing was left of his glowing presence but a golden rim from which great glittering rays spread upward like lifted lances poised against the purple and roseate clouds a slight click caused by the opening of the door disturbed his reverie he turned round in his chair and half rose from it as elibus entered carrying a small richly chased silver casket ah good a leobus here you are at last he said with a smile i began to think you were never coming my correspondence is finished and as you see my poem is addressed to england where i pray it may meet with a better fate than has hitherto attended my efforts

Starting point is 02:20:17 you pray queried a leibus meaningly or you hope there is a difference between the two i suppose there is he returned notchalantly and certainly to be correct i should have should have said i hope for i never pray what have you there this as leibus set the casket he carried down on the table before him a reliquary and is it supposed to contain a fragment of the true cross lath i cannot believe in these fragments there are too many of them a leobus laughed gently you are right moreover not a single splinter of the true cross is in existence it was like other crosses than in general use thrown aside his lumber and had rotted away into the earth long before the empress helena started on her piously crazed wanderings no i have nothing of that sort in here and taking a key from a small chain that hung at his girdle he unlocked the casket this has been in the possession of the various members of our order for ages it is our chief treasure and is seldom i may say never shown to strangers but the mystic mandate you have received concerning the field of ardath entitles you to see what i think must needs prove interesting to you under the circumstances and opening the box he lifted out a small square volume bound in massive silver and double clasped this he went on is the original text of a portion of the visions of estrus and dates from the thirteenth year after the downfall of babylon's commercial prosperity owen uttered an exclamation of incredulous amazement not possible he cried then he added eagerly may i look at it silently heliobus placed it in his outstretched hand as he undid the clasps of faint odor like that of long dead

Starting point is 02:22:15 rose-leaves came like a breath on the air he opened it and saw that its pages consisted of twelve moderately thick sheets of ivory which were covered all over with curious small characters finely engraved thereon by some evidently sharp and well-pointed instrument these letters were utterly unknown to alwin he had seen nothing like them in any of the ancient tongues and he examined them perplexedly what language is this he asked at last looking up it is not hebrew nor yet sans-cript nor does it resemble any of the discovered forms of hieroglyphic writing can you understand it perfectly returned hiliobus if i could not then much of the wisdom and science of past ages would be closed to my researches it is the language once commonly spoken by certain great nations which existed long before the foundations of babylon were laid little by little it fell into disuse till it was only kept up among scholars and sages and in time became known only as the language of prophecy when estrus wrote his visions they were originally divided into two hundred and four books and as you will see by referring to what is now called the apocrypha footnote v to estrus fourteen forty four through forty eight he was commanded to publish them all openly to the worthy and under worthy all except the seventy last which were to be delivered solely to such as were wise among the people thus one hundred and thirty-four were written in the vulgar tongue the remaining seventy in the language of prophecy for the use of deeply learned and scientific men alone the volume you hold is one of those seventy how did you come by it asked all when curiously turning the book over and over

Starting point is 02:24:11 how did our order come by you mean said heliobus very simply chaldean fraternities existed in the time of estrus and to the supreme chief of these estrus himself delivered it you look dubious but i assure you it is quite authentic we have its entire history up to date then are you all chaldeans here not all but most of us three of the brethren are egyptians and two are natives of damascus the rest are like myself descendants of a race supposed to have perished from off the face of the earth yet still powerful to a degree un dreamed of by men of this puny age allan gave an upward glance at the speaker's regal form a glance of genuine admiration as far as that goes he said with a frank laugh i'm quite willing to believe you and your companions are kings in disguise you all have that appearance but regarding this book and again he turned over the silver-bound relic if its authenticity can be proved as you say why the british museum would give ah let me see it would give nothing declared eliebis quietly believe me nothing the british government would no doubt accept it as a gift just as it would with equal alacrity except the veritable signature of homer which we also possess in another retreat of ours on the isle of alumnus but our treasures are neither for giving nor selling and with respect to this original original estrus it will certainly never pass out of our hands and what of the other missing sixty-nine books asked galwin they may possibly be somewhere in the world two of them i know were buried in the coffin of one of the last frances of chaldea perhaps they will be unearthed some day there is also a rumour to the effect that estrus engraved his last prophecy on a small oval tablet of pure jasper which he himself secreted no one knows where

Starting point is 02:26:11 but to come to the point of immediate issue shall i find out and translate for you the allusions to the field of ardath contained in this present volume do said alwin eagerly at once returning the book to eliebis who seating himself at the table began carefully looking over its ivory pages i am all in patience even without the vision i have had i should still feel a desire to see this mysterious field for its own sake it must have some very strange associations to be worth specifying in such a particular manner a leobis answered nothing he was entirely occupied in examining the small closely engraved characters in which the ancient record was written the crimson afterglow of the now-descended sun flared through the window and sent a straight rosy ray on his bent head and white robes lighting to a more lustrous brilliancy the golden cross and jewel star on his breast and flashing round the silver clasps of the time-honoured relic before him presently he looked up here we have it and he placed his finger on one especial passage it reads as follows and the angel bade me enter a waste-field and the field was barren and dry save of herbs and the name of the field was ardath and i wandered therein through the hours of the long night and the silver eyes of the field did open before me and i saw signs and wonders and i heard a voice crying aloud estrus estrus and i arose and stood on my feet and listened and refrained not till i heard the voice again which said unto me behold the field thou thought is barren how great a glory hath the moon unveiled and i beheld and was sore amazed for i was no longer myself but another and the sort of death was in that other's soul and yet that other was but myself in pain

Starting point is 02:28:10 and i knew not those things that were once familiar and my heart failed within me for very fear and the voice quite aloud again sang hide thee from the perils of the past and the perils of the future for a great and terrible thing is come upon thee against which thy strength is as a reed in the wind and thy thoughts as flying sand footnote c to estrus ten thirty through thirty two and lo i lay as one that had been dead and mine understanding was taken from me and he the angel took me by the right hand and comforted me and set me upon my feet and said unto me what aileth thee and why art thou so disquieted and why is thine understanding troubled and the thoughts of thine heart and i said because thou hast forsaken me and yet i did according to thy words and i went into the field and lo i have seen and yet see that i am not able to express here leibus paused having read the last sentence with peculiarly impressive emphasis that is all he said i see no more allusions to the name of our death the last three verses of the same as those in the accepted apocrypha end of chapter six chapter seven of arduff by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain an undesired blessing alwyn had listened with an absorbed yet somewhat mystified air of attention the venerable estrus was certainly a poet in his own way he remarked lightly there is something very fascinating about the rhythm of his lines though i confess i don't grasp their meaning

Starting point is 02:30:06 still i should like to have them all the same will you let me write them out just as you have translated them willingly assenting to this heliobus read the extract over again all when taking down the words from his dictation perhaps he then added musingly perhaps it would be as well to copy a few passages from the apocrypha also whereupon the bible was brought into requisition and the desired quotations made consisting of verses twenty four to twenty six in the footnote the reader is requested to refer to the parts of estrus here indicated ninth chapter of the second book of estrus and verses twenty six and verses twenty-six twenty five to twenty six in the tenth chapter of the same this dun halibus closed and clasped the original text of the prophet's work and returned it to its casket then addressing his guest in a kindly yet serious tone he said you were quite resolved to undertake this journey mr alwin looked dreamily out of the window at the flame of the sunset hues reflected from the glowing sky on the white summit of the mountains yes i think so the answer had a touch of indecision in it in that case resumed hiliobus i have prepared a letter of introduction for you to one of our order known as elzeer of meliana he is a recluse and his hermitage is situated close to the babylonian ruins you will find rest and shelter there after the fatigues of travel i've also traced out a map of the district and the exact position of the field you seek here it is and he laid a square piece of parchment on the table you can easily perceive at a glance how the land lies there are a few directions written at the back so i think you will have no difficulty this is the letter to

Starting point is 02:32:12 elzeer here he held out a folded paper will you take it now allan received it with a dubious smile and eyed the donor as if he rather suspected the sincerity of his intentions thanks very much he murmured listlessly you are exceedingly good to make it all such plain sailing for me and yet to be quite frank with you i can't help thinking i'm going on a fool's errand if that is your opinion why go at all queried hiliubis with a slight disdain in his accents returned to england instead forget the name of ardath and forget also the one who bad you meet her there and who has waited for you these many thousand days alwin started as if he had been stung ah he exclaimed if i could be certain of seeing her again if good god the idea seems absurd if that flower-crowned wonder of my dream should actually fulfil her promise and keep her well demanded heliobus if so what then well then i will believe in anything he cried no miracle will seem miraculous no impossibility impossible aloebus sighed and regarded him thoughtfully you think you will believe he said somewhat sadly the doubts such as yours are not easily dispel angels have ere now descended to men men have neither received nor recognized them angels walk by our side through crowded cities and lonely woodlands they watch us when we sleep they hear us when we pray and yet the human eye sees nothing save the material objects within reach of its vision and is not very sure of those while it can no more discern the spiritual presences than it can without a microscope discern the lovely living creatures contained in a drop of dew or a ray of sunshine

Starting point is 02:34:12 our earthly sight is very limited it can neither perceive the infinitely little nor the infinitely great and it is possible nay it is most probable that even as peter of old denied his divine master so you if brought face to face with the angel of your last night's experience would deny and endeavour to disprove her identity never declared allwin with a passionate gesture i should know her among a thousand for one instant eliebus bent upon him a sudden searching almost pitiful glance then withdrawing his gaze he said gently well well let us hope for the best god's ways are inscrutable and you tell me that now now after your strange soul called vision you believe in god i did say so certainly an alwin's face flushed a little but ah you hesitate there is a but in the case and a leobus turned upon him with a grand reproach in his brilliant eyes already stepping backward on the road already rushing once again into the darkness he paused then laying one hand on the young man's shoulder continued in mild yet impressive accents my friend remember that the doubter and opposer of god is also the doubter and opposer of his own well-being let this unnatural and useless combat of human of human reason against divine instinct cease within you you who as a poet are bound to equalize your nature that it may the more harmoniously fulfil its high commission you know what one of your modern writers says of life that it is a dream in which we clutch at shadows as though they were substances and sleep deepest when fancying ourselves most awake

Starting point is 02:36:09 footnote carlyle's sarder risardis believe me you have slept long enough it is time you awoke to the full realization of your destinies alwin heard in silence feeling inwardly rebuked and half ashamed the earnestly spoken words moved him more than he cared to show his head drooped he made no reply after all he thought he had really no more substantial foundation for his ownously spoken words moved him more than he cared to show his head drooped he made no reply after all he thought he had really no more substantial foundation for his for his unbelief than others had for their faith with all his studies in the modern schools of science he was not a whit more advanced in learning than democratus of old democratis who based his system of morals on the severest mathematical lines taking as his starting-point a vacuum and atoms and who after stretching his intellect on a constant rack of searching inquiry for years came at last to the unhappy that man is absolutely incapable of positive knowledge and that even if truth is in his possession he can never be certain of it was he deos aalwin wiser than democratis or was the stately chaldean monk with the clear pathetic eyes and tender smile and the symbol of christ on his breast wiser than both wiser in the wisdom of eternal things than any of the subtle-minded ancient greek philosophers or modern imitatuctor of their theories was there could there be something not yet altogether understood or fathomed in the christian creed as this idea occurred to him he looked up and met his companions calm gaze fixed upon him with a watchful gentleness and patience are you reading my thoughts elieubis he asked with a force laugh i assure you they are not worth the trouble

Starting point is 02:38:03 a leobis smiled but made no answer just then one of the monks entered the room with a large lighted lamp which he set on the table and the conversation thus interrupted was not again resumed the evening shadows were now closing in rapidly and already above the furthest visible snow-peak the first risen star sparkled faintly in the darkening sky soon the vespere bell began ringing as it had rung on the previous night when awen newly arrived had sat alone in the refractory listlessly wondering what manner of men he had come amongst and what would be the final result of his adventure into the wiles of caucasus his feelings had certainly undergone some change since then inasmuch as he was no longer disposed to ridicule or condemn religious sentiment though he was nearly as far from actually believing in religion itself as ever the attitude of his mind was still distinctly sceptical the immutable pride of what he considered his own firmly rooted convictions was only very slightly shaken and he now even viewed the prospect of his journey through the field of ardath as a mere fantastic whim a caprice of his own fancy which he chose to gratify just for the sake of curiosity but notwithstanding the stubbornness of the materialistic principles with which he had become in his higher instincts were unconsciously to himself beginning to be aroused his memory involuntarily wandered back to the sweet fresh days of his earliest manhood before the poison of doubt had filtered through his soul his character naturally of the lofty imaginative and ardent caste reasserted its native force over the blighting blow of blank atheism which had for a time paralyzed its efforts

Starting point is 02:39:57 and as he unwittingly yielded more and more to the mild persuasions of these genial influences so the former time and like bitterness of his humor gradually softened there was no trace in him now of the dark ironic and reckless scorn that before his recent visionary experience had distinguished his whole manner and bearing the smile came more readily to his lips and he seemed content for the present to display the sunny side of his nature a nature impassioned frank generous and noble in spite of the taint of overweening ambitious egotism which somewhat warped its true quality and narrowed the range of its sympathies in his then frame of mind a curious vague sense of half-pleasurable penitence was upon him delicate undefined almost devotional suggestions stirred his thoughts with the refreshment that a cool wind brings to parched and drooping flowers so that when hiliabas taking up the silver azdras reliquary and preparing to leave the apartment in response to the vespers summons said gently will you attend our service mr allwin he assented at once with a pleased alacquity which somewhat astonished himself as he remembered how on the previous evening he had despised and inwardly resented all forms of religious observance however he did not stop to consider the reason of his altered mood he followed the monks into chapel with an air of manly grace and quiet reverence that became him much better than the offensive and defensive demeanour he had erewhile chosen to assume in the same prayer-hollowed place he listened to the impressive ceremonial from beginning to end without the least fatigue or impatience

Starting point is 02:41:47 and though when the brethren knelt he could not humble himself so far as to neal also he still made a slight concession to appearances by sitting down and keeping his head in a bent posture out of respect for the good intentions of these worthy men as he told himself to silence the inner conflict of his own opposing in contradictory sensations the service concluded he waited as before to see the monks pass out and was smitten with a sudden surprise compunction and regret when haleobus who walked last as usual paused where he stood and confronted him saying i will bid you farewell here my friend i have many things to do this evening and it is best i should see you no more before your departure why asked allwin astonished i had hoped for another conversation with you to what purpose inquired heliobus mildly that i should assert and you deny facts that god himself reproved in his own way and at his own appointed time nay we should do no good by further arguments but stammered allwin hastily flushing hotly as he spoke you give me no chance to thank you to express my gratitude gratitude questioned heliobis almost mournfully with a tinge of reproach in his soft mellow voice are you grateful for being as you think deluded by a trance cheated as it were into a sort of semi-belief in the life to come by means of mesmerism your first request to me i know was that you might be deceived by my influence into a state of imaginary happiness and now you fancy your last night's experience was merely the result of that pre-eminently foolish desire you are wrong and as matters stand no thanks are needed if i had indeed mesmerized or hypnotized you i might perhaps have deserved some

Starting point is 02:43:40 for the exertion of my purely professional skill but as i have told you already i've done absolutely nothing your fate is as it has always been in your own hands you sought me of your own accord you use me as an instrument an unwilling instrument remember whereby to break open the prison doors of your chafed and fretting spirit and the end of it all is that you depart from hence to mar of your own free will and choice to to fulfil the appointed trist made with you as you believe by a phantom in a vision in brief here he spoke more slowly and with marked emphasis you go to the field of ardaph to solve a puzzling problem namely as to whether what we call life is not a dream and whether a dream may not perchance be proved reality in this enterprise of yours i have no share nor will i say more than this god speed you on your errand he held at his hand alwin grasped it looking earnestly meanwhile at the fine intellectual face the clear pathetic eyes the firm yet sensitive mouth on which there just then rested a serious yet kindly smile what a strange man you are alibus he said impulsively i wish i knew more about you elibus gave him a friendly glance wished rather that you knew more about yourself he answered simply fathom your own mystery of being you shall find none deeper greater or more difficult of comprehension allwin still held his hand reluctant to let it go finally releasing it with a slight sigh he said well at any rate though we part now it will not be for long we must meet again why if we must we shall rejoined heliobus cheerily must cannot be prevented in the meantime farewell

Starting point is 02:45:38 farewell and as this word was spoken their eyes met instinctively and on a sudden impulse alwin bowed his head in the lowest and most reverential salutation he had perhaps ever made to any creature of mortal mold and as he did so elieubis paused in the act of turning away do you care for a blessing gentle sceptic he asked in a soft tone that thrilled tenderly through the silence of the dimly lit chapel then receiving no reply he laid one hand gently on the young man's dark claspering curls and with the other slowly traced the sign of the cross upon the smooth broad fairness of his forehead take it my son the only blessing i can give thee the blessing of the cross of christ which in spite of thy desertion claims thee redeems thee and will yet put you possess thee for its own and before all one could recover from his astonishment sufficiently to interrupt and repudiate this to him undesired form of benediction a leobis had gone and he was left alone lifting his head he stared out into the further corridor down which he just perceived a distant glimmer of banishing white robes and for a moment he was filled with speechless indignation it seemed to him that the sign thus traced on his brow must be actually visible like a red bran burnt into his flesh and all his old and violent prejudices against christianity rushed back upon him with the resentful speed of once baffled foes returning anew to storm a citadel almost as rapidly however his anger cooled he remembered that in his vision of the previous night the light that had guided him through the long shadowy vista had always preceded him in the form of a cross and in a soft mood he glanced at the ruby star shining steadily above the otherwise darkened altar involuntarily the words we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him occurred to his memory but he dismissed them as instantly as they suggested themselves

Starting point is 02:47:44 and finding his own thoughts growing perplexing and troublesome he hastily left the chapel joining some of the monks who were gathered in a picturesque group round the fire in the refectory he sat chatting with them for about half an hour or so hoping to elicit from them in the course of conversation some particulars concerning the day-day life character and professing aims of their superior but in this attempt he failed they spoke of halibus as believing men may speak of saints with hushed reverence and admiring tenderness but on any point connected with his faith or the spiritual nature of his theories they held their peace evidently deeming the subject to sacred for discussion baffled in all his inquiries alwin at last said good-night and retired to rest in a small sleeping apartment prepared for his accommodation where he enjoyed a sound refreshing and dreamless slumber the next morning he was up at daybreak and long before the sun had risen above the highest peak of caucasus he had departed from the lars monastery leaving a handsome donation in the poor-box toward the various charitable works in which the brethren were engaged such as the rescue of travellers lost in the snow or the burial of the many victims murdered on or near the pass of dariel by the bands of fierce mountain robbers and assassins that at certain seasons infest that solitary region making the best of his way to the fortress of pass an hour he there joined a party of adventurous russian climbers who had just successfully accomplished the ascent of mount cosbeck and in their company proceeded through the rugged aragua valley to tiflis which he reached that same evening from this dark and dismal-looking town shattered an all-sized by baron and cavernous hills he despatched the manuscript of his mysteriously composed poem

Starting point is 02:49:39 together with the letter concerning it to his friend villiers in england and then yielding to a burning sense of impatience within himself impatience that would brook no delay he sat out resolutely and at once on his long pilgrimage to the land of sand and ruin and gold the land of terrific prophecy and stern fulfilment the land of mighty and mournful memories where the slow river euphrates clasps in its dusky yellow ring the ashes of great kingdoms fallen to rise no more end of chapter seven chapter eight of ardaaf by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain chapter eight by the waters of babylon it was no light or easy journey he had thus rashly undertaken on the faith of a dream for dream he still believed it to be many weary days and nights were consumed in the comfortless tedium of travel and though he constantly told himself what unheard of folly it was to pursue an elusive chimera of his own imagination a mere phantasm which had somehow or other taken possession of his brain at a time when that brain must have been acted upon so he continued to think by strong mesmeric or magnetic influence he went on his way all the same with a sort of dog obstinacy which no fatigue could daunt or lessen he never lay down to rest without the faint hope of seeing once again if only in sleep the radiant being whose haunting words had sent him on this quest of ardath but herein his expectations were not realized no more flower-crowned angels floated before him no sweet whisper of love encouragement or promise came mysteriously on his ears in the midnight silences his slumbers were always profound and placid as those of a child and utterly dreamless

Starting point is 02:51:38 one consolation he had however he could write not a day passed without his finding some new inspiration some fresh quaint and lovely thought that flowed of itself into most perfect and rhythmical utterance glorious lines of verse growing with fervour and beauty seemed to fall from his pencil without any effort on his part and if he had had reason in former times to doubt the strength of his poetical faculty it was now very certain he could do so no longer his mind was as a fine harp newly strung attuned and quivering with the consciousness of a music pent up within it and as he remembered the masterpiece of poesy he had written in his seeming trance the manuscript of which would soon be in the hands of a london publishers his heart swelled with a growing and irrepressible sense of pride for he knew and felt with an undefinable yet positive certainty that however much the public or the critics might gainsay him his fame as a poet of the very highest order would ere long be asserted and assured a deep tranquillity was in his soul a tranquillity that seemed to increase the further he went onward the restless weariness that had once possessed him as past and a vaguely sweet content pervaded his being like the odor of early roses pervading's warm air he felt he hoped he loved and yet his feelings hopes and longings turned to something altogether undeclared and indefinite as softly dim and distant as the first faint white cloud signal wafted from the moon in heaven when on the point of rising she makes her queenly purpose known to her waiting star attendance practically considered his journey was tedious and for the most part dull and uninteresting in the satan-like days of going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it

Starting point is 02:53:33 travelling has lost much of its old romantic charm the idea of traversing long distances no more fills the expectant adventurer with a pleasurable sense of uncertainty and mystery he knows exactly what to anticipate it is all laid out for him plainly on the level lines of the commonplace and nothing is left to his imagination the continent of europe has been ransacked from end to in by tourists who have turned it into a sort of exhausted pleasure-garden where of the various entertainments are to be the continent of europe has been ransacked from end to in by tourists who have turned it into a sort of exhausted pleasure garden where of the various entertainments are to too familiarly known to arouse any fresh curiosity the east is nearly in the same condition hordes of british and american sightseers camper over the empire strewn soil of persia and syria with the unconcerned indifference of beings to whom not only a portion of the world's territory but the whole world itself belongs and soon there will not be an inch of ground left on the narrow extent of our poor planet that has not been trod by the hasty scrambling irreverent footsteps of someone or other of the ever prolific all spreading english-speaking race on his way allan met many of his countrymen travelers who like himself had visited the caucasus and armenian and were now en route some for damascus some for jerusalem and the holy land others again for cairo and alexandria to depart from thence homeward by the usual mediterranean line but among these birds of passage acquaintances he chanced upon none who were going to the ruins of babylon he was glad of this for the peculiar nature of his enterprise rendered a companion altogether undesirable and though on one occasion he encountered a gentleman novelist with a note-book who was exceedingly anxious to fraternize with him and discover whether he was bound he succeeded in shaking off this would be incubus at mosle by taking him to a wonderful old library in that city where there were a number of french translations of turkish and syriac romances

Starting point is 02:55:32 here the gentleman novelist straightway ascended to the seventh heaven of plagiarism and began to copy energetically old scenes and descriptive passages from dead and gone authors unknown to english critics for the purpose of inserting them hereafter into his own original work of fiction and in this congenial occupation he forgot all about the dark handsome man with the wide brows of a mark antony and the lips of a catellas as he had already described allan in the note-book before mentioned while in mosele owen himself picked up a curiosity in the way of literature a small quaint volume entitled the final philosophy of al-cazli the arabian it was printed into languages the original arabic on one page and facing it the translation of very old french the author born eighty ten fifty eight described himself as a poor student striving to discern the truth of things and his work was a serious incisive patiently examined the truth of things and his work was a serious incisive patiently examined exhaustive inquiry into the workings of nature the capabilities of human intelligence and the deceptive results of human reason reading it all one was astonished to find that nearly all the ethical propositions offered for the world's consideration to-day by the most learned and cultured minds had been already advanced and thoroughly discussed by this same algazily one passage in particular rested his attention as being singularly applicable to his own immediate condition that ran as follows i began to examine the objects of sensation and speculation to see if they could possibly admit of doubt then doubts crowded upon me in such numbers that my incertitude became complete whence results the confidence i have insensible things the strongest of all our senses is sight yet if we look at the stars they seem to be as small as money pieces but mathematical proofs convince us that they are larger than the earth these and other things are judged by the senses

Starting point is 02:57:32 but rejected by reason as false i abandoned the senses therefore having seen my confidence in their absolute truth shaken perhaps said i there is no assurance but in the notions of reason that is to say first principles as that ten is more than three upon this the senses replied what assurance have you that your confidence in reason is not of the same nature as your confidence in us when you relied on us reason stepped in and gave us the lie had not reason been there you would have continued to rely on us well may there not exist some other judge superior to reason who if he appeared would refute the judgments of reason in the same way that reason refuted us the non-appearance of such a judge is no proof of his non-existence i strove to answer this objection and my difficulties increased when i came to reflect on sleep i said to myself during sleep you give two visions a reality and consist and on awaking you are made aware that they were nothing but visions what assurance have you that all you feel and know does actually exist it is all true as respects your condition at the moment but it is nevertheless possible that another condition should present itself which should be to your awakened state that which your awakened state is now to your sleep so that as respects this higher condition your waking is but sleep over and over again allan read these words and pondered on the deep and difficult problems they suggested and he was touched to an odd sense of shame compunction when at the close of the book he came upon al-gazali's confession of utter vanquishment and humility thus simply recorded i examined my actions and found the best were those relating to instruction and education and even there i saw myself given up to unimportant sciences all useless in another world reflecting on the aim of my teaching i found it was not pure in the sight of the lord and that all my efforts were directed toward the acquisition of glory to myself

Starting point is 02:59:34 having therefore distributed my wealth i left baghded and retired into syria where i remained in solitary struggle with my soul combating my passions and exercising myself in the purification of my heart and in preparation for the other world this ancient philosophical treatise together with the mystical passage from the original text of edres and the selected verses from the apocrypha formed all allan's stock of reading for the rest of his journey the rhapsodical lines of the prophet he knew by heart as one knows a favorite poem and he often caught himself unconsciously repeating the strange words behold the field thou thoughtest barren how great a glory hath the moon unveiled and i beheld and were sore amazed for i was no longer myself but another and the sort of death was in that other's soul and yet that other was but myself in pain and i knew not the things that were once familiar and my heart failed within me for very fear what did they mean he wondered or had they any meaning at all beyond the faint far-off suggestions of thought that may occasionally and with difficulty be discerned through obscure and reckless ecstasies of language which full of sound and fury signify nothing was there could there be anything mysterious or sacred in this wist field anciently known as ardath these questions flit hazily from time to time through his brain but he made no attempt to answer them either by refutation or reason indeed sober matter-of-fact reason he was well aware played no part in his present undertaking it was late in the afternoon of a salt-free parching day when he at last arrived at hila this dull little town built at the beginning of the twelfth century out of the then plentifully scattered fragments of babylon has nothing to offer to the modern traveller save various annoyances and that

Starting point is 03:01:30 shape of excessive heat dust or rather fine-blown sand dirt flies bad food and general discomfort and finding the aspect of the place not only unempting but positively depressing alwin left his surplus luggage at a small and unpretentious hostelry kept by a frenchman who catered specially for archaeological tourists and explorers and after an hour's rest set out alone and on foot for the eastern quarter of the ruins namely those which are conceitred especially for archaeological tourists and explorers and after an hour's rest set out alone and on foot for the eastern quarter of the ruins namely those which are concerned by investigators to begin about two miles above hila a little beyond them and close to the river bank according to the deductions he had received dwelt the religious recluse for whom he brought the letter of introduction from a letter bearing on its cover a superscription in latin translated ran thus to the venerable and much esteemed el zir of meliana at the hermitage near hila in faith peace and good will greeting anxious to reach elzeer's abode before nightfall he walked on as briskly as the heat and heaviness of the sandy soil would allow keeping to the indistinctly traced paths that crossed and recrossed at intervals the various ridges of earth strewn with pulverized fragments of brick by tumen and pottery which are now the sole remains of stately buildings once famous in babylon a low red sun was sinking slowly on the edge of the horizon when pausing to look about him he perceived in the near distance the dark outline of the great mound known as burrs nimrod and realized with a sort of shock that he was actually surrounded on all sides by the crumbled and almost indistinguishable ruins of the formerly superb all-dominate assyrian city that had been as a golden cup in the lord's hand and was now no more in very truth than a broken and an empty vessel

Starting point is 03:03:23 for the words in babylon shall become heaps have certainly been verified with startling exactitude heaps indeed it has become nothing but heaps heaps of dull earth with here and there a few faded green tufts of wild tamersk which while faintly relieving the blankness of the ground at the same time intensify its monotonous dreaminess all and beholding the mournful desolation of the scene felt a strong sense of disappointment he'd expected something different his imagination or picture these historical rooms as being of larger extent and more imposing character his eyes rested rather wearily on the slow dull gleam of the euphrates as it wound past the deserted spaces where the mighty city the astonishment of nations had once stood and poet though he was to the very core of his nature he could see nothing poetical in these spectral mounds and stone heaps save in the significant remembrance they offered of the old scriptural prophecy babylon is fallen is fallen her princes her wise men her captains her rulers and her mighty men shall sleep her perpetual sleep and not wake save the teen who is the lord of hosts and truly it seemed as if the curse which had lighted the city's bygone splendor had doomed even its ruins to appear contemptible just then the glow of the disappearing sun touched the upper edge of berse nimrod giving it for one instant a weird effect as though the ghost of some babylonian watchmen were waving a lit torch from its summit but the the lurid glare soon faded in a dead gray twilight settled solemnly down over the melancholy landscape with a sudden feeling of dejection and lassitude upon him all when heaving a deep sigh went onward and soon perceived lying a little to the north of the river a small roughly erected tenement with a wooden cross on its roof rightly concluding that this must be elzer emiliano's hermitage he quickly made his way vivid and knocked at the door it was open to him at once by a white-haired picturesque old man who received him with a mute sign of welcome and who at the same time laid one hand lightly but expressively on his own lips to signify that he was dumb

Starting point is 03:05:32 this was elzeer himself he was attired in the same sort of flowing garb as that worn by the monks of dariel and with his tall spare figure long silvery beard and deep sunken yet still brilliant dark eyes he might have served as a perfect model for one of the inspired prophets of bygone ancient days though nature had deprived him of speech his serene countenance spoke eloquently in his favor its mild benevolent expression betokening that inward peace of the heart which so often renders old age more beautiful than youth he perused with careful slowness the letter alwin presented to him and then inclining his head gravely he made a courteous and comprehensive gesture to intimate that himself and all that his house contained were at the service of the newcomer he proceeded to testify the sincerity of this assurance at once by setting a plentiful supply of food and wine before his guest waiting upon him moreover while he ate and drank with a respectful humility which somewhat embarrassed alwin who wished to spare him the trouble of such attendance and told him so many times with much earnestness but all to no purpose elzeir only smiled gently and continued to perform the duties of hospitality in his own way it was evidently no use interfering with him later on he showed his visit to a small cell-like apartment containing a neat bed together with a table a chair and a large crucifix which latter object was suspended against the wall and indicating by eloquent signs that here the weariest traveller might find good repose he made a low salutation and departed altogether for the night what a still place the hermitage was thought allwin as soon as alzier's retreating steps had died away into silence there was not a sound to be heard anywhere not even the faint rustle of leaves stirred by the wind and what a haunting grave wistfully tender expression throw the face of that sculptured image on the cross which in intimate companionship with himself seemed to possess the little room he could not bear the down-drooping appealing penetrating look in those heavenly kind yet piteous eyes turning abruptly away he opened the narrow window and folding his arms on the sill surveyed the scene before him

Starting point is 03:07:42 the full moon was rising slowly round and large she hung like a yellow shield on the dark dense wall of the sky the ruins of babylon were plainly visible the river shone like a golden ribbon the outline of nimoud was faintly rimmed with light and had little streaks of amber radings wandering softly up and down its shadowy slopes and i went into the field called ardath and there i sat among the flowers mused allan half aloud his dreamy gaze fixed on a gradually brightening heavens why not not go there at once now in the chapter eight chapter nine of ardath by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain the field of flowers this idea had no sooner entered his mind than he prepared to act upon it though only a short while previously feeling thoroughly overcome by fatigue he had resolved to wait till next day before setting out for the chief goal of his long pilgrimage but now strangely enough all sense of weariness had suddenly left him a keen impatience burned in his veins and a compelling influence stronger than himself seemed to urge him on to the instant fulfilment of his purpose the more he thought about it the more restless he became and the more eagerly desirous to prove with the least possible delay the truth or the falsity of his mystic vision at denou by the light of the small lamp left on the table he consulted his map the map heliobus had traced and also the written directions that accompanied it

Starting point is 03:09:41 though these he had read so often over and over again that they knew them by heart they were simply and concisely worded thus on the east bank of the euphrates nearly opposite the hermitage there is the sunken fragment of a bronze gate formerly belonging to the palace of the babylonian kings three miles and a half to the southwest of this fragment and in a direct long with it straight across country will be found a fallen pillar of red granite half buried in the earth the square tract of land extending beyond this broken column is the field known to the prophet estrus as the field of ardath he was on the east bank of the euphrates already and a walk of three miles and a half could surely be accomplished in an hour or very little over that time hesitating no longer he made his way out of the house deciding that if he met el zir he would say he was going for a moonlight stroll before retiring to rest that venerable recluse however was nowhere to be seen and as the door of the hermitage was only fastened with a light latch he had no difficulty in effecting a noiseless exit once in the open air he stopped startled by the sound of full fresh youthful voices singing in clear and harmonious unison chriere eleiisson christie eleiisson chriere eleiisson he listened looking everywhere about him in utter amazement there was no habitation in sight save elzears and the chorus certainly did not proceed

Starting point is 03:11:42 from thence but rather seemed to rise upward through the earth floating in released sweet echoes to and fro upon the hushed air chriere a leicin christie a leisant how it swayed about him like a close chime of bells he stood motionless perplexed and wondering was there a subterranean grotto near at hand where devotional chants were sung or and a slight tremor ran through him at the thought was there something supernatural in the music notwithstanding its human seeming speech and sound just then it ceased all was again silent as before and angry with himself for his own foolish fancies he set about the task of discovering the sunken fragment a leobis had mentioned very soon he found it driven deep into the soil and so blackened and defaced by time that it was impossible to trace any of the elaborate carvings that must have once adorned it in fact it would not have been recognizable as a portion of a gait at all had it not still possessed an enormous hinge which partly clung to it by means of one huge thickly rusted nail close beside it grew a tree of weird and melancholy appearance its trunk was split asunder and one half of it was withered the other half leaning mournfully on one side bent down its branches to the ground trailing a wealth of long glossy green leaves in the dust of the ruined city this was the famous tree called by the natives athel of which old legends say that it used to be a evergreen much cultivated and prized by the babylonian nobility who loving its pleasant shade spared no pains to make it grow in their hanging gardens and spacious courts though its nature was altogether foreign to the soil

Starting point is 03:13:45 and now with none to tend it or care whether it flourishes or decays it faithfully clings to the deserted spot where it was once so tenderly fostered showing its sympathy with the surrounding desolation by growing always in split halves one withered and one green a broken-hearted creature yet loyal to the memory of past love and joy alwyn stood under its dark boughs knowing nothing of its name or history every now and then a wailing whisper seemed to shudder through it though there was no wind and he heard the eerie lamenting sigh with an involuntary sense of awe the whole scene was far more impressive by night than by day the great earth mounds of babylon looked like giant graves enclosing a glittering ring of winding waters again he examined the embedded fragment of the ancient gate and then feeling quite certain of his starting-point he set his face steadily toward the southwest there the landscape before him lay flat and bare in the beamy luster of the moon the soil was sandy and heavy to the tread moreover it was an excessively hot night too hot to walk fast he glanced at his watch it was a few minutes past ten o'clock keeping up the moderate pace the heat enforced it was possible he might reach the mysterious field about half-past eleven perhaps earlier and now his nerves began to quiver with strong excitement had he yielded to the promptings of his own feverish impatience he would most probably have run all the way in spite of the sultriness of the air

Starting point is 03:15:34 but he restrained this impulse and walked leisurely on purpose reproaching himself as he went along for the utter absurdity of his expectations was ever madman more mad than i he murmured with some self-contempt what logical human being in his right mind would be guilty of such egregious folly but am i logical certainly not am i in my right mind i think i am yet i may be wrong the question remains what is logic and what is being in one's right mind no one can absolutely decide let me see if i can review calmly my ridiculous position it comes to this i insist on being mesmerized i have a dream and i see a woman in the dream here he suddenly corrected himself a woman did i say no she was something far more than that a lovely phantom a dazzling creature of my own imagination an exquisite ideal whom i will one day immortalize yes immortalized in song he raised his eyes as he spoke to the dusky firmament thickly studded with stars and just then caught sight of a fleecy silver-rimmed cloud passing swiftly beneath the moon and floating downwards toward the earth it was shaped like a white-wing bird and was here and there tenderly streaked with pink as though it had just travelled from some distant land where the sun was rising it was the only cloud in the sky and it had a peculiar almost phenomenal effect by reason of its rapid motion there being not the faintest breeze stirring alwyn watched it gliding down the heavens till it had entirely disappeared and then began his meditations anew

Starting point is 03:17:27 any one even without magnetic influence being brought to bear upon him might have visions such as mine take an opium-eater for instance whose life is one long confused vista of visions suppose he were to accept all the wild suggestions offered to his drugged brain and persist in following them out to some sort of definite conclusion the only place for that man would be a lunatic asylum even the most ordinary persons whose minds are never excited in any abnormal way are subject to very curious and inexplicable dreams but for all that they are not such fools as to believe in them true there is my poem i don't know how i wrote it yet written it is and complete from beginning to end an actual tangible result of my vision and strange enough in its way to say the least of it but what is stranger still is that i love the radiant phantom that i saw yes actually love her with a love no mere woman were she fair as troy's helen could ever arouse in me of course in spite of the contrary assertions made remarkably interesting chaldean monk haleibus i feel i am the victim of a brain delusion therefore it is just as well i should see this field of ardath and satisfy myself that nothing comes of it in which case i shall be cured of my craze he walked on for some time and presently stopped a moment to examine his map by the light of the moon as he did so he became aware of the extraordinary almost terrible stillness surrounding him he had thought the hermitage silent as a closed tomb but it was nothing to the silence here he felt it enclosing him like a thick wall on all sides he heard the regular pulsation

Starting point is 03:19:20 of his own heart even the rushing of his own blood but no other sound was audible earth and the air seemed breathless as though with some pent-up mysterious excitement the stars were like so many large living eyes eagerly gazing down on the solitary human being who thus wandered at night in the land of the prophets of the old the moon itself appeared to stare at him in open wondermen he grew uncomfortably conscious of this speechless watchfulness of nature he he strained his ears to listen as it were to the deepening dumbness of all existing things and to conquer the strange sensations that were overcoming him he proceeded at a more rapid pace but in two or three minutes came again to an abrupt halt for there in front of him right across his path lay the fallen pillar which according to helibus marked the boundary to the field he sought another glance at his map decided the position he had reached his journey's end at last what was the time he looked it was just twenty minutes past eleven a curious unnatural calmness suddenly possessed him he surveyed with a quiet almost cold unconcern the prospect before him a wide level square of land covered with tufts of coarse grass and clumps of wild tamarisk nothing more this was the field of ardath this bare unlovely wilderness without so much as a tree to grace its outline from where he stood he could view its whole extent and as he beheld its complete desolation he smiled a faint half-bitter smile

Starting point is 03:20:58 he thought of the words in the ancient book of asdras and the angel bade me enter a waste field and the field was barren and dry save of herbs and the name of the field was ardath and i wandered therein through the hours of the long night and the silver eyes of the field did open before me and therein i saw signs and wonders yes the field is barren and dry enough in all conscience he murmured listlessly but as for the silver eyes and the signs and wonders they must have existed only in the venerable prophet's imagination just as my flower-crowned angel maiden exists in mind well now the o's allwin he continued apostrophizing himself aloud are you contented are you quite convinced of your folly and do you acknowledge that a fair dream is as much of a lie and a cheat as all the other fair seeming things that puzzle and torture poor human nature return to your former condition of reasoning and reasonable scepticism i even atheism if you will for the materialists are right you cannot prove a god or the possibility of any purely spiritual life why thus hanker after a phantom loveliness fame fame when fame that is enough for you in this world and as for a next world who believes in it and who believing cares soliloquizing in this fashion he set his foot on ardath itself determining to walk across and around it from end to end the grass was long and dry yet it made no rustle beneath his tread he seemed to be shod with the magic shoes of silence

Starting point is 03:22:47 he walked on till he reached about the middle of the field where perceiving a broad flat stone near him he sat down to rest there was a light mist rising a thin moonlit vapour that crept slowly upward from the ground and remained hovering like a wide suddenly spun gossamer web some two or three inches above it thus giving a cool luminous watery effect to the hot and arid soil according to the apocrypha as drus sat among the flowers he idly mused well perhaps there were flowers in those days but it is very evident there are none now a more dreary utterly desolate place than this famous ardap i have never seen at that moment a subtle fragrance scented the still air a fragrance deliciously sweet as the violets mingled with myrtle e'en hailed the delicate odour surprised and confounded flowers after all he exclaimed or maybe some aromatic herb and he bent down to examine the turf at his feet to his amazement he perceived a thick cluster of white blossoms stars shaped and glossy with deep golden centres wherein bright drops of dew sparkled like brilliance and from whence puffs of perfume rose like incense swung at unseen altars he looked at them in doubt that was almost dread were they real were these the silver eyes in which esdras has seen signs and wonders or was he hopelessly brain sick with delusions and dreaming again he touched them hesitatingly they were actual living things with creamy petals soft as velvet he was about to gather one of them when all at once his attention was caught and riveted by something like a faint shadow

Starting point is 03:24:43 sliding across the plain a smothered cry escaped his lips he sprang erect and gazed eagerly forward half in hope half in fear what slight figure was that pacing slowly serenely and all alone in the moonlight without another instant's pause he rushed impetuously toward it heedless that as he went he trot on thousands of those strange starry blossoms which now with sudden growth covered and whitened every inch of the ground thus marvellously fulfilling the words spoken of old behold the field thou thoughtest barren how great a glory hath the moon unveiled end of chapter nine chapter ten of ardath by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain god's maiden edris he ran on swiftly for a few paces then coming more closely in view of the misty shape he pursued he checked himself abruptly and stood still his heart sinking with a bitter and irrepressible sense of disappointment here surely was no angel wanderer from unseen spheres only a girl clad in floating gray draperies that clung softly to her slim figure and trailed behind her as she moved sedately along through the snow-white blossoms that bent beneath her noiseless tread he had no eyes for the strange flower transfiguration of the lately barren land all his interest was centred on the slender graceful form of the mysterious maiden

Starting point is 03:26:37 she meanwhile went on her way till she reached the western boundary of the field there she turned hesitated a moment and then came back straight toward him he watched her approach as though she were some invisible fate and a tremor shook his limbs as she drew nearer still nearer he could see her distinctly now all but her face that was in shadow for her head was bent and her eyes were downcast her long fair hair flowed in a loose rippling mass over her shoulders she wore a wreath of the ardath flowers and carried a cluster of them clasped between her small daintily shaped hands a few steps more and she was close beside him she stopped as if in expectation of some word or sign but he stood mute and motionless not daring to speak or stir then without raising her eyes she passed passed like a flitting vapour and he remained as though rooted to the spot in a sort of vague dumb bewilderment his stupefaction was brief however rousing himself to swift resolution he hastened after her stay stay he cried aloud obedient to his call she paused but did not turn he came up with her he caught at her robe soft to the touch as silken gauze and overwhelmed by a sudden emotion of awe and reverence he sank on his knees who and what are you he murmured in trembling tones tell me if you are mortal maid i will not harm you i swear see i am only a poor crazed fool that loves a dream that stakes his life upon a chance of heaven pity me as you are gentle but do not fear me only speak

Starting point is 03:28:39 no answer came he looked up and now in the rich radiance of the moon beheld her face how like and yet how altogether unlike it was to the face of the angel in his vision for that ethereal being had seemed dazzlingly supremely beautiful beyond all mortal power of description whereas this girl was simply fair small and delicate with something wistful and pathetic in the lines of of her sweet mouth and shadows as if remembered sorrow slumbering in the depths of her serene dove-like eyes her fragile figure drooped wearily as though she were exhausted by some long fatigue yet gazing down upon him she smiled and in that smile the faint resemblance she bore to his spirit ideal flashed out like a beam of sunlight though it vanished again as quickly as it had shown he waited eagerly to hear her voice waited in a sort of breathless suspense but as she still kept silence he sprang up from his kneeling attitude and seized her hands how soft they were and warm he folded them in his own and drew her closer to himself the flowers she held fell from her grasp and lay in a tumbled fragrant heap between them his brain was in a whirl the past and the future the real and the unreal the finite and the infinite seemed all merging into one another without any shade of difference or division we have met very strangely you and i he said scarcely conscious of the words he uttered will you not tell me your name a faint sigh escaped her my name is edris she answered in low musical accents that carried to her

Starting point is 03:30:31 she answered in low musical accents that carried to his sense of hearing a suggestion of something sweet and familiar edris he repeated edris and gazing at her dreamily he raised her hands to his lips and kissed them gently my fairest edrist from whence do you come she met his eyes with a mild look of reproach and wonderment from a far far country theos and he started as she thus addressed him a land where no love is wasted and no promise forgotten again that mystic light passed over her pale face the blossom cornel she wore seemed for a moment to glitter like a circlet of stars his heart beat quickly could he believe her was she in very truth that shining perry whose aerial loveliness had so long haunted his imagination nay it was impossible for if she were why should she veil her native glory in such simple maiden guise searchingly he studied every feature of her countenance and as he did so his doubts concerning her spirit origin became more and more confirmed she was a living breathing woman an actual creature a flesh and blood yet how account for her appearance on the field of ardath this puzzled him till all at once a logical explanation of the whole mystery dawned upon his mind halyubus had sent her hither on purpose to meet him of course how dense he had been not to see through so transparent a scheme before the clever chaldean had resolved that he theos allwin should somehow be brought to accept his trance as a real experience so that henceforth his faith in things unseen and eternal might be assured

Starting point is 03:32:29 many psychological theorists would uphold such a deceit as not only permissible but even praiseworthy if practised for the furtherance of a good cause even the venerable hermit elzeir might have shared in the conspiracy and this edress as she called herself was no doubt perfectly trained in the part she had to play a plot for his conversion well he would enter into it himself he resolved why not the girl was exquisitely fair a veritable psyche of soft charms and a little love-making by moonlight would do no harm here he suddenly became aware that while these thoughts were passing through his brain he had unconsciously allowed her hands to slip from his hold and she now stood apart at some little distance her eyes fixed full upon him with an expression of most plaintive piteousness he made a hasty step or two toward her and as he did so his pulses began to throb with an extraordinary sensation of pleasure pleasure so keen as to be almost pain edris he whispered edress and stopped irresolutely she looked up at him with the appealing wistfulness of a lost and suffering child and a slight shudder ran through all her delicate frame i am cold theos she murmured half beseechingly stretching out her hands to him once more hands as fine and fair as lily leaves little white hands which he gazed at wonderingly yet did not take cold and very weary the way has been very weary the way has been long and the earth is dark dark repeated alwin mechanically still absorbed in the dubious contemplation of her lovely yielding form her sweet upturned face and gold glistening hair dark here

Starting point is 03:34:21 beneath the brightness of the moon nay i have seen many a full day look less radiant than this night of stars her eyes dwelt upon him with a certain pathetic bewilderment she let her extended arms drop wearily at her side and a shadow of pained recollection crossed the fairness of her features ah i forgot and she sighed deeply this is that strange sad world where darkness is called light at these words uttered with so much sorrowful meaning a quick thrill stirred arwin's blood an inexplicable sharp thrill that was like the touch of scorching flame he gazed at her perplexedly his pride resented what he imagined to be the deception practised upon him but at the same time he was not insensible to the weird romance of the situation he began to consider that as this fair girl trained so admirably in mystical speech and manner had evidently been sent on purpose to meet him he could scarcely be blamed for taking her as she presented herself and enjoined to the full a thoroughly novel and picturesque adventure his eyes flashed as he surveyed her standing there before him utterly unprotected and at his mercy his old language sceptical smile played on his proud lips that smile of the marble antinous which says bring me face to face with truth itself and i shall still doubt an expression of reluctant admiration and awakening passion dawn on his countenance he was about to speak when she whose looks were fast on him with intense powerful watchful anxious entreaty suddenly wrung her hands together as though in despair and gave vent to a desolate sobbing cry that smote him to the very heart

Starting point is 03:36:18 theos theos and her voice pealed out on the breathless air in sweet melodious broken echoes o my unfaithful beloved what can i do for thee a love unseen thou wilt not understand a love made manifest thou wilt not recognize alas my journey is in vain my errand hopeless for while thine unbelief resists my pleading how can i lead thee from danger into safety how bridge the depths between our parted souls how win for thee pardon and blessing from christ the king bright tears filled her eyes and fell fast and thick through her long drooping lashes and all went smitten with remorse at the sight of such grief sprang to her side overcome by shamed love and penitence weeping and for me he exclaimed sweet edress gentless of maidens weep not for one unworthy but rather smile and speak again of love and now his words pouring forth impetuously seem to utter themselves independently of any previous thought yes speak only of love and the discourse of those tuneful lips shall be my gospel the glance of those soft eyes my creed and as for pardon and blessing i crave none but thine i sought a dream i have found a fair reality a living proof of love's divine omnipotence love is the only god who would doubt his sovereignty or grudge him his full measure of worship not i believe me and carried away by the force of a resistless inward fervor he threw himself once more at her feet see here do i pay my vows at love's high altar

Starting point is 03:38:05 heart's desire shall be the prayer hearts ecstasy the praise together we will celebrate our glad service of love and heaven itself shall sanctify this eve of st edress and all angels she listened looking down upon him with grave half-timid tenderness her tears dried and a sudden hope irradiated her fair face with a soft bright flush as lovely as the light of morning falling on newly open flowers when he ceased she spoke her accents breaking through the silence like clear notes of music sweetly sung so be it she said may heaven truly sanctify all pure thoughts and free the soul of my beloved from sin and slowly bending forward as a delicate iris blossom bends to the sway of the wind she laid her hands about his neck and touched his lips with her own ah what divine ecstasy what wild and fiery transport filled him then her kiss like a penetrating lightning flash pierced to the very centre of his being the moonbeam swam round him in eddying circles of gold the white field heaved to and fro he caught her waist and clung to her and in the burning marvel of that moment he forgot everything save that whether spirit or mortal she was in one woman's witching shape and that all the glamour of her beauty was his for this one night at least this night which now in the speechless glorious delirium of love that overwhelmed him seemed like the mahapitans night of al-cotter better than a thousand months drawn to her by some subtle mysterious attraction which he could neither explain nor control and absorbed in a rapture beyond all that his high

Starting point is 03:40:04 and most daring flights of poetical fancy had ever conceived he felt as though his very life were ebbing out of him to become part of hers and this thought was strangely sweet a perfect consummation of all his best desires all at once a cold shudder ran freezingly through his veins a something chill and impalpable appeared to pass between him and her caressing arms his limbs grew numb and heavy his sight began to fail him he was sinking sinking he knew not where when suddenly she withdrew herself from his embrace instantly his strength came back to him with a rush he sprang to his feet and stood erect breathless dizzy and confused his pulses beating like hammer strokes and every fiber in his frame quivering with excitement entranced impassioned elated filled with unutterable incomprehensible joy he would have clasped her again to his heart but she retreated swiftly from him and standing several paces off-motioned him not to approach her more nearly he scarcely heeded her warning gesture plunging recklessly through the flowers he had almost reached her side when to his amazement and fear his eager progress was stopped stopped by some invisible intangible barrier which despite all his efforts forcibly prevented him from advancing one's step further she was close within an arm's length of him and yet he could not touch her nothing apparently divided them save a small breadth of the ardath blossoms gleaming ivory soft in the moonlight nevertheless that invincible influence thrust him back and held him fast as though he were chained to the ground with weights of iron edris he cried loudly his former transport of delight changed into agony edress come to me i can

Starting point is 03:42:04 cannot come to you what is this that parts us death she answered and the solemn words seemed to toll slowly through the still air like a now he stood bewildered and dismayed death what could she mean what in the name of all her beautiful delicate glowing youth had she to do with death gazing at her in mute wonder he saw her stoop and gather one flower from the clusters growing thickly around her she held it shield-wise against her breast where it shone like a large white jewel and regarded him with sweet wistful eyes full of a mournful longing death lies between us my beloved she continued one line of shadow only one little line but thou mayest not pass it save when god commands and i i cannot for i know not of death save that it is a heavy dreamless sleep allotted to overworked to overworked wearied mortals wherein they gained brief rest twixt many lives lives that like recurring dawns roused them anew to labor how often hast thou swept thus my theos and forgotten me she paused and alwin met her clear steadfast looks with a swift glance of something like defiance for as she spoke his previous idea concerning her came back upon him with redoubled force he was keenly conscious of the vehement fever of the vehement fever of the love into which her presence had thrown him but all the same he was unable to dispossess himself of the notion that she was a pupil and an accomplice of heliubis thoroughly trained and practised in his mysterious doctrine

Starting point is 03:43:48 and that therefore she most probably had some magnetic power in herself that at her pleasure not only attracted him to her but also held him thus motionless at a distance from her she talked of course in an indefinite mystic way either to intimidate or convince him but and he smiled a little in any case it only rested with himself to unmask this graceful pretender to angelic honors and while he thought thus her soft tones trembled on the silence again he listened as a dreaming mariner might listen to the fancied singing of the sea fairies through long bright eons of endless glory she said i have waited and prayed for thee i have pleaded thy cause before the blinding splendors of god's throne i have sung the songs of thy native paradise but thou grown dull of hearing hast caught but the echo of the music life after life hast thou lived and given no thought to me yet i remember and am faithful heaven is not all heaven to me without thee my beloved and now in this time of that last probation now if thou lovest me indeed love thee suddenly exclaimed theos half beside himself with the strange passion of yearning her words awakened in him love thee edress i as the gods loved when earth was young with the fulness of the heart and the vigor of glad life even so i love thee what sayest thou of heaven heaven is here here on this bridle field of ardath or canopied with stars come sweet one cease to play this mystic midnight fantasy i've done with dreams edress be thyself for them art woman not angel

Starting point is 03:45:41 thy kiss was warm as wine nay why shrink from me this as she retreated still further away her eyes flashing with unearthly brilliancy i will make thee a queen fair edress as poets ever make queens of the women they love my fame shall be a crown for thee to wear a crown that the whole world gazing on shall end thee and in the heat and ardor of the moment forgetful of the unseen barrier that divided her from him he made a violent effort to spring forward when lo a wave of rippling light appeared to break from beneath her feet it rolled toward him and completely flooded the space between them like a glittering pool and in it the flowers of our death swayed to and fro as water-lilies on a-oed to and fro as water-lilies on her on a woodland lake sway to the measured dash of passing oars starting back with a cry of terror he gazed wildly on this miracle of voice richer than all music rang silvery clear across the liquid radiance fame said the voice wouldst thou crown me theos with so perishable a diadem paralyzed and speechless he lifted his straining dazzled eyes was that edress that lustrous that lustrous figure delicate as a sea-mist with the sun shining through he stared upon her as a dying man might stare for the last time on the face of his nearest and dearest he saw her soft gray garments changed to glistening white the wreath she wore sparkled as with a million dew-drops a roseate halo streamed above her and around her long streaks of crimson flared down the sky like threads of fire swung from the stars and in the deepening glory her countenance divinely beautiful yet intensely sad expressed the touching hope and fear of one who makes a final farewell appeal

Starting point is 03:47:37 ah god he knew her now too late too late he knew her the angel of his vision stood before him and humbled to the very dust and ashes of despair he loathed himself for his unworthiness and lack of faith oh doubting an unhappy one she went on in accents sweeter than a chime of golden bells thou art lost in the gloom of the sorrowful star where naught is known of life save its shadow lost and as yet i cannot rescue thee ah forlorn edress that i am left lonely up in heaven but prayers are heard and god's great patience never tires learned therefrom from the perils of the past the perils of the future and weigh against an immortal destiny of love the worth of fame wider and more dazzling grew the brilliancy surrounding her raising her eyes she clasped her hands in an attitude of impassioned supplication o fair king christ she cried and her voice seemed to strike a melodious passage through the air thou canst prevail a burst of music answered her music that rushed wind-like downwards and swept in strong vibrating chords over the land again the kirier elaisant christay elizant kirier elizant peeled forth in the same full youthful tone chorus that had before sounded so mysteriously outside elzeir's hermitage and the separate crimson rays glittering aurora wise about her radiant figure suddenly melted altogether in the form of a great cross which absorbing moon and stars and its fiery redness blazed from end to end of the eastern horizon then like a fair white dove or delicate butterfly she rose she poised herself above the bowing ardath bloom

Starting point is 03:49:37 anon soaring aloft she floated higher higher and ever higher serenely and with aerial slow ease till drawn into the glory of that wondrous flaming cross whose outstretched beams seemed waiting to receive her she drifted straight upwards through its very centre and so vanished theo stared aghast at the glowing sky whither had she gone her words still rang in his ears the warmth of her kiss still lingered on his lips he loved her he worshipped her why why had she left him lost as she herself had said in a world that was mere emptiness without her he struggled for utterance edris he whispered hoarsely edris my angel love come back come back pity me forgive edris his voice died in a hard sob of imploring agony smitten to the very soul by a remorse greater than he could bear his strength failed him and he fell senseless phase forward among the flowers of the prophet's field flowers that circling snowily around his dark and prostrate form looked like fairy garlands bordering a poet's grave end of chapter ten chapter eleven of ardath by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain part two in al chiris that which hath been is now and that which is to be hath already been and god requirth that which is past ecclesias chapter eleven the marvellous city profound silence profound unconsciousness oblivious rest such are the soothing ministrations of kindly nature to the overburdened spirit

Starting point is 03:51:37 nature who in her tender wisdom and maternal solicitude will not permit us to suffer beyond a certain limit excessive pain whether it be physical or mental cannot last long and human anguish wound up to its utmost quivering pitch finds at the very height of desolation a strange hushing lithean calm even so it was with theos aalwin drowned in the deep stillness of a merciful swoon he had sunk as it were out of lights far out of the furthest reach or sense of time in some vast unsounded gulf of shadows where earth and heaven were alike forgotten how long he lay thus he never knew but he was roused at last roused by the pressure of something cold and sharp against his throat and on languidly opening his eyes he found himself surrounded by a small body of men in armor who leaning on tall pikes which glistened brilliantly in the full sunlight surveyed him with looks of derisive amusement one of these closer to him than the rest and who seemed from his dress and bearing to be some officer in authority held instead of a pike a short sword the touch of whose pointed steel blade had been the effectual means of his dress and bearing to be some officer in authority held instead of a pike a short sword the touch of whose pointed steel blade had been the effectual means of the effectual means of the of awakening him from his lethargy. How now? said this personage, and a rough voice, as he withdrew his weapon.

Starting point is 03:53:00 What idle fellow art thou, art thou, thou must be, and breaker of the king's law, else thou hadst never dared to bask in such swine-like ease outside the gates of Al-Carris, the magnificent. Al-Carris, the magnificent, what was the man talking about? Uttering a hasty exclamation, Alwyn staggered to his feet with an effort, in shading his eyes from the hot glare of the sun stared bewilderedly at his interlocutor what what is this he stammered dreamily i do not understand you i have slept on the field of ardath the soldiers burst into a loud laugh in which their leader joined thou hast drunk deep my friend he observed putting up his sword with a sharp clatter into its shining sheaf what name sayest thou ardath we know it not nor dost thou i warrant when sober go to make for thy home speedily ay i i the flavour of good wine clings to thy mouth still tis a pleasant sweetness that i myself impartial to and i can pardon those who like thee love it somewhat too well away and thank the gods thou hast fallen into the hands of the king's guard rather than lasea's priestly patrol see the gates are open in with thee and cool thy head at the first fountain the gates what gates removing his hand from his eyes all when gazed around

Starting point is 03:54:18 confusedly he was standing on an open stretch of level road dustily white and dry with long continued heat and right in front of him was an enormously high wall topped with rows of bristling iron spikes and guarded by the gates alluded to huge massive portals seemingly made of finely moulded brass and embellished on either side by thick round stone watch-towers from whose summit scylet pennants drooped idly in the windless air amazed and full of a vague trembling terror he fixed his one of the one looks once more upon his strange companions who in their turn regarded him with cool military indifference i must be mad or dreaming he thought then growing suddenly desperately stretched out his hands with a wild appealing gesture i swear to you i know nothing of this place he cried i never saw it before some trick has been played on me who brought me here where is elzeir the hermit the ruins of babylon where is good god what fearful freak of fate is this the soldiers left again their commander looked at him a little curiously nay art thou one of the escaped of licea's lovers he asked suspiciously and has the silver nectar failed of its usual action and driven thy senses to the winds that thou ravest thus for if thou art a stranger and knowest not of us how speakest thou our language why wearest thou the garb of our citizens all went shrank and shivered as though he had received a deadening blow an awful inexplicable chill horror froze his blood it was true he understood the language spoken it was perfectly familiar to him more so than his own native tongue stop what was his native tongue he tried to think and the sick fear at his heart grew stronger he could not remember a word of it and his dress he glanced at it dismayed and appalled he had not noticed it till now it bore some resemblance

Starting point is 03:56:11 to the costume of ancient greece and consisted of a white linen tunic and loose upper vest both garments being kept in place by a belt of silver from this belt depended a sheathed dagger a square writing tablet and a pencil-shaped implement which he immediately recognized as the antique form of stylus his feet were shot with sandals his arms were bare to the shoulder and clasped at the upper part by two broad silver omelets richly chased noting all these details the fantastic awfulness of his position smote him with redoubled force and he felt as a madman may feel when his impending doom has not entirely asserted itself when only grotesque and leering suggestions of madness cloud his brain when hideous faces dimly discerned gloom out of the chaos of his nightly visions and when all the air seems solid darkness with one white line of fire cracking it asunder in the midst and that the fire of his own approaching frenzy such a delirium of agony possessed all when at that moment he could have shrieked laugh groaned wept and fallen down in the dust before these bearded armed men praying them to slay him with their weapons there where he stood and put him mercifully and at once out of his mysterious misery but an invisible influence stronger than himself prevented him from becoming altogether the victim of his own torturing emotions and he remained direct and still as a marble figure with a wondering white piteous face of such an utterable affliction that the officer who watched him seemed touched in advance clapped his shoulder in a friendly manner come come he said thou needst feared nothing we are not the men too glad of thy trespass against the city's edict for of a truth there is too much whispering away of young and goodly lives nowadays what thou art not the first gay gallant nor wilt thou be the last that has seen the world turn upside down in a haze of love and late feasting if thou hast not slept long enough why sleep again and thou wilt but not here

Starting point is 03:58:13 he broke off abruptly a distant clatter of horses hoofs was heard as of one galloping at full speed the soldiers started and assumed an attitude of attention their leader muttered something like an oath in seizing awen by the arm heard him to the brass gates which as he had said stood open and literately thrust him through in in my lad he urged with rough kindliness thou hast a face fairer than that of the king's own minstrel and why wouldst thou die for sake of an extra cup of wine if lycia is to blame for this scattering of thy wits take heed thou do not venture near her more it is ill jesting with the serpent sting get thee hence quickly and be glad of thy life thou hast many years before thee yet in which to play the lover and fool with this enigmatical speech he signed to his men to follow him they all filed through the gates which closed after them with a jarring clang a dark bearded face peered out of a narrow loophole in one of the watch-towers and a deep voice called what of the hour the officer raised his gauntleted hand and answered promptly peace and safety salutation cried the voice again salutation responded the officer and with a reassuring nod and smile to the bewildered allwin he gathered his little band around him and they all marched off the measured clink-clank of their footsteps making metallic music as they wheeled round a corner and disappeared from sight left to himself allwin's first idea was to sit down in some quiet corner and endeavour calmly to realize what strange and cruel thing had chanced to him but happening to look up he saw the bearded face in the watch-tower observing him suspiciously he therefore roused himself sufficiently to walk away on and on scarce heating whither he went till he had completely lost sight of those great cold glittering portals which had shut him against his will within the walls of a large splendid and populous city

Starting point is 04:00:05 yes hopelessly perplexing and maddening as it was there could be no doubt as this fact and though he again and again tried to convince himself that he was laboring under some wild and exceptional hallucination his senses all gave evidence of the actual reality of his situation he felt he moved he heard he saw he was even beginning to be conscious of hunger thirst and fatigue the further he went the more gorgeous grew the surroundings his unguided steps wandered as it seemed of their own accord into wide streets paved entirely with mosaics and lined on both sides with lofty picturesque and palace-like buildings he crossed and recrossed broad avenues shaded by tall feathery palms and masses of masses of of graceful flowering foliage he passed rows upon rows of brilliant shops whose frontage is glittered with the most costing beautiful wares of every description and as he strolled about aimlessly uncertain with it to go he was constantly jostled by the pressing throngs of people that crowded the thoroughfares all more or less apparently bent on pleasure to judge from their animated countenances and frequent bursts of gay laughter the men were for the most part arrayed like himself though here and there he met some few whose garments were of soft silk instead of linen who wore gold belts in place of silver and who carried their daggers and sheeds that were literally encrusted all over with slashing jewels as he advanced more into the city's centre the crowds increased so much so that the noise of traffic and clatter of tongues became quite deafening to his ears richly ornamented chariots drawn by spirited horses and driven by personages whose attires seem to be a positive blaze of golden gems roll past in a continuous procession fruit-sellers carrying their lovely luscious merchandise and huge gilded moss-reeved baskets stood at almost every corner flower girls fair as flowers bore aloft in their gracefully upraised arms

Starting point is 04:01:57 wide wicker trays overflowing with odorous blossoms tied into clusters and wreaths and there were countless numbers of curious little open square carts to which mules wearing collars of bells were harnessed the tinkle tinkle of their constant passage through the throng-making incessant merry music these vehicles bore the names of traders purveyors and wine and dealers and all sorts of provisions but with the exception of such necessary business caterers the streets were full of elegant loungers of both sexes who seemed to have nothing whatever to do but amuse themselves the women were especially noticeable for their lazy grace of manner they glided to and fro with an indolent floating ease that was indescribably bewitching the more so as many of them were endowed with exquisite beauty of form and feature beauty greatly enhanced by the artistic simplicity of their costume this was composed of a straight clinging gown slightly gathered at the throat and bound about the waist with a twisted girdle of silver gold and in some cases jewels their arms like those of the men were bare and their small delicate feet were protected by sandals fastened with crossed bands of ribbon coquettishly nodded the arrangement of their hair was evidently a matter of personal taste and not the slavish copying of any set fashion some allowed it to hang in lilly lilly flowing abundance over their shoulders others had it closely braided or coiled carelessly nithic soft mass at the top of the head but all without exception wore white veils nails nails long transparent and filmy as gossamer which they flung back or draped about them at their pleasure and presently after watching several of these fairy creatures passed by and listening to their low laughter and dulcet speech a sudden memory leaped into all one's confused brain an old old memory that seemed to have lain hidden among his thoughts for centuries the memory of a story called lamia told in verse as delicious as music aptly played who wrote the story he could not tell but he recollected that it was about a snake in the guise of a beautiful woman

Starting point is 04:03:57 and these women in this strange city looked as if they also had a snake-like origin there was something so soft and lithe and undulating about their movements and gestures weary of walking distracted by the ever-increasing clamor in feeling lost among the crowd he at last perceived a wide and splendid square surrounded with stately houses and having in its centre a huge white granite obelisk which towered like a pillar of snow against the dense blue of the sky below it a massively sculptured line also of white granite lay couching a shield between its paws on either side two fine fountains were in full play the delicate spiral columns of water being dashed up beyond the extreme point of the obelisk so that its stone face was wet and glisting with the tossing rainbow shower here he turned aside out of the main thoroughfare there were tall shady trees all about and fantastically carved benches underneath them he determined to sit down and rest and steadily think out he is involved in peculiar condition of mind as he passed the sculptured line he saw certain words engraved on the shield it held they were through the line and the serpent shall alcarus flourish there was no disorder in his intelligence concerning this sentence he was able to read it clearly and comprehensively and yet what was the language in which it was written and how did he come to know it so thoroughly with a sigh that was almost a groan he sank listlessly on a seat and bearing his head in his hands to shut out all the strange sights which so direfully perplexed his reason he began to subject himself to a patient serious cross-examination in the first place who was he part of the required answer came readily theos theos what his brain refused to clear up this point it repeated theos theos over and over again but no more shuddering with a vague dread he asked himself the next question from whence had he come the reply was direct and decisive from ardath but what was ardath

Starting point is 04:05:53 it was neither a country nor a city it was a waste field where he had seen ah whom had he seen he struggled furiously with himself for some response to this none came total dumb blankness was the sole result of the inward rack to which he subjected his thoughts and where had he been before he ever saw ardat had he no recollection of any other place any other surroundings absolutely none torture his voice as he would absolutely none this was frightful incredible incredible surely surely he mused piteously there must have been something in his life before the name of ardat had swamped his intelligence he lifted his head his face had grown ashen gray and rigid in the deep extremity of his speechless trouble and terror there was a sick faintness at his heart and rising he moved unsteadily to one of the great fountains and though dipping his hands in the spray he dashed some drops on his brow and eyes then making a cup of the hollowed palms he drank thirstily several draughts of the cool sweet water it seemed to allay the fever in his blood he looked around him with a wild vague smile alciris of course he was in alcarus why was he so distressed about it it was a pleasant city there was much to see and also much to learn at that instant a loud blast of silver-tone trumpets split the air followed by a storm roar of distant acclamation surging up from thousands of throats crowds of men and women suddenly flocked into the square cross it and out of it again all pressing impetuously in one direction and urged forward by the general rush as well as by a corresponding impulse within himself he flung all meditation to the winds and plunged recklessly into the shouting on sweeping he was borne swiftly with it down a broad avenue lined with grand old trees and deck with flying flags and streamers to the margin of a noble river as still as liquid amber in the wide sheen and heat of the noonday sun a splendid marvel embankment adorned with colossal statues girdled it on both sides and here under silken awnings of every color pattern and design an enormous multitude was assembled its white attired closely packed ranks stretching far away into the blue distance on either hand

Starting point is 04:08:02 all the attention of this vast concourse appeared to be centered on the slow approach of a strained-gilded vessel that with great curved prow and scarlet sails slapping idly in the faint breeze was gliding leisurely yet might be centered on the slow approach of a strained gilded vessel that with great curved prowl and scarlet sails slapping idly in the faint breeze was gliding leisurely yet might majestically over the azure blaze of the smooth water huge oars like golden fins projected from her sides and dipped lazily every now and then apparently wielded by the hands of invisible rowers whose united voices supplied the lack of the needful wind and as he caught sight of this cumbersely quaint galley theos moved by sudden interest elbow his way resolutely through the dense crowd till he gained the edge of the embankment where leaning against the marble balustrade he watched with a curious fascination its gradual advance and he watched with a curious fascination its gradual advance nearer and near it came brighter and brighter glowed the vivid scarlet of its sails a solemn sound of stringed music rippled enchantingly over the glassy river mingling itself with the wild shouting of the populace shouting that seemed to rend the hollow vault of heaven nearer nearer and now the vessel stood round and curtseyed forward its propelling fins moved more rapidly another graceful sweep and low it fronted the surging throng like a glittering fantastic apparition drawn out of dreamland theo stared at it dazzled and stricken with a half-blind breathless wonder was ever a ship like this he thought a ship that sparkled all over as though it were carved went out of one great burning jewel golden hangings falling in rich loose folds draped it gorgeously from stem to stern gold cordage looped the sails on the deck a band of young gals clad in white and crowned with flowers knelt playing softly on quaintly shaped instruments and a cluster of tiny semi-nude boys fair as young cupids were grouped in pretty pretty reposeful attitudes along the edge of the gilded prowl holding garlands of red and yellow blossoms which trailed down to the surface of the water beneath as a half-slumbering man may note a sudden brilliant glare of sunshine flashing on the wall of his sleeping chamber so theos at first viewed this floating pageant and confused uncomprehending bewilderment

Starting point is 04:10:02 when all at once his stupefied senses were roused to hot life and pulsing action with a smothered cry of ecstasy he fixed his straining eager gaze on one supreme fair figure the central glory of the marvellous picture a woman or a goddess a rainbow flame in mortal shape a spirit of earth air fire water or a thought of beauty embodied into human sweetness and may perfect clothed in gold attire and girdled with dim she stood leaning indolently against the middle mast of the vessel her great sombre dusky eyes resting growsly on the swarming masses of people whose frenzied roar of rapture and admiration sounded like the breaking of billows presently with a slow solemn smile on her haughtily curved lips she extended one hand an arm snow-white and glittering with jewels and made an imperious gesture to command silence instantly a profound hush ensued lifting a long slender white wand at the end of which could be plainly seen the gleaming silver head of a serpent she described three circles in the air with a perfectly even majestic motion and as she did this her marvellous eyes turned toward theos and dwelt steadily upon him he met her gaze fully absorbing into his inmost soul the mesmeric spell of her matchless loveliness he saw without actually realizing the circumstance that the whole vast multitude around him had fallen prostrate in an attitude of worship and still he stood erect drinking in the warmth of those dark witching sleepy orbs that flashed at him half resentfully half mockingly and then the beauty burdened ship began to sway gently and move onwards she that wondrous siren queen was vanishing vanishing she and her kneeling maidens and music and flowers vanishing where with a start he sprang from his post of observation he felt he must go after her at all risks he must find out her place of abode her rank her title her name all at once he was roughly seized by a dozen or more of hands

Starting point is 04:11:54 loud angry voices shouted on all sides a traitor a traitor an infidel a spy a malcontent into the river with him he refuses worship he denies the gods bear him to the tribunal and in a trice of time he was completely surrounded and hemmed in by an exasperated gesticulating crowd whose ominous looks and indignant mutterings were plainly significant of prompt hostility with a few agile movements he succeeded in wrenching himself free from the grasp of his assailants and standing among them like a staggered bay he cried what have i done how have i offended speak or is it the fashion of alcyrus to condemn a man unheard no one answered this appeal the very directness of it seemed to increase the irritation of the mob that pressing closer and closer began to jostle and hustle him in a threatening manner that boded ill for his safety he was again taken prisoner and struggling in the grasp of his captors he was preparing to fight for his life as best he could against the general fury when the sound of musical strings swept carelessly upwards in the ascending scale struck sweetly through the clamor a youth arrayed in crimson and carrying a small golden heart marched sedately between the serried ranks that parted right and left at his approach thus clearing the way for another personage who followed him a graceful adonis-like personage and glistening white attire who wore a myrtle wreath on his dark abundant locks and whom the populace forgetting for a moment the cause of their recent disturbance greeted with a ringing and ecstatic shout of hail saluma again and again the scribe was uplifted till far away on the extreme outskirts of the throng the joyous echo of it was repeated faintly yet distinctly hail hail saluma end of chapter eleven chapter twelve of our death by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain

Starting point is 04:13:51 sal luma the newcomer thus enthusiastically welcomed bowed right and left with a condescending air in response to the general acclamation and advancing to the spot where theo stood an enforced prisoner in the close grip of three or four able-bodied citizens he said what turbulence is here by my faith when i heard the noise of quarrelsome contention jarring the sweetness of this nectaris noon methought i was no longer in alcyrus but rather in some western city of barbarians where music is but an unvalued name and he smiled a dazzling childlike smile half petulant half pleased a smile of supreme self-consciousness as of one who knew his own resistless power to charm away all discord several voices answered him in clamorous unison a traitor saluma a profane rebel an unbeliever a most insolent knave he refused homage to the high priestess a renegade from the faith now by the sacred veil cried saluma impatiently think ye i can distinguish your jargon when like ignorance boures ye talk all at once tearing my ears to shreds with such unmalodious tongue clatter whom have ye seized thus roughly let him stand forth at this command the men who held theos relaxed their grasp and he breathless and burning with indignation at the treatment he had received shook himself quickly free of all restraint and sprang forward confronting his rescuer there was a brief pause during which the two surveyed each other with looks of mutual amazement what mysterious indication of affinity did they read in one another's faces why did they stand motionless spell-bound and dumb for a while

Starting point is 04:15:54 eyeing half admiringly half enviously each other's personal appearance and bearing undoubtedly a curious far-off resemblance existed between them yet it was a resemblance that had nothing whatever to do with the actual figure mean or countenance it was that peculiar and often undefinable similarity of expression which when noticed between two brothers who are otherwise totally unlike instantly proclaims that their relationship theos realized his own superior height and superior muscular development but what were these physical advantages compared to the classic perfection of saluma's beauty beauty combining the delicate with the vigorous such as is shouted forth in the artist's conceptions of the god apollo his features faultlessly regular were redeemed from all effeminacy by the ennobleing impresses of high thought and inward inspiration his eyes were dark with a brilliant under-reflection of steel-gray in them that at times flashed out like the soft glitter of summer lightning and the dense purple of an august heaven his olive-tinted complexion was flushed warmly with the glow of health and he had broad bold intellectual brows over which the rich hair clustered in luxuriant waves hair that was almost black with here and there a curious fleck of reddish gold brightening its curling masses as though a stray sunbeam or two had been caught and entangled therein he was arrayed in a costume of the finest silk his armlets belt in dagger's sheath were all of jewels and the general brilliancy of his attire was furthermore increased by a finely worked flexible color of gold set with diamonds

Starting point is 04:17:48 the first exchange of wondering glances over he viewed theos with a critical half supercilious air what art thou he demanded what is thy calling theos hesitated then spoke out boldly and unthinkingly i am a poet he said a murmur of irrepressible laughter and derision ran through the listening crowd saluma's lip curled haughtily a poet and his fingers played idly with a dagger at his bow nay not so there is but one poet in al caris and i am he theos looked at him steadily a subtle sympathy attracted him toward this charming boaster involuntarily he smiled and bent his head courteously i do not seek to figure as your rival he began rival at good saluma i have no rivals a burst of applause from those nearest to them in the throng declared the popular approval of this assertion and the boy bearing the harp who had loiter to listen to the conversation swept the strings of his instrument with a triumphant force and fervor that showed how thoroughly his feelings were in harmony with the expression of his master's sentiments saluma conquered with an effort his momentary irritation and resumed coldly from whence do you come there sir we should know your name poets are not so common this with an accent of irony taken aback by the question theo stood irresolute and uncertain what to say for he was afflicted with a strange and terrible malady such as he dimly remembered having heard of but never expected to suffer from a malady in which his memory had become almost a blank as regarded the past events of his life

Starting point is 04:19:43 though every now and then shadowy images of bygone things flitted across his brain like the transient reflections of wind-swept clouds on still translucent water presently in the midst of his painful indecision an answer suggested itself like a whispered hint from some invisible prompter poets like saluma are no doubt as rare as nightingales in snow he said with a soft deference and an increasing sense of tenderness for his haughty handsome interlocutor as for me i am a singer of sad songs that are not worth the hearing my name is theos i come from far beyond the seas and am a stranger in alchiris therefore if i have erred in aught i must be blamed for ignorance not malice as he spoke soluma regarded him intently theos met his gaze frankly and unflintentioned surely there was some singular power of attraction between the two for as their flashing eyes again dwelt earnestly on one another they both smiled and saluma advancing proffered his hand theos at once accepted it a curious sensation of pleasure tingling through his frame as he pressed those slender-blown fingers in his own cordial clasp a stranger in alciris and from beyond the seas than by my life and honour i insure thy safety and bid thee welcome a singer of sad songs said or merry that thou are a singer at all makes thee the guest of the king's laureate a look of conscious vanity illumined his face as he thus announced with proud emphasis his own title and claim to distinction the brotherhood of poets he continued last

Starting point is 04:21:38 laughingly is a mystic and doubtful tie that have oft been questioned but provided they do not like ill-conditioned wolves fight each other out of the arena there should be joy in the relationship here turning full upon the crowd he lifted his rich melodious voice to higher and more ringing tones it is like you o hasty and misjudging churricians that finding a harmless wanderer from far off lands present that the pageant of the midsummer benediction ye should pounce upon him even as kites on a straying sea-bird and maul him with your ruthless talons has he broken the law of worship ye have broken the law of hospitality as he failed to kneel to the passing ship of the sun so have ye failed to handle him with due courtesy what report shall he bear hence of your gentleness and culture to those dim and unjoyous shores beyond the gray-green wall of ocean billows where the very name of al chyrrhus serves as a symbol for all that is great and wise and wondrous in the whole round circle of the world moreover ye know full well that foreigners and sojourners in the city are exempt from worship and the king's command is that all such should be well and nobly entertained to the end that when they depart they may carry with them a full store of pleasant memories hence scatter brains to your homes no festival can ye enjoy without a gust of contention

Starting point is 04:23:15 ye are ill-made instruments all whose jarring strings even i crowned minstrel of the king can scarce keep one day in happy tune look you now this stranger is my guest is there a man in alcarus who will treat as an enemy one whom saluma friend a storm of applause followed this little extemporary speech applause accompanied by an odorous rain of flowers there were many women in the crowd and these had pressed eagerly forward to catch every word that dropped from the poet laureates malefluous lips now moved by one common impulse they hastily snatched off their posies and garlands and flung them in lavish abundance at his feet some of the blossoms chancing to fall on and cling to his garments he quickly shook them off and gathering them together presented them to the personage for whom they were intended he however gaily rejected them moving his small sandaled foot playfully among the thick wealth of red and white roses that lay waiting to be crushed beneath his tread keep thy share he said with an amused flash of his glorious eyes such offerings are my daily lot i can spare thee one handful from the overflowing harvest of my song it was impossible to be offended with such charming self-complacency the naive conceit of the man was as harmless as the delight of a fair girl who has made her first conquest and theo smiling kept the flowers by this time the surrounding throng had broken up into little knots and groups all ill-humour on the part of the populace had completely vanished and large numbers were now leaving the embankment and dispersing in different directions

Starting point is 04:25:05 to their several homes all those who had been within hearing distance of saluma's voice appeared highly elated as though they had endured some special privilege and pleasure to be reproved by the laureate was evidently considered better than being praised by any one else many persons pressed up to theos and shaking hands with him offered their eager excuses and apologies for the misunderstanding that had lately taken place explaining with much animation by both of look and gesture that the fact of his wearing the same style of dresses themselves had induced them to take it for granted that he must be one of their fellow-citizens and therefore subject to the laws of the realm theos was just beginning to feel somewhat embarrassed by the excess of politeness and cordiality of his recent antagonists when saluma again interposing cut all explanations short come come cease this useless prating he said imperatively yet good-naturedly in everything ye showed your dulled ignorance and lack of discernment for concerning the matter of attire are not the fashions of al chyrrhus copied more or less badly in every quarter of the habitable globe even as our language and literature form the chief study and delight of all scholars and educated gentlemen a truce to your discussions let us get hence and home here he turned to theos with a graceful salutation you my good friend will doubtless be glad to rest and recover from my countrymen's ungentle treatment of your person thus saying he made a slight commanding sign the clustering people drew back on either side and he taking theos by the arm passed through their ranks talking laughing and nodding graciously here and there as he went with the half kindly half indifferent ease of an affable monarch who occasionally bows to some of his

Starting point is 04:26:57 his porous subjects as he trod over the flowers that lay heaped about his path several girls rushed impetuously forward struggling with each other for possession of those particularly favored blossoms that had received the pressure of his foot and kissing them they tied them in little knots and pinned them proudly on the bosoms of their white gowns one or two more daring stretched out their hands to touch the golden frame of the harp as it was carried past them by the youth in crimson a pretty fellow enough who looked extremely haughty and almost indignant at this effrontery on the part of the fair poet-worshippers but he made no remonstrance and merely held his head a little higher and walked with a more consequential air as he followed his master at a respectful distance another long ecstatic shout of hail saluma arose on all sides rippling away away down as it seemed to the very furthest edge of echoing resonance and then the remainder of the crowd quickly scattered right to the moment and then the remainder of the crowd quickly scattered right to headed right and left leaving the spacious embankment almost deserted save for the presence of several copper-colored blue-shirted individuals who were commencing the work of taking down and rolling up the silken awnings accompanying their labors by sort of an autonomous chant that mingling with the slow-gliding plash of the river sounded as weird and mournful as the suff of the wind through leafless trees meanwhile theos in the company of his new friend began to express his thanks for the timely rescue he had received but saluma waved all such acknowledgments aside nay i've only served thee as a crowned laureate should ever serve a lesser minstrel he said with that indescribably delicious air of self-flattery which was so whimsical and yet so winning and i tell thee in all good faith that for a newly arrived visitor in alciris thy first venture was a reckless one to omit to kneel in the presence of the high priestess during her

Starting point is 04:28:57 benediction was a violation of our customs and ceremonies dangerous to life and limb a religiously excited mob is merciless and if i had not chanced upon the scene of action i should have been no longer the man i am smaltheus looking down on his companion's light lithe elegant form as it moved gracefully by his side but that i failed in homage to the high priestess was a most unintentional lack of wit on my part for if that was the high priestess that dazzling wonder of beauty who lately passed in a glittering ship on her triumphant way down the river like a priceless pearl in a cup of gold ay ay and saluma's dark brows contracted in a slight frown not so many fine words i pray thee thou couldst not well mistake her there is only one licea murmured theo's dreamily and the musical name slid off his lips with a soft sibilant sound lissia and i forgot to kneel to that enchanting that adorable being oh unwise benighted fool where were my thoughts next time i see her i will atone no matter what creed she represents i will kiss the dust at her feet and so make reparation for my sin saluma glanced at him with a somewhat dubious expression what art thou already persuaded he queried lightly and wilt thou also be one of us well thou wilt need to kiss the dust in very truth if thou serviced lycia no half-measures will suit where she the untouched and immaculate is concerned and here there was a faint inflection of mingled mockery

Starting point is 04:30:39 and sadness in his tone to love her is for many men an absolute necessity but the virgin priestess of the sun and the serpent receives love as statues may receive it moving all others to frenzy she is herself unmoved theos listened scarcely hearing he was studying every line in saluma's face and figure with fixed and wistful attention almost unconsciously he pressed the arm he held and saluma looked up at him with a half smile i fancy we shall like each other he said thou art a western singing-bird of passage and i a nested nightingale amid the roses of the east our ways of making melody are different we shall not quarrel quarrel echoed theos amazingly nay i might quarrel with my nearest and dearest but never with thee saluma for i know thee for a very prince of poets and would as soon profaned the sanctity of the muse herself as violate thy proffered friendship why so returned saluma his brilliant eyes flashing with undisguised pleasure and thou thinkest thus of me we shall be firm and fast companions thou hast spoken well and not without good instruction i perceive my fame hath reached thee in thine own ocean-girdled lands where music is as rare as sunshine right glad am i that chance has thrown us together for now thou wilt be better able to judge of my unrivalled master skill and sweet word weaving thou must abide with me for all the days of thy sojourn here art willing willing i more than willing exclaimed theos enthusiastically but if i burden hospitality burden and saluma laughed talk not of burdens to me

Starting point is 04:32:31 i who have feasted kings and make light of their entertaining here he added as he led the way through a broad alley lined with magnificent palms here is the entrance to my poor dwelling and a sparkling mischievous smile brightened his features there is room enough in it methinks to hold thee even if thou hathst brought a retinue of slaves he pointed before him as he spoke and theo stood for a moment stuck still and overcome with astonishment at the size and splendor of the palace whose gates they were just approaching it was a dome-shaped building of the purest white marble surrounded on all sides by long fluted colonnades and fronted by spacious court paved with mosaics where eight flower bordered fountains dashed dashed up to the hot blue sky incessant showers of refreshing spray into this court and across it saluma led his wondering guest ascending a wide flight of steps they entered a vast open hall where the light poured in through rose-colored and pale blue glass that gave a strange lovely effect of mingled sunset and moonlight to this scene here reclining about on cushions of silk and velvet were several beautiful girls in various attitudes of indolence and ease one laughing black-haired hury was amusing herself with a tame bird which flew to and from her uplifted finger another in a half-sitting posture played cup and ball with much active and graceful dexterity some were working at gold and silver embroidery others clustered in a semi-circle round a large osier basket filled with myrtle for busy weaving garlands of their fragrant leaves and one maiden seemingly younger than the rest and of lighter and more delicate complexion leaned somewhat pensively against an ebony-framed harp as though she were considering what sad or suggestive chords she should next awaken from its responsive strings

Starting point is 04:34:32 as saluma and theos appeared these nymphs all rose from their different occupations and amusements and stood with bent heads and folded hands in statuesque silence and humility these are my human rosebud said saluma softly and gaily as holding the dazzle theos by the arm he escorted him past these radiant and exquisite forms they bloom and fade and die like the flowers thrown by the populace proud and happy to feel that their perils loveliness has even for a brief while been made more lasting by contact with my deathless poet fain ah nefrata and he paused at the side of the girl standing by the harp hast thou sung many of my songs to-day or is thy voice too weak for such impassion cadence thou art pale i miss thy soft blush and dimpling smile what ails thee my honey-throated aureole nothing my lord answered nefrata in a low tone raising a pair of lovely dusky violet eyes fringed with long black lashes nothing save that my heart is always sad in thine absence saluma smiled well pleased let it be sad no longer then he said caressing her cheek with his hand and theo saw a wave of rich color mounting swiftly to her fair brows at his touch as though she were a white poppy warming to crimson in the ardent heat of the sun i love to see thee merry mirth suits a young and beauteous face like thine look you sweet i bring with me here a stranger from far-off lands one to whom saluma's name is as a star in the desert i must needs have thy voice in all its full lusciousness of tune to warble for his pleasure those heart entangling ditties of mine which thou hast learned to render with such matchless tenderness tenderness

Starting point is 04:36:26 thanks gisenia this as another maiden advanced and gently removing the myrtle wreath he wore placed one just freshly woven on his clustering curls then turning to theo's he inquired wilt thou also wear a minstrel garland my friend nefrata or gisenia will crown thee i am not worthy answered theo bending his head in low salutation to the two lovely girls who stood eyeing him with a certain wistful wonder one spray from saluma's discarded reef will best suffice me saluma broke into a laugh of absolute delight i swear thou speakest well and like a true man he said joyously unfamous as thou art thou deservedest honor for the frank confession of thy lack of merit believe me there are some boastful rhymers and alchrist who would benefit much by a share of thy becoming modesty give him his wish gisenia and gisena obediently detaching a sprig of myrtle from the wreath saluma had worn all day handed it to theos with a graceful obeisance for who knows but the leaves may contain a certain we wot not of that shall endow him with a touch of the divine inspiration at that moment a curious figure came shuffling across the splendid hall that of a little old man somewhat shabbily attired upon whose wrinkled countenance there seemed to be a fixed malign smile like the smile of a mocking greek mask he had small bright beady black eyes placed very near the bridge of his large hooked nose his thin wispy gray locks streamed scantily over his bent's shoulders and he carried a tall staff to support his awkward steps a staff with which he made a most disagreeable tapping noise on the marble pavement as he came along ah sir gadabout he exclaimed in a harsh squeaky voice as he perceived saluma back again from your self-advertising in the city is there any poor soul left in alciras whose ears have not been deafened by the parrot cry of the name of saluma

Starting point is 04:38:32 if there is at him at him my dainty warbler of tiresome trills at him and storm his senses with a rhodo montad of rhymes without reason at him immortal of the immortals bard of barbs stuff him with quatrains and sextanes beat him with blank verse blank of all meaning lash him with ballad and sonnet scourges till the tortured wretch howling for mercy shall swear that no poet save saluma ever lived before or will ever live again on the face of the shuddering and astonished earth and breathless with this extraordinary outburst he struck his staff loudly on the floor and straightway fell into such a violent fit of coughing that his whole lean body shook with the paroxysm saluma laughed heartily laughter in which he was joined by all the assembled maidens including the gentle pensive-eyed nefrata standing erect in his glistening princely attire with one hand resting familiarly on theosa's arm and the sparkle of mirth lighting up his handsome features he formed the greatest contrast imaginable to the little shrunken old personage who clinging convulsively to his staff was entirely absorbed in his efforts to control and overcome his sudden and unpleasant attack of threatened suffocation theos my friend he said still laughing thou must know the admirable sebasties of man of vast importance in his own opinion have done with thy wheezing he continued vehemently thumping the struggling old gentleman on the back here is another one of the minstrel craft thou hatest hast aught of bitterness in thy barb tongue wherewith to welcome him as guest to mine abode thus adjourned the old man peered up at the oz inquisitively wiping away the tears that coughing had brought into his eyes and after a minute or two began also to laugh in a smothered chuckling way a laugh that resembled the croaking of frogs in a marshy pool

Starting point is 04:40:29 another one of the minstrel craft he echoed derisively ay ay like meats like and fools consort with fool the guest of saluma hearken young man and he drew closer the malign grin widening on his furrowed face thou shalt learn enough trash here to stock thee with idiot songs for a century thou shalt gather up such fragments of stupidity as shall provide thee with food for all the pealing lovesick girls of a nation dost thou write follies also thou shalt not write them here thou shalt not even think them for here saluma the great the unrivaled saluma is so lord of the land of poesy poetry by all the gods i would the accursed art have never been invented so might the world have been spared many long-drawn nothings in woofed in obscure and distracting phraseology thou a would-be poet go to make brick men's sandals dig entrenchments fight for thy country and leave the idle stringing of words and the tinkling of rhyme to children like saluma who play with life instead of living if grumbling as he went, and waving his staff, magisterially, right and left to warm the smiling maidens out of his way, and once more Saluma's laughter, clear and joyous, peeled through the vaulted vestibule.

Starting point is 04:41:51 Poor Sebastis, he said in a tone of good-humoured tolerance, he has the most caustic wit of any man in Alciras. He is a positive marvel of perverseness and ill-humour, well worth the four hundred gold-pieces I pay am merely for his task of being my scribe and critic. Like all of us, he must live, Eden, and wear decent clothing and that his only literary skill lies on the abuse of better men than himself is his misfortune rather than his fault yes he is my paid critic paid to rail against me on all occasions public or private for the merriment of those who care to listen to the mutterings of his discontent and by the sacred veil i cannot choose but laugh myself whenever i think of him he deems his words carry weight with the people alas poor soul his scorn but adds to my glory his derision to my fame nay of a truth i need him even as the king needs the court fool to make mirth for me in vacant moments for there is something grotesque in the contemplation of his cankered clownishness that sees naught in life but the eating the sleeping the building and the bargaining

Starting point is 04:42:52 such men as he can never bear to know that there are others gifted by heaven for whom all common things take radiant shape and meaning for whom the flowers reveal their fragrant secrets for whom birds not only sing but speak in most melodious utterance for those dreaming eyes the very sunbeams spin bright fantasies in mid-air more lasting than the kingdoms of the world blind and unhappy zebastis he is ignorant as a stone and for him the mysteries of nature are forever veiled the triumphal hero march of the stars the brief bright rhyme of the flashing comet the canticle of the rose as she bears her crimson heart to the smile of the sun the chorus of green leaves chanting orisons to the wind the never-completed epoch of heaven's lofty solitudes where the white moon paces wandering like a maiden in search of love all these and other unnumbered joys he is lost joys that saluma child of the high gods unfavor of destiny drinks in with the light and the air his eyes softened with a dreamy intense lustre that gave them a new and almost pathetic beauty while theos listening to each word he uttered wondered whether there were ever any sound sweeter than the rise and fall of his exquisite voice a voice as deliciously clear and mellow as a golden flute tenderly played yes though we must laugh at sebastis we should also pity him he resumed in gayer accents his fate is not enviable he is nothing but a critic he could not well be a lesser man one who unable himself to do any great work takes refuge in finding fault with the works of others and those who abhor true poesy are in time themselves abhorred the balance of justice never errs in these things the poet wins the whole world's love and immortal fame his adverse critic brief contempt and measureless oblivion come he added addressing theos we will leave these maidens to their duties and pastimes nefrata

Starting point is 04:44:47 here his dazzling smile flash like a beam of sunlight over his face thou wilt bring us fruit and whine yonder we shall pass the afternoon together within doors then my steward prepare the rose-chamber for my guest and let athazel and zimra attend there to wait upon him all the maiden saluted touching their heads with her hands and token of obedience and saluma leading the way courteously beckoned theos to follow he did so conscious as he went of two distinct impressions first that the mysterious mental agitation he had suffered from when he had found himself so unexpectedly in a strange city was not completely dispelled and secondly that he felt as though he must have known saluma all his life his memory still remained a blank as regarded his past career but this fact had ceased to trouble him and he was perfectly tranquil and altogether satisfied with his present surroundings in short to be an alkyrus seemed to him quite in keeping with the necessary course of events while to be the friend and companion of saluma was more natural and familiar to his mind than all once natural and familiar things end of chapter twelve chapter thirteen of ardath by marie carelli this libervox recording is in the public domain a poet's palace gliding along with that graceful almost phantom-like swiftness of movement that was so much a part of his manner saluma escorted his visitor to the further end of the great hall there throwing aside a curtain of rich as your silk which partially draped two large folding doors he ushered him into a magnificent apartment opening out upon the terrace and garden beyond a garden filled with such a marvellous profusion of foliage and flowers

Starting point is 04:46:50 that looking at it from between the glistening marble columns surrounding the palace it seemed as though the very sky above rested edgewise on towering pyramids of red and white bloom awnings of pale blue stretched from the windows across the entire width of the spacious outer colonnade and here two small boys half nude and black as polished ebony were huddled together on the mosaic pavement watching the arrogant deportment of a superb peacock that strutted majestically to and fro with boastfully spreading tail and glittering crest as brilliant as the gleam of the hot sun on the silver fringe of the azure canopies up lazy rascals cried saluma imperiously as with the extreme point of his sandled foot he touched the dimpled shiny back of the nearest boy up and away fetch rose-water and sweet perfumes hither by the gods the gods ye have let the incense and yonder burner smolder and he pointed to a massive brazen vessel gorgeously ornamented from whence rose but the very faintest blue whiff of fragrant smoke off with ye both ye basking blackamores bring fresh frankincense and palm leaves wherewith to stir this heated air hence and back again like a lightning flash or out of my sight for ever while he spoke the little fellows stood trembling and ducking their woolly heads as though they half expected to be seized by their irate master and flung like black balls out into the wilderness of flowers but glancing timidly up and perceiving that even in the midst of his petulance he smiled they took courage and as soon as he had ceased they darted off with the swiftness of flying arrows each striving to outstrip the other in a race across the terrace and garden

Starting point is 04:48:45 saluma laughed as he watched them disappear and then stepping back into the interior of the apartment he turned to theos and bade him be seated theo sank unresistingly into a low velvet cushioned chair richly carved and inlaid with ivory and stretching his limbs indolently therein surveyed with new and ever-growing admiration the supple elegant figure of his host who throwing himself full length on a couch covered with leopard skins folded his arms behind his head and eyed his guest with a complacent smile of vanity and self-approval tis not an altogether unfitting retreat for a poet's musings he said assuming an air of indifference as he glanced round his luxurious almost royally appointed room i have heard of worse but truly it needs the highest art of all known nations to worthily deck a habitation wherein the divine muse may daily dwell nevertheless air light and flowers are not lacking and on these methinks i could subsist were i deprived of all other things theos sat silent looking about him wistfully was ever poet king or even emperor housed more sumptuously than this he thought as his eyes wandered to the domed ceiling wreathed with carved clusters of grapes and pomegranates the walls frescoed with glowing scenes of love and song tournament the groups of superb statuary that gleamed whitely out of dusky velvet draped corners the quaintly shaped bookcases overflowing with books and made so as to revolve round and round at a touch or move to and fro on noiseless wheels the grand busts both in bronze and marble that stood on tall pedestals or projecting bracket and while he dimly noted all these splendid evidences of unlimited wealth and luxury

Starting point is 04:50:46 the perfume and lustre of the place the glitter of gold and azure silver and scarlet the oriental languor pervading the very air and above all the rich amber and azure tinted light that bathed every object in a dreamlike and fairy radiance plunged his senses into a delicious confusion a throbbing fever of delight to which he could give no name but which permeated every fibre of his being he felt have blinded with the brilliancy of the scene the dazzling glow of colour the sheen of deep and delicate hues cunningly intermixed and contrasted the gorgeous lavishness of waving blossoms that seemed to surge up like a sea to the very windows and though many thoughts flitted hazily through his brain he could not shape them into utterance he stared vaguely at the floor it was paved with variegated mosaic and strewn with the soft dark furry skins of wild animals at a little distance from where he sat there was a huge bronze lectern supported by a sculptured griffin with horns horns which curving over at the top turned upward again in the form of a candelabra the harp bearer had brought in the harp and it now stood in a conspicuous position and decked with myrtle some of the garlands woven by the maidens being no doubt used for this purpose yet there was something mirage-like and fantastic in the splendour that everywhere surrounded him he felt as though he were one of the spectators in a vast auditorium where the curtain had just risen on the first scene of the play he was dubiously considering in his own perplexed mind whether such princely living were the privilege or right or custom of poets in general when saluma spoke again waving his hand toward one of the busts near him a massive frowning head magnificently sculptured

Starting point is 04:52:42 there is the glorious orazel he said the father as we all must own of the art of poesy and indeed of all true literature yet there be some who swear he never lived at all aye though his poems have come down to us and many are the arguments i have had with so-called wise men like sebastis concerning his style and method of versification everything he has written bears the impress of the same master touch nevertheless garrulous controversiesless hold that his famous work the ruva glama descended by oral tradition from mouth to mouth till it came to us in its improved present condition improved and saluma laughed disdainfully as if the mumbling of an epic poem from grandsire to grandson could possibly improve it it would rather be deteriorated if not altogether changed into the merest doggerel nay nay the ruva kalama is the achievement of one great mind not twenty orazelles were born in succession to write it there was there could be only one and he by rights supreme is chief of the bard's immortal as well might fools hereafter wrangled together and say there were many salumas only i have taken good heed posterity shall know there was only one unmatched for love and passion singing throughout the length and breadth of the world he sprang it from his recumbent posture and attracted theos's attention to another bust even finer than the last it was placed on a pedestal wreathed at the summit and at the base with loyal the divine his sparrus he exclaimed pointing to it in a sort of ecstasy the master from whom it may be i have caught the perfect entrancment of my own verse melody his fame as thou knowest is unrivalled and universal

Starting point is 04:54:35 yet canst thou believe it there has been of late an ass found in alchiris who hath chosen him as a subject for his brain and other asses join in the un euphonious chorus the marvellous plays of his pharist the grandest tragedies the ariest comedies the tenderest fantasies ever created by human brain have been called in question by these thistle-eating animals and one most untractable mule-head hath made pretense to discover therein a passage of secret writing which shall so the fool things prove that his sparros was not the author of his own works but only a literary cheat and forger of another and lesser man's inspiration by the gods one's sides would split with laughter at the silly brute were he not altogether too contemptible to provoke even derision his spiros a traitor to the art he served and glorified his sparrus a literary juggler and trickster by the serpent's head they may as well seek to prove that the fiery sun in heaven a common oil lamp as strived to lessen by one iota the transcendent glory of the noblest poet the centuries have ever seen warmed by enthusiasm with his eyes flashing and the impetuous words coursing from his lips his head thrown back his hand uplifted saluma looked magnificent and theos to whose misty brain the names of orazel and his spiros carried no positively distinct meaning was nevertheless struck by a certain suggestiveness in his remarks that seemed to bear on some discussion in the literary world that had taken place quite recently he was puzzled and tried to fix the precise the precise point round which his thoughts strayed so hesitatingly but he could arrive at no definite conclusion the brilliant meteor like saluma meantime flashed hither and thither about the room selecting certain volumes from his loaded bookstands and bringing them in a pile he set them on a small table by his visitors side

Starting point is 04:56:36 there are some of the earliest editions of the plays of his sparrows he went on talking in that rapid fluent way of his that was as musical as a bird's song they are rare and and curious see you the names of the scribes and the dates of issue are all distinct ah the treasures of poetry enshrined within these pages was ever papyrus so gemmed with pearls of thought and wisdom if there were a next world my friend and here he placed his hand familiarly on his guest's shoulder while the bright steel-gray under gleam sparkled in his splendid eyes twould be worth dwelling in for the sake of his sparrows as grand a god as any of the thunderers in the emperor surely there is a next world murmured theo scarcely knowing what he said a world where thou and i saluma and all the masters and servants of song shall meet and hold hive festival saluma laughed again a little sadly this time and shrugged his shoulders believe it not he said and there was a touch of melancholy in his rich voice we are midges in a sunbeam emits on a sand hill no more is there a next whirl thinkest thou for the bees who die of surfers in the nilica cups for the whirling drift of brilliant butterflies that sleepily float with a wind unknowing whither till met by the icy blast of the north they fall like broken and colorless leaves in the dust of the high road is there a next world for this and he took from a tall vase near at hand a delicate flower lily shaped and deliciously odorous the expression of its solar mind is in its fragrance even as the expression of ours finds vent in thought and aspiration have we more right to live again than this most innocently blossom unsmurched by deeds of evil nay i would more easily believe in a heaven for birds and flowers than for women and men a shadow of pain darkened his handsome face as he spoke and theos gazing full at him became suddenly filled with pity and anxiety

Starting point is 04:58:32 he passionately longed to assure him that there was in very truth a future higher and happier existence he theos would vouch for the fact but how and why what could he say what could he his throat ached his eyeballs burned he was as it were forbidden to speak notwithstanding the yearning desire he felt to impart to the soul of his new-found friend something of that indescribable sense of everlastingness which he himself was now conscious of even as one set free of prison his conscious of liberty mute and with a feeling as of hot unshed tears welling up from his very heart he turned over the volumes of his sparrows almost mechanically they were formed of sheets of papyrus artistically bound in loose leather coverings and tied together with gold-coloured ribbon the kerosian language was as has been before stated perfectly familiar to him though he could not tell how he had acquired the knowledge of it and he was able to see at a glance that saluma had good cause to be enthusiastic in his praise of the author whose genius he so fervently admired there was a ringing richness in the rush of the verse a wealth of simile combined with a simplicity and directness of utterance that charmed the ear while influencing the mind and he was beginning to read in soto voce the opening lines of a spirited battle challenge running thus i tell thee o thou pride enthroned king that from these peaceful fields these harvest lands strange crops shall spring not sown by thee or thine armed millions bristling weapons helmed men dreadfully plumed and eager for the fray steel crest of mermuda tossed spears while steeds uplifted flags and pennants horrid swords death gleaming eyes stern hands to grasp and tear life from beseeching life till all the heavens strike havoc to the terror trembling stars

Starting point is 05:00:27 when the two small black pages lately despatched in such haste by soluna returned each one bearing a huge gilded bowl filled with rose-water together with fine cloths lace fringed and soft as satin kneeling humbly down one before theos the other before saluma they lifted these great shining bowls on their heads and remained motionless saluma dipped his face and hands in the cool fragrant fluid theos followed his example and when these light ablutions were completed the pages disappeared coming back almost immediately with baskets of loose rose-leaves white and red which they scattered profusely about the room a delightful odor subtly sweet and yet not faint began to freshenly the already perfumed air and saluma flinging himself again on his couch motion theos to take a similar resting-place opposite he had once obeyed yielding anew to the sense of indolent luxury and voluptuous ease his surroundings engender and presently the aroma of rising incense mingled itself with the scent of the strewn rose-petals the pages had replenished the incense burner and now these duties done so far they brought each a broad long stalked palm-leaf and placing themselves in process position began to fan the two young men slowly and with measured gentleness standing as mute as little black statues the only movement about them being the occasional rolling of the white eyeballs and the swaying to and fro of their shiny arms as they wielded the graceful bending leaves this is the way a poet should ever live murmured theos glancing up from the soft cushions among which he reclined to saluma who lay with his eyes half closed an amusing smile on his beautiful mouth self-centered in a circle of beauty with naught but fair suggestions and sweet thoughts to break the charm of solitude a kingdom of happy fancies should be his with gates shut last against unwelcome intruders gates that should never open save to the conquering touch of a woman's kiss

Starting point is 05:02:28 for the master key of love must unlock all doors even the doors of a minstrels dreaming thinkest thou so said saluma lazily turning his dark delicate head slightly round on his glistening pale rose satin pillow nay of a truth there are times when i could bar out women from my thoughts as mere disturbance of the translucent element of poesy in which my spirit baves there is fatigue in love whose pretty human butterflies too oft weary the flowers whose honey they seek to drain nevertheless the passion of love hath a certain tingling pleasure in it i yield to it when it touches me even as i yield to all other pleasant things but there are some who unwisely carry desire too far and make of love a misery instead of a pastime many will die for love fools are they all to die for fame for glory that i can understand but for love he laughed and taking up a crushed rose-petal he flipped it into the air with his finger and thumb i would as soon die for sake of that perished leaf as for sake of a woman's transient beauty as he uttered these words nefrata entered carrying a golden salvo on which were placed a tall flaggon two goblets and a basket of fruit she approached theo's first and he raising himself on his elbow surveyed her with fresh admiration and interest while he poured out the wine from the flagon into one of those glistening cups which he noticed were roughed with the quantity of small gems used in their outer ornamentation he was struck by her fair and melancholy style of loveliness and as she stood before him with lowered eyes the color alternately flushing and paling on her cheeks in her bosom heaving restlessly beneath the loosely drawn folds of her prim rose-hued gown and inexplicable emotion of pity smote him

Starting point is 05:04:19 as if he had suddenly been made aware of some inward sorrow of hers which he was utterly powerless to console he would have spoken but just then could find nothing appropriate to say and when he had selected a fine peach from the heaped-up dainties off-for his choice he still watched her as she turned to saluma who smiled and batter set down her salver on a low bronze stand at his side she did so and then with the warm blood burning in her cheeks stood waiting and silent saluma with a live movement of his supple form lifted himself into a half-sitting posture and throwing one arm round her waist drew her close to his breast and kissed her my fairest moonbeam he said gaily thou art as noiseless and placid as thy yet unembodied sisters that stream through heaven and dance on the river when the world is sleeping myrtle and he detached a spray from the bosom of her dress what hast thou to do with the poet's garland by my faith thou art like theos yonder and hast chosen to wear a sprig of my faded crown for thine adornment is it not so a hot and painful blush grims in nefrata's face a softness as of suppressed tears glistened in her eyes she made no answer but looked beseechingly at the little twig saluma held silly child he went on laughingly replacing it himself against her bosom where the breath seemed to struggle with such panting haste and fear thou art welcome to the dead leaves sanctified by song if thou thinkest them of value but i would rather see the rose-bud of love nestled in that pretty white breast of thine than the cast-off ornaments of fame and filling himself a cup of wine he raised it aloft looking at theo smilingly as he did so to your health my noble friend he cried and to the joys of the passing hour a wise toast answered theos placing his lips to his own goblet's rim for the past is past will never return

Starting point is 05:06:14 the future we know not and only the present can be called our own to the health of the divine saluma whose fame is my glory whose friendship is dear to me as life and with this he drained off the wine to the last drop scarcely had he done so when the most curious sensation overcame him a sensation of bewildering ecstasy as though he had drunk of some ambrosian nectar or magic drug which had suddenly wound up his nerves to an acute tension of indescribable delight the blood the blood coursed more swiftly through his veins he felt his face flush with the impulsive heat and ardor of the moment he laughed as he set the cup down empty and throwing himself back on his luxurious couch his eyes flashed on saluma's with a bright comprehensive glance of complete confidence and affection it was strange to note how quickly saluma returned that glance how thoroughly in so short a space of time their friendship had cemented itself into a more than fraternal bond of union nefrada meanwhile stood a little aside her wistful looks wandering from one to the other as though in something of doubt or wonder presently she spoke inclining her fair head toward saluma my lord goes to the palace to-night to make his valued voice heard in the presence of the king she inquired timidly even so nefrata responded the laureate passing his hand carelessly through his clustering curls i've been summoned thither by the royal command but what of that little one thou knowest tis a common occurrence and that the court is bereft of all pleasure and sweetness when saluma is silent my lord's guest goes with him pursued nefrata gently i most assuredly and saluma smiled at theos as he spoke thou wilt accompany me to the king my friend he went on he will give thee a welcome for my sake

Starting point is 05:08:02 and though of a truth his majesty is most potently ignorant of all things save the arts of love and warfare nevertheless he is a man as well as monarch and thou wilt find him noble in his greeting and generous of hospitality i will go with thee saluma anywhere replied theos quickly for in following such a guide i follow my own most perfect pleasure nefrada looked at him meditatively with a melancholy expression in her lovely eyes my lord saluma's presence indeed brings joy she said softly and tremulously but the joy is too sweet and brief for when he departs none can fill the place he leaves vacant she paused saluma's gaze rested on her intently a half-amused half-tender light leaping from under the drooping shade of his long silky black lashes she caught the look and a little shiver ran through her delicate frame she pressed one hand on her heart and resumed in steadier and more even tones my lord has perhaps not heard of the disturbances of the early morning in this city she asked the riotous crowd in the market-place the ravings of the prophet coes rule the sudden arrest and imprisonment of many and the consequent wrath of the king no by my faith returned saluma yawning slightly and settling his head more comfortably on his pillows nor do i care to heed the turbulence of a mob that cannot guide itself and yet resists all guidance arrests imprisonments they are common but why in the name of the sacred vale do they not arrest and imprison the actual disturbers of the peace the mystics and the philosophers whose street orations filter through the mind of the disaffected rousing them to foolish frenzy and disordered action why above all men do they not seize coess rule a veritable madman for all his many years and seeming wisdom have thee not denounced the faith of negaya and foretold the destruction of the city times out of number

Starting point is 05:09:58 and are we not all weary to death of his bombastic mouthing if the king deemed a poet's counsel worth the taking he would long ago have shut this bearded ranter within the four walls of a dungeon where only rats and spiders would attend his lectures on approaching doone nay but my lord nefrada ventured to say timidly the king dare not lay hands on cos rule dare not laugh saluma lazily stretching out his hand in helping himself to a luscious nectarine from the basket at his side sweet nefrada settest thou a limit to the power of the king as well draw a boundary line for the imagination of the poet cos rule may be loved and feared by a certain number of superstitious malcontents who look upon a madman as a sort of sacred wild animal but the actual population of al chyrus the people who are the blood-bone and sinew of the city these are not in favour of change either in religion laws manners or customs but co s rule is old and that the king humours his vagaries is simply out of pity for his age and infirmity not because of fear our monarch knows no fear co s rule prophesied terrible things murmured the girl hesitatingly i have often thought if they should come true thou timid doth and saluma rising from his couch kissed her neck lightly thus causing a delicate flush of crimson to ripple through the whiteness of her skin think no more of such folly thou wilt anger me that a doting gray-beard-like coast rule should trouble the peace of alcarus the magnificent by the gods the whole thing is absurd let me hear no more of mobs or riots or road rhetoric my soul of horrors even the suggestion of discord tranquillity divine is calm disturbed only by the flutterings of wing thoughts hovering over the cloudless heaven of fancy this this alone is the sum and centre of my desires and to-day i find that even thou nefrata here his voice took upon itself an injured tone

Starting point is 05:11:54 thou who art usually so gentle hast somewhat troubled the placidity of my mind by thy foolish talk concerning common and unpleasant circumstances he stopped short in a line of vexation and annoyance made its appearance between his broad beautiful brows while nefrada seeing this expression of almost baby petulance in the face she adored through herself suddenly at his feet and raising her lovely eyes swimming in tears she exclaimed my lord saluma singing angel of nefrata's soul forgive me it is true thou shouldst never hear of strife or contention among the coarser tribe of men and i i i poor nefrata would give my life to shield thee from the faintest shadow of annoy i would have thy path all woven sunbeams thou shouldst live like a fairy monarch and bowered mid-roses sheltered from rough winds and folded in loving arms bearer may be but not more fond than mine her voice broke stooping she kissed the silver fastening of his sandal and springing up rushed from the room before a word could be uttered to bid her stay saluma looked after her with a pretty half-pleased perplexity she is often thus he said in a tone of playful resignation as i told thee theos women are butterflies hovering hither and thither on uneasy pinions uncertain of their own desires defrauda is a woman riddle sometimes she angers me sometimes she soothes now she prattles of things that concern me not and anon converses with such high and lofty earnestness of speech that i listen amazed and wonder where she hath gathered up her store of seeming wisdom love teaches her all she knows interrupted theos quickly and with a meaning glance saluma laughed languidly a faint color warming the clear olive pallor of his complexion ay poor tender little soul she loves me he said carelessly that is no secret but then all women love me i am more like to die of a surfeited love than of anything else he moved towards the open window come he added it is the hour of sunset there is a green hillock in my garden yonder from whence we can behold the pomp

Starting point is 05:13:56 and panoply of the golden god's departure tis a sight i never miss i would have thee share its glory with me but art thou then indifferent to woman's tenderness asked the oath hath banteringly as he took his arm dost thou love no one my friend replied saluma seriously i love myself i see naught that contents me more than my own personality and with all my heart i admire the miracle and beauty of my own existence there is nothing even in the completest fairness of womanhood that satisfies me so much as the contemplation of my own genius realizing as i do its wondrous power and perfect charm the life of a poet such as i am is a perpetual marvel the whole universe ministers to my needs humanity becomes the merest bound slave to the caprice of my imperial imagination with a thought i scale the stars with a wish i float in highest ether among spheres undiscovered yet familiar to my fancy i converse with the spirits of flowers and fountains and the love of women is a mere drop in the deep ocean of the sea of the sea-ocean of my fancy i converse with the spirits of flowers and fountains and the love of women is a mere drop in the deep ocean of my unfathomed delight yes i adore my own identity and of a truth self-worship is the only creed the world has ever followed faithfully to the end he glanced up with a bright assured smile theos met his gaze wonderingly doubtfully but made no reply and together they pace slowly across the marble terrace and out into the glorious garden rich with the riotous roses that clamored and clustered everywhere their hues deepening to flame-like vividness in the burning radiance of the sinking sun end of chapter thirteen chapter fourteen of ardaf by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain the summons of the signet they walked side by side for some little time without speaking through winding paths of alternate light and shade sheltered by the latter shade sheltered by the latterly

Starting point is 05:15:59 of crossed and twisted green boughs were only the amorous chant of charming birds now and then broke the silence with fitful and tender sweetness all the air about them was fragrant and delicate tiny rainbow winged midges whirled round and danced in the warm sunset glow like flecks of gold in amber wine while here and there the distant glimmer of tossing fountains or the soft emerald sheen of a prattling brook that wound in and out the grounds amongst banks of moss and drooping fern gave a pleasant touch of coolness and refreshment to the brilliant verdure of the luxuriant landscape speaking of creed saluma said theos at last looking down with the curious sense of compassion and protection at his companion's slight graceful form what religion is it that dominates this city and people to-day through want of knowledge it seems i committed a nearly unpardonable offence by gazing at the beauty of the virgin priestess when i should have knelt face hidden to her benediction thou must tell me something of the common laws of worship that i err not thus blindly again saluma smiled the common laws of worship are the common laws of custom he replied no more no less and in this we are much like other nations we believe in no actual creed who does we accept a certain given definition of a superstitious divinity together with the suitable maxims and code of morals accompanying that definition we call this religion and we wear it as we wear our clothing for the sake of necessity and decency though truly we are not half so concerned about it as about the far more interesting details of taste and taste and attire still we have grown used to our doctrine and some of us will fight with each other for the difference of a word respecting it and as it contains within itself many seeds of discord and contradictions such dissensions are frequent

Starting point is 05:17:55 especially among the priests who were they but true to their professed vocation should be able to find ways of smoothing over all apparent inconsistencies and maintaining peace and order of course we in union with all civilized communities worship this sun even as thou must do in this one leading principle at least our faith is universal theo spent his head in assent he was scarcely conscious of the action but at that moment he felt with saluma that there was no other form of divinity acknowledged in the world than the refulgent orb that gladdens in illumine's earth and visibly controls the seasons and yet went on saluma thoughtfully the well instructed know through our scientists and astronomers many of whom are now languishing in prison for the boldness of their researches and discoveries that the sun is no divinity at all but simply a huge planet a dense body surrounded by a luminous flame-darting atmosphere neither self-activity nor omnipotent but only one of many similar orbs moving in strict obedience to fix mathematical laws nevertheless this knowledge is wisely kept back as much as possible from the multitude for worse science to unveil her marvels too openly to semi-educated and vulgarly constituted minds their result would be first atheism next republicanism and finally anarchy and ruin if these evils which like birds of prey continually hover about all great kingdoms are to be averted we must for the welfare of the country and people hold fast as some static form and outward observance of religious belief he paused theos gave him a quick searching glance even if such a belief should have no shadow of a true foundation he inquired can it be well for men to cling superstitiously to a false doctrine

Starting point is 05:19:43 saluma appeared to consider this question in his own mind for some minutes before replying my friend it is difficult to decide what is false and what is true he said at last with a little shrug of his shoulders but i think that even a false religion is better for the masses than none at all men are closely allied to brutes if the moral sense ceases to restrain them they at once leave the boundary line and give as much rain to their desires and appetites as the hyenas and tigers and in some natures the moral sense is only kept alive by fear fear of offending some despotic invisible force that pervades the universe and whose chief and most terrible attribute is not so much creative as destructive power to propitiate and pacify an unseen supreme destroyer is the aim of all religions and it is for this reason we add to our worship of the sun that of the white serpent negaya the mediator negai is the favored object of the people's adoration they may forget to pay their vows to the sun but never to nagaya who is looked upon as the emblem of eternal wisdom the only pleader whose persuasions avail to soften the tyrannic humor of the invincible devour of all things we know how men hate wisdom and cannot endure to be instructed and yet they prostrate themselves in abject crowds before wisdom's symbol every day in the sacred temple yonder though i much doubt whether such constant devotional attendance is not more for the sake of lycia than the deified worm he laughed with a little undercurrent of scorn in his laughter and theo saw as it were the lightning of an angry or disdainful thought flashing through the sombre splinter of his eyes and lycia is began theos suggestively the high priestess of nagaya responded saluma slowly charmer of the god

Starting point is 05:21:30 as well as of the hearts of men the hot passion of love is to her a toy clasped and unclasped so in the pink hollow of her hand and as he spoke he closed his fingers softly on the air and unclosed them again with an expressive gesture and so long as she retains the magic of her beauty so long will negaya worship old al chyrrhus in check otherwise who knows there have been many disturbances of late the teachings of the philosophers have aroused a certain discontent and there are those who are weary of perpetual sacrifices and the shedding of innocent blood moreover this mad coeroux of whom nefrata spoke lately thunders angry denunciations of lycia and negaya in the open streets with so much fervid eloquence that they were passed by he cannot choose but here he hath a strange craze a doctrine of the future which he most furiously proclaims in the language prophets use he holds it far away in the centre of a circle of pure light the true god exists a vast all-glorious being who with exceeding marvellous love controls and guides creation towards some majestic end even as a musician does melodize his thought from small sweet nose to-aute notes to perfect cord-woven harmonies furthermore that thousands of years hence this god will embody a portion of his own existence in human form and will send hither a wondrous creature half god half man to live our life die our death and teach us by precept and example the surest way to eternal happiness tis a theory both strange and wild hast ever heard of it before he put to question indifferently but theos was mute that horrible sense of a straining desire to speak when speech was forbidden again oppressed him he felt as though he were being strangled with his own unfalling tears what a crushing weight of unutterable thoughts burdened his brain he gazed up at the serenely glowing sky in aching dumb despair till slowly very slowly words came at last like dull throbs of pain beating between his lips

Starting point is 05:23:29 i think i fancy i've heard a rumour of such doctrine but i know as little of it as as thou saluma i can tell thee no more than thou hast said he paused and gaining more firmness of tone went on it seems to me a not altogether impossible conception of divine benevolence for if god lives at all he must be capable of manifesting himself in many ways both small and great common and miraculous though of a truth there are no miracles beyond what appeared as such to our limited sight and restricted intelligence but tell me and here his voice had a ring of suppressed anxiety within it tell me saluma thine own thought concerning it i i think naught of it replied saluma with airy contempt such a creed may find followers in time to come but now of what avail to warn us of things that do not concern our present modes of life moreover in the face of all religion my own opinion should not alter i have studied science sufficiently well to know that there is no god and i am too honest to worship an unproved and merely superstitious identity a shudder as of extreme cold ran through theos's veins and as if impelled on by some invisible monitor he said almost mournfully are thou sure saluma thou dost not instinctfully feel that there is a higher power hidden behind the veil of visible nature and that in the far beyond there may be an eternity of joy where thou shalt find all thy grandest aspirations at last fulfilled saluma laughed a clear vibrating laugh as mellow as the note of a thrush and spring-time thou solemn soul he exclaimed mirthfully my aspirations are fulfilled i aspire to know more than fame and that i hold that i shall keep so long as this world is lighted by the sun in what use his fame to thee in death demanded theos with sudden and emphatic earnestness saluma stood still over his beautiful face came a shadow of intense melancholy he raised his brilliant eyes full of wistful pothos and

Starting point is 05:25:26 pleading i pray thee do not make me sad my friend he murmured tremulously these thoughts are like muttering thunder in my heaven death and a quick sigh escaped him twill be the breaking of my harp and heart the last note of my failing voice an ever silenced song a moisture as of tears glistened on the silky fringe of his eyelids his lips quivered he had the look of a narcissus regretfully bewailing his own perishable loveliness on a swift impulse of affection theo's through one arm his neck in the fashion of a confiding school-boy with his favorite companion nay thou shalt never die saluma he said with a sort of passionate eagerness thy bright soul shall live forever in a sunshine sweeter than that of earth's fairest midsummer noon thy song can never be silenced while heaven pulsates with the unwritten music of the spheres and even were the crown of immortality denied to lesser men it is it must be the heritage of the poet for to him all crowns belong all kingdoms are thrown open all barriers broken down even those that divide us from the unseen and god himself has surely a smile to spare for his singers who have made the sad world joyful if only for an hour saluma looked up with a pleased yet wondering glance thou hast a silvery and persuasive tongue he said gently and thou speakest of god as if thou knewest one akin to him would i could believe all thou sayest but alas i cannot we have progressed too far in knowledge my friend for faith yet he hesitated a moment then with a touch of caressing entreaty and his tone went on thinkest thou in very truth that i shall live again for i confess to thee it seems beyond all things strange and terrible to feel that this genius of mind this spirit of melody which inhabits my frame should perish utterly without photoscope for its abilities there have been moments when my soul ravished by inspiration has as it were seized earth like a full goblet of wine and quaffed its beauties its pleasures its love its glories all in one

Starting point is 05:27:25 burning draught of song when i have stood in thought on the shadowy peaks of time waiting for other worlds to string-like beads on my thread of poesy when wondrous creatures habited in light and wreathed with stars have floated round and round me in rosy circles of fire and once my thought was long ago now i heard a voice distinct and sweet that call me upward onward and away i know not where save that a hidden love awaited me he broke up with a rapt almost angelic expression in his eyes then sighing a little he resumed all dreams of course vague phantoms creations of my own imaginative brain yet fair enough to fill my heart with speechless longings for ethereal raptures unseen unknown thou hast me thinks of certain faith in the unsolved mysteries but i have none for as sweet as the promise of a future life may seem there is no proof that it shall ever be if one died and rose again from the dead then might we all believe in hope but otherwise o miserable theos what would he not have given to utter aloud that burning knowledge that ate into his mind like slow devouring fire again mute again oppressed by that streamed swelling at the heart that threatened to break forth in stormy sobs of penitence and prayer instinctively he drew saluma closer to his side his breath came thickened fast he struggled with all his might to speak the words one has died and risen from the dead but not a syllable could he form of the desired sentence thou shalt live again saluma was all he could say in low half-smothered accents thou hast within thee a flame that cannot perish again saluma's eyes dwelt upon him with a curious appealing tenderness thy word savour of sweet consolation he said half gaily half sadly may they be fulfilled and if indeed there is a brighter world than this beyond disguise i fancy thou and i will all know each other there as here and be somewhat close companion see and he pointed to a small green hillock that rose up like a shining emerald

Starting point is 05:29:19 from the darker foliage of the surrounding trees yonder is my point of vantage whence we shall behold the sun go down like a warrior sinking on the red field of battle the chimes are ringing even now for his departure listen they stood still for a space while the measured swinging cadence of bells came pealing through the stillness bells of every tone that smote the air with soft or loud resonance as the faint wind wafted the sounds toward them and then they began to climb the little hill saluma walking somewhat in advance with a thread of as light and elastic as that of a young fawn. Theo's following watched his movements with a strange affection. Every turn of his head, every gesture of his hands seemed fraught with meanings, as yet inexplicable. The grass beneath their feet was soft as velvet and dotted with a myriad of wildflowers. The ascent was gradual and easy, and in a few minutes they had reached the summit,

Starting point is 05:30:09 for Saluma throwing himself indolately on the smooth turf pulled Lithuos gently down by his side. There they rested in silence, gazing at the magnificent panoramination, laid out before them a panorama as lovely as a delicately pictured scene of fairyland above the sky was of a dense yet misty rose-colour the sun low on the western horizon appeared to rest in a vast deep purple hollow rifted here and there with broad gashes of gold long shafts of light streamed upwards in order like the waving penions of an angel army marching and beyond far away from this blaze of splendid color the wide ethereal expands paled into tender blue whereon light clouds of pink and white drifted light clouds of pink and white drifted like the fluttering blossoms that fall from apple-trees in spring below and seen through a haze of rose and amber lay the city of alcyrus its white domes towers and pinnacle palaces rising out of the mist like a glorious mirage afloat on the borders of a burning desert alcryst the magnificent it deserves its name theo's thought as shading his eyes from the red glare he took a wondering and gradually comprehensive view of the enormous extent of the place he soon perceived that it was defended by six strongly fortified wall each place within the other as at long equal distances apart so that it might have been justly described as six cities all merged together in one and from where he said he could plainly discern the great square where he had rested in the morning by reason of the white granite obelus that lifted itself sheer up against the sky undwarfed by any of the surrounding buildings this gigantic monument was the most prominent object in sight with the exception of the sacred temple which saluma presently pointed out

Starting point is 05:31:47 a round fortress-like piece of architecture ornamented with twelve gilded towers from which bells were now clashing and jangling in a storm of melodious persistency bomb of the city's traffic and pleasure surged on the air like the noise made by swarming bees while every now and then the sweet shrill tones of some more than usually clear girl's voice crying out the sale of fruit of flowers sord up songwise through the luminous and semi-transparent vapor that half-veiled the clustering house-tops tapering spires and cupolas in a delicate nebulous film completely fascinated by the wizard-like beauty of the scene theo's felt as though he could never look upon it long enough to master all its charms but his eyes ached with the radiance in which everything seemed drenched as with flame and turning his gaze once more toward the sun he saw that it had nearly disappeared only a bled red rim peered spectrally above the gold and green horizon and immediately overhead a silver rift in the sky had widened slowly in the center and narrowed at its end thus taking the shape of a great outstretched sword that pointed directly downward at the busy murmuring glittering city beneath it was a strange effect and made on the mind of the earth a strange impression he was about to call saluma's attention to it when an uncomfortable consciousness if they were no longer alone came over him instinctively turned round uttered a hasty exclamation and springing erect found himself face to face with a huge black a man of some six feet in height and muscular in proportion who clad in a vest and tunic of the most vivid scarlet blue leered confidentially upon him as their eyes met saluma rising also but with less precipitation surveyed the intruder languidly and with a certain haughtiness what now gazra always art thou like a worm in the grass crawling on thine errand with less noise than the wind makes in summer i would thy mistress kept a fair messenger

Starting point is 05:33:37 the black smile if so hideous a contortion of his repulsive countenance might be called a smile and slowly raising his jetty arms hung oliver with strings of coral and amber made a curious gesture half of salutation half of command as he did this the clear olive cheek of saluma flushed darkly red his chest heaved and linking his arm through that of theos he bent his head slightly and stood like one in an enforced attitude of attention then gaza spoke his harsh strong voice seeming to come from some devil in the ground rather than from a human throat the virgin priestess of the sun and the divine magaya hath need of thee to-night saluma he said with a sort of suppressed derision underlying his words and taking from his breast a ring that glittered like a slain star he held it out in the palm of one hand and also he added of that friend the stranger to whom she desires to accord a welcome behold her signet the oath impelled by curiosity would have taken the ring up to examine it had not saluma restrained him by a warning pressure of his arm he was only just able to see that it was in the shape of a coiled-up serpent with ruby eyes and a darting tongue tipped with small diamonds what chiefly concerned him however was the peculiar change in saluma's demeanor something in the aspect or speech of gosra had surely exercised a remarkable influence upon him his frame trembled through and through with scarcely controlled excitement his eyes shot forth when almost evil fire and a cold calm somewhat cruel smile played on the perfect outline of his delicate mouth taking the signet from goswell's palm he kissed it with a kind of angry tenderness then replied tell thy mistress we shall obey her behest doubtless she knows as she knows all things that to-night i am summoned by express command to the palace of our sovereign lord the king i am bound thither first as is my duty but afterwards he broke off as if he found it impossible to say more and waved his hand in a light sign of dismissal but goswell did not at once depart he again smiled the lowering smile of his which resemble nothing so much as a hung criminal's death grin and returned a jewelled signet to his breast

Starting point is 05:35:43 afterwards yes afterwards he said in emphatic yet mock solemn tones even so advancing a little he laid his heavy muscular hand on theosis jest and appeared mentally to measure his height and breadth strong nerve nerves iron sinews goodly flesh and blood twill serve and his great protruding eyes gleamed maliciously as he spoke then bowing profoundly he added addressing both saluma and theos noble sirs to-night out of all men in alcyrus shall you be the most enly farewell and once more making that curious salutation which had in it so much imperiousness and so little obeisance he walked backward a few paces in the full lust of the set sun's afterglow which intensified the vivid red of his costume and let up all the ornament of clear-cut amber that glittered against his worthy skin then turning he descended the hillock so swiftly that he seemed to have melted out of sight as utterly as a dark mist dissolving in ne'er by my word a most city and repellent bearer of a lady's greeting laughed theo slightly as he sauntered arm and arm with his host on the downward path leading to the garden and palace and i have yet to learn the true meaning of his message tis plain enough replied saluma somewhat sulkily with the deep flush though coming and going on his face it means that we are summoned thou as well as i to one of licea's midnight banquets an honor that falls to few a mandate none dare disobeyed she must have spied thee out this morning the only unnealing soul in all the abject multitude hence perhaps her present desire for thy company there was a touch of vexation in his voice but theos heated it not his heart heart gave a great bound against his ribs as though pricked by a fire-tipped arrow something swift and ardent stirred in his blood like the flowing of quicksilver the picture of the dusky-eyed witchingly beautiful woman he had seen that morning in her gold adorn ship seemed to float between him and the light

Starting point is 05:37:32 her face shone out like a growing glory-flower in the tangled wilderness of his thoughts and his lips trembled a little as he replied she must be gracious and forgiving then even as she is fearful in my neglect of reverence due i merited her scorn not her but tell me saluma how could she know i was a guest of thine saluma glanced at him half pittingly half disdainfully how could she know easily inasmuch as she knows all things twould have been strange indeed had she not known and he caught at a down drooping rose and crushed its fragrant head in his hand with a sort of wanton petulus the king himself is less acquainted with his people's doings than the wearer of the all reflecting eye thou hast not yet seen that weird mirror and potent dazzle of human sight no but thou wilt see it ere long the glittering fiend guarding of the whitest breast that ever shut in passion his voice shook any pause then with some effort continued yes lasir has her secret commissioners everywhere throughout the length and breadth of the city who report to her each circumstance that happens no matter how trifling and doubtless we were followed home tracked step by step as we walked together by one of her stealthy-footed servitors in this there would be not unusual then there is no freedom and alchiris said theos wonderingly if the whole city thus lies under the circumspection of a woman saluma laughed rather harshly freedom by the gas tis a delusive word embodying a vain idea where is there any freedom in life all of us are bound in chains and restricted in one way or the other the manner deems himself politically free as a slave to the multitude and his own ambition while he who shakes himself loose from the trammels of custom and creed becomes the tortured bondsman of desire

Starting point is 05:39:13 tied fast with bruising cords to the rack of his own unbridled sense and appetite there is no such thing as freedom my friend unless happily it may be found in death come let us into supper the hour grows late and my heart aches with an unsought heaviness i must cheer me with a cup of wine or my songs to-night will sadden rather than rouse the king come and thou shalt speak to me again of the life that is to be lived hereafter and he smiled with certain pathos in his smile for there are times believe me when in spite of all my fame and the sweetness of existence i weary averse days and nights and find them far too grief and mean to satisfy my longings not the world but worlds should be the poet's heritage theos looked at him with a feeling of unutterable yearning of affection and regret but said nothing and together they ascended the steps of the stately marble terrace and pace slowly across it keeping as near to each other as shadowed to substance and thus re-entered the palace where the sound of a distant harp alone penetrated the perfume stillness it must be nifrata who was playing thought fios and what strange and plaintive chords she swept from the vibrating strings they seemed laden with the tears of broken-hearted women dead and buried ages upon ages ago end of chapter fourteen chapter fifteen of ardath by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain saluma sings as they left the garden the night fell or appeared to fall with almost startling suddenness and at the same time in swift defiance of the darkness saluma's palace was illuminated from end to end by thousands of coloured lamps all apparently lit at once by a single flash of electricity a magnificent repast was spread for the lawyer and his guest in a lofty richly frescoed banqueting hall a repast voluptuous enough a repast

Starting point is 05:41:14 bluptuous enough to satisfy the most ardent votary that ever followed the doctrines of epicurus wonderful dainties and still more wonderful wines were served in princely profusion and while the strangely met and sympathetically united friends ate and drank delicious music was played on stringed instruments by unseen performers when at intervals these pleasing sounds ceased saw luma's conversation brilliant witty witty refined and sparkling with light anecdote and lighter jest replaced with admirable sufficiency the left-off harmonies and theo's keenly alive to the sensuous enemy of his own emotions felt that he had never before enjoyed such an astonishing delightful and altogether fairy-like feast its only fault was that it came to an end too soon he thought when the last course of fruit and sweet comfits being removed he rose reluctantly from the glittering board and prepared to accompany his host as agreed to the presence of the king in a very short time so bewilderingly short as to seem a mere breathing space he found himself passing through the broad avenues and crowded thoroughfares of al chris on his way to the royal abode he occupied a place in saluma's chariot a gilded car shaped somewhat like the curved half of a shell deeply hollowed and set on two high wheels that as they rolled made scarcely any sound there was no seat and both he and saluma stood erect the latter using all the force of his slender brown hands to control the spirited prancing of the pair of jet-black steeds which harnessed tandem-wise to the light vehicle seemed more than once disposed to break loose into furious galloped regardless of their master's curbing rain

Starting point is 05:43:17 the full moon was rising gradually in a sky as densely violet as purple pansy leaves but her mellow luster was almost put to shame by the brilliancy of the streets which were lit up on both sides by very-coloured lamps that diffused a peculiar intense yet soft radiance produced as saluma explained from stored up electricity on the twelve tall towers of the sacred temple shone twelve large revolving stars that as they turned emitted vivid flashes of blue green and amber flame like lighthouse signals seen from ships veering shorewards and the reflections thus cast on the mosaic pavement mingling with the paler beams of the the moon gave a weird and most fantastic effect to the scene straight ahead a blazing arch raised like a bent bow against heaven and having in its centre the word zephoranum written in scintillating letters of fire indicated to all beholders the name and abode of the powerful monarch under whose dominion according to saluma al chyrrhus had reached its present height of wealth and prosperity theos looked everywhere about him seeing yet scarcely realizing the wonders on which he gazed leaning one arm on the burnished edge of the car he glanced now and then up at the dusky skies growing thick with swarming worlds and meditated dreamily whether it might not be within the range of possibility to be lifted with saluma chariots steeds and all into that beautiful fathomless emperian and drive among planets as though they were flowers raining in at last and at last before some great golden gate which unbarred should open into a lustrous glory land fairer than all fair regions ever pictured how like a god saluma looked he mused his eyes resting tenderly on the light glittering form he was never weary of contemplating

Starting point is 05:45:21 could there be a more perfect head than that dark one crowned with myrtle could there be a more dazzling existence than that enjoyed by this child of happy fortune this royal laureate of a mighty king how many poets starving in garrets and waiting for a hearing would not curse their unlucky destinies when comparing themselves with such a prince of poesy each word of whose utterance was treasured and enshrined in the hearts of a grateful and admiring people this was fame indeed fame at its utmost best and theo's side once or twice restlessly as he inwardly reflected how poor and unsatisfying were his own poetical powers and how totally unfitted he was to cope with a rival so vastly his superior not that he by any means desire to cross swords with saluma in a duel of song that was an idea that never entered his mind he was simply conscious of a certain humiliated feeling and impression that if he would be a poet at all he must go back to the very first beginning of the art and relearn all he had ever known or thought he knew many strange and complex emotions were at work within him emotions which he could neither control nor analyze and though he felt himselffully alive alive to his very finger-tips he was ever and anon aware of a curious sensation like that experience by a suddenly startled somnambulist who just on the point of awaking hesitates reluctantly on the threshold of dreamland unwilling to leave one realm of shadows for another more seeming true yet equally transient entangled in perplexed reveries he scarcely noticed the brilliant crowds of people that were flocking hither and thither through the streets many of whom recognizing saluma waved their hands or shouted some gay word of greeting he saw as it were without seeing

Starting point is 05:47:15 the whirling pageant around him was both real and unreal there was always a deep sense of mystery that hung like a cloud over his mind a cloud that no resolution of his could lift and often he caught himself dimly speculating as to what lay behind that cloud something he felt sure something that like the clue to an intricate problem would explain much that was now altogether incomprehensible moreover he remorsefully realized that he had formerly known that clue and had foolishly lost it but how he could not tell his gaze wandered from the figure of saluma to that of the attendant heart-bearer who perched on a narrow foothold on the back of the chariot held his master's golden instrument aloft as though it were a flag of song the signal of a poet's triumph destined to float above the world forever just then the equipage arrived at the king's palace turning the horse's heads with a sharp jerk so that the meddlesome creatures almost sprang erect on their haunches saluma drove them swiftly into a spacious courtyard lined with soldiers in full armor and brilliantly illuminated where two gigantic stone sphinxes with lit stars ablaze between their enormous brows guarded a flight of steps that led up to what seemed to be an endless avenue of white marble columns here slaves in gorgeous attire rushed forward and seizing the prancing courses by the bridal rain held them fast while the laureate and his companion alighted as they did so a mighty and resounding clash of weapons struck the tassolated pavement every soldier flung his drawn sword on the ground and doffed his helmet and the cry of hail saluma rose in one brief mellow manly shout that echoed vibratingly through the heated air saluma meanwhile ascended half-way up the steps and there turning round smiled and bowed with an exquisite grace and infinite condescension and agintheos gazed at him yearningly lovingly and somewhat enviously too what a picture he made standing between the great

Starting point is 05:49:23 frowning sculptured sphinxes contrasted with those cold and solemn visages of stone-he looked like a dazzling butterfly or stray bird of paradise his white garb glistened at every point with gems and from his shoulders where it was fastened with large sapphire clasps depended a long mantle of cloth of gold bordered thickly with swans down this he held up negligently in one hand as he remained for a moment in full view of the assemble soldiery graciously acknowledging their enthusiastic greetings then with easy and unhasting tread he mounted the rest of the stairway followed by theos and his heart-bearer and passed into the immense outer entrance hall of the royal palace known as he explained to his guest as the hall of the two thousand columns here among the massively carved pillars which looked like straight tall frosted trunks of trees were assembled hundreds of men young and old evident aristocrats and nobles of high degree to judge from the magnificence of their costumes while in and out their brilliant ranks glided little pages in crimson and blue black slaves semi-nude or clothed in vivid colors court officials with jeweled badges and insignias of authority military guards clad in steel armor and carrying short-drawn cimitars all talking laughing gesticulating and elbowing one another as they moved to and fro and so thickly were they pressed together that at first sighted seemed impossible to penetrate through so dense a crowd but no sooner did saluma appear than they all fell back in orderly rows thus making an o'clock open avenue-like space for his admittance. He walked slowly with proudly assured mean, and a confident smile,

Starting point is 05:51:08 bowing right and left in response to the respectful salutations he received from all assembled. Many persons glanced inquisitively at Theos, but as he was the laureate's companion, he was saluted with nearly equal courtesy. The old critic Zabastis, squeezing his lean, bent body from out the throng, hobbled after Saluma at some little distance behind the harp-bearer. muttering to himself as he went and bestowing many a sidelier and malicious grin on those among his acquaintance whom he here and there recognized theos noted his behavior with a vague sense of amusement the man took such evident delight in his own ill-humor and seemed to be so thoroughly convinced that his opinion on all affairs was the only one worth having thou must check thy tongue to-day zabastis said a handsome youth in dazzling blue and silver who just then detaching himself the crowd laid a hand on the critic's arm and laughed as he spoke i doubt me much whether the king is in humour for that grim fooling his majesty hath been seriously discomposed since his return from the royal tiger hunt this morning notwithstanding that his unerring spear slew to goodly and most furious animals

Starting point is 05:52:20 he is wondrous sullen and only the divine salum is skilled in the art of soothing his troubled spirit therefore if thou hast aught of crabbed or cantankerous to urge against thy master's genius thou hadst best reserve it for another time lest thy with it head roll on the market-place with as little reverence as a dried gourd flung from a fruderer's stall i thank thee for that warning young jackanapes retorted zabasus pausing in his walk and leaning on his staff while he peered with his small black bad-tempered eyes at the speaker thou art methinks somewhat over well informed for a little lackey what knowest thou of his magic his majesty's humours hast been his fly in the ear or cast off sandal-string i pray thee extend not thy range of learning beyond the proper temperature of the bath and the choice of rare unguince for thy skin greater knowledge than this would injure the tender texture of thy fragile brain and zabashti sniff the air in disgust thou hast a most vile odor of jessamine about thee i would thou wert clean of perfumes unless tawdry in attire chuckling hoarsely he ambled onward and chancing to catch the wandering backward glance of phios he made expressive signs with his fingers and derision of saluma's sweeping mantle which now allowed to fall to its full length trailed along the marble floor with a rich rustling sound the very light sparkling on it at every point and making it look like a veritable shower of gold on through the seemingly endless colonnades they passed till they came to a huge double door formed of two glittering colossal winged figures holding enormous uplifted shields here stood a personage clad in a silver coat of mail so motionless that at first he appeared to be part of the door but at the approach of saluma he stirred into life in action and touching a spring beside him the arms of the twin colossi

Starting point is 05:54:18 moved the great double shields were slowly lowered and the portal slid asunder noiselessly thus displaying the sumptuous splendor of the royal presence chamber it was a spacious and lofty saloon completely lined with gilded columns between which hung numerous golden lamps having long pointed amber pendants that flashed down a million sparkles as of sunlight on the magnificent mosaic floor beneath on the walls were rich tapestry storied with voluptuous scenes of love as well as ghastly glimpses of warfare and languishing beauties reposing in the arms of their lovers or listening to the songs of passion were depicted side by side with warriors dead on the field of battle or struggling hand to hand in grim and bleeding conflict the corners of this wonderful apartment were decked with all sorts of flaggues of flags and weapons and in the middle of the painted ceiling was suspended a huge bird with the spread wings of an eagle and the head of an owl that held in its curved talons a superb geron dol formed of a hundred extended swords each bare blade having at its point a bright lamp in the shape of a star while the clustered hilts composed the centre offices in full uniform were ranged on both sides of the room and a number of other men richly attired stood about conversing with each other in low tone but though theos took in all these details rapidly at a glance his gaze soon became fixed on the glittering pavilion that occupied the furthest end of the saloon where on a mass the throne of ivory and silver sat the chief object of attraction zepheronim the king the steps of the royal dais were strewn ankle deep with flowers on either hand a bronze lion lay couchant and four gigantic black statues of men supported the monarch's gold-fringed canopy their uplifted arms-spring deck with innumerable rows of large and small pearls. The king's features were not just

Starting point is 05:56:11 invisible. He was leaning back in an indolent attitude, resting on his elbow, and half-covering his face with one hand. The individual in the silver coat of mail whispered something in Saluma's ear, either by way of warning or advice, and then advanced, prostrating himself before the dais, and touching the ground humbly with his forehead and hands. The king stirred slightly but did not alter his position he was evidently wrapped in a deep and seemingly unpleasant reverie dread my lord began the herald in waiting a movement of decided impatience on the part of the monarch caused him to stop short by my soul said a rich strong voice that made itself distinctly audible throughout the spacious hall thou art ever shivering on the edge of thy duty when thou shouldst plunge boldly into the midst thereof how long wilt mouth thy words canst never speak plain most potent sovereign went on the stammering herald saluma waits thy royal pleasure saluma and the monarch sprang erect his eyes flashing fire nay that he should wait bodes ill for thee thou knave how darest thou bid him wait entreat him hither with all gentleness as befits mine equal in the realm

Starting point is 05:57:26 as he thus spoke theos was able to observe him more attentively indeed it seemed as though a sudden and impressive pause had occurred in the action of a drama in order to allow him as spectator to thoroughly master the meaning of one special scene therefore he took the opportunity offered and looking full at zepharanum thought he had never beheld so magnificent a man of stately height and herculean built he was most truly royal in outward bearing though a physiognomist judging him from the expression of his countenance would at once have given him all the worst vices of a reckless voluptuary an utterly selfish sensualist his straight low brows indicated brute force rather than intellect his eyes full dark and brilliant had in them a suggestion of something sinister and cruel despite their fine clearness and lustre while the heavy lines of his mouth only partly concealed by a short thick black beard plainly betokened that the monarch's tendencies were by no means toward the strict and narrow paths of virtue nevertheless he was a splendid specimen of a human animal at its best physical development and his attire which was a mixture of the civilized and savage suited him as it certainly would not have suited any less stalwart frame his tunic was of the deepest purple brooded with gold his vest of pale amber silk was thrown open so as to display to the greatest advantage his broad muscular chest and throat glittering all over with gems and he wore flung loosely across his left shoulder a superb leopard skin just kept in place by a clasp of diamonds his feet were shod with gold-coloured sandals his arms were bare and lavishly decked with jewelled armlets his rough dark hair was tossed carelessly about his brow whereon a circlet of gold studded with large rubies glittered in the light from his belt hung a great sheathed sword together with all manner of hunting implements and beside him on a velvet-covered stand lay a short

Starting point is 05:59:26 sceptre having at its tip one huge egg-shaped pearl set in sapphires noting the grand poise of his figure and the statuesque grace of his attitude a strange hazy far-off memory began to urge itself on theos's mind a memory that with every second grew more painfully distinct he had seen zephoranum before where he could not tell but he was as positive of it as that he himself lived and this inward conviction was accompanied by a certain and definable dread of vague terror and foreboding though he knew no actual cause for fear he had however no time to analyze his emotion for just then the herald in waiting having performed a backward evolution from the throne to the threshold of the audience chamber beckoned impatiently to saluma who'd once stepped forward bidding theo's cape close behind him the harp-bearer followed and thus all three approached the dais where the king still stood erect awaiting them sebasties the critic glided in all also almost unnoticed and joined a group of courtiers at their furthest end of the long gorgeously lighted room while at sight of the laureate the assembled officer saluted and all conversations ceased at the foot of the throne saw lumipa paused but made no obeisance raising his glory's eyes to the monarch's face he smiled and theos beheld with amazement that here it was not the poet who reverenced the king but the king who reverenced the poet what a strange state of things he thought especially when the mighty zephyranaum actually descended three steps of his flower strewn dais and grasping saluma's hands raised them to his lips with all the humility of a splendid savage paying homage to his intellectual conqueror it was a scene theos was destined never to forget and he gazed upon it as one gazes on a magnificently painted picture wherein two central figures fascinate and most profoundly impressed the beholder's imagination

Starting point is 06:01:21 he heard with a vague sense of mingle pleasure and sadness the deep mellow tones of the monarch's voice vibrating through the silence welcome my saluma welcome at all times but chiefly welcome when the heart is weighted by care i thought of thee all day believe me i thought of thee all day believe me i since early dawn went on my way to the chase i heard in the depths of the forest a happy nightingale singing and deemed thy voice had taken bird-shape and followed me and that i sent for thee in haste blamed me not as well blamed the desert a thirst for rain or the hungry heart agape for love to come and fill it here his restless eye flashed on theos who stood quietly behind saluma passive yet expectant of he knew not what whom hast thou there a friend this says saluma apparently explains something in a low tone he is welcome also for thy sake and he extended one hand on which a great ruby signet burned like a red star to theos who bending over it kissed it with the grave courtesy he fancied due to kings zepheronim appeared good-naturedly surprised at this action and eyed him somewhat scrutinizingly as he said thou art not of saluma's divine calling assuredly fair sir else thou wouldst hardly stoop to a mere crowned head like mine soldiers and statesmen may bend the knee to their chosen rulers but to whom shall poets bend they who with arrowy lines cause thrones to totter and fall they who with deathless utterance brand with infamy or hollow with honour the most potent names of kings and emperors they by whom alone a nation lives in the annals of the future what homage do such elect gods owe to the passing holders of one or more earthly sceptres thou art too humble methinks for the minstrel vocation dost call thyself a minstrel or a student of the art of song

Starting point is 06:03:16 theos looked up his eyes resting full on the monarch's countenance as he replied in low clear tones most noble zafferanum i am no minstrel nor do i deserve to be called even a student of that high sweet music wisdom in which saluma alone excels all i dare hope for is that i may learn of him in some small degree the lessons he is mastered that at some future time i may approach as nearly to his genius as a common flower on earth can approach to a fixed star in the furthest blue of heaven saluma smiled and gave him a pleased appreciative glance zepheronim regarded him somewhat curiously by my faith thou art a modest and gentle disciple of poesy he said we receive thee gladly to our court as suits saluma's pleasure and our own stand thee near thy friend and master and listen to the melody of his matchless voice thou shalt hear therein the mysteries of many things unraveled and chiefly the mystery of love in which all other passions centre and have power reascending the steps of the dais he flung himself indolently back in his throne whereupon two pages brought a magnificent chair of inlaid ivory and placed it near the foot of the dais at his right hand in this saluma seated himself the pages arranging his golden mantle around him in shining picturesque holes while theos withdrawing slightly into the background stood leaning against a piece of tapestry on which the dead figure of a man was depicted lying prone on the swore with a great wound in his heart and a bird of prey hovering above him expectant of its grim repast kneeling on one knee close to saluma the harp-bearer put the harp in tune and swept his fingers lightly over the strings then came a pause a clear small bell chimed sweetly on the stillness and the king raising himself a little signed to a black slave who carried a tall silver wand emblematic of some office

Starting point is 06:05:13 let the women enter he commanded speak but saloma's name and they will gather like waves rising to the moon but bid them be silent as they come lest they disturb thoughts more lasting than their loveliness this with a significant glance toward the laureate who sunk in his ivory chair seemed wrapped in meditation his beautiful face had grown grave even sad he played idly with the ornaments at his belt and his eyes had a drowsy yet ardent light within them as they flashed now and then from under the shade of his long curling lashes the slave departed on his errand and zabasties edging himself out from the hushed and attentive throng of noble stood as it were in the foreground of the picture his thin lips twisted into a sneer and his lean hands grasping his staff viciously as though he longed to strike somebody down with it a moment or so passed and then the slave returned his silver rod uplifted marshalling in a lovely double procession of white-failed female figures that came gliding along as noiselessly as fair ghosts from forgotten tombs each one carrying a garland of flowers they floated rather than walked up to the royal dais and there prostrated themselves two by two before the king whose fiery glance rested upon them more carelessly than tenderly and as they rose they threw back their veils displaying to full view such exquisite faces such languishing brilliant eyes such snow-white necks and arms such graceful voluptuous forms that theeus caught at the tapestry near him in reeling dazzlement of sight and sense and wondered how saluma seated tranquilly in the reflective attitude he had assumed could maintain so unmoved and indifferent a demeanor indifferent he was however even when the unveiled fair ones turning from the king to the poet laid all their garlands at his feet he scarcely noticed the pile-dove flowers and still less the lovely donors who retiring modestly backwards took their places on low silken divans

Starting point is 06:07:13 provided for their accommodation in a semicircle round the throne again a silence ensued saluma was evidently centred like a spider in a web of his own thought weaving and his attendant gently swept the strings of the harp again to recall his wandering fancies suddenly he looked up his eyes were sombre and amusing trouble shattered the brightness of his face strange it is o king he said in low suppressed tones that had in them a quiver of pathetic sweetness strange it is that to-night the soul of my singing dwells on sorrow like a stray bird flying mid falling leaves or a ship drifting out from sunlight to storm so does my fancy sore among drear flitting images evolved from the downfall of kingdoms and i seem to behold in the distance the far-off shadow of death talk not of death interrupted the king loudly and in haste is a raven note that hath been croaked in mine ears too often and too harshly already what hast thou been met by the man co sruel who lately sprang on me even as a famished wolf on prey and grasping my bridle rein bade me prepared to die twas an ill jest and one not to be lightly forgiven prepare to die o zephronim he cried for thy time of reckoning is come by my soul and the marna broke into a boister's laugh had he bade me prepare lived twould have been more to the purpose but yon frantic grave-beard prates of naught but death twere well he should be silenced and as he spoke he frowned his hand involuntarily playing with the jewelled hilt of his sword ay death is an unpleasing suggestion suddenly said zebastis who had gradually moved up nearer and nearer till he made one of the group immediately round saluma tis a word that should never be mentioned in the presence of kings yet notwithstanding the insolity of the statement

Starting point is 06:09:04 it is most certain that his most potent majesty as well as his majesty's most potent laureate must die and he accompanied the words must die with two decisive taps of his staff smacking his withered lips meanwhile as though he tasted something peculiarly savoury and thou also zebastis retorted the king with a dark smile jestingly drawing his sword and pointing it full at him then as the old critic shrank slightly at the gleam of the bare steel replacing it dashingly in its sheath thou also in thine ashes shall be cast to the four winds of heaven as suits thy vocation while those of thy master and thy master's king lie honorably earned in porphyry and gold sebastis bowed with a sort of mock humility it may be so most mighty zepharonim he returned composedly nevertheless ashes are always ashes and the scattering of them is but a question of time for urns of gold and porphyry do but excite the cupidity of the vulgar-minded and the ashes therein sealed whether of king or poet stand as little chance of reverent handling by a future generation as those of many lesser men and tis doubtful whether the winds will know any difference in the scent or quality of the various pinches of human dust tossed to their sweeping circles for the substance of a man reduced to earth atoms is always the same and not a grain of him can prove whether he was once a monarch crown a minstrel pampered or a critic contemned and he chuckled as one having the best of the argument the king deigned no answer but turned his eyes again on saluma who still sat pensively silent how long wilt thou be mute my singing emperor he demanded gently canst thou not improvise a canticle of love even in the midst of thy soul's sudden sadness at this salome aroused himself signing to his attendant he took the harp from him and resting it lightly on one knee passed his hands over once or twice half musingly half

Starting point is 06:11:07 doubtfully a ripple of music answered his delicate touch music as soft as the evening wind murmuring among willows another instant in his voice thrilled on the silence a voice wonderful far-reaching mellow and luscious as with suppressed tears containing within it a passion that peers to the heart of the listener and a divine fulness such as surely was never before heard in human tones theos leaned forward breathlessly his pulses beating with unwonted rapidity what what was it that saluma sang a love-song in those caressing vowel sounds which composed the language of alcyrus a love-song burning as strong wine tender as the murmur of the sea on mellow moon entranced evenings an arrowy shaft of rhyme tipped with fire and meant to strike home to the core of feeling and there inflict delicious wounds but as each well-chosen word echoed harmoniously on his ears theos shrank back shudderingly in every limb a black frozen numbness seemed to pervade his being an awful maddening terror possessed his brain and he felt as though he were suddenly thrown into a vast dark chaos where no light should ever shine for saluma's song was his song his own his very own he knew it well he had written it long ago in the hey day of his youth when he had fancy all the world was waiting to be set to the music of his inspiration he recognized every fancy every couplet every rhyme the delicate glowing ballad was his his alone and saluma had no right to it he theos was the poet not this royally favored who had stolen his ideas and filched his jewels of thought aye and he would tell him so to his face he would speak he would cry aloud his claims in the presence of a king and demand instant justice

Starting point is 06:13:03 he strove for utterance his voice was gone his lips were moveless as the lips of a stone image stricken absolutely mute but with his sense of hearing quickened to an almost painful acuteness he stood erect and motionless rage and fear contending in his heart enduring the torture of a truly terrific mystery of mind despair forced in spite of himself to listen passively to the love-thoughts of his own dead past revived anew in his rival singing end of chapter fifteen chapter sixteen of ardaef by marie carelli this librovog's recording is in the public domain the prophet of doom a few slow dreadful minutes elapsed and then then the first sharpness of his strange mental agony subsided the strained tension of his nerves gave way and a dull apathy of grief inconsolable settled upon him he felt himself to be a man mysteriously accursed vanished as it were out of life and stripped of all he had once held dear and valuable how had it happened why was he set apart thus solitary poor and empty of all worth while another reaped the fruits of his genius he heard the loud plaudits of the assembled court shaking the vast hall as the laureate ended his song and drooping his head some stinging tears welled up in his eyes and fell scorchingly on his clasped hands tears wrung from the very depths of his secretly tortured soul at that moment the beautiful saluma turned toward him smiling as one who looked for more sympathetic approbation than that offered by a mixed throng

Starting point is 06:15:05 in meeting that happy self-conscious bland half-enquiring gaze he strove his best to return the smile just then zepharanum's fiery glance swept over him with a curious expression of wonder and commiseration by the gods yon stranger weeps said the monarch in a half-bantering tone then with more gentleness he added yet tis not the first time saluma's voice half unsealed a fountain of tears no greater triumph can minstrel have than this to move the strong man's heart to woman's tenderness we have heard tell of poets who singing of death have persuaded many straightway to die but when they sing of sweeter themes of lovers vows of passion frenzies and languorous desires cold is the blood that will not warm and thrill to their divinely eloquent allurements come hither fair sir and he beckoned to theos who mechanically advanced in obedience to the command. Thou hast thoughts of thine own, Doubtless concerning love, and love's fervor of delight,

Starting point is 06:16:12 hast aught new, to tell us of its bewildering spells, whereby the most dauntless heroes in every age have been caught, conquered, and bound by no stronger chain than a tress of hair or a kiss, more luscious than all the honey hidden in lotus flowers. Theos looked up dreamily,

Starting point is 06:16:32 his eyes wandered from the king to Saluma, as though in wistful search for some missing thing his lips were parched and burning and his brows ached with a heavy weight of pain but he made an effort to speak and succeeded though his words came slowly and without any previous reflection on his own part alas most potent sovereign he murmured i am a man of sad memories whose soul is like the desert barren of all beauty i may have sung of love in my time but my songs were never new never worthy to last one little hour and whatsoever of faith passion or heart ecstasy my fancy could with devious dreams devised saluma knows and in saluma's song all my best thoughts are said there was a ring of intense pathos in his voice as he spoke and the king eyed him compassionately of a truth thou seemest to have suffered he observed in gentle accents thou hast to look as of one bereft of joy hast lost some maiden love of thine and dost thou mourn her still uphang bitter as death shot through theos's heart had the monarch suddenly pierced him with his great sword he could scarcely have endured more anguish for the knowledge rushed upon him that he had indeed lost a love so faithful so unfathomable so pure and perfect that all the world weighed in the balance against it would have seemed but a grain of dust compared to its inestimable value but what that love was and from whom it emanated he could no more tell than the tide can tell in syllable language the secret of its attraction to the moon therefore he made no answer only a deep half-smothered sigh broke from him

Starting point is 06:18:18 and zafferanum apparently touched by his dejection continued good-natured nay we will not seek to pry into the cause of thy spirit's heaviness enough think no more of our thoughtless question there is a sacredness in sorrow nevertheless we shall strive to make thee in part forget thy grief ere thou leavest our court and city meanwhile sit thou there and he pointed to the lower step of a dais and thou saluma sing again and this time let thy song be set to a less plaintive key he leaned back in his throne and theo sat wearily down among the flowers at the foot of the dais as commanded he was possessed by a strange inward dread the dread of altogether losing the consciousness of a veryly down among the flowers at the foot of the dais as commanded he was possessed by a strange inward dread the dread of altogether losing the consciousness of his own identity and while he strove to keep a firm grasp on his mental faculties he at the same time abandoned all hope of ever extricating himself from the perplexing enigma in which he was so darkly involved forcing himself by degrees into comparative calmness he determined to resign himself to his fate and the idea he had just had of boldly claiming the ballad sung by saluma as his own completely passed out of his mind how could he speak against this friend whom he loved ay more than he had ever loved any living thing besides what could he prove to begin with in his present condition who could give no satisfactory account of himself if he were asked questions concerning his nation or birthplace he could not answer them he did not even know where he had come from save that his memory persistently furnished him with the name of a place called ardath but what was this ardath to him he had been he had come from he did not even know where he had come from save that his memory persistently furnished him with the name of a place called ardath but what was this ardath to him he mused what did it signify what had it to do with his immediate position nothing so far as he could tell his intellect seemed to be divided into two parts one a total blank the other filled with crowding images

Starting point is 06:20:16 that while novel were yet curiously familiar and how could he accuse saluma of literary theft when he had none of his own dated manuscripts to bear out his case of course he could easily repeat his boyhoods verses word for word but what of that he a stranger in the city befriended and protected by the laureate would certainly be considered by the people of alcarus as far more likely to steal saluma's thoughts than that saluma should steal his no there was no help for it as matters stood he could say nothing he could only feel as though he were the sorrowful ghost of some long-ago dead author returned to earth to hear others claiming his works and passing them off as original compositions and thus he was scarcely moved to any fresh surprise when saluma giving back the harp to his attendant rose up and standing erect in an attitude unequalled for grace and dignity began to recite a poem he remembered to have written when he was about twenty years of age a poem daringly planned which when published had aroused the bitterest animosity of the press critics on account of what they called its forced sublimity the sublimity was by no means forced it was the spontaneous outcome of a fresh and ardent nature full of enthusiasm and high soaring aspiration but the critics cared nothing for this all they saw was a young man presuming to be original and down they came upon him accordingly he recollected all the heart-sore sufferings he had endured through that ill-fated and cruelly condemned composition and now he was listlessly amazed at the breathless rapture and excitement it evoked here in this marvellous city of alcarus

Starting point is 06:22:11 where everything seemed more strange and weird than the strangest dream it was a story of the gods before the world was made of love deep buried in far in eternities of light a vast celestial shapes whose wanderings through the blue deep of space were tracked by the birth of stars and suns and wonder spheres of beauty a fanciful legend of transcendent heavenly passion telling how all created worlds throbbed amorously in the purple seas of pure ether and how love and love alone was the dominant cloud of the triumphal march of the universe and with what matchless eloquent saluma spoke the glowing lines with what clear and rounded tenderness of accent how exquisitely his voice rose and fell in a rhythmic rush like the wind surging through many leaves while ever and anon in the very midst of the divinely entrancing joy that chiefly characterized the poem his musicianly art infused a touch of minor pathos a suggestion of the eternal complaint of nature which even in the happiest moments asserts itself in mournful undertones the effect of his splendid declamation was heightened by a few soft running passages dexterously played on the harp by his attendant harpist and introduced just at the right moments and theos notwithstanding the peculiar position in which he was placed listened to every well-remembered word of his own work thus recited with a gradually deepening sense of peace he knew not why for the verses in themselves were strangely passionate and wild the various impressions produced on the hearers were curious to witness the king moved restlessly

Starting point is 06:24:00 his bronze cheeks alternately flushing and paling his hand now grasping his sword now toying with the innumerable jewels that blazed on his breast the women's eyes at one moment sparkled with delight and at the next grew humid with tears the assembled courtiers pressed forward awed eager and attentive the very soldiers on guard seemed entranced and not even a small side whisper disturbed the harmonious fall and flow of dulcet speech that rippled from the laureate's lips when he ceased there broke forth such a tremendous uproar of applause that the amber pendants of the lamps swung to and fro in the strong vibration of so many uplifted voices shouts of frenzied rapture echoed again and again through the vault of roof like thuds of thunder shouts in which the oath joined as why should he not he had as good a right as any one to applaud his own poem it had been sufficiently abused heretofore he was glad to find it now so well appreciated at least in alcarus though he had no intention of putting forward any claim to its authorship no for it was evident he had in some inscrutable way been made an outcast from all literary honour and a sort of wild recklessness grew up within him a bitter mirth arising from curiously mingled feelings of scorn for himself and tenderness for saluma and it was in the spirit that he loudly cheered the triumphant robber of his stores of poesy and even kept up the plaudits long after they might possibly have been discontinued never perhaps did any poet receive a grander ovation but the exquisitely tranquil vanity of the laureate was not a whit moved by it his dazzling smile dawned like a great ovation but the exquisitely tranquil vanity of the laureate was not a whit moved by it

Starting point is 06:25:48 his dazzling smile dawned like a gleam of sunshine all over his beautiful face but save for this he gave no sign of even hearing the deafening acclamations that resounded about him on all sides a new illy spiros cried the king enthusiastically and detaching a magnificently cut ruby from among the gems he wore he flung it toward his favoured minstrel it flashed through the air like a bright sparkled flame and fell glistening redly on the pavement just half-way between theos and saluma theosided with faintly amused indifference the laureate bowed gracefully but did not stoop to raise it he left that task to his heart-bearer who taking it up presented it to his master humbly on one knee then and only then saluma received it kissed it lightly and placed it negligently among his other ornaments smiling at the king as he did so with the air of one who graciously condescends to accept a gift out of kindly feeding for the donor sebasties meanwhile had witnessed the scene with an expression of mingled impatience malignity and disgust written plainly on his furrowed features and as soon as the hubbub of applause had subsided he struck his staff on the ground with an angry clang and exclaimed irritably now may the god shield us from a plague of fools what means this throaty clamour ye praise what ye do not understand like all the rest of the discerning public many as the time as the weariness of my spirit witnesses that i have heard saluma rehearse but never in all my experience of his prolix multiloquence hath he given utterance to such a senseless jingle jangle of verse as to-night strange it is that the so-called poetical trick of confusedly heaping words together regardless of meaning should so bewilder men and deprive them of all wise and sober judgment

Starting point is 06:27:48 by my faith i would as soon listen to the gable of geese in a farm-yard as to the silly glibness of such inflated twaddle such mawish sentiment such turgid garrulity such ranting verbosity a burst of laughter interrupted and drowned his harsh voice laughter in which no one joined more heartily than saluma himself he had resumed his seat in his ivory chair and leaning back lazily he surveyed his critic with tolerant good-humour and complete amusement while the king's stentorian ha ha ha resounded in ringing peals through the great audience chamber thou droll knave cried zepheronim at last dashing away the drops his merry men had brought into his eyes wilt kill me with thy bitter-mouthed jests of a truth my sides acheth thee what ails thee now come we will have patience if so be our mirth can be restrained speak what flaw canst thou find in our saluma's pearl of poesy what spots on the son of his divine inspiration as the serpent lives thou art an excellent mountebank and well deservedest thy master's pay he laughed again but zabastis seemed in no wise disconcerted his withered countenance appeared to harden itself into lines of impenetrable obstinacy tucking his long staff under his arm he put his fingers together in the manner of one who inwardly counts up certain numbers and with a preparatory smack of his lips began free speech being permitted to me o most mighty zafferanum i would in the first place say that the poem so greatly admired by your majesty is totally devoid of common sense it is purely a caprice of the imagination and what is imagination a mere aberration of the cerebral nerves a morbidity of brain in which the thoughts brood on the impossible on things that have never been and never will be thus saluma's verse resembles the incoherent race

Starting point is 06:29:52 of a moon-struck madman moreover it hath a prevailing tone of forced sublimity here theos gave an involuntary start then recollecting where he was resumed his passive attitude which is in every way distasteful to the ears that love playing language for instance what warrants is there for this most foolish line the solemn chanting of the midnight stars tis vile tis vile for who ever heard the midnight stars or any other stars chant who can prove that the heavenly bodies are given to the study of music hath saluma been present at their singing lesson here the old critic chuckled and warming with his subject advanced a step nearer to the throne as he went on here yet another jarring simile the wild winds moaned for pity of the world was ever a more indiscreet lie a brazen lie for the tales of shipwreck sufficiently prove the pitilessness of winds and however much averse weaver may pretend to be in the confidence of nature he is after all but the dupe of his own frenetic dreams one couplet hath most discordantly annoyed my senses tis the various doggerel the sun with amorous clutch tears off the emerald girdle of the rose o monstrous piece of extravagance for how can the sun his deity set apart clutch without hands and as for the emerald girdle of the rose i know not what it means unless saluma considers the green calyx of the flower a girdle in which case his wits must be far gone for no shape of girdle can any sane man descry in the common natural protection of a bud before it blooms

Starting point is 06:31:48 there was a phrase too concerning nightingales and the gods know we have heard enough and too much of those over-praised birds here he was interrupted by one of his frequent attacks of coughing and again the laughter of the whole court broke forth in joyous echoes laugh laugh said zebostis recovering himself and eyeing the throng with a derisive smile laugh you witless bantlings born of folly and cling as you will to the unsubstantial dreams your laureate blows for you in the air like a child playing with soap bubbles empty and perishable are they all they shine for a moment then break and vanish and the colors wherewith they sparkled colors deemed immortal in their beauty shall pass away like a breath and be renewed no more not so interposed theo suddenly unknowing why he spoke but feeling in wily compelled to take up saluma's defence for the colours are immortal and permeate the universe whether seen in the soap-bubble or the rainbow seven tones of light exist co-equal with the seven tones in music and much of what we call art and poisees but the constant reflex of these never dying tints and sounds can a critic enter more closely into the secrets of nature than a poet nay for he would undo all creation were he able and find fault with its fairest productions the critical mind dwells too persistently on the mere surface of things ever to comprehend or probe the central deeps and well-springs of thought will isabasties move us to tears and passion will he make our pulses beat with any happier thrill or stir our blood into a warmer glow he may be able to sever the petals of a lily and name its different

Starting point is 06:33:47 sections its way of growth and habitude but can he raise it from the ground alive and fair a perfect flower full of sweet odors and still sweeter suggestions no but saluma with entrancing art can make a sea not one lily but a thousand lilies all waving in the light wind of his fancy not one world but a thousand worlds circling through the imperian of his rhythmic splendour not one joy but a thousand all quivering songwise through the radiance of his clear illumined inspiration the heart the human heart alone is the final touchstone of a poet's genius and when that response who shall deny his deathless fame loud applause followed these words in the king leaning forward clapped theo's familiarly on the shoulder bravely spoken sir stranger he exclaimed thou hast well vindicated thy friend's honor and by my soul that my soul thou hast a musical tongue of thine own who knows but that thou also may be a poet yet in time to come and thou sebastis here he turned upon the old critic who while theo spoke had surveyed him with much cynical disdain get thee hence thine arguments are all at fault as usual thou art thyself a disappointed author hence thy spleen thou art blind in death selfish and obstinate for thee this very son is a blot rather than a brightness thou couldst in thine own opinion have created a fairer luminary doubtless have the matter been left to thee aye aye we know thee for a beauty-hating fool and though we laugh at thee we find thee wearisome stand thou aside and be straightway forgotten we will entreat saluma for another song the discomfited zbostis retired grumbling to himself in an undertone and the laureate whose dreamy eyes had till now rested on theos

Starting point is 06:35:47 his self-constituted advocate with an appreciative and almost tender regard once more took up his harp and striking a few rich soft chords was about to sing again when a great noise as of clanking armor was heard outside mingled with a steadily increasing sonorous hum of many voices and the increased tramp tramp of marching feet the doors were flung open the herald in waiting entered in hot haste and excitement and prostrating himself before the throne exclaimed o great king may thy name live for ever co's rule is taken zafferanum's black brows drew together in a dark scowl and he set his lips hard so for once thou art quick-tongued in the utterance of news he said half scornfully bring hither the captive and he chafes at his bonds we will ourselves release him and he touched his sword significant to a wider freedom than is found on earth a thrill ran through the courtly throng at these words and the women shuddered and grew pale saluma irritated at the sudden interruption that had thus distracted a general attention from his own fair and flattered self gave an expressly petulant glance toward theos who smiled back at him soothingly as one who seeks to coax a spoiled child out of its ill-humour and then all eyes were turned expectantly toward the entrance of the audience chamber a band of soldiers clad from head to footing glittering steel armor and carrying short-drawn swords appeared and marched with quick ringing steps across the hall toward the throne arrived at the dais they halted wheeled about saluted and parted asunder in two compact lines thus displaying in their midst the bound and manacled figure of a tall

Starting point is 06:37:41 wild-looking old man with eyes that burned like bright flames beneath the cavernous shadow of his bent and shelving brows a man whose aspect was so grand and withal so terrible that an involuntary murmur of mingled admiration and a fright broke from the lips of all assembled like a low wind surging among leaf-laden branches this was coast rule the prophet of a creed that was to revolutionize the world the fanatic for a faith as yet unrevealed to men the dauntless foreteller of the downfall of alcairas and its king theo stared wonderingly at him at his funereal black garments which clung to him with the closeness of a shroud at his long untrimmed beard and snow-white hair that fell in disordered matted locks below his shoulders at his majestic form which in spite of cords and feathers he held firmly erect in an attitude of fearless and composed dignity there was something supernaturally grand and awe-inspiring about him something commanding as well as defiant in the straight and steady look with which he confronted the king and for a moment for so a deep silence reigned silence apparently born of superstitious dread inspired by the mere fact of his presence zepharonum's glance rested upon him with cold and supercilious indifference seated haughtily upright in his throne with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword he showed no sign of anger against or interest in his prisoner save that to the observant eye of theos the veins in his forehead seemed to become suddenly nodded and swollen while the jewels on his bare chest heaved restlessly up and down with the unquiet panting of his quickened breath we give the greeting coess rule he said slowly and with a sinister smile

Starting point is 06:39:37 the lion's paw has struck thee down at last too long hast thou trifled with our patience thou must abjure thy heresies or die what sayest thou now of doom of judgment of the waning of glory wilt prophesy wilt denounce the faith wilt mislead the people wilt curse the king thou mad sorcerer devil bewitched and blasphemous what shall hinder me from at once slaying thee and he hath drew his formidable sword from its sheath co's rule met his threatening gaze unflinchingly nothing shall hinder the zepheronim he replied in his voice deeply musical and resonant struck to theos's heart with a strange foreboding chill nothing save thine own scorn of cowardice the monarch's hand fell from his sword-hilt a flush of shame reddened his dark face he bent his fiery eyes full on the captive and there was something in a sorrowful grandeur of the old man's bearing coupled with his enfeebled and defenceless condition that seemed to touch him with a sense of compassion for turning suddenly to the armed guard he raised his hand with a gesture of authority unloose his fetters he commanded the men hesitated apparently doubting whether they had heard aright zephyrhonum stamped his foot impatiently unloose him i say by the gods must i repeat the same thing twice since when have soldiers grown deaf to the voice of their sovereign and why have ye bound this aged fool with such many and tight bonds his veins and sinews are not of iron methinks ye might have tied him with thread and met with with small resistance i've known many a muscular deserter from the army fast and blessing securely when captured unloose him and quickly too our pleasure is that ere he dies he shall speak and he will in his own defence as a free man

Starting point is 06:41:41 in trembling haste and eagerness the guards at once set to work to obey this order the twisted cords were untied the heavy iron fetters wrenched asunder and in a very short space close rule stood at comparative liberty. At first he did not seem to understand the king's generosity toward him, in this respect, for he made no attempt to move. His limbs were rigidly composed as though they were still bound, and so stiff and motionless was his weird, attenuated figure, that Theos, beholding him, began to wonder whether he were made of actual flesh and blood, or whether he might not more possibly be some gaunt spectre forced back by mystic art from another world, in order to testify of things unknown to living men zepharanum meanwhile called for his cup-bearer a beautiful youth radiant as guinea-mead who at a sign from his royal master approached the prophet and pouring wine from a jewelled flagon into a goblet of gold offered it to him with a courteous salute and smile kosrell started violently like one suddenly wakened from a deep dream shading his eyes with his lean and wrinkled hand he stared dubiously at the young and gaily attired servitor then pushed the goblet aside with a shuddering gesture of aversion

Starting point is 06:43:02 away away he muttered in a thrilling whisper that penetrated to every part of the vast hall wilt force me to drink blood he paused and in the same low horror-stricken and tone continued blood blood it stains the earth and sky its red red waves swallow up the land the heavens grow pale and tremble the silver stars blacken and decay in the winds of the desert make lament for that which shall come to pass ere ever the grapes be pressed or the harvest gathered blood blood of the innocent tis a scarlet sea wherein like a broken and empty ship alcyus founders founders never to rise again these words uttered with such hushed yet passionate intensity produced a most profound impression several courtiers exchanged uneasy glances and the women half rose from their seats looking toward the king as though silently requesting permission to retire but an imperious negative sign from zephronim oblige them to resume their places though they did so with obvious nervous reluctance thou art mad co's rule then said the monarch in calmly measured accents and for thy madness as also for thine age we have till now retarded justice out of pity nevertheless excess of pity in great kings too oft degenerates into weakness and this we cannot suffer to be said of us not even for the sake of sparing thy few poor remaining years thou hast overstepped the limit of our leniency and madman as thou art thou showest a madman's cunning thou dost break the laws and art dangerous to the realm thou art proved a traitor and must straightway die

Starting point is 06:44:51 thou art accused of honesty interrupted puss rule suddenly with a touch of melancholy satire in his tone i have spoken truth in an age of lies tis a most death-worthy deed he ceased and again seemed to retire within himself as though he were a voice entering at will into the carven image of man sepharonim frowned angrily yet answered nothing and a brief pause ensued theos grew more and more painfully interested in the same scene there was something in it that to his mind seemed fatefully suggestive and fraught with impending evil suddenly saluma looked up his bright face alit with laughter now by the sacred veil he said gaily addressing himself to the king your majesty considers the venerable gentleman with too much gravity i recognize in him one of my craft a poet tragic in taciturn of humour and with a taste for melodramatic simile marked you not the mixing of his word colors in the picture he drew of valkyrus boundering like a wrecked ship in a blood-red sea whilst overhead trembled a white sky set thick with blackening stars as i lived twas not ill-divised for a madman's brain and so solemn a ranter should serve your majesty to make merriment withal in place of my poor zebasties whose peevish jests grow somewhat stale owing to the critic's chronic want of originality nay i myself shall be willing to enter into a rhyming joust with so disconsolately morose a contemporary and who knows whither betwixt us twain the chords of the major and minor may not be harmonized in some new and altogether marvellous fashion of music such as we wot not of and turning to cosruly added wilt break a lance of song with me sir graybeard thou shalt croak of death and i will chant of love and the king shall pronounce judgment as to which melody hath the most post

Starting point is 06:46:49 and lasting sweetness co s rule lifted his head and met the laureates half mirthful half mocking smile with a look of infinite compassion in his own deep solemnly penetrating eyes thou poor deluded singer of a perishable day he said mournfully alas for thee that thou must die so soon and be so soon forgotten thy fame is worthless as a grain of sand blown by the breath of the sea thy pride and thy triumph evanescent as the midst of the morning that vanish and the heat of the sun great has been the measure of thine inspiration yet thou hast missed its true teaching and of all the golden threads of poesy place in thy hands thou hast not woven one clue whereby thou shouldst find god alas saluma bright soul unconscious of thy fate thou shalt be suddenly and roughly slain and there sits thy destroyer and as he spoke he raised his shrunken skeleton-like hand and pointed steadfastly to the king there was a momentary hush a stillness as of stupefied amazement and horror than to the apparent reliant relief of all present zepharonim burst out laughing by all the virtues of naga he cried this is most excellent fooling i zepheronim the destroyer of my friend and first favorite in the realm old man thy frenzy exceeds belief and exhausts patience though of truth i am sorry for the shattering of thy wits tis sad that reason should be lacking to one so revered and grave of aspect dear to me as my royal crown is the life of saluma through whose inspired writings alone my name shall live in the annals of future history for the glory of a great poet must ever surpass the renown of the greatest king were alciris besieged by a thousand enemies and these strong palace walls raised to the ground by the engines of warfare

Starting point is 06:48:49 we would ourselves defend saluma i even cry aloud in the heat of combat that he the chief minister of our land should be sheltered from fury and spared from death as the only one capable of chronicling our vanquishment of victory saluma smiled and bowed gracefully in response to this enthusiastic assurance of his sovereign's friendship but nevertheless there was a slight shadow of uneasiness on his bold beautiful brows he had evidently been uncomfortably impressed by cos rule's words and the restless anxiety reflected in his face communicated itself by a sort of electric thrill to theos whose heart began to beat heavily with a sense of vague alarm what is this coast rule he thought half resentfully and how dares he predict for the adored the admired saluma so dark and unmerited an end hark what was that low far-off rumbling as of underground wheels rolling at full speed he listened then glanced at those persons who stood nearest to him no one seemed to hear anything unusual moreover all eyes were fixed fearfully on koserl whose before rigidly sombre demeanour had suddenly changed and who now with raised head tossed hair outstressed arms and wild gestures looked like a flaming terror personified victory victory he cried catching at the king's last word there shall be no more victory for the zepheronum thy conquests are ended and the flag of thy glory shall cease to wave on the towers of thy strong citadals death stands behind thee destruction clamors at thy palace gates and the enemy that cometh upon thee unawares is an enemy that none shall vanquish or subdue not even they who are mightiest among the mighty thy strong men of war shall be trodden down as wheat thy captains and rulers shall tremble and wail as children bewildered with fear thy great engines of battle shall be to thee as not

Starting point is 06:50:47 and the eras of thy skilled archers shall be useless as straws in the gathering tempest of fire and fury zepheronum zepheronum and his voice shrilled with terrific emphasis through the vaulted chamber the days of recompense are come upon thee swift and terrible as the desert wind the doom of alcarus is spoken and who shall avert its fulfilment alcares the magnificent shall fall shall fall its beauty its greatness its pleasantness its power shall be utterly destroyed and ere the waning of the midsummer moon not one stone of its glorious buildings shall be left to prove that here it was once a city fire fire and here he ran abruptly to the foot of the royal dais his dark garments brushing against theos as he passed and springing on the first step stood boldly within hand-reach of the king who taken aback by the suddenness of his action stared at him with a sort of amazed an angry fascination to arms zephronim to arms take up thy sword and shield get thee forth and fight with fire fire how shall the king quench it how shall the mighty monarch defend his people against it see you not how it fills the air with red devouring time of flame the thick smoke reeks of blood alchiris the magnificent the pleasant city of sin their idolatrous city is broken in pieces and has become a waste of ashes who will join with me in a lament for alcyrus i will call upon the desert of the sea to hear my voice i will pour forth my sorrows on the wind and it shall carry the burden of grief to the four-quarters of the earth all nations shall shudder and be astonished at the dowerful end of alcyrus the city beautiful the empress of kingdoms woe unto alcyrus for she hath suffered herself to be led astrayed by her rulers she hath drunken deep of the innocent blood and hath followed after idols her abominations are manifold in the hearts of her young men and maidens are full of evil therefore because alchiris delighteth in pride and despiseth repentance so shall destruction descend furiously upon her even as a sudden tempest in the mid-watches of the night she shall be swept away from the surface of the earth wolves shall make their lair in her pleasant gardens and the generations of men shall remember her no more o ye kings princes and warriors weep weep weep weep

Starting point is 06:52:58 for the doom of alcyrus and now his wild voice sank by degrees into a piteous plaintiveness weep for never again on earth shall be found a fairer dwelling-place for the lovers of joy never again shall be built a grander city for the glory and wealth of a people alcy alcy thou that boastest of ancient days and long lineage thou art become a forgotten heap of ruin the sands of the desert shall cover thy temples and palaces and none hereafter shall inquire concerning thee none shall bemoan thee none shall shed tears for the grievous manner of thy death none shall know the names of thy mighty heroes and men of fame for thou shalt banish utterly and be lost far out of memory even as though thou hadst never been here he stopped abruptly and caught his breath hard his blazing eyes preternaturally large and brilliant fixed themselves steadfastly on the sculptured ivory shield that surmounted the back of the king's throne and over his drawn and wrinkled features came an expression of such ghastly horror that instinctively every one present turned their looks in the same direction suddenly a shriek piercing and terrible broke from his lips a shriek that like a swiftly descending knife seemed to saw the air discordantly asunder see see he cried in fierce haste and eagerness see how the crest head gleams how the soft shiny throat curves and glistens how the live body twists and twines hence hence a cursed snake thou poisoner of peace thou quivering sting in the flesh thou destroyer of the strength of manhood what hast thou to do with that thou dost wind thy many coils about his heart licea licea here the king started violently his face flushing darkly red thou delicate abomination thou tyranness treachery what shall be done unto thee in the hour of darkness put off put off the ornaments of gold and the jewels wherewith thou adonest thy beauty and crown thyself with the crown of an endless affliction for thou shalt be girdled round about with flame and fire shall be thy garment thy lips that have drunken sweet wine shall be in bitterness

Starting point is 06:54:57 vainly shalt thou make thyself bare and call aloud on thy legion of lovers they shall be as dead men death to thine entreaties and none shall answer thee no not one none shall hide thee from shame or offer thee comfort in the midst of thy lascivious delights shalt thou suddenly perish and my soul shall be avenged on thy sins thou unvergian virgin virgin thou queen courtesan scarcely had he uttered the last word when the king with a furious oath sprang upon him grasped him by the throat and thrusting him fiercely down on the steps of the dais, placed one foot on his prostrate body. Then, drawing his gigantic sword, he lifted it on high. The blight blade glittered in air, an audible gasp of terror broke from the throng of spectators. Another second, and Koseru's life would have paid the forfeit for his temerity when crashed. A sudden and tremendous clap of thunder shook the hall, and every lamp was extinguished. Impenetrable darkness reigned, thick, close, suffocating darkness.

Starting point is 06:55:52 The thunder rolled away in sullen, vibrating echoes, and there was a short, impressive silence. then piercing through the profound gloom came the clamorous cries and shrieks of frightened women the horrible selfish scrambling pushing and struggling of a bewildered panic-stricken crowd the helpless nerveless unreasoning distraction that human beings exhibit when striving together for escape from some imminent deadly peril and though the king's tentorian voice could be heard above all the tumult loudly commanding order his alternate threats and persuasions were of no availed to calm the frenzy of fear into which the whole court was thrown groans and sobs wild entreaties to nagaya and the sun-god curses from the soldiery who intent on saving themselves were brutally trying to force a passage to the door regardless of the waving women whose frantic appeals for rescue and assistance were heart-rending to hear all these sounds increased the horror of the situation and theos blind giddy and confused listened to the uproar around him with something of the affrighted compassion that a stranger in hell might be supposed to feel when hearkening to the ceaseless plains of the self-tortured wicked he endeavored to grope his way to salumus side and just then lights appeared lights that were not of earth's kindling strange wandering flames that danced and flitted along the tapestried walls like will of the wisps on a dark morass and flung a ghastly blue glare on the pale uneasy faces of the scared people till gathering in a sort of lured ring round the throne they outlined in strong relief the enraged titanesque figure of zepheronim whose upraised sword looked in itself like an arrested flash of lightning brighter and brighter grew the weird lustre illumining the whole scene the vast length of the splendid hall the shining armor the soldiers the white robes of the women the flags and pennons that hung from the roof and swayed to and fro as though blown by a gust of wind every object near and distant was soon as visible as in broad day and then a terrible cry of rage burst from the king the cry of a maddened wild beast

Starting point is 06:57:43 death and fury he shouted striking his sword with a fierce clang against the silver pedestal of the throne where is coast rule the silence of an absolute dismay answered him coast rule had fled like a cloud melting in air or a ghost vanishing into the nether world he had mysteriously disappeared he had escaped no one knew how from under the very feet and out of the very grasp of the irate monarch whose baffled wrath now knew no bounds dolts idiots cowards and he hurled these epithets at the timorous grab with all the ferocity of a giant hurling stones at a swarm of pygmies babes that are frighted by a summer thunderstorm ye have let yon a cursed heretic slip from my hands ere i had choked him with his own lie o ye fools ye puny villains i take shame to myself that i am king of such a race of weaklings lights bring lights hither he whimpering slaves ye shivering poultryons what call yourselves men nay ye are feeble girls pranked out in men's attire and your steel course that's cover the faintest hearts that ever fail for dastard fear shut fast the palace gates close every barrier search every court and corner lest happily this may false prophet be still here in hiding he that blaspheme with ribald tongue the high priestess of our faith the holy virgin licea are ye all turn renegades and traitors that ye will suffer him to go free and triumph in his lawless heresy ye shameless knaves ye milk-vained rascals what abject terror makes ye thus quiver like aspen leaves in a storm this darkness is but a conjurous trick to scare women and colesru's followers can so play with the strings of electricity that ye are duped into accepting the rich glimmers heaven's own cloud-flame by the gods if alcares falls as yon dotard pronounce it her ruins shall vary but few heroes are superstitious and degraded o superstitious and degraded souls i would ye were even as i am a man dauntless a soldier unafraid his powerful and indignant voice had the effect of partially checking the panic and restoring something like order the pushing and struggling for an immediate exit ceased the armed guards in shamed silence began to marshal themselves together in readiness to start on the search for the fugitive

Starting point is 06:59:47 and several pages rushed in with flaring torches which cast a wondrous fire-glow on the surging throng of eager and timid faces the brilliant costumes the flash of jewels the glimmer of swords and the dark outlines the glimmer of swords and the dark outlines of the fluttering tapestry all forming together a curious sheer ascuro from which the massive figure of zephyrhonum stood out in bold and striking prominence against the white and silver background of his throne vaguely bewildered and lost in a dim stupefaction of wonderment theos looked upon everything with an odd sense of strained calmness the glittering saloon whirled before his eyes like a passing picture and a magic glass and then an imperative knowledge forced itself upon his mind he had witnessed this self-same scene before where and when impossible to say but he distinctly remembered each incident this impression however left him as rapidly as it had come before he had any time to puzzle himself about it and just at that moment saluma's hand caught his own saluma's voice whispered in his ear let us away my friend there will be naught now but mounting of guards in dire confusion the king is as a lion roused and will not cease growling till his vengeance be satisfied a plague on this shatterpated prophet he hath broken through my music and jarred poesy and to discord by the sacred veil didst ever hear such a hideous clamor of contradictory tongues all striving to explain what defies explanation namely coast rules flight for which after all no one is to blame so much as a zephronim himself but tis the privilege of monarchs to shift their own mistakes and follies on to the shoulders of their subjects come lycia awaits us and will not easily pardon our tardy obedience to her summons let us hence ere the gates of the palace close lycia the unvourgian virgin the queen courtesom so had said close rule nevertheless her name like a silver clarion made the heart of theos bound with indescribable gladness and feverish expectation and without an instant's pause he readily yielded

Starting point is 07:01:45 to saluma's guidance through the gorgeously colored confusion of the swaying crowd arm in arm the twain one a poet renowned the other a poet forgotten threaded their rapid way between the ranks of nobles officers slaves and court lackeys who were all excitedly discussing the recent scare the prophets escape and the dread wrath of the king and hurrying along the vast hall of the two thousand columns they passed together out into the night end of chapter sixteen chapter seventeen of ardath by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain under the cloudless star patterned sky in the soft warm air that brimmed with the fragrance of roses they drove once more together through the spacious streets of alcy streets that were now nearly deserted save for a few late passers-by whose figures were almost as indistinct and rapid in motion as pale-litting shadows there was not a sign of storm in the lovely heavens though now and again a sullen roll as of a distant cannonade hinted of pent-up anger lurking somewhere behind that clear and exquisitely dark-blue ether in which a million worlds blazed luminously like pendulous drops of white fire saluma's chariot whirled along with incredible swiftness the hoofs of the galloping horses occasionally striking sparks aflame from the smooth mosaic pictured pavement but theos now began to notice that there was a strange noiselessness in their movements

Starting point is 07:03:44 that the whole cortege appeared to be environed by a magic circle of silence and that the very night itself seemed breathlessly listening in entranced awe to some unlanguaged warning from the gods invisible compared with the turbulence and terror just left behind at the king's palace this weird hush was uncomfortably impressive and gave a sense of fantastic unreality to the scene the sleepy mesmeric radiance of the full moon shining on the delicate traceries of the quaintly sculptured houses on either hand made them look brittle and evanescent the great heavy hanging orange boughs and the feathery flondage of the tall palms seemed outlined in mere mist against the sky and the glimpses caught from time to time of the broad and quietly flowing river were like so many flashes of light seen through a veil of cloud the oz standing beside his friend with one hand resting familiarly on his shoulder dreamily admired the phantom-like beauty of the city thus transfigured in the moonbeams and though he vaguely wondered a little at the deep mysterious stillness that everywhere prevailed he scarcely admitted to himself that there was or could be anything unusual in it he took his position as he found it indeed he could not well do otherwise since he felt his fate was ruled by some resolute unseen force against which all the resistance would be unavailing moreover his mind was now entirely possessed by the haunting vision of lycia a vision half human half divine a beautiful magical irresistible sweetness

Starting point is 07:05:50 that allured his soul and roused within him a wordless passion of infinite desire he exchanged not a syllable with saluma an indefinable yet tacit understanding existed between them an intuitive foreknowledge and subtle perception of each other's character intentions and aims that for the moment rendered speech unnecessary and there was something after all in the profound silence of the night that while strange was also eloquent eloquent of meanings of meanings unutterable such as lie hidden in the scented cups of flowers when lovers gather them on idle summer afternoons and weave them into posies for one another's wearing how fleetly the gilded shell-shaped car sped on its way trees houses bridges domes and cupolas seemed to fly past in a varied whirl of glistening color now and again a cluster of fireflies broke from some thicket of shape and danced drowsley by in sparkling tangles of gold and green here and there from great open squares and branch shattered gardens gleamed the stone face of an obelisk or the white column of a fountain while over all things streamed along prismatic rays flung forth from the revolving lights in the twelve towers of the sacred temple like flaming spears ranged lengthwise against the limitless depth of the midnight horizon

Starting point is 07:07:33 with straining necks tossed manes and foam flying from their nostrils saloom as fiery coursers dashed onward at almost lightning speed and the journey became a wild headstrong rush through the dividing air a rush toward some voluptuous end dimly discerned yet indefinite at last they stopped before them rose a lofty building crested with fantastic pinnacles such as are formed by ice on the roof in times of intense cold a great gate stood open and pacing slowly up and down in front of it was a tall slave in white slave in white tunic and turban who turning his gleaming eyeballs on saluma nodded by way of salutation and then uttered a sharp peculiar whistle this summons brought out two curious dwarfish figures of men whose awkward misshapen limbs resembled the contorted branches of wind-blown trees and whose coarse and repulsive countenances betokened that that malignant delight in evil-doing which only demons are supposed to know these ungainly servitors possessed themselves of the laureate's chafing steeds and led them and the chariot away into some unseen courtyard while the laureate himself still saying no word kept fast hold of his companion's arm and hurried him along a dark avenue overshadowed with thick boughs that drooped heavily downward to the ground a solitary place where the intense quiet was disturbed only by the occasional drip drip of dewy moisture trickling tearfully from the leaves or the sweet faint gurgling sound of fountains playing somewhere in the distance

Starting point is 07:09:34 on they went for several paces till at a sharp bend in the moss-grown path an amethistine light broke full between the arched green branches directly in front of them glimmered a broad piece of water and out of the purple-tinted depths rose the white nude lovely form of a woman whose rounded outstretched arms appeared to beckon them whose mouth smiled in mingled malice and sweetness and round whose looped up tresses sparkled a diadem of sapphire flame with a cry of astonishment and ecstasy theos sprang forward saluma held him back in laughing will drown for a statue's sake he inquired mirthfully by my soul good theos if thy wits thus wander at sight of a witching marble mymph illumined by electric glamours what will become of thee when thou art face to face with living breathing loveliness come thou hot-headed neophyte thou shalt not waste thy passion on images of stone i warrant thee come but theo stood still his eyes rode from saluma to the glittering statue and from the statue back again to saluma in mingled doubt and dread a vague foreboding filled his mind he fancied that a bevy of mocking devils peered at him from out the wooded labyrinth and that sin was the name of the white siren yonder whose delicate body seemed to palpitate with every slow ripple of the surrounding waters he hesitated with that often saving hesitation a noble spirit may feel error wilfully yielding to what it instinctively knows to be wrong

Starting point is 07:11:30 and for the briefest possible space and imperceptible line was drawn between his own self-consciousness and the fascinating personality of his lately found friend a line that parted them asunder as though by a gulf of centuries saluma he said in a tremulous low tone tell me truly is it good for us to be here saluma regarded him in wide-eyed amazement good good he repeated with a sort of impatient disdain what dost thou mean by good what is good what is evil canst thou tell if so thou art wiser than i good good to be here if it is good to drown to drown remembrance of the world in drafts of pleasure if it is good to love and be beloved if it is good to enjoy i enjoy with burning zest every pulsation of the blood and every beat of the heart and to feel that life is a fiery delight an exquisite dream of drained off rapture then it is good to be here if and he caught theos's hand in his own warm palm and prested while his voice sang to a soft and infinitely caressing sweetness if it is good to climb the dizzy heights of joy and drows in the deep sunshine of amorous eyes to slip away on elfin wings into the limitless freedom of love's summer land to rifle rich kisses from warm lips even as rosebuds are rifled from the parent rose and to forget to forget all bitter things that are best forgotten enough enough quite theos fired with a reckless impulse of passionate ardor on on saluma i follow thee on let us delay no more

Starting point is 07:13:37 at that moment a far-off strain of music saluted his ears music evidently played on stringed instruments it was accompanied by a ringing clash of symbols he listened and listening saw a smile lightened saluma's features a smile sweet yet full of delicate mockery their eyes met a wanton impetuosity flashed like reflected flame from one face to the other and then without another instance pause they hurried on a cross abroad rose marble terrace garlanded with a golden wealth of orange trees and odorous oleanders under a trellis work covered with magnolias whose half-shut ivory-tinted buds glistened in the moonlight like large suspended pearls then through a low-roof-stone corridor close and dim lit only by a few flickering oil lamps placed at far intervals then on they went till at last ascending three red granite steps on which were carved some curious hieroglyphs they plunged into what seemed to be a vast jungle enclosed in some dense tropical forest what a strange unsightly thicket of rank verdure was here thought theos it was though nature grown tired of floral beauty had in a strange unsightly thicket of rank verdure was here thought theos it was as though nature grown tired of floral beauty had in a a sudden malevolent mood purposely torn and blurred the fair green frondage and twisted every bud awry great jagged leaves covered with prickles and stained all over with blotches as of spilt poison thick brown stems glistening with slimy moisture and coiled up like the sleeping bodies of snakes masses of purple and blue fungi and blossoms seemingly of the orchid species some like flesh

Starting point is 07:15:36 tongues others like the waxen yellow fingers of a dead hand protruded spectrally through the matted foliage while all manner of strange overpowering odors increased the swooning oppressiveness of the sultry languorous air this uncouth botanical garden was apparently roofed in by a lofty glass stone decorated with hangings of watery green silk but the grotesque trees and the grotesque and plants grew to so enormous a height that it was impossible to tell which were the following draperies and which the straggling leaves curious birds flew hither and thither voiceless creatures scarlet and amber winged a huge gilded brazier stood in one corner from whence ascended the constant smoke of burning incense and there were rose-shaded lamps all about that shed a subdued mysterious lustre on the scene and bestowed a pale green litter on a few fantastic clumps of aramis and nodding lotus flowers that lazily lifted themselves out of a greenish pool of stagnant water sunk deeply in on one side of the marble flooring the eos holding saluma's arm stepped eagerly across the threshold he was brimful of expectation and what mattered it to him whether the weed-like things that grew in the strange pavilion were pure or poisonous provided he might look once more upon the witching face that long ago had so sweetly enticed him to his ruin stay what was he thinking of long ago nay that was impossible since he had only seen the priestess lycia for the first time that very morning how piteously perplexing it was to be thus tormented with these indistinct ideas these half-formed notions of previous intimate acquaintance with persons and places

Starting point is 07:17:38 he never could have known before all at once he drew back with a startled exclamation an enormous tigress sleek and jewel-eyed bounded up from beneath a tangled mass of red and yellow creepers and advanced toward him with a low savage snarl peace i zeeped peace said saluma carelessly patting the animal's head thou art wont to be wiser in distinguishing twixt thy friends and foes then turning to theos he added she is harmless as a kitten this poor isep call her good theos she will come to thy hand see and he smiled as theos not to be outdone by his companion in physical courage bent forward and stroked the cruel-looking beast who while submitting to his caress never for a moment seized her smothered snarling presently however she was seized with a sudden fit of savage playfulness and throwing herself on the ground before him she rolled her live body to and fro with brief thirsty roars of satisfaction roars that echoed through the whole pavilion with terrific resonance then rising she shook herself vigorously and commenced a stealthy velvet-footed pacing up and down lashing her tail from side to side and keeping those sly emerald like eyes of hers watchfully fixed on saluma who merely laughed at her fierce antics leaning against one of the dark gnarled trees he tapped his sandaled foot with some impatience on the marble pavement while theo standing close beside him wondered whether the mysterious lycia knew of their arrival saluma appeared to guess his thoughts for he answered them as though they had been spoken aloud yes he said

Starting point is 07:19:33 she knows we are here she knew the instant we entered her gates nothing is or can be hidden from her he who would have secrets must depart out of alcyrus and find some other city to dwell in for here he shall be unable to keep even his own counsel to lycia all things are made manifest she reads human nature as one reads an open scroll and with merciless analysis she judges men as being very poor creatures limited in their capabilities disappointing and monotonous in their passions unproductive and circumscribed in their destinies to her ironical humor and icy wit the wisest sages seem fools she probes them through the core and discovers all their weaknesses she has no trust in virtue no belief in honesty and she is right who but a madman would be honest in these days of competition and greed of gain and as for virtue tis a pretty icicle that melts at the first touch of a hot temptation i the virgin priestess of naga hath the most profound comprehension of mankind's immeasurable brute stupidity and strong in this knowledge she governs the multitude with iron will intellectual force and dictative firmness when she dies i know not what will happen here he interrupted himself in a dark shadow crossed his brows by my soul he muttered how this thought of death haunts me like the unburied corpse of a slain foe i would there were no such thing as death tis a cruel and wanton sport of the gods to give us life at all if life must end so utterly and so soon

Starting point is 07:21:32 he sighed deeply theos echoed the sigh but answered nothing at that moment the restless isaith gave another a pollen roar and pounced swiftly toward the eastern side of the pavilion where a large painted panel could be dimly discerned the subject of the painting being a hideous idol whose long half-shut, inscrutable eyes, leered through the surrounding foliage with an expression of hateful cunning and malevolence. In front of this panel the Tigris lay down, licking the pavement thirstily from time to time, and giving vent to short, purring sounds of impatience, then awe suddenly she rose with ears pricked in an attitude of attention, the panel slowly moved it glided back and the great brute leaped forward flinging her two soft paws on the shoulders of the figure that appeared the figure of a woman who clad in glistening gold from head to foot shone in the dark aperture like a gilded image in a shrine of ebony the oath beheld the brilliant apparition in some doubt and wonder was this lycia he could not see her face as she wore

Starting point is 07:22:51 a thick white veil through which only the faintest sparkle of dark eyes glimmered like flickering sunbeams nor was he able to discern the actual outline of her form as it was completely enveloped and lost in the wide shapeless folds of her stiff golden gown yet every nerve in his body thrilled at her presence every drop of blood seemed to rush from his heart to his brain in a swift scorching torrent that for a second lined at his eyes with a red glare and made him faint and giddy woman and tigress they looked strangely alike he thought as they stood mutually caressing each other under the great drooping masses of fantastic leaves yet where was the resemblance what pompous similarity could there be between a tawny treacherous brute of the forests full of sly malice and voracious cruelty and that dazzling gold-garmented creature whose small white hand flashing with jewels now tenderly smoothed the black silken stripes on the sleek coat of her savage favorite down sweet-eye zeefe down she said in a grave dulcet voice as softly languorous as a as the last note of the love song down my gentle one thou art too fond down so this as the tigress instantly removed its embracing paws from her neck and trembling in every limb crouched on the ground in abjectly submissive obedience another moment and she advanced leisurely into the pavilion hyzeef slinking stealthily along beside her and seeming to imitate her graceful gliding movements till she stood within a few paces of theos and saluma just near the spot where the lotus flowers swayed over the grass-green stagnant pool

Starting point is 07:24:52 there she paused and apparently scrutinized her visitors intently through the folds of her snowy veil saluma bent his head before her in a half haughty half humble salient salutation the tardy saluma she said with an undercurrent of laughter in her musical tones the poet who loves the flattery of a foolish king and the applause of a still more foolish court and so co's rule disturbed the flood of thine inspiration to-night good minstrel nay for that he should die if for no other crime and this here she turned her veiled features toward theos whose heart beat furiously as he caught a luminous flash from those half-hidden brilliant eyes this is the unwitting stranger who honoured me by so daring a scrutiny this morning verily thou hast to singularly venture some spirit of thine own fair sir still we must honour courage even though it border on rashness and i rejoice to see that the wrathful mob of alcyrus hath yet left thee man enough to deserve my welcome them nevertheless thou wert guilty of most heinous presumption here she extended her jewelled hand art thou repentant and wilt thou sue for pardon scarcely conscious of what he did theos approached her and kneeling on one knee took that fair soft hand in his own and kissed it with passionate fervour criminal as i am he murmured tremulously i glory in my crime nor will i seek forgiveness nay rather will i plead with thee that i may sin so sweet as sin again and blind myself with beauty unreproved

Starting point is 07:26:49 slowly she withdrew her fingers from his clasp thou art bold she said with a touch of indolent amusement in her accents but in thy boldness there is something of the hero knowest thou not that i lycia high priestess of nagaya could have thee straightway slain for that unwise speech of thine unwise because over-hasty and somewhat over-familiar yes i could have thee slain and she laughed a rippling little laugh like that of a pleased child howbeit thou shalt not die this time for thy full heartiness thy looks are too much in thy favour thou art like saluma in his noblest moods when tired of verse stringing and sonnet chanting he condescends to remember that he is not quite divine see how he chafes at that and plucking a lotus-bug she threw it playfully at the laureate whose handsome face flushed vexedly at her words and thou art prudent sirthios do i not pronounce thy name aptly thou wilt be less petulant than he and less absorbed in self-adoration for here men even poets are deemed no more than men and their constant querulous claim to be considered as demigods meets with no acceptance wilt blind thyself with beauty as thou sayest well then lose thine eyes but guard thy heart and with a careless movement she loosened her veil it fell from her like a soft cloud and theo springing to his feet gazed upon her with a sense of enraptured bewilderment and passionate pain it was as though he saw the wraith of some fair dead woman he had loved of old risen a new redamand from him his former allegiance

Starting point is 07:28:44 oh unfamiliar yet well-known face oh slumberous starry eyes that seem to hold the memory of a thousand love-thoughts oh sweet curved lips whereon a delicious smile rested as softly as sunlight on young rose-petals where where in god's name had he seen all this marvellous witching maddening loveliness before his heart beat with heavy laboring thuds his brain reeled a dim golden suffused radiance seemed to hover like an aureole above that dazzling white brow adorned with a clustering wealth of raven black tresses whose massive coils were crowned with the strangest sort of diadem a wreath of small serpents heads cunningly fashioned in rubies and rose brilliance and set in such a manner that they appeared to lift themselves erect from out the dusky hair as though in darting readiness to sting full of a vague wild longing he instinctively stretched out his arms then on a sudden impulse turned swiftly away in a dizzy effort to escape from the basileous fire gleam of those sombre haunting eyes that plunged into his inmost soul and there aroused such dark desire such retrospective evil such wild weakness has shamed the betterness of his nature saluma's clear mocking laugh just then rang sharply through the perfumed stillness thou mad theos whither art thou bound cried the laureate mirthfully wilt leave our noble hostess ere the entertainment has begun ungallant barbarian what frenzy possesses thee these words recalled him to himself he came back slowly step by step and with bowed head to where lycia stood

Starting point is 07:30:47 licea whose penetrating gaze still rested upon him was strangely fixed intensity forgive me he said in a low unsteady voice that to his own ears sounded full of suppressed yet passionate appeal forgive me lady that for one moment i have seemed discourteous i am not so in very truth sad fancies fret my brain at times and-and there is that within thine unveil beauty which sword-like wounds my soul i'm not joyous nature unlike saluma chosen favorite of fortune i have lost all all that made my life once seem fair i am dead to those that love me forgotten by those that honored me a wanderer in strange lands a solitary wayfarer perplexed with many griefs to which i cannot give a name nevertheless and he drew a quick hard breath if i may serve thee fairest lycia as saluma serves thee subject to that sovereign favor thou shalt not find me lacking in obedience command me as thou wilt let me efface myself to worship thee let me if it be possible drowned thought slay memory murder conscience so that i may once more as in the old time be glad with the gladness that only love can give and only death can take away as he finished this unpremeditated uncontrollable outburst his eyes wistfully sought hers she met his look with a languid indifference and a half-dustainful smile enough restrain thine ardour she said coldly her dark dilating orbs shining like steel beneath the velvet's softness of her long lashes

Starting point is 07:32:38 thou dost speak ignorantly unknowing what thy words involved words to which i well might bind thee were i less forbearing to thine inconsiderate rashness how like all men thou art how keen to plunge into unfathomed deeps merely to snatch the pearl of present pleasure how martyr seeming in thy fancied sufferings as though thy little wave of personal sorrow swamped the world o wondrous human egotism that sees but one great absolute i scrawled on the face of nature i am afflicted let none dare to rejoice i would be glad let none to none presumed to grieve she laughed a little low laugh of icy satire and then resumed i thank thee for thy proffered service sir stranger albeit i need it not nor do i care to claim it at thy hands thou art my guest no more whether thou wilt hereafter deserve to be enrolled my bondsman depends upon thy prowess and my humour her beautiful eyes flashed scornfully and there was something cruel in her glance theos felt it sting him like a sharp blow his nerves quivered his spirit rose in arms against the cynical hauteur of this woman whom he loved yes loved with a curious sense of revived passion passion that seemed to have slept in a tomb for ages and that now suddenly sprang into life and being like a fire kindler new undead ashes acting on a sudden proud impulse he raised his head and looked at her with a bold steadfastness a critical scrutiny a calmly discriminating valuation of her physical charms that for the moment certainly appeared to startle her self-possession for a deep flush

Starting point is 07:34:44 colored the fairness of her face and then faded leaving her pale as marble her emotion whatever it was lasted but a second yet in that second he had measured his mental strength against hers and had become aware of his own supremacy this consciousness filled him with peculiar satisfaction he drew a long breath like one narrowly escaped from close peril he had now no fear of her only a great all-absorbing all evil love and to that he was recklessly content to yield her eyes dwelt glitteringly first upon him and then on saluma as the eyes of a falcon dwell on its prey and her smile was touched with a little malice as she said addressing them both come fair sirs we will not linger in this wilderness of wild flowers a feast awaits us yonder a feast prepared for those who like yourselves obey the creed a sweet self-indulgence the world-wide creed wherein men find no fault no shadow of inconsistency the truest wisdom is to enjoy the only philosophy that which teaches us how best to gratify our own desires the light cannot satiate the soul nor mirth in gender weariness follow me and with a live movement she swept toward the door her pet tigris creeping closely after her then suddenly looking back she darted a lustreously caress caressing glance over her shoulder at saluma and stretched out her hand he had once caught it in his own and kissed it with an almost brusque eagerness i thought you'd forgotten me he murmured in a vexed half-reproachful tone forgotten you forgotten saluma impossible and her silvery laughter shook the air into little throbs of music when the greatest poet of the age is forgotten then fall alcyrus for there shall be no more need of king

Starting point is 07:36:40 kingdoms laughing still and allowing her hand to remain in his she passed out of the pavilion and theos followed them both as a man might follow the beckoning sylphs in a fairy dream a mellow luminous witch-like radiance seemed to surround them as they went two dazzling figures gliding on beforehand with the slow light grace of moonbeams glitting over a smooth ocean they seemed made for each other he could not separate them in his thoughts but the strangest part of the matter was the feeling he had that he himself somehow belonged to them and they to him his ideas on the subject however were very indefinite he was in a condition of more or less absolute passiveness save when strong shudders of grief memory remorse or roused passion shook him with sudden force like a storm blast shaking some melancholy cypress whose roots are in the grave he mused on lycia's scornful words with a perplexed pain was he then so selfish the one great absolute eye scrawled on the face of nature could that apply to him surely not since in his present state of mind he could hardly lay claim to any distinct personality seeing that that personality was for ever merging itself and getting lost in the more clearly perfect identity of saluma whom he regarded with a species of profound he worship such as one man seldom feels for another to call himself a poet now seemed the acme of absurdity how should such an one as he attempt to conquer fame with a rival like saluma already in the field and already supremely victorious full of these fancies he scarcely heeded the wonders through which he passed as he followed his two radiant guides along his eyes were tired

Starting point is 07:38:40 and rested almost indifferently on the magnificent sense that everywhere surrounded him though here and there certain objects attracted his attention as being curiously familiar these lofty corridors gorgeously frescoed these splendid groups of statuary these palm-shaded nooks a verdure where imprisoned nightingales warbled plaintive songs that were all the sweeter for their sadness these spacious marble loggias cooled by the rising and falling of myriad fountains did he not dimly recognize all these things he thought so yet was not sure for he had arrived at a pass when he could neither rely on his reason nor his memory not of deeper humiliation could he have than this to feel within himself that he was still an intellectual thinking sentient human being and that yet at the same time his intelligence could do nothing to exclicate him from the terrific mystery which had engulfed him like a huge flood and wherein he was now tossed to and fro as helplessly as a floating straw on still on he went treading closely in saluma's footsteps unwistfully noting how often the myrtle garlanded head of his friend drooped caressingly toward lycia's dusky perfumed locks whence those jewel serpent's thangs darted flashingly upward like light from darkness on still on till at last he found himself in a grand vestibule built entirely of sparkling red granite here were ten sphinxes so huge in form that a dozen men might have lounged at ease on each one of their enormous paws they were ranged in rows of five on each side and their coldly meditative eyes appeared to dwell steadfastly on the polished face of a large black disc placed conspicuously on a pedestal in the exact centre of the pavement

Starting point is 07:40:39 strange letters shone from time to time on this ebony tablet letters that seemed to be written in quicksilver they glittered for a second then ran off like phosphorescent drops of water and again reappeared but the same signs were never repeated twice over all were different all were rapid in their coming and going as flashes of lightning licea approaching the disc turned it slightly at her touch it revolved like a flying wheel and for a brief space was literally covered with the light covered with mysterious characters which the beautiful priestess perused with an apparent air of satisfaction all at once the fiery writing vanished the disc was left black and bare and then a silver ball fell suddenly upon it with a clang from some unseen height and rolling off again instantly disappeared at the same moment a harsh voice rising as it were from the deepest underground chanted the following words in a monotonous recitatee fall o thou lost hour into the dreadful past sink o thou pearl of time into the dark and fathomless abyss not all the glory of kings or the wealth of empires can purchase thee back again not all the strength of warriors or the wisdom of sages can draw thee forth from the abode of silence whither thou art fled farewell lost hour and may the gods defend us from thy reproach at the day of doom in the name of the sun and naga peace the voice died away in a muffled echo in the slow solemn boom of a brazen-tongued bell struck midnight then theos raising his eyes saw that all further progress was impeded by a great wall of solid rock that glistened at every point with flashes of pale and dark violet light a wall composed entirely of adamantine spar crusted thick with the rough growth of oriental amynton

Starting point is 07:42:38 it rose sheer up from the ground to an altitude of about a hundred feet and apparently closed in and completed the vestibule surely there was no passing through such a barrier as this he thought wonderingly nevertheless lycia and saluma still went on and he as perforce he was compelled still followed arrived at the foot of the huge erection that towered above him like a steep cliff of molten gems he fancied he heard a faint sound behind it as of clinking glasses and boister's laughter but before he had time to consider what this might mean lycia laid her hand lightly on a small protruding knob of crystal pressed it and low the whole massive structure yawned open suddenly without any noise suspending itself as it were in sparkling festoons of purple stellic tites over the voluptuously magnificent scene disclosed at first it was difficult to discern more than a gorgeous maze of swaying light and color as though a great field of tulips in full bloom should be seen waving to and fro in the breath of a soft wind but gradually this bewildering basil of gold and green violet and crimson resolved itself into a definite form and substance and theo standing beside his two companions on the elevated threshold of the partition through which they had entered was able to look down and survey with tolerable composure the wondrous details of the glittering picture a picture that looked like a fairy fantasy poised in a haze of jewel-like radiance as of vaporized sapphire he saw beneath him a vast circular hall or amphitheater roofed in by a lofty dome of richest malachite from the centre of which was suspended a huge globe of fire that revolved with incredible swiftness

Starting point is 07:44:30 clinging vivid blood-red rays on the amber-coloured silken carpets and embroiderers that strewed the floor below the dome was supported by rows upon rows of tall tapering crystal columns clear as translucent water and green as the grass and spring and between and beyond these columns on the left-hand side there were large oval-shaped casements set wide open to the night through which the gleam of a broad lake laden with water-lilies could be seen shimmering in the yellow moon the middle of the hall was occupied by a round table covered with draperies of gold white and green and heaped with all the costly accessories of a sumptuous banquet such as might have been spread before the gods of olympus in the full height of their legendary prime here were the lovely hues of heaped up fruit the tender bloom of scattered flowers the glisten of jewelled flagons and goblets the flash of massive golden dishes carried aloft by black slaves attired and white and crimson the red glow of poured out wine and here in the drowsy warmth lounging on divans of velvet and embroidered satin eating drinking idly gossiping loudly laughing and occasionally bursting into wild snatches of song where a company of brilliant-looking personages all men all young all handsome all richly clad and all evidently bent on enjoying the pleasures offered by the immediate hour suddenly however their noisy voices ceased with one accord as though drawn by some magnetic spell they all turned their heads toward the platform where lycia had just silently made her appearance when springing from their seats they broke into a boisterous shout of acclamation and welcome one young man whose flushed face had all the joyous wanton the feminine beauty of a pictured dionysus reeled forward coplid in hand and tossing the wine in air so that it splashed down again at his feet staining his white garments as it fell with a stain as of blood he cried tipsily

Starting point is 07:46:29 all hail licea where hast thou wandered so long thou goddess of morn we have been lost in the blackness of night sunk in the depths of a hell-like gloom but lo now the clouds have broken in the east and our hearts rejoice at the birth of day vanish dull moon and be ashamed for a fairer planet rules the sky hence ye stars puny glow-worms lazily crawling in the fields of etho licea invests the heaven and earth and in a smile we live ha art thou there saluma come praise me for my improvised love-lines they are as good as thine i warrant thee canst compose when thou are drunk my dainty laureate drain a cup then and string me a stanza where is thy fool zeboskis i would fain tickle his long ears with ribled rhyme and hearken to the barbarous braying forth with his asinine reflections licea what dost thou frown at me frown not sweet queen but rather laugh thy laughter kills is true but thy frown doth torture spears after death and bend thy brows night looms between them like a chaos we will have no more night i say but only noon a long languorous lovely noon flower girdle and sunbeam clad with roses roses crown my head for my days are few and remember sweet when i am dead that my heart was true singing unsteadily with the empty goblet upside down in his hand he looked up laughing his bright eyes flashing with a wild feverish fire his fair hair tossed back from his brows and entangled in a half-crushed wreath of vine leaves his rich garments disordered his whole demeanor that of one possessed by one possessed by his brow's browsed and entangled in a half-crushed wreath of vine leaves his rich garments disordered his whole demeanor that of one possessed by semi delirium of sensuous pleasure and all at once meeting lycia's keen glance he started as though he had been suddenly stabbed the goblet fell from his clasp and a visible shudder ran through his strong sepulled frame the low cold merciless laughter of the beautiful priestess

Starting point is 07:48:28 cut through the air hissingly like the sweep of a cemetery thou art wondrous mary ner jealous she said in languid lazily enunciated accents knowest thou not that too much mirth engenders weeping and that excessive rejoicing hath its fitting end and grievous lamentation nay even now already thou lookest more sadly what sombre cloud has crossed thy wine-hued heaven be happy while thou mayest good fool i blame i blame thee not sooner or later all things must end in the meantime make thou the most of life while life remains tis at its best an uncertain heritage that once rashly squandered can never be restored either here or hereafter the words were gently almost tenderly spoken but ner jealous hearing them grew wide as death his smile faded leaving his lips set when stern as the lips of a marble mask stooping he raised his fallen goblet and held it out almost mechanically to a passing slave who refilled it with wine which he drank off thirstily at a draught though the generous liquid brought no color back to his drawn in ashty features licea paid no further heed to his evident discomfiture bidding saluma and theos follow her she descended the few steps that led from the raised platform into the body of the brilliant hall the rocky screen of amethyst closed behind her as noiselessly as it had opened and in another moment she stood among her assembled guests who had once surrounded her with eager salutations and gracefully worded flatteries smiling on them all with that strange smile of hers that was more scornful than sweet and yet so infinitely bewitching she said little in answer to their greetings she moved as a queen moves through a crowd of courtiers the very light of crimson

Starting point is 07:50:25 and green playing about her like so many sparkles of living flame her dark head wreathed with those jewelled serpents lifting itself proudly erect from her muffling golden mantle and her eyes shining with that frosty gleam of mockery which made them look so lustrous yet so cold and now theos perceived that at one end of the splendid banquet table a dais was erected draped richly in carnation coloured silk and that on this dais a throne was placed a throne composed entirely of black crystals whose needle-like points sparkled with a dark flash as of bayonets seen through the smoke of battle it was cushioned in black velvet and above it was a bent arch of ivory on which glittered a twisted snake of clustered emeralds with that slow superb ease that distinguished all her actions i see attended closely by her tigris mounted the dais and as she did so a loud clash of brazen bells rang out from some invisible turd the the summit of the great dome at the sound of the jangling chime four negresses appeared goblin creatures that looked as though they had suddenly sprung from some sooty subterranean region of gnomes and humbly prostrating themselves before lycia kissed the ground at her feet this down they rose and began to undo the fastenings of her golden domino-like garment but either they were slow or the fair priestess was impatient for she suddenly shook herself free over her of their hands and loosening the gorgeous mantle herself from its jewel clasps it fell slowly from her symmetrical form on the perfumed floor with a rustle as a falling leaves a sigh quivered audibly through the room whether of grief joy hope relief or despair it was difficult to tell the pride and peril of a matchless loveliness was revealed in all its fatal seductiveness and invincible strength the irresistible perfection of woman

Starting point is 07:52:24 woman's beauty was openly displayed to bewilder the sight and roused the reckless passions of man who could look on such delicate dangerous witching charms unmoved who could gaze on the exquisite outlines of a form fairer than that of any sculptured venus and refused to acknowledge his powerfully sweet attraction the virgin priestess of the sun had stepped out of her shrine no longer a creature removed impersonal and sacred she had become most absolutely human moreover she might now have been taken for a buccan the dancer or any other unsexed example of womanhood inasmuch as with her golden mantle she had thrown off all disguise of modesty her beautiful limbs rounded and smooth as pearl could be plainly discerned through the filmy garb of silvery tissue that clung like a pale mist about the voluptuous curves of her figure and floated behind her in shining gossamer folds her dazzling white neck and arms were bare and from slim wrist to snowy shoulder little twining diamond snakes glistened in close coils against the velvety fairness of her flesh a silver servant with a head of sapphires girdled her waist and just above the full wave of her bosom that rose and fell visibly beneath the transparent gathers of her gauzy drapery shown a large fiery jewel fashioned in the semblance of a human eye this singular ornament was so lifelike as to be absolutely repulsive and as it moved to and fro with its wearer's breathing it seemed now to stare aghast anon to flash wickedly as with a thought of evil while more often still is assumed a restlessly watchful expression as though it were the eye of a fiend inquisitor intent on the detection of some secret treachery

Starting point is 07:54:16 poised between those fair white breasts they glared forth a glittering menace a warning of unimaginable horror and theos gazing at it fixively felt a curious thrill run through him as if so to speak a hook of steel had been suddenly thrust into his quivering veins to draw him steadily and securely on toward some pitfall of unknown tortures then he remembered what saluma had said about thee all reflecting eye the weird mirror and potent dazzler of human sight and wondered whether its mystical properties were such as to compel men to involuntarily declare their inmost thoughts for it seemed to him that its sinister growth penetrated into the very deepest recesses of his mind and there discovered all the hidden weaknesses follies and passions of the worst side of his nature he trembled and grew faint his dazed eyes wandered over the dainty grace and marvel of lycia's almost unclad loveliness with mingled emotions of allurement and repugnance fascinated yet at the same time repelled his soul yearned toward her as the soul of the night and the laura legend yearn toward the singing rhine siren whose embrace was destruction and then he became filled with a strange sudden fear feared not for himself but for saluma whose ardent glance burned into her dark languid livid amorous orbs with a lustre flame meeting flame saluma whose beautiful flushed face was as that of a god inspired or a lover triumphant what could he do to shield and save this so idolized friend of his this dear familiar for whom he had such close and ever-increasing sympathy might he not possibly guard him in some way and ward off impending danger but what danger what spectral shadow of dread hovered above this brilliant scene of high feasting and voluptuous revelry none that he could imagine or define and yet he was conscious of an ominous unuttered premonition of peril in the very air peril for saluma always for saluma never for himself

Starting point is 07:56:23 self seemed dead and entombed for ever involuntarily lifting his eyes to the great green dome where the globe of fire twirled rapidly like a rolling star he saw some words written round it in golden letters they were large and distinct and ran thus live in the now but question not the afterwards a wise axiom yet almost a platitude for did not every one occupy themselves exclusively with the now regardless of future consequences of course who but sages or fools would stop to question the afterwards just then lycia ascended her black crystal throne in all her statuesque majesty and sinking indolently amidst sable cushions where she shone she shone in her wonderful whiteness like a glistening pearl said in ebony she signed to her guest to resume their places at table she was instantly obeyed salome took what was evidently his accustomed post at her right hand while theus found a vacant corner on a left next to the picturesque lounging figure of the young man nerjahs who looked up at him with a half-smile as he seated himself and courteously made more room for him among the tumbled-silk silk diapers of the luxurious divan they now shared together near jaz was by no means sober but he had recovered a little of his self-possession since lycia's sleepy eyes had darted such cold contempt upon him and he seemed for the present to be on his guard against giving any further possible cause of offence thou art a newcomer a stranger if i mistake not he inquired in a low abrupt yet kindly tone yes replied theos in the same soft soto i am a mere sojourn in alciris for a few days only the guest of the divine saluma nerjaz raised his eyebrows with an expression of amused wonder divine he ejaculated by my faith

Starting point is 07:58:24 what neophyte have we here and supporting himself on one elbow he stared at his companion as though he saw in him some singular human phenomenon dost thou really believe he went on jestingly in the divinity of poets dost thou think they write what they mean or practise what they preach then art thou the veriest innocent that ever wore the muscular semblance of man poets my friend are the most absolute impostors they melodized their rhymed music on phases of emotion they have never experienced as for instance our laureate yonder will spring a pretty sonnet on the despair of love e knowing nothing of despair he will write of a broken heart his own being unpricked by so much as a pin's point of trouble and he will speak in his verse so of dying of for love when he would not let his little finger ache for the sake of a woman who worshipped him look not so vaguely tis so indeed and as for the divine part of him wait but a little and thou shalt see thy poet god become a sadder he laughed maliciously and theo felt an angry flush rising to his brows he could not bear to hear saluma thus lightly maligned even by this half-drunken reveller it stung him to the quick as if he personally were included in the implied accusation of unworthiness nijalis perceived his annoyance and added good-naturedly tashman vex not thy soul as to thy friend's virtues or vices what are they to thee and if true saluma is no worse than the rest of us all i am maintainers that he is certainly no better i've known many poets in my day and they are all more or less alike petulant as babes peevish as women selfish as misers and conceited as peacocks they should be different oh yes they should be the perpetual youth of mankind

Starting point is 08:00:17 the faithful singers of love idealized and made perfect but then none of us are what we ought to be besides if we were all virtuous by the guise the world would become too dull a hole to live in enough will drink with me and beckoning a slave he had his own goblet and that of theos filled to the brim with wine to our more intimate acquaintance he said smilingly and theo somewhat captivated by the easy courtesy of his manner could do no less then respond cordially to the proffered toes at that moment a triumphant burst of music like the sound of mingled flutes hoat boys and harps pushed through the dome like a strong wind sweeping in from the sea and with it the hum and buzz of conversation began in good earnest theos lifting his gaze toward lycia's sea saw that she was now surrounded by the four attendant negresses who standing two on each side of her throne held large fans of peakeyce cut plumes which as they were waved slowly to and fro emitted a thousand scintillations of jewel-like splendor a slave attired in scarlet knelt in one knee before her proffering a golden salver loaded with his choicest fruits and wines a lazy smile played on her lips lips that out-rivaled the dewy tint of half-opening roses the serpents in her hair and on her rounded arms quivered in the light like living things the great symbolic eye glanced wickedly out from the white beauty of her heaving breast and as he surveyed her thus resplendent in all the startling seductiveness of her dangerous charms were loveliness entranced and intoxicated him like the faint perfume of some rare and powerful exotic his senses seemed to sink drowningly in the whelming influence of her soft and dazzling grace and though he still resented he could not resist her mesmeric power no wonder he thought that saluma's eyes darkened with passions as they dwelt on her

Starting point is 08:02:12 and no wonder that he like saluma was content to be gently but surely drawn within the glittering web of her magic spell a spell fatal yet too bewilderingly sweet for human strength to fight against the mysterious sense he had of danger lurking somewhere for saluma applied so he fancied in no way to himself it did not much matter what happened to him he was a mere nobody he could be of no use anywhere he was as one banished into strange exile his brain that brain he had once deemed so clear so subtle so eminently reasoning and all comprehensible was now nothing but a chaotic confusion of vague suggestions and only served to very slightly guide him in the immediate present giving him no practical clue at all as to the paths through which he had lived or the circumstances he most wished to remember he was a fool a dreamer unguifted and unfamous were he to die not a soul would regret his loss his own fate therefore concerned him little he could handle fire recklessly and not feel the flame he could so he believed run any risk can yet escape comparatively free of harm but with saluma it was different saluma must be guarded and cherished his was a valuable life the life of a genius such a as the world sees for once in a century and it should not so theos determine be imperiled or wasted no not even for the sake of the sensuous exquisite conquering beauty of this dazzling priestess of the sun the fairest sorceress that ever triumphed over the frail yet immortal spirit of man in chapter seventeen chapter eighteen of ardath by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain the love that kills how the time went he could not tell in so gay and gorgeous as seen hours might easily pass with the swiftness of unmarked moments

Starting point is 08:04:18 fields of laughter echoed now and again through the vaulted dome and excited voices were frequently raised in clamorous disputations and contentious arguments that only just shared off the boundary line of an actual quarrel. All sorts of topics were discussed, the laws, the existing mode of government, the latest discoveries in science, and the military prowess of the king, but the conversation chiefly turned on the spread of disloyalty, atheism, and republicanism among the population of Alciras, and the influence of Coase rule on the minds of the lower classes, the episode of the Prophet's late capture and fresh escape seemed to be perfectly. well known to all present though it had occurred so recently one would have thought the detailed account of it had been received through some private telephone communicating with the king's palace as the banquet progressed and the wine flowed more lavishly the assembled guests grew less and less circumspect in their general behaviour they flung themselves full length on their luxurious couches and the laziest attitudes now pulling out handfuls of flowers from the tall porcelain

Starting point is 08:05:32 that stood near and pelting one another with them for mere idle diversion now summoning the attendant slaves to refill their wine-cups while they lay lounging at ease among their heaped-up cushions of silk and embroidery and yet with all the voluptuous freedom of their manners the picturesque grace that distinguished them was never wholly destroyed these young men were dissolute but not coarse bold but not vulgar they took their pleasure in a delicately wanton fashion that was infinitely more dangerous in its influence on the mind than would have been the gross mirth and broad jesting of a similar number of uneducated plebeians the rude licentiousness of an uncultivated boar has its safety valve in disgust in satiety but the soft enervating sensualism of a trained and cultured epicurean aristocrat is a moral poison whose effects are so insidious as to be scarcely felt till all the native nobility of character has withered and naught is left of a man but the shadow wreck of his former self there was nothing repulsive in the half-ironical half-mistievous merriment of these patrish and revellers their witticisms were brilliant and pointed but never indelicate and if their darker passions were roused and ready to run riot they showed as yet no sign of it they enjoyed yes with that selfish animal enjoyment and love of personal indulgence and love of personal indulgence which all men old and young without exception take such delight in unless indeed they be sworn and sorrowful anchorites and even then you may be sure they are always regretting the easy license and libertinage of their bygone days of unbridled independence when they could foster their pet weaknesses cherished their favorite vices and laugh at all creeds and all morality as though divine justice were a mere empty name and they themselves the super essence of creation

Starting point is 08:07:32 ah what a ridiculous spectacle is man the two-legged pigmy of limited brain and still more limited sympathies that standing arrogantly on his little grave the earth coolly criticizes the universe settles law and measures his puny stature against that awful unknown force deeply hidden but majestically existent which for want of ampler designation we call god god whom some of us will scarcely recognize save with the mixture of doubt levity and general reluctance, God whom we never obey unless obedience is enforced by calamity, God whom we never truly love, because so many of us prefer to stake our chances of the future on the possibility of his non-existence. Strangely enough, thoughts of this God, this despised and forgotten Creator, came wandering hazely over Theos' mind at the present moment when glancing round the splendid banquet table he studied the different faces of all assembled, and saw self, self, self, indelibly impressed

Starting point is 08:08:36 on every one of them. Not a single countenance was there that did not openly betray the complacent hauteur and tranquil vanity of absolute egotism, Salumas especially. But then Saluma had something to be proud of, his genius. It was natural that he should be satisfied with himself. He was a great man. But was it well for even a great man to admire his own greatness this was a pertinent question and somewhat difficult to answer a genius must surely be more or less conscious of his superiority to those who have no genius yet why may it not happen on occasions that the so-called fool shall teach a lesson to the so-called wise man then where is the wise man's superiority if a fool can instruct him the oaths found these suggestions curiously puzzling they seemed simple enough and yet they opened up a vista of intricate disquisition which he was in no humour to follow to escape from his own reflections he began to pay close attention to the conversation going on around him and listened with an eager almost painful interest whenever he heard licea's sweet languid voice chiming through the clatter of men's tongues like the silver stroke of a small bell ringing in a storm at sea

Starting point is 08:09:53 and how hast thou left thy pale beauty nefrata she was asking saluma in half cold half caressing accents ther's singing still charm thee as of yore i understand thou hast given her her freedom is that prudent was she not safer as thy slave saluma glanced up quickly in surprise safer she is as safe as a rose in its green she replied what harm should come to her i spoke not of harm said lycia with the lazy smile but the day may come good minstrel when thy sheathed rose may seek some newer sunshine than thy face when thy much poesy may pall upon her spirit and thy love-songs grow stale and she may string her harp to a different tune than the perpetual adoration hymn of saluma the handsome oriott looked amused let her do so then he laughed carelessly were she to leave me i should not miss her greatly a thousand pieces of gold will purchase me another voice as sweet as hers another maid is fair meanwhile the child is free to shape her own fate her own future i bind her no longer to my service nevertheless like the jessamine flower she clings and will not easily unwind the tendrils of her heart from mine poor jessamine flower murmured lycia negligently with a touch of malice in her tone what a rock it doth embrace how little vantage ground it hath wherein to blossom and her drowsyne drowsy eyes shot forth a fiery glance from under their heavily fringed drooping white lids saluma met her look with one of mingled vexation and reproach she smiled and raising a goblet of wine

Starting point is 08:11:35 to her lips kissed the brim and gave it to him with an indescribably graceful swaying gesture of her whole form that reminded one of a tall white lily bowing in the breeze he seized the cup eagerly drank from it and returned it his momentary annoyance whatever it was passed and a joyous elation illumined his fine features then lycia refilling the cup kissed it again and handed it to theos with so much soft animation and tenderness in her face as she turned to him that his enforced calmness nearly gave way and he had much ado to restrain himself from falling at her feet in a transport of passion and crying out love me o thou sorceress sovereign of beauty love me if only for an hour and then let me die for i shall have lived out all the joys of light in one embrace of thine his hand trembled as he took the goblet and he drank half its contents thirstily then imitating saluma's example he returned it to her with her profound salutation her eyes dwelt meditatively upon him what a dark still melancholy countenance is thine sir theo she said abruptly thou art for sure man of strongly repressed and concentrated passions tis a nature i love i would there were more of thy proud and chilly temperament in alcarus our men are like velvet-winged butterflies drinking honey all day and drowsing in sunshine full to the brows of folly frail and delicate as the little dancing maidens of the king nervous too with weak heads that are apt to ache on small provocation and bodies that are apt to fail easily when but slightly fatigued ay thou art a man-cloth complete in manliness moreover she paused and leaning forward so that the dark shower of her perfumed hair brushed his arm hast ever heard travellers talk of volcanoes those marvellous mountains that oft wear crowns of ice on their summits and yet hold unquenchable

Starting point is 08:13:39 fire in their depths methinks thou dost resemble these and that at a touch the flames would leap forth uncontrolled her magical low voice more melodious in tone than the sound of harps played by moonlight on the water thrilled in his ears and set his pulses beating madly with an effort he checked the torrent of love-words that rushed to his lips and looked at her in a sort of wildly wondering appeal her laughter rang out in silvery's sweet ripples and throwing herself lazily back in her throne she called iseth iseth the great tigris instantly bounded forward like an obedient hound and placed its forepaws on her knees while she playfully held a sugared comfit high above its head up iseth up she cried mirthfully up and be like a man for once snatch thy pleasure at all hazards with a roar the savage brute leaped and sprang its sharp white teeth fully displayed its sly green eyes glisteningly prominent and again lycia's rich laughter pealed forth mingling with the impatient snarls of her terrific favorite still she held the tempting morsel in her little snowy hand that glittered all over with rare gems and still the tigris continued to make impotent attempts to reach it growing more and more ferocious with every fresh effort till all at once she shut her palm upon the dainty so that it could not be seen and lightly catching the irritated beast by the throat brought its eyes on a level with her own the effect was instantaneous a strong shudder passed through its frame and it cowered and crouched lower and lower in abject fear the sweat broke out and stood in large drops on its sleek hide and panting heavily as the firm grasp its mistress slowly relaxed it sank down prone in trembling abasement on the second step of the dais still looking up into those densely brilliant gazette

Starting point is 08:15:39 gazelle eyes that were full of such deadly fascination and merciless tyranny good eise said lycia then in that language soft voice that while so sweet suggested hidden treachery gentle fondling thou hast fairly earned thy reward here take it and unclosing her rosyot palm she showed the desired bonbouche and offered it with a pretty coaxing air but the tigress now refused to touch it and lay it still as an animal of painted stone what a true philosopher she is my sweet isit she went on amusedly stroking the creature's head her feminine wit teaches her what the dull brains of men can never grasp namely that pleasures no matter how sweet turn to ashes and wormwood when once obtained and that the only happiness in this world is the charm of desire there is a subject for thee saluma write an immortal ode on the mysteries the delights the never-ending ravishment of desire but carry not thy fancy on to desire's fulfilment for there thou shalt find infinite bitterness the soul that willfully gratifies its dearest wish has stripped life of its supremest joy and stands thereafter in an emptied sphere sorrowful and alone with nothing left to hope for nothing to look forward to save death the end of all ambition nay fair lady said theo suddenly we who deem ourselves the children of the high gods and the offspring of a spirit eternal may surely aspire to something beyond this death that like a black seal closes up the brief scroll of our merely human existence and to us therefore ambition should be ceaseless for if we master the world there are yet more worlds to win

Starting point is 08:17:35 and if we find one heaven we do but accept it as a pledge of other heavens beyond it the aspirations of man are limitless hence his best assurance of immortality else why should he perpetually long for things that here are impossible of attainment things that like faint floating clouds rimmed with light suggest without declaring a glory unperceived lycia looked at him steadfastly an under gleam of malice shining in her slumberous eyes why because good sir the god's love mirth and the wanton immortals are never more thoroughly diverted than when leaning downward from their clear they behold manned their insect toy arrogating to himself a share in their imperishable essence to keep up the eternal jest they torture him with vain delusions and prick him on with hopes never to be realized aye and the whole vast heaven may well shake with thunderous laughter at the pride with which he doth put forth his puny claim to be elected to another and fairer state of existence what hath he done what does he do to merit a future life are his deeds so noble is his wisdom so great is his mind so stainless he the oppressor of all nature and of his brother man he the insolent self-opinionated tyrant yet bound slave of the earth on which he dwells why should he live again and carry his ignoble presence into the splendors of an eternity too vast for him to comprehend nay nay i perceive thou art one of the credulous for whom a reasonless worship to an unproved deity is for the sake of state policy maintain i have thought thee wiser but no matter thou shalt pay thy vows to the shrine of negalia to-morrow and see with what glorious pomp and panoply we impose on my own

Starting point is 08:19:25 a faithful who like thee believe in their own deathless and divinely constituted natures and in joy to the full the grand conceit that persuades them of their right to immortality her words carried with them a certain practical positiveness of meaning and theos was somewhat impressed by their seeming truth after all it was a curious and unfounded conceit of a man to imagine himself the possessor of an immortal soul and yet if all things were the outcome of a divine creative influence was it not unjust of that creative influence to endow all humanity with such a belief if it had no foundation whatever and could injustice be associated with divine law he theos for instance was certain of his own immortality so certain that surrounded as he was by this brilliant company of evident atheists he felt himself to be the only real and positive existing being among an assembly of shadow figures but it was not the time or the place to enter into a theological discussion especially with lycia and for the moment at least he allowed her assertions to remain uncontradicted he sat however in a somewhat stern silence now and then glancing wistfully and anxiously at saluma on whom the potent wines were beginning to take effect and who had just thrown himself down on the dais at lycia's feet close to the tigris that still lay couched there in immovable quiet it was a picture worthy of the grandest painter's brush that glistening throne black is jet with the fair form of licea shining within it like a white sea-nymph that rest in a grotto of ocean stalactites the fantastically attired negresses on each side with their waving peacock plumes the vivid carnation color of the dais against which the black and yellow stripes of the tigres showed up in strong and brilliant contrast and the graceful jewel-deck figure of the poet laureate who half sitting half reclining on a

Starting point is 08:21:21 black velvet cushion leaned his handsome head indolently against the silvery folds of lycia's robe and looked up at her with eyes in which burned the ardent admiration and scarcely restrained passion of a privileged lover suddenly and quite involuntarily theo's thought of nefrata alas poor maiden how utterly her devotion to saluma was wasted why did he care for her timid tenderness her unselfish worship nothing less than nothing he was entirely absorbed by the sovereign peerless beauty of this wonderful high priestess this witch-like weaver spells more potent than those of circe and musing there on theos was sorry for nefrata he knew not why he felt that she had somehow been wronged that she suffered and that he as well as saluma was in some mysterious way to blame for this though he could by no means account for his own share in the dimly suggested reproach this peculiar remorseful emotion was transitory like all the vaguely incomplete ideas that traveled mistily through his perplexed brain, and he soon forgot it in the increasing animation and interest of the scene that immediately surrounded him. The general conversation was becoming more and more noisy, and the laughter more and more boisterous. Several of the young men were now very much the worse, where their frequent libations and Nerjalus, particularly, began again to show marked symptoms of an inclination to break loose from all the bonds of prudent reserve. he lay full length on his silk divan his feet touching theos who sat upright and singing little snatches of song to himself he pulled the vine wreath from his tumbleed fair locks as though he found it too weighty and flung it on the ground among the other debris of the feast then folding his arms lazily behind his head he stared straight and fixedly before him at lycia

Starting point is 08:23:10 seeming to note every jewel on her dress every curve of her body every slight gesture of her hand every faint cold smile that played on her lovely lips one young man whom the others addressed as or maz a haughty handsome fellow enough though with rather a sneering mouth just visible under his black moustache was talking somewhat excitedly on the subject of coast's cunningly devised flight for it seemed to be universally understood that the venerable prophet was one of the circle of mystics person whose knowledge of science especially in matters connected with electricity enabled them to perform astonishing juggleries that were frequently accepted by the uninitiated vulgar as almost divine miracles not very long ago according to ormas who was animatedly recalling the circumstance for the benefit of the company the words fall al-ciras had appeared emblazoned in letters of fire on the sky at midnight and the phenomenon had been accompanied by two tremendous valleys of thunder to the infinite consternation of the multitude who received it as a supernatural manifestation but a member of the king's privy counsel a satirical sceptic and mistrust of everybody's word but his own undertook to sift the matter and adopting the dress of the mystics managed to introduce himself into one of their secret assemblies wherewith considerable astonishment he saw them make use of a small wire by means of which they wrote in characters of azure flame on the whiteness of a blank wall moreover he discovered that they possessed a lofty turret built secretly and securely in a deep unfrequented grove of trees from whence with the aid of various curious instruments and reflectors they could fling out any pattern or device they chose on the sky so that it should seem to be written by the finger of lightning having elucidated these mysteries and become highly edified thereby the learned counsellor returned to the king and gave full information as to the result of his researches

Starting point is 08:25:10 whereupon forty mystics were at once arrested and flung into prison for life and their nefarious practices were made publicly known to all the inhabitants of the city since then no so-called spiritual demonstrations had taken place till now when on this very night zepharanum presence chamber had been suddenly enveloped in the thunderous and terrifying darkness which had so successfully covered coast-rules escape the king should have slain him at once declared ormaz nithatically turning to lycia as he spoke i am surprised that his majesty permitted so flagrant an impostor and trespasser of the law to speak one word or live one moment in his royal presence thou art surprised or maz at most things especially those which savour of simple good-nature and forbearance responded lycia coldly thou art a wolfish youth and wouldst tear thine own brother to shreds if he thwarted thy pleasure for myself i see little cause for astonishment that a soldier hero like zepheronim should take some pity on so frail and aged a wreck of human wit as coast rule coast rule blasphemes the fate what then do ye not all blaspheme not in the open streets said ormas hastily no ye have not the medal for that and lycia smiled darkly while the great eye on her breast flashed forth a sardonic lustre strong as ye all are and young ye lack the bravery of the weak old man who mad as he may be has at least the courage of his opinions who is there here that believes in the sun as a god or in a gaya as a mediator not one but ye are culture hypocrites all and careful to keep your heresy secret and thou lycia suddenly cried nerjalous why if thou canst so liberally admire the valor of thy sworn enemy co's rule why dost not thou step boldly forth and abjure the faith thou art priestess of yet in thy heart deridedst as a miserable superstition

Starting point is 08:27:04 she turned her splendid flashing orb slowly upon him what an awful chill steely glitter leaped forth from their velvet soft depths for thee be heedful of thy speech good ner jealous she said with a quiver in her voice curiously like the suppressed snarl of her pet tigris the majority of men are fools like thee and need to be ruled according to their folly ormas broke into a laugh and thou dost rule them wise virgin with a rod of iron he said satirically the king himself is but a slave in thy hands the king is a devout believer remarked a dainty effeminate-looking youth arrayed in a wonderfully picturesque garb of glisting purple he pays his vows to maga three times a day at sunrise noon and sunset and tis said he hath oft been seen of late and silent meditation alone before the sacred veil even after midnight maybe he is there at this very moment offering up a royal petition for those of his less pious subjects who like ourselves love good wine more than long prayers ah he is a most austere and noble monarch a very anchorite and pattern of strict religious discipline and he shook his head to and fro with an air of mock solemn fervor every one laughed and ormast playfully threw a cluster of half-crushed roses at the speaker hold thy foolish tongue farnham he said the king doth but show a fitting example to his people there is a time to pray and a time to feast and our zephronim can do both as becomes a man but of his midnight meditations i've heard not since when hath he deserted his cord of love for the colder chambers of the sacred temple asked lycia muttered nerjalis drowsily under his breath she knows more of the king than she cares to confess his words was spoken in a low voice and yet they were distinct enough for all present to hear a glance of absolute dismay went round the table and a breathless silence followed like the ominous hush of a heated atmosphere before a thunder-clap

Starting point is 08:29:02 mary jallis apparently struck by the sudden stillness looked lazily round from among the tumble cushions where he reclined a vacant tipsy smile on his lips what a company of mutes ye are he said thickly did ye not hear me i badge ye ask lycia and all at once he sat bolted upright his face crimsoning as with an access of passion asked lycia he repeated loudly ask her why the mighty zaffronum creeps in and out the sacred temple at midnight like a skulking slave instead of a king at midnight when he should be shut within his palace walls playing the fool among his women i warrant tis not piety that persuades him to wander through the underground passage of the tombs alone and in disguise saluma pretty pampered hound as thou art thou art near enough to our lady of witcheries ask her ask her she knows in his voice sank into an incoherent murmur she knows more than she cares to confess another deep and death-like pause ensued and then licea's silvery cold tones smote the profound silence with calm clear resonance friend nerjalish she said how tuneful were her accents how chilly sweet her smile methinks thou art grown altogether too wise for this world tis pity thou shouldst continue to linger in so narrow and incomplete a sphere depart hence therefore i shall freely excuse thine absence since thy hour has come and taking from the table at her side a tall crystal chalice fashioned in the form of a lily set on a golden stem she held it up toward him starting wildly from his couch he looked at her as though doubting whether he had heard her words aright a strong shudder shook him from head to foot his hands clenched themselves convulsively together and then slowly slowly he staggered

Starting point is 08:30:54 staggered to his feet and stood upright he was suddenly but effectually sober the flush of intoxication died off his cheeks and his eyes grew strained and piteous the eust watching him in wondering fear saw his broad chest he with the rapid drawn gasping of his breath he advanced a step or two then all at once stretched out his hands in imploring agony lycia he murmured heskily lycia pardon spare me for the sake of past love have pity at this saluma sprang up from his lounging posture on the dais his hand on the hilt of his dagger his whole face flaming with wrath by my solely cried what doth this fellow prayed of past love thou profane boaster how darest thou speak of love to the priestess of the faith no jealous heeded him not his eyes were fixed on lycia like the eyes of a tortured animal who vainly seeks for mercy at the hand of its destroyer step by step he came hesitatingly to the foot of her throne and it was then that theos perceived near at hand a person which he immediately recognized the black scarlet-clad slave gasea who had brought lycia's message to saluma that same afternoon he had made his appearance now so swiftly and silently that it was impossible to tell where he had come from and he stood close to nerjalius his muscular arms folded tightly across his chest and his hideous mouth contorted into a grin of cruel amusement and expectancy absolute quiet reigned within the magnificent banquet hall the music had ceased and not a sound could be heard save the delicate murmur of the wind outside swaying the water-lilies on the moonlit lake every one's attention was centered on the unhappy young man who with lifted head and rigidly clasped hands faced lycia as a criminal face as a judge licea whose dazzling smile beamed upon him with the brightness of summer sunbeams licea whose exquisite voice lost none of its richness as she spoke his doom

Starting point is 08:32:52 by the vow which thou hast vowed to me nirjalus she said slowly and by thine oath sworn on the symbolic eye of raffan here she touched the dreadful jewel on her breast which bound thy life to my keeping and thy death to my day of choice i herewith bestow on thee the chalice of oblivion the silver nectar of peace sleep and wake no more drink and die the gateways of the kingdom of silence stand open to receive thee thy service is finished fare thee well with the utterance of the last word she gave him the glittering cup she held he took it mechanically and for one instant glared about him on all sides scanning the faces of the attentive guests as though in the faint hope of some pity some attempt to rescue but not a single look of compassion was bestowed upon him save by theos who full of struggling amazement and horror would have broken out into indignant remonstrance had not an imperative glance from saluma warned him that any interference on his part would only make matters worse he therefore sorely against his will and only for saluma's sake kept silence watching her jealous meanwhile in a sort of horrible fascination there was something truly awful in the radiant unquenchable laughter that lurked in lycia's lovely eyes something positively devilish in the grace of her manner as with a negligent movement she reseated herself in her crystal throne and taking a knot of magnolia flowers that lay beside her idly toyed with their creamy buds all the while keeping her basilisk gaze fixed immovably and relentlessly on her sentenced victim he grasping the lily shaped chalice convulsively in his right hand looked up despairingly to the polished dome of malachite with his revolving globe of fire that shed a solemn blood-red glow upon his agonized young face a smile was on his lips the dreadful smile of desperate maddened misery oh ye malignant gods he cried fiercely ye immortal furies that made woman for man's torture bear witness to my death bear witness to my parting spirit's malediction

Starting point is 08:34:56 cursed be they who love unwisely and too well cursed be all the wiles of desire and the haunts of dear passion cursed be all fair faces whose fairness lures men to destruction cursed be the warmth of caresses the beating of heart against heart the kisses that color midnight with fire cursed be loved from birth and to death may its sweetness be brief and its bitterness endless its delight of snare and its promised treachery o ye mad lovers fools all and he turned his splendid wild eyes round on the hushed assemblage despise me in my words as ye will throughout ages to come the curse of the dead nerjalous shall cling he lifted the goblet to his lips and just then his delirious glance lighted on saluma i drink to thee sir laureate he said hoarsely and with a ghastly attempt at levity seeing as sweetly as thou wilt thou must drain the same cup ere long and without another second's hesitation he drank off the entire contents of the chalice at a draught scarcely had he done so when with a savage scream he fell prone on the ground his limbs twisted in acute agony his features hideously contorted his hands beating the air wildly as though in contention with some invisible foe while in strained and terrible dissonance with his tortured cries licea's laughter music lumella broke out in little quick peals like the laughter of a very young child ah ah nerjala she exclaimed thou dost suffer that as well i do rejoice to see thee fighting for life in the very jaws of death fain would i have all men thus tortured out of their proud and tyrannous existence their strength made strengthless their arrogance brought to naught their egotism and vain glory beaten to the dust ah ah thou that worked the complacent braggard of love the self-sufficient proclaimer of thine own prowess where is thy boast of vigor now writhe on good fool thy little day is done all honor to the silver nectar whose venom never fails

Starting point is 08:36:53 leaning forward eagerly she clapped her hands in a sort of fierce ecstasy and apparently startled by the sound the tigress rose up from its couch and shaking itself with a snarling yawn glared watchfully at the convulsed human wretch whose struggles became with each moment more and more frightful to witness the impassive cold-blooded calmness with which all the men present even saluma looked on at the revoked and spectacle of their late comrades torture filled theos with shuddering abhorrence sick at heart he strove to turn away his eyes from the straining throat and upturned face of the miserable a face that had a moment or two before been beautiful but was now so disfigured as to be almost beyond recognition presently as the anguish of the poison victim increased shriek after shriek broke from his pallid lips rolling himself on the ground like a wild beast he bit his hands and arms in his frenzy till he was covered with blood and again and yet again the dulcet laughter of the high priestess echoed through the length and breadth of the splendid hall and even saluma the poet saluma condescended to smile that smile so cold so cruel so unpitying made theos for a moment hate him of what use he thought was it to be a writer of soft and delicate verse if the inner nature of the man was merciless selfish and utterly regardless of the woes of others the rest of the guests were profoundly indifferent they kept silence it is true but they went on drinking their wine with perfectly unabated enjoyment they were evidently accustomed to such scenes the attendant slaves stood all mute and motionless with the exception of goswa who surveyed the torments of nerjalis with an air of professional interest and appeared to be waiting till they should have reached that pitch of excruciating agony when nature exhausted gives up the conflict and welcomes death as a release from pain but this desirable end was not yet suddenly springing to his feet nerjalus tore open his richly jewelled vest and pressed his two hands hard upon his heart upon his heart the veins in his flesh were swollen and blue

Starting point is 08:38:44 his labored breath seemed as though it must break his ribs in its terrible panting struggle his face livid and lined with purple marks like heavy bruises bore not a single trace of its former fairness and his eyes rolled up and fixed glassily in their quivering sockets seemed to be dreadfully filled with the speechless memory of his rightly spoken curse he staggered toward theos and dropped heavily on his knees kill me he moaned piteously feebly pointing to the sheathed dagger in the other's belt in mercy kill me one thrust release me this agony is more than i can bear kill kill his voice died away in an inarticulate gasping cry and theo stared down upon him in dizzy fear and horror for he had seen this same murjalous dying thus cruelly before oh god where where had this tragedy been previously enacted bewildered and overcome with unspeakable dread he drew his down dagger. He would at least, he thought, put the tortured sufferer out of his misery, but scarcely had his weapon left the sheath when Lycia's clear, cold voice, exclaimed, Disharmed him, and with the silent rapidity of a lightning flash, Gosworth glided to his side, and the steel was snatched from his hand, full of outraged pride and wrath, he sprang up a torrent of words, rushing to his lips, but before he could utter one, two slaves pounced upon him,

Starting point is 08:39:54 and holding his arms, dexterously wound a silk scarf tight about his mouth. Be silent, whispered someone in his ear. as you value your life and the life of saluma be silent but he cared nothing for this warning reckless of consequences he tore the scarf away and breaking loose from the hands that held him made abound toward lycia here he paused her eyes met his languidly shedding a sombre mysterious light upon him through the black shower of her abundant hair the evil glitter of the great symbolic gem she wore fixed him with its stony yet mesmeric luster a delicious smile parted her rosy at lips and breaking off a magnolia bud from the cluster she held she kissed and gave it to him be it peace good the low tender tone beware of taking up arms in the defence of the unworthy rather reserve thy courage for those who know how best to reward thy service as one in a trance he took the flower she offered his fragrance subtle and sweet seemed to steal into his vein and robbed his manhood of all strength sinking submissively at her feet he gazed up at her in wondering wistfulness and ardent admiration never was there a woman so bewilderingly beautiful as she what were the sufferings of nerjalous now what was anything compared to the strangely enervating ecstasy he felt in letting his eyes dwell fondly on the fairness of her face the whiteness of her half-veiled bosom the delicate sheenie dazzle of her polished skin the soft and supple curves of her whole exquisite form and spell-bellon by the witchery of her loveliness he almost forgot the very presence of her dying victim occasionally indeed he glanced at the agonized creature where he lay huddled on the ground in the convulsive throes of his dreadful death struggle but it was now with precisely the same quiet and disdainful smile as that for which he had momentarily hated saluma

Starting point is 08:41:36 there was a sound of singing somewhere singing that had a mirthful underthrobbing in it as though a thousand light-footed fairies were dancing to its sweet refrain and her jealous heard it dying inch by inch as he was he heard it and with the last superhuman effort forced himself up once more to his feet his arms stiffly outstretched his anguish dies full of us softened strangely piteous glory to die he whispered in awed accents that penetrated the air with singular clearness to die nay not so there is no death i see it all i know to die is to live to live again and to remember to remember and repent to past and with the last word he fell heavily face forward a corpse at the same moment a terrific roar resounded through the dome and the tigress iseefe sprang stealthily down from the dais and pounced upon the warm lifeless body mounting guard over it in an ominously significant attitude with glistening eyes flashing tail and nervously quivering claws a slight thrill of horror ran through the company but not a man moved i zeep i zeep called lycia imperiously the animal looked round with an angry snarl and seemed for once disposed to disobey the summons of its mistress she therefore rose from her throne and stepping forward with a swift agile grace caught the savage beast by the neck and dragged it from its desired prey then with the point of her little silver-sandled foot she turned the fallen face of the dead man slightly round so that she might observe it more attentively and noting its livid disfigurement smiled so much for the beauty and dignity of manhood she said with a contemptuous shrug of her snowy shoulders all perished in the space of a few brief moments look you ye fair sirs that take pride in your strength and muscular attainments ye shall not find in all alchirous a fairer face or more nobly knit frame than was possessed by this dead fool nerjalus and yet lo how the silver nectar doth make havoc on the sinews of adamant the nerves of steel the stalwart limbs tried by the touchstone of death ye are with all your vaunted intelligence

Starting point is 08:43:29 your domineering audacity and self-love no better than the slain dogs that serve vultures for carrion moreover ye are less than dogs in honesty and vastly ashamed by them infidelity she laughed scornfully as she spoke still grasping the tigress by the neck in one slight hand and her glorious eyes flashed as mocking defiance on all the men assembled their countenances exhibited various expressions of uneasiness amounting to fear some few smiled forciedly others feigned careless indifference saluma flushed an angry red and theos though he knew not why felt a sudden pricking sense of shame she marked all these signs of disquietude with apparently increasing amusement for a lovely face grew warm and radiant with suppressed malicious mirth she made a slight imperative of command to gosra who at once approached and bending over the dead nerjalius proceeded to strip off all the gold clasks and valuable jewels that had so lavishly adorned the ill-fated young man's attire then beckoning another slave nearly as tall and muscular as himself they attached to the neck and feet of the corpse round leaden bullet-shaped weights fastened by means of heavy iron chains this done they raised the body from the floor and carried it between them to the central and largest casement of all that stood open to the midnight air and with a dexterous movement flung it out into the waters of the lake beneath it fell with a sullen splash the pale lilies on the surface rocking stormily to and fro as though blown by a gust of wind while great circling ripples shone softly in the yellow gleam of the moonlight as the dead man sank down down down like a stone into his crystal quiet gray licea returned to her throne with a serene step and unruffled brow followed by the sulky and disappointed iseth smiling gently on theo since aluma she reseated herself and touched a small bell at her side it gave a sharp cling-clang like a suddenly struck symbol and low the marble floor yawned asunder and the banquet-table with all its costly fruits and flowers vanished underground with the swiftness of lightning the floor closed again the broad circular centre space of the hall was now clear from all obstruction

Starting point is 08:45:31 and the company of revelers rise themselves a little from their drowsy postures of half inebriated languor the singing voices that had stirred their jalous to sudden animation even in his dying agony sounded nearer and mirror and the globe of fire overhead changed its huge hue from that of crimson to a delicate pink at the extreme end of the glittering vista pale green transparent columns a door suddenly opened and a flock of doves came speeding forth their white spread wings coloured softly in the clear rose radiance they circled round and round the dome three times then fluttered in a palpitating arch over lycia's head and finally sped straight across the hall to the other end where they streamed snowly through another aperture and disappeared still nearer rippled the sound of singing and all at once a troop of girls came dancing noiselessly as fireflies into the full quivering pinkness of the jewel-like light that floated about them girls as lovely as delicate as dainty as cyclamons that wave in the woods in the early days of an italian spring their garments were so white so transparent so filmy and clinging that they looked like elves robed in mountain vapor rather than human creatures there were fifty of them in all and as they tripped forward they like the doves that had heralded their approach surrounded lycia flutteringly saluting her with gestures of exquisite grace and devout humility while she enthroned in supreme fairness with her tigris crouched beside her looked down on them like a goddess calmly surveying a crowd of vesta worshippers their salutations done they rush pell-mell like a shower of white rose-leaves drifting before a gale into the exact centre of the hall and there poising bird-like with their snowy arms upraised as though about to fly they waited their lovely face is radiant with laughter their eyes this flashing dangerous allurement, their limbs glistening like polished alabaster through the gauziata that betrayed rather than concealed their exquisite forms, then came the soft

Starting point is 08:47:21 visicato of pulled strings and a tinkling jangle of silver bells beating out a measured languorous rhythm, and with one accord they all merged together in the voluptuous grace of a dance, more ravishing, more wild and wondrous than ever a poet pictured in his word fantasies of fairyland. theews drank in the intoxicating delight of this scene with eager dazzled eyes and heavily beating heart the mysterious passion of mingled love and hatred he felt for lycia stole over him more strongly than ever in the sultry air of this strange night this night of sweet delirium in which all that was most dangerous and erring in his nature woke into life and mastered his better will a curious instinctive knowledge swept across his mind namely that saluma's emotions were the faithful reflex of his own but as he had felt no anger against his rival in fame so now he had no jealousy of his possible rival in love their sympathies were too closely united for distrust to mar the friendship so ardently begun nevertheless as he fell resistlessly deeper and deeper into the glittering snares there were spread for his destruction he was conscious of evil though he lacked force to overcome it at any rate he would save saluma from harm he resolved if he could not save himself meantime he watched the bewildering evolutions and witching entanglement of the gliding maze of fair faces snowy bosoms untwining limbs thou palpitated to and fro under the soft rose-light of the dome like white flowers coloured by the sunset and glancing ever and again at lycia's imperial sorcerous beauty he thought dreamily better the love that kills than no love at all and he thereupon gave himself up a vile and terry captive to the sway of his own passions determining to enjoy the immediate present no matter what the future might have in store outside the water-lilies nodded themselves to sleep and their shrouding

Starting point is 08:49:03 dark leaves and the unbroken smoothness of the lake spread itself out in the moon like a sheet of molten gold over the spot where nerjalis had found his chilly rest the curse of the dead nerjalus shall cling yes possibly in the hereafter but now his parting malice sun seemed but a foolish clamor against destiny he was gone none of his late companions missed him none regretted him like all dead men once dead he was soon forgotten end of chapter eighteen chapter nineteen of ardaef by marie corelli this libravox recording is in the public domain chapter nineteen a strange temptation on went the dance faster faster and even faster only the pen of some mirth-loving rose-crowned greek bard could adequately describe the dazzling wild beauty and fantastic grace of those whirling fairy forms that now inspired to a beckont-like ardor urged one another to fresh speed with brief soft cries of musical rapture now advancing now retreating now intermingling altogether in an undulating garland of living loveliness now parting asunder with an air of sweet coquettishness and caprice anon meeting again and winding arm within arm still bending forward in attitudes of the tenderest entreaty they seemed with their languid praying eyes and clasped hands to be waiting for love to soothe the breathless sweetness of their parted lips with kisses the light in the dome again changed its hue from pale rose pink to flickered to delicate amber-green flooding the floor with a radiance as of watery moonbeams

Starting point is 08:51:03 and softening the daintily draped outlines of that exquisite group of human blossoms till they looked like the dimly imagined shapes of naryads floating on the glistening width of the sea and now the extreme end of the vast hall began to waver to and fro as though shaken at its foundation by subterranean forces a flaring shaft of flame struck through it like the sweeping blade of a titan sword and presently with a thunderous noise the whole wall slid asunder and recoiling backwards on either side disclosed a garden golden with the sleepy glory of the late moon and peacefully fair in all the dreamy attractiveness of drooping foliage saw that soft turf and star-sprinkled violet sky in full view and lit up by the reflected radiance flung out from the dome a rushing waterfall made sonorous surgy music of its own as a tumbled headlong into a rocky recess overgrown with lotus-lilies and flumy fern here and there small white and gold tents or pavilions glimmered invitingly through the shadows cast by the great magnolia trees from whose lovely half-shut buds balmy odors crept delicious through the warm air the sound of sweet pipes and faintly tinkling symbols echoed from distant shady nooks as though elfin shepherds were guarding their fairy flocks in some hidden corner of this ambrosial pasturage and ever by degrees the light grew warmer and more mellow intent till it resembled the deep hue of an autumn yellow sunset flecked through with emerald haze another clash of symbols this time stormily persistent and convincing another yet another and then a chime of bells a steady ringing persuasive chime such as brings tears to the eyes of many a wanderer who hearing a similar sound and far away from home straightway thinks of the village church of his earlier years

Starting point is 08:52:59 those years of the best happiness we ever know on earth because we enjoy in them the bliss of ignorance the glory of youth a curious stifling sensation began to oppress the o's heart as he listened to those bells they reminded him of such strange things things things to which he could not give a name things foolish yet sweet odd suggestions of fair women who were wont to pray for those they loved and who believed alas the pity of it that their prayers would be heard and granted what was it that these dear loving credulous ones said when in the silence of the night they offered up their patience supplications to an irresponse of heaven lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil yes he remembered those were the words the simple wise words that four positive practical minds had neither meaning nor reason and that yet were so infinitely pathetic in their perfect humility and absolute trust lead us not into temptation he murmured the phrase under his breath as he gazed with straining eyes out into the languorous beauty of that garden scene that spread its dewy emerald glamour before him and deliver us from evil broke from his lips in a half sobbing sigh as the peal of the chiming bell softened by degrees into a subdued tunefulness of indistinct and tremulous semitones and the clarion clearness of the symbols again smote the still air with forceful and jarring clangler than like a rainbow-garmented parry floating easily out of some far-off sphere of sky wonders an aerial maiden-shape glided into the full lustre of the varying light a dancer nude save for the pearly glisting veil that was carelessly cast about her dainty limbs her white arms and delicate ankles being adorned with circling

Starting point is 08:54:45 of tiny golden bells which kept up a melodious jingle jangle-jangle as she moved and now began the strangest music music that seemed to hover capriciously between luscious melody and harsh discord a wild and curious medley of fantastic minor suggestions in which the imaginative soul might discover hints of tears and folly love and madness to this uncertain yet luptuous measure the glittering girl dancer leaped forward with a startlingly beautiful abruptness and halting as it were, on the boundary line between the dome and the garden beyond, raised her rounded arms in a snowy arch above her head, and so for one brief instant looked like an exquisite angel ready to soar upward to her native realm. Her pause was a mere breathing space in duration, dropping her arms again with a swift decision, thus set all the little bells on them clashing stormily, she straightway hurled herself, so to speak, into the giddy paces of a dance that was more like an enigma than an exercise.

Starting point is 08:55:47 Round and round she floated wildly, like an opal-winged butterfly in a net of sunbeams, now seemingly shaken by delicate tremors as aspen leaves are shaken by the faintest wind, now assuming the most voluptuous eccentricities of posture, sometimes bending wistfully toward the velvet turf on which she trod, as though she listened to the chanting of demon voices underground, and again with her waving white hands,

Starting point is 08:56:12 appearing to summon spirits downward from their wanderings in upper air. Her figure was in perfect harmony with the seductive grace of her gestures, not only her twinkling feet, but her whole body danced. Her very features bespoke entire abandonment to the frenzy of rapid movement. Her large black eyes flashed with something of fierceness as well as languor. Her raven hair streamed behind her like a dark spread wing. Her parted lips pouted and quivered with excitement and ardor. while ever and anon she turned her beautiful head toward the eagerly attentive group of revellers who watched her performance with an air of indescribable sweetness malice and mockery again and again she whirled she flew she sprang

Starting point is 08:56:55 and wild cries of hail nalida triumph to nelita resounded uproariously through the dome suddenly the character of the music changed from an appealing murmurous complaint and persuasion it rose to a martial and almost menacing fervor the roll of drums and the shrill reedy warbling of pipes and other flutty minstrelsy cross the silvery thread of strong harps and viols the light from the fiery globe shot forth a new effulgence this time and two broad rays one a dazzling pale azure the other clear pearly white nalida's graceful movements grew slower and slower till she merely seemed to sway indolently to and fro like a mermaid rocking herself to sleep on the summit of a wave and then from among the veiling shadows of the trees there stepped forth a man beautiful as a sculptured god of magnificently moulded form and noble stature clothed from chest and knee in a close fitting garb of what seemed to be a thick network of massively linked gold his dark hair was crowned with ivy and at his belt gleamed an unsheathed dagger slowly and with courtly grace he approached the panting nalita who now with half-closed eyes and slackening steps looked as a looked as though she were drowsily footing her way into dreamland he touched her snowy shoulder she started with an inimitable gesture of surprise a smile brilliant as morning dawn on her face withdrawing herself slightly she assumed an air of haughtily sweet disdain and refusal then capriciously relenting she gave him her hand and in another instant to the sound of a joyous melody that seemed to tumble through the air as billows tumble on the beach the dazzling pair whirled away in a giddy wall like two bright flames blown suddenly together by the wind no language could give an adequate idea of the marvellous bewitchment and beauty of their united movements

Starting point is 08:58:49 and as they flew over the dark smooth turf with the flower-laden trees drooping duly about them and the yellow moon beams like melted amber beneath their noiseless feet while the pale sapphire and white radiations from the dome sparkling upon them orio wise gave them the appearance of glittering birds circling through a limitless space of luminous and never clouded ether on on and they scarcely touched the earth as they spun dizzily round and round their gracefully entwined limbs shining like polished ivory in the light on on with ever-increasing swiftness they sped till their two forms seemed to merge into one when as though oppressed by their own abandonment of joy they paused hoveringly their embracing arms closing round one another their lips almost touching their eyes reflecting each other's ardent looks then their figures grew less and less distinct they appeared to melt mysteriously into the azurely pearly light that surrounded them and finally like faint clouds fading on the edge of a sea horizon they vanished the effect of this brief voluptuous dance in its equally voluptuous end was simply indescribable young men who had watched it through in silence and flushed ecstasy now sprang from their couches with shouts of rapture and unrestrained excitement and seizing the other dancing maidenshood till now remained in clustered half-hidden groups behind the crystalline columns of the hall whirl them often to the inviting pleasance beyond where the little white and gold pavilions peeped through the heavy foliage and before theos in the picturesque hurry and confusion of the scene could quite realize what had happened the great globe in the dome was suddenly extinguished a firm hand closed imperiously on his own and he was drawn along swiftly he knew not whither a slight tremor shook him as he discovered that saluma was no longer by his side the friend whom he so ardently desired to protect

Starting point is 09:00:43 had gone, and he could not tell where, he glanced about him. In the semi-obscurity he was able to discern the sheen of the lake with its white burden of water-lilies, and the branchy outlines of the moonlit garden, and, yes, it was Lycia, whose grass lay so warmly on his arm, Lycia, whose lovely, tempting face was so perilously near his own. Lycia, whose smile-colored the soft gloom with such alluring luster, his heart beat, his blood burned, he strove in vain to imagine what fate was now in a moment. and store for him he was conscious of the beauty of the night that spread its star embroidered splendors about him conscious too of the vital youth and passion that throbbed amorously in his veins endowing him with that keenly sweet headstrong rapture which is said to come but once in a lifetime

Starting point is 09:01:30 and which in the very excess of its fond folly is too often apt to bring sorrow and endless remorse in its train one moment more and he found himself in an exquisitely adorned pavilion of painted silk faintly lit by one lamp of tenderest rose luster and carpeted with gold-spangled tissue it was surrounded by a thicket of orange trees in full bloom and the fragrance of the waxen white flowers clung heavily to the air breathing forth delicate suggestions of languor and sleep the measured rush of the near waterfall alone disturbed the deep silence with now and then the subdued and plaintive trill of a nightingale soothing itself to rest with its own song in some deep shadowed copse here on a couch of heaped up stemless roses such as might have been prepared for the repose of titania lycia seated herself while theo stood gazing at her in fascinated wonderment and gradually increasing masterfulness of passion she looked lovelier than ever in that dim soft mingled of rosy lamp and silver moonbeams her smile was no longer cold but warmly sweet her eyes had lost their mocking glitter and swam in a soft languor that was strangely bewitching even the orbed symbol on her white bosom seemed for once to drows her lips parted in a faint sigh a glance like fire flashed from beneath her black silken lashes theos she said tremulously theos and waited he mute and oppressed by indistinct hovering recollections fed his gaze on her seductive fairness for one earnest moment longer than suddenly advancing he knelt before her and took her unresisting hands in his lycia and his voice even to his own ears had a solemn as well as passionate thrill lycia what wouldst thou have with me speak for my heart aches with a burden of dark memories memory memory

Starting point is 09:03:21 conjured up by the wizard's spell of thine eyes those eyes so cruel sweet that seemed to lure me to my soul's ruin tell me have we not met before love before wronged each other and god before parted before maybe tis but a brain sick fancy nevertheless my spirit knows thee feels thee clings to thee and yet recoils from thee as one whom i did love in by gone days of old my thoughts of thee are strange fair and he pressed her warm delicate fingers with unconscious fierceness i would have sworn that in the past thou didst betray me her low laugh stirred the silence into a faint tuneful echo thou foolish dreamer she murmured half mockingly half tenderly thou art dazed with wine steeped in song bewitched with beauty and knowest nothing of what thou sayest methinks thou art a crazed poet and more fervid than saluma in the mystic nature of thine utterance thou shouldst be laureate not he what if thou wert offered his place his fame he looked at her surprised and perplexed and paused an instant before replying then he said slowly so strange a thing could never be for saluma's place once empty could not again be filled i grudge him not his glory laurels moreover what is fame compared to love he uttered the last words in a low tone as though he spoke them to himself she heard and a flash of triumph brightened her beautiful face ah and she drooped her head lower and lower till her dark fragrant dresses touched his brow then thou dost love me he started a dull pang ached in his heart a chill of vague

Starting point is 09:05:02 uncertainty and dread love was it love indeed that he felt love or base desire love the word rang in his ears with the same sacred suggestiveness as that conveyed by the chime of bells surely love was a holy thing a passion pure impersonal divine and deathless and it seemed to him that somewhere it had been written or said wheresoever a man seeketh himself there he falleth from love and he did he not seek himself and that he not seek himself and that he the gratification of his own immediate pleasure painfully he considered it was a supreme moment with him a moment when he felt himself to be positively held within the grasp of some great archangel who turning grandly reproachful eyes upon him demanded art thou the servant of love or the slave of self and while he remained silent the silken sweet voice of the fairest woman he had ever seen once more sentenced musical cadence through his brain in that faithful question thou dost love me a deep sigh broke from him he moved nearer to her he entwined her warm waist within his arms and stared upon her as though he drank her beauty in with his eyes up to the crowning masses of her dusky hair where the little serpent's heads darted forth glisteningly over the dainty curve of her white shoulders and bosom where the symbolic eyes seemed to regard him with a sleepy weirdness down to the blue vein small feet in the silver sandals and up again to the red witchery of her mouth and black splendor of those twin-fire jewels that flashed beneath her heavy lashes his gaze wandered hungrily searchingly passionately his heart beat with a loud and patient eagerness like a wild thing struggling in its cage but though his lips moved he said in a word she too was silent so passed or seemed to pass some minutes minutes that were almost terrible in the weight of mysterious meaning they held unuttered then with a

Starting point is 09:07:02 half-smothered cry he suddenly released her and sprang erect love he cried nay tis a word for children and angels not for me what have i to do with love what hast thou thou lycia who dost make the lives of men thy sport and there torments thy mockery there is no name for this fever that consumes me when i look upon thee no name for this unquiet ravishment that draws me to thee in mingled bliss and agony if i must perish of mine own bitter sweet frenzy let me be slain now and most utterly but love has no abiding place twixt me in thee lycia love ah no no speak no more of love it hath a charmed sound recalling to my soul some glory i have lost he spoke wildly incoherently scarcely knowing what he said and she half lying on her couch of roses looked at him curiously with sombre meditative eyes a smile of delicate derision part of her lips of a truth our late feasting hath roused in thee a most singular delirium she murmured indolently with a touch of cold amusement in her accents thou dost seem to dwell in the past rather than the present what ails thee come hither closer and she stretched out her lovely arms on which the twisted diamond snakes glittered in such flashing coils come or is thy manful guise mere feigning and dost thou fear me fear thee and stung to a sudden heat theos made one bound to her side and seizing her slim wrists held them in a vice-like grip so little do i fear thee lycia so well do i know thee that in my very caresses i would slay thee couldst thou thus be slain thou art to me the living presence of an unforgotten sin a sin most deadly sweet and unrepented of ah

Starting point is 09:08:55 why dost thou tempt me and he bent over her more ardently must i not meet my death at thy hands i must and more than death yet for thy kiss i will risk hell for one embrace of thine i will brave perdition ah cruel enchantress and winding his arms about her he drew her close against his breast and looked down on the dreamy fairness of her face would there were such a thing as death for souls like mine and thine would we might die most absolutely thus heart against heart never to wake again and loathed earth typo or archaism other who speaks of the cool sweetness of the grave the quiet ending of all strife the unbreaking seal of fate the deep and stirless rest these things are not and never were for the grave gilds up its dead the strife is for ever and ever resumed the seal is broken and in all the laboring universe there shall be found no rest and no forgetfulness ah god no forgetfulness a shudder ran through his frame and clasping her almost roughly he stooped toward her till his lips nearly touched hers thou art a curse lycia and i share thy curse speak how shall we cheer each other in the shadow realm of fiends thou shall be queen there and i thy servitor we will make us merry with the griefs of others our music shall be the dropping of lost women's tears and the groans of betrayed and tortured men and the light around us shall be quenchless fire shall it not be so lycia and thinkest thou that we shall ever regret the loss of heaven the words rushed impetuously from his lips he thought little and cared less what he said so long as he could by speech no matter how incoherent were leave in part the terrible oppression of vague memories that burdened his brain

Starting point is 09:10:52 but she listening drew herself swiftly from his embrace and stood up her large eyes fixedful upon him with an expression of wondering scorn and fear thou art mad she said a quiver of alarm in her voice mad as kosruhe and all his evil croaking brethren i offer thee love and thou prayedest of death life is here in all the fulness of the now for thy delight and thou ravest of an immortal hereafter which is not and can never be why talk thus wildly why gaze on me with so distraught a countenance but an hour gone thou wert the model of a cold discretion and quiet valour thus i had judged thee worthy of my favourite favor sought by many and granted to few but an thou dost wander amid such chaotic and unreasoning fancies thou canst not serve me nor therefore canst thou win the reward that would otherwise have awaited thee here she paused a questioning keen under glance flashed from beneath her dark lashes he however with pained wistful eyes raised steadfastly to hers gave no sign of apology or contrition for the discontinent connected strangeness of his recent outburst only he became gradually conscious of an inward growing calm as though the divine voice that had once soothed the angry waves of galilee were now hushing his turbulent emotions with a soft peace be still she watched him closely and all at once apparently rendered impatient by his impassive attitude she came coaxingly toward him and laid one soft hand on his shoulder canst thou not be happy theos she whispered gently happy as other men are when loved as thou art loved

Starting point is 09:12:46 his upturned gaze rested on the glittering serpent's heads that crowned her dusky tresses then on the great eye that stared watchfully between her white breasts a strong tremor shook him and he sighed happy as other men are when they love and are deceived in love he said yes even so lycia i can be happy she threw one arm about him thou shalt not be deceived she murmured quickly thou shalt be honored above the noblest in the realm thy dearest hope shall be fulfilled thy utmost desire shall be granted riches power of fame all shall be thine if thou wilt do my bidding she uttered the last words with slow and meaning emphasis he met her eager burning looks quietly almost coldly the curious numb apathy of his spirit increased and when he spoke his voice was low and faint like the voice of one who speaks unconsciously in his sleep what canst thou ask that i will not grant he said listlessly is it not as it was in the old time thou to command and i to obey speak fair queen how can i serve thee her answer came swift and fierce as the hiss of a snake kills saluma the brief sentence leaped into his brain with the swift fiery action of some burning drug a red mist rose to his eyes pushing her fiercely from him he started to his feet in a bewildered sick horror kill saluma kill the gracious smiling happy creature whose every minute of existence was a joy kill the friend he loved the poet he worshipped kill him ah god never never he staggered backward disley and lycia with a sudden stealthy spring like that of her face

Starting point is 09:14:43 tigris threw herself against his breast and looked up at him her splendid eyes ablaze with passion her black hair streaming her lips curved in a cruel smile and the hateful jewel on her breast seeming to flash with ferocious vindictiveness kill him she repeated eagerly now in his soddish slumber now when he hath lost sight of his poet mission in the hot fumes of wine now when despite his genius he hath made of himself a thing lower than the beasts kill him i will keep good counsel and none shall ever know who did the deed he loves me and i weary of his love i would have him dead dead as nerjalous but were he to drain the silver nectar the whole city would cry out upon me for his loss therefore he may not perish so but an thou wilt slay him see and she clunged theos with the fierce tenacity of some wild animal all this beauty of mine is thine thy days and nights shall be dreams of rapture thou shalt be second to none in alciris thou shalt rule with me over king and people and we will make the land a pleasure garden for our love and joy here is thy weapon and she thrust into his hand a dagger the very dagger her slave gosra had deprived him when by its prompt use he might have mercy ended the cruel torments of nerjalous let thy stroke be strong and unfaltering stab him to the heart the cold cold selfish heart that has never ate with a throb of pity kill him tis an easy task for lo how fast he sleeps

Starting point is 09:16:29 and suddenly throwing back a rich gold curtain that depended from one side of the painted pavilion she disclosed a small interior chamber hung with amber and crimson where on a low much tumbled couch covered with crumpled glistening draper lay the king's chief minstrel the dainty darling of women the laureate of the realm sunk in a heavy drunken stupor so deep as to be almost death-like theo stared upon him amazed and bewildered how came he there had he heard any of the conversation that had just passed between lycia and himself apparently not he seemed bound as by chains in a stirless lethargy his posture was careless yet uneasy his brilliant attire was torn and otherwise disordered and some of his priceless jewels had fallen on the couch and gleamed here and there like big stray dew-drops his face was deeply flushed and his stray dark brows were nipped frowningly his breathing was hurried and irregular one arm was thrown above his head the other hung down nervously the relaxed fingers hovering immediately above a costly jewel cup that had dropped from his clasp two emptied wine-flagons lay cast on the ground beside him and he had evidently experienced the discomfort and feverish heat arising from intoxication for his silken vest was loosened as though for greater ease and coolness thus leaving the smooth breadth of his chest bare and fully exposed to this lycea point with a fiendish glee as she pulled theos forward strike now she whispered quick why dost thou hesitate he looked at her fixedly the previous hot passion he had felt for her froze like ice within his veins her fairness seemed no longer so distinctly fair the witching radiance of her eyes had lost its charm and he motioned her from him with a silent gesture of stern repugnance catching sight of the sheenny glimmer of the lake through the curtain ventrance of the tent he made a sudden sudden spring thither dashed aside the draperies and flung the dagger he held far out towards the watery mirror it whirled glaring through the air and fell with a quick splash into the silver ripple depths and gravely contented he turned upon her dauntless and serene in the consciousness of power

Starting point is 09:18:42 thus do i obey thee he said in firm tones that thrill through and through with scorn and indignation thou evil beauty thou fall in fairness kill saluma nay sooner would i kill myself or thee his life is a glory to the world his death shall never profit thee for one instant a lure of anger blazed in her face the next her features hardened themselves into a rigidly cold expression of disdain though her eyes widened with wrathful wonder a low laugh broke from her lips ah she cried art thou angel a demon that thou darest defy me thou shouldst be either or both to array thyself in opposition against the high priestess of negalia whose relentless will hath caused empires to totter and thrones to fall his life a glory to the world and she pointed to saluma's recumbent figure with a gesture of loathing and contempt his the life of a drunken voluptuary a sensual egotist a poet who sees no genius save his own and who condemns all vice save that which he himself indulges him a laurel swine a false god of art and for him thou dost reject me ah thou fool and her splendid eyes shot forth resent for fire thou rash unthinking headstrong fool thou knowest not what thou hast lost i guard thy friend as thou wilt thou dost guard him at thine own peril think not that he or thou shall escape my vengeance what dost thou play the heroic with me thou who art man and therefore no hero for men are cowards all except when in the heat of battle they follow the pursuit of their own brief glory poultrines and knaves and spirit incapable of resisting their own passions and wilt thou pretend to be stronger than the rest will thou take up arms against thyself and destiny thou madman

Starting point is 09:20:34 in her lithe form quivered with concentrated rage thou puny wretch that dost first clutch at and then refuse my love thou who dost oppose thy miserable force to the fate that hunts thee down thou who dost gaze at me with such grave child foolish eyes beware of me i hate thee as i hate all men i will humble thee as i have humbled the proudest of thy sex wheresoever thou goest i will track thee out and torture thee and thou shalt die miserably lingeringly horribly as i would have every man die could i fulfil my utmost heart's desire to-night be free but to-morrow as thou livest i will claim thee like an enraged queen she stood one white jewelled arm stretched forth menacingly her bosom heaving and her face aflame with wrath but theos leaning against saluma's couch heard her with as much impassiveness as though a threatening voice were but the sound of an idle wind only when she ceased he turned his untroubled gaze calmly and full upon her and then to his own infinite surprise she shivered and shrank backwards while over her countenance flitted a vague and undefinable almost spectral expression of terror he saw it and swift words came at once to his lips words that uttered themselves without premeditation to-morrow lycia thou shalt claim not he said in a still composed voice that to himself had something strange and unearthly in its tone not even a grave get thee hence pray to the gods if thou hast any for truly there is need of prayer thou shalt not harm saluma his love for thee may be his present curse but it shall not work his future ruin thou canst not slay me lycia seeing that to myself i am dead already dead yet alive in thought and thou dost now seem to my soul but the shadow of a past crime the ghost of a temptation overcome and baffled ah thou sweet sin here he suddenly moved toward her and caught her hands hard looking fearlessly the while at her flushed half troubled face i do confess that i have loved thee i do own

Starting point is 09:22:36 that i have found thee fair but now now that i see thee as thou art in all the nameless horror of thy beauty i do entreat and his accent sank to a low yet fervent supplication i do entreat the most high god that i may be released from thee for ever she gazed upon him with dilated terrified eyes and he dimly wondered as he looked why she should seem to fear him not a word did she utter in reply step by step she retreated from him her glittering exquisite form grew paler and more indistinct in outline and presently catching at the gold curtain that divided the two pavilions she paused still regarding him steadfastly an evil smile curved her lips a smile of cold menace and derisive scorn the iris-colored jewel on her breast darted forth vivid flashes of acid and green and gray the snakes in her hair seemed to rise and hiss at him and then with an awful unspoken threat written resolvedly on every line of her fair features she let the gold draperies fall softly and so disappeared leaving him alone with saluma he stood for a moment half amazed half perplexed and drawing a deep breath he pushed the clustering hair off his forehead with an unconscious gesture of relief she was gone and he felt as though he had gained a victory over something though he knew not what the cold air from the lake blew refreshingly on a seated brow and a thousand odors from orange flowers and jasemine floated perusingly about him the night was very still and approaching the opening of the tent he looked out there in the soft sky gloom moved the majestic procession of the undiscovered worlds seeming to be no more than bright dots on the measureless expanse of pure ether there low on the horizon the yellow moon swooned languidly downwards in a bed of fleecy cloud the drowsy chirp of a dreaming bird came softly now and again from the deep branch shadows of the heavy foliage

Starting point is 09:24:28 and the lilies on the surface of the lake nodded mysteriously among the slow ripples like wise white elves whispering to one another some secretive fairyland and saluma still slept and still that puzzled and weary frown darkened the fairness of his broad brow and coming back to his side theo stood watching him with a yearning and sorrowful wistfulness gathering up the jewels that had fallen out of his dress he replaced them one by one and strove to rearrange the tossed and tumbled garb as best he might while he was thus occupied his hand happened to touch the tablet that hung by a silver chain from the laureate's belt he glanced at it he was covered with fine writing and turning it more toward the light he soon made out four stanzas perfectly rhymed and smoothly flowing as a well-modulated harmony he read them slowly with a faint smile he recognized them as his own they were part of a poem he had long ago begun yet had never finished and now saluma had the same idea moreover he had chosen the same rhythm the same words well after all what did it matter nothing he felt so far as he was concerned he had ceased to care for his own personality or interests saluma had become dearer to him than himself his immediate anxiety was centred in the question of how to rouse his friend from the torpor in which he lay and get him out of this voluptuous garden of delights before any lurking danger could overtake him full of this intention he presently ventured to draw aside the curtain that concealed lycea's pavilion and looking in he saw to his great relief that she was no longer there her couch of crushed roses scented the place with heavy fragrance and the ruby lamp was still burning but she herself had departed now was the time for escape thought theos now while she was absent now if saluma could be persuaded to come away he might reach his own palace in safety and once there he could be warned of the death that threatened him through the treachery of the woman he loved

Starting point is 09:26:23 but would he believe in or accept the warning at any rate some effort must be made to rescue him and theos without more ado bent above him and called aloud saluma wake saluma end of chapter nineteen chapter twenty of ardath by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain the passage of the tombs saluma stirred uneasily and smiled in his sleep more wine he muttered thickly more more i say what wilt thou stint the generous juice that warms my soul to song pour out lavishly i will mix the honey of thy luscious lips with the crimson bubbles on this goblet's brim and the taste thereof shall be as nectar dropped from paradise nay nay i will drink to none but myself to the immortal bard saluma poet of poets named first and greatest on the scroll of fame ay tis a worthy toast and merits a deeper draught of mellow vintage fill fill again the world is but the drunken dream of a god poet and we but the mad revellers of a shadow day twill pass twill pass let us enjoy ere all is done drowned thought in wine and love and music wine and music

Starting point is 09:28:07 his voice broke in a short smothered sigh theos surveyed him with mingled impatience pity and something of repulsion and there was a warm time of indignant remonstrance in his tone when he called again saluma roused thee man for very shame's sake art thou dead to the honour of thy calling that thou dost wilfully consent to be the victim of wine-bidding and debauchery o thou frail soul how hast thou quench the heavenly essence within thee why wilt thou be thus self-discraced and all inglorious saluma and he shook him violently by the arm up up thou truant to the faith of art i will not let thee drows the hours away in such unseemliness wake for the night is almost past the morning is at hand and danger threatens thee wouldst thou be found here drunk at sunrise this time saluma was thoroughly disturbed and with a half-uttered oath he sat up pushed his tumbled hair from his brows and stared at his companion in blinking sleepy wonderment now by my soul thou art a most unmannerly ruffian he said pettishly yet with a vacant smile what question didst thou bawl unmusically in mine ear will i be drunk at sunrise aye and at sunset too sir malapert if that will satisfy thee hast thou been grudged sufficient wine that thou dost envy me my slumber what dost thou hear where hast thou been and becoming more conscious of his surroundings he suddenly stood up and catching hold of theos to support himself gazed upon him suspiciously with very dim and bloodshot eyes

Starting point is 09:30:06 art thou fresh from the arms of the ravishing nalida is she not fair a choice morsel for a lover's banquet doth she not dance a madness into the veins ay ay she was reserved for thee my jolly roisterer but thou art not the first nor wilt thou be the last that hath revelled in her store of charms no matter and he laughed foolishly better a wild dancer than a tame prude here he looked about him in confused bewilderment where is lycia was she not here a moment since and he staggered toward the neighboring pavilion and dashed the dividing curtain aside lycia lycia he shouted noisily then receiving no answer he flung himself down on the vacant couch of roses and gathering up a handful of the crumpled flowers kissed them passionately the witch has flown he said laughing again that mirthless stupid laugh as he spoke she doth love to tantalize me thus tell me what dost thou think to her is she not a peerless moon of womanhood does she not eclipse all known or imaginable beauty aye and i will tell thee a secret she is mine mine from the dark dresses down to the dainty feet mine all mine so long as i shall please to call her so notwithstanding that the foolish people of alcyrus think she is impervious to love self-centred holy and immaculate bah as if a woman ever was immaculate but mark you though she loves me me crowned laureate of the realm she loves no other man and why because no other man is found half so worthy of love all men must love her nerjalus loved her and he is dead because of overmuch presumption and many there be who shall still die likewise for love of her but i am her chosen and elected one her faith is mine her heart is mine her very soul is mine

Starting point is 09:32:10 mine i would swear though all the gods of the past present and future denied her constancy here his uncertain wandering gaze met the grave pained an almost stern regard a theos why dost thou stare thus owl-like upon me he demanded irritably art thou not my friend and worshipper wilt preach wilt moralize on the folly of the time the vices of the age thou lookest it but for thee hold thy peace and thou lovest me we can but live and die and there's an end all's over with the best and wisest of us soon let us be merry while we may and he tossed a cluster of roses playfully in the air catching them as they fell again in a soft shower of severed fluttering pink and white petals the oath listened to his rambling unguarded words with a sense of acute personal sorrow he was a man young handsome and endowed with the rarest gift of nature a great poetic genius a man who had attained in early manhood the highest worldly fame together with the friendship of a king and the love of a people yet what was he in himself a mere petty egoist a poor deluded fool the unresisting prey of his own passions the besotted slave of a treacherous woman and the voluntary degrader of his own life what was the use of genius then if it could not aid one to overcome self what was the worth of fame if it were not made to serve as a bright incentive and noble example to others of less renown as this thought passed across his mind theos side he felt curiously conscience-stricken ashamed and humiliated through saluma and solely for saluma's sake at present however his chief anxiety was to get his friend safely out

Starting point is 09:34:03 of lyssea's pavilion before she should return to it and his spirit chafed within him at each moment of enforced delay come come saluma he said at last gently yet with persuasive earnestness come away from this place the feast is over the fair ones are gone why should we linger thou art half asleep believe me tis time thou wert home and at rest lean upon me so that is well this as the other rose unsteadily to his feet and lurched heavily against him now let me guide thee though of a truth i know not the way through this wondrous woodland maze canst tell me whither we should turn or hast thou no remembrance of the nearest road to thine own dwelling thus speaking he managed to lead his stupefied companion out of the tent into the cool dewy garden where feeling somewhat refreshed by the breath of the night wind blowing on his face saluma straightened himself and made an absurd attempt to look exceedingly dignified nay and thou wilt depart with such scant ceremony he grumbled peevishly get thee thence and find out the road as best thou mayest why should i aid thee for myself i am well contented here to remain and sleep no better count can the poet have been this violet-scented moss and he waved his arm with a grandiloquent gesture no grander canopy than this star of a sprinkled heaven leave me for my eyes are wondrous heavy and i would fain slumber undisturbed till the break of day by my soul thou art a rough companion and he struggled violently to release himself on theos's resolute and compelling grasp where wouldst thou drag me out of danger in the shadow of death replied theos firmly thy life is threatened saluma and i will not see thee slain if thou canst not guard thyself then i must guard thee come delay no longer i beseech thee do i not love thee friend and would i urge thee thus without good reason

Starting point is 09:35:57 o thou misguided soul thou dost most ignorantly court destruction but if my strength can shield thee thou shalt not die before thy time and he hurried his pace half leading half caring the reluctant poet who however was too drowsy and lethargic to do more than feebly resent his action and thus they went together along a broad path that seemed to extend itself in a direct line straight across the grounds but which in reality turned and twisted about through all manner of perplexing nooks and corners now under trees so closely interwoven than not a glimpse of the sky could be seen through the dense darkness of the cross boughs now by gorgeous banks of roses pale yellow and white that looked like frozen foam in the dying glitter of the moon now beneath very light trellis work overgrown with jasmine and people by thousands of dancing fireflies while at every undulating bend or sharp angle in the rothios's heart be quickly in fear lest they should meet some armed retainer or sainer or susses or spy of lyceas who might interrupt their progress or perhaps peremptorily forbid their departure nothing of the kind happened or seemed likely to happen the splendid gardens were all apparently deserted and not a living soul was anywhere to be seen presently through an archway of twisted magnolia's stems theo caught a glimpse of the illuminated pool with a marble mymph in its centre which had so greatly fascinated him on his first arrival and he pressed forward eagerly knowing that now they could not be very far from the gates of exit all at once the tall figure of a man clad in complete armor came into sudden view between some heavily drooping boughs it stood out for a second and then hurriedly disappeared muffling his face in a black mantle as it fled not however before theos had recognized those dark haughty features those relentless brows and that stern almost lurid smile and with a quick convulsive movement he grasped his companion's arm hissed saluma he whispered saw you not the king

Starting point is 09:37:56 saluma started as though he had received a dagger thrust his very lips turned pale in the moonlight the king he echoed with an accent of incredulous amazement the king thou art mad it could not be where didst thou see him in silence theo's pointed to the dark shrubbery saluma shook himself free of his friend's hold and standing erect gazed in the direction indicated with an expression of mingled fear distrust bewilderment and wrath on his features he was suddenly but effectually sobered and all the delicate beauty of his face came back like the rich tone of a fine picture restored his hand fell instinctively toward the jewelled hilt of the poignant at his belt the king he muttered under his breath the king then his coast rule right after all and must one learn wisdom from a madman by my soul if i thought here he checked himself abruptly and turned upon theos nay thou art deceived he said with a forced smile twas not the king twas some rash unknown intruder whose worthless life must pay the penalty of trespass and he drew his flashing weapon from his sheath this shall unmask him and thou my friend get thee away and home fear nothing for my safety go hence and quickly i'll follow thee anon and before theos could utter a word of warning he plunged impetuously into the innermost recess of the dense foliage behind which the mysterious armed figure had just vanished and was instantly lost to sight saluma saluma called theos passionately come back whether wilt thou go saluma only silence answered him silence rendered even more profound by the subdued faint rustling of the wind among the leaves and agitated by all manner of vague alarms and dreary forebodings he stood still for a moment hesitating as to whether he should follow his friend or no some instincts stronger than himself however persuaded him that it would be best to continue his road he therefore went on slowly hoping against hope that saluma might still rejoin him

Starting point is 09:39:52 but herein he was disappointed he waited a little while near the illuminated water dreamily eyeing the beautiful marble nymph crowned with her wreath of amethystine flame she resembled lycia somewhat he thought only this was a frozen fairness while the peerless charms of the cruel high priestess were those of living flesh and blood yet the remembrance of all the tenderly witching loveliness that might have been his had he slain saluma at her bidding now moved him neither to regret nor lover's passion but only touched his spirit with a sense of bitter repulsion while a strange pity for the poet laureate's infatuation awoke in him pity that any man could be so reckless blind and desperate as to love a woman for her irreversible beauty of body never care to know whether the graces of her mind were equal to the graces of her form we men have yet to learn the true meaning of love he mused rather sadly we consider it from the selfish standpoint of our own unbridled passions we willingly accept a fair face as the visible reflex of a fair soul in nine times out of ten we are utterly mistaken we begin wrongly and we therefore end miserably we should love a woman for what she is and not for what she appears to be yet how are we to fathom her nature how shall we guess how can we decide are we fooled by an evil fate or do we in our loves and marriages deliberately fool ourselves he pondered the question hazily without arriving at any satisfactory answer and as saluma still did not return he resumed to his slow unguided and solitary way he presently found himself in a close buscage of tall trees strayed his pines and covered with very large thick leaves that exhaled a peculiarly faint odor and here pausing abruptly he looked anxiously about him this was certainly not the avenue through which he had previously come with saluma and he soon felt uncomfortably convinced that he had somehow taken the wrong path perceiving a low iron gate standing open in front of him

Starting point is 09:41:49 he went thither and discovered a steep stone staircase leading down down into what seemed to be a vast well black and empty as a starless midnight peering doubtfully into this gloomy pit he fancied he saw a small blue flame wavering to and fro at the bottom and pricked by a sudden impulse of curiosity he made up his mind to descend he went down slowly and cautiously counting each step as he placed his foot upon it there were a hundred steps in all and at the end the light he had seen completely vanished leaving him in the most profound darkness confused and startled he stretched out his hands instinctively as a blind man might do and thus came in contact with something sharp pointed and icy cold like the frozen talon of a dead bird shattering at the touch he recoiled and was about to try and grope his way up the stairs again when the light once more appeared this time casting a thin slanting azure blazed through the dense shadows and he was able gradually to realize the horrors of the place into which he had unwittingly adventured one faint cry escaped his lips and then he was mute and motionless chilled to the very heart a great awe and speechless dread overwhelmed him for he a living man and fully conscious of life stood alone surrounded by a ghastly multitude of skeletons. Skeletons bleached white as ivory, and glistening with a smooth, moist, polished as a pearl. Shoulder to shoulder, arm against arm, they stood, placed upright and as close together as possible. Every bony hand held a rusty spear, and on every skull gleamed a small

Starting point is 09:43:18 metal cask, inscribed with hieroglyphic characters. Thousands of Ilussockets seemed to turn toward him, in blank yet, questioning wonder, suggesting awfully to his mind that the eyes might still be there, fallen far back into the head from whence they yet saw themselves unseen thousands of grinning jaws seemed to mock at him as he leaned half-painting against the damp weed-grown portal he fancied he could hear the derisive life of death echoing horribly through those dimly distant arches this this he thought wildly was the sequel to his brief and wretched history for this one end he had wandered out of the ways of his former life and forgotten almost all he had ever known here was the only poor finale and all-wise and all-potent god could contrive for the close of his marvellous symphony of creative love and like ah cruel cruel then there was no justice no pity no compensation and all the width and breadth of the universe if death indeed was the end of everything and god of the great force called by that name was nothing but a tyrant and torturer of his helpless creature man so thinking dully and feebly he pressed his hand on his aching eyes to shut out the sight of that grim crowd of fleshless rigid shapes that everywhere confronted him the darkness of the place seemed to descend upon him crushingly and reeling for it he would have fallen in a swoon had not a strong hand suddenly grasped his arm and supported him firmly upright now my son said a grave musical voice that had in it a certain touch of compassion what ails thee and why art thou here are thou condemned to die or dost thou seek and escape from death

Starting point is 09:44:53 making an effort to overcome the sick giddiness that confused his brain he looked up a bright lamp flared in his eyes contrasting so dazzlingly with the surrounding gloom that for a moment he was half-blinded by its brilliancy but presently steadying his gaze he was able to discern the dark outline of a tall black-garmented figure standing beside him the figure of an old man whose severe and dignified aspect at first reminded him somewhat of the prophet co sruel only that close rule's rugged features had borne the impress of patient long-endured bitter suffering and the personage who now confronted him had a face so calm and seriously impassive that it might have been taken for that of one newly dead from whose lineument all traces of earthly passion had forever been smoothed away art thou condemned to die or dost thou seek an escape from death the question had or seemed to have a curious significance it reiterated itself almost noisily in his ears his mind was troubled by vague surmises and dreary forebodings speech was difficult to him and his lips quivered pathetically when he at last found force to frame his struggling thoughts into language escape from death he murmured gazing wildly around as he spoke on the vile a small skeleton crowd that encircled him old man dost thou also talk of dreamlike impossibilities wilt thou also maintain a creed of hope when naught awaits us but despair art thou fooled likewise with the glimmering soul mirage of a never-to-be-reelized future escape from death how and where art not these dry and vacant forms sufficiently eloquent of the all omnipotence of decay and he caught his unknown companion almost fiercely by the long-roar while a sound that was half a sob and half a sigh came from his aching throat lo you how emptily they stare upon us how frozen piteous is their smile poor poor frail shapes nay who would think these hollow shells of bone had once been men men with strong hearts warm flowing blood and throbbing pulses men of thought and action who maybe did most nobly bear themselves in life upon the earth and yet are now forgotten men ah

Starting point is 09:47:03 great heaven can it be that these most rueful loathly things have loved and hoped and labored through all their days for such an end as this escape from death alas there is no escape tis evident we all must die die and with dust quenched eyes and learn our knowledge of the sun the stars the marvels of the universe for us no more shall the flowers bloom or the sweet birds sing the poem of the world will write itself anew in every roseate flushing of the dawn but we we who have enjoyed therein we who have sung the praises of the light the harmonies of wind and sea the tunefulness of woods and fields we whose ambitious thoughts have soared archangel-like through unseen emperians of space there to drink in a honeyed hope of heaven we shall be but dead mute cold and stirless as deep undug stones dead ah god thou utmost cruelty and in a sudden excess of grief and passion he raised one hand and shook it aloft with a menacing gesture would i might look upon thee face to face and rebuke thee for thy merciless injustice he spoke wildly as though possessed by a sort of frenzy his unknown companion heard him with an air of mild and pitying patience peace peace blaspheme not the most high my son he said gently yet reproachfully distraught as thou dost seem with some strange misery and sick with fears forbear thine ignorant fury against him who hath for love's dear sake alone created thee control thy soul in patience surely thou art afflicted by thine own vain and false imaginings which for a time contort and darken the clear light of truth why dost thou thus disquiet thyself concerning the end of life seeing that verily it hath no end and that what we men called death is not a conclusion but merely a new beginning waste not thy pity on the skeleton forms the empty dwellings of martial spirits long since fled as well weep over fallen huts of corn from which the blossoms have sprung right joyously upward

Starting point is 09:49:04 this world is but our roadside hostelry wherein we heaven-bound sojourners tarry for one brief restless night why regret the loss of the poor refreshment offered thee here when there are a thousand better feasts awaiting thee elsewhere on thy way come let me lead thee hence this place is known as the passage of the tombs and communicates with the inner court of the sacred temple and if as i fear thou art a stray fugitive from the accursed lycea's band of lovers thou mayest be tracked hither and quickly slain come i will show thee a secret labyrinth by which thou canst gain the embankment of the river and from thence betake thyself speedily home if thou hast to home he reposed in a keen questioning glance flashed in his dark eyes but notwithstanding thy fluency of speech and fashion of attire methinks thou hast the lost and solitary air of one who is a stranger in the city of alciras theos side a stranger i am indeed he said drearily a stranger to my very self and all my former belongings ask me no questions good father for as i live i cannot answer them i am oppressed by a nameless and mysterious suffering my brain is darkened my thoughts but have formed and never wholly uttered and i who once deemed human intelligence and reason all supreme all clear all absolute am now compelled to use that reason-reasonlessly and to work with that intelligence in helpless ignorance as to what end my mind my mental toil shall serve woeful and strange it is yet true i am as a broken straw in a whirlwind or the pale ghost of my own identity groping for things forgotten in a land of shadows i know not whence i came nor whither i go nay do not fear me i am not mad i am conscious of my life my strength and physical well-being and though i may speak wildly i harbor no ill intent toward any man my quarrel is with god alone

Starting point is 09:50:58 he paused then resumed in calmer accents you judge rightly reverend sir i am a stranger in alcyrus i entered the city gates this morning when the sun was high and ere noon i found courteous welcome and princely shelter i am the guest of a poet saluma the old man looked at him half compassionately ah saluma is thine host he said with a touch of melancholy surprise in his tone then wherefore art thou here here in this dark abode where none may linger and escape with life how earnest thou within the bounds of lycia's fatal placence has the laureous friendship thus misguided thee the eust hesitated before replying he was again moved by that curious instinctive dread of hearing saluma's name associated with any sort of reproach and his voice had a somewhat defiant ring as he answered nay surely i'm neither child nor woman that i should weakly yield to guidance or misleading some trifling matter of free will remains to me in spite of mine affliction and that i have supped with saluma at the palace of the high priestess has been as much my choice as his example who among men would turn aside from high feasting and mirthful company not i believe me and saluma's desires herein were but the reflex of mine own we came together through the woodland and parted but a moment since he stopped abruptly startled by a sudden clash as of steel and the tramp tramp of approaching feet his aged companion caught him by the arm hush he whispered not a word more not a breath or by life must pay the penalty quick follow me close step softly there is a hiding-place near at hand where we may couch unseen till these dread visitants pass by moving stealthily and with anxious precaution he led the way to a niche hollowed deeply out in the thickness of the wall and turning his lamp aside so that not the faintest glimmer of it could be perceived he took theos by the hand and drew him into what seemed to be a huge cavernous recess utterly dark and icy cold

Starting point is 09:52:55 here crouching low in the furless gloom they both waited silently theo siggant as to the cause of the sudden milan and wondering vaguely what strange new circumstance was about to happen the measure of tramp tramp of feet came nearer and nearer and in another moment the flare of smoking torches illumined the vaulted passage casting many a ruddy flicker and flash on the ivory gleaming whiteness of the vast skeleton army that stood with such grim and pallid patience as though waiting for a marching signal presently there for a appeared a number of half-naked men carrying short axes stained with blood coarse savage cruel-looking brutes all whose lowering faces bore the marks of a thousand unrepentied crimes these were followed by four tall personages clad in flowing white robes and closely masked and finally there came a band of black slaves clothed in vivid scarlet dragging between them two rising bleeding creatures one a man the other a girl in her earliest youth both convulsed by the evident last agonies of death arrived at the centre of that part of the vault where the skeleton crowd was thickest this horrible cortege halted while one of the masked personages undid from his girdle a large bunch of keys and now theos watching everything with dreadful interest from the obscure corner where he was thanks to his unknown friend successfully concealed perceived for the first time a low iron door heavily barred and surmounted by sharp spikes as long as drawn daggers when this dreary portal was with many upjuring groaned and clang slowly opened such an awful cry broke from the lips of the tortured man as might have wrung compassion from the most hardened tyrant resting himself fiercely out of the grasp of the slaves who held him he struggled to his feet while the blood poured from the cruel wounds that were inflicted all over his body and raising his manacled hands aloft he cried mercy mercy not for me but for her for her my love my life my tenderest little one what is her crime ye fiends why do ye

Starting point is 09:54:50 ye deem love a sin and passion a dishonour shall there be no more heart-longings because ye are cold spare her she is so young so fond so innocent of all reproach save one the shame of loving me spare her or if ye will not spare slay her at once now now with swift compassionate sword but cast her not alive into young hideous serpent's den not alive ah no no ye gods have pity here his voice broke in a sudden light passed over his agonized countenance gazing steadfastly at the girl who whose beautiful white body now lay motionless on the coal-stone with a cloud of fair hair falling they alike over it his eyes seemed to astrain themselves out of their sockets in the intensity of his eager regard when all at once he gave vent to a wild peal of delirious laughter and exclaimed dead dead thanks be to the merciless gods for this one gift of grace at the last dead dead o the blessed favor and freedom of death sweetheart they can torture thee no more no more ah devils that ye are and his voice groaned frantically loud pierced the gloomy arches with terrible resonance as he saw the red-garmented slaves vainly endeavoring to rouse with ferocious blows and thrust new life in the fair stiffening corpse before them this time ye are baffled baffled and i live to see your vanquishment give her to me and he stretched out his trembling arms give her she is dead and you cannot offer to naga any lifeless thing i will weave her a shroud of her own gold hair i will bury her softly away in the darkness i will sing to her as i used to sing in the silent summer evenings when we fancied our secret of forbidden love unknown and with my lips on hers i will pray pray for the pardon of passion grown stronger than life he ceased and swing forward fell a shiver ran through his limbs one deep gasping sigh and all was over the band of torturers gathered round the body uttering fierce oaths and exclamations of dismay both did said one of the individuals in white tis a most fatal augury

Starting point is 09:56:47 fatal indeed said another and turning to the men with the blood-stained axes he added angrily ye were too swift and lavish of your weapons ye should have let these criminals suffer slowly inch by inch and yet have left them life enough wherewith to linger on in anguish many hours the wretches thus addressed looked sullen and humiliated and approaching the two corpses would have brutally inflicted fresh wounds on them had not the seeming chief of the party interfered let be let be he said austerely ye cannot cause the dead to feel would that it were possible then might the glorious and godlike thirst of vengeance in our great high priestess be somewhat more appeased in this matter for the unlawful communion of love between a vestal virgin and an anointed priest cannot be too utterly abhorred and condemned and these twain who thus did fouly violate their vows have perished far too easily the sanctity of the temple has been outraged licea will not be satisfied and how shall we pacify her righteous wrath concerning this too tranquil death of the undeserving and impure drawing all together in a close group they held a whispered consultation and finally appearing to have come to some sort of decision they took up the dead bodies one after another and flung them carelessly into the dark aperture lately unclosed as they did this a stealthy rustling soundless herd as of some great creature moving to and fro in the far interior but they soon locked and barred the iron portal once more and then took their departure rather hurriedly leaving the vault by the way theos had entered it namely up the stone stairway that led into lycea's palace gardens as the last echo of their retreating steps died away and the last glimmer of their lurid torches vanished theo sprang out from his hiding-place his venerable companion slowly followed oh god can such things be he cried loudly reckless of all possible risk for himself as his voice rang

Starting point is 09:58:35 penetratingly through the deep silence were these brute murderous actual men or but the wandering grim shadows of some long-past crime nay surely i do but dream and ghouls and demons born out of nightmare sleep do vex my troubled spirit justice justice for the innocence is there none in all alcyrus none replied the old man who stood beside him lamp in hand fixing his dark melancholy eyes upon him as he spoke none neither in alcy nor in any other great city on the peopled earth justice i who am named zureal the mystic because of my tireless searching into things that are hidden from the unstudious and unthinking i know that justice is an idle name an empty braggart word for ever on the mouths of kings and judges but never in their hearts what is guilt what is innocence both must be defined according to the law of the realm wherein we dwell and from that law there can be no appeal these men we lately saw were the chief priests and executioners of the sacred temple they have done no wrong they have simply fulfilled their duty the culprit slain deserved their fate they loved where loving was forbidden torture and death was the strictly ordained punishment and herein was justice justice as portioned of by the penal code of the high court of counsel the he was heard and gave an expressive gesture of loathing and contempt oh narrow jurisdiction oh short-sighted false equity he exclaimed passionately are there different laws for high and low must the weak and defenceless be condemned to death for the selfsame sin committed openly by their more powerful brethren who yet escaped scot-free what of the high priestess then if these poor lover victims merited their doom why is not lycia slain is not she a willingly violated vestal does she not count her lovers by the score are not her vows long since broken is not her life a life of wanton luxury and open shame why death the law beholding these things remain in her case dumb and ineffectual

Starting point is 10:00:29 hush hush my son said the aged zuryal anxiously these stone walls hear thee far too loudly who knows but they may echo forth thy words to unsuspected listeners peace peace lycia is as much queen as zepharonim is king of alcarus and surely thou knowest that the sins of tyrants are accounted virtues so long as they retain their ruling powers the public voice pronounces lycia chase and zephronim faithful who then shall dare to disprove the verdict tis the same in all countries near and far the law serves the strong while professing to defend the weak the rich man gains his cause the beggar loses it how can it be otherwise while lust of gold prevails gold is the moving force of this our era without it kings and ministers are impotent an army star with it all things can be accomplished even to the concealment of the foulest crimes come come and he laid one hand kindly on theos's arm thou hast a generous and fiery spirit but thou shouldst never have been born into this planet if thou seekest such a thing as justice no man will ever deal true justice to his fellow-man on earth unless perhaps in ages to come when the old creeds are swept away for a new and a grander wider purer form of faith is accepted by the people for religion in alchiris to-day is a hollow mockery a sham kept up partly from fear partly from motives of policy but every thinker is an atheist at heart our splendid civilization is tottering towards its fall and should the foredoomed destruction of this city come to pass vast ages of progress discovery and invention will be swept away as though they had never been he paused and sighed then continued sorrowfully there is there must be something wrong in the mechanism of life some little hitch that stops the even wheels some curious perpetual mischance that crosses us at every turn but i doubt not all is for the best and will prove most truly so hereafter

Starting point is 10:02:21 hereafter echoes the oath bitterly thinkest thou that even god repenting of the evil he hath done will ever be able to compensate us by any future bliss for all the needless anguish of the present zuryal looked at him with a strange almost spectral expression of mingle pity fear and misgiving but he offered no reply to this home thrust of a question in grave silence and with slow majestic tread he began to leave the way along through the dismal labyrinth of black winding arches holding his blue lamp aloft as he went the better to lighten the dense gloom theos followed him silent also enrapped in stern and mournful musings of his own musings through which faint threads of pale recollection connected with his past glimmered hazely from time to time perplexing rather than enlightening his bewildered brain presently found himself in a low narrow vestibule illumined by the bright yet soft radiance of a suspended star and here coming close up with his guide in observing his dress and manner more attentively he suddenly perceived as shining something which the old man wore hanging from his neck in which flashed against the sable hue of his garment like a wandering moonbeam stopping abruptly he examined this ornament with straining wistful gaze and slowly very slowly recognized its fashion of construction it was a plain silver cross nothing more yet at sight of the sacred strange yet familiar symbol a cord seemed to snap in his brain tears rushed to his tired eyes and with a sharp cry he fell on his knees grasping his companions robed wildly as a drowning man grasped that a floating spar while the venerable zuryal startled at his action stared down upon him in evident amazement and terror rescue rescue he cried o thou thou dost swear the sign of eternal safety the sign of the way

Starting point is 10:04:05 the truth and the life without the way there is no going without the truth there is no knowing without the life there is no living now do i know thee for a saint in alciris for thou dost openly avow thyself a follower of the divine faith that fools despise and selfish souls repudiate ah i do beseech thee thou good and holy man absolve me of my sin of unbelief teach me help me and i will hear thy counsels with the meekness of a listening child see you i kneel i pray i even i am humiliated to the very dust of shame i have no pride i seek no glory i do entreat even as i once rejected the blessing of the cross whereby i shall regain my lost love my despised pardon my banished peace and with pathetic earnestness he raised his hands towards a silver emblem and touched it tenderly reverently then as though unworthy he bent his head low and waited eagerly for a name a name that he himself could not remember a name suggested by the cross but not declared if that name were once spoken in the form of a benediction he felt instinctively that he would straightway be released from the mysterious spell of misery that bound his intelligence in such a grievous thrall but not a word of consolation did his companion utter on the contrary seemed agitated by the stranger's surprise and alarm now may all the gods in heaven defend thee thou unhappy desperate distracted soul he said in trembling affrighted accents thou dost implore the blessing of a faith unknown a mystery predicted but not yet fulfilled a creed that shall not be declared to men for full five thousand years end of chapter twenty chapter twenty one of our death by marie carelli this librovoc's recording is in the public domain the crimson river

Starting point is 10:05:57 at these unexpected words theo sprang wildly to his feet an awful darkness seemed to close in upon him and a chaotic confusion of memories began to whirl and drift through his mind like flotsam and jetsam tall upon a storm-swept sea the aged and shadowy-looking zureal stood motionless watching him with something of timid pity and mild patience five thousand years he muttered hoarsely pressing his hands into his aching brows while his eyes again fixed themselves yearningly on the cross five thousand years before before what he caught the old man's arm and in spite of himself a laugh wild discordant and out of all keeping with his inward emotions broke from his parched lips thou doting fool he cried almost furiously why dost thou mock me then with this false image of a hope unrealized who gave thee leave to add more fuel to my flame of torment what means this symbol to thine eyes speak what admonition does it hold for thee what promise what menace what warning what love speak speak oh shall i force confession from thy throat or must i die unsatisfied and slain by speechless longing what didst thou say five thousand years nay by the gods thou liest and he pointed excitedly to the sacred emblem i tell thee that holy sign is as from a year to my suffering soul as the chiming of bells at sunset as well known to my sight as the unfolding of flowers in the fields of spring what shall be done or said of it in five thousand years that has not already been said and done

Starting point is 10:08:02 zureol regarded him more compassionately than ever with a penetrating mournful expression in his serious dark eyes alas alas my son thou art most grievously distraught he said in troubled tones thy words but prove the dark disorder of thy wits may heaven soon heal thee of thy mental wound restrain thy wild and wandering fancies for surely thou canst not be familiar as thou sayest with this silver symbol seeing that it is but the talisman footnotes the cross was held in singular veneration in the temple of serapus and by many tribes in the east ages before the coming of christ or badge of the mystic brethren of alciras and has no signification whatsoever save for the elect it was designed some twenty years ago by the inspired chief of our order coast rule and such as are still his faithful disciples wear it as a record and constant reminder of his famous prophecy the youths heard in a dull apathy stole over him his recent excitement died out under a chilling weight of vague yet bitter disappointment and this prophecy he asked blisslessly what is its nature and whom doth it concern nay in very truth it is a strange and marvellous thing replied zureal he is calm voice thrilling with a mellow touch of fervour coast rule tis said has heard the angels whispering in heaven and his attentive ears have caught the echo of their distant speech thus spiritually instructed he doth powerfully predict salvation for the human race and doth announce that in five thousand years or more a god

Starting point is 10:10:03 shall be moved by wondrous mercy to descend from heaven and take the form of man wherein unknown despised rejected he will live our life from commencement to finish teaching praying and sanctifying by his divine presence the whole sinned burdened earth this done he will consent to suffer a most cruel death and the manner of his death will be that he shall hang nailed hands and feet to a cross as though he were a common criminal his holy brows shall be bound about with thorns and after hours of agony he innocent of every sin shall perish miserably friendless unpitied and alone but afterward and mark you this is the chiefest glory of all he will rise again triumphant from the grave to prove his godhead and to convince mankind beyond all doubt and question that there is indeed an immortal hereafter an actual free eternity of life compared with which this our transient existence is a mere brief breathing space of pause and probation and then for evermore his sacred name shall dominate and civilize the world what name interrupted theos with eager abruptness canst thou pronounce it zuriol shook his head not i my son he answered gravely not even cos rule can penetrate thus far the name of him who is to come is hidden deep among god's unfathom silences it should suffice thee that thou knowest now the sum and substance of the prophecy would i might have lived to see the days when all shall be fulfilled but alas my remaining years are few upon the earth and heaven's time is not ours he sighed and resumed his slow pacing onwards

Starting point is 10:12:06 theos walked beside him as a man may walk in sleep uncertainly and with unseeing eyes his heart beating loudly and a sick sense of suffocation in his throat what did it all mean had his life gone back in some strange way or had he merely dreamed of a former existence different to this one he remembered now what saluma had told him respecting coel's new theory of a future religion a theory that to him had seemed so old so old so utterly exhausted and worn threadbare in what a cruel problem was he hopelessly involved what a useless perplexed confused being he had become he who would once to have staked his life on the unflinching strength and capabilities of human reason after a pause forgive me he said in a low tone and speaking with some effort forgive me and have patience with my laggard comprehension i am perplexed at heart and slow a thought wilt thou assure me faithfully that this god man thou speakest of is not yet born on earth the faintest shadow of a wondering smile flickered over the old man's wrinkle countenance like the reflection of a path pressing taper flame on a faded picture my son my son he murmured with compassionate tolerance have i not told thee that five thousand years and more must pass away ere the prediction be accomplished i marvel that so plain of truth should thus disquiet thee now by my soul thou look as pallid as the dead come let us hasten on more rapidly thy fainting spirits will revive in fresher air he hurried his pace as he spoke and glided along with such a curious stealthy noiselessness that by and by theos began dubiously to wonder whether after all

Starting point is 10:14:08 he were a real personage or a phantom he noticed that his own figure seemed to possess much more substantiality and distinctness of outline than that of this mysterious ziriel whose very garments resembled floating cloud rather than actual woven fabric was his companion then a fitting spectre he smiled at the absurdity of the idea and to change the drift of his own foolish fancies he asked suddenly concerning this wondrous city of alcyrus is it of very ancient days and long lineage the annals of its recorded history reach over a period of twelve thousand years replied but tis the present fashion to count from the deification of nagaya or the snake and according to this we are now in the nine hundred and eighty-ninth year of so-called grace and knowledge rather say dishonour and crime for a crueler more bloodthirsty creed than the worship of nagaya never debased a people who shall number up the innocent victims that have been sacrificed in the great temple of the sacred python and even on this very day which has just dawned another holocaust is to be offered on the veiled shrine or so it hath been publicly proclaimed throughout the city and the crowd will flock to see a virgin's blood spilt on the accursed altars where lycia and all the potency of triumphant wickedness presides but if the auguries of the stars prevail twill be for the last time here he paused and looked fixedly at theos thou dost return straightway to saluma is it not so theos bent his head in assent art thou true friend or mere flatterer to that

Starting point is 10:16:06 spoiled child of fair fame and fortune friend cried theos with eager enthusiasm i would give my life to save his i verily is it so and zaryl's melancholy eyes dwelt upon him with a strange and sombre wistfulness then as thou art a man persuade him out of evil into good rouse him to noble shame and nobler penitence for all those faults which mar his his poet genius and and a private of immortal worth urge him to depart from alciras while there is yet time ere the bolt of destruction falls and mark you well this final warning bid him to-day avoid the temple and beware the king as he said this he stopped and extinguished the lamp he carried there was no longer any need of it for a broad patch of gray light fell through an aperture in the wall showing a few rough broken steps that led upwards and pointing to these he bade the bewildered theos a kindly farewell thou wilt find salumus palace easily he said not a child in the streets but knows the way thither guard thy friend and be thyself also on guard against coming disaster in if thou art not yet resolved to die escape from the city ere to night sun setting sooth thy distempered fancies with thoughts of god and cease not to pray for thy soul salvation peace be with thee he raised his hands with an expressive gesture of benediction and turning round abruptly disappeared where had he gone how had he vanished it was impossible to tell he seemed to have melted away like a mist into utter nothingness profoundly perplexed the oath ascended the stephast before him his mind anxiously revolving all the strange adventures of the night while a dim sense of some unspeakable coming calamity brooded darkly upon him

Starting point is 10:18:02 the solemn admonitions he had just heard affected him deeply for the reason that they appeared to apply so specially to saluma and the idea that any evil fate was in store for the bright beautiful creature whom he had oddly enough learned to love more than himself moved him to an almost womanish apprehension in case of pressing necessity could he exercise any authority over the capricious movements of the willful laureate whose egotism was so absolute whose imperious ways were so charming whose commands were never questioned he doubted it for saluma was accustomed to follow the lead of his own immediate pleasure in reckless scorn of consequences and it was not likely he would listen to the persuasions or exhortations however friendly of any one presuming to run counter to his wishes again and again theos asked himself if saluma of his own accord and despite all warning deliberately rushed into deadly peril could i even loving him as i do rescue him and as he pondered on this a strange answer shaped itself unbidden in his brain an answer that seemed as though it were spoken aloud by some interior voice no no ten thousand times no you could not save him any more than you could save yourself from the results of your own misdoing if you voluntarily choose evil not all the forces in the world can lift you into good if you voluntarily choose danger not all the gods can bring you into safety free will is the divine condition attached to human life and each man by thought word and deed determines his own fate and decides his own future he sighed despondingly a curious vague contrition stirred within him he felt as though he were in some mysterious way to blame for all his poet friend's shortcomings in a few minutes he found himself on the broad marble embankment close to the very spot from whence he had first beheld the beautiful high priestess sailing slowly by in all her golden pomp and splendor and as he thought of her now a shudder half of aversion half of desire quivered through him flushing his brows with the warm uprising blood

Starting point is 10:20:13 that he had burned rebelliously at the remembrance of her witching perfect loveliness here too he had met saluma ah heaven how many things had happened since then how much he had seen and heard enough at any rate to convince him that the men and women of alcurus were more or less the same as those of other great cities he seemed to have known in far-off half-forgotten days that they plotted against each other deceived each other accused each other falsely murdered each other and were fools traitors and egotists generally after the customary fashion of human pygmies that they set up a sham to serve as religion gold being their only god that the rich wantoned in splendid luxury and wilfully neglected the poor that the king was a sure proflagate ruled by a treacherous cortisanne just like many other famous kings and princes who because of their stalwart marshal baron and a certain surface good-nature managed to conceal their vices from the too lenient eyes of the subjects they mislead and that finally all things were evidently tending toward some great convulsion and upheaval possibly arising from discontent and dissension among the citizens themselves or likely or still from the sudden invasion of a foreign foe for any more terrific termination of events did not just then suggest itself to his imagination absorbed in thought he walked some paces along the embankment before he perceived that a number of people were already assembled there men women and children who crowding eagerly together to the very edge of the parapet appeared to be anxiously watching the waters below what unusual sight attracted them and why were they all so silent as though struck dumb by some unutterable dismay one or two raising their heads turned their pale alarm faces toward theos as he approached their eyes seeming to mutely inquire his opinion

Starting point is 10:22:01 concerning the alarming phenomenon which held them thus spellbound and fear-stricken he made his way quickly to where they stood and looking where they looked uttered a sharp involuntary exclamation the river the clear rippling river was red as blood beneath the slowly breaking light of dawn that streaked the heavens with delicate lines of silver gray and daffodil the whole visible length and breadth of the heaving waters shone with a darkly flickering crimson hue deeper than the lustre of the deepest ruby flowing sluggishly the while as though clogged with some thick and weedy slime as the sky brightened gradually into a pale ethereal blue so the tide became rudderier and more pronounced in color and presently as though seized by a resistless panic the group of staring terrified bystanders broke up suddenly and rushed away in various directions covering their faces as they fled and uttering loud cries of lamentation and despair the yos alone remained behind resting his folded arms on the sculptured balustrade he gazed down down into those crimson depths till their strange tent dazzled and confused his sight looking up for relief to the eastern horizon where the sun was just bursting out in full splendor from a pavilion of violet cloud the red reflection was still before his eyes so much so that the very air seemed flushed with spreading fire and then like the sound of a toxin ringing in his ears the words of the prophet kosruel as pronounced in the presence of the king recurred to his memory with new and suggestive force blood blood tis a scarlet sea wherein like a broken and empty ship alkerus founders founders never to rise again still painfully oppressed by an increasing sense of some swift approaching disaster his thoughts once more reverted anxiously to saluma he must be warned yes even if he disdained all warning he had won

Starting point is 10:23:52 him against what bid him avoid the temple and beware the king so had said ziriel the mystic but to the laurel favorite of the monarch and idol of the people such an admonition would seem more than absurd it was useless to talk to him about the prophecies of co's rule he had heard them all and laughed them to scorn how can i then mused theos disconsolately how can i make him believe that some undeclared evil threatens him when he is at the very pinnacle of fame and fortune with all alcyrus at his feet he would never listen to me nor would any persuasions of mine induce him to leave the city where his name is so glorious and is renown so firmly established of licea's treachery i may perhaps convince him yet even in this attempt i may fail and incur his hatred for my pains if i had only myself to consider and here his reflection suddenly took a strange unbidden turn if he had only himself to consider well what then was it not just within the bounds of probability that under the same circumstances he might be precisely as self-willed and as haughtily opinionated as the friend whose arrogance he deplored yet could not alter so pointed a suggestion was not exactly suited to his immediate humor and he felt curiously vexed with himself for indulging in such a foolish association of ideas the positions were entirely different he argued angrily addressing the troublesome inward monitor that every now and then tormented him there was no resemblance whatever between himself the unknown unfamed wanderer in a strange land and the brilliant saluma chosen poet lorry of the realm no resemblance none at all he reiterated over and over again in his own mind except except well except in perhaps a few trifling touches of character and temper that were scarcely worth the noting at this juncture his uncomfortable reverie was interrupted by the sound of a harsh metallic voice close behind him what fools there are in the world said the voice in emphatic accents of supreme contempt what braying asses what earth's snouting swine saw you not yon crowd of whimpering idiots fly

Starting point is 10:25:55 lying helter-skelter like chaff before the wind weeping wailing and bemoaning their miserable little sins scattering dust on their addled pates and howling on their gods for mercy all forsooth because for once in their unobserving lives they behold the river red instead of green i me tis a thing to laugh at this crass and brutish ignorance of the multitude no teaching will ever cleanse their minds from the cobwebs of vulgar superstition and i in common with every wise and worthy sage of sound repute and knowledge must needs waste all my scientific labors on a perpetually ungrateful public. Turning hastily round, Theos confronted the speaker, a tall, spare man with a pale, clean-shaven, intellectual face, small, shrewd, speculative eyes, and very straight, neatly parted locks, a man on whose every lineament was expressed,

Starting point is 10:26:41 a profound belief in himself, and an equally profound scorn for the opinions of anyone who might possibly presume to disagree with him. He smiled condescendingly, as he met, Theos's half-surprised, half-inquiring look, and saluted him with a gravely, pompous air which however was not without a saving touch of that indescribable easy grace which seemed to distinguish the manners of all the inhabitants of alcythias theos returned the salutation with equal gravity whereupon the newcomer waving his hand majestically continued you sir i see are young and probably you are enrolled among the advanced students of one or other of our great collegiate institutions

Starting point is 10:27:19 therefore the peculiar though not at all unnatural tint of the river this morning is of course no mystery to you if as i presume you follow the scientific classes of instruction in the physiology of nature or manifestation of simple and complex motive force and the perpetual evolution of adam the o's smile the grandiloquent manner of this self-important individual amused him most worthy sir he replied you form too favourable an opinion of my scholarly attainments i am a stranger in alciris and know naught of its educational system or the interior mechanism of its wondrous civilization i come from far-off lands where if i remember rightly much is taught but little retained where petty pedagogues persist in dragging new generations of men through old and worn-out ruts of knowledge that future ages shall never have need of and concerning even the progress of science i confess to a certain incredulity seeing that to my mind science somewhat resembles a straight line drawn clear across country but leading alas to an ocean wherein all landmarks are lost and swallowed up in blankness over and over again the human race has broadened the same pathway to research over and over again has it stood bewildered and baffled on the shores of the same vast sea the most marvelous discoveries are after all mere child's play compared to the tremendous secrets that must remain forever unrevealed and the poor and trifling comprehension of things that we after a lifetime of study succeed in attaining is only just sufficient to add to our already burdened existence the undesirable clogs of discontent and disappointed endeavor we die in almost as much ignorance as we were born and when we come face to face with the last dark mystery what shall our little wisdom profit us with his arms folded in an attitude of enforced patience and complacent superiority the other listen curious curious he murmured in a much sotavoce a would-be pessimist ay ay tis very greatly the fashion for young men in these days to assume the manner of elderly and exhausted cynics who have tried everything and improved of nothing tis a strange craze but my good sir let us keep to the subject of present under discussion

Starting point is 10:29:24 like all unright philosophers you wander from the point i did not ask you for your opinion concerning the uselessness or the efficiency of learning i merely sought to discover whether you like the silly throng that lately scattered right and left of you at any foolish forebodings respecting the transformed color of this river a color which however seeming peculiar arises as all good scholars know from causes that are perfectly simple and easily explainable theos hesitated his eyes wandered involuntarily to the flowing tide which now with the fully risen sun seemed more than ever brilliant and lurid in its sanguinary hue strange things have been said of late concerning alcyrus he answered at last slowly and after a thoughtful pause things that though wild and vague are not without certain dark presages and ominous suggestions this grimsin flood may be as you say the natural effect of purely natural causes yet notwithstanding this it seems to me a singular phenomenon nay even a weird and almost fatal augury his companion laughed a gentle careless laugh of amused disdain phenomenon augury he exclaimed shrugging his shoulders lightly these words my young friend are terms that nowadays belong exclusively to the vicariously to the faucanourism vocabulary of the uneducated masses we and by we i mean scientists and men of the highest culture have long ago rejected them as unmeaning and therefore unnecessary phenomenon is a particularly vile expression serving merely to designate anything wonderful and uncommon whereas to the scientific eye there is nothing left in the world that ought to excite so vulgar and barbarous in emotion as wonder nothing so apparently rare that cannot be reduced at once from the ignorant exaggerations of enthusiasm to the sensible level of the of the commonplace the so-called marvels of nature have thanks to the advancement of practical education entirely ceased to effect by either surprise or admiration the carefully matured mathematically adjusted and technically balanced brain of the finished student or professor of organic evolution and as for the idea of auguries or portents nothing could well be more entirely a variance with our present system of progressive learning whereby human reason is trained and taught to pulverize into indistinguishable

Starting point is 10:31:37 atoms all supernatural propositions and to gradually eradicate from the mind the absurd notion of a deity or deities whom it is necessary to propitiate in order to live well much time is of course required to elevate the multitude above all desire for a religion but the seed has been sown and the harvest will be reaped and a glorious arrow is fast approaching when the free-thinking free-speaking people of all nations shall govern themselves and rejoice in the grand and godless light of universal liberty somewhat heated by the fervor of his declamatory utterance he passed his hand among his straight locks whether to cool his forehead or to show off the numerous jewel rings on his fingers it was difficult to say and continued more calmly no young sir the color of this river a color which i willingly admit resembles the tint of flowing human blood has not to do with foolish omens and forecasts of evil to simply cause by the influx of some foreign alluvial matter probably washed down by storm from the sides of the distant mountains whence these waters have there rising see you not how the tide is thick and heavy with an unflotable cargo of red sand some sudden disturbance of the soil or a volcanic movement underneath the ocean or even a distant earthquake any of these may be the reason may be why not say must be observed the earth half ironically since learning makes you sure his companion pressed the tips of his fingers delicately together as though blandly deprecating this observation nay nay none of us however wise can say must be he argues suavely it is not strictly speaking possible in this world to pronounce an incontestable certainty not even that two and two or four suggested theo smiling not even that replied the other with perfect gravity inasmuch as in the kingdom of hafares whose borders touch ours the inhabitants also highly civilised

Starting point is 10:33:29 do count their quantities by a totally different method and to them two and two are not four the numbers two and four not being included in their system of figures thus a professor from the colleges of hapharis could obstinately deny what to us seems the plainest fact known to common sense yet were i to argue against him i should never persuade him out of his theory nor could he move me one jot from mine and viewed from our differing standpoints therefore the first simple multiplication of numbers could never be proved correct beyond all question the oaths glanced at him in wonder the man must be mad he thought since surely any one in his senses could see that two objects placed with two other must necessarily be four i confess you surprise me greatly sir he said and in spite of himself a little quiver of laughter shook his voice what i asked was by way of jest and i never thought to hear so simple a subject treated with so much profound and almost doubting seriousness see and he picked up four small stones from the roadway count these one by one how many have you surely even a professor from havarras could find no more and no less than four very deliberately and with unruffled equanimity the other took the pebbles in his hand turned them over and over and finally placed them in a row on the edge of the balustrade near which he stood there seemed to be four he then observed placidly but i would not swear to it nor to anything else of which the actuality is only supported by the testimony of my own eyes and sense of touch good heavens man cried theos in amazement but a moment since you were praising the excellence of reason and the progressive system of learning that was to educate human beings into a contempt for the supernatural and spiritual and yet almost in the same breath you tell me you cannot rely on the evidence of your own senses was there ever anything more utterly incoherent and irrational and he flung the pebbles into the redly flowing river with a gesture of irritation and impatience the scientist if scientist he could be called gazed at him abstractedly and stroked his well-shaven chin with a gesture of irritation and impatience the scientist if scientist he could be called gazed at him abstractedly and stroked his well-shaven chin with a

Starting point is 10:35:32 somewhat dejected eh presently heaving a deep sigh he said alas i have again betrayed myself tis my fatal destiny always by some unlooked for this chance i am compelled to avow what most i desire to conceal can you not understand sir any laid his hand persuasively on theos is on that a theory may be one thing and one's own private opinion another my theory is my profession i live by it suppose i resigned it well then i should also have to resign my present position in the royal institutional college i house my servants and my income i advance the interests of pure human reason because the age has a tendency to place reason as the first and highest attribute of man and it would not pay me to pronounce my personal preference for the natural and vastly superior gift of intellectual instinct i advise my scholars to become atheist because i perceive they have a positive passion for atheism and it is not my business nor would it be to my advantage to interfere with the declared predilections of my wealthiest patrons concerning my own ideas on these matters they are absolutely nil i have no fixed principles because and his brows contracted in a puzzled line it is entirely out of my ability to fix anything the whole world of manners and morals is in a state of perpetual ferment and consequent change equally restless and mutable is the world of nature for at any moment mountains may become plains and plains mountains the dry land may be converted into oceans into dry land and so on forever in this incessant shifting of the various particles that make up the universe how can you expect a man to hold fast or so unstable a thing as an idea and respecting the testimony offered by sight and sense can you rely upon such slippery evidence theos moved uneasily a slight shiver ran through his veins and a momentary dizziness seized him as of one who gazing down from some lofty mountain-peak sees not below but the white deceptive blankness of a mist that bails the deeper deathful chasms from his eyes could he rely on sight and sense

Starting point is 10:37:35 dare he take oath that these frail gods of his intelligence could never be deceived doubtfully he mused on this while his companion continued for example i look in arm's length into space my eyes assure me that i behold nothing save empty air my touch corroborates the assertion of my eyes and yet science proves to me that every inch of that arm's length of supposed blank space is filled with thousands of minute living organisms that no human vision shall ever be able to note or examine wonder not therefore that i decline to express absolute confidence in any fact however seemingly obvious such as that two and two or four and that i prefer to say the blood-red colour of this river may be caused by an earth tremor or a landslip rather than positively absurd that it must be so though i confess that as far as my knowledge guides me i inclined to the belief that must be is in this instance the correct term he sighed again and rubbed his nose perplexedly theos glanced at him curiously uncertain whether to laugh at or pity him then the upshot of all your learning sir he said is that one can never be quite certain of anything exactly so replied the pensive sage with a grave shake of his head judged by the very finest lines of metaphysical argument you cannot really be sure whether you behold in me a person or a phantasm you think you see me i think i see you but after all it is only an impression mutually shared an impression which like many another less distinct may be entirely erroneous ah my dear young sir education is advancing at a very rapid rate and the art of close analysis is reaching such a pitch of perfection that i believe we shall soon be able logically to prove not only that we do not actually exist but moreover that we never have existed and herein as i consider will be the final triumph of philosophy a poor triumph murmured theo squarely what in such a case would become of all the nobler sentiments and passions of man love hope gratitude duty ambition

Starting point is 10:39:32 they would be precisely the same as before rejoined the other complacently only we should have learned to accept them merely as the means whereby to sustain the impression that we live an impression which would always be agreeable however delusive the earth shrugged his shoulders you possess a peculiarly constituted mine sir he said and i congratulate you on the skill you display and following out a somewhat puzzling investigation to almost its last hand's breadth of a conclusion but pardon me i should scarcely think the discussion of such debatable theories conducive to happiness happiness and the scientist smiled scornfully tis a fool's term and designates a state of being that can only pertain to foolishness show me a perfectly happy manner and i will show you an ignorant whitling light-headed hard-hearted and of a most powerfully good digestion many such there be now wantoning among us and the head and chief of them all is perhaps the most popular numskull in alcy the poet bah let us say the braying jackass in office the royal saluma theos gave an indignant start the hot color flushed his brows then he restrained himself by an effort control the fashion of your speech i pray you sir he said with excessive haughtiness the noble laureate is my friend and host i suffer no man to use his name unworthily in my presence the sage drew back and spread at his hands in a pacifying manner oh i crave your pardon good stranger he murmured with a kind of apologetic satire in his awkward voice i crave it most objectively yet to somewhat excuse the hastiness of my words i would explain that a contempt for poets and poetry is now universal among persons of profound enlightenment and practical knowledge. I am aware of it, interrupted Theo swiftly and with passion, I'm aware

Starting point is 10:41:15 that so-called wise men, rooted in narrow prejudice with a smattering of even narrower logic, presume out of their immeasurable littleness to decry and make mock of the truly great, who, thanks to God's unperturable gift of inspiration, can do without the study of books or the teaching of pedants, who flare through the world flame-winged and full of song like angels pass in heavenward, and whose the world. and whose voices rich with music not only sanctify the bygone ages but penetrate with echoing undying sweetness the age is still to come contempt for poets aye tis common the petty boastful pedagogues of surface learning ever look askance on these kings in exile these emperors mask these gods disguised but humility condemned or rejected they are still the supreme rulers of the human heart and a love- ode chanted in the long ago by one such far-lipped and stral outlast the history of many kings he spoke with rapid almost unconscious fervor and as he ended raised one hand with an enthusiastic gesture toward the now brilliant sapphire sky and glowing sun the scientists looked at him furtively and smiled a bland expostulatory smile oh you are young you must be very young he said forbearingly

Starting point is 10:42:26 in a little time you will grow out of all this ill-judged fanaticism for an art the pursuance of which is really only wasted labor think of the absurdity of it what can be more foolish than the writing of verse to express or to encourage emotion in the human subject when the great aim of education at the present day is to carefully eradicate emotion by degrees till we succeed in completely suppressing it an outburst of feeling is always vulgar the highest culture consists in being impassively equable of temperament and absolutely indifferent to the attacks of either joy or sorrow i should be inclined to ask you to consider this matter more seriously and from the strictly common-sense point of view did i not know that for you to undertake a course of useful meditation while you remain in saluma's companionship would be impossible quite impossible nevertheless our discourse has been so far interesting that i shall be happy to meet you again and give you an opportunity for further convoiced should you desire it asked for the head professor of scientific positivism any day in the stranger's court at the royal institutional college and i will at once receive you my name is mirah cabour professor mirra kaboor at your service and laying one hand on his breast he bowed profoundly a professor of positivism who is himself never positive observed theos with a slight smile ah pardon returned the other gravely on the contrary i'm always positive of the unpositiveness of positivism and with this final vindication of his theories he made another stately obeisance and went his way theos looked after his tall retreating figure half in sadness half in scorn this proudly incompetent learned ignorant mira cabour was no uncommon character surely there were many like him somewhere in the world somewhere in far lands of which the memory was now as indistinct as the outline of receding shores blurred by a falling mist the oath seemed painfully to call to mine certain cold-blooded casuists he had known who had attempted to explain away the mysteries of life and death by rule and line calculations and who for no other reason than their mathematically argued denial of god's existence had gained for themselves a temporary spurious celebrity

Starting point is 10:44:31 yes surely he had met such men but where realizing with a sort of shock that he was quite as much in the dark as ever with regard to any real cognizance of his former place of abode in the manner of life he must have led before he entered this bewildering city of alcyrus he roused himself abruptly and resolutely banishing the heavy thoughts that threatened to oppress his soul he began without further delay to direct his steps towards saluma's palace he glanced once more at the river before leaving the embankment it was still blood-red and every now and then between the sluggish ripples multitudes of dead fish could be seen drifting along in shoals and tangled in nets of slimy weed that at a little distance looked like the floating presses of drowned women it was an uncanny sight and though it might certainly be as the wise mirabur had stated the purely natural effect of purely natural causes still those natural causes were not as yet explained satisfactorily an earthquake or landslip would perhaps account sufficiently for everything but then an inquiring mind would desire to know where the earthquake or landslip occurred and also why these supposed far-off disturbances should thus curiously affect the river surrounding alkyris answers to such questions as these were not forthcoming either from professor mirat cabour or any other sagacious pundit and theos was therefore still most illogically and unscientifically puzzled as well as superstitiously uneasy turning up a side street he quickened his pace in order to overtake a young bender of wines whom he perceived sauntering along in front of him balancing a flat tray loaded with thin crystal flask on his head how gloriously the sunshine quivered through these delicately tinted glass bottles lighting up the glittering liquid contained within them why they look more like soap bubbles than anything else and the boy who carried them moved with such a lazy noiseless grace than he might have been taken for a dream sylph rather than a human being

Starting point is 10:46:25 hallo my lad cried theos running after him tell me is this the way to the palace of the king's laureate the youth looked up what a beautiful creature he was with his brilliant dark eyes and dusky warm complexion why asked for the king's laureate he demanded with a pretty scorn the people saluma lives yonder and he pointed to a mass of towering palms from whose close and graceful flondage a white dome rose glistening in the clear air our porrits fame is not the outgrowth of a mere king's favor tis the glad and willing tribute of the nation's love and praise a truce to monarchs they will soon be at a discount in alcy and with a flashing glance of defiance and a saucy smile he passed on easily sauntering as before a budding republican though theos amusedly as he pursued his course in the direction indicated that is how the liberty equality fraternity system always begins first among street boys who think they ought to be gentlemen then among shopkeepers who persuade themselves that they deserve to be peers then comes a time of topsy turviedom and fierce contention and by and by everything gets shaken together again in the form of a republic wherein the street-boys and shopkeepers are not a whit better off than they were under a monarchy they become neither peers nor gentlemen but stay exactly in their original places with the disadvantage of finding their trade decidedly damaged by the change that has occurred in the national economy strange that the inhabitants of this world should make such a fuss about resisting tyranny and oppression when each particular individual man by custom and usage tyrannizes over and oppresses this fellow-man to an extent that would be simply impossible to the fiercest kings thus meditating a few steps more brought him to the entrance of saluma's princely abode the gate stood wide open and a pleasant murmur of laughter and soft singing floated toward him across the slanted court where the great fountains were tossing up to the bright sky their straight glisting

Starting point is 10:48:19 columns of snowy spray. He listened, and his heart leaped with an intense relief and joy. Saluma, the beloved Saluma, was evidently at home and as yet unharmed. These mirthful sounds betokened that all was well. The vague trouble and depression that had weighed upon his soul for hours now, banished completely, and a-stained along, he sprang lightly up the marble stairs and into the rainbow-colored, spacious hall, where the first person he saw was Zabostis, the critic. Ah, good Zabastis, he cried gaily. Where is that, Master Saluma? As he returned, turned in safety in safety wrote sebasties with an accent of ironic surprise to be sure is he a baby in swaddling clothes that he cannot be trusted out alone to take care of himself in safety i i warn't you he is safe enough and silly enough and lazy enough to please any one of his idiot flatterers moreover i master and he emphasized this word with indescribable bitterness has slept as soundly as a swine and half duly bade with the punctiliousness of a conceited swan and being suitably combed perfumed

Starting point is 10:49:19 attired and throned as becomes his dainty puppet-ship is now condescending to partake of vulgar food in the seclusion of his own apartment go thither and you shall find his verse stringing mightiness nobly enshrined as a god among a worshipping crowd of witless maidens he hathen hathen hathen he has inquired for you many times which is somewhat of a wonder seeing that as a rule he concerns his mind with naught save himself furthermore he is graciously pleased to be in a manner solicitous on behalf of the maidens of rata who hath suddenly disappeared from the household leaving no message to explain the cause of her evanishment hath seen her no and the old man thumped his stick petulantly on the floor estheos shook his head in the negative tis the only feminine creature i ever had patience to speak with a modest wench and a gentle one and were it not for her idolatrous adoration of saluma she would be fairly sensible withal no matter she is gone everything goes even good women and nothing lasts save folly of which there shall surely never be an end here apparently conscious that he had shown more feeling and speaking of nefrada than was usual with him he looked up impatiently and waved his step toward saluma's study in in boy in to the chief of poets and prince of egotis he waits your service he is all agape and thirsty for more flattery and delicate cajolment stuff him of praise give you and who knows but a portion of his mantle may descend on you hereafter make of you as conceited and pretty a bantling bard for the glory of proud posterity and chuckling audibly he hobbled down a side passage while theo's half angry half amused crossed the hall quickly and arrived at the door of the laureate's private sanctum where gently drawing aside the silken draperies he looked in for a moment without being himself perceived what a picture he beheld how perfection every shade of color in every line of detail saluma reclining in a quaintly carved ebony chair was towing with the fruit and wine set out before him

Starting point is 10:51:19 on an ivory and gold stand his dress simpler than it had been on the previous evening was a fine white linen gathered loosely about his classic figure he wore neither myrtle wreath nor jewels the expression of his face was serious even noble and his attitude was one of languid grace and unstudied ease that became him infinitely well the maidens of his household waited near him some of them held flowers one kneeling at a small lyre seemed just about to strike a few chords when saluma silenced her by a light gesture peace sorrelin he said softly i cannot listen thou hast not my nephrodis tenderness sorrelin a beautiful dark girl with hair as black as night and eyes that looked as though they held suppressed yet ever burning fire let her hands instantly dropped from the instrument and sighing shrank back a little in a bash silence at that moment theo advanced and the laureate sprang up delightedly ah at last my friend he cried enthusiastically clasping him by both hands where in the name of all the gods hast thou been roaming how did we part by my soul i forget but no matter thou art here once more and as i live we will not separate again so easily my noble theos and he threw one arm affectionately round his neck i miss thee more than i can tell these past few hours thou dost seem so sympathetically conjoined with me that verily i think i am and but half myself in thine absence come sit thee down and break thy fast i'll must fear thou hast met with some mischance on thy way hither and that i should have had to sally forth and rescue thee again even as i did yesterday say hast thou occupied thyself with so much friendly consideration on my behalf as i have on thine he laughed gaily as he spoke and theos looking into his bright beautiful face was for a moment too deeply moved by his own strange inward emotions to utter a word in reply why did he love saluma so ardently he wondered why was it that every smile on that proud mouth every glance of those flashing eyes possessed such singular overwhelming fascination for him

Starting point is 10:53:19 he could not tell but he readily yielded to the magic influence of his friend's extraordinary attractiveness and sitting down beside him in the azure light and soft fragrance of his regal apartment he experienced a sudden sense of rest satisfaction and completeness such as may be felt by a man at one with himself and with all the world end of chapter twenty one chapter twenty two of our death by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain wasted passion the assembled maidens had retired modestly into the background while the laureate had thus joyously greeted his return guest but now at a signal from their lord they again advanced and taking up the glittering dishes of fruit and the flasks of wine proffered them in turn to theos with much deferential grace and courtesy he was by no means slow in responding to the humble attentions of these fair ones there was a sort of deliciously dreamy enchantment and being waited upon by such exquisitely lovely creatures the passing touch of their little little white hands that supported the heavy golden savers seemed to add new savour to the luscious fare the timorous fire of their downcast eyes softly sparkling through the veil of their long lashes gave extra warmth to the ambrosial wine and he could not refrain from occasionally whispering a tender flattery or delicate compliment in the ear of one or other of his sylph-like servitors though they all appear curiously unmoved by his choicely worded adulation now and then a pale flickering blush or sudden smile brightened their faces but for the most part they maintained at a mere and serious demeanour as though possessed by the very spirit of invincible reserve

Starting point is 10:55:27 with saluma it was otherwise they hovered about him like butterflies round a rose a thousand with full passionate glances darted upon him when he unconscious or indifferent apparently saw nothing many a deep involuntary sigh was stifled quickly ere it could escape between the rosy lips whose duty it was to read themselves with smiles and theos noticing these things thought heavens how this man is loved and yet he out of all men is perhaps the most ignorant of love's true meaning scarcely had this reflection entered his mind then he became bitterly angry with himself for having indulged in it how recreant how base an idea how incompatible with the adoring homage he felt for his friend what saluma a poet whose songs of love were so perfect so wildly sweet and soul entrancing he to be ignorant of love's true meaning oh impossible and a burning flush of shame rose to theos's brow shame that he could have entertained such a blasphemy against his idol for a moment then that curious vague soft contrition he had before experienced stole over him once again a sudden moisture filled his eyes and turning abruptly toward his host he held out his own just-filled goblet drink we the loving cup together saluma he said in his voice trembled a little with its own deep tenderness pledge me thy faith as i do pledge thee mind and for to-day at least let me enjoy thy boon companionship who knows how soon we may be forced to part forever and debrief the last word softly with a faint sigh saluma looked at him with an expressive glance of bright surprise part he exclaimed joyously nay not we my friend not till we find each other tiresome not till we prove that our spirits like over-metalsome steeds do chafe and fret one another too rudely in the harness of custom

Starting point is 10:57:20 wherefore then and then only twill be time to break loose at a gallop and seek each one a wider pasture land meanwhile here's to thee and bending his handsome head he readily drank a deep draught of the proffered wine may all the gods hold fast our bond of friendship and with a graceful salute he returned the jewel cup half empty the oaths at once drained off what yet remained within it and then leaning more confidentially over the laureate's chair he whispered hast thou in very true forgotten thy rashness of last night saluma surely thou must guess how unquiet i have been concerning thee tell me was thy hot pursuit in vain or didst thou discover the king peace in a quick frown darkened the smooth beauty of saluma's face as he grasped theos's arm hard to warn him into silence than forcing a smile he answered in the same low tone twas not the king it could not be thou wert mistaken nay but persisted theos gently convinced me of mine error didst thou overtake instead of my error didst thou overtake instead of confront yon armed and muffled stranger not i anne saluma shrugged his shoulders petulantly sleep fell upon me suddenly when i left thee and he thinks i must have wandered home like a shadow in a dream was i not drunk last night and so in all likelihood wert thou little could we be trusted to recognize either king or clown he laughed and added nevertheless i till thee once again twas not the king his majesty hath too much at stake to risk so dangerous a pleasant the oars heard but he was dissatisfied and ill at ease saluma's careless contentment increased his own disquietude just then a curious-looking personage entered the apartment a gray-haired dwarfish negro who carried swung across his back a large bundle consisting of several neatly rolled-up pieces of linen one of which he presently detached from the rest and set down before the lawyer who in return gave him a silver coin at the same time asking justingly

Starting point is 10:59:18 is the news worth paying for to-day zibia or is it the same ill-written clumsy chronicle of trumpery commonplace events zibia slipping the coin he had received into a wide leathern pouch which hung from his girdle appeared to meditate a moment then he replied if the truth must be told most illustrious there is nothing whatever to interest the minds of the culture the cheap scribes of the daily circular cater chiefly for the mob and do all in their power to foster more of qualities of disposition and murderous tendencies among the lower orders hence though there is nothing in the news-sheet pertaining to literature or the fine arts there is much concerning the sudden death of the young sculptor ner jalus whose body was found flung on the banks of the river this morning the o started saluma listened with placid indifference tis a case of self-slaughter pursued zibia chatily or so say the wise writers who are supposed to know everything self-slaughter committed during a state of temporary insanity well well i myself would have had a different opinion and a sagacious one no doubt interrupted saluma coldly and with a dangerous flash as of steel in his eyes but be advised giusebia give thine opinion no utterance the oligra shrank back nervously making numerous apologetic gestures and waited in abashed silence till the laureate speeches regained their wonted soft serenity then he ventured to speak again though not without a little hesitation concerning the topics of the hour he murmured timorously my lord is perhaps not aware that the river itself is a subject of much excited discussion the water having changed to a marvellous blood-colour during the night which singular circumstance hath caused a great panic among the populace even now as i passed by the embankment the crowd there was thick as a hive of swarming bees he paused but saluma made no remark and he continued more glibly also to-day circular contains the full statement of the king's reward for the capture of the prophet coast rule

Starting point is 11:01:17 and the former programme of the sacrificial ceremonial announced to take place this evening in the temple of megaya all is set forth in the fine words of the petty public scribes who needs must make as much as possible out of little and they must make as much as possible out of little and they there is likewise a so-called facsimile of the king's signature which will naturally be of supreme interest to the vulgar furthermore it is proclaimed that a grand combat of wild beasts in the royal arena will follow immediately after the service in the temple is concluded methinks none will go to bed early seeing there is so full a list of amusements he paused again somewhat out of breath and saluma meanwhile unrolled the linen scroll he had purchased which measured about twenty-four inches in length and twenty in width carefully ruled black and red lines divided it into nearly the same number of columns as those on the page of an ordinary newspaper and it was covered with closed writing here and there embellished by bold profusely ornamented headings one of these death of the sculptor nerjalis seemed to burn into theos's brain like letters of fire how was it he wondered that the body of that unfortunate victim had been found on the shore of the river when he himself had seen it loaded with iron weights and cast into the lake that formed part of licea's fatal garden presently saluma passed the scroll to him with a smile saying lightly there my friend is a specimen of the true mob literature written to-day forgotten to-morrow tis a droll thing to meditate to meditate of-mightly written to-day forgotten to-morrow tis a droll thing to meditate upon the ephemeral nature of all this pouring out of unnecessary words and stale stock phrases and wits thou believe it theos each little page scribe that adds his poor quoted to this ill-assorted trash deems himself wiser and greater far than any poet or philosopher dead or living why in this very new sheet i have seen the immortal works of the divine

Starting point is 11:03:07 so hacked by the blunt knives abignant and vulgar criticism that by my faith were it not for contempt one would be disposed to nail the hands of such trumpery scribblers to oppose and scourge their bare backs with thorny rods to cure them of their insolence nay even my fool zebostes have found place in these narrow columns to write his carping diatribes against me me the king's laureate as i live his cumbersome diction hath caused me infinite mirth and i have laughed at his crabbed and feeble wit till my sides of egg most potently now get thee gone fellow thou and thy news and he nodded a good-humoured dismissal to the deferential zibia who with his woolly grey head very much on one side stood listening gravely and approvingly to all that was said yet as gossip whispered thee the name of the poor virgin self-destioned for this evening sacrifice no my lord responded zibia promptly tis veiled in deeper mystery than usual i've inquired of many but in vain and even the chief layman of the outside court of the court of the court of the court of the court of the court of the court of the court of the court of the court of the court of the the temple always drunk and garrulous as he is can tell me naught of the holy victim's title or parentage tis a passing fair wench said he with a chuckle that is all i know concerning her a passing fair wench ah and zibia rolled up the whites of his eyes and sighed in a comically contemptuptive manner if ever a flamen deserved expulsion from his office it is surely yon ancient crafty carnal-minded soul so keen a glance for a woman's beauty is not a needful qualification for a servant of the snake divine methinks we have fallen upon evil days maybe the craze prophet is right after all and things are coming to an end like thy discourse i hope zibia observed saluma yawning and flinging himself lazily back on his velvet couch get hence and serve thy customers with their cheap news depend upon it some of them are cursing thee mightily for thy delay and if thou shouldst chance to meet the singing maiden of my household nefrada bitter make haste homeward she hath been absent since the break of mourning

Starting point is 11:05:07 too long for my contentment maybe i did unwisely give the child her freedom as slaves she would not have presumed to get abroad thus wantonly without her lord's permission say if thou seest her that i am wrathful the thought of mine anger will be as a swift wing to waft her hither like a trembling dove afraid all penitent and eager for my pardon remember be sure thou tell her of my deep displeasure sibea bowed profoundly his outspread hands almost touching the floor in the civility of his obeisance and backed out of the room as humbly as though he were leaving the presence of royalty when he had gone theos looked up from the new scroll he was perusing is it not strange nephrada should have left thee thus salome he said with a touch of anxiety in his tone may be and he hesitated conscious of a strange unbidden remorse that suddenly and without any apparent reason overwhelmed his conscience maybe she was not happy not happy ejaculated saluma amazedly not happy with me not happy in my house protected by my patronage where then if not here could she find happiness and his beautiful flashing eyes betokened his entire and naive astonishment at the mere supposition theo smiled involuntarily how charming after all was saluma's sublime egotism how almost childlike was his confidence in himself and his own ability to engender joy all at once the young girl zorlin spoke her accents were low and timorous may it please my lord saluma to hear me she said and paused thy lord selima hears thee with pleasure zorland replied the lawyer gently thou dost speak more sweetly than many a bird doth sing a rich warm blush grinsen the maiden's cheeks at these dulcet words she drew a quick uneasy breath and then went on

Starting point is 11:06:55 i love nithrada she murmured in a soft tone of touching tenderness and i have watched her often when she deemed herself unseen she has methinks shed many tears for sake of some deep heart-buried sorrow we have lived as sisters sharing the same room and the same couch of sleep but alas, in spite of all my lord's most constant kindly favor, the Frada is not happy, and I have sometimes thought, here her mellow voice sank into a nervous indistinctness, that it may be because she loves my Lord Saluma far too well. And as she said this, she looked up with a sudden affright in her dark, lovely eyes, as though she were alarmed at her own presumption. Saluma met her troubled gaze calmly,

Starting point is 11:07:34 and with a bright smile of complacent vanity. And dost thou plead for thine absent friend, Zorland? he asked with just sufficient satire and his utterance to render it almost cruel am i to blame for the foolish fancies of all the amorous maidens in alcyrus many there be who love me well what then must i love many in return nay not so the poet is the worshipper of ideal beauty and for him the brief passions of mortal men and women serve as mere past time to while away an hour but by my faith thou hast gained wondrous boldness in thy speech to prate so glibly of the heart's emotion what knowest thou concerning such things thou who hast counted scarcely fifteen summers hast thou caught contagion from defraud a and art thou too sick of love oh the dazzling smile with which he accompanied this poignant question the pitiless burning ardor he managed to convey into the sleeping brilliancy of his soft poetic eyes the beautiful anger of his attitude as leaning his head back easily on one arm he turned up the shrinking girl a look that seemed intended to pierce into the very inmost recesses of her soul the rosy color faded from her cheeks white as a marble image she stood her breath coming between her lips in quick frightened gasp my lord she stammered i hear her voice failed her and suddenly covering her face with her hands she broke into a passion of weeping saluma's delicate brows darkened into a close frown and he waved his hand with a petulant gesture of impatience ye gods what fools or women he said wearily ever hovering uncertainly on a narrow verge between silly smiles and sillier tears

Starting point is 11:09:12 as i live they are most uncomfortable playfellows and dwelling with them long would drive all the inspiration out of man no matter how nobly he were gifted ye butterflies ye little fluttering souls and beginning to laugh as riddle as he had frowned he addressed the other maidens who though they did not dare to move or speak were evidently affected by the grief of their companion go hansall and take this sensitive baby zoilin into your charge and console her for her fancy troubles tis a mere frenzy of feminine weakness and will pass like an april shower but by this sacred veil if i saw much of woman's weeping i would discard for ever woman's company and dwell in peaceful hermit fashion alone among the tree-tops so heed the warning pretty ones let me witness none of your tears if you are wise, or else say farewell to Saloma, and seek some less easy and less pleasing service. With this injunction, he sighed to them all to depart,

Starting point is 11:10:07 whereupon the awed and trembling girls noticelessly, surrounded the still convulsively sobbing Zorland, and gently leading her away they quickly withdrew, each one making a profound obeisance to their imperious master, ere leaving his presence. When they had finally disappeared, Saluma heaved a sigh of relief.

Starting point is 11:10:24 Can anything equal the perverseness of these frivolous feminine toys he murmured pettishly turning his head round toward theos as he spoke was ever a more foolish child than zoilin just as i would fain have consoled her for her pricking heartache she must needs pour out a torrent of tear-drops to change my humour and quench her own delight tis the most irksome inconsistency theos glanced at him with a vague emotion of wonder and self-reproachful sadness nay whatst thou indeed have consoled her saluma he inquired gravely how how and saluma laughed musically my simple friend dost thou ask me such a babe's question he sprang from his couch and standing erect pushed his clustering dark hair off his wide bow-brows am i disfigured aged lame or crooked cannot these arms embrace these lips engender kisses these eyes wax amorous and shall not one brief hour of love with me consoled the weariest maid that ever pine for passion now by my faith how solemn is thy countenance art thou an anchorite good theos and wouldst thou have me scourge my flesh and groan because the gods have given me youth and vigorous manhood he drew himself up with an inimitable gesture of pride his attitude was statuesque and noble and theos looked at him as he would have looked at a fine picture with a sense of critically satisfied admiration most assuredly i am no anchorite saloma he said smiling slightly yet with a touch of sorrow in his voice but methinks the consolment thou wouldst offer to enamored maids is far more dangerous than lasting

Starting point is 11:11:59 thy love to them means ruin thy embraces shame thy unthinking passion death what wilt thou be a spendthrift of desire wilt thou drain the fond souls of women as a bee drains the sweetness of flowers wilt thou being honeycloid behold them droop and whither around thee and wilt thou leave them utterly destroyed and desolate hast thou no vestige of a heart my friend a poet heart to feel the misery of the world the patient grief of all appealing nature commingled with the dreadful yet majestic silence of an unknown god oh surely thou hast this supremest gift of genius this loving enduring faithful sympathetic heart for without it how shall thy fame be held long in remembrance how shall thy use grown laurels escape decay tell me and leaning forward he caught his friend's hand in his eagerness thou art not made of stone thou art human thou art not exempt from mortal suffering not exempt no interposed saluma thoughtfully but as yet i have never really suffered never really suffered the oaths dropped the handy health and an invisible barrier seemed to rise slowly up between him and his beautiful companion never really suffered then he was no true poet after all if he was ignorant of sorrow if he could not spiritually enter into the pathos of speechless griefs and unshed tears if he could not absorb into his own being the prayers and plaints of all creation and utter them aloud in burning an immortal language his calling was in vain his election futile this thought smote theo's with the strength of a sudden blow he sat silent and weighed with a dreary feeling of disappointment to which he was unable to give any fitting expression i have never really suffered repeated saluma slowly but i've imagined suffering that is enough for me the passions the tortures the despairs of imagination are greater far than the seeming real petty afflictions with which human beings daily perplex themselves indeed i have often wondered here his eyes grew more earnest and reflected

Starting point is 11:13:59 whether this busy working of the brain called imagination may not perhaps be a special phase or supreme effort of memory and that therefore we do not imagine so much as we remember for instance if we have ever lived before our present recollectionally in certain exalted states of minds served to bring back the shadow pictures of things long gone by good or evil deeds scenes of love and strife ethereal and divine events in which we have possibly enacted each our different parts as unwittingly as we enact them here he sighed and seemed somewhat troubled but presently continued in a lighter tone yet after all it is not necessary for the poet to personally experience the emotions whereof he writes the divine his sparrows despicts murderers cowards and slaves in his sublime tragedies but thinkest thou it was essential for him to become a murderer coward enslaved himself in order to delineate these characters and i i write of love love spiritual love eternal love fitted for the angels i have dreamt of but not for such animals as men and what matters it that i know naught of such love unless perchance i knew it years ago in some far-off fairer sphere for me the only charm of worth and woman is beauty beauty to its entrancing sway my senses all make swift surrender oh too swift and too degrading a surrender interrupted theo suddenly with reproachful vehemence thy words do madden patience better a thousand times that thou shouldst perish soluma now in the full plenitude of thy poet glory than thus confess thyself a prey to thine own passions a credulous victim of lycia's treachery for one second the laureate stood amazed the next he sprang upon his guest and grasping him fiercely by the throat treachery he muttered with white lips treachery he muttered with white lips treachery darest thou speak of treachery and lycia in the same breath o thou rash fool dost thou blaspheme my lady's name and yet not fear to die and his live brown fingers tightened their clutch but theos cared nothing for his own life some inward excitation of feeling kept him resolute and perfectly controlled

Starting point is 11:16:06 kill me saloma he gasped kill me friend whom i love death will be easy at thy hands deprive me of my sad existence tis better so than that i should have swain thee last night at lycia's bidding at this saluma suddenly released his hold and started backward with a sharp cry of anguish his face was pale and his beautiful eyes grew strained and piteous slain me me at lycea's bidding he murmured wildly oh ye gods the world grows dark is the sun quenched in heaven at lycea's bidding nay by my soul my sight is dimmed i see naught but flaring red in the air why and he laughed discordantly thou poor theos thou shalt use no dagger point for lo i am dead already thy words have killed me go tell her how well her cruel mission hath sped my very soul is slain at her bidding hasten to her wilt out and his accents trembled with pathetic plaintiveness say i am gone lost drawn into a night of everlasting blackness like a taper blown swiftly out by the wind tell her that saluma the poet saluma the foolish credulous saluma who loved her so madly is no more his voice broke his head drew wealthios whose every nerve throbbed in response of sympathy with the passion of his despair strove to think of some word of comfort that like soothing balm might temper the bitterness of his chafed and wounded spirit but could find none for it was a case in which the truth must be told and truth is always hard to bear if it destroys or attempts to destroy any one of our cherished self-delusions my friend my friend he said presently with gentle earnestness control this fury of thy heart why is such unmanly sorrow for one who is not worthy of thee saluma looked up his black silky lashes were wet with tears not worthy oh the old poor consolation he exclaimed quickly dashing the drops from his eyes

Starting point is 11:17:54 not worthy no what mortal woman is ever worthy of her poet's love not one in all the world nevertheless worthy or unworthy true or treacherous naught can make lycia otherwise than fair fair beyond all fairness and i i was sole possessor of our beauty for me her eyes warmed into stars of fire for me her kisses ripened in their pearl and ruby nest all all for me and now he flung himself desolately on his couch and fixed his wistful gaze on his companion's grave pain countenance till all at once a hopeful light flashed across his features a light that seemed to shine through him like an inwardly kindled flame ah what a querulous fool am i he cried joyously so joyously that theost knew not whether to be glad or sorry at his sudden and capricious change of mood why should i thus bemoan myself or fancied wrong good noble theo's thou hast been misled my lycia's words were but to try thy medal to test thee to the core and proved thee truly faithful as salumus friend she bade thee slay me even so but hast thou rashly undertaken such a deed thine own life would have paid the forfeit now i begin to understand it all tis plain and his face grew brighter and brighter as he cheated him into the pleasing idea his own fancy had suggested she tried thee she tempted thee she found thee true and incorruptible ah twas a jest my friend and entirely recovering from his depression he clapped his hand heartily on theos's shoulder twas all a jest and she the fair inquisitor will herself prove it so ere long and make merry with our ill-omen fears why i can laugh now at mine own despondency come look thou also more cheerily gentle theos and pardon these uncivil fingers that so nearly gripped thee into silence and he laughed thou art the best and kindest of loyal comrades and i will so assure lycia of thy merit that she shall institute no more torture trials upon thy frank and trusting nature hi-ho

Starting point is 11:19:49 and stretching out his arms lazily he heaved a sigh of tranquil satisfaction he thought i was wounded and to death but twas the mere fancied prick of an arrow after all and i am well again what art thou still melancholy still sombre nay surely thou wilt not be a veritable kill-joy theus stood mute and sorely perplexed he saw at once how useless it was now to try and convince aluma of any danger threatening him through the instigation of the woman he loved he would never believe it and yet something must be done to put him on his guard taking up the scroll of the public news where the account of the finding of the body of nerjalus was written with all that exaggerated attention to repulsive details which seems to be a special gift of the chief reporters theos pointed to it his was a cruel end he said in a low uncertain voice saluma canst thou expect mercy from a woman who has once been so merciless bah returned delory lightly who and what was nirjalus a hewer of stone images a nobody he will not be missed besides he is only one of many who have perished thus only one of many ejaculated theos with a shudder of aversion and yet o thou most reckless and misguided soul thou dost flood this wanton murder a warm flush tinted salumous olive skin his hands clenched and unclenched slowly as though he held some struggling prism thing and raising his head he looked at his companion full and steady with a singularly solemn and reproving expression in his luminous eyes hast thou not loved her also he demanded a faint serious smile curving his lips as he spoke if only for the space of some few passing moments was not thy soul ravaged thy heart enslaved thy man who had conquered by her spell i thou dost shrink at that and his smile deep in d'estheus suddenly conscience-stricken avoided his friends too scrutinizing gaze blame me not therefore for thine own weakness

Starting point is 11:21:43 he paused then went on slowly with a meditative air i love her yes as a man must always love the woman that baffles him the woman whose moods are complex and fluctuating as the winds on the sea and whose humor sways between the softness of the dove and the fierceness of the tiger nothing is more fatally fascinating to the masculine sense than such a creature more especially if to this temperament is united rare physical grace combined with keen intellectual power tis vain to struggle against the irresistible witchery exercised over a us by the commingling of beauty and ferocity we see it in the wild animals of the forest and the high-soaring birds of the air and we like nothing better than to hunt it capture it tame it or kill it as suits our pleasure he paused again and again smiled a grave reluctant doubting smile such as seemed to theos oddly familiar suggesting to his bewildered fancy that he must have seen it before on his own face reflected in a mirror even thus do i love lycia continued soloma she perplexes me she opposes her will to mine the very irritation and ferment into which i am thrown by her presence adds fire to my genius and but for the spur of this never satiated passion who knows whether i should sing so well he was silent for a little space than he resumed in a more ordinary tone the wretched nor jealous whose fate thou dost so persistently deplore deserved his end for his presumption didst thou not hear his insolent insinuation concerning the king i heard it yes replied theos and i saw no harm in the manner of his utterance no harm exclaimed saluma excitedly no harm nay but i forget thou art a stranger in alcarus and therefore thou art ignorant of the last word spoken by the sacred oracle some hundred years or more ago they are these when the high priestess is the king's mistress then fall al

Starting point is 11:23:38 tis absolute doggle and senseless withal nevertheless it is caused the enactment of a law which is to the effect that the reigning monarch of alcyrus shall never under any sort of pretext confer with the high priestess of the temple on any business whatsoever and that furthermore he shall never be permitted to look upon her face except at times of public service and state ceremonials now dost thou not at once perceive how vile were the suggestions of nojalous and also how foolish was thy fancy last night with regard to the armed masquerader thou did see in lycia's garden the eust made no reply but sat absorbed in his own reflections he began now to understand much that had before seemed doubtful and mysterious no wonder he thought that zepharonim's fury against the audacious coast rule had been so excessive for had not the craze prophet called lycea an unvergained virgin and queen and according to saluma's present explanation nothing more dire and offensive in the way of open blasphemy could be uttered yet the question still remained was cos rule right or wrong this was a problem which theos longed to investigate and yet recoiled from instinctively he felt that upon its answer hung the fate of alcarus and also what just then seemed more precious than anything else the life of saluma he could not decide with himself why this was so he simply accepted his own inward assurance that so it was presently he inquired how comes at saluma that the corpse of nerjales was found on the shores of the river did we not see it weighed with iron and laid elsewhere oh simpleton laughed saluma thinkest thou lycia's lake of lilies is a common grave for criminals the body of nerjalis sank therein tis true but was there no after means of lifting it from thence and placing it where best such carrion should be found hath not the high priestess of naga slaves enough to work her will

Starting point is 11:25:32 barely thou dost trouble thyself over much concerning these trivial everyday occurrences i marvel at thee hundreds have drained the silver nectar gladly for so fair a woman's sake hundreds will drain it gladly still for the mere privilege of living some brief days in the presence of such peerless beauty but speaking of the river didst thou remarked it on thy way hither aye responded theo streamily twas red as blood strange and saluma looked thoughtfully for an instant and rousing himself said lightly tis from some simple cause no doubt yet twill create a silly panic in the city and all the fanatics for coast rules new creed will creep forth shouting afresh their prognostications of death and doom by my faith will be a most desperate howling and i'll not walk abroad till the terror hath abated forover i have worked to do some lately butted thoughts of mine have ripened into glorious conclusion and sebastis hath orders presently to attend me that he may take my lines down from mine own dictation thou shalt hear a most choic legend of love and thou wilt listen here he laid his hand affectionately on theos's shoulder a legend set about methinks with wondrous jewels of poetic splendor tis a rare privilege i offer thee my friend for as a rule sebastis is my only auditor but i would swear thou art no plagiarist and wits not dishonor thine own intelligence so far as to filch pearls a fancy from another minstrel as well steal my garments as my thoughts for verily the thoughts are the garments of the poet's soul and the common thief of things petty and material is no wit more contemptible than he who robs an author of ideas wherein to deck the bareness of his own poor wit come place thyself at ease upon this christian couch and give me thy attention i feel the fervor rising within me i will summon zabbostis here he pulled a small silken court which at once set a clanging bell echoing loudly through the palace and thou shaltzhen shall freely hear and freely judge the last offspring of my fertile genius my lyrhoma theo started violently he had the greatest difficulty to restrain the anguish cry that arose to his lips

Starting point is 11:27:40 murhamma oh memory slow filtering reluctant memory why why was his brain thus tortured with these conflicting pang of piteous recollection little by little like sharp-deep stabs of nervous suffering there came back to him a few faint fragmentary suggestions which gradually formed themselves into a distinct and comprehensive certainty nerhamma was the title of his own poem the poem he had written surely not so very long ago among the mountains of the paths of dariel end of chapter twenty two chapter twenty three of our death by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain his first emotion on making this new mental rediscovery was as it had been before in the king's audience hall one of absolute terror feverish mad terror which for a few moments possessed him so utterly that turning away he buried his aching head among the cushion where he reclined in order to hide from his companion's eyes any outward sign that might betray his desperate misery clenching his hands convulsively he silently and with all his strength combated the awful horror of himself that grew up spectrally within him the dreadful distracting uncertainty of his own identity that again confused his brain and paralyzed his reason at last he thought wildly at last he knew the meaning of hell the frightful spiritual torment of a baffled intelligence set adrift among the wrecks and shadows of things that had formerly been its pride and glory what was any physical suffering compared to such a friend's

Starting point is 11:29:44 of mind agony nothing less than nothing this was the everlasting thirst and fire spoken of so vaguely by prophets and preachers the thirst and fire of those souls unquenchable longing to unravel the dismal tangle of its own bygone deeds the striving for ever in vain to steadfastly establish the wavering mystery of its own existence oh god god what hast thou made of me he groaned inwardly as he endeavoured to calm the tempest of his unutterable despair who am i who was i in that far past which like the pale spirit of a murdered friend haunts me so indistinctly yet so threateningly surely the gift of poesy was mine surely i too could weave the harmony of words and thoughts into a sweet and fitting music how comes it then that all saluma's work is but the reflex of my own o woeful strange and bitter enigma when shall it be unravelled twas the name of what i deemed my masterpiece o silly masterpiece if it proved thus easy of imitation yet stay let me be patient titles are often copied unconsciously but by different authors in different lands and it may chance that saluma's poem is after all his own not mine not mine as were the ballads and the love owed he chanted to the king last night o destiny inscrutable pitiless destiny rescue my tortured soul from chaos declare unto me who who is the plagiarist and thief of song myself or saluma

Starting point is 11:31:42 the more he perplexed his mind with such questions the deeper grew the darkness of the inexplicable dilemma to which a fresh obscurity was now added in his suddenly distinct and distressful remembrance of the pass of dariel where was this place he wondered wearily when had he seen it whom had he met there and how had he come to alcieris from thence no answer could his vexed brain shape to these demands he recollected the pass of darrell just as he recollected the field of our death without the least idea as to what connection existed between them in his own personal adventures presently controlling himself he raised his head and ventured to look up saluma stood beside him his fine face expressive of an amiable solicitude was this sunshine too strong my friend that thou didst thus bury thine eyes in thy pillow he inquired pardon my discourteous lack of consideration for thy comfort i love the sun myself so well that methinks i could meet his burning rays at full noonday and yet take pleasure in the warmth of such a golden smile but thou perchance art unaccustomed to the light of eastern lands wherefore thy brows must not be permitted to acorn uncared for see i have lowered the awnings they give a pleasant shade and in very truth the heat to-day is greater far than ordinary one would think the gods had kindled some new fire in heaven and as he spoke he took up a long palm-leaf fan and waved it to and flow with an exclaim

Starting point is 11:33:34 exquisitely graceful movement of wrist and arm while theos gazing at him in mute admiration forgot his own griefs for the time in the subtle strange and absorbing spell exercised upon him by his hosts irresistible influence just then too saluma appeared handsomer than ever in the half-subdued tints of radiance that flickered through the lowered pale-blue silken awnings the effect of the room thus shattered was as of a soft azure mountain mist lit sideways by the sun a mist through which the white-darminted symmetrical figure of the laureate stood forth in curiously brilliant outlines as though every curve of supple shoulder and proud throat was traced with a pencil of pure light scarcely a breath of air made its way through the wide-open casements the gentle dashing noise of the fountains in the court alone disturbed the deep warm stillness of the morning or the occasional sweeping rustle of peacock's plumes as these stately birds strutted majestically up and down up and down on the marble terrace outside soothed by the luxurious peace of his surroundings the delirium of theos's bewildering affliction gradually abated his tempest-tossed mind regained to a certain extent its equilibrium and falling into easy converse with his fascinating companion he was soon himself again that is as much himself as his peculiar condition permitted him to be yet he was not altogether free from a certain eager and decidedly painful suspense with regard to the nur-halma problem and he was conscious of what he in his own opinion considered an absurd

Starting point is 11:35:34 and unnecessary degree of excitement when the door of the apartment presently opened to admit zabastis who entered carrying several sheets of papyrus and other material for writing the old critic's countenance was expressively glum and ironical he however was compelled like all the other paid servants of the household to make a low and respectful obeisance as soon as he found himself in saluma's presence an act of homage which he performed awkwardly and with evident ill-will his master nodded condescendingly in response to his reluctant salute and signed to him to take his place at a richly carved writing-table adorned with the climbing figures of winged cupids exquisitely wrought in ivory he obeyed shuffling thither uneasily and sniffing the rose fragrant air as he went like an ill-conditioned cur scenting a foe and seating himself in a high-backed chair he arranged his garments fussily about him rolled up his long embroidered sleeves to the elbow and spread his writing implements all over the desk in front of him with much mock solemn ostentation then rubbing his lean hands together he gave a stealthy glance of covert derision round at saluma and theos a glance which theos saw and in his heart resented but which saluma absorbed in his own reflections apparently failed to notice all is in readiness my lord he announced in his disagreeable croaking tones here are the clean and harmless slips of river reed waiting to be soiled and spotted with my lord's indelible thoughts here also are the innocent quills of the white heron

Starting point is 11:37:24 as yet am stained by coloured writing fluid whether black-red gold silver or purple mark you most illustrious bard the touching helplessness and purity these meek servants of a scribbler's fancy blank papyrus and empty quills bethink you seriously whether it were not better to leave them thus unblemished the simple products of unfaulty nature than use them to indict the wondrous things of my lord's imagination whereof all wondrous though they seem no man shall ever be the wiser and he chuckle stroking his stubbly gray beard the while with a blandly suggested yet malign look directed at saluma who met it with a slight cold smile of faintly amused contempt peaceful he said that barbarous tongue of thine is like the imperfect clapper of a broken bell that strikes forth harsh and undesired sound suggesting nothing thy present duty is to hear and not to speak therefore listen discerningly and write with exactitude so shall thy poor blank scrolls of re-grow rich with gems gems of high poesy that the whole world shall hoard and cherish miser-like when the poet who created their bright splendor is no more he sighed a short troubled sigh and stood for a moment silent in an attitude of pensive thought theos watched him yearningly waiting in almost breathless suspense till he should dictate aloud the first line of his poem sebasties meanwhile settled himself more comfortably in his chair and taking up one of the long quills

Starting point is 11:39:14 with which he was provided dipped it in a reddish purple liquid which at once stained its point to a deep rosy at hue so that when the light flickered upon it from time to time it appeared as though it were tipped with fire how intense the heat was thought theos as with one hand he pushed his clustering hair from his brow not without noticing that his action was imitated almost at once by saluma who also seen seemed to feel the oppressiveness of the atmosphere and what a blaze of blue pervaded the room delicate ethereal blue as of shimmering lakes and summer skies melted together into one luminous radiance that while filmy was yet perfectly transparent and in which the laureate's classic form appeared to be gloriously enveloped like that of some new descended god the othraub desires to cure them of their dazzled ache what a marvellous scene it was to look upon he mused would he could he ever forget it ah no never never not till his dying day would he be able to obliterate it from his memory and who could tell whether even after death he might not still recall it just then saluma raised his hand by way of signal to sebastis his face became earnest even grand in the fervent concentration of his thoughts he was about to begin his dictation now now and theos leaned forward nervously his heart beating with apprehensive expectation hush the delicious suave melody of his friend's voice penetrated the silence like the sweet harmonic of a harp string

Starting point is 11:41:06 write said he slowly write first the title of my poem thus nur halma a loved legend of the past there was a pause during which the pen of sebasties travelled quickly over the papyrus for a moment then stopped theos almost suffocated with anxiety could hardly maintain even the appearance of calmness the title proclaimed with its second appendage was precisely the same as that of his own work but this did not now affect him so much what he waited for with such painfully strained attention was the first line of the poem if it was his line he knew it already it ran thus a central sorrow dwells in perfect joy scarcely had he repeated this to himself inwardly than saluma with majesty grace and sweetness of utterance dictated us a central sorrow dwells in perfect joy ah god the sharp cry half fierce half despairing broke from theosa's quivering lips in spite of all the efforts he made to control his agitation and the laureate turned toward him with a surprised and somewhat irritated movement that plainly evinced annoyance at the interruption pardon saluma he murmured hastily twas a slight pang at the heart troubled me a mere nothing i take shame to myself to have cried out for such a pins speak on that first line is as soft as honey-dew as suggestive as the light of dawn on sleeping flowers and leaning disley back on his couch he closed his eyes to shut in the hot and bitter tears

Starting point is 11:43:02 that welled up rebelliously and threatened to fall notwithstanding his endeavor to restrain them his head throbbed and burned as though a chaplet of fiery thorns encircled it instead of the once desired crown of fame he had so fondly dreamed of winning fame alas that bright delusive vision had fled forever there were no glory laurels left growing for him in the fields of poetic art and aspiration saluma the fortunate saluma had gathered and possessed them all taking everything into serious consideration he came at last to the deeply mortifying conclusion that it must be himself who was the plagiarist the unconscious imitator of saluma's ideas of and the worst if it was that his imitation was so terribly exact oh how heartily he despised himself for his poor and pitiful lack of originality down to the very depths of humiliation he sternly abased his complaining struggling wounded and sorely resentful spirit he then and there became the merciless executioner of his own claims to literary honour and deliberately crushing all his past ambition mutinous discontent and uncompliant desires with a strong master hand he lay quiet as patiently and moved as is a dead man to the wrongs inflicted on his memory and forced himself to listen resignedly to every glowing line of his no not his but saluma's poem the lovely gracious delicate entrancing poem he remembered so well and by and by as each a lifluous stanza sounded softly on his ears a strangely solemn tranquillity swept over him a most soothing halcy and calm as though some passing angel's hand had touched his brow in benediction

Starting point is 11:45:05 he looked at saluma not enviously now but all admiringly it seemed to him that he had never heard a sweeter tenderer music than the story of norehalma as recited by his friend and so to that friend he silently awarded his own wished for glory praise and everlasting fame that glory praise and fame which had formerly alerted his fancy as being the best of all the world could offer for which he now entirely and willingly relinquished in favour of this more deserving and dear comrade whose superior genius he submissively acknowledged there was a great quietness everywhere the rising and falling inflections of saluma's soft rich voice rather deepened than disturbed the stillness the pen of sebastis claded noiselessly over the slips of papyrus and the small sounds of the outer air such as the monotonous hum of bees among the masses of lily bloom that towered in white clusters between the festoon dawnings the thirsty twittering of birds hiding under the thursday twittering of birds hiding under the the long palm leaves to shelter themselves from the heat and the incessant splash of the fountains all seemed to be as it were near appendages to enhance the breathless hush of nature presently saluma paused anzebastis heaving a sigh of relief looked up from his writing and laid down his pen the work is finished most illustrious he demanded a curious smile playing on his thin satirical lips finished echoed saluma disdainfully nay tis but the end of the first canto the scribe gave vent to a dismal groan ye gods he exclaimed is there more to come of this bombastic ranting and vile torturing of phrases unheard of

Starting point is 11:47:04 and altogether unnatural oh saluma marvellous saluma twadler saluma what a brain box is thine how full of dislocated word puzzles and similes gone mad now as i live expect no mercy from me this time and he shook his head threateningly for if the public news-sheet will serve me as mine anvil i will so pound thee in pieces with the sledge-hammer of my criticism that by the ship of the sun for once alciris shall be moved to laughter at thee mark me good tuner up of tinkling foolishness i will so choose out and handle thy feeblest lines that they shall seem but the doggerel of a street ballad monger i will give so bald an epitome of this sickly love tale that it shall appeal to all who read my commentary the various trash that ever poet penned moreover i can most admirably misquote thee and distort thy meanings with such excellent bitter jesting that thou thyself shall scarcely recognize thine own production by nagaya's shrine what a feast will be for my dilettation and he rubbed his hands gleefully with what a weight of withering analysis i can pulverize this idol of into the dust and ashes of a common sense contempt while sebasties thus spoke saluma had helped himself by way of refreshment to two ripe figs in whose luscious crimson pulp his white teeth met with all the enjoying zest of a child's healthy appetite he now held up the rind and stalks of these devoured delicacies and smiled thus wilt thou swallow up my poem

Starting point is 11:49:00 in thy glib clumsiness zebostes he said lightly and thus wilt them hold up the most tasteless portions of the whole for the judgment of the public tis the manner of thy craft yet see and with a dexterous movement of his arm he threw the fruit peel through the window far out into the garden beyond there goes thy famous criticism and he laughed and those that taste the fruit itself at first hand will not soon forget its flavor nevertheless i hope indeed that thou wilt strive to slaughter me with thy blunt paper sword i do most mirthfully relish the one-sided combat in which i stand in silence to receive thy blows myself unhurt and tranquil as a marble god whom ruffians rail upon do i not pay thee to abuse me ere thou crusty soul drink and be content and with a charming condescension he handed a full goblet of wine to his cantankerous critic who accepted it ungraciously muttering in his beard the necessary words of thanks for his master's consideration then turning to theos the laureate continued and thou my friend what dost thou think of nur hama so far hath it not a certain exquisite smoothness of rhythm like the ripple of a woodland stream clear winding through the reeds and is there not a tender witchery in the delineation of my maiden heroine so warmly fair so wildly passionate methinks she doth resemble some rich flower of our tropic fields blooming at sunset and dead at moonrise theus waited a moment before replying truth to tell he was inwardly overcome with shame to remember how wantonly he had copied the description of this same norhalma and plaintively he wondered how he could have unconsciously committed so flagrant a theft

Starting point is 11:50:58 summoning up all his self-possession however he answered bravely thy work saluma is worthy of thyself need i say more thou hast most aptly proved thy claim upon the whole world's gratitude such lofty thoughts such noble discourse upon love such high philosophy wherein the deepest dearest dreams of life are grandly pictured in enduring colors these things are gifts to poor humanity whereby it must become enriched and proud thy name bright soul shall be as a quenchless star on the dark brows of melancholy time men gazing thereat shall wonder and adore and even i the least among thy friends may also win from thee a share of glory for simply to know thee to listen to thy heaven-inspired utterance might bring the most renownless student some reflex of thine honour yes thou art great saloma great as the greatest of earth's gifted sons of song and with all my heart i offer thee my homage and pride myself upon the splendour of thy fame and as the eager enthusiastic words came from his lips he beheld saluma's beautiful countenance brightened more and more till it appeared mysteriously transfigured into a majestic angel face that for one brief moment startled him by the divine tenderness of its compassionate smile this expression however was transitory it passed and the dark eyes of the laureate gleamed with a merely serene and affectionate complacency as he said i thank thee for thy praise good the theos thou art indeed the friendliest of critics hath thou thyself been the author of nurhamma thou couldst not have spoken with more ardent feeling were sebasties like thee discerningly just and reasonable he would be all unfit for his vocation for tis an odd circumstance that prays

Starting point is 11:53:02 in the public news-sheet does a writer more harm than good while ill-conditioned and malicious abuse doth very materially increase and strengthen his reputation yet after all there is a writer more harm than good while ill-conditioned and malicious abuse doth very materially increase and strengthen his reputation yet after all there is a certain sense in the argument for if much eulogy be penned by the cheap scribes the reading populace at once imagine these fellows have been bribed to give their overzealous approval or that they are close friends and banquet comrades of the author whom they arduously uphold whereas on the contrary if they indulge in bitter invective flippant gibing or clumsy satire like my amiable zabostis here and he made an airy gesture toward the silent yet evidently chafing critic and mark you he is not bribed but merely paid fair wages to fulfil his chosen and profess calling why thereupon the multitude exclaim what this poet hath such enemies nay then how great a genius he must be and forthwith they clamour for his work which if it speak not for itself is then and only then to be deemed faulty and meriting oblivion tis the people's verdict which alone gives fame and yet the people are often ignorant of what is noblest and best in literature observed theos musingly ignorant in some ways yes agreed saloma but in many others know they may be ignorant as to why they admire a certain thing yet they admire it all the same because their natural instinct leads them so to do and this is the special gift which endows the uncultured masses with an occasional sweeping advantage over the culture of few the superiority of their instinct

Starting point is 11:54:55 as in cases of political revolution for example while the finely educated orator is endeavouring by all the force of artful rhetoric to prove that all is in order and as it should be the mob moved by one tremendous impulse discover for themselves that everything is wrong and moreover that nothing will come right unless they rise up and take authority accordingly down go the thrones and the colleges the palaces the temples and the law assemblies all like so many toys before the resistless instinct of the people who revolt at injustice and who feel and know when they are injured though they are not clever enough to explain where their injury lies and so as they cannot talk about it coherently any more than a lion struck by an arrow can give a learned dissertation on his wound they act and the heat and fury of their action upheaves dynasties again reverting to the question of taste and literature the mob untaught and untrained in the subtleties of art will applaud to the echo certain grand and convincing home truths set forth in the plays of the divine hispiros simply because they instinctively feel them to be truths no matter how far they themselves may be from acting up to the standard of morality therein contained the more highly cultured will hear the same passages unmoved because they in the excess of artificially gained wisdom have deadened their instincts so far that while they listen to a truth pronounced they already consider how best they can confute it and prove the same a lie honest enthusiasm is impossible to the over punctilious and pedantic scholar

Starting point is 11:56:53 but on the other hand i would have it plainly understood that a mere brief local popularity is not fame no for the author who wins the first never secures the last what i mean is that a book or poem to be great and keep its greatness hereafter must be judged worthy by the natural instinct of peoples their decision i own may be tardy their hesitation may be prolonged through a hundred or more years but that the decision i own may be tardy their hesitation may be prolonged through a hundred or more years but their acceptance whether it be declared in the author's lifetime or ages after his death must be considered final i would add moreover that this world-wide decision has never yet been and never will be hastened by any amount of written criticism it is the responsive beat of the enormous pulse of light that thrills through all mankind high and low gentle and simple its great throbs are slow and solemnly measured yet if once it answers to a poet's touch that poet's name is made glorious for ever he spoke with a rush of earnestness and eloquence that was both persuasive and powerful and he now stood silent and absorbed his dreamy eyes resting meditatively on the massive bust of the immortal personage he called his spiros which smiled out in serene cold whiteness from the velvet-shadowed shrine it occupied theos watched him with fascinated and fraternal fondness did ever man possess so dulcet a voice he thought so grave and rich and marvellously musical yet thrilling with such heart-moving suggestions of mingle pride and plaintiveness thou art a most alluring orator saluma he said suddenly methinks i could listen to thee all day and never tired if faith so could not i interposed sebasties grimly for when a barred

Starting point is 11:58:50 begins to gabble goose-like platitudes which merely concern his own vocation the gods only know when he can be persuaded to stop nay tis more irksome far than the recitation of his professional jingle for to that there must in time come a merciful fitting end but as i live if twas my custom to say prayers i would pray to be delivered from the accursed volubility of a verse of fires tongue and perchance it will not be considered out of my line of duty if i venture to remind my most illustrious and renowned master this with a withering sneer that if he has any more remarkable nothings to dictate concerning this particularly inane creation of his fancy twill be well that we should proceed therewith for the hours wax late and the sun beareth toward his house of noon and he spread out fresh slips of papyrus and again prepared his long quill saluma smiled as one who was tolerant of the whims of a hired buffoon and this time seating himself in his ebony chair was about to commence dictating his second canto wintheos yielding to his desire to speak aloud the idea that had just flashed across his brain said abruptly has it ever seemed to thee as it now does to me that there is a strange resemblance between thy imaginative description of the ideal murhalma and the actual charms and virtues of thy strayed singing-made nefrada saluma looked up thoroughly astonished and laughed no verily i have not traced nor can i trace the smallest bestige of a similarity why good theos there is none not the least in the world for this heroine of mine nurama loves in vain and sacrifices all even her innocent and radiant life for love as thou wilt hear in the second half of the poem

Starting point is 12:00:50 moreover she loves one who is utterly unworthy of her faithful tenderness now nefrada is a child of delicate caprice she loves me me her lord and methinks i am not negligent or undeserving of her devotion again she has no strength of spirit her timorous blood would freeze at the mere thought of death she is more prone to play with flowers and sing for pure delight of heart than perish for the sake of love tis an unequal simile my friend as well compare a fiery planet with a twinkling dew-drop as draw a parallel between the heroic ideal maid nor halma and my fluttering singing-bird nefrada the o side involuntarily but forcing a smile let the subject drop and held his piece while saluma taking up the thread of his poetical narrative went on reciting when the story began to ripen toward its conclusion he grew more animated rising he paced the room as he declaimed the splendid lines that now rolled gloriously one upon another like deep-mouthed billows thundering on the shore his gestures were all indicative of the fervor of his inward ecstasy his eyes flashed his features glowed with that serene proud light of conscious power and triumph that rests on the calm wide brows of the sculptured apollo and theos leaning one arm in a half-sitting posture contemplated him with the curious sensation of wistful eagerness and passionate pain such as might be felt by some forgotten artist mysteriously permitted to come out of his grave and wander back to earth there to see his once rejected pictures hung in places of honour among the world's chief treasures a strange throb of melancholy satisfaction stirred his pulses as he reflected that he might now without any self-conceit at least admire the poem since he had decided that was no longer his

Starting point is 12:02:40 but in others he was free to bestow on it as much as he would of unstinting praise for it was very fine there could be no doubt of that whatever zabastis might say to the contrary and it was not only fine but intensely humanly pathetic seeming to strike a chord of passions such as had never before been sounded a chord to which the world would be compelled to listen yes compelled thought phios exultingly asoluma drew nearer and nearer the close of his dictation the deep quiet all around was so heavy as to be almost uncomfortable in its oppressiveness it exercised a sort of strain upon the nerves heart what was that through the hot and silent air swept a sullen surging noise as of the angry shouting of a vast multitude then came the fast and furious gallop of many horses and again that fierce resentful roar of indignation swelling up as it seemed from thousands of throats moved all three at once by the same instinctive desire to know what was going on theo saluma and sebastis sprang from their different places in the room and hurried out on the marble terrace dashing aside the silken awnings as they went in order to better see the open glimpses of the city thoroughfares that lay below the eust leaning far out over the western half of the balustrade was able to command a distant view of the great square in which the huge white granite obelisk occupied so prominent a position and fixing his eyes attentively on this spot saw that it was filled to overflowing with a dense mass of people whose white raimented forms pressed together in countless numbers swayed restlessly to and fro like the rising waves of a stormy sea lifted above this troubled throng one tall dark figure was distinctly outlined against the dazzling face of the obelisk a figure that appeared to be standing on the back of the colossal line that lay couch and beneath a mess theos

Starting point is 12:04:31 strened his sight to distinguish the details of the scene more accurately he suddenly beheld a glittering regiment of mountain men and armor charging straightly and with cruelly determined speed right into the center of the crowd apparently regardless of all havoc to life and limb that might ensue and volunt he uttered an exclamation of horror at what seemed to him so wanton and brutal in act when just then saluma caught him eagerly by the arm saluma whose soft oval countenance was brilliant with excitement and whose eyes gleamed a mingled expression of mirth and ferocity come come my friend he said hastily yonder is a sight worth seeing tis the mad coast rule who is thus entrenched and fortified by the mob as i live that sweeping gallop of his majesty's royal guards is magnificent they will seize the prophet this time without fail aye if they slay a thousand of the populace in the performance of their duty come let us hasten to the scene of action twill be a struggle i would not miss for all the world he sprang down the steps of the loggia accompanied by theos who was equally excited when all at once sebastis thrusting out his head through a screen of fine leaves cried after them saluma most illustrious what of the poem it is not finished no matter returned saluma to be finished hereafter and he hastened on theo's treading close in his footsteps and thinking as he went of the new enigma thus proposed to puzzle afresh the weary workings of his mind his poem of nurhamma or rather the poem he had fancied was his had been entirely completed down to the last line now saluma's was left to be finished hereafter strange that he should find a pale glimmering of consolation in this a feeble hope that perhaps after all at some future time he might be able to produce a few very few lines of noble verse that should be deemed purely original enough perchance to endow him with a faint far halo of diminished glory such as plotting students occasionally win by following humbly yet ardently even as he now followed saluma in the paths of excellence marked out by

Starting point is 12:06:33 greater men end of chapter twenty three chapter twenty four of our death by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain the fall of the obelisk in less time than he could have imagined possible he found himself in the densely crowded square buffeting and struggling against an angry and rebellious mob who half resentful and half terrified had evidently set themselves to resist the determined charge made by the mounted soldiery into their midst for once saluma's appearance created no diversion he was pushed and knocked about as unceremoniously as if he were the commonest citizen of them all he seemed carelessly surprised at this but nevertheless took his hustling very good-humoredly and keeping his shoulders well squared forced his way with theos by slow degrees through the serried ranks of people many of whom roused to a sort of frenzy threw themselves in front of the advancing horses of the guard and seizing the reins held on to these like grim death reckless of all danger as yet no weapons were used either by the soldiers or the populace the former seemed for the present contented to simply ride down those who impeded their progress and that they had done so in terrible earnest was plainly evident from the numbers of wounded creatures that lay scattered about on every sea side in an apparently half-dying condition yet there was surely a strange insensibility to suffering among them all

Starting point is 12:08:30 inasmuch as in spite of the contention and confusion there were no violent shrieks of either pain or fury no exclamations of rage or despair no sound whatever indeed save a steady sullen monotonous snarl of opposition above which the resonant voice of the prophet kose rule rang out like a silver clarion o people doomed and made desolate he cried o nation once mighty brought low to the dust of destruction hear me ye strong men and fair women and you ye poor little children who never again shall see the sun rise on the thousand domes of alcyrus lift up the burden of bitter lamentation lifted up to the heaven of heavens the throne of the all-seeing glory the giver of law the destroyer of evil weep weep for your sins and the sins of your sons and your daughters cast off the jewels of pride ren the fine raiment let your tears be abundant as the rain and dew kneel down and cry aloud on the great and terrible unknown god the god ye have denied and wronged the founder of worlds who doth hold in his hand the sun is a torch and scattereth stars with the fire of his breath mourn and bend ye all beneath the iron stroke of destiny for know ye not how fierce a thing has come upon a thing that lips cannot utter nor words define a thing more horrible than strange sounds in thick darkness more deadly than the lightning when it leaps from heaven with intent to slay o city stately beyond all cities by marble palaces are already ring round with a river of blood the temples of thy knowledge wherein thy wise men have studied to exceed all wisdom begin to totter to their fall thou shalt be swept away even as a light heap of ashes

Starting point is 12:10:31 and what shall all thy learning avail thee in that brief and fearful end hear me o people of alcyrus hear me and cease to strive among yourselves resist not thus desperately the king's armed minions for to them i also speak and say lo the time approaches when a stronger hand than that of the mighty zepheronim shall take me prisoner and bear me hence where most i long to go peace i command you in the name of that god whose truth i do proclaim peace dezzi uttered the last word an instantaneous hush fell upon the crowd every head was turned toward his grand gaunt almost spectral figure and even the mounted soldiery reigned up there plunging chafing steeds and remained motionless as though suddenly fixed to the ground by some powerful magnetic spell theos and saluma took immediate advantage of this lull in the conflict to try and secure for themselves a better point of vantage though there was much difficulty impressing through the closely packed throng inasmuch as not a man moved to give them passage-room presently however saluma managed to reach the nearest one of the two great fountains which adorned either side of the obelisk and springing as lightly as a bird on its marble edge he stood erect there his picturesque form presenting itself to the view like a fine statue set against the background of sun-tinted foaming water that dashed high above him and sprinkled his garments with drops of sparkling spray theos at once joined him and the two friends holding each other fast by the arm gazed down on the silent mighty multitude around them a huge concourse of the citizens of alcyrus who strange as this part of their behavior seemed

Starting point is 12:12:21 still paid no heed to the presence of their laureate but with pale wrapped faces and anxious frightened eyes riveted their attention entirely on the sombre black-garmented prophet whose thin ghostly arms outstretched above them appeared to mutely invoke in their behalf some special miracle of mercy see you not whispered saluma to his companion how yon aged fool wears upon his breast the symbol of his own prophecy tis the maddest freak to thus display his death warrant only a month ago the king issued a decree warning all those whom it might concern that any one of his born subjects presuming to carry the sign of crows rule's newly invented faith should surely die and that the crazed reprobate carries it himself makes no exemption from the rule the oaths shuddered his eyes were misty but he could very well see the emblem to which saluma alluded it was the cross again the same sacred prefigurement of things to come according to the east to the perplexing explanation given by the mystic zureal whom he had met in the passage of the tombs though to his own mind it conveyed no such meaning what was it then if not a prototype of the future was it a record of the past he dared not pursue this question it seemed to send his brain reeling on the verge of madness he made no answer to saluma's remarked but fixed his gaze wistfully on the tall melancholy shaped that like a black shadow darkened the whiteness of the obelisk and his sense of hearing became acute almost to painfulness when once more coast rules deep vibrating tones pealed solemnly through the heavy air god speaks to alciris and as the prophet enunciated these words with majestic emphasis a visible thrill ran through the hushed assemblage god saith get thee up o thou city of pleasure from thy couch of sweet wantonness

Starting point is 12:14:19 get thee up gird thee with fire and flee into the desert of forgotten things for thou art become a blot on the fairness of my world and ashamed to the brightness of my heaven thy rulers are corrupt thy teachers are proud of heart and narrow in judgment thy young men and maidens go astray and follow each after their own vain opinions in thy great temples and holy places falsehood abides and vice holds court in thy glorious palaces wherefore because thou hast neither sought nor serve me and because thou hast set up gold as thy god and a multitude of riches as thy chief good lo now mine eyes have grown weary of beholding thee and i will descend upon thee suddenly and destroy thee even as a hill of sand is destroyed by the world wind and thou shalt be known in the land of my creatures no more woe to thee that thou hast taken pride in thy wisdom and learning for therein lies thy much wickedness if thou wert truly wise thou wouldst have found me if thou wert nobly learned thou wouldst have understood my laws but thou art proved altogether gross foolish and incapable and the studies whereof thou hast boasted the writings of thy wise men the charts of sea and land the maps of thy chief astronomers the engraved tablets of learning in gold and silver in ivory in stone thy chronicles of battle and conquest the documents of thine explorers in far countries the engines of the engines of of thine invention whereby thou dost press the lightning into thy service and make the air respond to the messages of thy kings and counsellors all these shall be thrust away into an everlasting silence

Starting point is 12:15:59 and no man hereafter shall be able to declare that such things have ever been here the speaker paused and theo surveying the vast listening crowds fancied they looked like an audience of moveless ghosts rather than human beings so still so pallid so grave were they one in all coast rule continued in softer more melancholy accents that while plaintive were still singularly impressive oh my ill-fated my beloved fellow-countrymen he exclaimed extending his arms with a vehemently pleading gesture as though in the excess of emotion he would have drawn all the people to his heart ye unhappy ones have i not given ye warning have i not bidden ye beware of this great evil which should come to pass evil for which there is no remedy none neither in the earth nor the sea nor the invisible comforts of the air for god hath spoken and who shall contradict the thunder of his voice behold the end is at hand of all the pleasant things of alcyrus the feasting and the musical assemblies the symbol symphonies and the choir dances the labours of students and the triumphs of sages all these shall seem but the mockery of madness in the swift descending night of overwhelming destruction woe is me that ye would not listen when i called but turned every man to his own devices and the following after idols nay now what will ye do in extremity will ye chant hymns to the sun lo he is deaf and blind for all his golden glory and is but a taper set in the window of the sky to be extinguished at god's good pleasure will ye supplicate nigaya o fools and desperate how shall a brute beast answer prayer vain vain is all beseeching shut for ever are the doors of escape therefore cover yourselves with the garments of burial prepare each one his grave and rich funeral things gather together the rosemary and myrrh the precious ointments and essences the strings of gold and the jeweled talismans

Starting point is 12:17:59 whereby ye think to fight against corruption and fall down every man in his own wrought hollow in the ground face turned to earth and die for death hath broken through the strong gates of alciris and hath taken the city magnificent captive unknowingly alas alas that she would not follow whither i led yet she would not hearken to the vision of the future dibly yet gloriously revealed the future the future he broke off suddenly in raising his eyes to the deep blue sky above him seemed for a moment as though he were caught up in the cloud of some wonder stream still the enormous throng of people stood hushed and motionless not a word not a sound escaped them there was something positively appalling in such absolute immobility at least it appeared so to theos who could not understand this dispassionate behaviour on the part of so large and lately excited a multitude all at once a voice marvellously tender clear and pathetic trembled on the silence was it could it be the voice of coast rule yes but so changed so solemn so infinitely sweet that it might have been some gentle angel speaking like a fountain of sweetwater in the desert or the rising of the moon in a gloomy midnight he said slowly even so is the hope and promise of the supremely beloved through the veiling darkness of the coming ages his light already shines upon my soul o blessed advent o happy future o days when privileged humanity shall bridge by love the gulf between this world and heaven what shall be said of him who cometh to redeem us o my foreseeing spirit what shall be told concerning his most marvellous beauty even as a dove that for pity of its helpless younglings doth battle soft-dressed with a storm even so

Starting point is 12:19:53 shall he descend from out his glory, Sem paternal, and teach us how to conquer sin and death. I, even with the meekness of a little child, he shall approach, and choose his dwelling here among us, O heavenly child, O wisdom of God contained in innocence, happy the learning that shall learn from thee, noble the pride that shall humble itself before thy gentleness. Footnote, the idea of a saviour who should be born as man to redeem the world,

Starting point is 12:20:20 was prevalent among all nations and dates from the remotest ages coming down to what must be termed quite a modern period compared to that in which the city of alcyrus had its existence we find that the romans under octavius caesar were wont to exclaim at their sacred meetings the times foretold by the sibyl are arrived may a new age soon restore that saturn soon may the child be born who shall banish the age of iron tacitus and suetonius both mention the prophecies in the sacred books of the priests which declare that the east shall be in commotion and that men from judea shall subject everything to their dominion o prince of manhood and divinity entwined thou shalt acquaint thyself with human griefs and patiently unravel the perplexities of human longings to prove thy sacred sympathy with suffering thou shalt be content to suffer to explain the mystery of death thou shalt even be content to die o people of alchiris hear ye all the words that tell of this wonderful inestimable king of peace mine aged eyes do see him now far far off in the rising mist of unformed future things the cross the cross on which his man's pure life dissolves itself in glory stretches above me in spreading beams of light art is a glittering pathway in the skies whereon men and the angels meet and know each other he is the strong and perfect spirit thou shall break loose from death and declare the insignificance of the grave he is the lingering star in the east that shall rise and lighten all spiritual darkness the unknown unnamed redeemer of the world the man god saviour that shall come shall come cried theou suddenly roused to the utmost pitch of frenzied excitement and pronouncing each word with loud and involuntary vehemence nay for he has come he died for us and rose again from the dead more than eighteen hundred years ago

Starting point is 12:22:19 a frightful silence followed a breathless cessation of even the faintest quiver of sound the mighty mass of people apparently moved by one accord turned with swift stealthy noiselessness toward the audacious speaker thousands of glittering eyes were fixed upon him in solemnly inquiring wonderment while he himself now altogether dismayed at the effect of his own rash utterance thought he had never experienced a more awful moment for it was as though all the skeletons he had lately seen in the passage of the tombs had suddenly clothed themselves with spectral flesh and hair and the shadowy garments of men and had advanced into broad daylight to surround him in their terrible lifeless ranks and wrench from him the secret of an after existence construed concerning which they were ignorant how ghostly and drear seemed that dense crowd in this new light of his delirious fancy a clammy dew broke out on his forehead he saw the blue skies the huge buildings in the square the obelisk the fountains the trees all whirling round him in a wild dance of the dizzyest distraction when saluma's rich voice close to his ear recalled his wandering senses why men art thou drunk or mad and the lorious face expressed a kind of sarcastic astonishment what a fool thou hast made of thyself good comrade by my soul how shall thy condition be explained to these open mouths stares below see how they gape upon thee thou art most assuredly unnoticeable spectacle and yon maniac prophet death evidently judged thee as one of his craft a fellow professional howler of marvels else he would scarcely deign to fix his eyes so obstinately on thy countenance nay barely thou dost out-rival him in the strangeness of thy language what moved thee to such frenzied utterance surely thou hast a stroke of the sun thy words were most absolutely devoid of reason as senseless as the jabber of an idiot to his own shadow on the wall

Starting point is 12:24:10 theos was mute he had no defence to offer the crowd still stared upon him and his heart beat fast with a mingled sense of fear and pride fear of his present surroundings pride that he had spoken out his conviction boldly reckless of all consequences and this pride was a most curious thing to analyze because it did not so much consist in the fact of his having openly confessed his inward thought as that he felt he had gained some special victory in thus acknowledging his belief in the positive existence of the Savior, who formed a subject of of Kose Rule's prophecy, full of a singular sort of self-congratulation, which yet had nothing to do with selfishness, he became so absorbed in his own reflections that he started like a man brusquely aroused from sleep when the prophet's strong, grave voice, apostrophized him personally over the heads of the throng, who in what art thou that dost speak of the future as though it were the past hast thou held converse with the angels and his past and future one with thee in the dream of the departing present answer me thou stranger to the city of alcyrus has god taught thee the way to everlasting life

Starting point is 12:25:20 again that awful silence made itself felt like a deadly chill on the sunlit air the quiet patient crowd seemed waiting in hush suspense for some reply which should be as a flash of spiritual enlightenment to leap from one to the other with kindling heat and rays and vivify them all into a new and happier existence but now when theos most strongly desired to speak he remained dumb as stone vainly he struggled against the and contented with the invisible mysterious and relentless despotism that smote him on the mouth as it were and deprived him of all power of utterance his tongue was stiff and frozen his very lips were sealed trembling violently he gazed beseechingly at saluma who held his arm in a firm and friendly grasp and who apparently quickly perceiving that he was distressed and embarrassed undertook himself to furnish forth what he evidently considered a fitting response to co s'rules adjuration most venerable seer he cried mockingly his bright face radiant with mirth and his dark eyes flashing a careless contempt as he spoke thou art as short-sighted as thine own auguries if thou canst not at once comprehend the drift of my friend's humour he had caught the infection of thy fanatic eloquence and like thee knows naught of what he says moreover he hath good wine and sunlight mingled in his blood whereby he hath been doubtless moved to play of jest upon thee i pray thee heed him not he is as free to declare thy prophecy is of the past as thou art to insist on its being of the future in both ways tis a most foolish fallacy nevertheless continue thy entertaining discourse sir graybeard and if thou must needs address thyself to any one soul in particular why let it be me for though thanks to mine own excellent good sense i have no faith in angels nor crosses nor everlasting life nor any of the strange riddles wherewith thou seekest to perplex and bewilder the brains of the ignorant still am i laureate

Starting point is 12:27:14 of the realm and ready to hold argument with thee yea until such time as these dumbfounded soldiers and citizens of alkyrus shall remember their duty sufficiently to seize and take thee captive in the king's great name as he ceased a deep sigh ran like the first sound of a rising wind among trees through the heretofore motionless multitude a faint dawning yet doubtful smile reflected itself on their faces and the ill-familiar shout broke feebly from their lips hails saluma let us hear saluma saluma saluma looked down upon them all in airy derision o fickle terror-stricken fools he exclaimed o thankless and disloyal people what ye will see me now ye will hear me i but who shall answer for your obedience to my words nay is it possible that i your country's chosen chief minstrel should have stood so long among ye disregarded how comes your dull eyes and ears were fixed so fast upon young dotard miscreant whose days are numbered methought was but saluma's voice that could persuade ye to assemble thus in such locust-like swarms since when have the poet and the people of alcyrus cease to be as one a vague muttering sound answered him whether of shame or dissatisfaction it was difficult to tell coes rule's vibrating accent struck sharply across that muffled murmur the poet and the people of alcyrus are further asunder than light and darkness he cried vehemently for the poet has been false to his high vocation and the people trust in him no more there was an instance hush a hush as it seemed of grieved acquiescence on the part of the populace and during that brief pause theosa's heart gave a fierce bound against his ribs as though someone had suddenly shot at him with a poisoned arrow he glanced quickly at saluma but saluma stood calmly unmoved

Starting point is 12:29:09 his handsome head thrown back a cynical smile on his lips than his eyes darker than ever with an intensity of unutterable scorn saluma saluma and the piercing reproachful voice of the prophet penetrated every part of the spacious square like a sonorous bell ringing over a still landscape o divine spirit of song pent up in gross clay was ever mortal more gifted than now in thee was kindle the white fire of heaven to thee were confided the memories of vanished worlds for thee god bad his nature where a thousand shapes of varied meaning the sun the moon the stars were appointed as thy servants for thou wert born poet the mystically chosen teacher and consoler of mankind what hast thou done saluma what hast thou done with the treasures bestowed upon thee by the all endowing angels how hast thou used the talisman of thy genius to comfort the afflicted to dethrone and destroy the oppressor to uphold the cause of justice to rouse the noblest instincts of thy race to elevate and purify the world alas alas thou hast made thyself the idol of thy muse and thou being but perishable thy fame shall perish with thee thou hast drowsed away thy manhood in the lap of vice thou hast slept and dreamed when thou should have been awake and vigilant not i but thou shouldst have warned the people of their coming doom not i but thou shouldst have marked the threatening signs of the pregnant hour not i but thou shouldst have perceived the first faint glimmer of god's future scheme of glad salvation not i but thou shouldst have taught and pleaded and swayed by thy matchless sceptre of sweet song the passions of thy countrymen hadst thou been true to that first flame of thought within thee o saluma how thy glory would have dwarfed the power of kings empires might have fallen cities decayed and nations been absorbed in ruin

Starting point is 12:31:05 and yet thy clear convincing voice rendered imperishable by its faithfulness should have sounded forth in triumph above the floundering wrecks of time o poet unworthy of thy calling how thou hast wantoned with the sacred muse how thou hast led her stainless feet into the mire of sensual hypocrisies and decked her with the trumpery jew jaws of a meaningless fair speech how thou hast caught her by the virginal hair and made her chastity to scream for all thine own licentiousness. Thou shest have humbly sought her benediction. Thou shest have handled her with gentle reverence and patient ardor. From her wise lips thou shouldst have learned how best to practice those virtues whose praise thou didst evasively proclaim. Thou shest have shined her, throned her, worshipped her, and served her, yea, even as a sinful man may serve an angel who loves him.

Starting point is 12:31:59 Ah, what a strange cold thrill ran through Theos as he heard these last words. as a sinful man may serve an angel who loves him how happy the man thus loved how fortunate the sinner thus permitted to serve who was he could there be any one so marvellously privileged he wondered dimly and a dull aching pain throbbed heavily in his bras it was a very singular thing to that he should find himself strongly and personally affected by coals rule's address to saluma yet such was the case so much so indeed that he accepted all the prophet's reproaches as though they applied solely to his own past life he could not understand his emotion nevertheless he kept on dreamily regretting that things were as close rule had said that he had not fulfilled his vocation and that he had neither been humble enough nor devout enough nor unselfish enough to deserve the high and imperial name of poet round and round like a flying moat this troublesome idea circled in his brain he must do better in future he resolved supposing that any future remained to him in which to work he must redeem the past here he roused his mental faculties with a start and forced himself to realize that it was saluma to whom the prophet spoke saluma only saluma not himself then straightway he became indignant on his friend's behalf why should saluma be blamed soluma was a glorious poet a master singer of singers his fame must and should endure forever thus thinking he regained his composure by degrees and strove to assume the same air of easy indifferent as that exhibited by his companion when again coast rules declamatory tones thundered forth with an absoluteness of emphasis that was both startling and convincing

Starting point is 12:33:46 hear me saluma chief minstrel of alcyrus hear me thou who hast wilfully wasted the golden moments of never returning time thou art marked out for death death sudden and fierce as the leap of the desert panther on its prey death that shall come to thee through the traitor's speech of the evil woman whose beauty has sapped thy strength and rendered thy glory inglorious death that for thee alas shall be mournful and utter oblivion naught shall it availed to thee that thy musical weaving of words have been graven seven times over on tablets of stone and agate and ivory of golden white silics and porphyry and the unbreakable rose adamant none of these shall suffice to keep thy name in remembrance for what cannot be broken shall be melted with flame and what cannot be erased shall be buried miles deep in the bosom of earth whence it never again shall be lifted into the light of day ay thou shalt be forgotten forgotten as though thou hast never sung other poets shall chant in the world yet may be none so well as thou other laurel and myrtle reeds shall be given by countries and kings to bards unworthy of whom none perchance shall have thy sweetness but thou thou the most grandly gifted gift squandering poet the world has ever known shall be cast among the dust of unremembered nothings and the name of saluma shall carry no meaning to any man born in the coming hereafter for thou hast cherished within thyself the poison that withers thee the deadly poison of doubt the denial of god's existence the accursed blankness of disbelief in the things of the life eternal wherefore thy spirit is that of one lost and rebellious whose best works are futile whose days are void of example and whose carelessly grasp torch of song shall be suddenly snatched from thy hand and extinguished in darkness god pardon thee dying poet god give thy parting soul of chance of penance and of sweet redemption god comfort thee in that drear land of shadow whither thou art bound god bring thee forth again from chaos to a nobler future sin burdened as thou art my blessing follows thee in thy last agony saluma fallen angel self-exiled from thy peers farewell

Starting point is 12:35:55 the effect of these strange words was so extraordinarily impressive that for one instant the astonished and evidently affrighted crowds pressed round saluma eagerly staring at him in morbid fear and wonder as though they expected him to drop dead before them in immediate fulfilment of the prophet's solemn theos oppressed by an inward sickening sense of terror also regarded him with close and anxious solicitude but was almost reassured at the first glance never was a greater opposition offered to co s' rules gloomy prognostications than that contained in the handsome laureate's aspect at that moment his supple graceful figure alert with life his glowing face flushed by the sun in touch with that faintly amused look of serene scorn his glorious eyes brilliant as jewels under their drooping amorous lids and the regal poise of his splendid shoulders and throat as he lifted his head a little more haughtily than unusual and glanced indifferently down from his foot-hold on the edge of the fountain at the upturned questioning faces of the throng all even to the careless balance and ease of his attitude betokened his perfect condition of health and the entire satisfaction he had in the consciousness of his own strength and beauty he seemed about to speak and raised his hand with the graceful yet commanding gesture of one accustomed to the art of elegant rhetoric when suddenly his expression changed shrugging his shoulders lightly as who should say here comes the conclusion of the matter no time for further argument he silently pointed across the square while a smile dazzling yet cruel played on his delicately parted lips a smile the covert meeting of which was soon explained for all at once a brazen roar of trumpets split the silence into torn and discordant echoes the crowd turned swiftly and seeing who it was that approached rushed hither and thither in the wildest confusion making as though they would have fled and in less than a minute a gleaming cohort of mounted and armed spearmen galloped furiously into the thick of the melee following these came a superb car drawn by six jet-black horses that plunged and pranced through the multitude

Starting point is 12:37:57 with no more heed than if these groups of living beings have been mere sheafs of corn a car flashing from into end with gold and precious stones in which towered the erect massive form of zepheronim the king his dark face was ablazed with wrath tightly grasping of reins of his reckless deeds he drew himself heartily upright and turned his rolling fierce black eyes indignantly from side to side on the scared people as he drove through their retreating ranks smiting down and mangling with the sharp spikes of his tall chariot-wheels men women and children without care or remorse till he forced his terrible passage straight to the foot of the obelis there he came to an abrupt standstill and lifting high his strong hand and brawny arm glittering with jewels he cried soldiers seize yon traitors rebel ten thousand pieces of gold for the capture of coast rule there was an instant of hesitation not one of the populace stirred to obey the order then suddenly as though released by their monarchs command from some mesmeric spell the before inactive mounted guards started into action cantered sharply forward and surrounded the obelisk while the armed spearsmen closed together and made a swift advance upon the venerable figure that stood alone and defenseless tranquilly awaiting their approach but there was evidently some unknown and mysterious force bent up within the prophet's feeble frame for when the soldiers were just about an arm's length from him they seemed all at once troubled and irresolute and turned their looks away as though fearing to gaze too steadfastly upon that grand thought-furrowed countenance in which the eyes made young by inward fervor blazed forth with unearthly lustre beneath a silvery halo of tossed white hair zepheronim perceived this touch of indecision on the part of his men and his black brows contracted in an ominous frown halt he shouted fiercely apparently to make it seem to the mob that the pause and the action of the soldiery was in compliance with his own behest

Starting point is 12:39:52 halt bind him and bring him hither i myself will slay him halt echo the voice discordantly sharp and wild halt thou also great zephronim for death bars thy further progress and coes rule manifestly possessed by some superhuman access of frenzy leaped from his position on the back of the stone line and slipping agilely through the ranks of the startled spearmen and guards who were all unprepared for the suddenness and rapidity of his movements he sprang boldly on the edge of the royal chariot and there clung to the jewelled wheel looking like a gaunt aerial spectre an ambassador of coming ruin the king speechless with amazement and fury dragged at his huge sword till he wrenched it out of its sheaf raised it out of its sheaf raising it he whirled it round his head so that it gave a murderous hiss in the air and yet was his strong arm paralyzed that he forbore to strife safferonum ghost rule in terms that were piercing and dolorous as the whistling of the wind among hollow reeds safferonum thou shalt die to-night art thou ready arethou proud king ready to be made less than the lowest of the low hush hush and his aged face took upon itself a ghastly greenish pallor hear you not the muttering of the thunder underground there are strange powers at work powers of the undug earth and unfathomed sea hark how they tear at the stately foundations of alcyrus flame flame it is already kindled it shall enrap thee with more closeness than thy coronation robe o mighty sovereign with more gloating fondness than the serpent twining arms of thy beloved listen zepheronim listen here he stretched out his skinny hand and pointed upwards his eyes grew fixed in glassy his throat rattled convulsively at that moment the monom

Starting point is 12:41:35 recovering his self-possession once more lifted his sword with direct and deadly aim but the prophet uttering a wild shriek caught at his descending wrist and gripped fast see see he exclaimed put up thy weapon thou shalt never need it where thou art summoned lo how young blood-red letters blaze against the blue of heaven there there it comes read read tis written plain alchiris shall fall and the king shall die hissed hissed dumb oracle speak in dead voices fine tongue hark how they chant together the old forgotten warning when the high priestess is the king's mistress then fall alcyphal alcarus i the city of a thousand palaces shall fall to-night to-night o night of desperate horror and thou o king shalt die and as he shrilled the last word on the air with terrific emphasis he threw up his arms like a man suddenly shot and reeling backward fell heavily on the ground a corpse a great cry went up from the crowd the king leaned eagerly out of his car is the fool dead or feigning depth, he demanded addressing one of a group of soldiers standing near. The officer stooped and felt the motionless body. O great king, live forever, he is dead. Zepharanum hesitated.

Starting point is 12:42:46 Cruelty and clemency struggled for the mastery in the varying expression of his frowning face, for cruelty conquered, grasping his sword firmly. He bent still further forward out of his chariot, and with one swift keen stroke, severed the lifeless prophet's head from its trunk, and taking it up on the point of his weapon, showed it to the multitude, a smothered, shuddering, that was half agone ripple through the dense throng a sound that evidently added fresh irritation to be already heated temper of the haughty sovereign with a savage laugh he tossed his piteous trophy on the pavement where it lay in a pool of its own blood the white hair about it stained rudderly and the still open eyes upturned as though in dumb appeal to heaven then without deigning to utter another word or to bestow another look upon the surrounding crowd of his disconcerted subjects he gathered up his courses reins and prepared to depart just then the sun went behind a cloud and only a side beam of radiance shot forth pouring itself straight down on the royally a tired figure of the monarch and the headless body of coes rule and at the same time bringing into sudden and prominent relief

Starting point is 12:43:48 the silver cross that glittered on the breast of the bleeding corpse and that seemed to mysteriously offer itself as the key to some unsolved enigma as if drawn by one strangely mutual attractional all eyes even those of zepheronim himself turned instinctively toward the flashing emblem which appeared to burn like living fire on that prairish mass of stiffening clay and there was a brief silence a pause during which the oaths who had watched everything with curiously calm interest such as may be felt by a spectator watching the progress of a finely active tragedy became conscious of the same singular sensation he had already several times experienced namely that he had witnessed the whole of this scene before he remembered it quite well particularly that apparently trifling incident of the sunlight happening to the sunlight happening to the whole of this scene before he remembered it quite well particularly that apparently trifling incident of the sunlight happening to shine so brilliantly on the dead man and his cross while the rest of the vast assemblage were in comparative shadow it was very odd his memory was like a wonderful art gallery in which some pictures were fresh of tint while others were dim and faded but this special tableau in the square valkyrus was very distinctly painted in brilliant and vivid colors on the sombre background of his past recollections and he found the circumstance so remarkable that he was on the point of saying something to saloma about it when the sun came out again in full splendor and zephronim spirited steed forward at a canter the king controlling them easily with one hand extended the other majestically by way of formal salutation to his people his tall muscular form was displayed to the best advantage the narrow jeweled fillet that bound his rough dark locks emitted a myriad scintillations of light his close-fitting coat of mail woven from thousands of small links of gold set off his massive chest and shoulders to perfection and as he moved along royally in his sumptuous car the effect of his striking presence was such that a complete change took place in the before sullen humor of the populace for seeing him thus alive and well in direct opposition to coast rules ominous prediction even

Starting point is 12:45:46 even as saluma also stood unharmed in spite of his having been apostrophized as a dying poet the mob always fickle and always dazzled by outward show suddenly set up a deafening roar of cheering the pallid hue of terror vanished from faces that had but lately looked spectrally thin with speechless dread and crowds of servile petitioners and place hunters began to press eagerly round their monarchs tarried when all at once a woman in the throng gave a wild scream and rushed away shrieking the obelisk the obelisk the obelis every eye was instantly turned toward the stately pillar of white granite that sparkled in the sunlight like an immense carbon jewel great heaven it was tottering to and fro like the unsteadyed mast of a ship at sea one looked sufficed in a frightful panic ensued a horrible brutish stampede of creatures without faith in anything human or divine save their own wretched personalities the king infected by the general scare urged his horses into furious gallop and dashed through the cursing swearing howling throng like an like an embodied whirlwind and for a few seconds nothing seemed distinctly visible but a surging mass of infuriated humanity fighting with itself for life the eos alone remained singularly calm his sole consideration was for his friend whom he entwined with one arm as he sprang down from the position they had hitherto occupied on the brink of the fountain and made straight for the nearest of the six broad avenues that opened directly into the square saluma looked pale but was apparently unafraid he said nothing and passively allowed himself to be piloted by theos through the madly raging multitude which oddly enough parted before them like mist before the wind so that in a magically short interval they successfully reached a place of safety and they reached it not a moment too soon for the obelisk was now plainly to be seen lurching forward at an angle of several degrees strange muffled roaring sounds were heard at its pace as though demons were digging up its foundations then seemingly shaken by underground tremors it began to oscillate violently

Starting point is 12:47:46 a terrific explosion was heard as of the bursting of a giant bomb and immediately afterward the majestic monolith toppled over and fell with the crash of a colossal cannonade that sent its thunderous verberation through and through the length and breadth of the city hundreds of persons were killed and wounded many of the mounted guards and spearmen who were striving to force a way of escape through the crowd were struck down and crushed pell-mell with their horses as they rode the desperate people trampled each other to death in their frenzied efforts to reach the nearest outlet to the river embankment but when once the obelisk had actually fallen all this turmoil was for an instant and the gasping torn and bleeding survivors of the struggle stopped as it were to take breath and stared in blank dismay upon the strange room before them the o still holding sa luma by the arm with the protecting fondness of an elder brother guarding a younger gazed also at the scene with quiet sorrowfully wondering eyes for it meant something to him he was sure because it was so familiar yet he found it impossible to grasp the comprehension of that meaning it was a singular spectacle enough the lofty four-sided white pillar that had so lately been a monumental glory of alchirous had split itself with the violence of its fall into two huge desa-looking fragments which now lay one on each side of the square as though flung vither by a titan's hand the great lion had been hurled from its position and overturned like a toy while the shield it had supported between its paws had entirely disappeared in minutely scattered atoms the fountains had altogether ceased playing now and then a thin vaporous stream of smoke appeared to issue between the crannies of the pavement otherwise there was no visible sign of the mysterious forest that had wrought so swift and sudden a work of destruction the sun shone brilliantly and over all the havoc beamed the placid brightness of a cloudless summered sky the most prominent object of all amid the general devastation and the one that

Starting point is 12:49:39 fascinated theos more than the view of the destroyed monolith and the debaseline was the uninjured head of the prophet coast rule there it lay exactly between the sundered halves of the apollisque pale rays of light glimmered on its blood-stained silvery hair and open glazed eyes a solemn smile seen graven on its waxen pallid features and at a little distance soft arm the breast of the black-robed headless corpse that remained totally uncrushed in an open space by itself among the surrounding heaps of slain and wounded glistening and glistened the cross like a fiery gem an awe significant talisman that as he beheld it filled theosa's heart with a feverish craving an inexplicable desire mingled with remorse far greater than any fear instinctively he drew saluma away away still keeping his wistful gaze fixed on that uncomprehended yet so recognized symbol till gradually the drooping branches of trees interrupted and shattered the vista and as he moved further and further backward closed their softness at working of green foliage like the closing curtain on the strange but awfully remembered scene shutting it out from his bewildered sight forever end of chapter twenty-four chapter twenty-five of our death by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain a golden tress once clear of the square the two friends apparently became mutually conscious of the peril they had just escaped and coming to a sudden stand still they looked at each other in blank stupefied silence crowds of people streamed past them wandering hither and thither in confused cloudy masses some of groans and dire lamentations bearing away their dead and wounded others rushing frantically about beating their breasts tearing their hair calling on the gods and lamenting co's rule while not a few muttered curses on the king

Starting point is 12:51:45 and ever in anon the name of lycia coupled with heavy execrations was hissed from mouth to mouth which the oaths overhearing began to foresee might serve as a likely cause for saluma's taking offense and possibly resenting in his own person this public disparagement of the woman he loved therefore without more ado he roused himself from his momentarily dazed condition and urged his comrade on at a quick pace toward the safe shelter of his own palace where at any rate he could be kept out of the reach of immediate harm the twain walked side by side exchanging scarcely a word saluma seemed in a manner stunned by the violence of the late catastrophe and theos was too busy with his own thoughts to speak on their way they were overtaken by the king's chariot it flew by with a glittering whirl and clatter amid sweeping clouds of dust through which the dark face of zepheronim loomed out upon them like an almost palpable shadow as it vanished saluma stopped short and stared at his companion in utter amazement by my soul he exclaimed indignantly the whole world must be going mad tis the first time in all my days of laureateship that zepheronim had failed to reverently salute me as he passed and he looked far more perturbed than when the falling obelisk had threatened him with imminent destruction theus caught his arm with a quick movement of vexed impatience tushman no matter he said hastily what are kings to thee thou who art an emperor of song these little potentates that wheeled earth's sceptres are as fickle in their moods as the very mob they are supposed to govern moreover thou knowest cepharonham hath thou had enough to-day to stottle him out of all accustomed rules of courtesy be assured of it his mind is like a ship at sea storm tossed and at the mercy of the winds thou canst not surely blame him that for once after so strange a turbulence

Starting point is 12:53:49 and unwonted a disaster he hath no eyes for thee whose sole sweet mission is to minister to pleasure to minister to pleasure echoed saluma petulantly nay have i done nothing more than this have thou already grown so disloyal a friend that thou wilt half repeat the jargon of yon dead fanatic kosul who dared to tell me i had served my art unfittingly have i not ministered to grief as well as joy to hours of pain and bitterness as well as to long days of ease an amorous dreaming have i not here he paused and a warm flush crept through the olive pallor of his skin his eyes grew plaintive and wistful and he threw one arm round theos's neck as he continued no i after all tis vain to deny it i have hated grief i have loathed the very suggestion of care i have thrust sorrow out of my sight as a thing vile and unwelcome and i have chosen to sing to the world of rapture more than pain inasmuch as methinks humanity suffers enough without having its cureless anguish set to the music of a poet's rhythm to incessantly haunt and torture its already breaking heart say rather to soothe and tranquilized murmured theos more to himself than to his friend for suppressed sorrow is hardest to endure and when grief once finds apt utterance tis already half consoled so should the world's great singers tenderly proclaim the world's most speechless miseries and who knows but vexed creation being thus relieved a pent-up woe may not take new heart of grace and comfort the words were spoken in a soft sotervoche and saluma seemed not to hear he leaned however very confidingly and affectionately against the oas's shoulder as he walked along and appeared to have speedily forgotten his annoyance at the recent slighting conduct of the king i marvel at the downfall of the obelisk he said presently twas rooted full ten feet deep in solid earth maybe the foundations were ill-fitted nevertheless if history speaks truly it hath stood unshaken for two thousand years

Starting point is 12:55:49 strange that it should be now hurled forth thus desperately i would i knew the hidden cause many alas have met their death to-day pushed out of life in haste all unprepared one wonders where such souls have fled something there is that troubles me methinks i am more than half disposed to leave how cares for a time and wandered forth into a world of unknown things with me cried the earth sympathiously come with me saluma come now this very day i too have been warned of evil evil undeclared yet close hand let us escape from danger while time remains let us depart whither should we go and saluma pausing in his walk fixed his large soft eyes full on his companion as he put to question theos was mute covered with confusion he asked himself the same thing whither should we go he had no knowledge of the country that lay outside alcyrus he had no distinct remembrance of any other place than this in which he was all his past existence was as blotted and blurred as a child's spoiled and discarded copy-book true he retained two names in his thoughts namely ardath and the pass of dario but he was hopelessly ignorant as to what these meant or how he had become connected with them he was roused from his distressful cogitation by salome's voice speaking again half gaily half sadly nay nay my friend we cannot leave the city we two alone and unguided for beyond the gates is the desert wide and bare with scarce a spring of cool water in many weary miles and beyond the desert is a forest gloomy and tiger haunted where in the footsteps of man have seldom penetrated to travel thus far we should need much preparation many servants many beasts of burden and many months provision moreover it is a foolish fancy cross my mouth it best for what should i the laureate of alcyrus do in other lands besides my departure would indeed be the desolation of the city well may alcyrus fall when saluma no longer abides within it

Starting point is 12:57:48 seawards the way lies open maybe in days to come we twain may take ship and sail hence for a brief sojourn to those distant western shores whence thou thou thou sayest naught of them must assuredly have come i have often dreamed idly of a grey coast washed with dull rain and swathed in sweeping mist wherever and anon the sun shines through a country cheerless where a poet's fame like mine might ring the darkness of the skies with light and stir the sleepy silence into song still theo said enough there were hot tears in his throat that choked his utterance he gazed up at the glowing sky above him it was a burning vault of cloudless blue in which the sun glared forth witheringly like a scorching mass of flame oh for the freshness of a gray coast washed with dull rain and swathed in sweeping mists such as saluma spoke of and what a strange sickening yearning suddenly filled his soul for the unforgotten sonorous dash of the sea he drew a quick breath and pressed his friend's arm with unconscious fervour why why could he not take this dear companion away out of possible peril away to those far lands dimly remembered yet now so completely lost sight of that they seemed to him but as a delusive mirage faintly discerned above the rising waters of leithee sighing deeply he controlled his emotion and forced himself to speak calmly though his voice trembled not now then but hereafter felt be my fellow-traveller it will be a joyous time when we set free of present hindrance may journey through a myriad glorious scenes together sharing such new and mutual gladness that perchance we scarce shall miss the splendor of alcyrus left behind meanwhile i would that thou couldst promise me one thing he reposed but seeing saluma's inquiring look went on in a low eager tone go not to the temple to-night absent thyself from this sacrifice which though it be the law of the realm is nevertheless mere murderous barbarity and inasmuch as the king is wrathful i pray thee avoid his presence

Starting point is 12:59:48 saluma broke into a laugh now by my faith good comrade as well ask me for my head as demand such impossibilities absent myself from the temple to-night of all nights in the world when owing to these late phenomenal occurrences in the city every one who is of repute and personal distinction will be present to assist at the service and offer petitions to the fabulous gods that happily supposititious indignation may be averted my friend if only for the sake of custom i must be there moreover i should be liable to banishment from the realm for so specially marked a breach of religious discipline and as for the king he is my puppet were he savage as a starving bear my voice could tame him and concerning his late charlishness twas no doubt mere heat of humor and thou shalt see him sue to me for pardon as only monarchs can sue to the bards who keep them in their thrones knowest thou not that were i to string three stanzas of a fiery republican ditty and set it floating on the lips of the people that song would sing down zephyrana from his royal estate more surely than the fury of an armed conqueror believe it we the poets rule the nation a rhyme has oft had power to kill a king theo smiled at the proud boast but made no reply as by this time they had reached the laureates palace and were ascending the steps that led into the entrance-hall a young page advanced to meet them and dropping on one knee before his master held out a small scroll tied across and across with what appeared to be a thick strand of amber-coloured floss silk for the most illustrious chief of poet saluma said the little lad keeping his head bent humbly as he spoke it was brought lately by one mast who rode in haste and fear and ere he could be questioned swift to party saluma took the missive carelessly

Starting point is 13:01:35 scarcely glancing at it and crossed the hall toward his own apartment theo is following him on his way however he paused and turned round has nevada he had come home he demanded of the page who still lingered no my lord naught hath been seen or heard concerning her saluma gave a petulant gesture of annoyance and passed on arrived in his study he seated himself and allowed his eyes to rest more attentively on the packet just given him as he looked he uttered a slight exclamation the oath hast haste to his side what has happened saluma hast thou ill news ill news nay of a truth i know not and the laureate gazed up blankly into his friend's face but this when he touched the fair silken substance that tied the scroll he held this is naflta's hair nefrades hair the oath was too much surprised to do more than repeat the words mechanically while a strange pang shot through his heart as of inward shame or sorrow naught can deceive me in the colour of that gold glint on saluma dreamily as with careful somewhat tremulous fingers he gently loosened the twisted shining threads that were so delicately knotted together and smoothing them out to their full length displayed what was indeed a lovely tress of hair bright as woven sunlight with a rippling wave in it that like the tendril of a vine caught and wound about his hand as though it were a fond and feeling thing see you not theos how warm and soft and shuddering a curl it is it clings to me as if it knew my touch as if it half remembered how many and many a time it had been drawn with its companions to my lips and kissed full tenderly how sad and desolate it seems thus severed and a line he spoke gently yet not without a touch of passion entwined the fair tresses lingeringly round his fingers then with the air of one who is instinctfully prepared for some unpleasing tidings he opened the scroll and perused its contents in silence as he read on his face grew very grave and full of pained

Starting point is 13:03:34 and wondering regret quietly he passed the missive to theo's who chiqued from his hand with a tremor of something like fear the delicately traced characters with which it was covered floated for a moment in a faint blur before his eyes then they resolved themselves into a legible shape and meaning as follows to thee ever worshipped and immortally renowned saluma poet laureate of the kingdom of alcyrus blame me not o my beloved lord that i have left thy dearest presence thus unwarnedly forever staying no time to weary thee with my too fond and foolish tears and kisses of farewell i owe to thee the gift of freedom and while i thank thee for that gift i do employ it now to serve me as a sacrifice to love an emulation of myself upon the altars of my own desire for thou knowest i have loved thee o saluma not too well but most unwisely for what am i that thou should stoop to cover my unworthiness with the royal purple of thy poet-passion what could i ever be save the poor trembling slave idolater of whose endearments thou must needs most speedily tire nevertheless i cannot still this hunger of my heart this love that stings me more than it consoles and out of the very transport of my burning thoughts i have learned many and strange things things whereby i a woman feebled and unlessened have grasped the glimmering foreknowledge of events to come events wherein i do perceive for thee thou chiefest among men some dark and threatening disaster whenfore i have prayed unto the most high gaias that they will deign to accept me as thy hostage who is false and set me as a bar between thy life and dawning peril so that i long valueless may serve at least a while to avert doom from thee who art unperegund throughout the world thus i go forth alone to brave and pacify the wrath of the immortals call me not back nor weep for my departure thou wilt not miss me long to die for thee salome is better than to live for living i must needs be conquered by my sin of love and lose myself and thee but in the quiet afterwards of death no passion shall have strength to mar the peaceful patient waiting of my soul on thine

Starting point is 13:05:43 farewell thou utmost heart of my weak heart thou only life of my frail life think of me sometimes if thou wilt thou wilt thou wiltest thou wilted once and some past half-forgotten spring-time a flower that as it slowly withered blessed the dear hand in whose warm clasped it died nefrada tears rose to theos's eyes as he finished reading these evidently unpremeditated pathetic words that suggested so much more than they actually declared he silently returned the rolled to saluma who sat very still thoughtfully stroking the long bright curl that was twisted round his fingers like a glittering strand of spun glass and he felt all at once so unreasonably irritated with his friend that he was even inclined to find fault with the very grace and beauty of his person the mere indolence of his attitude was for the moment provoking why art thou so immoved he demanded almost sternly what hast thou done to nephada to thus grieve her gentle spirit beyond remedy solomon looked up like a surprised child done nay what should i do i have let her love me oh sublime permission he had let her love him he had condescendingly allowed her as it were to waste all the treasures of her soul upon him theo stared at him in vague amazement while he apparently tired of his own reflections continued with some impatience what more could she desire i never barred her from my presence nor checked the fervor of her greetings i wore the flowers she chose i listened to the song she sung and when she looked more fair than ordinary i stinted not the warmth of my caresses she was too meek and loving for my fancy no will save mine no happiness save in my company no thought beyond my pleasure one wearies of such a fond excess of sweetness nevertheless her sole delight was still to serve me could i debar her from that joy because i saw the joy because i saw the

Starting point is 13:07:36 in some danger for her peace slave as she was i made her free and lo how capriciously she plays with her late given liberty tis always the way with women no man shall ever learn how best to please them she knew i loved her not as lover's love she knew my heart was elsewhere fixed and faded and if notwithstanding this knowledge she still chose to love me then assuredly her grief is of her own creating methinks tis i who am most injured in this matter all the day long i have tormented myself concerning the silly maiden's absence while she seized by some crazed idea of new adventure has gone forth heedlessly scarce knowing with her her letter is the exalted utterance of an overwrought excited brain she has in all likelihood caught the contagion of superstitious alarm that seems just now to possess the whole city and she knows not of what she writes or what she means to do to leave me forever as she says is out of her power for i will demand her back at the hands of lycia or the king and no demand of mine has ever been refused moreover with lycia's aid her hiding-place is soon and easily discovered how asked theos mechanically still surveying the beautiful calm features of the charming egotist whose nature's seemed such a curious mixture of loftiness and littleness she may have left the city no one can leave the city without express permission rejoined saluma tranquilly besides didst thou not see the black disk last night in lycia's palace there was not a descent he had once remembered the strange revolving thing that had covered itself with brilliant letters at the approach of the high priestess and he waited somewhat eagerly to hear the meaning of so singular an object explained the priest of the temple of naga went on saluma are the greatest scientists in the world with the exception of the lately formed circle of mystics who it must be confessed exceed them in certain new lines of discovery

Starting point is 13:09:30 but setting aside the mystic school which it behooves us not to speak of seeing it is condemned by law there are no men living more subtly wise in matters pertaining to aerial force and light phenomena than the servants of the secret doctrine of the temple all seeming marvellous things are to them mere child's play and the miracles by which they keep the multitude in awe are not by any means vulgar but most exquisitely scientific as for instance at the great new-year festival called by us the sailing forth of the ship of the sun which takes place at the commencement of the spring solstice a fire as kindle on the summit of the highest tower and a ship of gold rises from the centre of the flames carrying the body of a slain virgin eastwards tis wondrously formed. And I, like others, have gaped upon the splendor of the scene, half credulous, and wholly dazzled, for the ship doth rise aloft with excellent stateliness, ploughing the air, with as much celerity as sailing vessels plough the seas, departing straightway, from the watching eyes of thousands of spectators, it plunges deep, or so it seems into the very heart of the rising sun, which doth apparently absorb it in devouring flames of glory, for never again

Starting point is 13:10:43 doth it return to earth and none can solve the mystery of its vanishing tis a graceful piece of jugglery unperfect accomplished while as for oracles for note the phonograph was known and used for the utterance of oracles by one the azmonian a priest king of ancient egypt that command and repeat their commands in every shade of tone from mild to wrathful there are only too many of these moreover the secret of their manufactures well known to all students of acoustic science but concerning the black disk in lyceas hall it is a curiously elaborate piece of workmanship it corresponds with an electric wheel in the interior chamber of the temple temple where all the priests and flamans meet and sum up the entire events of the day both public and private condensing the same into brief setting their wheel in motion they start a similar motion in the disc and the bright characters that flash upon it and disappear like quicksilver are the reflection of the working electric wires which write what only Lycia is skilled to read. From sunset to midnight, these messages keep coming, without intermission, and all the most carefully concealed affairs of Alcyrus are discovered by the temple's spies, and conveyed to Lycia by this means.

Starting point is 13:11:57 Whatever the news, it is repeated again and again, on the disc, till she, by rapidly turning it with a peculiar movement of her own, causes a small bell to ring in the temple, which signifies to her informers that she has understood all their communications, and knows every her inquisitorial system is searching and elaborate there is no secret so carefully guarded that the black disc will not in time reveal theos listened wonderingly and with a sense of repugnance and fear he felt as though the beautiful priestess with her glittering robes and the dreadful jewelled eye upon her breast were just then entering the room stealthily and rustling hither and thither like a snake beneath covering leaves she was an ever-present temptation a bewildering snare and distracting evil was it not possible to shake her trail off the life of his friend and also to pluck from out his own heart the poison sting of her fatal terrible fascination a red mist swam before his eyes his lips were dry and feverish his voice sounded hoarse and faint in his own ears when he forced himself to speak again so thou dost think that wheresoever nefrata hath strayed lycia can find her he said assuredly returned saluma with easy complacency i would swear that even at this very moment lycia could restore her to my arm and safety then why suggested theos anxiously why not go forth and seek her now nay there is time and saluma half closed his languid lids and stretched himself lazily i would not have the child imagined i vexed myself too greatly for her unkind departure she must have space wherein to weep and repent her

Starting point is 13:13:31 of her folly she is the strangest maiden and he brushed his lips lightly against the golden curl he held she loves me and yet repulses all attempted passion i remember here his face grew more serious i remember one night in the beginning of summer the moon was round and high in heaven we were alone together in this room the lamps burned low and she nefrato sang to me her voice was full and with all tremulous her form bent her ebony harp with soft and yielding as an iris stem her eyes turned upon mine seemed one to question me as to the worth of love or so i fancy the worth of love i would have taught it to her than in the rapture of an hour but seized with sudden foolish fear she fled leaving me to satisfy indifferent and weary no matter when she returns again her mood will alter and though i love her not as she would fain be loved i shall find means to make her happy nibit she speaks of dying said theoes quickly wilt thou constrain her back from death my friend old women speak of dying when they are love-weary replied saluma with a slight smile de frada will not die she is too young and fond of life the world is as a garden wherein she has but lately entered all ignorant of the pleasures that await her there tis an odd notion that she has a danger threatening me thou also guttios art become full of omens and yet there is not a visible ill to trouble the fairness of the day he stepped out as he spoke from the terrace and looked up at the intense calm of the lovely sky the ooze followed him and stood leaning on the ballow strait among the clamoring vines watching him with earnest half regretful half-adowing eyes he meanwhile gathered a scarcely opened white rose-but and loosening the tress of nefrada's hair from his fingers allowed it to hang to its full rippling length then laying the flower against it he appeared grimly to admire the contrast between the snowy blossom and shining curl many strange men there are in the world he said softly lovers and fools who said priceless stole

Starting point is 13:15:26 on a rose and a lock of woman's hair i've heard of some who dying have held such trifles as chiefest of all their worldly goods and have implored that whereas their gold and household stuff can be bestowed freely on him who first comes to kreman the faded flower and the senseless dress may be laid on their hearts to comfort them in the cold and dreamless sleep from which they shall not wake again he sighed in his eyes darkened into deep and musing tenderness poets there have been two and are who would string many a canticle on this soft severed lock and gathered blossom in many acquaint can see could i myself contrived concerning it did i not feel more prone to tears to-day than minstrel see canst thou believe it theos and he forced to laugh though his lashes were wet i the joy saluma am for once most truly sad this dress of hair does seem to catch my spirit in a chain that binds me fast and draws me onward onward to some mournful end i may not dare to see and as he spoke he mechanically wound the gold and curl round and about the stem of the rose-but in the fashion of a ribbon and placed the two entwined together in his breast the oz looked at him wistfully but was silent he himself was too full of dull and melancholy misgivings to be otherwise than sad also instinctively he drew closer to his friend's side and thus they remained for some minutes exchanging no words and gazing dreamily out on the luxurious foliage of the trees and the wealth of bright blossoms that adorned the landscape before then thou art confident miflata will return question theos presently in a low tone she will return but join saluma quietly because she will do anything for love of me for love's sake she may die said theo saluma smiled not so my friend for love's sake she will live end of chapter twenty five chapter twenty six of our death by marie carelli

Starting point is 13:17:28 this lebrvach's recording is in the public domain the priest zeal as he uttered the last word the sound of an approaching light step disturbed the silence it was one of the young girls of the household a dark haughty-looking beauty whom theos remembered to have seen in the palace hall when he first arrived lying indolently among cushions and playing with a tame bird which flew to and fro at her beckoning she advanced now with an almost imperial stateliness her salute to saluma was grateful yet scarcely submissive while he turning eagerly toward her seemed gladdened and relieved at her appearance his face assuming a gratified expression like that of a child who having broken one toy is easily consoled with another welcome irene he exclaimed gaily thou art the very bitter sweetness i desire thy naughty pout and coldly mutinous eyes are pleasing contrasts to the over languid heat and brightness of the day what news hast thou my sweet is there fresh havoc in the city more deaths more troublous tidings nay then hold thy peace for thou art not a fit messenger of woe thou art much too fair ireneas red lips curled disdainfully the naughty pout was plainly visible my lord is pleased to flatter his slave she said with a touch of scorn in her musical accents certs of ill news there is more than enough and evil rumours have never been lacking these many months as my lord would have known had he deigned to listen to the common talk of those who are not poets but merely sad and suffering men nevertheless though i may think i speak not at all of matters such as these and for my present errant is but to say that a priest of the inner temple waits without desirous of instant speech with the most illustrious saluma

Starting point is 13:19:28 a priest of the inner temple echoed the laureate wonderingly by my faith a most unwelcome visitor what business can he have with me nay that i know not responded irene calmly he hath come hither so he bad me say by command of the absolute authority saluma's face flushed and he looked annoyed then taking theos by the arm he turned away from the terrace and re-entered his apartment where he flung himself full length on his couch billowing his handsome head against a fold of glossy leopard skin which formed a most becoming background for the soft dark oval beauty of his features sit thee down my friend he said glancing smilingly at theos and signing to him to take possession of a luxurious lounge chair near him if we must needs receive this sanctified professor of many hypocrisies we will do it with suitable indifference and ease wilt thou stay here with us irene he added stretching out one arm and catching the maiden round the waist in spite of her attempted resistance art thou in a froward mood and wilt thou go thine own proud way without so much as a consoling kiss from saluma irene looked full at him a repressed anger blazing in her large black eyes let my lord save his kisses for those who value them she said contemptuously to her pity he should waste them upon me to whom they are unmeaning and therefore all unwelcome he laughed heartily and instantly loosened her from his embrace off off with thee sweet virtue ferris prude he cried still laughing live out thy life and thou wilt empty of love or passion count the years as they slip by leaving thee each day less lovely and less fit for pleasure grow old and on the brink of death look back poor child and see the glory thou hast missed and left behind thee the light of love and youth that once departed can dawn again no more

Starting point is 13:21:20 and lifting himself slightly from his cushions he kissed his hand playfully to the girl who was though suddenly overcome by a sort of vague regret still lingered gazing at him while a faint colour crept through her cheeks like the deepening hue on the leaves of an opening rose saluma saw her hesitation and his face grew yet more radiant with malicious mirth hence hence serena he exclaimed escape temptation quickly while thou mayest support thy virgin pride and peace thou shalt never say again saluma's kisses are unwelcome the poet's touch shall never wrong or sanctify thy name thou art safe from me as pillared icicles in everlasting snow dear little one be happy without love if that be possible nevertheless take heed thou do not weakly clamor in the after years for once rejected joy now bid young waiting priest attend me tell him i can but spare a few brief moments audience ireneus had drooped theo saw tears in her eyes but she managed to restrain them and with something of a defiant air she made her former obeisance and withdrew she did not return again but a page appeared instead ushering in with ceremonious civility a tall person each clad in flowing white robes and muffled up to the eyes in a mantle of silver tissue a majestic mysterious solemn-looking individual who pausing on the threshold of the apartment described a circle in the air with a small staff he carried and said in monotonous accents by the going in and passing out of the sun through the gates of the east and the gates of the west by the vulture of gold and white lotus and the countless virtues of naga may peace dwell in this house forever agreed to with all my heart responded saluma carelessly looking up from his couch from making no attempt to rise peace is an excellent thing most holy father excellent returned the priest slowly advancing and undoing his mantle so that his face became fully visible so truly excellent indeed that at times it is needful to make war in order to insure it

Starting point is 13:23:20 he sat down as he spoke in a chair which was placed for him at saluma's bidding by the page who had ushered him in and he maintained a grave silence till that youthful servitor had departed theos meanwhile studied his countenance with some curiosity it was so strangely impassive yet at the same time so full of distinctly marked intellectual power the features were handsome but also singularly repulsive they were rendered in a certain degree dignified by a full dark beard which however failed in time to conceal the receding chin and compressed cruel mouth the eyes were keen and crafty and very clear the forehead was high and intelligent and deeply furrowed with lines that seemed to be the result of much pondering over close and cunning calculation rather than the marks of profound unselfish and ennobling thought the page having left the room solemnly began the conversation to what unexpected cause most righteous sir am i indebted for the honour of this present visit methinks i recognise the countenance of the famous zeal the high priest of the sacrificial altar if so tis marvellous so great a man should venture forth alone and unattended to the house of one who loves not priestly company and who hath at best for all professors of religion a somewhat indifferent welcome the priest smiled coldly most rightly dost thou speak saluma he answered his measured his measured metallic voice seeming to strike a wave of chilling discord through the air and most frankly hast thou thus declared one of thy many deficiencies atheist as thou art and to that manner born thou art in very deed outside the pale of all religious teaching and consolment nevertheless there is much gentle mercy shown thee by the virgin priestess of negia here he solemnly bent his head and made the rapid sign of a circle on his breast who knowing thy great genius doth ever strive with thoughtful zeal to draw thee closely within the saving silver veil

Starting point is 13:25:15 yet it is possible that even her patience with thy sins may tire at last wherefore while there is time offer due penance to the offended gods and humble thy stiff heart before the holy maid lest she expel thee from her sight for ever he paused a satirical half-amused smile hovered round saluma's delicate mouth his eyes flashed all this is the mere common rhetoric of the temple craft he said indolently why not good zeal give plainer utterance to thine errand we know each other's fathers well enough to spare formalities lycia has sent thee hither what then what says the beauteous virgin to her willing slave an undertone of mockery rang through the languid silvery sweetness of his accents and the priest's dark brows knitted in an irritated frown thou art over-flippant of speech saluma he observed austerely take heed thou be not snared into misfortune by the glibness of thy tongue thou dost speak of the chaste lycia with unseemly lightness learned to be reverent and so shalt thou be wiser saluma laughed and settled himself more easily on his couch turning in such a manner as to look the stately zealful in the face they exchanged one glance expressive as it seemed of some mutual secret understanding for the priest coughed as though he were embarrassed and stroked his beard deliberately with one hand in an endeavor to hide the strange smile that despite his efforts to conceal it visibly lightened his cold eyes to a sudden tigerish briancy the mission with which i am charged he resumed presently is to thee chief floriot of the realm and runs as follow with whereas thou hast of late avoided many days of public service in the temple so that those among the people who admire thee follow thine ill example

Starting point is 13:26:56 and absent themselves also with equal readiness the priestess undefiled the noble lycia doth to-night command thy presence as a duty not to be foregone therefore come thou and take thy part in the great sacrifice for these late tumults and disaster in the city notably the perplexing downfall of the obelisk have caused all hearts to fail to fail and sink for very fear the river darkens in its crimson hue each hour by passing hour strange noises have been heard athwart the sky and in the deeper underground and all these drear unwanted things are so many cogent reasons where we should in solemn unison implore the favor of nagaa and the gods whereby further catastrophes may be perchance averted moreover for motives of most unurgent state policy it is advisable that all who hold place dignity and renown within the city should this not be seen as fervent supplicants before the sacred shine so may much threatening rebellion be appeased an order be restored out of impending confusion such as the message i am bidden to convey to thee furthermore i am required to bear back again to the high priestess thy faithful promise that her order shall be surely and entirely obeyed thou art not want and a pale sneer flitted over his features to set her mandate at defiance saluma bit his lips angrily and folded his arms above his head with a lazy yet impatient movement assuredly i shall be present at the service he said curtly there needed no such weighty summoning twas my intention to join the ranks of worshippers to-night though for myself i have no faith in worship the gods i we wean are deaf and care not a jot whether we mortals weep or sing nevertheless i shall look on with fitting gravity and deport myself with due decorum throughout the ceremonious ritual though verily i tell thee reverend zeal tis tedious and monotonous at best and concerning the poor maiden sacrifice it is a shuddering horror we could well dispense with i think not so replied the priest calmly thou who art well instructed in the capricious humours of men must surely know how dearly the majority of them love the shedding of blood tis a clamorous brute instinct in them which must be satisfied

Starting point is 13:29:00 better therefore that we the anointed priest should sway one willing victim for the purposes of religion than that they the ignorant mob should kill a thousand to gratify their lust of murder an unresentful all-loving deity would be impossible of comprehension to a mutual and malignant race of beings all creeds must be accommodated to the dispositions of the million pardon me suddenly interrupted theos i am a stranger and in a great measure ignorant of this city's customs but i confess i am amazed to hear a priest uphold so specious an argument what must divine religion be dragged down from its pure throne to pander to the selfish passions of the multitude because men are vile must a vile god be invented to suit their savage caprices because men are so cruel must the unseen creator of things be determined to suit their savage caprices because men are so cruel must the unseen creator of things be linnier as even more barbarous than they in order to give them some pietistical excuse for wickedness i ask these questions not out of wanton curiosity but for the sake of instruction the haughty zeal turned upon him in severe astonishment sir he said stranger undoubtedly thou art and so bold a manner of speech most truly savors of the utterly uneducated western barbarian all wise and prudent governments have learned that a god fit for the adoration of men must be depicted as much like men as possible any absolutely superhuman attributes are unnecessary to the character of a useful deity inasmuch as no man ever will or ever can understand the worth of superhuman qualities humanity is only capable of worshipping self thus it is necessary that when people are persuaded to pay honor to an elected divinity they should be well and comfortably assured in their own minds that they are but offering homage to an image of self placed before them in a deified or heroic form this satisfies the natural idolatrous cravings of egotism and this is all that priests or teaches desire now in the worship of naga we have the natures of man and woman conjoined the snake is the emblem of male wisdom united with female subtlety and the two essences mingled in one make

Starting point is 13:30:59 as near an approach to what we may imagine the positive divine capacity as can be devised on earth by earthly intelligences. If, on the other hand, such an absurd doctrine as that formulated in the fanatic madman coast rules prophecy, could be imagined as actually admitted, and proclaimed to the nations it would have very few followers, and the sincerity of those few might well be open to doubt, for the deity it speaks of is supposed to be an immortal God disguised as man, a God who voluntarily rejects and sets aside his own glory to serve and save his perishable creatures. Thus the root of that religion would consist in self-abnegation, and self-abnegation is, as experience proves utterly impossible to the human being.

Starting point is 13:31:42 Why is it impossible? asked Theos, with a quiver of passionate earnestness in his voice, are there none in all the world who would sacrifice their own interests to further another's welfare and happiness? The priest smiled, a delicately derisive smile, certainly not he replied blandly the very question strikes me as singularly foolish inasmuch as we live in a planet where if we do not serve ourselves and look after our own personal advantage we may as well die the minute we are born or better still never be born at all there is no one living at least not in the wide realm of alcyrus who would put himself to the smallest inconvenience for the sake of another or that other his nearest and dearest blood relation and in matters of love and friendship tis the same as in business each man eagerly pursues his own chance of enjoyment even when he loves her fancies he loves a woman it is solely because her beauty or attractiveness gives him temporary pleasure not because he has any tenderness or after regard for the nature of her feelings how can it be otherwise we elect friends that are useful to us personally we care little for their intrinsic merit and we only tolerate them as long as they happen to suit our taste for generally on the first occasion of a disagreement or difference of opinion we shake ourselves free of them without either regret or rebut

Starting point is 13:32:55 and seek others who will be meek enough not to offer us any open contradiction it is and it must be always so self is the first person we are bound to consider in our religions if they are intended to last must prudently recognize and silently acquiesce in this the chief dogma of man's constitution saluma laughed excellently argued most polytig zeal he exclaimed yet methinks it is easy to worship self without either consecrated altars or priestly assistance thou shouldst know better than any one with what facility such devotion can be practised returns zeal ironically rising as he spoke and beginning to wrap his mantle round him preparatory to departure thou hast a wider range of perpetual adoration than most men seeing thou dost so fully estimate the value of thine own genius some heretics there are in the city who say that merit is but a trick of song shared by thee in common with the birds who truly seem to take no pride in the particular sweetness of their unsyllable language but thou thyself art better instructed and who shall blame thee for the veneration with which thou dost daily contemplate thine own intellectual powers not i believe me and his crafty eyes glittered mockingly as he arranged his silver gauze muffler so that it entirely veiled the lower part of his features and though i do somewhat regret to learn that thou among other noblemen of fashion hast of late taken part in the atheistic discussions encouraged by the positivist school of thought still as a priest my duty is not so much to reproach as to call thee to repentance therefore i inwardly rejoice to know you wilt present thyself before the shrine to-night if only for the sake of custom only for the sake of custom repeated solemn amusedly nay good zeal custom should be surely classified as an exceeding powerful god inasmuch as it rules all things from the cut of our clothes to the form of our creeds

Starting point is 13:34:46 true replied zeal imperturbably and he who despises custom becomes an alien from his kind a moral leper among the pure and clean oh say rather a lion among sheep a giant among pigmies laughed the lawyer for by my soul a man who had the courage to scorn custom and set the small hypocrisies of society of defiance would be a glorious hero a warrior of strange integrity whom it would be well worth travelling miles to see coastwell was such an one interposed theos suddenly tushman coswell was mad retorted saluma are not all men thought mad who speak the truth queried theos gently the priest zeal looked at him with proud and supercilious eyes thou hast strange notions for one still young he said what art thou a new disciple of the mystics or a student of the positive doctrines theos met his gaze unflinchingly what am i he murmured sadly and his voice trembled reverend priest i am nothing great are the sufferings of men who have lost their wealth their home their friends but i have lost myself were i anything could i ever hope to be anything i would pray to be accepted a servant of the cross that far-off unknown faith to which my tired spirit clings as he uttered these words he raised his eyes how dim and misty at the moment seemed the tall white figure of the majestic zeal and in contrast to it how brilliantly distinct saluma's radiant face appeared turned toward him in inquiring wonderman he felt the swooning dizziness upon him but the sensation swiftly passed and he saw the and he saw the haughty priest dark brows bent upon him in a frown of ominous disapproval tis well thou art not a citizen of alcy he said scornfully to strangers we accord a certain license of opinion but if thou wert a native of these realms thy speech would cost thee dear as it is i've warned thee dare not to make public mention of the cross thee a cursed emblem of the dead coast rules idolatry guard thy tongue heedfully and thou solomon if thou dost bring this rashling with thee to the temple thou must take upon thyself all measures

Starting point is 13:36:40 for his safety for in these days some words are like firebrands and he who cast them forth incautiously may kindle flames that only the forfeit of his forfe that only the forfeet of his life can quench there was a quiver of suppressed fury in his tone on saluma lifted his lazy lids and looked at him with an air of tranquil indifference for thee trouble not by self most eminent zeal he answered nonchalantly i will answer for my friend's discretion thou dost mistake his temperament he is a budding poet and utters many a disconnected thought which hath no meaning safe to his own fancy swarming brain he saw the frantic coast will die and the picture hath impressed him for the moment nothing more i pledge my word for his demureous prudence at the service to-night of would not have him absent for the world for a pity he should miss the splendour of a scene which doubtless hath been admirably contrived by priestly ardent skill to play upon the passions of the multitude tell me good zeal what is the name of the self-offered victim the priest flashed a strangely malevolent glance at him tis not to be divulged he replied curtly the virgin is no old longer counted among the living she is as one already departed the name she bore hath been erased from the city registers and she wears instead the prouder title of bride of the sun and naga restrained thy curiosity until night hath fallen it may be that thou who hast a wide acquaintance among fair maidens wilt recognize her countenance nay i trust i know her not said saluma carelessly for though all women die from me when once their beauty fade still am i loath to see them perish ere their prime yet many are doomed to perish so rejoined the priest impassively men as well as women and methinks those who are best beloved of the gods are chosen first to die death is not difficult but to live long enough for life to lose all savour and love all charm this is a bitterness that comes with years and cannot be consoled and retreating slowly toward the door he paused as he had previously done on the threshold farewell saluma he said beware that nothing hinders thee from the fulfilment of thy promise and let thy homage to the holy maid be reverent at the parting of the silver veil

Starting point is 13:38:41 he waited but saluma made no answer he therefore raised his staff and described a circle with it in the same solemn fashion that had distinguished his entrance by the coming forth of the moon through the ways of darkness by the shining of stars by the sleeping sun and the sun and the sun and the silence of night by the all-seeing eye of raefon and the wisdom of naga may the protection of the gods abide in this house for ever as he pronounced these words he noiselessly departed without any salutation whatever to saluma who heaved a sight of relief when he had drawn and rising from his couch came and placed one hand affectionately on theos's shoulder thou foolish yet dear comrade he murmured what moves thee to blurt forth such strange and unwarrantable sayings why wouldst thou pray to be a servant of the cross or why at any rate if thou hast taken a fancy for the dead coastwool's new doctrine wert thou so rash as to proclaim thy sentiment to yon unprincipled bloodthirsty zeal who would not scruple to poison the king himself if his majesty gave sufficient cause of offence dost thou desire to be straightway slain nay i will not have thee run thus furiously into danger thou wilt be offered the silver nectar-like nerjalus and not even the intercession of my friendship would have failed to save thee then theos smiled rather sadly and thus within forever my mistakes and follies he answered softly and i should perchance discover the small hidden secret of things the little simple unguessed clue that would unravel the mystery of meaning of existence for can it be that the majestic marvel of created nature is purposeless in its design that we are doomed to think thoughts which can never be realized to dream dreams that perished in the dreaming to build up hopes without foundation to call upon god when there is no god to long for heaven when there is no heaven ah no saluma surely we are not the mere fools and dupes of time surely there is some eternal beyond which is not annihilation some greater vast sphere of soul development where we shall find all that we have missed on earth

Starting point is 13:40:38 saluma's face clouded and a sigh escaped him i would my thoughts were similar to thine he said sorrowfully i would i could believe in an immortal destiny but alas my friend there is no shadow of ground for such a happy faith none neither in sense nor science i have reflected on it many a time till i have wearied myself with mournful musing and the end of all my meditation has been a useless protest against the great inevitable a clamor of disdain hurled at the huge blind indifferent force that poisons the deep sea of space with an ever-productive spawn of wasted life anon i have flouted my own despair and have consoled myself with the old wise maxim that was found inscribed on the statue of a smiling god some centuries ago enjoy your lives ye passing tribes of men take pleasure and folly for this is the only wisdom that avails happy is he whose days are filled with the delight of love and laughter for there is nothing better found on earth and whatsoever ye do whether wight or foolish the same end comes to all is not this true philosophy my theos what can a man do better than enjoy much depends on the particular form of enjoyment responded theos thoughtfully some there are for example who might find their greatest satisfaction in the pleasures of the table others in the gratification of sensual desires and gross appetites are these to be left to follow their own devices without any effort being made to raise them from the brute level where they lie why in the name of all the gods should they be raised demanded maluma impatiently if their choice is to grovel admire why ask them to dwell in a palace they would not appreciate the change again went on theos there are others who are only happy in the pursuit of wisdom and the more they learn the more they seek to know one wonders one cannot help wondering are their aspirations all in vain and will the grave seal down their hopes for ever

Starting point is 13:42:24 saluma paused a moment before replying it seems so he said at last slowly and hesitatingly and herein i find the injustice of the matter because however great may be the imagination and fervor of a poet for instance he never is able wholly to utter his thoughts half of them remain in embryo like buds of flowers that never come to bloom yet they are there burning in the brain and seeming too vast of conception to syllable themselves into the common speech of mortals i have often marvelled why such ideas suggest themselves at all as they can neither be written nor spoken unless and here his voice sank into a dreamy softness unless indeed they are to be received as hints foreshadowings of greater works destined for our accomplishment hereafter he was silent a minute's space and theos watching him wistfully suddenly asked wouldst thou be willing to live again solemnly if such a thing could be friend i would rather never die responded the lawyer half playfully half seriously but if i were certain that death was no more than asleep from which i should assuredly awaken to another phase of existence i know well enough what i should do what questioned theos his heart beginning to beat with an almost insufferable anxiety i would live a different life now answered saluma steadily looking his companion full in the eyes as he spoke while a grave smile shattered rather than lightened his features i would begin at once so that when the new future dawned for me and might not be haunted or tortured by the remembrance of a misspent past for if we are to believe in any everlasting things at all we cannot shut out the fatal everlastiness of memory his words sounded unlike himself his voice was as the voice of some reproving angel speaking and theos listening shuddered he knew not why and held his peace never to be able to forget continued saluma in the same grave sweet tone never to lose sight of one's own bygone wilful sins this will be an immortal destiny too terrible to endure for then inexorable retrospection would forever show us where we had missed the way and how we had failed to use the chances given us moreover we might happily find ourselves surrounded and his accents grew slower

Starting point is 13:44:29 and more emphatic by strange phantons of our own creating who would act anew the drama of our obstinate past follies perplexing us thereby into an anguish greater than mortal fancy can depict thus if we indeed possess the positive foreknowledge of the eternal regeneration of our lives should be will to free them from all hindrance to perfection here here while we are still conscious of time and opportunity he paused then went on in his customary gay manner but fortunately we are not positive nothing is certain no truth is so satisfactorily demonstrated that some wiseacre cannot be found to disprove it hence it happens my friend and his face assumed its wonted careless expression that we men whose common sense is offended by priestly hypocrisy and occult necromanic jugglery we who perhaps in our innermost heart of hearts ardently desire to believe in a supreme divinity and the grandly progressive sublime intention of the universe but who discovering naught but ignoble cant and in posture everywhere are incontinently thrown back on our own resources hence it comes i say that we are satisfied to accept ourselves each man in his own personality as the beginning and end of existence and to minister to that absolute self which after all concerns us most and which will continue to engage our best service until well until history can show us a perfectly selfless example which if human nature remains consistent with its own traditions will assuredly never be this was almost more than theos could bear there was a tightening agony at his heart that made him long to cry out to weep or better still to fling himself on his knees and pray pray to that far-removed mild presence that selfless example who he knew had hallowed and dignified the world and yet whose holy and beloved name he miserable sinner was unworthy to even remember

Starting point is 13:46:18 his suffering at the moment was so intense that he fancied some reflection of it must be visible in his face saluma however apparently saw nothing he stepped across the room and out to the vine-shaded loggia where he turned and beckoned his companion to his side come he said pushing his hair off his brows with a languid gesture the afternoon wears onward and the very heavens seem to smoke with heat let us see cooler air beneath the shade of yonder of cypresses whose dark green boughs shut out the glaring sky we'll talk of love and poesy and tender things till sunset i will recite to be a ballad of mine that nefrada loved tis called an idol of roses and it will lighten this hot and heavy silence when even birds sleep and butterflies drows in the hollowed shelter of the arum leaves come wilt thou to-night perchance we shall have little time for pleasant discourse as he spoke theos obediently went toward him with the day's sensations of one under the influence of mesmerism the dazzling face and luminous eyes of the laureate exercised over him an indescribable yet resistless authority and it was certain that wherever saluma led the way he was bound to follow only as he mechanically descended from the terrace into the garden and linked his arm within that of his companion he was conscious of a vague feeling of pity for himself pity that he should have dwindled into such a nonentity when saluma was so renowned a celebrity pity too that he should have somehow never been able to devise anything original in the art of poetry this last was evident for he knew already that the idol of roses saluma proposed reciting could be no other than what he had fancied was his idol of roses a poem he had composed or rather had plagiarized in some mysterious fashion before he had even dreamt of the design of nur however he had become in part resigned to the peculiar position he occupied he was just a little sorry for himself and that was all even as the parted spirit of a dead man might hover ruthfully above the grave of its perished mortal body

Starting point is 13:48:15 so he compassionated his own forlorn estate and heaved a passing sigh of regret not only for all he once had been but also for all he could never be in the chapter twenty six chapter twenty seven of ardath by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain in the temple of naga the hours wore on with stealthy rapidity but the two friends reclining together under a deep branched canopy of cypah spouse paid little or no heed to the flight of time the heat in the garden was intense the grass the grassy the grass was dry and brittle as though it had been scorched by passing flames and a singularly profound stillness reigned everywhere there being no wind to stir the faintest rustle among the foliage lying lazily upon his back with his arms clasped above his head the host looked grimly up at the patches of blue sky seen between the dark green gnarled stems and listened to the measured cadence of the laureate's mellow voice as he recited with much tenderness the promised poem of course it was perfectly familiar the lines were precisely the same as those which he theos remember to have written out thinking them his own in an old manuscript book he had left at home at home where was that it must be a very long way off he half closed his eyes a sense of delightful drowsiness was upon him the rise and fall of his friends rhythmic utterance soothed him into a languid peace the idol of roses was very sweet and musical and though he knew it of old he heard it now with special satisfaction inasmuch as it being no longer his he was at liberty to bestow upon it that full measure of admiration which he felt it deserved

Starting point is 13:50:08 yet every now and then his thoughts wandered and though he anxiously strove to concentrate his attention on the lovely stanzas that murmured past his ears like the gentle sound of waves flowing beneath the mesmerism of the moon his brain was in a continual state of firmat and busied itself with all manner of vague suggestions to which he could give no name a great weariness weighed down his spirit a dim consciousness of the futility of all ambition and all endeavour he was haunted to by the sharpest of lycia's voice when she had said kill saluma her look her attitude her murderous smile troubled his memory and made him ill at ease the thing she had thus demanded at his hands seemed more monstrous than if she had bidden him kill himself for there had been one moment when mastered by her beauty and the force of his own passion he would have killed himself had she requested it but to kill his adored his beloved friend ah no not for a thousand sorceress queens as fair as she he drew a long breath an irresistible desire for rest came over him the air was heavy and warm and fragrant his companion's dulcive accents served as a lullaby to his tired mind it seemed a long time since he had enjoyed a pleasant slumber for the previous night he had not slept at all lower and lower drooped his aching lids he was almost beginning to slip away slowly into a blissful unconsciousness when all at once saluma ceased reciting and a harsh brazen clang of bells that grew through the silence storming to and fro with a violent hurried uproar suggestive of some sudden alarm he sprang to his feet rubbing his eyes saluma rose also a slightly petulant expression on his face canst thou do no better than sleep he queried complainingly when thou art privileged to listen to an immortal poem impulsively theo caught his hand and pressed it fervently nay dost thou deem me so indifferent my noble friend he cried thou art mistaken for though perchance mine were closed my ears were open i heard thy every word i loved thy every line

Starting point is 13:52:11 what dost thou need of praise thou who canst do naught but work which being perfect is beyond all criticism saluma smiled well satisfied in the little lines of threatening ill-humour vanished from his countenance enough he said i know that thou dost truly honour above all poets and that thou wouldst not willingly offend hearest thou now how great a clamor the ringers of the temple make to-night tis but the sunset shine yet one would think they were pealing forth an angry summons to battle already sunset exclaimed theo's surprise why it seemed scarce a minute since that we came hither ay such is the magic charm of poesy rejoined saluma complacently it makes the hours split like moments and long days seemed but short hours nevertheless tis time we were with indoors and at supper for if we start not soon for the temple twill be difficult to gain an entrance and i at any rate must be early in my place beside the king he heaved a short impatient sigh and as he spoke of theos's old misgivings came rushing back upon him and in full force filling him with big sorrow uneasiness fear but he knew how useless it was to try and impart any of his inward forebodings to saluma saluma who had so lightly explained licea's treacherous conduct to his own in time her satisfaction saluma on whom neither the prophecies of kosul nor the various disastrous events of the day had taken any permanent effect while no attempt could now be made to deter him from attending the sacrificial service in the temple seeing he had been so positively commanded by lycia through the medium of the priest zeal feeling bitterly his own incompetency to exercise any protective influence on the fate of his companion the oath said nothing but silently followed him as he thrust aside the drooping cypress boughs and made his way out to more open ground his live graceful figure looking even more brilliant and phantom like than ever contrasted with the deep green gloom spread about him by the hoary moss-covered trees that were as twisted and grotesque in shape as a group of fettish idols

Starting point is 13:54:17 as he bent back the last branchy barrier however and stepped into the full light he stopped short in uttering a loud exclamation lifted his hand and pointed westward his daughter eyes dilating with amazement and awe the oz at once came swiftly up beside him and looked where he looked what a scene of terrific splendor he beheld right across the horizon that glistened with a pale green hue-like newly frozen water a cloud black as the blackest midnight lay heavy and motionless in form resembling an enormous leaf fringed at the edges with tremulous lines of gold this nebulous mass was absolutely stirless it appeared as though it had been thrown a ponderous weight into the vault of heaven and having fallen their purpose to remain ever in anon beaming threads of lightning played through it luridly veining it with long arrowy flashes of orange and silver while poised immediately above it was the sun looking like a dull scarlet seal a ball of dim fire destitute of rays and all sides the sky was crossed by gravy flecks of pearl and sudden glimpses as of burning topaz and down toward the earth drooped a thin azure fog-filmy curtain through which the landscape took the strangest tints and unearthly flushes of color a moment and the spectral sun-drop suddenly into the lower darkness leaving behind it a glare of golden green lowling purple shadows crept over across the heavens darkening them as smoke darkens flame but the huge cloud palpitating with lightning move not at all nor changed it shaped by so much as a hair's breadth it appeared like a vast pall spread out in readiness for the solemn state burial of the world fascinated by the aspect of the weird sky phenomenon

Starting point is 13:55:55 theos was at the same time curiously impressed by a sense of its unreality indeed he found himself considering it with the calm attentiveness of one who has brought face to face with a remarkable picture effectively painted this peculiar sensation however it was like many others of his experience very transitory it passed and he watched the lightnings come and go with a certain hesitating fear mingled with wonder saluma was the first to speak storm at last he said forcing a smile though his face was unusually pale it is threatened us all day twill break before the night is over how sullenly yonder heaven's frown they have quenched the sun in their sable darkness as though it were a beaten foe this will seem an ill sign to those who worship him as a god for truly he doth appear to have withdrawn himself in haste and anger by my salt is a dull and ominous eve and a slight shudder ran through his delicate frame as he turned toward the white-colored loggia loggia garlanded with its climbing vines roses and passion flowers through which there now floated a dim golden suffused radiance reflected from lamps lit within a wood the night were passed and that the new day had come with these words he entered the house eos accompanying him and together they went at once at once to the banqueting hall there they supped royally served by silent and attentive slaves they themselves feeling mutually depressed yet apparently not wishing to communicate their depression one to the other conversed but little after the repast was finished they set forth on foot to the temple saluma informing his companion as they went that it was against the law to use any chariot or other sort of conveyance to go to the place of worship the king himself being obliged to dispense with his sumptuous car on such occasions and to walk thither as unostentatiously as any one of his poorest subjects an excellent rule observed the earth's reflectively for the pomp and glitter of an earthly potentates display a sort ill with the amage

Starting point is 13:57:51 he intends to offer to the immortals and kings are no more than commoners in the sight of an all-sup supreme divinity true it there were an all-supdivinity rejoined saluma but in the present state of well-founded doubt regarding the existence of any such omnipotent personage thinkest thou there is a monarch living who is sincerely willing to admit the possibility of any power superior to himself not zepharon believe me his enforced humility on all occasions of public religious observance serves him merely as a new channel wherein to proclaim his pride certus in obedience to the priests or rather let us say in obedience to the high priestess he paces the common footpath in comrade and comelyt's he paces the common footpath in comrade and company with the common folk uncrowned and simply clad but what avails this affectation of meekness all know him for the king all make serve out way for him all flatter him and his progress to the temple resembles as much a triumphal procession as though he were mounted in his chariot and returning from some wondrous victory besides humility in my opinion is more a weakness than a virtue and even granting it were a virtue it is not possible to kings not as long as people continue to fawn on royalty light groveling curs and lick the septured hand that often loads their abject touch he spoke with a certain bitterness and impatience as though he were suffering from some inward nervous irritation and theos observing this prudently made no attempt to continue the conversation they were just then passing down a narrow rather dark street lined on both sides by lofty buildings of quaint and elaborate architecture long gloomy shadows had gathered in this particular spot where for a short space the silence was still so intense that one could almost hear one's own heart beat suddenly a yellowish-green ray of light flashed across the pavement and low the upper rim of the moon peered above the housetops looking strangely large and rosily brilliant the air seemed all at once to grow suffocating and sulphurous

Starting point is 13:59:48 and between whiles there came the faint plashing sound of water lapping against stone with a monotonous murmur as of continuous soft whispers the vast silence the vast night were full of a solemn weirdness the moon curiously magnified to twice a ordinary size sword higher and higher firing the lofty solitudes of heaven with long-shooting radiations of rose and green while still in the purple hollow of the horizon lay that immense immovable cloud nerved as it were with living lightning which leaped incessantly from its centre like a thousand swords drawn and redrawn from as many scabbards presently the deep-blooming noise of a great bell smote heavily on the stillness a sound that fears suppressed by the rate of unutterable forebodings welcomed with a vague sense of relief while saluma hearing it quickened his pace they soon reached the end of the street which terminated in a spacious quadrangular court guarded on all sides by gigantic black statues and quickly crossing this place which was entirely deserted they came out at once into a dazzling blaze of light the temple of naga in all its stately magnificence towered before them a stupendous pile of marvellously delicate architecture so fine as to seem like lace-work rather than stone it was lit up from base to summit with glittering lamps of all colors the twelve revolving stars on its twelve tall turrets cast forth wide beams of penetrating radiance into the deepening darkness of the night aloft in its topmost crown of pinnacles swung the prayer commanding bell while the enormous crowd swarming thick about it gave it the appearance of a brilliant pharaohs set in the midst of a surging sea the steps leading up to it were strewn ankle deep with flowers the door stood open and a thunderous hum of solemn musing vibrated in wave-light pulsations through the heavy heated air half blinded by the extreme effulgence and confused by the jostling to enthrough of a multitude immeasurably greater than any he had ever seen or imagined

Starting point is 14:01:43 theos instinctively stretched out his hand in the helpless fashion of one not knowing whither next a turn saluma immediately caught it in his own and hurried him along without saying a word how they managed to glide through the close ranks of pushing pressing people effect and entrance he never knew but when he recovered from his momentary days bewilderment he found himself inside the temple standing near a pillar a finely fluted white marble that shot up like the stem of a palm tree and lost its final point in the dim yet sparkling splendor of the immense dome above lights dwindled everywhere there was the odor of faint perfumes mingle with the fresher of fragrance and flowers there were distant glimpses of jewel shrines and the leering faces of grotesque idols close in draperies of amber purple and green and between the multitudinous columns that ring the superb fain with snowy circles one within the other hung glittering lamps set with rare gems and swinging by long chains of gold but the crowning splendor of the whole was concentrated on the place of the secret inner shrine there an arch of pale blue fire spanned the dome from left to right there from huge bronze vessels mounted on tall tripods the smoke of burning incense arose in thick and odorous clasp there children clad in white and wearing garlands a vivid scarlet blossom stood about in little groups as still as exquisitely modeled statuettes their small hands folded and their eyes downcast there the steps were strewn with branches of palm-flowering oleander rose laurel and olive sprays but the sanctuary itself was not visible before that holy of holies hung the dazzling folds of the silver veil a curtain of the most wonderfully woven silver tissue that seemed in the flashing azure light of the luminous arch above it resembled nothing so much as a suddenly frozen sheet of foam across it was emblazoned in large characters i am the past the present the future that might have been and the shall not be that the ever and the never no mortal knoweth my name

Starting point is 14:03:43 as the us with some difficulty owing to the intense brilliancy of the veil managed to decipher these words he heard a solitary trumpet sounded a clear-blown note that echoed itself many times among the lofty arches before it finally floated into silence recognizing this as an evident signal for some new and important phase in the proceedings he turned his eyes away from that place of the shrine and looking round the building was surprised to see how completely the vast area was filled with crowds upon crowds of silent and expect people it seemed as though not the smallest wedge could have been inserted between the shoulders of one man and another yet where he stood the saluma there was plenty of room the reason of this however it was soon apparent they were in the place reserved for the king and the immediate officers of the royal household and scarcely had the sweet vibration of that clear trumpet blast died away when zepheronim himself appeared walking slowly and majestically in the midst of a select company of his nobles and courtiers he wore the simple white garb of an ordinary citizen of alchiris together with a silver belt and plain sheathed dagger not a jewel relieved the classic severity of his costume and not even the merest billet of gold in his rough dark hair denoted his royal rank but the pride of precedence spoke in his flashing eyes the arrogance of authority in the self-conscious poise of his figure and haughtiness of his step his brows were knitted in something of a frown and his face looked pale and slightly careworn he spied out saluma at once and smiled kindly there was not a trace of coldness in his manner toward his favorite minstrel and theos noted this with a curious sense of sudden consolation and encouragement why should i have feared zepharonim he thought saluma has no greater friend except myself the king would be the last person in the world to do him any injury just then a magnificent burst of triumphal music rolled through the temple the music of some mighty instrument organ-like in sound but several tones deeper than the grandest organ ever made mingled with children's voices singing

Starting point is 14:05:45 the king seated himself on a cushion chair directly in front of the silver veil soluma took a place at his right hand giving theos a low bench close beside him while the various distinguished personages who had attended zepheronim disposed themselves indifferently wherever they could find standing-room only keeping as near to their monarch as they were able to do in the extreme pressure of so vast a congregation but now every available inch of space was occupied as far as i could see there were rows upon rows of men and white-veiled women theos imagined there must have been more than five thousand people present on went the huge pulsations of melody surging through the incense-laden air like waves thudding incessantly on a rocky shore and presently out of a side archway near the sanctuary steps came with slow in gliding norselessness a band of priests walking two by two and carrying branches of palm these were all clad in purple and crowned with ivy reeds they marched sedately keeping their eyes lowered while their lips moved constantly as though they muttered inaudible incantations waving their palm-boughs to and fro they paced along past the king and down the central aisle of the temple then turning they came back again to the lowest step of the shrine and there they all prospered themselves while the children who stood near the incense burners flung fresh perfumes on the flowing embers enchanted the following recitatee o naga great everlasting and terrible thou who dost wind thy coils of wisdom into the heart thou whose eyes waking and sleeping do behold all things thou who art the joy of the sun and the master of virgins hear us we beseech thee when we call upon thy name their young treble voices were clear and piercing and peeled up to the dome to fall again like the drops of distinct round melody from a lark singing throat and when they ceased there came a short impressive pause the silver veil quivered from end to end as though

Starting point is 14:07:37 swayed by a faint wind in the flaming arch above turned from pale blue to a strange shimmering green then in mellow unison the kneeling priests in tone o thou who give us words of power to the dumb mouth of the soul in hades ere as nagaya o thou who openest the grave and give us peace to the heart plead for us nagaya o thou who art a companion of the sun and controller of the east and of the west comfort us here they ended and the children began again not to chant but to sing a strange and tristful tune wilder than any that vagrant winds could play on the strings of an eolian o virgin of virgins holy may to what shall we resemble thee chaste daughter of the sun how shall we praise thy perilous beauty thou art the gate of the house of stars thou art the first of the seven jewels of the gaia thou dost wield the sceptre of ebony and the eye of ray fawn beholds thee with love and contentment thou art the chiefest of women thou hast the secrets of earth and heaven thou knowest the dark mysteries hao la seea queen of the hall of judgment hail pure pearl in the sea of the sun's glory declare unto us we beseech thee the will of they closed this canticle softly and slowly when flinging themselves prone they pressed their faces to the earth and again the glittering veil waved to and fro suggestively while theos his heart beating fast watched its shining wolf with straining eyes and a sense of suffocation in his throat what ignorant fools what mad barbarians what blind blasphemers were these people he indignantly thought who could thus patiently hear the phrase of an evil woman like lycia publicly proclaimed with almost divine honors did they actually intend to worship her he wondered if so he at any rate would never bend the knee to one so vile he might have done so once perhaps but now at that instant a flute-like murmur of melody crept upward as it seemed from the ground with a plaintive whispering sweetness like the lament of some exile

Starting point is 14:09:30 fairy so exquisitely tender and pathetic and yet withal so heart-stirring and passionate that despite himself he listened with a strange swooning sense of languor stealing insidiously over him a dreamy lassitude that while it made him feel enervated and deprived of strength was still not altogether unpleasing a faint sigh escaped his lips and he kept his gaze fixed on the silver veil as pertinaciously as though behind it lay the mystery of his soul's ruin or salvation how the light flashed on its shimmering foes like the rippling phosphorescence on southern seas as green and clear and brilliant as rays reflected from thousands and thousands of glistening arimals and that haunting sorrowful weird music how it seemed to eat into his heart and there awakened a bitter remorse combined with an equally bitter despair once more the veil moved and this time it appeared to inflate itself in the fashion of a sail caught by a sudden breeze then it began to part in the middle very slowly and without sound further and further back on each side it gradually rissidi and like a lily disclosed between folding leaves a figure white wonderful and angelically fair shone out the central jewel of the stately shrine a shrine whose immense carving pillars grotesque idols bronzen gold ornaments jeweled lamps and dazzling embroideries only served as a sort of neutral tinted background to intensify with a more lustrous charm the statuesque loveliness revealed olicea unvourgian priestess of the sun and negai how gloriously art thou arrayed in sin o singular sweetness whose end must needs be destruction was ever woman fairer than thou o love love lost in the dead long ago and drowned in the uttermost darkness of things evil wilt thou drag my soul with thee again into everlasting night thus theus inwardly raved without a real comprehension of his own thoughts but only stricken anew by a feverish passion of mingled love and hatred as he stared on the witching sorceress whose marvellous beauty was such wonder and torture to his eyes what mattered it to him that king laureate

Starting point is 14:11:32 and people had all prostrated themselves before her in reverent humility he knew her nature he had fathomed her inborn wickedness and though his senses were attracted by her his spirit loathingly repelled her he therefore remained seated stiffly upright watching her with a sort of passive and movable intentness as she now appeared before him her loveliness was absolutely and ideally perfect she looked the embodiment of all grace the model of all chastity she stood quite still her hands folded on her breast her head slightly lifted her dark eyes upturned her unbound black hair streamed over her shoulders in loose glossy waves and above her brows her diadem of serpent's heads sparkled like a coronal of flame her robe was white made of some silky shining stuff that glistened with soft pearly hues it was gathered about her waist by a twisted golden girdle her arms were bare decked as before with the small jeweled snakes that coiled upward from wrist's shoulder and her waisted shoulder and when after a brief pause she unfolded her hands and raised them with a slow majestic movement above her head the great symbolic eye flared from her bosom like a darting cole seeming to turn sinister glances on all sides as though on the search for some suspected foe fortunately no one appeared to notice the oases deliver non-observance of the homage due to her no one except lycia herself she met the open defiant scorn and reluctant admiration of his glance and a cold smile dawn on her features a smile more dreadful in its very sweetness than any frown then turning away her beautiful fathomless slumbrous eyes and still keeping her arms raised she lifted up her voice of voice mellow as a golden flute that pierced the silence with a straight air of pure sound enchanted give glory to the sun o ye people for his light that illumine your darkness and the murmur of that mighty crowd surged back in answer we give him glory here came a brief clash of raisin bells and when the clamor ceased lycia continued give glory

Starting point is 14:13:30 to the moon o ye people for she is the servant of the sun and the ruler of the house of sleep again the people responded we give her glory and again the bells jangled tempestuously give glory to naga o ye people for he alone can turn aside the wrath of the immortals we give him glory rejoined the multitude and we give him glory seemed to be shouted high among the arches of the temple with a strange sound as of the mocking laughter of devils this preliminary over there came out of unseen doors on both sides of the sanctuary twenty priests in companies of ten each ten advancing from the left ten from the right these were clad in flowing garments of carnation-coloured silk heavily bordered with gold and the leader of the right-hand group was the priest his demeanour was austere and dignified he carried a square cushion covered in black on which lay a long thin cruel-looking knife with a jewelled hilt the chief of the priests who stood on the left bore a very tall and massive staff of polished ebony which ye solemnly presented to the high priestess who grasped it firmly in one slight hand and allowed it to rest steadily on the ground while its uppermost point reached far above her head then followed the strangest weirdest scene that even the pen of poets her brush of painter devised a march round and round the temple of all the priests bearing lighted flambeau and singing in chorus a wild litany a confused medley of supplications to the sun and maga which accompanied as it was by the discordant beating drums and the clanging of bells had an evidently powerful effect on the minds of the assembled populace for presently they also joined in the maddening chant and growing more and more possessed by the contagious fever of fanaticism began to howl and shriek and clap their hands furiously creating a frightful din suggestive of some fiendish clamor in hell theos half-deffin by the horrible uproar as well as roused to an abnormal pitch of restless excitement looked round to see how saluma comported himself he was sitting quite still in a perfectly composed attitude

Starting point is 14:15:30 a faint derisive smile played on his lips his profile as it just then appeared had the firmness and the pure soft outline of a delicately finished cameo his splendid eyes now darkened now lightened with passion as he gazed at lycia who all alone in the centre of the shrine held her ebony staff as perpendicularly erect as though it were a tree rooted fathoms deep in earth keeping herself too as motionless as a figure of frozen snow and the king what of him glancing at that bronze-like brooding countenance theos was startled and at the same time half fascinated by its expression such a mixture of tigorous tenderness servile idolatry in temperate desire and craven fear he had never seen delineated on the face of any human being in the black thirsty eyes there was a look that spoke volumes a look that betrayed what the heart concealed and reading that featured emblazoment of hidden guilt theos knew beyond all doubt that the rumors concerning the high priestess and the king were true that the dead coast rule had spoken rightly the zephronim loved lycia love it seemed to tame a word for the pent-up fury of passion that visibly and violently consumed the man what would be the result when the high priestess is the king's mistress then fall alciris these foolish doggaral lines why did they suggest themselves they meant nothing the question did not concern alcarus at all that the city stander fall as at least who cared so long as saluma escaped injury such at least was the tenor of theos's thoughts as he rapidly began to calculate certain contingencies that now seemed likely to occur if for instance the king were made aware of saluma's intrigue with licea would not his rage and jealousy exceed all bounds and if on the other hand saluma were convinced of the king's passion for the same fatally fair traitress would not his wrath and injure self-love overbear all loyalty and prudence

Starting point is 14:17:22 and between the two powerful rivals who thus by stealth enjoyed her capricious favours what would lice's own decision be like a loud hissing in his ears he heard again the murder's command a command which was half a menace kill saluma faint shudders as of icy coal ran through him he nerved himself to meet some deadly evil though he could not guess what that evil might be he was willing to throw away all the past that haunted him and cut off all hope of a future provided he could only baffle the snares of a pitiless beauty to whom the torture of men was an evident joy and rescue his beloved and gifted friend from her perilous attraction making a strong effort to master the inward conflict of fear and pain that tormented him he turned his attention anew to the gorgeous ceremony that was going on the march of the priests who come to an abrupt end they stood now on each side of the shrine divided in groups of equal numbers tossing their flambo around and above them to the measured ringing of bells at every upward wave of these flaring torches a tongue of fire leaped a loft to instantly break in descent in a sparkling shower of gold the effect of this was wonderful in the extreme as by the dexterous way in which the flames were flung forth it appeared to the spectator's eyes as though a luminous snake were twisting and corning itself to and fro in mid-air all loud music ceased the multitude calmed down by degrees and left off their delirious cries of frenzy or rapture there was nothing heard but a monotonous chanting in undertone of which not a syllable was distinctly intelligible then from out a dark port unperceived in the shadow gloom of a curtained mitch there advanced a procession of young girls fifty in all clad in pure white and closely veiled they carried small cithyrins and arriving in front of the shrine they knelt down in a semicircle and very gently began to strike the short responsive strings the murmur of a lazy rivulet among whispering reeds the sighing suggestions of leaves ready to fall in autumn the low languid trilling of nightingales just learning to sing any or all these might be said to resemble the dull

Starting point is 14:19:23 melody they played while every delicate arpeggio every rippling cord was muffled with a soft pressure of their hands ere the sound had time to become vehement this elf-like harping continued for a short interval during which the priests gathering in a ring round a huge bronze front-shaped vessel hard by dipped their flambeaux there in and suddenly extinguished them at the same moment the lights in the body of the temple were all lowered only the arch spanning the shrine blazed in undiminished brilliancy its green tint appearing more intense in contrast with the surrounding deepening shadow and now with a harsh clanging noise as of a turning of heavy bolts and keys the back of the sanctuary parted asunder in the fashion of a revolving double doorway and a golden grating was disclosed his strong glisting bars welded together like knotted ropes and wrought with marvellous finish and solidity turning toward this semblance of a prison cell licea spoke a laugh her clear tone floating with malefluous slowness above the huff harsh quiverings of the sithering choir come forth o nighai thou who didst slumber in the bosom of space ere ever the world was made come forth o naga thou who didst behold the sun born out of chaos and the earth enriched with ever producing life come forth o nighia friend of the gods and the people and comfort us with the divine silence of thy wisdom supernal while she pronounced these words the golden grating ascended gradually inch by inch with a steady clank as of the upward winding of a chain and when she ceased there came a mysterious rustling slippery sound suggestive of some creeping thing forcing its way through wet entangled grass or over dead leaves one instant more and a huge serpent a species of python some ten feet in length glided through the round aperture made by the lifted bars and writhed itself slowly along the marble pavement straight to where lycia stood once it stopped curving back its glistening body in a strange loop as though in readiness to spring but it soon resumed its course and arrived at the high priestess's feet

Starting point is 14:21:26 there its whole frame trembled and glowed with extraordinary radiance the prevailing color of its skin was creamy white marked with countless rings and scaly bright spots of silver purple and a peculiar livid blue and all these tints came into brilliant prominence as it crouched before lycia and twisted its sinuous neck to and fro with him evidently fawning and supplicatory gesture while she keeping her sombre dark eyes fixedful upon it moved not an inch from her position but majestically serene continued to hold the tall staff of ebony straight and erect as a growing palm the sithern playing had now the soothing softness of a mother's lullaby to a tired child and as the liquid notes quavered delicately on the otherwise deep stillness the formidable reptile began to quarrel itself ascendingly round and around the ebony rod higher and higher one glistening ring after another higher still till its eyes were on a level with the eye of rapon that flamed on lycia's breast there it paused in apparent reflectiveness and seemed to listen to the slumber strains that floated toward it in wind-like breaths of sound then starting afresh on its upward way it carefully and with almost human tenderness avoided touching lycia's hand which now rested on the a staff between two thick twists of its body and finally it reached the top where fully raising its crested head it displayed the prismatic tints of its soft restless wavy throat which was adorned for the more by a flexible circlet of magnificent diamonds nothing more striking or more singular could theos imagine than the scene now before him the beautiful woman still as sculptured marble and the palpitating snake coiled on that mass-like rod and uplifted above her while round the twain knelt the priest their faces covered in their rose and from all parts of the temple the loud shout arose all hail nagaya praise honor and glory be unto thee for ever and ever then it was that the proud king flung himself to earth and kissed the dust in abject submission

Starting point is 14:23:23 then saluma carelessly complacent bent the knee and smiled to himself mockingly as he performed the act of veneration then the enormous multitude with clasped hands and beseeching looks fell down and worshipped the glittering beast of the field whose shining emerald-like curiously said eyes roved hither and thither with a darting yet melancholy eagerness over all the people who called it lord to theos's imagination it looked a creature more sorrowful than fierce a poor charmed brute that while netted in the drowsy woofs of its mistress lycia's magnetic spell seemed as though it dimly wondered why it should thus be raised aloft for the adoration of infatuated humankind its brilliant crest quivered and emitted little arrowy scintillations of lustre the god was ill at ease in the midst of all his splendour and two or three times bent back his gleaming neck as though desirous of descending to the level ground but when these hints of rebellion declared themselves in the tremors running through the scaly twists of his body lycia looked up and at once compelled as it were by involuntary attraction nagaya the divine looked down the strange subtle mesmeric sleepy eyes of the woman met the glittering green mournful eyes of the snake and thus the two beautiful creatures regarded each other steadfastly and within an apparent vague to the deity evidently overcome by a stronger will than his own and resigning himself to the inevitable twisted his radiant head back again to the top of the ebony staff and again surveyed the kneeling crowds of worshippers presently his glistening jaws opened his tongue darted forth vibratingly and he gave vent to a low hissing sound erecting and depressing his crest with extraordinary rapidity so that it flashed like an aigret of rare gems then with slow and solemn step

Starting point is 14:25:09 the priest zeal advanced to the front of the shrine and spreading out his hands in the manner of one pronouncing a benediction said loudly and with emphasis negaya the divine doth hear the prayers of his people negia the supreme doth accept the offered sacrifice bring forth the victim the last words were spoken with stern authoritativeness and scarcely had they been uttered when the great entrance doors of the temple flew open and a procession of children appeared strewing flowers and singing o happy bride we bring thee unto joy and peace do thee are open the palaces of the air the beautiful silent palaces where the bright stars dwell o happy bride of naga how fair a fate is thine pausing they flung rees and garlands among the people and continued o happy bride for thee are past all sorrows and sin thou shalt never no shame or pain or grief or the weariness of tears for thee no husband shall prove false no children prove ungrateful o happy bride of how glad a fate is thine o happy bride when thou art wedded to the beautiful god the god of rest thou shalt forget all trouble and dwell among sweet dreams forever thou art the blessed one chosen for the love and braces of megaya o happy bride how glorious a fate is thine thus they sang in the soft strange vile language of alchiris and tripped along with that innocent unthinking gaiety usual to such young creatures up to the centre aisle toward the sanctuary they were followed by four priests and scrawlid robes and closely masked and walking steadfastly between these came a slim girl clad in white veiled from head to foot and crowned with a wreath of lotus-lilies all the congregation as though moved by an impulse turned to look at her as she passed but her features were not as yet discernible through the mist-like draperies that enfolded her the singing children always preceding her and scattering flowers having arrived at the steps of the shrine grouped themselves on either side and the red-garmented priest after having made several genuflections to the glittering

Starting point is 14:27:06 python that now with reared neck and quivering fangs seemed to watch everything that was going on with absorbed and crafty vigilance proceeded to unveil the maiden martyr and also to tie her slight hands behind her back by means of a knotted silver cord then in a firm voice the priest zeal proclaimed behold the elected bride of the sun and the divine nagaya she bears away from the city the burden of your sins o ye people and by her death the gods are satisfied rejoice greatly for ye are absolved and by the silver veil and the eye of rayphon we pronounce upon all here present the blessing of pardon and peace as he spoke the girl turned round as though in obedience to some mechanical impulse and fully confronted the multitude her pale pure face framed in a shining oriole of rippling fair hair floated before theos's bewildered eyes like a vision seen indistinctly in a magic crystal and he was for a moment uncertain of her identity but quick as a flash saluma's glance lighted upon her and with a cry of horror that scent desolate echoes through and through the arches of the temple he started from his seat his arms outst stretched his whole frame convulsed and quivering nefrata nefrata and his rich voice shook with a passion of appeal o ye gods what mad blind murderous cruelty sephronum and he turned impetuously on the astonished monarch as thou livest king i say this maid is mine and in the very presence of negia i swear she shall not die end of chapter twenty seven chapter twenty eight of our death by marie this librivox recording is in the public domain the sacrifice a solemn silence ensued consternation and wrath were depicted on every countenance the sacred service was interrupted a defrable

Starting point is 14:29:07 had been hurled as it were in the very teeth of the god nighaya and this horrible outrage to religion and law had been actually committed by the laureate of the realm it was preposterous incredible and the gaping crowds reached over each of those shoulders to stare at the offender pressing forward eager wondering startled faces which to theos looked far more spectral than real seen in the shimmering green radiance that was thrown flickering upon them from the luminous arch above the all the priest stood still in speechless indignation liassia moved not at all nor raised her eyes only her lips parted in a very slight cold smile seized with mortal dread theoze gazed helplessly at his reckless beautiful poet friend who with head erect and visage white as a waning moon haughtily confronted his sovereign and audaciously asserted his right to be heard even in the holy place of worship the king was the first to break the breathless stillness his waning his own words came harshly from his throat, and the great muscles in his neck seemed to swell visibly with his hardly controlled anger. Peace, thou art suddenly distraught. Saluma, he said in half-smothered fierce accents, how darest thou uplift thy clamorous tongue,

Starting point is 14:30:23 thus wantonly before Nagaya, and interrupt the progress of his sacred ritual. Check thy mad speech, if ever yonder made were thine, tis certain she is thine no longer, she hath offered herself a voluntary sacrifice, and the gods are pleased to claim. what thou perchance has failed to value for all answer saluma flung himself desperately at the monarch's feet zepheronim he cried again i tell thee she is mine mine as truly mine as luck and make her o she is chaste her than lily buds in her sweet body but in her spirit she is wedded wedded to me saluma whom thou o king hast ever delighted to honor and now must i kneel to thee in vain thou whose victories i have sung whose praises i have chanted in burning words that shall carry thy name forever with triumph down to unborn generations wilt thou become inglorious a warrior stricken strengthless by the mummeries of priestcraft the juggleries of a perishing creed thou art the ruler of alchiris thou and thou only restored to me this innocent virgin life that has scarcely yet begun to bloom speak but the word and she is saved and her timely rescue shall add luster to the record of thy noblest deeds his matchless voice full of passionate pulsations exercised for a moment of resistless influence and magnetic charm the king's lowering browsed relaxed and a gleam of pity passed like light across his countenance instinctively he extended his hand to raise saluma from his humble attitude as though even in his wrath he were conscious of the immense intellectual superiority of a great poet

Starting point is 14:31:55 to ever so great a king and a thrill of involuntary compassion seemed at the same time to run sympathetically through the vast congregation theos drew a quick breath of relief and glanced at nefrata how cold and unconcerned was her demeanor did she not hear saluma's pleading in her behalf no matter she would be saved he thought and all would yet be well and truly it now appeared as if mercy and not cruelty were to be the order of the hour for just then the priest's zeal after having exchanged a few inaudible words with advanced again to the front of the shrine and spoke in distinct tones of forced gentleness and bland forbearance hear me o king princes and people whereas it has unhappily occurred to the wonder and sorrow of many that the holy spouse of the divine megaya is delayed in her desired departure by the unforeseen opposition and unedifying contemacy of saluma poet-lory of this realm and lest it may be perchance imagined by the uninitiated that the maiden is in any way unwilling to fulfil her glorious destiny the high and immaculate priestess of the shrine doth bid me here pronounce a respite a brief interval wherein if the king and the people be willing he who is named saluma shall by virtue of his high renown be permitted to address the virgin victim and ascertain her own wishes from her own lips injustice cannot dwell within this sacred temple and if on trial the maiden chooses the transitory joys of earth in preference to the everlasting joys of the palaces of the sun then in naga's name shall she go free inasmuch as that god loves not a reluctant bride and better no sacrifice at all than one that is grudgingly consummated he seized in saluma sprang erect his eyes sparkling his whole demeanor that of a man unexpectedly disperdened from some crushing grief

Starting point is 14:33:47 thanks be unto the benevolent destiny see exclaimed flashing a quick glance of gratitude toward lycia the statuesque lycia on whose delicately curved lips the faintly derisive smile still lingered and in return for the life of my nefarter i will give a thousand jewels rare beyond all price to deck nagaya's tabernacle and i will pour libations to the sun for twenty days and nights in token of my heart's requital for mercy well bestowed stooping he kissed the king's hand whereupon at a sign from zeal one of the priests attired in scarlet unfastened the fraud's found hands and letter as one leads a blind child straight up to where saluma and theo stood close beside the king who together with many others stared curiously upon her how fixed and feverishly brilliant were her large dark-blue eyes how said were the sensitive lines of her mouth how indifferent she seemed how totally unaware of the laureate's presence the priest who brought her retired into the background and she remained where he left her quite mute and motionless oh how every nerve in theos's body throbbed with inexpressible agony as he beheld her thus the wildest remorse possessed him it was as though he looked on the dim picture of a ruin which he himself had recklessly wrought and he could have groaned aloud in the horrible vagueness of his incomprehensible despair saluma caught the girl's hand and peered into her white still face nefrata nefrata he said in a tremulous half-whisper i am here saluma dost thou not know me she sighed a long shivering sigh and smiled what a strange wistful dying smile it was but she made no answer nefrata continued the laureate passionately pressing the little cold fingers that lay so passively in his grasp look at me i've come to save thee to take thee home again home to thy flower

Starting point is 14:35:39 thy birds thy harp thy pretty chamber with its curtain nook where thy friend zorlin waits and weeps all day for thee o ye gods how weak am i and he fiercely dashed away the drops that glistened on his black silky lashes come with me sweet one he resumed tenderly come why art thou thus silent thou whose voice hath many a time outrival the music of the nightingales hast thou no word for me thy lord come and the oath struggling to repress his own rising tears heard his friend friends accents sink into a still lower more caressing cadence thou shalt never again have cause for grief mind a fraud never we will never part listen am i not he whom thou lovest the poor child's set mouth trembled her beautiful sad eyes gazed at him uncomprehendingly he whom i love is not here she said in tired soft tones i left him but he followed me and now he waits for me yonder and she turned resolutely toward the sanctuary as though compelled to do so by some powerful mesmeric attraction see you not how fair he is and she pointed with her disengaged hand to the formidable python through whose huge coils ran the tremors of impatient and eager breathing how tenderly his eyes behold me those eyes that i have worshipped so patiently so faithfully and yet that never lightened into love for me till now o thou more than beloved how beautiful thou art my adored one my heart'st and a look of pale exaltation lightened her features as she fixed her wistful gaze like a fascinated bird on the shadowy recess whence the serpent had emerged there there thou dost rest on a couch of fadeless roses how softly the moonlight enfolds thee with a radiance as of outspread-wings i hear thy voice charming the silence thou dost call me by my name o once poor name made rich by thy sweet utterance yes

Starting point is 14:37:39 my beloved i'm ready i come i shall die in thy embraces nay i shall not die but sleep and dream a dream of love that shall last for ever and ever no more sorrow no more tears no more heart-sick longings here she stopped in her incoherent speech and strove to release her hand from salumus her blue eyes filling with infinite anxiety and distress i pray thee good stranger she entreated with touching mildness whosoever thou art delay me not but let me go i am but a poor love sorrowful maid on whom love hath at last taken pity be gentle therefore and hinder me not on my way to saluma i have waited for happiness so long so long her young plaintive voice quavered into a half sob and again she endeavoured to break away from the laurious hold but he overcome by the excess of his own grief and agitation seized her other hand and drew her close up to him nefrata nefrata he cried despairing what evil hath befallen thee. Where is thy sight, thy memory? Look, look straight in these eyes of mine, and read there my truth and tenderness. I am Saluma, thine own Saluma, thy poet, thy lover, thy master, thy slave, all that thou wouldst have me be, I am, whither which thou wander in search of me, thou hast no further to go, dear heart,

Starting point is 14:38:59 than these arms. Thou art safe with me, my singing bird, come, let me lead thee hence and home. she watched him while he spoke with a strange expression of distrust and uneasiness then by a violent effort she wrenched her hands from his clasp and stood aloof waving him back with an eloquent gesture of amazed reproach away she said in firm accents of sweet severity thou art a demon that does seek to tempt my soul to ruin thou saluma and she lifted her lily-crowned head with a movement of proud rejection nay thou mayest wear his look his smile thou mayst even borrow the clear heaven lustre of his eyes but i tell thee thou art fiend not angel and they will not follow thee into the tangled ways of sin o thou knowest not the meaning of true love thou there is treachery on thy lips and thy tongue is trained to utter honeyed falsehood methinks thou hast wantonly broken many a faithful heart and made like jest of many a betrayed virgin's sorrow and thou darest to call thyself my poet my soloma in whom there is no guile and who would die a thousand deaths rather than wound the frailess soul that trusted him depart from me thou hypocrite in poets guise thou cruel phantom of my love back to that darkness where thou dost belong and trouble not my peace saluma recoiled from her amazed and stupefied theos clenched his hands together in a sort of physical effort to keep down the storm of emotions working within him for nefrada's words burnt into his brain like fire too well too well he understood their full intensity of meaning she loved the ideal saluma the saluma of her own pure fancies and desires not the real man as he was with all his haughty egotism, vain glory, and vice, vice in which he took more pride than shame,

Starting point is 14:40:43 perhaps, she had never known him in his actual character. She, like other women, of her lofty and ardent type, had no doubt set up the hero of her life as a god in the shrine of her own holy and enthusiastic imagination, and had there endowed him with resplendent virtues which he had never once deemed at worth his while to practice. O the loving hearts of women! How much men have to answer for, when they voluntarily break these clear mirrors of affection wherein they all unworthy have been for a time reflected angel-wise with all the warmth and color of an innocently adoring passion shining about them like the prismatic rays in a vase of polished crystal to nifada soloma remained as a sort of splendid divinity

Starting point is 14:41:25 for whom no devotion was too vast too high or too complete better oh surely far better that she should die in her beautiful self-deception and live to see her elected idol descend to his true level and openly display all the weaknesses of his volatile flippant godless sensual yet alas most fascinating and genius gifted nature a nature which overflowing as it was with potentialities of noble deeds yet lacked sufficient intrinsic faith and force to accomplish them this thought stung theos like a sharp arrow-prick and filled him with a strange indescribable penitence and he stood in dumb misery remorsefully eyeing his friend's consternation disappointment and pained bewilderment without being able to offer him the slightest consolation saluma was indeed the very picture of dismay if he had never suffered in his life before surely he suffered now nefrada the tender the humbly adoring nephrada positively rejected him refused to recognize his actual presence and turned insanely away from him toward some dream ideal salome whom she fancied could only be found in that unexplored country bordered by the cold river of death meanwhile the silence in the temple was intense the priests were like so many wax figures fastened in fixed positions the king leaning slightly forward in his chair had the appearance of a massively moulded image of bronze and to theos's overwrought condition of mind the only actually living things present seemed to be the monster serpent whose scaly foals palpitated visibly in the strong light and the hideous eye of rayphon that blazed on lycia's breast with a menacing stare as of a wrathful ghoul all at once a flash of comprehension lightened the laureate's sternly perplexed face a bitter laugh broke from his lips she has been drugged he cried fiercely pointing to nefrato's white and rigid form poisoned by some deadly potion devised of devils to twist and torture the quivering

Starting point is 14:43:20 centers of the brain a cursed work will none undo it and springing forward nearer the shrine he raised his angry and passionate eyes to the dark and scrutable ones of the high priestess who met his trouble look with serene and irresponsive gravity is there no touch of human pity in things divine no mercy in the icy fate that rules our destinies this child knows naught of what she does she hath been led astray in a moment of excitement and religious exaltation her mind hath lost its balance her thoughts float disconnect on a sea of vague illusions ah are the gods i understand it all now and he suddenly threw himself on his knees his appealing gaze resting not on the snake deity but on the lovely countenance of lycia fair and brilliant as a summer morn with a certain waving light of triumph about it like the reflected radiance of sunbeams she is under the influence of raphawn o withering madness o cureless misery she is ruled by that most horrible secret force unknown as yet to the outer world of men and she is under the influence of raephan o withering madness o cureless misery she is ruled by that most horrible secret force unknown as yet to the outer world of men and she is hears things that are not and sees what has no existence o lycia daughter of the sum i do beseech thee by all the inborn gentleness of womanhood unwind the mystic spell a serious smile of fain sorrowful compassion the beautiful lips of the priestess but she gave no word or sign in answer and the weird jewel on her breast at that moment shot forth a myriad scintillations as of pointed sharp steel some extraordinary power in it or enliacia herself was manifested at work for without violence start saluma rose from his knees unstaggered helplessly backward when hand pressed to his eyes as though to shut out some blinding blaze of lightning he seemed to be vaguely groping his way to his former place beside the king and theeus seeing this quickly caught him by the arm and drew him thither whispering anxiously the waltz saluma saluma what ails thee the laureate turned upon him a bewildered piteous face white with an intensity of speechless anguish nothing he faltered nothing tis over the child must die

Starting point is 14:45:20 then all suddenly the hard-drawn lines of his countenance relaxed great tears gathered in his eyes and fell slowly one by one and moving aside he shrank away as far as possible into the shadow cast by a huge column close by o nefrata nefrata the eus heard him say in a voice broken by despair why do i love thee only now now when thou art lost to me for ever the king looked after him half compassionately half sullenly but presently paid no further heed to his distress theos however kept near him whispering whatever poor suggestions of comfort he could in the extremity of his own grief devise a hopeless task for to all his offered solace saluma made but the one reply oh let me weep let me weep for the untimely death of innocence and now the cithyrn playing which had ceased commenced again accompanied by the mysterious thrilling bass notes of the invisible organ-like instrument whose sound resembled the roll and rush of huge pillows breaking into foam as the rich and solemn strains swept grandly through the spacious temple nefrada stretched out her hands toward the high priestess a smile of wonderful beauty lighting up her fair child face take me o ye immortal god she cried her voice ringing in clear tune above all the other music take me and bear me away-and-and-bear me away-and-and-and-bear me away-and, on your strong swift wings to the everlasting palaces of air wherein all sorrows have end and patient love beats have last its long-delayed reward take me for lo i am ready to depart my soul is wounded and weary of its prison it struggles to be free o destiny i thank thee for thy mercy i praise thee for the glory thou dost here unveil before mine eyes pardon my sins accept my life sanctify my love

Starting point is 14:47:02 a murmur of relief and rejoicing ran rippling through the listening crowds a weight seemed lifted from their minds the victim was willing to die after all the sacrifice would be proceeded with there was a slight pause during which the priests crossed and recrossed the sanctuary many times one of them descending the steps to tie nefrada's hands behind her back as before in the immediate interest of the moment saluma and his hot interference seemed to be almost forgotten a few people in decast injured and indignant looks toward the corner where he dejected leaned and once the wrinkled malicious head of old sebastis peered at him with an expression of incredulous amazement but otherwise no sympathy was manifested by any one for the popular laureate's suffering and discomfiture he was the nation's puppet it's tame bird whose business was to sing when bidden but he was not expected to have any voice in matters of religion or policy and still less was he supposed to intrude any of his own personal griefs on the public notice let him sing and sing well that was enough but let him dare to be afflicted and annoy others with his wants and troubles why then he at once became uninteresting he might even die for all anybody cared this was the unspoken sullen thought that theos sensitive to the core on his friend's behalf instinctively felt to be smoldering in the heart of the mighty multitude and he resented the half implied latent ungratefulness of the people with all his soul fools he muttered under his breath for you and such as you the wisest sages toil in vain on you art waste or treasures of suggestive lovelers in earth ye have no eyes for heaven o ignorant ungenerous fickle hypocrites whose ruling passion is the greed of gold why should great men perish that ye may live and yet your acclamations make up the thing called fame fame good god tis a brief shout in the universal clamor scarce heard and soon forgotten

Starting point is 14:48:53 and filled with strange bitterness he gazed disconsolately at nefrada who stood like one in a trance of ecstasy patiently awaiting her doom her lovely innocent blue eyes gladly upturned to the long jewel-like head of nagaya which twined round the summit of the ebony staff seemed to peer down at her in a sort of drowsy reflectiveness then all suddenly licea spoke how enchanting was the exquisite modulation of that slow languid silvery voice come hither o maiden fair pure and faithful the desire of thy soul is granted before thee are the gates of the unknown world already they open to admit thee through their golden bars gleams the glory of thy future speak what seest thou a moment of breathless silence ensued all present seemed to be straining their ears to catch the victim's answer it came soft and clear isabel i see a wondrous land or canopied with skies of gold and azure white flowers grow in the fragrant fields there are many trees i hear the warbling of many birds i see fair faces that smile upon me and gentle hands that beckon figures that wear glistening robes and carry garlands of roses and myrtle pass slowly singing as they go how beautiful they are how strange how sweet and as she uttered these words in accents of dreamy delight she ascended the first step of the shrine theo's looking held his breath in wonder and fear while saluma with a groan turned himself resolutely away and pressing his forehead against the great column where he stood heed his eyes in his clasped hands the high priestess continued come hither o maiden of chaste and patient life rejoice greatly for thy virtue hath pleased the gods the undiscovered marvels of the stars are thine earth has no more control over thee heaven is thine absolute heritage behold oh the ship of the sun awaits thee speak what seest thou a soft cry of rapture came from the girl's lips oh i see glory everywhere she exclaimed light everywhere peace everywhere oh joy joy the face of my beloved shines upon me he calls

Starting point is 14:50:46 he bids me come to him ah we shall be together last we twain shall be as one never to part never to doubt never to suffer more oh let me hasten to him why should i linger thus when i would fain be gone and she sprang eagerly up the second and third steps of the sanctuary and faced lycia her head thrown back her blue eyes ablaze with excitement her bosom heaving and her delicate features transfigured and illumined by unspeakable inward delirious bliss just then the priestzell lifted the long jewel-hilted knife from the back cushion where it had lain till now and crouching stealthily in the shadow behind lycia held it in both hands pointed straight forward in a level line with nephrodda's breast thus armed he waited silent and unmovable A slight shudder of morbid expectancy seemed to quiver through the vast congregation, but Theos's nerves were strung up to such a high-pitch of frenzied horror that he could neither speak nor sigh, motionless as a statue he could only watch with freezing blood, each detail of the extraordinary scene. Once more the high priest has spoke, come hither, oh, happy maiden, whose griefs are ended, the day of thy triumph and reward has dawned, for thee the immortals unveil the mysteries of being,

Starting point is 14:51:55 to thee they openly declare all secrets, to thee the hidden things of wisdom, manifest for the last time ere thou leavest us hear and answer speak what seest thou love replied nephrod in a tone of thrilling and solemn tenderness love the eternal all in which dark things are made light love that is never served in vain love wherein lost happiness is rediscovered and perfected o divine love by whom the passion of my heart is sanctified absorb me in the quenchless glory of thine immortality draw me to thyself and let me find in thee my soul's completion her voice sank to a slow prayerful emphasis her look was as of a rapt angel waiting for wings licea's gaze dwelt upon her with slow dilating wonder and contempt such a devout and earnest supplication was evidently not commonly heard from the lips of naga's victims at that instant to naga himself seemed curiously excited and disturbed his great glittering coils quivered so violently as to shake the rod in which he was twined and when his priestess raised her mesmeric reproving eyes toward him he bent back his head rebelliously and sent a vehement hissed through the silence like the noise made by the rural of a scimitar suddenly and with deafening abruptness a clap of thunder short and sharp as a quick volley of musketry crashed overhead accompanied by a strange circular sweep of lightning that blazed through the windows of the temple illumining it from end to end with a brilliant blue glare the superstitious crowd exchanged startled looks of terror the king moved uneasily and glanced frowningly about him it was plainly manifest that no one had forgotten the disastrous downfall of the obelis and there seemed to be a contagion of alarm in the very air but lycia was perfectly self-dissed in fact she appeared to accept the threat of a storm as an imposing and by no means undesirable adjunct to the mysteries of the sacrificial rite for riveting her bascalist's eyes on nefrata she said in firm clear decisive

Starting point is 14:53:49 accents the gods grow impatient wherefore o princes and people of alcyas let us hasten to appease their anger depart o stainless maid depart hence and betake thee to the golden throne of the sun our lord and ruler and in the name of maga may the shedding of thy virginal from us and ours the wrath of the immortals linger no longer maga accepts thee and the hour strikes death with the last word of sullen bell boomed heavily through and through the temple and at once like our frenzied bird or butterfly winging its way into scorching flame nephroar rushed forth with swift unhesitating dreadful precision straight on the knife outheld by the untrembling ruthless hands of the priest's zeal one second and theos sick with horror saw her speeding thus the next and the whole place was enveloped in dense darkness end of chapter twenty eight chapter twenty nine of our death by marie carelli this lebravox recording is in the public domain chapter twenty nine the cup of wrath and trembling a flash of time an instant of black horrid eclipse too brief for the utterance of even a word or cry and then with an appalling roar as of a splitting of huge rocks and the tearing ascender of mighty mountains the murky gloom was lifted, ramped, devoured, and swept away on all sides by a sudden bursting forth of fire. Fire leaped up alive in twenty different parts of the building, bringing aloft in spiral coils from the marble pavement, that yawned crashingly open to give the impetuous flames their rapid egress.

Starting point is 14:55:33 Fire climbed lively round and round the immense carbon columns, and ran nimbly dancing and crackling its way among the panes, painted and big gemmed decorations of the dome fire enrapped the side altars and shriveled the jewelled idols at a breath fire unfastened and shook down the swinging lamps the garlands the splendid draperies of silk and cloth of gold fire fire everywhere and the madly affrighted multitude stunned by the abrupt shock of terror stood for a moment paralyzed and inert then with one desperate yell of wild rude fear and ferocity they rushed headlong in a struggling shrieking cursing, sweltering swan toward the great closed portals of the central aisle. As they did so, a tremendous weight of thunder seemed to descend solidly on the roof with a thudding burst, as though a thousand walls had been battered down at one blow. The whole edifice rocked and trembled in the terrific reverberation, and almost simultaneously the doors were violently jerked open, wrenched from their hinges,

Starting point is 14:56:36 and hurled, all burning and split with flame against the forward fighting crowd, several hundred fell under the fiery mass a charred heap of corpses the raging remainder pressed on in frenzied haste climbing over piles of burning dead trampling on scorched disfigured faces that perhaps but a moment since had been dear to them each and all bent on forcing a way out up to the open air in the midst of the overwhelming awfulness of the scene the oaths still retained sufficient presence of mind to remember that whatever happened his first care must be for saluma always for saloma no matter who else perished and he now held that beloved comrade closely clasped by the arm while he eagerly glanced about him on every side for some outlet through which to make a good and swift escape the most immediate place of safety seemed to be the inner sanctuary of nagaya it was untouched by the flames and its titanic pillars of brass and bronze suggested in their very mass of nis a nearly impregnable harbor of refuge the king had fled thither and now stood like a statue of undaunted gloomy amazement beside licea, who on her part appeared literally frozen with terror. Her large, startled eyes, roving here and there in helpless anxiety alone gave any animation to the deathly ridge of whiteness of her face, and she still mechanically

Starting point is 14:57:57 supported the sacred ebony staff without apparently being aware of the fact that the snake deity convulsed through all his quarrels with fright had begun to make there from his rapid descent. the priests the virgins the poor unhappy little singing children flocked hurriedly together and darted to the back of the great shrine in the manifest intention of reaching some private way of egress known only to themselves but their attempts were evidently frustrated for no sooner had they gone than they sped back again their faces scorched and blackened and uttering cries and woeful lamentations they flung themselves wildly among the struggling crowds in the main body of the temple and fought for life and the jaws of death every one for self and no one for another volumes of smoke rolled up from the ground in thick and suffocating clouds the company by incessant sharp reports like the close firing of guns jets of flame and showers of cinders broke for a fountain-light scattering hot destruction on every hand while a few flying sparks caught the end of the silver veil and withered it into nothingness with one bright resolute flare half maddened by the shrieks and dying groans that resounded everywhere about him and yet all the time feeling as though he were some spectator set apart and condemned to watch the progress of the ghastly phantasmagoria in hell theos was just revolving in his mind whether it would or would not be possible to make a determined climb for escape through one of the tall painted windows some of which were not yet reached by the fire when with a sudden passionate exclamation saluma broke from his hold and rushed to the sanctuary

Starting point is 14:59:35 quick as lightning theos followed him followed him close as he sprang up the steps and confronted licea with eager outstretched arms the dead nefrada lay near him there as a sculptured saint with the cruel wound of sacrifice in her breast but he seemed not to see that piteous corpse of faithfulness his grief for her death had been a mere transient emotion his stronger earthly passions reasserted their tempestuous sway and for sweet things perished and gone to heaven he had no further care unlasia and on lacia's living beauty alone his eyes flamed their ardent glory come come he cried come my love my life let me save thee or if i cannot save thee let us die together scarcely had the words left his lips when the king with a swift forward movement like the pounce of some desert panther turned fiercely upon him amazement jealousy distressed revenge all gathering stormily in the black crown of his bent vindictive brows his great chest heaved pantingly his teeth plaited whittured wolfishly through his jetty beard and in the terrible nerve tension of the moment the fury of the spreading conflagration was forgotten at any rate by theos who stricken them and rigid by a shock of alarm too poignant for expression stared aghast at the three figures before him saluma licea zephronim especially zephronim whose bursting wrath threatened to choke his utterance what sayest thou saluma he demanded in a sort of ferocious gasping whisper repeat their words repeat them and his hand clutched at his dagger hill while his restless lowing glance flashed from lycia to the loyreate and from the laureate back to lycia again death encompasses us this is no time for trifling speak and his voice suddenly rose to a frantic shout of rage speak what is this woman to thee everything returned saluma with prompt compassionate fearlessness his glorious eyes blazing a proud defiance as he spoke everything that woman can be or ever shall be unto man call her by whatsoever name a fool

Starting point is 15:01:35 greeting joins virgin daughter of the son or high priestess of nighaya she is nevertheless mine and mine only i am her lover thou and with a hoarse cry zephyrana sprang upon and seized him by the throat thou liest i i i crowned king of alcurus i am her lover chosen by her out of all men and dost thou dare to pretend that she hath preferred thee a mere singer of mad songs to me thou unscrupulous name i tell thee she is mine dost hear me mine mine mine mine mine and he shrieked the last word out in a perfect hurricane of passion my queen my mistress heart of my heart of my heart of my heart soul of my soul let the city burn to ashes and the whole land be utterly consumed in death as in life licea's mind and the gods themselves shall never part her from me and suddenly releasing his grasp behurl selim away as he might have hurled aside a toy figure and a peal of reckless musical laughter echoed mockingly through the vaulted shrine it was lycea's laughter and theos's blood grew cold as he heard heard its cruel silvery ring even so had she laughed when nijalus died saluma reeled backward from the king's thrust but did not fall white and trembling with his said and splendid features frozen as it were into a sculptured mask of agonized beauty he turned upon the treacherous woman he loved the silent challenge of his eloquent eyes oh that look of piteous pain and wonder a whole lifetime's wasted opportunities seemed concentrated in its unspeakable reproach she met it with a sort of triumphant tranquil indifference an uncontrollable wicked smile curved the corners of her red lips the sacred eponistaph had somehow slipped from her hands and it now lay on the ground the half uncoiled serpent still clinging to it in glittering lengths that appeared to be quite motionless al licea hast thou played me false cried the unhappy loit at last as with a quick compulsive movement he caught her round jewelled arm in a resolute grip after all thy vows thy endearments thy embraces hast thou betrayed me speak truly art thou not all in all to me hast thou not given thyself body and soul into my keeping to this braggard king i deign no answer one word of thine will suffice be brave be faithful declare thy love for me even as thou hast oft declared it a thousand remembered times

Starting point is 15:03:52 over the face of the beautiful priest has swept a strange expression of mingled fear antagonism loathing and exultation her eyes wandered to the red-tongued leaping flames that tossed and edding rings round the temple running every second nearer to the place where she stood and in that one glance she seemed to recognize the hopelessness of rescue and certainty of death a careless haughty acceptance of a fate manifested itself in the pallid resolve of her drawn features but as she allowed her gaze to return and dwell on saluma the old malicious mirth lasting gave lustre to her loveliness and she laughed again a laugh of uttermost bitter scorn declare my love for thee she said in thrilling accents thou boaster let the gods who have kindled this fiery end for us bear witness to my hatred i hate thee i even thee and she pointed at him jeeringly as he recalled from her in wide-eyed anguish and amazement no man have i ever loved but thee have i hated most of all all men have i despised for their folly greed and vain glory i have fought them with their own weapons of adverse cunning cruelty and falsehood but thou hast been even beneath my contempt twas scarcely worth my while to fool thee thou wert so easily fooled it was idle sport to rouse thy passions they were so easily roused poet and perjurer singer and sophist thou to whom the genius of poisey was as a pearl set in a swine snout thou wert not worthy to be my dupe seeing that thou camest to me already in bonds the dupe of thine own self nephata love thee and thou didst play with and torture her more and most fully than wild beasts play with and torture their prey but thou couldst never trifle with me o thou who hast taken so much pride in the breaking of many women's hearts who learn that thou hast never stirred one throb of passion in mine

Starting point is 15:05:38 that i have loath thy beauty while caressing thee and long to slay thee while embracing thee and that even now i would i saw thee dead before me ere i myself am forced to die pausing in the swift horn of her words her white breast heaved violently with the rise and fall of her panting breath her dark brilliant eyes dilated while the symbolic jewel she wore and the crown of serpent's heads and her screaming hair seemed to glitter about her like so many points of lightning at that instant one side of the sanctuary split as thunder giving way to a bursting leaf of flame seeing this she uttered a piercing cry and stretched out her arms his aphronom saved me in his sect the king sprang toward her but not before salimile wild with wrath had interposed himself between them back he exclaimed passionately addressing the infuriated monarch while i live licea as mine let her hate and deny me as she will and sooner than see her in thine arms o king i will slay her where she stands his bold attitude was magnificent his countenance more than beautiful in its love betrayed despair and for a moment the savage ephronum paused to resolute his scowling brows bent on his earth-while favorite minstrel with an expression that hovered curiously between bitterest enmity and reluctant reverence there seemed to be a struggling consciousness in his mind of the immortality of a poet as compared to the abanescent power of a king and also a quick realization of the truth that let his anger be what it would they claim were partakers in the same evil and were mutually deceived by the same false woman but ere his saving sense of justice could prevail a ripple of discordant delirious laughter broke once more from lasse's lips her eyes shone vindictively her whole face became animated with a sudden glove of fiendish triumph zephronim she cried hero warrior king thou who hast risked thy crown and throne and life for my sake in the love of me wilt lose me now wilt let me perish in these raging flames to satisfy this wanton liar and unbelie

Starting point is 15:07:32 and unbeliever in the gods to whose disturbance of the holy ritual we surely owe this present fiery disaster save me o strong and noble zephronim save me and with me save the city and the people kill saluma oh barbarous inexorable words they rang like a desolating yell in the ears of the bewildered fear-stricken theos and startled him from his frigid trance of speechless misery uttering an inarticulate doll groan he made a violent effort to rush forward to serve as a living shield of defense to his adored friend to ward off the imminent blow too late too late zephronim's dagger glittered in the air and rapidly descended one gasping cry and saluma lay prone beautiful as the slain adonis the rich man red blood pouring from his heart and a faint stern smile frozen on the proud lips whose dulcet singing speech was now struck down for ever with a shriek of agony theos threw himself beside his murdered comrade edas of king priest's flames and all the out-breaking fury of earth and heaven he bent above that motionless form and gazed yearningly into the fair colorless face saluma saluma no sign no tremulous stir of breath dead dead dead dead in his prime of years dead in the zenith of his glory all the delicate dreaming genius turned to dust and ashes all the ardent light of inspiration quenched in the never-lifting darkness of the grave and in the first delirious paroxysm of his grief the ewes felt as though lifetime in the world were ended for him also with this one suddenly destroyed existence o thou mad king he cried fiercely thou hast slain the chief wonder of thy realm and reign die now when thou wilt thou shalt only be remembered as the murderer of saluma saluma whose name shall live when thine is covered in shameful oblivion zeperunum frowned and threw the blood-stained dagger from him peace clamors fully said saluma hath gone but a moment before me

Starting point is 15:09:21 as poet he hath received precedence even in death when the last hour comes for all of us it matters not how we die and whether i am hereafter remembered or forgotten i care not i have lived as a man should live fearing nothing and conquered by none except perchance by love that have brought many things there now to untimely ruin here is moody eyes lighted on lycia how many lovers hast thou had fair soul he demanded in a stern yet tremulous voice a thousand i would swear this dead minstrel of mine was one for though i slew him at thy bidding i saw the truth in his dying eyes no matter we shall meet in hades and there we shall have ample time to urge our rival claims upon thy favor ah and he suddenly laid his two strong hands on her white uncovered shoulders and gazed at her reproachfully as she shrank a little beneath his close scrutiny thou divine traitress have i not challenged the very heavens for thy sake and lo the prophecy is fulfilled and now ceres must fall how many men would have loved thee as i have loved none not even this dead saluma slain like a dog to give thee pleasure come let me kiss thee once again ere death makes cold our lips false or true thou art nevertheless fair and the wrathful gods know best how i worship thy fairness enfolding his arms about her he kissed her passionately she clunged in like a lye serpentine thing her eyes ablaze her mouth quivering and with sequest hysterical laughter pointing to saluma's body she said in a strange excited whisper nay hast thou slain him in very true sephronum slain him utterly for i have heard that poets cannot die they live when the whole world deems them dead they rise from their shut graves and reinvest the earth with all the secrets of past time oh my brain reels i talk me of madness there is no afterwards of death no no no goss no anything but blankness forgetfulness and silence for us and for all men how good it is how excellently devised a jest that the whole wide universe should be but a cheat of time

Starting point is 15:11:15 a bubble blown into space to float break and perish all for the idle sport of some unknown and shapeless devil mystery shuddering half laughing half leaping she clasped her hands round the monarch's throat and hid her wild eyes in his breast while he unnerved by her distraction in his own inward torture glared about him on all sides for some glimmering chance of rescue but could see none the flames were now attacking the shrine on every side like a besieging army their leaping darts of blue and crimson gleaming here and there with indescribable velocity and still theos knelt by saluma's corpse in dry-eyed despair endeavoring with feverish zeal to stanch the oozing blood with a strip torn from his own garments enlist anxiously for that bleabless heart-bubble a smaller pulsation of smouldering life in the senseless stiffening clay all at once a hideous scream assailed his ears another and yet another rang above the crackling roar of the gradually a conquering fire and half lifting saluma's body in his arms he looked up a horror horror his nerves contracted his blood seemed to turn to ice in his veins his head swam giddily and he thought the moment of his own death had come for surely no man could behold the sight he saw and yet continued to live on licea the captor was made captive at last bound helpless imprisoned and hopelessly doomed naga had claimed his own the huge snake terrified beyond all control at the bursting breadth of fire in virening the shrine had turned in its brute fear to the mistress it had four years been accustomed to obey and had now with one stealthy noisled spring twisted its uppermost coil close about her waist where its restless head alarmed eyes and darting fangs all glistened together like a blazing cluster of gems the more she struggled to release herself from its deathful embrace but tied her its body contracted and the more madden with fright it became shriek upon shriek broke from her lips and pierced the suffocating air while with all his great muscular force sephronum the king strove in desperate agony to tear her from the awful clutch of the monster he had but lately melt to as divine in vain in vain

Starting point is 15:13:17 the strongest efforts were useless the cruel beautiful pitiless priestess of megaya was condemned to suffer the same frightful death she had so often mercilessly decreed for others closer and closer grew the fearful python's constricting class near and nearer swept the dancing battalion of destroying flames for one fleeting breath of time theo stared aghast at the horrid scene than making a superhuman effort he raised saluma's corpse entirely from the ground and staggered with his burden away away from the burning shrine the funeral pyre as it vaguely seemed to him of a wasted love and a dead passion whither should he go down into the blazing area of the fast-perishing temple surely no safety could be fine there where the fire was raging at its utmost height yet he went on mechanically as though urged forward by some force superior to his own, always clinging to the idea that his friend still lived, and that if he could only reach some place of temporary shelter, he might yet be able to restore him. It was possible the wound was not fatal, far more possible to his mind than that so gloriously feigned a poet should be dead. So he dimly thought while he stumbled busily along, his forehead wet with clammy dews, his limbs trembling under

Starting point is 15:14:25 the weighty boar, his eyes half-winded by the hot flying sparks and drifting smoke, and his soul shaken and appalled by the ghastly sights that met his view wheresoever he turned crushed in writhing bodies of men women and children half living half dead heaps of corpses vast blazing to ashes broken and falling columns yawning gaps in the ground from which were cast forth bodies of red cinders and streams of lava all these multitudinous horrors surrounded him as with uncertain faltering steps he moved on like a sick man walking and sleep hearing his precious burden he knew nothing of where he was bound he saw no outlet anywhere, no corner wherein the fire fiend had not set up devouring dominion, but nevertheless he steadily continued his difficult progress, clasping Saluma's corpse with a strange tenacity, and concentrating all his attention on protecting it from the withling touch of the ravenous flames, all at once as he strove to force his way over a fallen altar from which the hideous presiding stone idol had toppled headlong, killing in its descent some twenty or thirty people whose

Starting point is 15:15:26 bodies lay crashed beneath it, a phase horribly disfigured and tortured into a mere burnt sketch of its former likeness twisted itself up and peered at him the face of zabbosities the critic is protruding eyes clistened with something of their old malign expression as he perceived whose helpless form it was that was being carried by what is the famous saluma gone he gasped his words half choking him in their utterance as he stretched out a skinny hand and caught at the yos's garments could you stay stay why burden thyself with a corpse when thou mightest rescue a living man save me save me i was the poet's abose critty and who but i should write his eulogy now that he is no more pity pity most courteous gentle sir save me if only for the sake of saluma's future honor thou knowest not how warmly how generously how nobly i can praise the dead the ears gazed down upon him in unspeakable melancholy scorn was it only through time-serving creatures such as this miserable zebosius that the after glory of perished poets was proclaimed to the world what then was the actual worth of fame shuddering he wrenched himself away and passed on silently heedless of the savage curses the despairing scribe yelled after him as he went and he involuntarily pressed the dead corpse of his beloved friend closer to his heart as though he thought he could reanimated by this mute expression of tenderness meanwhile the fire raged continuously the temple was fast becoming a pillared mass of flames and presently choked in giddy with the sulphurous vapours he stopped abruptly struggling for breath his time had come at last he thought he with solemn must die just then a loud muttering and rolling a thunder swept in eddying vibrations round him followed by a sharp spitting noise raising his aching eyes he saw straight before him a yawning gloomy archway like the solemn portal of a funeral vault

Starting point is 15:17:15 dark yet with a white glimmer of steps leading outward and a dim sparkle as of stars in heaven a rush of new vigor inspired him at this sight and he resumed his way stumbling over countless corpses strewn among fallen blocks of marble and every now and then looking back an awful fascination to the fiery furnace of the body of the temple where of all the vast numbers that had lately crowded it from into end there were only a hundred or so remaining alive and these were fast perishing in frightful agony the shrine of megaya was enveloped in thick black smoke crossed here and there by flashes aflain the bare outline of its titanic architecture was scarcely discernible yet the thought of the dreadful end of lycia the loveliest woman he had ever seen moved him now to no emotion whatever save gladness some deadly evil seemed burnt out of his life moreover her command had slain saluma enough no fate however horrible could be more so than she in her wanton wickedness deserved but alas her beauty he dared not think of its subtle slumberous charm and stung to a new sense of desperation he plunged recklessly toward the dusky aperture he had seen which appeared to enlarge itself mysteriously as he approached like the opening gateway of some magic suddenly a faint groan at his feet startled him and looking down hastily he perceived an unfortunate man lying half crushed under the ponderous fragment of a split column which had fallen across his body in such manner that any attempt to extricate him would have been worse than useless by the bright light of the leaping flames the oars had no difficulty in recognizing the pallid countenance of his late acquaintance the learned professor of positivism mirah cabour who was evidently very near his woeful and most positive end struck by an impulsive compassion he paused yet what could he say in such a case her rescue was impossible all comfort seemed mockery and while he stood silent and irresolute he fancied the professor smiled it was a very ghastly smile nevertheless it hid in it a curious touch of bland and scrupulous inquiry

Starting point is 15:19:15 is not this a very remarkable occurrence asked the voice so feeble and far away that it was difficult to believe it came from the lips of the suffering sage of course it arises from a volcanic eruption and the mystery of the red river is solved ere an irrepressible moan of anguish broke through his heroic effort at equanimity it is not a phenomenon and a gleam of obstinate self-restortion lit up his poor glazing eyes nothing is phenomenal only i am not able to explain i have no time no time to analyze my very singular sensations a rush of blood choked his utterance his throat rattled he was dead and a dreary speculative smile rose on his mouth and the likeness of a solemn sneer at that moment a terrific swirling surging noise like the furious boiling of an underground whirlpool rumbled heavily through the air and low with a sudden swift shock that sent the oaths reeling forward and almost falling under the burdensome weight he carried the earth open disclosing a huge bit of black nothingness an enormous chasm into which with an appalling clamor as of a hundred incessant peals of thunder the whole main area of the temple together with its mass of dead and dying human beings sank in less than five seconds the ground closing instantaneously over its prey with a sullen roar as though it were some gigantic beast devouring food too long denied and instead of the vanished fame arose a mighty pillar of fire a vast increasing volume of scarlet and gold flame that spread outward and upward higher and higher in tapering lines and dome-like curves of living life while the feels being hurled along resistlessly by the force of the convulsion had reached though he knew not how the dark and quiet cell-like portal with its out-leading steps the only visible last hope and chance of safety and he now leaned against its cold stone arch trembling in every limb clasping the dead saluma close and looking back in affright at awe at the tossing vortex of fury from which he had miraculously escaped

Starting point is 15:21:12 and as he looked a host of spectral faces seemed to rise lightly out of the flames and wonder of him faces that were solemn wistful warning and besieging by tones they drifted through the fire and smiled and wept and vanished to reappear again and yet again and as with painfully beating heart he strove to combat the terror that seized him at this strange spectacular delusion all suddenly the heavy breeze of smoke that had till now hung over the inner shrine of nagaya parted like drapery drawn aside from a picture and for a brief breathing space of direst agony he saw licea once more licea in a torturous horrible as any ever depicted in a bigot's idea of his enemy's hell round and round her writhing form the sacred serpent was twined in all his many poils and with both hands she grasped the creature's throat in her frenzy striving to thrust back his quivering fangs from her breast whereon the evil eye of rayfon still gleamed distinctly with its adamantime chilly stare at her feet laid the body of the king her lover dead and wrapped in the ring of flames alone all all alone she confronted death in its most appalling shape her countenance was distorted yet beautiful still with the beauty of a madame medusa white and glittering as a fair ghost invoked from some deadly gulf of pain she stood a phantom figure of mingled loveliness and horror circled on every side by fire with while straining eyes theos gazed upon her thus for the last time for with a crash that seemed to rend the very heavens the great bronze columns surrounding her which had up to the present resisted the repeated onslaughts of the flames then together all at once and fell in a melting ruin and the victorious fire roared loudly above them enveloping the whole shrine anew in dense clouds of smoke and jets of flame licea had perished all that proud loveliness that dazzling supremacy that superb voluptuousness that triumphant dominion swept away into a heap of undiscoverable ashes a zephronum's haughty spirit too had fled fled stained blue

Starting point is 15:23:08 guilt and most unroyal dishonour all for the sake of one woman's fairness the fairness of body only the brilliant mask of flesh that too often hides the hideousness of a devil's nature one moment the fears remained stupefied by the sheer horror of that catastrophe then recalling his bewildered wits to his aid he peered anxiously through the archway where he rested there seemed to be a dim red glow at the end of the downward leading steps as well as a dusky azure tint like a patch of midnight sky the temple was now nothing but a hissing, shrieking pyramid of flames. The hot and blinding glare was almost too intense for his eyes to endure, yet so fascinated was he by this a blind terror and grandeur of the spectacle that he could scarcely make up his mind to turn away from it. The thought of Saluma, however, gave the needful spur to his flagging energies, and without pausing to consider where he might be going,

Starting point is 15:23:59 he slowly and hesitatingly descended the steps before him, and presently reached a sort of small open court paved with black bobble, he heary tenderly laid his burden down a burden grown weightier with each moment of its bearing and letting his aching arms dropped listlessly at his sides he looked up dreamily not all at once comprehending the cause of the vast lurid light they crimson the air like a wide aurora borealis everywhere about him then as the truth suddenly flashed on his mind he uttered a loud irrepressible cry of amazement in all far as his gaze could see east west north-south the whole city of alcy was in flames, and the burning temple of Nagaya was but a mere spark in the enormous breadth of the general conflagration. Palace, domes, towers, and fires were tottering to red destruction. Fire, fire, everywhere, nothing but fire, save when a furious gust of scorching wind, blew aside the masses of sundry smoke and show glimpses of sky,

Starting point is 15:24:57 and the changeless shining of a few cold, quiet stars. He cast one desperate glance from earth to heaven. How was it possible to escape from this kindling furnace? of utter annihilation where all were manifestly doomed how could he expect to be saved and moreover if solima was indeed dead what remained for him but to die also calming the frenzy of his thoughts by a strong effort he began to begly wonder why and how it happened at the place where he now was this small and insignificant court had so far escaped the fire and was as cool and sombre as a sacred tomb set apart for some hero or poet poet poet the word acted as a stimulant to his tie struggling brain and he all at once remembered what saluma had said to him at their first meeting there is but one poet in alciris and i am he oh true true only one poet only one glory of the great city that now served him as funeral pyre only one name worth remembering in all its perishing history the name of saluma saluma the beautiful the gifted the famous the beloved he was dead this thought in its absorbing painfulness straightway drove out all others and theos who had carried his comrades corpse bravely and untrinkingly through a fiery vortex of imminent peril now sank on his knees all desolate and unnerved his hot tears dropping fast on that fair still white face that he knew would never flush to the warmth of life again

Starting point is 15:26:20 saluma saluma he whispered my friend my more than brother would i could have died for thee would thou couldst have lived to fulfil the nobler promise of thy genius better for thou hadst been spared to the world than i for i am nothing but thou wert everything and taking the clay-cold hands in his own he kissed them reverently and with an unconscious memory not born of his recent adventures folded them on the dead loy's breast in the fashion of a cross as he did this an icy spasm seemed to contract his heart seized by a sudden insufferable anxiety he stared like one spellbound into saluma's wide open fixed and glassy eyes dead eyes yet how full of mysterious significance what what was their weird secret their imminent meaning why did their dark and frozen depths appear to retain a strange living undergream of melting sorrowful beseeching sweetness like the eyes of one who prays to be remembered though changed after long absence what hot and terrible delirium was this that snatched at his whirling brain as he bent closer and closer over the marble quiet countenance and studied with a sort of fierce intentness every line of those delicate classic features on which high thought had left so marked an impress of dignity and power what a marvellous half-reproachful half-appealing smile lingered on the finely curved set lips how wonderful how beautiful how beloved beyond all words was this fair dead god of poisey on whom he gazed with such a passion of yearning stooping more and more he threw his arms round the senseless form and partly lifting it from the ground brought the wax pallid face nearer to his own so near that the cold mouth almost touched his then filled with an awful unnameable misgiving he scanned his murdered comrades parishish beauty in puzzled vague bewilderment much as an ignorant dullard might perplexedly scan the incomprehensible characters of some hieroglyphic scroll and as he looked a sharp pang shot through him like a whizzing ball of fire a convulsion of mental agony should beaul

Starting point is 15:28:19 agony shook his limbs he could have shrieked aloud in the extremity of his torture but the struggling cry died gasping in his throat stiller stone he kept his strange steadfast gaze fixed on saluma's corpse slowly absorbing the full horror of a tremendous suggestion that like a scorching lava flood swept into every subtle channel of his brain for the dead salumus eyes grew into the semblance of his own eyes the dead salumus face smiled spectrally backed at him in the image of his own face it was as though he beheld the picture of himself slain and reflected in a magician's mirror round him the very heavens seemed given up to fire but he heeded it not the world might be at an end and that day of judgment proclaim nothing would have stirred him from where he knelt in that dreadful stillness of mystic martyrdom drinking in that gradual glimmering consciousness of a terrific truth the amazing yet scarcely graspable solution of a supernatural enigma an enigma through which like a man lost in the depths of a dark forest he had wandered up and down seeking light yet finding none oh god he dumbly prayed thou with whom all things are possible give eyes to this blind trouble of my heart i am but as a grain of dust before thee a poor perishable atom devoid of simplest comprehension do thou of thy supernal pity teach me what i must know as he thought out this unuttered petition a tense cord seemed to snap suddenly in his brain a rush of tears came to his relief and through their salt and bitter haze the face of saluma appeared to melt into a thin and spiritual brightness a mere aerial outline of what it had once been the glazed dark eyes seemed to flash flitting lightning into his the whole lost personality of the dead poets seemed to environ him with a mysterious potent and corporeal influence an influence that he felt he must now or never repel reject and utterly resist with a shuddering cry he tore his reluctant arms away from the beloved corpse with trembling tender fingers he closed and pressed down the white eyelids of those love expressive eyes and kissed the broad poetic brow

Starting point is 15:30:18 whatever thou wert or art to me saluma he murmured in sobbing haste thou knowest that i loved thee though now i leave thee farewell and his voice broke in its strong agony oh how much easier to divide body from soul than part myself from thee saluma beloved saluma god give thee rest god pardon thy sins and mine and he pressed his lips once more on the folded rigid hands as he did so he inadvertently touched the writing tablet that hung from the dead lawyer's girdle the red glow of the fire around him and abhorred and abhorred and he pressed his lips once more on the folded rigid hands as he did so he inadvertently touched the writing tablet that hung from the dead lawyer's girdle the red glow of the fire around him enabled him to see distinctly what was written on it there were about twenty lines of verse and exquisitely clear and fine calligraphy and as he read he knew them well they were the last lines of the poem he dared trust his own strength no longer one wild adoring lingering parting look at his dead rival in song whom he had loved better than himself and then full of a nameless fear he fled fled fled recklessly and with swift mad fury as though demons followed in pursuit led through the burning city as a lost and frenzied spirit might speed through the desert of hell everywhere about him resounded the crackling hiss of the flames and the crash of falling buildings mighty pinnacles and lofty domes melted and vanished before his eyes in a blaze of brilliant destruction on on he went meeting confused scattered crowds of people whose rushing white-garmented figures looked like ghosts flying before a storm the cries and shrieks of women and children and the groans of men were mingled with the restless roaring of lions and other wild beasts burnt out of their dens in the royal arena the distant circle of which could be dimly seen surrounded by fountain-like jets of fire some of these maddened animals ran against him as he sped along the blazing thoroughfares but he made no attempt to avoid them nor was he sensible of any other terror than that and that which was within himself and was purely mental on on still on he went a desperate lonely man lost in a hideous nightmare of flame and fury seeing nothing but one vast flying route of molten red and gold speaking to none utterly reckless as to his own fate only impelled on and on but whither he knew not nor cared to know

Starting point is 15:32:17 all at once strength gave way his nerves seemed to break asunder like so many overwound harp-strings a sudden silvery clanging of bells rang in his ears and with them came a sound of multitude and soft small voices kirriet a leicons kirier a leisant hush what was that what did it mean halting abruptly he gave a while glanced round him up to the sky where the flaring flames spread entangled lengths and webs of light then strayed before him to the city of alcyrus now a wondrous vision of redly luminous columns and cupolas with the wet gleam of the river enfolding its blazing streets and towers and while he yet beheld it lo it was seated from his view further further further away till it seemed nothing but the toppling and smolding of heavy clouds after the conflagration of the sunset hark hark again chriere a leisant with a sense of reeling rapture and awe he listened he understood he found the name he had so long forgotten christ had mercy upon me he cried and in that one urgent supplication he uttered all the pent-up anguish of his soul blind and dizzy with the fevered whirl of his own emotions he stumbled forward and fell heavily over a block of stone stunned by the shock he lost consciousness but only for a moment a dull aching in his temples roused him and making a faint effort to rise he turned slowly and languidly on his arm and with a long deep shuddering sigh awoke he was on the field of ardath dawn had just broken the east was one wide shimmering stretch of warm gold and over it lay strips of blue and gray like fragments of torn battle banners about heaven sparkled the morning star white and glaring as a silver lamp among the delicate spreading tints of sath-on and green and beside him her clear pure features flushed by the rosy atolliate splendor of the sky her hands clasped on her breast and her sweet eyes full of an infinite tenderness and yearning knelt edress edress his flower-crowned angel whom last he had seen drifting upward and away like a dove through the glory of the cross in heaven

Starting point is 15:34:13 end of chapter twenty nine chapter thirty of arda by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain sunrise entranced in amazed ecstasy he lay quite quiet afraid to speak or stir this gentle presence this fair beseeching face might vanish if he moved so he dimly fancied as he gazed up at her in mute one and worship his devout eyes drinking in her saintly loveliness from the deep burnished gold of her hair to the soft white slimness of her prayerfully folded hands and while he looked old thoughts like home returning birds began to hover round his soul sweet and dear remembrances like the sunset lighting up the windows of an empty house began to shine on the before semi-darkened nooks and crannies of his brain clearer and clearer grew the reflecting mirror of his consciousness trouble and perplexity seemed passing away forever from his mind a great and solemn peace environed him and he began to believe he had crossed the boundary of death and had entered at last into the kingdom of heaven oh let him not break this holy silence let him rest so with all the glory of that angel visage shed like summer sunbeams over him let him absorb into his innermost being the exquisite tenderness of those innocent hopeful watchful starry eyes whose radiance seemed to steal into the golden morning and give it a sacred poetry an infinite marvel of meaning so he mused gravely contented while all through the brightening skies overhead came the pale pink flushing of the dawn like a far fluttering and scattering of rose leaves everything was so still that he could hear his own heart beating forth healthful and regular pulsations but he was scarcely conscious of his own existence he was only aware of the vast beautiful halcy and calm that encircled him shelteringly and soothed all care away

Starting point is 15:36:29 gradually however this deep and delicious tranquillity began to yield to a sweeping rush of memory and comprehension he knew who he was and where he was though he did not as yet feel absolutely certain of life and life's so-called realities for if the city of alcyrus with all its vivid wonders its distinct experience as its brilliant pageantry had been indeed a dream then sorely it was possible he might be dreaming still nevertheless he was able to gather up the fragments of lost recollection consecutively enough to realize by gentle degrees his actual identity and position in the world he was theos a man of the nineteenth century after christ ah thank god for that after christ not one who had lived five thousand years before christ's birth and this quiet patient maiden at his side who was she a vision or an actually existent being unable to resist the craving desire of his heart he spoke her name as he now remembered it spoke it in a faint awed whisper edras theos my beloved o sweden thrilling voice more music than the singing of birds in a sun-filled spring. He raised himself a little and looked at her more intently. She smiled in that smile so marvelous in its pensive peace

Starting point is 15:37:50 and lofty devotion was as though all the light of an unguessed paradise had suddenly flashed upon his soul. Edrus, he said again, crumbling in the excess of mingled hope and fear, hast thou then returned again from heaven to lift me out of darkness? Tell me, fair angel, do I wake or sleep? Are my senses deceived? Is this land a dream? Am I myself a dream?

Starting point is 15:38:15 And thou the only manifest sweet truth in a world of drifting shadows. Speak to me, gentle saint. In what vast mystery have I been in golf? In what timeless trance of soul bewilderment? In what blind uncertainty and pain? O sweet, resolve my wordless wonder? Where have I strayed? What have I seen? I let not my rough speech fright thee back to paradise.

Starting point is 15:38:38 Stay with me. comfort me. I've lost thee so long, let me not lose thee now. Smiling still, she bent over him, and pressed her warm, delicate fingers lightly on his brow and lips. Then softly she rose and stood erect. Fear nothing, my beloved, she answered, her silvery accent, sending a throb of holy triumph through the air. Let no trouble disquiet the inner shadow of misgiving dim the brightness of thy waking moments. Thou hast slept one night on the field of our death in the valley of vision, but lo the night is past, and she pointed toward the eastern horizon now breaking into waves of rosy gold, rising, behold, the dawning of the

Starting point is 15:39:20 new day, roused by her touch and fired by her tone, and the grand unworldly dignity of her look and bearing, he sprang up, but as he met the full, pure splendor of her divine eyes, and saw wavering round her hair, a shining orio of amber radiance like a wreath of wreath of what, and sunbeams, his spirit quailed within him. He remembered all his doubts of her, his disbelief, and falling at her feet he hid his face in a shame that was better than all glory, a humiliation that was sweeter than all pride. Edress, immortal Edress, he passionately prayed, as thou art a crown saint in heaven, shed light on the chaos of my soul, from the depths of a penitence past thought and speech, I plead with thee,

Starting point is 15:40:05 Hear me, my address, thou who art so maiden me, so tender, patient, hear me, help me, guide me, I am all thine. Say, didst thou not summon me to meet thee here upon this wondrous field of Ardath? Did I not come hither according to thy words, and have I not seen things that I am not able to express or understand? Teach me, wise and beloved one, I doubt no more, I know myself and thee, thou art an angel, but I, alas, what am I? and in thy sight and in gods a mere nothing comprehending nothing, unable even to realize the extent of my own nothingness. Edrus, O Edrus, thou canst not love me. Thou mayst pity me, perchance, and pardon, and bless me gently in Christ's dear name, but love thy love. Oh, let me not aspire to such heights of joy, where I have no place, no right, no worthiness. No worthiness,

Starting point is 15:41:00 echoed Edrus. What a rapture trembled through her sweet caressing voice. my theos who is so worthy to win back what is thine own as thou all heaven has wondered at thy voluntary exile thy place in god's suprenal sphere has long been vacant thy right to dwell there none have questioned thy throne is empty thy crown unclaimed thou art an angel even as i but thou art in bonds while i am free ah how sad and strange it is to me to see thee here thus fettered to the sorrowful star when countless aeon since thou mightest have enjoyed full liberty in the eternal light of the everlasting paradise elicent a strong sweet hope began to kindle in him like flame but he made no answer only he caught and kissed the edge of her garment its soft gray cloudy texture brushed his lips with the odorous coolness of a furled rose-lea she seemed to tremble at his action but he dared not look up presently felt the pulsing pressure of her hands upon his head and a rush of strange warm vigor thrilled through his veins like an electric flash of new and never-ending life thou would seek after and know the truth she said truth celestial truth unchangeable truth that permeates and underlies all the mystic inward workings of the universe workings and secret laws and guess by man vast as eternity is this truth ungraspable in all its manifestly in all its manifest by the merely mortal intelligence. Nevertheless, thy spirit being chastened to noble humility

Starting point is 15:42:41 and repentance hath risen to new heights of comprehension, whence thou canst spartly penetrate into the wonders of worlds unseen. Did I not tell thee to learn from the perils of the past, the perils of the future, and understandest, thou not the lesson of the vision of Alcarus, thou hast seen the dream reflection of thy former poet fame and glory in old time thou wert saluma an agony of shame possessed him as he heard his soul at once seized the solution of the mystery his quick and thought plunged plummet-like straight through the depths of the bewildering phantasmagoria in which mere reason had been of no practical avail and straightway sounded its whole seemingly complex but actually simple meaning. He was Saluma, or rather he had been, Saluma in some far stretch of long, receded time, and in his dream of a single night he had loved the brilliant phantom of his former self more than his own present identity. Not less remarkable was the fact that in this

Starting point is 15:43:48 strange sleep mirage he had imagined himself to be perfectly unselfish, whereas all the while he had honored flattered and admired the more appearance of himself more than anything or everything in the world i even his occasional reluctant reproaches to himself in the ghostly impersonation of saluma had been far more tender than severe o deep and bitter ingloriousness o speechless degradation of all the higher capabilities of man to love one's own ephemeral shadow existence so utterly as to exclude from thought and sympathy all other things whether human or divine and was it not possible that this spectre of self might still be clinging to him was it dead with the dream of saluma or had saluma never truly died at all and was the fine fire spun at all an essence that had formed the spirit of the laureate of alcyrus yet part of the living substance of his present nature he a world unrecognized english poet of the nineteenth century did all saluma's light follies idle passions and careless gruelties remain inherent in him had he the same pride of intellect the same vain glory the same indifference to god and man oh no no he shuddered at the thought and his head sank lower and lower beneath the benediction touch of her whose tenderness revived his noblest energies and lit anew in his heart the pure bright fire of heaven encompassing aspiration thou wert saluma went on the mildly earnest voice and all the wide ungrudging fame given to earth's great poets in ancient days was thine thy name was on all men's mouths thou wert honoured by him

Starting point is 15:45:42 kings thou wert the chief glory of a great people great though misled by their own false opinions and the city of alciris of which thou wert the enshrined jewel was mightier far than any now built upon the earth christ did not come to thee save by dim types and vague prefigurements which only praying prophets could discern but god had spoken to thy soul in quiet moments and thou wouldst neither hear him nor believe in him i had called thee but thou wouldst not listen thou didst foolishly prefer to hearken to the clamorous tempting of thine own beguiling human passions and word altogether death to an angel's whisper things of the earth earthly gained dominion over thee by them thou wert led astray deceived and at last forsaken the genius god gave thee thou didst misuse and intently waste by briefed life came as thou hast seen to sudden piteous end, and the proud city of that dwelling was destroyed by fire. Not a trace of it was left to mark the spot where once it stood, the foundations of Babylon were laid above it, and no man guessed that it had ever been. And thy poems, the fruit of thy heaven, sent but carelessly accepted inspiration.

Starting point is 15:47:03 Who is there that remembers them? No one, say thou, thou hast to recover them like sunken pearls from the profound ocean of limitless memory, and to the world of today thou dost repeat the self-same music to which Alciras listened entranced so many thousands of generations ago. A deep sigh that was half a groan, broke from his lips. He could not take the measurement of his own utter littleness and incompetency. He could create nothing new, everything he had written, as he fancied only just lately had been written by himself before.

Starting point is 15:47:39 problem of the poem Nurhalma was explained he had designed it when he had played his part on the stage of life as Saluma and perhaps not even then for the first time. In this pride crushing knowledge there was only one consolation, namely that if his dream was a true reflection of his past and exact in details as he felt it must be, then Norhalma had not been given to Alcarus. It had been composed but not made public. Hence so far, it was new to the world, though not new to himself. Yet he had considered it wondrously new, a perfectly original idea. Ah, who dares to boast of any idea as humanly original, seeing that all ideas whatsoever must be referred back to God and admitted as his and his only. What is the wisest man that ever lived but a small, pale,

Starting point is 15:48:34 ill-reflecting mirror of the eternal thought that controls and dominates all things. He remembered with conscience-stricken confusion, what pleasure he had felt, what placid satisfaction, what unqualified admiration when listening to his own works recited by the ghost's presentment of his former self, pleasure that had certainly exceeded whatever pain he had suffered by the then-enigmatical and perplexing nature of the incident. Oh, what a foolish Adam! He now seemed viewed by the standard of his newly aroused higher consciousness, how poor a passable slave to the glittering, beckoning phantasm

Starting point is 15:49:13 of his own perishable fame. Thus on the field of our death he drained the cup of humility to the dregs, the cup which like that offered to the prophet of holy writ was full, as it were, with water, but the color of it was like fire, the water of tears, the fire of faith, and with that prophet he might have said when i had drunk of it my heart uttered understanding and wisdom grew in my breast for my spirit strengthened my memory meanwhile edris still keeping her gentle hands on his bent head went on in such wise didst thou my beloved as the famous saluma mournfully perish and the nations remembered thee no more but thy spiritual indestructible essence lived on and wandered dismayed and forlorn through a myriad forms of existence in the depths of perpetual darkness which must be even as the everlasting light is

Starting point is 15:50:09 thy immortal but perverted will bore thee always further from god further from him and so far from me that thou wert at times beyond even and angels kin ages upon ages rolled away the centuries between earth and earth's proposed redemption passed and though in heaven these measured spaces of time that appear so great to men are as a mere world's month of summer still to me for once god's golden days seem long i had lost thee thou wert my soul of a soul my keen my immortality's completion and though thou wert alas a fallen brightness yet i held fast to my one hope the hope in thy diviner nature which though sorely overcome was not and could not be wholly destroyed i knew the fate in store for thee i knew that thou with other erring spirits were bound to live again on earth when christ had built his holy way therefrom to heaven and never did i cease for it thy dearest sake to wait and watch and pray at last i found thee but ah how i trembled for thy destiny to thee had been delivered as to all the children of men the final message of salvation the message of love and pardon which made all the angels wonder but thou didst utterly reject it and with the same wilful arrogance of that former self saluma thou wert blindly and desperately turning anew into darkness O my beloved, that darkness might have been eternal and crowded with memories dating from the very beginning of life.

Starting point is 15:51:42 Nay, let me not speak of that supronal agony since Christ hath died to quench its terrors, enough by happy chance, through my desire, thine own roused better will and the strength of one who hath many friends in heaven. Thy spirit was released to temporary liberty, and in thy vision at Daryel, which was no vision but of truth,

Starting point is 15:52:04 I bade thee meet me here, and why, solely to test thy power of obedience to a divine impulse unexplainable by human reason, and I rejoice as only angels can rejoice when of thine own free will thou didst keep the trist I made with thee, yet thou knewest me not, or rather thou wouldst not know me till I left thee, tis ever the way of mortals to doubt their angels in disguise. her sweet accents shook with a liquid thrill suggestive of tears but he was silent it seemed to him that he would be well content to hold his place for ever if forever he might hear her thus melodiously speak on had she not called him her other soul her king her immortality's completion and on those wondrous words of hers his spirit hung impassioned dazzled and entranced beyond all time and space and nature and experience after a brief pause during which his ravaged mind floated among the thousand images and vague feelings of a whole past and future merged in one splendid and celestial present she resumed always softly and with the same exquisite tenderness of tone i left thee dearest but a moment and in that moment he who hath himself shared in human sorrows and sympathies he who is the embodiment of the essence of god's love came to my aid plunging thy senses in deep sleep and deep sleep and

Starting point is 15:53:30 as hath been done before to many a saint and prophet of old time here on this very field of our death. He summoned up before thee the phantoms of a portion of thy past, phantoms which to thee seem far more real than the living presence of thy faithful address. Alas, my beloved, thou art not the only one on the sorrowful star who accepts a dreamful reality and rejects reality as a dream. She paused again and again continued. Nevertheless, in some degree, thy vision of Alcyrus was true, Inasmuch as thou wert shown therein as in a mirror,

Starting point is 15:54:06 One phase, one only of that former existence upon earth, The final episode was chosen, As by the end of a man's days alone, shall he be judged, As much as thy dreaming sight was able to see, As much as thy brain was able to bear appeared before thee, But that thou slumbering wert yet a conscious personality among phantoms, and that these phantoms spoke to thee, charmed thee, bewilder thee, tempted thee, and swayed thee. This was the divine master's work upon thine own retrospective thought and

Starting point is 15:54:39 memory. He gave the shadows of thy bygone life, seeming color, sense, motion, and speech. He blotted out from thy remembrance, his own most holy name, and shutting up the present from thy gaze. He sent thy spirit back into the past. There thou perplexed and sorrowful, painfully, re-weave the last fragments of that former history, and not till thou hast abandoned the shadow of thyself, didst thou escape from the fear of destruction? Then, when apparently all alone, and utterly forsaken, a cloud of angels circled round thee, then at that first repentant cried for help, he who has never left an earnest prayer unanswered, bade me descend hither to waken and comfort thee.

Starting point is 15:55:25 O never was his bidding more joyously obeyed. Now I have plainly shown thee the interpretation of thy dream, and dost thou not comprehend the intention of the highest and manifesting it unto thee? Remember the words of God's prophet of old? Behold the field thou thought of sparen. How great a glory hath the moon unveiled. And I beheld and was sore amaze, for I was no longer myself but another. And the sort of death was in that other's soul.

Starting point is 15:55:55 And yet that other was but myself in pain, and I knew not the things which were at once familiar, and my heart failed within me for very fear. She spoke the quaint and mystic lines, with a grave, pure, rhythmic utterance that was like the far-off singing of sweet psalmity, and when she ceased the stillness that followed seemed quivering with the rich vibrations of her voice,

Starting point is 15:56:21 the very air was surely rendered softer and more delicate, by such soul-moving sound but the us who had listened dumbly until now began to feel a sudden sorrowful aching at his heart a sense of coming desolation a consciousness that she would soon depart again and leave him and with a mingled reverence and passion he ventured to draw one of the fair hands that rested on his brows down into his own clasp he met with no resistance and half happy half agonized he pressed his lips upon its soft and dazzling whiteness while the longing of his soul broke forth in words of fervid irrepressible appeal edress ye implored if thou dost love me give me my death ere now at thy feet where i kneel of what avail is it for me to struggle in this dark and difficult world oh deprive me of this fluctuating breath called life and let me live indeed i understand i know all thou hast said i've learned my own sins as in a glass darkly i've lived on earth before and as it seems made no good use of life and now now i have found thee then why must i lose thee thou who cameest to me so sweetly at the first nay i cannot part from thee i will not if thou leavest me i have no strength to follow thee i shall but miss the way through thine abode thou canst not miss the way responded edris softly look up my fears be of good cheer thou poet to whom heaven's greatest gifts of song are now accorded look up and tell me he is not the way made plain slowly and in reverential fear he obeyed

Starting point is 15:57:59 and raised his eyes still holding her by the hand and saw behind her a distinctly marked shadow that seemed flung downward by the reflection of some brilliant light above the shadow of a cross against which her delicate figure stood forth in shining outlines seeing he understood but nevertheless his mind grew more and more disquieted a thousand misgivings crowded upon him he thought of the world he remembered what it was who was living in an age of heresy and wanton unbelief where not only christ's divinity was made blasphemous mock of but where even god's existence was itself called in question and as for angels a sort of shock ran through his nerves as he reflected that though preachers preached concerning the super supernatural beings though the very birth of christ rested on angels testimony though poets wrote of them and painters strove to delineate them on their most famous canvases each and all thus practically demonstrating the secret instinctive intuition of humanity that such celestial forms are yet it was most absolutely certain that not a man in the prosaic nineteenth century would if asked admit to any actual belief in their existence inconsistent yes but are not men more inconsistent than the very beasts of the field their tyranny controls what as a rule do men believe in themselves only themselves they are in their own opinion the be all and the end all of everything as if the supreme creative force called god were incapable of designing any higher form of thinking life than their pigmy bodies which strut on two legs and with two eyes and a small quickly staggered brain professed to understand and weighing the whole foundation and plan of the universe.

Starting point is 15:59:52 Growing swiftly conscious of all that in the progatory of the present awaited him, Theos felt as though the earth chasm that had swallowed up Alcarus in his dream had opened again beforehand affrighting him with its black depth of nothingness and annihilation, and in a sudden agony of self-distrust he gazed yearningly at the fair wistful face above him. The divine beauty that was is, after all, if he only knew how to claim it. Something he knew not what filled him, without fiery restlessness, a passion of protest, an aspiration which for a moment was so strong that it seemed to him he must, with one fierce effort, wrench himself free from the tremors of mortality and straightway take upon him

Starting point is 16:00:34 the majesty of mortal nature, and so bear his angel love company whither so ever she went, never had the feathers of flesh wade upon him with such heaviness, but in spite of his feverish longing to escape some authoritative yet gentle force held in prisoner. God, he muttered, why am I thus bound? Why can't I not be free? Because thy time for freedom has not come, said Eddras, quickly answering his thought, because thou hast work to do that is not yet done. Thy poet labors have, up till now, been merely repetition,

Starting point is 16:01:08 the repetition of thy former self. Go, the tired world, waits for a new gospel of poetry. a new song that shall rouse it from its apathy and bring it closer unto god and all things high and fair write for the nations wait for a trumpet voice of truth the great poets are dead their spirits are in heaven and there is none to replace them on the sorrowful star save thou not for fame do thy work nor for wealth but for love and the glory of god for love of humanity for love of the beautiful the pure the holy that the race of men here one more faithful apostle of the divine unseen ere earth is lost in the whittling light of a larger creation go perform thy long-neglected mission that mission of all poets worthy the name to raise the world thou shalt not lack strength nor fervor so long as thou dost write for the benefit of others serve god and live serve self and die such is the eternal law of spheres invisible the less thou seest of self the more thou seest of heaven thrust self away and lo god invest thee with his presence go forth into the world a king uncrowned a master's song and fear not that i edris will forsake thee i who have loved thee since the birth of time he met her beautiful luminous inspired eyes with a sad interrogativeness in his own what a hard fate was meted out to him to teach the world that scoffed at teaching to rouse the gold-thirsting mass of men to a new sense of things divine o

Starting point is 16:02:41 vain task, oh dreary impossibility, enough, surely, to guide his own will aright, without making any attempt to guide the wills of others. Her mandate seemed to him almost cruel. It was like driving him into a howling wilderness, when with one touch, one kiss, she might transport him into paradise, if she were in the world, if she were always with him, how then how different, how easy life would be. Again he thought of those strange and trancey words of hers. my other soul, my king, my immortality's completion, and a sudden wild idea,

Starting point is 16:03:17 took fifth possession of his brain. Edress he cried, if I may not yet come to thee, then come thou to me. Well thou with me, or by the force of my love which God knoweth, let me draw thee. Thou fair light into my heart's gloom, hear me while I swear my faith to thee as at some holy shrine, as I live with all my soul I do except by Master Christ as mine utmost good and His cross as my proudest glory but yet bethink thee address to think thee of this world its willful sin is sworn of God and all the evil that like a spreading thunder-cloud darkens it day by day O wilt thou leave me desolate and alone fight as I will I shall often sink under blows

Starting point is 16:04:03 Conquer as I may I shall suffer the solitude of conquest unless thou are with me. O speak, is there no deeper divine intention in the marvelous destiny that has brought us together? Thou pure spirit, and I, weak mortal, has loved the primal move of all things, no hold upon thee. If I am, as thou sayest thy beloved,

Starting point is 16:04:24 loved by thee so long, even while forgetful of and unworthy of thy love, cannot not now, now when I am all thine, persuade thee to compassionate the rest of my brief life on earth, thou art in woman's shape here on this field of our death and yet thou art not woman oh could my love constrain thee in god's name to wear the mask of mortal body for my sake would not our union even now make the sorrowful star seem fair love love come to mine aid and teach me how to shut the wings of this sweet bird of paradise in mine own breast god spare her to me for one of thy sweet moments which are our mortal years christ who became a mere child for pity of us let me learn from thee the mystic spell that makes thine angel mine carried away by his own forceful emotion he hardly knew what he said but an unspeakable dizzy joy flooded his soul as he caught the look she gave him a while sweet amazed half tender half agonized wholly human look suggestive of the most marvellous possibilities one effort and she released her hand from his

Starting point is 16:05:35 and moved a little apart her eyes kindling with celestial sympathy in which there was the very faintest touch of self-surrender self-surrender what from an angel to a mortal ah no it could not be yet he felt filled all at once with a terrible sense of power that at the same time was mingled with the deepest humility and fear but at the same time was mingled with the deepest humility and fear Hush, she said, and her lovely low voice was tremulous. Hush, thou dost speak as if we were already in God's world. I love thee, Theos, and truly because thou art present here, I love the sad earth also. But dost thou think, to what thou wit so eagerly persuade me, to live a mortal life, to die, to pass through the darkest phase of world existence known in all the teeming spheres? Nay! And a look of pathetic soul came over her face.

Starting point is 16:06:20 How could I, even for thee, my theos? forsake my home in heaven her last words were half questioning half hesitating her manner was as of one in doubt and theos kneeling still surveyed her in worshipping silence then he suddenly remembered what the monk and mystic liubis had said to him at dario on the morning after his trance of sole liberty if as i conjecture you have seen one of the fair inhabitants of higher spheres than ours you would not drag her spiritual and death unconscious brightness down to the level of the reality of a mere human life. Nay, if you would, you could not. And now, strange to say, he felt that he could but would not, and he was overcome with remorse and penitence for the egotistical nature of his own appeal.

Starting point is 16:07:08 My love, my life, he said brokenly, forgive me, forgive my selfish prayer, self-spoke, not I, yet I had thought self-deed and buried forever. A faint sigh escaped him. Believe me, sweet, I would not have thee lose one hour. heaven's ecstasies, I would not have thee saddened by earth's willful miseries, no, not even for that lightning moment, which numbers up man's mortal days, speed back to angel land my address. I will love thee till I die, and leave thee afterward to Christ.

Starting point is 16:07:40 Be glad thou fares, dearest one, unfurl thy rainbow wings and fly from me, and wander, singing through the groves of heaven, making all heaven musical, perchance, in the silence of the night I may catch the echo of thy voice and fancy thou art near, and trust me, Edris, trust me, for my faith will not falter, my hope shall not waver, and though in the world I may I must have tribulation, yet will I believe in him who hath by simple love overcome the world. He ceased, a great quiet seemed to fall upon him, the quiet of a deep and passive resignation. Edress drew nearer to him, timidly as a shy bird, yet with a wild.

Starting point is 16:08:19 wonderful smile quivering on her lips and in the clear depths of her starry eyes. Very gently she placed her arms about his neck and looked down at him with divinely compassionate tenderness. Thou beloved one, she said, thou whose spirit was formerly equal to mine, and to all angels, in God's sight, though through pride it fell, learn that thou art nearer to me now than thou thou hast been for a myriad ages between us are renewed the strong sweet ties that shall never more be broken unless, and her voice faltered, unless thou of thine own free will, break them again, in spite of all my prayers, for because thou art immortal, even as I, though thou art pent up in mortality, even so must thy will remain immortally unfettered, and what thou dost firmly

Starting point is 16:09:06 elect to do, God will not prevent. The dream of thy past was a lesson, not a command. thou art free to forget or remember it as thou wilt while on earth, since it is only after death that memory is ineascible, and with its companion remorse constitutes hell. Obey God or disobey him, he will not force thee either way. Constrained love hath no value, only this is the universal law. The whosoever disobeys is disobedience recoils on his own head as of necessity it must, whereas obedience is the work king, in perfect harmony with all nature and of equal necessity brings its own reward cling to the cross for one moment the moment called by mortal's life and it shall lift thee straightway into highest heaven there will i wait for thee and there thou shalt make me thine own for ever he sighed and gazed her wistfully alas my address not till then he murmured she bent over him and kissed his forehead a caress as brief and light as the passing thudder of a bird's word wing. Not till then, she whispered, unless the longing of that love compels. He started.

Starting point is 16:10:19 What did she mean? His eyes flashed eager inquiry into her so soft and brilliantly clear, with the light of an eternal peace dwelling in their liquid mysterious loveliness, and meeting his questioning look, the angelic smile brightened more gloriously round her lips, but there was now something altogether unearthly in her beauty, a wondrous inward luminousness, began to transfigure. her face and form. He saw her garments whitened to a sparkling radiance as of sunbeams on snow. The halo round her bright hair deepened into, flame-like glory, her stature grew loftier and became, as it were, endowed with supreme and splendid majesty. In the exquisite fairness of her countenance, waxed, warmly transparent, with the delicate hue of a white rose, through which

Starting point is 16:11:04 the pink color faintly flushes, soft suggestions of rudder light, is gazed wilt upon her in unspeakable wandering adoration mingled with a sense of irrepressible sorrow and heaviness of heart he felt she was about to leave him and was did not a pardon of soul from soul just then the sun stepped loyly forth from between the red and gold curtains of the east and in that blaze of earth's life radiance her figure became resplendently invested with vivid rays of rosy lustre that far surpassed the amber shining of the orb of day awe dazzled with candidly overcome he yet strove to keep his draining of eyes steadily upon her, conscious that her smile still blessed him. With its tenderness, he made a wild effort to drag himself nearer to her, to touch once more the glittering edge of her robe, to detain her one little, little moment longer. Oh, how wistfully, how fondly she looked upon him. Almost it seemed as if she might, after all, consent to stay. He stretched out his arms with a pathetic gesture of love, fear, and soul-passionate supplication.

Starting point is 16:12:04 Edress! Edress! He cried half despairingly, for by the strength of thine angelhood, have pity on the weakness of my manhood. Surely she heard or seemed to hear, and yet she gave no answer, no sign, no promise, no gesture of farewell, only a look of divine, compassionating, perfect love, a look so pure, so penetrating, so true, so rapturous, that flesh and blood could bear the glory of her transfigured presence no longer,

Starting point is 16:12:30 and blind with the burning effulgence of her beauty, he shut his eyes and covered his face. He knew now, if he had never known it before, what was meant by an angel, standing in the sun. Footnote, Revelation chapter 1917. Moreover, he also knew that what humanity calls miracles are possible and do happen, and that instead of being violations of the law of nature, as we understand it, they are but confirmations of that law in its deeper depths. Depths which control by its spiritual force alone have not as yet been sounded by the most searching scientists

Starting point is 16:13:04 and what is material for us but the visible manifestation of the spiritual behind it. He who accepts the material and denies the spiritual is in the untenable position of one who admits in effect and denies a cause. And if both spiritual and material be accepted, then how can we reasonably dare to set a limit to the manifestations of either the one or the other? When he at last looked up, address had vanished. He was alone, alone on the field of our death, the field that was barren in very true. Now she, his angel, had been drawn, away as it seemed into the sunlight absorbed like a paradise pearl into those rays of life-giving gold that lived in one the reddening earth and heaven slowly and dizzily he rose to his feet and gazed about him and vague bewilderedment he had passed one night on the field one night only and he felt as though he had lived through years of experience now the vision was ended edward the reality had fled and the world was before him the world with all the unsatisfying things egrudgingly offers the world in which alcyrus have been a city magnificent and a city magnificent and the world with all the unsatisfying things he grudgingly offers the world in which how curious have been a city magnificent and a city magnificent and

Starting point is 16:14:04 those centuries gone, and in which he too had played his part before, and had won fame to be forgotten as soon as dead. Fame how he had longed and thirsted for it, and what a foolish, undesirable distinction it seemed to him now. Steeding his thoughts by a few moments of calm reflection, he remembered what he had in charge to do, to redeem his paths, to use and expend whatever force was in him for the good, the help, the consolment, and the love of others, not to benefit himself. This was his task, and the very comprehension.

Starting point is 16:14:34 of it gave him a rush of vigor and bural energy that at once lifted the cloud of love loneliness from his soul my edress he whispered thou shalt have no cause to weep for me in heaven again with god's help i will win back my lost heresy as he spoke the words his eyes caught a glimpse of something white on the turf where but a moment since his angel of had stood he stooped toward it it was one half-open bud of the wonderful ardath flowers that had covered the field in such singular profusion on the previous night when she first appeared one only might he not gather it he hesitated then very gently and reverently broke it off and tenderly buoyed to his lips what a beautiful blossom it was its fragrance was unlike that of any other flower its whiteness was more pure and saw than that of the rarest edelweiss on alpine snows and its partially disclosed golden-centred had an almost luminous brightness as he held it in his hand all sorts of vague delicious thoughts came sweeping across his brain

Starting point is 16:15:34 thoughts that seem to set themselves to music wild and strange and new and suggestive of the sweetest noblest influences a thrill of expectation stirred in him as of great and good things to be done grand changes to be wrought in the complex web of human destiny brought about by the quickening and development of a pure unselfish spiritual force the might with saving benefit flow into the perplexed and weary intelligence of man and jeered invigorated and conscious of a circling widened ever-present supreme power that with all surrounding love was ever on the side of work done for love's sake he gently shut the flower within his breast resolving to carry it with him wheresoever he went as a token and proof of the signs and wonders of the prophet's field and now he prepared to quit the scene of his mystic vision in which he had followed with present pain the brief bright career the useless fame the evil love passion and final fate of his former self and crossing the field with lingering tread he looked back many times to the fallen block of stone where he had sat when he at first perceived god's maiden edress stepping softly through the bloom when should he again meet her alas not till death the beautiful unbeneficent herald of true liberty summoned him to those lofty heights of paradise where she had habitation not till then unless unless and his heart beat with a sudden tumult as he recollected her last words unless the longing of thy love compels could love compel her he wanted to come to him once more while yet he lived on earth perhaps and yet if he indeed had such power of love would it be generous or just exerted no for to draw her down from heaven to earth seemed to him now a sort of sacrilege dear to him was her joy than his own but suppose the possibility of her being actually happy with him in mortal existence suppose that love when absolutely pure unselfishly mutual helpful and steadfast had it in its gift to make even

Starting point is 16:17:30 the sorrowful star, a heaven in miniature, what then? He would not trust himself to think of this, the mere shadowy suggestion of such supreme delight filled him with a strong passion of yearning, to which in his accepted creed of self-abnegation he dared not yield, firmly restraining, resisting, renouncing his own designs. He mentally raised a holy shrine for her in his soul,

Starting point is 16:17:51 a shrine of pure faith, warm, with the eternal aspirations and bright with truth, wherein he hallowed the memory of her beauty with a sense of devout love-like gladness. She was safe, she was content, she blossomed flower-like, in the highest gardens of God, where all things fared well,

Starting point is 16:18:07 enough for him to worship her at a distance, to keep the clear reflection of her loveliness in his mind, and to live so that he might deserve to follow and find her when his work on earth was done. Moreover, heaven to him was no longer a vague, mythical realm, ill-defined by the prosy descriptions of church preachers.

Starting point is 16:18:26 It was an actual world, to which he was linked, in which he had possessions of which he was a native, and for the perpetuation and enlargement of whose splendor all worlds existed, arrived at the boundary of the field the spot marked by the broken, half-buried pillar of red granite, olibus, had mentioned he paused, thinking dreamily of the words of Asdras, who, in answer to his angel visit's inquiry, why art thou disquieted had replied, because thou hast forsaken me, and yet I did according to thy words, and I went into the field, and though I have seen, and yet see that I am not able to express, whereupon the angel had said, stand up manfully,

Starting point is 16:19:06 and I will advise thee. Stand up manfully, yes, this is what he, Theo's Olman, meant to do. He would stand up manfully against the howling, iconoclasm, and atheism of the age. He would be poet henceforth in the true meaning of the word, namely maker. He would make not break the grand ideal hopes and heaven-climbing ambitions of humanity, he would endeavor his utmost best to be that hierarch and pontiff of the world as a modern rugged apostle of truth has nobly said who prometheus like can shape new symbols and bring new fire from heaven to fix them into the deep infinite faculties of man with a brief silent prayer he turned away at last and walked slowly in the lovely silence of the early eastern morning back to the place from whence he had last night wandered the hermages of alzir near the ruins of babylon he soon came inside of it and also perceived alzir himself stooping over a small plight of ground in front of his dwelling apparently gathering herbs when he approached the old man looked up and smiled giving him a silent expressively courteous morning greeting by his manner it was evident that he thought his guest had merely been out for an early stroll

Starting point is 16:20:13 ere the heat of the day set in and yet alcures how real had seemed that dream existence in that dream city the figure of alzir looked scarcely more substantial than the phantom forms of saluma zephronim kosrul r zabastis while i see as exquisite face and seductive form ephrodas pensive beauty and all the local characteristics of the place were stamped on the dreamer's memory as faithfully as scenes flashed by the sun on the place of photography drew the pictures were perhaps now slightly fading into the son of melanchoes but still would not everything that happened in the actual world merge into that same undecided dimness with the lapse of time he thought so and smiled at the thought the transitory nature of earthly things was a subject for joy to him now not regret for the kindly worder to his venerable host he went through the open door of the hermitage and entered the little room he had left only a few hours previously it appeared to him and he appeared to him and he had left only a few hours previously it appeared to him as familiar and unfamiliar as Alciras itself till raising his eyes he saw the great crucifix against the wall the sacred symbol whose meaning he had forgotten and hopelessly long for in his dream and from which before his visit to the field of our death he had turned with a sense of bitter scorn and proud rejection but now now he gazed upon it in unspeakable remorse in tenderest desire to atone the sweet grave patient eyes of the holy figure seemed to meet his with a wondrous challenge of love longing and most fraternal sympathetic comprehension of his nature he paused looking and the pre-eminently false words of george herbert suddenly occurred to him thy saviour sentence joy o blasphemy sentence joy nay whether recreated it and invested it with divine's divine's certainties beyond all temporal change or abandonishment yielding to a swift impulse he threw himself on his knees and with clasped hands leaned his brows against the feet of the sculptured christ there he rested in wordless peace his whole soul entranced in a divine passion of faith hope and love there with the ardor flower in his breast he consecrated his life to the highest good and there in absolute humility and pure childlike devotion he crucified self forever

Starting point is 16:22:28 End of Chapter 30. Chapter 31 of Ardath by Marie Carelli. This Libra Vox recording is in the public domain. Part 3, Poet and Angel, O Golden Hair, O gladness of an hour, made flesh and blood, Who speaks of glory and the force of love, and thou not near, my maiden-minded dove, with all the coyness all the beauty sheen of thy rapt face o fearless virgin queen a queen of peace art thou and on thy head the golden light of all thy hair is shed most nimbus-like and most suggestive too of youthful saints enshrined and garland dead our thoughts are free and mine have found at last their apt solution and from out the past there seems to shine as twere a beacon fire and all the land is lit with large desire of lambent glory all the quivering sea is big with waves that wait the morn's decree as i thy vassal wait thy beckoning smile

Starting point is 16:23:45 athwart the splendors of my dreams of thee a lover's litanies eric mackay chapter thirty one fresh lulls it was a dismal march evening london lay swathed in a melancholy fog a fog too dense to be more than temporarily disturbed even by the sudden gusts of the bitter east wind rain fell steadily sometimes changing to sleep that drove in sharp showers on those slippery roads and pavements bewildering the tired horses and stirring up much irritation in the minds of those ill-fated foot-passengers whom business certainly not pleasure forced to encounter the inconveniences of the weather against one house in particular an old-fashioned irregular building situated in a somewhat out of the way but picturesque part of kensington the cold wet blast blew with specially keen ferocity as though it were angered by the sounds within sounds that in truth rather resembled its own cross groaning curious short grunts and plaintive cries interspersed with an occasional pathetic long-drawn wine suggested dimly the idea that somebody was playing or trying to play on a refractory stringed instrument the well-worn composition known as wrath's cavatina and in fact had the vexed wind been able to break through the wall and embody itself into a substantial being it would have discovered the producer of the half-fearse half-mournful noise in the person of the honourable frank villiers who with that amazingly serious ardour so often displayed by amateur lovers of music was persistently endeavouring to combat the difficult of the violoncello he adored his big instrument the more unmanageable it became in his hands the more he loved it its grumbling complaints at his unskilful touch delighted him

Starting point is 16:25:39 when he could succeed in awakening a peevish doll sob from its troubled depths he felt a positive thrill of almost professional triumph and he refused to be daunted in his efforts by the frequently barbaric clamor his off bowing wrung from the tortured strings he tried every sort of music easy and intricate and his happiest hours were those when with glass and eye and brow-knitted in anxious scrutiny he could peer his way through the labyrinth of a sonata or fantasia much too complex for any one but a trained artist enjoying to the full the mental excitement of the discordant struggle and comfortably conscious that as his residence was detached no obtrusive neighbor could either warn him to desist or set up an opposition nuisance next door by constant practice on the disgustingly over popular piano one thing very much in his favor was that he never manifested any desire to perform in public no one had ever heard in play he pursued his favorite amusement in solitude and was amply satisfied if when questioned on the subject of music he could find an opportunity to say with a conscious modest air my instrument is the cello that was quite enough self-assertion for him and if any one ever urged him to by his talent he would elude the request with such charming grace and diffidence that many people imagined he must really be a great musical genius who only lacked the necessary insolence and a plumb to make that genius known the cello apart villiers was very generally recognized as a discerning dilettante in most matters artistic he was an excellent judge of literature painting and sculpture his house though small was a perfect model of taste in design and adornment he knew where to pick up choice bits of antique furniture dainty porcelain bronzes and wood carvings while in the acquisition of rare books he was desly considered a notable connoisseur

Starting point is 16:27:39 his delicate and thusidious instincts were displayed in the very arrangement of his numerous volumes none were placed on such high shelves as to be out of hand-reach all were within close touch and ready to command ranged in low carved oak cases or on revolving stands while a few particularly rare additions and first folios were shutting curious little side-nitches with locked glass doors somewhat resembling small shrines such as are used for the reception of sacred relics the apartment he called his den where he now sat practising the cavatina for about the two hundredth time was perhaps the most fascinating look in the whole house inasmuch as it contained a little bit of everything arranged with that perfect attention to detail which makes each object small and great appear not only ornamental but positively necessary in one corner a quaint old jar overflowed with the brightness of fresh yellow daffodils in another a long tapering venetian vase held feathery clusters of african grass and fern here the medallion of a greek philosopher a roman emperor gleamed whitely against the somberly painted wall there a rambrant portrait flashed out from the semi-obscure background of some rich carefully disposed fold of drapery while a few admirable casse from the antique lit up the deeper shadows of the room such as the immortally youthful head of the Apollo Belvedere, the wisely serene countenance of the palace Athena, that Gertrto loved, and the cupid of Praxydales. Judging from his outward appearance only, few would have given valuerous credit for being

Starting point is 16:29:13 the man of penetrated and almost classic refinement he really was. He looked far more athletic than aesthetic, broad-shouldered and deep-chested, with a round, blunt head firmly set on a full, strong throat he had, on the whole, a somewhat obstinate and pugilistic air which totally belied his nature his features open and ruddy were without being handsome decidedly attracted the mouth was rather large yet good-tempered the eyes bright blue and sparklingly suggestive of a native inborn love of humour there was something fresh and piquant in the very expression of naive bewilderment with which he now adjusted his eyeglass a wholly unnecessary appendage and set himself strenuously to examine anew the cords of that extraordinary piece of music music which others thought so easy in which he found so puzzling he could manage the simple melody fairly well but the chords they are the very devil he murmured plaintively staring at the score and hitching up his unruly instrument more securely against his knee perhaps the bow wants a little rosin this was one of his minor weaknesses he would never quite admit that false notes were his own fault they couldn't be you know he mildly argued addressing the uptrusive neck of the cello which had a curious stub and way of poking itself into his chin and causing him to wonder how it got there surely the manner in which he held it had nothing to do with this awkward occurrence i'm not such a fool as not to understand how to find the right notes after all my practice there's something wrong with the strings or the bridge has gone awry or

Starting point is 16:30:45 and this was his last resource the beau once more rising thus he hugged himself in deliciously wilful ignorance of his own shortcomings and shut his ears to the whispered reproaches of music conscience. Had he been married, his wife would no doubt have lost no time in enlightening him. She would have told him he was a wretchy player, that his scrapings on the chella were enough to drive one mad, and sundry other assurances of the perfectly conjugal type of frankness, but as it chanced he was a happy bachelor, a free and independent man with more than sufficient means to gratify his particular tastes and whims. He was partner in a steadily prosperous banking concern, and had just enough to do to keep him pleasant. and profitably occupied asked why he did not marry he replied with blunt and almost brutal honesty that he had never yet met a woman whose conversation he could stand for more than an hour silly or clever he said they are all possessed of the same infinite tedium either they say nothing or they say everything

Starting point is 16:31:46 they are always at the two extremes and announce themselves as dunces or blues stockings one wants the just medium the dainty commingling of simplicity and wisdom that shall yet be pure one and this is precisely the jewel far above rubies that one cannot find i've given up the search long ago and am entirely resigned to my lot i like women very well i may say very much as friends but to take one on chance as a comrade for life no thank you such was his fixed opinion and consequent rejection of matrimony and for the rest he studied art and literature and became an authority on both so much so that on one occasion it kept a goodly number of people away from visiting the royal academy exhibition he having voted it a disgrace to art english artists occupied the last grade in the whole school of painting he had said indignantly with that decisive manner of his which somehow or other carried conviction the very dutch surpass them and instead of trying to raise their standard each year sees them grovelling in lower depths the academy is becoming a mere gallery of portraits painted to please the caprices of vain men and women at a thousand or two thousand guineas apiece ugly portraits two woodeny portraits utterly uninteresting portraits of prosaic nobodies who cares to see number one hundred and fifty four mrs in her presentation dress except mrs flummery's own particular friends or two eighty three miss smock's eldest daughter professor a t smocks or five sixteen baines bryce esq who is baines bryce nobody ever heard of him before he may be a retired pork butcher for all all anyone knows portraits even of celebrities are a mistake take algernon charles swinburne for instance the man who win left to himself writes some of the grandest lines in the english language he had his portrait in the academy and everybody ran away from it it was such an unutterable hideous disappointment

Starting point is 16:33:46 it was a positive libel of course swinburne has fine eyes and a still fire brow but instead of idealizing the poet in him the silly artist painted him as if he had no more intellectual distinction than a bill sticker english art pooh don't speak to me about it go to spain italy bavaria see what they can do and then say a misery for the sins of the r a s thus he would talk in his criticisms carried weight with a tolerably large circle of influential and wealthy persons who when they called upon him and saw the perfection of his house and the rarity of his art collections came at once to the conclusion that it would be wise as well as advantageous to themselves to consult him before purchasing pictures books statues or china so that he occupied the powerful position of being able with a word to start an artist's reputation or depreciated as he chose a distinction he had not desired and which was often a source of trouble to him because there were so few so very few whose work he felt he could conscientiously approve and encourage he was eminently good-natured and sympathetic he would not give pain to others without being infinitely more pained himself and yet for all his amiability there was a stubborn instinct in him which forbade him to promote by word or look the fatal nineteenth-century spread of mediocrity either a thing must be truly great and capable of being measured by the highest standards or for him it had no value this rule he carried out in all branches of art except his own cello-playing that was not great that would never be great but it was his pet pastime he chose it in preference to the billiards betting and bar lounging bet-merexed bat make up the amusements of the majority of the hopeful manhood of london and as has already been said he never inflicted it upon others he rubbed the rossin now thoughtfully up and down his bow and glanced at the quaint old clock and importation from

Starting point is 16:35:42 that ticked solemnly in one corner near the deep bay window across which the heavy olive-green plush curtains were drawn to shut out the penetrating chill of the wind he had wanted ten minutes to nine he had given orders to his man's servant that he was on no account to be disturbed that evening no matter what visitors called afore him none were to be admitted he had made up his mind to have a long and energetic practice and he felt the secret satisfaction as he heard the steady patter of the rain outside the very weather favoured his desire for solitude no one was likely to venture forth on such a night still gravely rubbing his brow his eyes travelled from the clock in the corner to a photograph on the mantel shelf the photograph of a man's face dark haughty, beautiful, yet repellent in its beauty, and with a certain hard sternness in its outline, the face of Theo Zalwin. From this portrait, his glance wandered to the table where, amid a picturesque litter of books and papers, lay a square, simply bound volume, with an ivory leaf-cutter thrust in it to mark the place where the reader left off, and its title plainly lettered in gold at the back, Nur-Halma. I wonder where he is, he mused his thoughts naturally

Starting point is 16:36:56 reverting to the author of the book. He cannot know what all London knows, or surely he would be back here like a shot. It is six months ago now, since I received his letter, and that poem in manuscript from Tiflis in Armenia, and not another line has he sent to tell me of his whereabouts. Curious fellow he is, but by Jove, what a genius. No wonder he has besieged fame and taken it by storm i don't remember any similar instance except that of byron in which such an unprecedented reputation was made so suddenly and in byron's case it was more the domestic scandal about him than his actual merit that made him the rage now the world knows literally nothing about allwin's private life or character there's no woman in his history that i know of no vice he hasn't outraged the law upset morals flouted at decency or done anything that according to modern fashions ought to have made him famous no he is simply produced a perfect poem stately grand pure and pathetic and all of a sudden some secret spring in the human heart is touched some long-closed valve opened and lo and behold all intellectual society is raving about him his name is in everybody's mouth his book is in every one's hands i don't altogether like his being made the subject of a craze

Starting point is 16:38:21 experience shows me it's a kind of thing that doesn't last in fact it can't last the reaction invariably sets in and the english public is of all public's the most insane in its periodical frenzies and the most most capricious now it is oligog for a shilling sensational then it discusses itself hoarse over a one-sided theological novel made up out of theories long ago propounded and exhaustively set forth by voltaire and others of his school anon it revels in the gross descriptions of shameless vice depicted in an accurately translated romance of the paris slums now it writes thousands of letters to a black man to sympathize with him because he has been called black could anything be more absurd it has even followed the departure of an elephant from the zoo in weeping crowds however i wish all the crazes to which it is subject were as harmless and wholesome as the one that has seized it for allwin's book for if true poetry were brought to the front instead of being as it often is sneered at and kept in the background we should have a chance of regaining the lost divine art that wherever it has been worthily followed has proved the glory of the greatest nations and then we should not have to put up with such detestable inanities as are produced every day by persons calling themselves poets who are produced every day by persons calling themselves poets who are are scarcely fit to write mottoes for desert crackers and we might escape for good and all from the infliction of magazine verse which is emphatically a positive affront to the human intelligence ah me what wretched upholders we are of shakespeare's standard keats was our last splendour then there is an unfilled gap bridged in part by tennyson and now comes alwin blazing abroad like a veritable meteor only i believe he will do more than merely flare across the heavens he promises to become a notable fixed star he re smiled somewhat pleased with his own skill and metaphor and having rubbed his brow enough he drew it lingeringly across the shallow strings a long sweet shuddering sound rewarded him like the upward wave of a wind among high trees and he heard it with much gratification

Starting point is 16:40:47 he would try the cavatina again now he decided and bringing his music stand closer he settled himself in readiness to begin just then the nernberg clock commenced striking the hour accompanying each stroke with a very soft and mellow little chime of bells that sent fairy-like echoes through the quiet room a bright flame started up from the glowing fire in the grate flinging ruddy flashes along the walls a wrath and gust of rain dashed once at the windows the tuneful clock ceased and all was still the ears waited a moment then with heedful earnestness started the first bar of wrath's off-murtered composition when a knock at the door disturbed him and considerably ruffled his equanimity come in he called testily his man's servant appeared a half-pleased half-guilty look on his staid countenance please sir a gentleman called well you said i was out no sir leastways i thought you might be a home to him sir confound you exclaimed villiers petulantly throwing down his bow in disgust what business had you to think anything about it didn't i tell you i wasn't at home to anybody come come villiers set a mellow voice outside with a ripple of suppressed laughter in its tone don't be inhospitable i'm sure you are at home to me and passing by the servant who had once retired the speaker entered the apartment lifted his hat and smiled villiers sprang from his chair in delighted astonishment awen he cried and the two friends whose friendship dated from boyhood clasped each other's hands heartily and were for a moment both silent half ashamed of those affectionate emotions to which impulsive women may freely give them but to whom men may not yield without being supposed to lose somewhat of the dignity of manhood by jove said billiars at last drawing a deep breath this is a surprise

Starting point is 16:42:50 only a few minutes ago i was considering whether we should not have to note you down in the newspaper as one of the mysterious disappearances grown common of late where do you come from old fellow from paris just directly responded allwin divesting himself of his overcoat and stepping outside the door to hang it on an evidently familiar mail in the passage and then re-entering but from baghdad in the first instance i visited that city sacred to fairy lore and from thence journey to damascus like one of our favorite merchants in the arabian nights then i went to beirut and alexandria from which latter place i took ship homeward stopping at delicious venice while on my way then you did the holy land i suppose queried villiers regarding him with sudden and growing inquisitiveness my dear fellow certainly not the holy land invested by tout and overrun by tourists would neither appeal to my imagination nor my sentiments and in its present state of vulgar abuse and unchristian sacrilege it is better left unseen by those who wish to revere its associations don't you think so he smiled as he put the question and drawing up an old-fashioned oak chair to the fire seated himself liliars meanwhile stared at him in unmitigated amazement what had come to the fellow he wondered how had he managed to invest himself with such an overpowering distinction of look and grace of bearing he had always been a handsome man yes but there was certainly something more than handsome about him now there was a singular magnetism in the flash of the fine soft eyes a marvellous sweetness in the firm lines of the perfect mouth a royal grandeur and freedom in the very poise of his well-knit figure and noble head that certainly had not before been apparent in him

Starting point is 16:44:45 moreover that was an odd remark for him to make about wishing to revere the associations of the holy land very odd considering his formerly sceptical theories rousing himself from his momentary bewilderment villiers remembered the duties of hospitality have you dined all one he asked with his hand on the bell excellently was the response accompanied by a bright upward glance i went to that big hotel opposite the park at dinner left the surplus of my luggage in charge selected one small portmanteau took a hansom and came on here resolved to pass one night at least under your roof one night interrupted billiards you are very much mistaken if you think you are going to get off so easily you will not escape from me for a month i tell you consider yourself a prisoner good send for the luggage to marl laughed alwin flinging himself back in his chair in an attitude of lazy comfort i give in i resign myself to my fate but what of the cello and he pointed to the bulgy looking casket of sweet sleeping sounds sleeping generally so far as villiers was concerned but ready to wake at the first touch of the master hand villiers glanced at it with a comical air of admiring vanquishment oh never mind the cellar he said indifferently that can bear being put by for a while it's a most curious instrument sometimes it seems to sound better when i have let it rest a while just like a human thing you know it gets occasionally tired of me i suppose but i say why didn't you come straight here bag baggage and all what business had you to stop on the way at any hotel do you call that friendship awen laughed at his mock injured tone i apologize villiers i really do but i felt it would be scarcely civil of me to come down upon you for bed board and lodging without giving you previous notice and at the same time i wanted to take you by surprise as i did besides besides

Starting point is 16:46:47 i wasn't sure whether i should find you in town of course i knew i should be welcome if you were rather assented billiard shortly and with affected roughness if you were sure of nothing else in this world you might be sure of that he paused squared his shoulders and put up his eyeglass through which he scanned his friend with such a persistently scrutinizing air that allan was somewhat amused what are you staring at me for he demanded gay am i so bronzed well you are rather brown admitted villiers slowly but that doesn't surprise me the fact is it's very odd and i can't altogether explain it but somehow i find you changed positively very much changed too changed in appearance do you mean how look here upon this picture and on this quoted villiers dramatically taking down allwin's portrait from the mantel's shelf and mentally comparing it with the smiling original no two heads were ever more alike and yet more distinctly unlike here and he tapped a photograph you have the appearance of a modern timeman or orestes but now as you actually are i see more resemblance in your face to that and he pointed to the serene and splendid bust of the apollo than to this counterfeit presentment of your former self all when flushed but not so much at the implied compliment as at the words former self but quickly shaking off his embarrassment he glanced round at the apollo and lifted his eyebrows incredulously then all i can say my dear boy is that that eyeglass of yours represents objects to your own view in a classic light which is entirely deceptive for i failed to trace the faintest similitude between my own features and that of the sun-born lord of laurels oh you may not trace it said villiers calmly but nevertheless others will some people say that no man knows what he really is like and that even his own reflection in the glass deceives him besides it is not so much the actual contour for the features that impresses one it is the look you have the look of the greek god the look of conscious power and inward happiness he spoke seriously thoughtfully

Starting point is 16:49:01 surveying his friend with a vague feeling of admiration akin to reverence. Alwin stooped and stirred the fire into a brighter blaze. Well, so far, my looks do not blind me, he said gently after a pause. I am conscious of both power and joy. Why, naturally, and Villiers laid one hand affectionately on his shoulder. Of course, the face of the whole world has changed for you now that you have won such tremendous fame. Fame? alwin sprang upright so suddenly that villiers was quite startled fame who says i am famous and his eyes flashed forth and amazed almost haughty resentment his friends stared then laughed outright who says it

Starting point is 16:49:46 why all london says it do you mean to tell me allan that you've not seen the english papers and magazines containing all the critical reviews and discussions on your poem of all when winced at the title what a host of strange memories it recalled i have seen nothing he replied hurriedly i have made it a point to look at no papers thus i should chance on my own name coupled as it has been before with the languid abuse common to criticism in this country not that i should have cared now and a slight smile played on his lips in fact i have ceased to care moreover as i know modern success in literature is chiefly commanded by the praise of a clique or the services of log-rollers and as i am not included in any of the journalistic rings i have neither hoped nor expected any particular favour or recognition from the public then said billiars excitedly seizing him by the hand let me be the first to congratulate you it is often the way that when we no longer especially crave a thing that thing is suddenly thrust upon us whether we will or no and so it has happened in your case learned therefore my dear fellow that your poem which you sent to me from tiflis and which was published under my supervision about four months ago has already run through six editions and is now in its seven seven editions of a poem a poem mark you in four months isn't bad moreover the demand continues and the long and the short of it is that your name is actually at the present moment the most celebrated in all london in fact you are very very much celebrated in all london in fact you are very very very much the long and the short of it is that your name is actually at the present moment the most celebrated in all london in fact you are very generally acknowledged the greatest poet of the day and continued villiers wringing his friend's hand with uncommon fervor i say god bless you old boy if ever a man deserves success you do

Starting point is 16:51:37 nerhamma is magnificent such a genius as yours will raise the literature of the age to a higher standard than it has known since the death of adaneas footnote you can't imagine how sincerely i rejoice at your triumph alwin was silent he returned his companion's cordial hand-pressure almost unconsciously he stood leaning against the mantelpiece and looking gravely down into the fire his first emotion was one of repugnance of rejection what did he need of this will-of-the-wisp called fame dancing again across his path this transitory torch of world approval fame in london what was it what could it be compared to the brilliancy of the fame he had once enjoyed as laureate of alcy as this thought passed across his mind he gave a quick interrogative glance at villiers who was observing him with much wondering intentness and his handsome face lighted with sudden laughter dear old boy he said with a very tender inflection in his mellow mirthful voice you are the best of good fellows and i thank you heartily for your news which if it seemed satisfactory to you ought certainly to be satisfactory to me but tell me frankly if i am as famous as you say how did i become so how was it worked up worked up vigors was completely taken back by the oddity of this question come continued allwin persuasively his fine eyes sparking with mischievous good-humour you can't make me believe that all england took to me suddenly of its own accord it is not so romantic so poetry-loving so independent or so generous as that how was my celebrity first started if my book which has all the disadvantage of being a poem instead of a novel has so suddenly leaped into high favour and renown

Starting point is 16:53:33 why then some leading critic or other must have thought that i myself was dead the whimsical merriment of his face seemed to reflect itself on that of villiers you're too quick-witted all when positively you are he remonstrated with a frankly humorous smile but as it happens you're perfectly right not one critic but three three of our most influential men too thought you were dead and that nurama was a posthumous work of you of perished genius end of chapter thirty one chapter thirty two of ardae by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain sebasticism and paulism the delighted air of triumphant conviction with which allan received this candid statement was irresistible and villiers's attempt at equanimity entirely gave way before it he broke into a roar of laughter laughter in which his friend joined and for a minute or two the room rang with the echoes of their mutual mirth it wasn't my doing said their years at last when he could control himself a little and even now i don't in the least know how the misconception arose norahama was published according to your instructions as rapidly as it could be got through the press and i had no preliminary puffs or announcements of any kind circulated in the papers i merely advertised it with a notable simplicity thus nirhalma a love-legion of the past a poem by theos allwin that was all well when it came out copies of it were sent according to custom round all the leading newspaper offices and for about three weeks after its publication i saw another word concerning it anywhere meanwhile i went on advertising one day at the

Starting point is 16:55:37 constitutional club while glancing over the parthenon i suddenly spied in it a long review occupying four columns and headed a wonder-polem and just out of curiosity i began to read it i remember in fact i shall never forget its opening sentence it was so original and he laughed again it commenced thus it has been truly said that those whom the gods love die young and then on it went dragging in memories of chatterton and shelving keats till i found myself yawning and wondering what the deuce the writer was driving at presently about the end of the second poem i came to the assertion that the posthumous poem of norhalma must be admitted as one of the most glorious productions in the english language this woke me up considerably when i read on groping my way through all sorts of woody phrases and used up arguments till my mind gradually grasped the fact that the critic of the parthenon had evidently never heard of theos alwin before in being astonished and perhaps perplexed by the original beauty and glowing style of norahama had jumped without warrant to the conclusion that its author must be dead the wind-up of his lengthy dissertation was as far as i can recollect as follows it is a thousand pities this gifted poet is no more splendid as the work of his youthful genius is there is no doubt but that had he lived he would have endowed the world anew with an inheritance of thought worthy of the grandest master-minds while when i had fully realized the situation i began to think to myself shall i enlighten this sir oracle of the press and tell him the dead author he so enthusiastically eulogizes is alive and well or was so at any rate the last time i heard from him i debated the question seriously and after much cogitation decided to leave him for the present in ignorance first of all because critics like to consider themselves the wisest men in the world

Starting point is 16:57:35 and hate to be told anything secondly because i rather enjoyed the fun the publisher of nerhalma a very excellent fellow sent me the critique and wrote asking me whether it was true that the author of the poem was really dead and if not whether he should contradict the report i waited a bit before answering that letter and while i waited two more critiques appeared in two of the most assertively pompous and dictatorial journals of the day echoing the eulogies of the parthenon declaring this dead poet worthy to rank with the highest of the immortals and a number of other similar grandiose declarations one reviewer took an infinite deal of pains to prove that if the genius of theos aalwin had only been spared to england he must have infallibly been elected poet-loid as soon as the post became vacant and that too without a single dissentient voice save such as were raised in envy or malice but being dead continued this estimable scribe all we can say is that he yet speaketh and that norahama is a poem of which the literary world cannot be otherwise than justly proud that the tears that we shed for this gifted singer's untimely deceased be mingled with gratitude for the priceless value of the work his creative genius has bequeathed to us ere billiars paused his blue eyes sparkling with inward amusement and looked at all one whose face though perfectly serene had now the faintest softest shadow of a gray papose hovering about it by this time he continued i thought we had had about enough sport so i rode off to the publisher to at once contradict the erroneous rumor but now that publisher had his story to tell he called upon me and with a blandly persuasive air said that as norhalma was having an extraordinary sale was it worth well to deny the statement of your death just yet he was very anxious but i was fun and lest he should waver i wrote several letters myself to the leading journals to establish the certainty so far as i was aware of your being in the land of the living

Starting point is 16:59:37 and then what do you think happened awen met his bright satirical glance with a look that was half questioning half wistful but said nothing it was the most laughable and at the same time the most beautifully instructive lesson ever taught by the whole annals of journalism the press turned round like a weathercock with the wind and exhausted every epithet of abuse they could find in the dictionaries nirahama was a poor ill-conceived work an outrage to intellectual perception a good idea spoiled in the treatment an amazingly obscure attempt at solemnity etc but there you can yourself peruse all the criticisms both favourable and adverse for i have acted the part of the fond to you in the careful cutting out and pasting of everything i could find written concerning you and your work in a book devoted to the purpose and i believe i've missed nothing mark you however the parthenon never reversed its judgment nor did the other two leading journals of literary opinion it wouldn't do for such big wigs to profess they had blundered you know and the vituporation of the smaller fly was just the other weight in the balance which made the thing equal the sale of nerhalma grew fast and furious all expenses were cleared three times over and at the present moment the publisher is getting conscientiously anxious for some publishers are more conscientious than some authors will admit to hand you over a nice little check for an amount which is not to be despised in this workaday world i assure you i did not write for money interrupted allwin quietly nor shall i ever do so of course not assented villiers promptly no poet and indeed no author whatsoever who lays claim to a fraction of conscience rights for money only those with whom money is the first consideration debates their art into a coarse hoxtreing trade and are no better than contentious bakers

Starting point is 17:01:30 and cheese-mongers who jostle each other in a vulgar struggle as to which shall sell perishable goods at the highest profit none of the lasting works of the world were written so nevertheless if the public voluntarily choose to lavish what they can of their best on the author who imparted them inspired thoughts and noble teachings and that author must not be churlish or slow to accept the gratitude implied i think the most appropriate maxim for a poet to address to his readers is freely ye have received freely give there was a moment's silence alwin resumed his seat in the chair near the fire and failures leaning one arm on the mantelpiece still stood looking down upon him such my dear fellow he went on complacently is the history of the success of newahama it certainly began with the belief that you were no longer able to benefit by the eulogy received but all the same that eulogy has been uttered and cannot be unuttered it has led all the lovers of the highest literature to get the book for themselves and to prove your actual work independently of press opinions and the result is an immense and steadily widening verdict in your favor speaking personally i have never read anything that gave me quite so much artistic pleasure as this poem of yours except hyperion only hyperion is distinctly classical while nerhamma takes us back into some hitherto unexplored world of antique paganism which though essentially pagan is wonderfully full of pure and lofty sentiment when did the idea first strike a long time ago returned allwin with a slight serious smile i assure you it is by no means original the years gave him a quick surprise glance no well it seems to me singularly original he said in fact one of your critics says you are too original mind you allwin that is a very serious fault in this imitated age awain laughed a little his thoughts were very busy again in imagination he beheld the burning temple of megaya in his dream of alcarus

Starting point is 17:03:32 again he saw himself carrying the corpse of his former self through fire and flame and again he heard the last words of the dying sebasties i was the poet's adverse critic and who but i should write his eulogy save me if only for the sake of saluma's future honor thou knowest not how warmly how generously how nobly i can praise the dead true how easy to praise the poor deaf sterless clay when sense and spirit have fled from it for ever no fear to spoil a corpse by flattery the heavily sealed up eyes can never more unclosed delighten with glad hope or fond ambition the quiet heart cannot leap with gratitude or joy at that word spoken in due season which aids its noblest aspirations to become realized the dead poet pressed the cold clods of earth over him and then rant above his grave tell him how great he was what infinite possibilities were displayed in his work with excellence what merit what subtlety of thought what grace of style rant and rave print reams of acclaiming verbosity pronounce orations raise up statues marked the house he lived and starved in with a laudatory medallion and print his once rejected stanzas in every sort of type and fashion from the cheap to the costly teach the multitude how worthy he was to be loved and honored and never fear that he will move from his rigid and chill repose to be happy for once in his life and to learn with amazement that the world he toiled so patiently for is actually learning to be grateful for his existence once dead and buried he can be safely made glorious he cannot affront us either with his superior intelligence or make us envy the slenders of his fame some such thoughts as these passed through all one's mind as he dreamily gazed into the red hollas of the fire and reconsidered all that his friend had told him he had no personal acquaintances on the press no literary club or click

Starting point is 17:05:29 to haul him up into the top gallant mast of renowned by persistent puffery he was not related even distantly to any great personage either statesman professor or divine he had not the mysterious recommendation of being a university man none of the many wheels within wheels which are at nowadays so frequently set in motion to make up a momentary literary furor were his to command and yet the parthenon had praised him wonder of wonders the parthenan was a singularly obtuse journal which glanced at the whole world of letters merely through the eyes of three or four men of distinctly narrow and egotistical opinions and these three or four men kept it as much as possible to themselves using its columns chiefly for the purpose of admiring one another as a consequence of this restricted arrangement very few outsiders could expect to be noticed for their work unless they were in the set or at least had occasionally dined with one of the mystic three or four and so it had chanced that allwin's first venture into literature had been totally disregarded by the parthenon in fact that first venture being a small and unobtrusive book had most probably been thrown into the waste-paper basket or sold for a few pence to the second-hand dealer and now now because he had been imagined dead the parthenon's leading critic had singled him out and held him up for universal admiration well well after all murhamma was a posthumous work it had been written before ages since when he as saluma had perished ere he had had time to give it to the world he had merely remembered it drawn it forth again as it were from the dim deep vistas of past deeds so those who had reviewed it as the production of one dead in youth were right in their judgment though they did not know it

Starting point is 17:07:19 it was old nothing but repetition but now he had something new and true and passionate to say something that if god pleased it should be his to utter with the clearness and forcibleness common to the greek thunderers of yore who spoke out what was in them grandly simply and with the fearless majesty of thought that reek nothing of opinions oh he would rouse the hearts of men from paltry greed and covetousness from lust and hatred and all things evil no matter if he lost his own life in the effort he would still do his utmost best to lift if only in a small degree the deepening weight of self-wrought agony from self-blinded mankind yes he must work to fulfil the commands and deserve the blessings of edris edris ah the memory of her pure angel loveliness rushed upon him like a flood of invigorating warmth and light and when he looked up from his brief reverie his countenance beautiful unkindling with inward ardour affected ill you strangely almost as a very grand and perfect strain of music might affect and unsteady one's nerves the attraction he had always felt for his poet friend deepened to quite a fervent intensity evanoration but he was not the man to betray his feelings outwardly and to shake off his emotion he rushed into speech again by the bye awen your old acquaintance professor is very much down on your book you know he doesn't write reviews except on matters connected with evolutionary phenomena but i met him the other day and he was quite upset about you too transcendental he said dismally shaking his ball-pate to and fro the whole poem is a vaporous tissue of absurd impossibilities ah dear dear me what a terrible falling off in a young man of such hopeful ability i thought he had done with poetry forever i took the greatest pains to prove to him what a ridiculous pastime it was and how unworthy to be considered for a moment seriously as an art and he seemed to understand my reasoning thoroughly indeed he promised to be one of our most powerful adherents he had an excellent grasp of a material sciences and a fine contemptful religion why with such a quick and a lyrical

Starting point is 17:09:27 brain as his he might have carried on darwin's researches to an extremer point of the origination of species than has yet been reached all a ruin sir a positive ruin a man who will in cold blood write such lines as these grander is death than life and sweeter far the splendors of the infinite future than our eyes weary with tearful watching yet can see condemns himself as a positive lunatic and young allan too he who had so completely active mass the foolishness and utility of expecting any other life than this one good heavens near homa as i understand it is a sort of pagan poem but with such incredible ideas and sentiments as are expressed in it the author might as well go and be a christian at once and with that he hobbled off for it was sunday afternoon and he was on his way to st george's hall to delight he assembled sceptics by telling them in an elaborate lecture what absurd anna malque he was a manuctor they all were. Alwin smiled. There was a soft light in his eyes, an expression of serene contentment on his face, poor old mockshole. He said gently, I'm sorry for him. He makes life very desolate, both for himself and others who accept his theories. I'm afraid his disappointment in me will have to continue, for as it happens, I am a Christian. That is, so far as I can,

Starting point is 17:10:51 in my unworthiness, be a follower of a faith so grand and pure and true. The year's started, his mouth opened in sheer astonishment he could scarcely believe his own ears and he uttered some sound between a gasp and an exclamation of incredulity alwin met his widely wondering gaze with a boast sweet and unembarrassed calm how amazed you look he observed half faithfully religion must be at a very low ebb if in a so-called christian country you are surprised to hear a man openly acknowledged himself a disciple of the christian creed there was a brief pause during which the chiming clock rang out the hour musically on that stillness and though you're still in a state of most profound a wilderness sat down deliberately in a chair opposite alwin's and placed one hand familiarly on his knee look here old fellow he said impressively do you really mean it are you going over to some church or other alwin laughed his friend's anxiety was so genuine not i he responded promptly don't be along villiers i'm not a convert to any particular set form of faith. What I care for is the faith itself. One can follow and serve Christ without any church dogma. He has himself told us plainly, in words simple enough for a child to understand what he would have us to do, and though I, like many others, must regret the absence of a true universal church where the servants of Christ may meet altogether without a shadow of difference in opinion and worship him as he should be worshipped. Still, that is no reason why I should refrain from an to fulfill as far as in me lies my personal duty toward him the fact is christianity has never yet been rightly taught grasped or comprehended moreover as long as men seek through it their own worldly advantage it never will be so that the majority of the people are really as yet ignorant of its true spiritual meaning thanks to the quarrels and differences of sex and preachers but notwithstanding the unhappy position of religion at the present day i repeat i am a christian if love for christ

Starting point is 17:12:55 and implicit belief in him can make me so he spoke simply without the slightest affectation of reserve failures were still puzzled i thought allwin he ventured to say presently with some little diffidence that you entirely rejected the idea of christ's divinity as a mere superstition in dense ignorance of the extent of god's possibilities i certainly did so returned all one quietly but i have had good reason to see that my own inability to comprehend supernatural causes was entirely to blame for that rejection are we able to explain all the numerous and complex variations and manifestations of matter no then why do we dare to doubt the certainly conceivable variations and manifestations of spirit the doctrine of a purely human christ is untenable a creed founded on that idea alone would make no way with the immortal aspirations of the soul what link could there be between a mere man like ourselves and heaven none whatever it needs the divine in christ to overleap the darkness of the grave to serve us as the symbol of certain resurrection to teach us that this life is not the all but only one loop in the chain of existence only one of the many mansions in the father's house human teachers of high morals there have always been in the world confucius buddh zoroaster socrates plato there is no end to them and their teachings have been valuable so far as they win but even plato's majestic arguments in favor of the immortality of the soul fall short of any thing sure and graspable there were so many prefigurements of what was to come just as the sign of the cross was used in the temple of serapus and was held in singular mystic veneration by various tribes of egyptians arabians and indians ages before christ came and now that these prefiguments have resolved themselves into an actual divine symbol the doubting world still hesitates and by this hesitation paralyzes both its will and instinct so that it fails to cut out the

Starting point is 17:14:57 the core of christianity's true solution or to learn what christ really meant when he said i am the way the truth and the life no man cometh to the father but by me have you ever considered the particular weight of that word man in that text it is rightly specified that no man cometh for there are hosts of other beings in other universes who are not of our puny race and who do not need to be taught either the way truth or life as they know all three and have never lost their beings in other universes who are not of our puny race and who do not need to be taught either the way truth or life as they know all three and have never lost their knowledge from the beginning his voice quivered a little and he paused villiers watched him with a strange sense of ever deepening fascination and wonder i have lately studied the whole thing carefully he resumed presently and i see no reason why we who call ourselves a progressive generation should revert back to the old theory of corinthus who as early as sixty-seven years after christ denied his divinity there is nothing new in the hypothesis it is no more original than the doctrine of evolution which was skilfully enough handled by democritus and probably by many another before him voltaire certainly stretched out the subject exhaustively and i think carlyle's address to him on the uselessness of his work is one of the finest of his kind do you remember it billiars shook his head in the negative whereupon alwin rose and glancing along and evidently well-remembered bookshelf took from thence sartar artist and turned over the pages quickly. Here it is, and he read out the following passage. See, my much-respected Herr von Voltaire, shut thy sweet voice, for the task appointed thee

Starting point is 17:16:33 seems finished. Sufficiently hast thou demonstrated this proposition, considerable or otherwise, that the mythus of the Christian religion looks not in the eighteenth century, as it did in the eight. Alas, were thy six-and-thirty-thirty-quarters, and a six-and-thirty-thousand-thousand-thousand-thousand-thousand-thousand-thousand-thous porters and folials and flying sheets or reams printed before and since on the same subject all needed to convince us of so little but what next will thou help us to embody the divine spirit of that religion in a new mythless in a new vehicle investure that our souls otherwise too like perishing may live what thou hast no faculty in that kind only a torch for burning and no hammer for building take our thanks then and thyself away the years smiled and straightened himself in military fashion as was his habit when particularly gratified excellent old twofuls drach he murmured sotovoche he had a rugged method of explaining himself but it was decisive enough in all conscience decisive and to the point assented omen putting the book back in its place and then confronting his friend and he states precisely what is wanted by the world to-day wanted pressingly eagerly namely that the divine spirit of the christian religion should be set forth in a new vehicle and vesture to keep pace with the advancing inquiry and scientific research of man and truly for this it need only be expounded according to its old pure primal spiritual intention and then the more science progresses the more true will it be proved

Starting point is 17:18:06 christ distinctly claimed his divinity and everywhere gave manifestations of it of course it can be said that these manifestations rest on testimony and that the testimony was drawn up afterward and as a spurious invention but we have been said that these manifestations rest on testimony and that the testimony was drawn up afterward and as a spurious invention but we have have no more proof that it is spirits than we have of footnotes c chapter thirteen in alchiris the all allusion to orazel homer's iliad being a compilation of several writers and not the work of a homer at all nothing not even the events of the past week can be safely rested on absolute undiffering testimony inasmuch as no two narrators tell the same story alike but all the same we have the iliad it cannot be taken from us by any amount of argument and we have the fruits of christ's gospel half obscured as it is visible among us everywhere civilization of a high and aspiring order has followed christianity even at the cost of blood and tears slavery has been abolished and women lifted from unspeakable degradation to honor and reverence and had men been more reasonable and self-controlled the purifying work would have been done peacefully and without persecution it was st paul's preaching that upset all the people beautiful pristine simplicity of the fate it is very evident he had no calling or election such as he pretended i wonder jeremy bentham's conclusive book on the subject is not more universally known paul's sermonizing gave rise to a thousand different shades of opinion and argument and for a mere hair's breadth of needless discussion nation has fought against nation and man against man till the very name of religion has been made a ghastly mockery that however is not the fault of christianity but the fault of those who perform to follow it like paul while merely following a scheme of their own personal advantage or convenience and the result of it all is that at this very moment there is not a church in christendom where christ's actual commands are really and to the letter fulfilled

Starting point is 17:20:04 strong ejaculated viewers with a slight smile mustn't say that before a clergyman why not demanded allwin why should not clerics be told once and for all how ill they perform their sacred mission look at the wilderness of spreading atheism to today and look at the multitudes of men and women who are hungry and thirsting for a greater comprehension of spiritual things than they have hitherto had and yet the preachers trudged drowsily on in the old ruts they have made for themselves and give neither sympathy nor heed to the increasing pain feverish bewilderment and positive want of those they profess to guide concerning science too what is the good of telling or toiling more or less suffering race that there are eighteen millions of sons in the milky way and that viewed by the immensity of the universe man is nothing but a small mean and perishable insect humanity hears the statement with dull perplexed brain and its weight of sorrow is doubled it demands at once why if an insect its insect life should be at all if nothing is to come of it but weariness and woe the marvels of scientific discovery offer no solace to the huge majority of the afflicted unless we point the lesson that the soul of man is destined to live through more than these wonders and that the millions of planetary systems in the milky way of the sublime hereafter which is our natural heritage if we will but set ourselves earnestly to win it moreover we should not foolishly imagine that we are to lead good lives merely for the sake of some suggested reward or wages no but simple because in practice progressive good we are equalizing ourselves and placing ourselves in active working harmony with the whole progressive good of the creator's plan we have no more right to do a deliberately evil thing than a musician has a right to spoil a melody by a false note on his instrument why should we willingly jar god's music of which we are a part i tell you that religion as taught today is rather one of custom and fear than love and confidence men cower and propitiate when they should be full of thankfulness and praise

Starting point is 17:22:08 and as for any reserve on these matters i had none in fact i feel to see why truth spiritual truth should not be openly proclaimed now even as it is sure to be proclaimed hereafter his manner had warmed with his words and he lifted his head with an involuntary gesture of eloquent resolve his eyes flashing splendid scorned for all things hypocritical and mean figures looked at him feeling curiously moved and impressed by his fervent earnestness well i was right in one thing at any rate allwin he said softly you are changed there is not a doubt about it but it seems to me the change is distinctly for the better it does my heart good to hear you speak with such distinct and manly emphasis on a subject which though it is one of the burning questions of the day is too often treated irreverently or altogether dismissed with a few sentences of languid banter or cheap sarcasm as regards myself personally i must say that a man without faith in anything but himself has always seemed to me exactly in keeping with the description given of an atheist by lady ashburton to carlyle namely a person who robs himself not only of clothes but of flesh as well and walks about the world in his bones and oddly enough in spite of all the controversies going on about christianity i've always really worshipped christ in my heart of hearts and yet i can't go to church i seem to lose the idea of him altogether there but and his frank face took upon itself a dreamy light of deep feeling there are times when walking alone in the fields or through a very quiet grove of trees or on the sea-shore i begin to think of his majestic life and death and the immense unfailing sympathy he showed for every sort of human suffering and then i can really believe in him as divine friend comrade teacher teacher and king and i am scarcely able to decide which is the deepest emotion in my mind toward him love or reverence he paused allan's eyes rested upon him with a quick comprehensive friendliness

Starting point is 17:24:05 in one exchange of looks the two men became mutually aware of the strong undercurrents a thought that lay beneath each other's individual surface history and that perhaps had never been so clearly recognized before and a kind of swift speechless satisfactory agreement between their two separate natures seemed suddenly drawn up ratified and sealed in a glance i've often thought continued the years more lightly and smiling as he spoke that we are all angels or devils angels in our best moments devils in our words devils in our words if we could only keep the best moments always uppermost ah poor deluded human nature as all moxel says while in the same breath he contradicts himself by asserting that human reason is the only infallible means of ascertaining anything how it can be deluded and infallible at the same time i can't quite understand but alwin you haven't told me how you like the get-up of your book and he handed the volume in question to its author who turned it over with the most curious air of careless recognition in his fancy he again saw sebastis writing each line of it down to salome's dictation it's very well printed he said at last and very tastefully bound you have superintended the work con amore billiars and i am as obliged to you as friendship will let me be you know what that means it means no obligation at all declared billiars gaily because friends who are the least worthy the name take delight in furthering each other's interests and have no need to be thanked for doing what is particularly agreeable to them you really like the appearance of it then but you've got the sixth edition this is the first and he took it from a side table a quaint small quarto bound in a very superb imitation of old embossed leather which allan beholding was at once struck by the resemblance it bore to the elaborate designs that had adorned covers of the papyrus volumes possessed by his shadow self saluma this is very sumptuous he said with a dreamy smile that looks quite antique

Starting point is 17:26:00 doesn't it exclaimed villiers delighted i had it copied from my first edition of petrarcha which happens to be in my collection this specimen of no homo has become valuable and unique it was published at ten and six and can't be got anywhere under five or six guineas if for that of course it is a-oct-six guinea if for that of course it is a a copy of each edition has been set aside for you. Alwyn laid down in the book with a gentle indifference, my dear fellow. I've had enough of Nur Halma, who said, I'll keep a copy of the first edition, if only as a souvenir, of your goodwill and energy in bringing it out so admirably, but for the rest the book belongs to me no more but to the public, and so let the public be with it what they will.

Starting point is 17:26:38 The years raised his eyebrows, perplexedly. I believe, after all, Alwyn, you don't really care for your fame. Not in the least, replied Alwin, laughing, why should i you long for at once as the utmost good true but there are other utmost goods my friend that i desire more keenly but are they attainable queried men and specially poets often hanker after what is not possible to secure granted responded allwin cheerfully but i do not crave for the impossible i only seek to recover what i have lost and that is what most men have lost for are insanely doing their best to lose said allwin meditatively a grasp of things eternal through the veil of things temporal there was a short silence during which liuus eyed his friend wistfully what was that adventure you spoke about in your letter from the monastery on the pass of dario he asked after a while you said you were on the search for a new sensation did you experience it alwin smiled i certainly did did it arise from a contemplation of the sight of the ruins of babylon not exactly babylon or rather the earth mounds which are now called babylon had very little to do with it don't you want to tell me about it demanded billiars abruptly not just yet answered allwin with good-humoured frankness not to-night at any rate but i will tell you never fear

Starting point is 17:27:58 for the present we've talked enough don't you think bed suggests itself as a fitting conclusion to our converse the years laughed and acquiesced and after pressing his friend to partake of something in the way of supper which refreshment was declined he preceded him to a small pleasantly cozy room his guest chamber as he called it but which was really almost exclusively set apart for all one's use alone and was always in readiness for him whenever he chose to occupy it turning on the pretty electric lamp that lit the whole apartment with a softened shaded lustre villiers shook hands heartily with his old schoolfellow and favorite comrade and bidding him a brief but cordial good-night left him to repose as soon as he was alone owen took out from his breast pocket a small velvet letter-case from which he gently grew forth a slightly pressed but unfated white flower setting this in a glass of water he placed it near his bed and watched her for a moment delicately and gradually its pressed petals expanded its golden corolla brightened in hue a subtle sweet odour permeated the air and soon the angelic immortal of the field of our death shone wondrously as a white star in the quiet room and when the lamp was extinguished and the poet slept that strange fair blossom seemed to watch him like a soft luminous eye in the darkness a symbol of things divine and lasting a token of far and brilliant worlds where even flowers cannot fade end of chapter thirty two chapter thirty three of ardath by marie carelli this libravox recording is in the public domain realism at the end of about a week or so it became very generally known

Starting point is 17:29:53 among the mystic upper ten of artistic and literary circles that Theos Alwyn, the famous author of Nurama, was, to put it fashionably, in town. According to the classic phrasing of a leading society journal, Mr. Theos Alwyn, the poet, whom some of our contemporaries erroneously reported as dead, has arrived in London from his tour in the east. He is for the present a guest of the Honorable Francis Villiers. The consequence of this and other similar announcements was that the postman seemed never to be away from Villiers's door, and every time he came he was laden with letters and cards of invitation addressed, for the most part, to Villiers himself, who with something of dismay, saw his study table getting gradually covered

Starting point is 17:30:48 with accumulating piles of society litter, such as his comprised in the various formal notifications of dinners dances valls soirees at homes and all the divers sorts of entertainment with which the english samues malt tristamon some of these invitations less ceremonious were in form of pretty little notes from great ladies who entreated their dear mr villiers to give them the extreme honour and pleasure of his company at certain select an extra-bre receptions where royalty itself would be represented adding as an earnest postscript and do bring the line you know your very interesting friend mr awen with you a good many such billet-do were addressed to alwin personally and as he opened and read them he was somewhat amused to see how many who had formerly been mere bowing acquaintances were now suddenly almost magically transformed into apparently eager admiring and devoted friends one would think these people really liked me for myself he said one morning tossing aside a particularly gushing pressing note from a lady who was celebrated for the motley crowd she managed to squeeze into her rooms regardless of any one's comfort or convenience and yet as the matter stands they actually know nothing of me i might be a villain of the deepest die a kickable cad or a chorus ruffian but so long as i have written a successful book and am a somebody a literary notable what matter my tastes my morals or my disposition if this sort of thing is fame all i can say is that it savors a very detestable vulgarity of course it does assented villiers but what else do you expect from modern society what can you expect from a community which is

Starting point is 17:32:53 chiefly ruled by moneyed parvenu but vulgarity if you go to this woman's place for instance and he glanced at the note all one had thrown on the table you will share the honors of the evening with the famous man-milliner of bond street an artist in gowns the female upholsterer and house-decorator likewise an artist the ladies who compose sonnets and regent street also artists and chiefest among the motelieu the motley crowd perhaps the so-called new apostle of aestheticism a ponderous gentleman who says nothing and does nothing and who by reason of his stupendous inertia and taciturnity is considered the greatest gun of all it's no use you are going among such people in fact no one who has any reverence left in him for the truth of art can mix with those whose profession of it is a mere trade and hip-and-hirt hypocritical sham such dunder heads would see no artistic difference between phidias and the man of to-day who hues out and sets up a common marble mantelpiece i'm not a fellow to moan over the good old times no not a bit of it for those good old times had much in them that was decidedly bad but i wish progress would not rob us altogether of refinement but society professes to be growing more and more cultured every every day observed allwin oh it professes yes that's just the mischief of it its professions are not worth a groat it professes to be one thing while anybody with eyes can see that it actually is another the old style of aristocrat and gentlemen is dying out the new style is the horsy lord the bedding duke the coal-dealing earl the stock-broking by-count trade is a very excellent thing a very necessary and important

Starting point is 17:34:52 thing, but its influences distinctly not refining. I have the greatest respect for my cheese-monger, for instance, and he has an equal respect for me, since he has found that I know the difference between real butter and buttering, but all the same, I don't want to see him in Parliament. I am arrogant enough to believe that I, even I, having studied somewhat, know more about the country's interest than he does, I view it by the light of ancient and modern historical evidence. he views it according to the demand it makes on his cheese. We may both be narrow and limited in judgment. Nevertheless, I think with all due modesty,

Starting point is 17:35:30 that his judgment is likely to be more limited than mine. But it's no good talking about it. This dear old land is given up to us sort of ignorant democracy, which only needs time to become anarchy, and we haven't got a strong man among us who dares speak out the truth of the inevitable disasters looming above us all. and society is not only vulgar but demoralized moreover what is worse is that aided by its preachers and teachers it is sinking into deeper depths of demoralization with every passing month and year of time alwin leaned back in his chair thoughtfully a sorrowful expression clouding his face surely things are not so bad as they seem villiers he said gently are you not taking a pessimistic view of affairs not at all and villiers warming with his suburb

Starting point is 17:36:19 walked up and down the room excitedly nor am i judging by the narrow observation of any particular set or a circle i look at the expressive visible outcome of the whole the plainly manifest signs of the threatening future of course there are ever so many good people earnest people thinking people but they are a mere handful compared to the overpowering millions supposed to them and whose motto is evil be thou my good now you for instance are full of splendid ideas and lucid plans of check and reform you are seized with a passionate desire to do something great for the world and you are ready to speak the truth fearlessly on all occasions but just think of the enormous task it would be to stir to even half an inch of aspiring nobleness the frightful mass of corruption in london to-day in all trades and professions it is the same story everything is a question of gain to begin with look at the church the pillar of the state there. All sorts of worthless, incompetent men are hastily thrust into livings by wealthy patrons who care not a jot as to whether they are morally or intellectually fit for their sacred mission, and a disgraceful universal muddle is the result. From this muddle, which resembles a sort of stagnant pool, emerged the strangest fungus growths. Clergymen who take to acting a miracle play

Starting point is 17:37:44 ostensibly for the purposes of charity, but really to gratify their own tastes and leanings toward the bummer's art. All the time, utterly regardless of the effect their behavior is likely to have on the minds of the unthinking populace, who are led by the newspapers and who read therein, bantering inquiries as to whether the church is coqueting with the stage, whether the two are likely to become one, and whether religion will in the future occupy no more serious consideration than the drama what is one to think when one sees clerical notabilities seated in the stalls of a theatre complacently looking on at the representation of a society play degrading in plot repulsive in detail and in nearly every case having to do with a married woman who indulges in a lover as a matter of course a playful of ambiguous side hits and equivocal jests which if the men of the church were staunch to their vocation they would be the first to condemn why i saw the other day in a fairly reliable journal that some of these excellent divines were going to start smoking sermons a sort of imitation of smoking concerts i suppose which are vile enough in all conscience but to mix up religious matters with the selfish smoke mania is viler still i say that any clergyman who will allow men to smoke in his presence while he is preaching sacred doctrine is a coarse cad and ought to be hounded out of the church

Starting point is 17:39:11 he paused his face flushing with vigorous righteous wrath awen's eyes grew dark with an infinite pain his thoughts always fled back to his dream of alcy with a tendency to draw comparisons between the past and the present the religion of that long-buried city had been mere mummery and splendid outward show what was the religion of london he moved restlessly how all the warnings of history repeat themselves he said suddenly an age of mockery sham sentiment and irreverence has always preceded a downfall can it be possible that we are already receiving hints of the downfall of england ay not only of england but of a good many other nations besides servileas or if not actual downfall change and terrific upheaval france and england particularly are the prey of the demon of realism and all the writers who should use their pens to inspire and elevate the people assist in degrading them when their books are not obscene they are blasphemous russia to joins in the cry of realism, realism, let us have the filth of the gutters, the scourgings of dust-holes, the corruption of graves,

Starting point is 17:40:18 the odors of malaria, the howlings of drunkers, the revelings of sensualists, the worst side of the world in its vilest aspect, which is the only real aspect of those who are voluntarily vile. Let us see to what a reeking depth

Starting point is 17:40:31 of unutterable, shameless brutality man can fall if he chooses, not as formerly when it was shown to what glorious heights of noble supremacy he could rise for. age, the heights are called transcendental volley, and the reeking depths are called realism. And yet what is realism, really? queried Alwyn, does anybody know? It is supposed to be the actuality of everyday existence, without any touch of romance or pathos, to soften its frequently

Starting point is 17:40:59 hideous commonplace, but the fact is, the commonplace is not the real. The highest lights of imagination in the human being failed to grasp the reality of the splendors everywhere surrounding him, and viewed rightly realism would become romance and romance realism. We see a ragged woman in the streets picking up scraps for her daily food. That is what we may call realistic, but we are not looking at the actual woman. After all, we cannot see her inner self or form any certain comprehension of the possible romance or tragedy, which that inner self has experienced or is experiencing. We see the outer appearance of the woman, but what of that?

Starting point is 17:41:38 the realism of the suffering creatures hidden history lies beyond us so far beyond us that it is called romance because it seems so impossible to fathom or understand true most absolutely true said villiers synthetically but it is a truth you will get very few to admit everything to-day is in a state of substantiality in sham we have even sham realism as well as sham sentiment sham religion sham art sham morality we have a parliament that sits in jabberism we have a parliament that sits in jabber lengthy platitudes that lead to nothing while army and navy are slowly slipping into a state of helpless desuetupe and the mutterings of discontented millions are almost unregarded this specter revolution assuming somewhat of the shape in which it appalled the french in seventeen eighty nine is dimly approaching in the distance even our london county council hears the far-off faint shadow of a very prosaic resemblance to the national assembly of that era and our weak efforts to cure cureless grievances and to deafen our ears to crying evils are very similar to the clumsy attempts made by louis the sixteenth and his partisans to botch of a terribly bad business oh the people the people they are unquestionably the flesh blood-bone and sinew of the country and the english people say what sneer as will to the contrary are a good people patient plotting forbearing strong and on the whole most equable tempered but their teachers teach them wrongly and confuse their brains instead of clearing them and throw a weight of compulsory education at their heads without caring how they may use it or how such a blow from that clenched fist of knowledge may stupefy and bewilder them and the consequences that now were a strong man to arise with a lucid brain an eloquent power of expressing truth a great sympathy with his kind and an immense indifference to his own fate in the contest he could lead this vast waiting wandering growling hydra headed london wheres wheresoever he would what an orator you are villiers said allwin with a half smile i never heard you come out so strongly before my dear fellow replied villars in a calmer tone it's enough to make any man with warm blood in his veins feel everywhere signs of weakness cowardice compromise hesitation vast

Starting point is 17:43:53 isolation, incompetency, and everywhere in thoughtful minds, the keen sense of a fate advancing like the giant in the seven-league boots at huge strides every day. The ponderous law and the solid police hem us in on each side, as though the nation were a helpless infant, toddling between two portly nurses. We dare not denounce a scoundrel and liar, but must needs put up with him, lest we should be involved in an action for libel, and we dare not knock down a vulgar bully, lest we should be given in charge for assault. Hence liars and scoundrels and vulgar bullies abound, and men skulk and grin and play the double face till they lose all manfulness.

Starting point is 17:44:32 Society sits smirking foolishly on the top of a smoldering volcano, and the chief symbols of greatness among us, religion, poetry, art, are burning as feebly as tapers in the catacombs. The church resembles a drudge, who, tired of routine, is gradually sinking into laziness and inertia, and the press. ye gods the press here speech seemed to fail him he threw himself into a chair and to relieve his mind kicked away the advertisement sheet of the morning's newspaper with so much angry vehemence that allman laughed outright what ails you now villiers he demanded mirthfully you are a regular fire-eater a would-be crusader against a modern saracen host why are you choked with such seemingly unutterable wrath what of the press it is at any rate free free credulius sitting bolt upright and shooting out the word like a bullet from a gun free the press it is the various bound slave that was ever hampered by the chains of party prejudice and the only attempt at freedom it ever makes in its lower grades is an occasional outbreak into scurility and yet think what a majestic power for good the true real liberty of the press might wield over the destinies of nations broadly viewed the press should be the press should be the

Starting point is 17:45:45 strong practical helping right hand of civilization dealing out equal justice equal sympathy equal instruction it should be the fosterer of the arts and sciences the everyday guide of the morals and culture of the people it should not specially advocate any cause save honor it should be as far as possible the unanimous voice of the nation it should be but what is it look round and judge for yourself every daily paper panders more or less to the lowest tastes of the mob well if the higher sentiments of the man are not actually sneered at. They are made a subject for feeble surprise or vapid gush. An act of heroic unselfishness meets with such a cackling chorus of amazed, half-bantering approval from the leading article writers that one is forced to accept the suggestion implied, namely that to be heroic or unselfish is evidently an outbreak of noble instinct that is entirely unexpected and remarkable, nay, even eccentric and inexplicable. The spirit of mockery pervades everything, and while the story of a moment,

Starting point is 17:46:45 murder is allowed to occupy three and four columns of print the account of some great scientific discovery or the report of some famous literary or artistic achievement is squeezed into a few lukewarm and unsatisfactory lines i have seen a female paragraphist's idiotic description of an actress's gown allowed to take more space in a journal than the review of a first-class book moreover if an honest man desirous of giving vent to an honest opinion on some crying abuse of the day were to set forth that opinion in letter form and try to give it published in a leading and important newspaper, the chances are tender one that it would never be inserted, unless he happened to know the editor or one of the staff, and perhaps not even them, because Mark Hugh, his opinion must be in accordance with the literary editor's opinion, or it will be considered of no value to the world. Consider that gigantic absurdity. Consider that when we read our newspapers, we are not learning the views of Europe on a certain point. We are absorbing the ideas of the editor, to whom everything must be submitted,

Starting point is 17:47:45 before insertion in the oracular columns we pin our faith on. Thus it is that criticism, literary criticism, at any rate, is a lost art. You know that. A man must either be dead, or consider dead, or in a clique to receive any open encouragement at all from the so-called crack critics, and the clicky men are generally such stupendous bigots for their own particular and restrictive form of style. Anything new they hate, anything daring, they treat with ridicule. some of them have no hesitation in saying they prefer Matthew Arnold. Remember he's dead? To Tennyson and Swinburd as yet living,

Starting point is 17:48:22 while as a fact if we are to go by the high standards of poetical art left us by Shakespeare, Keith, Shelley, and Byron. Matthew Arnold is about the very tamest, most unimaginative bald bard that ever kindled a lucifer match of verse and fancied at the fire of Apollo. It's utterly impossible to get either a just or broad view of literature out of cliques, and the press, like many of our other magnificent institutions, as working entirely on a wrong system but it is going to be wise or strong or diplomatic enough to reform it no one at present and we shall jog along and read up the details of vice in our dailies and weeklies till we almost lose the savour of virtue until the last degraded end comes of it all and blatant young america thrones herself on the shores of britain and censor eagerly screach of conquest echoing over old world and new

Starting point is 17:49:11 don't think it villiers exclaimed allan impetuously there is a medal in the english that will never be conquered billiars shrugged his shoulders we will hope so my dear boy he said resignedly but the medal under bad government with bad weapons and more or less untried ships can scarcely be blamed if it should not be able to resist a tremendous force majeure besides all the parliaments in the world cannot upset the laws of the universe if things are false and corrupt they must be swept away nature will not have them she will transmute and transform them somehow, no matter at what cost. It is the cry of the old prophets over again, because ye have not obeyed God's law. Therefore shall ye meet with destruction? Egoism is certainly not God's law, and we shall have to return on our imagined progressive steps

Starting point is 17:49:57 and be beaten with rods of affliction till we understand what his law is. It is, for one thing, the wheel that keeps this universe going. Our laws are no use, whatever, in the management of his sublime cosmos, nations like individuals are punished for their own willful misdeeds the punishment may be tardy but sure as death it comes and i fancy america will be our scourge in the lord's hand as the bible hath it that pretty dollar-crusted young republican wants an aristocracy she will engraft it on the old roots here in fact she has already begun to engraft it it is even on the cards that she may need a monarchy if she does she will plant it here then it will be time for englishmen to adopt another country and forget if they can their own disgraced nationality and yet if as shakespeare says england were to herself but true if she had great statesmen as of your intellectual earnest self-abnegating fearless unhesitating workers who would devote themselves heart and soul to her welfare she might gather not only her colonies but america also to her knee as a mother gathers children and the most magnificent christian empire the world has ever seen

Starting point is 17:51:08 might rise up a supreme marvel of civilization and union that would make all other nations wonder and revere but the selfishness of the day and the ruling passion of gain are the fatal obstructions in the path of such a desirable millennium he ended abruptly he had unburdened his mind to one he knew understood him and sympathized with him and he turned to the perusal of some letters just received the two friends were sitting that morning in the breakfast-room a charming little octagonal apartment looking out on a small very small garden which despite the london atmosphere looked just now very bright with tastefully arranged parterres of white and yellow crocuses mingled with the soft blue of the dainty that frank-faced little blossom which seems to express such an honest confidence in the goodness of god's sky a few spears of dissipated appearance were bathing their sooty plumes in a pool of equally city water left in the garden as a token of last night's rain and they splashed and twittered and debated and fussed with each other concerning their ablutions with almost as much importance as could have been displayed by the effeminate romans of the augustine era when disporting themselves in their sumptuous termine owen's eyes rested on them unseemly his thoughts were very far away from all his surroundings before his imagination rose a gahenna like picture of the world in which he had to live the world of fashion and form and usage the world he was to try and roused to a sense of better things a promethian task indeed to fill human life with new symbols of hope to set up a white standard of faith amid the swift rushing on and reckless tramping down of desperate battle to pour out on all rich or poor worthy or unworthy the divine born balm of sympathy which when given freely and sincerely from man to man serves often as a check device a silent yet all eloquent rebuke to crime and can more easily instill into refractory intelligences things of god and desires for good than any preacher's argument no matter how finely worded

Starting point is 17:53:07 to touch the big wayward better heart of humanity could he in very truth do it or was the work too vast for his ability tormented by various cross currents of feeling he gave vent to a troubled sigh and looked dubiously at his friend in such a state of things as you described views he said what a useless unit i am a poet who wants me in this age of sale and barter is not a producer of poems always considered more or less of a fool nowadays no matter how much his works may be in fashion for the moment i am sure in spite of the success of noahama that the era of poetry has passed and moreover it certainly seems to have given place to the very baldest and most unbeautious forms of prose as for instance if a book is written which contains what is called poetic prose the critics are all ready to denounce it as turgid overladen strained for effect and hysterical sublime hyna's rice builder which is one of the most exquisite poems and prose ever given to the world is nearly incomprehensible to the majority of english minds so much so indeed that the english translators in their rendering of it have not only lost the delicate glamour of its very light fancifulness but have also blunted all the fine points of its dazzling sarcasm and wealth of imagery it is evident enough that the larger mass of people prefer mediocrity to high excellence else such a number of merely mediocre works of art would not and could not be tolerated and as long as mediocrity is permitted to hold ground it is almost an impossibility to do much toward raising the standard of literature the few who love the best authors are as a mere drop in the ocean of the ocean of the world of the world of the few who love the best authors are as a mere drop in the ocean of the ocean of the ocean of the world. those who not only choose the worst, but who also fail to see any difference between good and bad. True enough, assented Dillia, still the few you speak of are worth all the rest.

Starting point is 17:54:51 For the few, Homer wrote, Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Apectetus, and the few are capable of teaching the majority if they will only set about it rightly, but at present they are setting about it wrongly. All children are taught to read, but no child is guided in what to read. This is like giving a loaded gun to a boy and saying shoot away, no matter in which direction you point your aim. shoot yourself if you like and others too anyhow you've got the gun of course there are a few fellows who have occasionally drawn up a list of books as suitable for everybody's perusal but then these lists cannot be taken as true criterion as they all differ from one another as much as church sex one would be instructing the art of reading says we ought all to study tom jones and i don't see the necessity of that and oddly enough these lists scarcely ever include the name of a poet which is the absurdest mistake ever made a liberal education in the highest works of poesy is absolutely necessary to the thinking abilities of man but allwin you need not trouble yourself about what is good for the million and what isn't whatever you write is sure to be read now you've got the ear of the public the fair large ear of the ass's head which disguised his bottom the weaver who frankly says of himself i am such a tender ass if my hair do but tickle me i must scratch owen smiled he was thinking of what his shadow self had said on this very subject a book or poem to be great and keep its greatness hereafter must be judged by the natural instincts of peoples

Starting point is 17:56:17 this world-wide decision has never yet been and never will be hastened by any amount of written criticism it is the responsive beat of the enormous pulse of life that thrills through all mankind high and low gentle and simple its great throves are slow and solemnly measured yet if once it answers to a poet's touch that poet's name is made glorious forever he in the character of saluma has seemed to utter these sentiments many ages ago and now the words repeated themselves in his thoughts with a new and deep intensity of meaning of course added villiers suddenly you must expect plenty of adverse criticism now as it is known beyond all doubt that you are alive and able to read what is written concerning you but if you once pay attention to critics you may as well put a side pen altogether as it is the business of these worthies never to be entirely satisfied with anything even shelley and byron in the critical capacity abused keats till the poor suffering youth who promised to be greater than either of them died of a broken heart as much as disease this sort of injustice will go on to the end of time or till men become more christianized than paul's version of christianity has ever yet made them here a knock at the door interrupted the conversation the servant entered bringing a note gorgeously crested and coroneted in gold the years to whom it was addressed opened and read it what shall we do about this he asked when his man had retired it is an invitation from the duchess de la she asked us to go and dine with her next week a party of twenty reception afterward i think we'd better accept what do you say owen roused himself from his reverie anything to please you my dear boy he answered cheerfully but i haven't the faintest idea who the duchess de la twazis is no well she is an englishwoman who is married a french duke he is a delightful old fellow the pink of courtesy and the model of perfect egotism a true parisian and of course an atheist a very polished atheist too with a most charming reliance on his own infallibility his wife writes novels which have a slight leaning toward zolaism she is an extremely witty woman sarcastic and cold-blooded enough to be a female robespier yet on the whole amusing as a study of what curious nondescript forms

Starting point is 17:58:28 the feminine nature can adopt unto itself if it chooses she has an immense respect for genius mind i say genius advisedly because she really is one of those rare few who cannot endure mediocrity everything at her house is the best of his kind and the people she entertains are the best of theirs her welcome of you will be at any rate a sincerely admiring one and as i think in spite of your desire for quiet you will have to show yourself somewhere it may as well be there alwin looked dubious and not at all resigned to the prospect of showing himself your description of her does not strike me as particularly attractive he said i cannot endure that nineteenth-century hermaphroditic production a mannish woman oh but she isn't altogether mannish declared villiers besides i mustn't forget to add that she is extremely beautiful allwin shrugged his shoulders indifferently his friend noticed the gesture and laughed still impervious to beauty old boy he said gaily you always were i remember alwin flushed a little and rose from his chair not always he answered steadily there have been times in my life when the beauty of women mere physical beauty has exercised great influence over me but i have lately learned how a fair face may sometimes mask a foul mind and unless i can see the substance of soul looking through the semblance of body then i know that the beauty i seem to behold is mere appearance and not reality hence unless your beautiful duchess be like the king's daughter of david's psalm all-glorious within her apparent loveliness will have no charm for me now and he smiled and spoke in a less serious tone if you have no objection i'm off to my room to scribble for an hour or so come for me if you want me you know i don't in the least mind being disturbed the villiers detained him a moment and looked inquisitively at him full in the eyes you've got some singular new attraction about you he said with a strange sense of keen edward excitement as he met his friends calm yet flashing glance something mysterious something that compels what is it i believe that visit of yours to the ruins of babylon had a more important motive

Starting point is 18:00:25 then you will admit moreover i believe you are in love in love alwin laughed a little as he repeated the words what a foolish term that is when you come to think of it for to be in love suggests the possibility of getting out again which if love be true can never happen say that i love and you will be nearer the mark now don't look so mystified and don't ask me any more questions just now to-night when we are sitting together in the library i'll tell you the whole story of my babylonian adventure and with a light parting wave of the hand he left the room and villiers heard him humming a tomb softly to himself as he ascended the stairs to his own apartments wherever since he arrived he had made it his custom to do two or three hours steady writing every morning for a moment or so after he had gone stood lost in thought with nid eyebrows and meditative eyes then rousing himself he went on to his study and sitting down at his desk wrote an answer to the duchess de la santoise accepting her invitation end of chapter thirty three chapter thirty four of ardath by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain chapter thirty four rewards of fame and habitual resident in london who is gifted with a keen faculty of hearing and observation will soon learn to know instinctively the various characteristics of the people who call upon him by the particular manner in which each one handles his door-bell or knocker he will recognize the timid from the bold the modest from the arrogant the meditative thinker from the bustling man of fashion the familiar friend from the formal acquaintance every individual's method of announcing his or her arrival to the household is distinctly different and villiers who studied a little of everything had not failed to take note of the curiously diversified degrees of single and double wrapping

Starting point is 18:02:30 by means of which his visitors sought admittance to his abode in fact he rather prided himself on being able to guess with almost invariable correctness what special type of man or woman was at his door provided he could hear the whole direpason of their knock from beginning to end when he was shut in his den however the sounds were muffled by distance and he could form no just judgment sometimes indeed he did not hear them at all especially if he happened to be playing his cello at the time so that this morning he was considerably startled when having finished his letter to the duchess de la saint-tois along in persistent rat-tatting echoed noisely through the house like the smart quick blows of a carpenter's hammer a species of knock that was entirely unfamiliar to him and that while so emphaticing character suggested to his mind neither friend nor foe he laid down his pen listened and waited in a minute or two his servant entered the room if you please sir a lady to see mr allwin shall i show her up villiers rose slowly out of his chair and stood eyeing his man in blank bewilderment a lady to see mr allwin he repeated his thoughts instantly reverting to his friend's vaguely hinted love affair what name she gives no name sir she says it isn't needed mr allan will know who she is mr allwin will know who she is will he murmured villiers dubiously what is she like young and pretty over the man-servant's staid countenance came the glimmer of a demure respectful smile oh no sir not young sir a person about fifty i should say this was mystifying a person about fifty who could she be liggers hastily considered there must be some mistake he thought at any rate he would see the unknown intruder himself first and find out what her business was before breaking in upon allwin's peaceful studies upstairs

Starting point is 18:04:32 show the lady in here he said i can't disturb mr arwin just now the servant retired and soon reappeared ushering in a tall gaunt black-robed female who walked with the stride of a dragoon and the demeanour of a police inspector and who merely nodding briskly in response of villiers's amazed bow selected with one comprehensive glance the most comfortable chair in the room and seated herself at ease therein she then put up her veil displaying a long narrowing face, cold, pale, arrogant eyes, a nose inclined to redness at the tip, and a thin, close-set mouth lined with little sarcastic wrinkles, which came into prominent and unbecoming play as soon as she began to speak, which she did almost immediately. I suppose I'd better introduce myself to you, Mr. Alwin, she said, with a condescending and confident air, though really we know each other so well by reputation that there seemed scarcely any necessity for it.

Starting point is 18:05:31 Of course, you have heard of Tiger Lily. The ears gazed at her helplessly. He had never felt so uncomfortable in all his life. Here was a strange woman who had actually taken bodily possession of his apartment, as though it were her own, who had settled herself down in his particular pet Louis Cato's chair, who stared at him with this scrutinizing complacency of a professional physiognomist, and who seemed to think no explanation of her extraordinary conduct was necessary, inasmuch as of course he villiers had heard of tiger lily it was very singular almost like madness perhaps she was mad how could he tell she had a remarkably high

Starting point is 18:06:10 knobby brow a brow with an unpleasantly bald appearance owing to the uncompromising way in which her hair was brushed well off it he had seen such brows before in certain spiritualists who believed or pretended to believe in the suddenly willed dematerialization of matters and they were mad he knew or else very foolishly feigning madness endeavouring to compose his bewildered mind he fixed glass in eye and regarded who threw it with an inquiring solemnity he would have spoken but before he could utter a word she went on rapidly you are not in the least like the person i imagined you to be however that doesn't matter literary celebrities are always so different to what we expect pardon me madam began the years politely you are making a slight error my servant probably did not explain i am not mr allwin my name is villiers mr allwin is my guest but he is at present very much occupied and unless your business is extremely urgent certainly it is urgent said the lady decisively otherwise i should not have come and so you are not mr allwin well i thought you couldn't be now then will you have the kindness to tell mr allwin i am here by this time villiers had recovered his customary self-possession and he met her commanding glance with a somewhat defiant cool i'm not aware to whom i have the honour of speaking he said frigidly perhaps you will oblige me with your name my name doesn't in the least matter she replied calmly though i will tell you afterward if you wish but you don't seem to understand i-i am tiger-lily the situation was becoming ludicrous villiers felt strongly disposed to laugh i'm afraid i'm very ignorant he said with a humorous sparkle in his blue eyes but really i am quite in the dark as to your meaning will you explain the lady's nose grew deeper of tint and the look she shot at him had quite a killing vindictiveness with evident difficulty she forced to smile oh you must have heard of me she declared with a ponderous attempt at playfulness you read the papers don't you some of them returned villiers cautiously

Starting point is 18:08:14 not all not the sunday ones for instance still you can't possibly have helped sing my descriptions of famous people at home you know i write forever so many journals i think and she became complacently reflective i think i may say with perfect truth that i have interviewed everybody who has ever done anything worth noting from our biggest provision dealer to our latest sensational novelist and all my articles are signed tiger lily now do you remember oh you must remember i am so very well known there was a touch of genuine anxiety in her voice that was almost pathetic the vigors made no attempt to soothe her wounded vanity i have no recollection whatever of the name he said bluntly but that is easily accounted for as i never read newspaper descriptions of celebrities so you are an interviewer for the press exactly and the lady leaned back more comfortably in the luicator's and of course i want to interview mr allwin i want here drawing out a business-looking note-book from her pocket she opened it and glanced at the different headings therein enumerated i want to describe his personal appearance to know when he was born and where he was educated whether his father or mother had literary tastes whether he had or has putters or whether he is married or likely to be and how much money has made by his book she paused and gave an upper glance at billiress who returned it with a blank and stony stare then she resumed energetic i wish to know what are his methods of work where he gets his ideas and how elaborates them how many hours he writes at a time and whether he is an early riser also what he usually takes for dinner whether he drinks wine or is a total abstainer and at one hour he retires to rest all this is so intensely interesting to the public perhaps he might be inclined to give me a few notes of his recent tour in the east and of course i should be very glad if he will state his opinions on the climate customs and governments of the countries through which he has passed

Starting point is 18:10:08 it's a great pity this is not his own house it is a pretty place and a description of it would read well let me see and she meditated i think i could manage to insert a few lines about this apartment it would be easy to say the picturesque library in the house of the honoured francis will where mr allwin received me etc yes that would do very well very well indeed i should like to know whether he has a residence of his own anywhere and if not whether he intends to take one in london because in the latter case it would be as well to ask for him to ask for whether he has a residence of his own anywhere and if not whether he intends to take one in london because in the latter case it would be as well to ask for obtained by whom he intends to have it furnished a little discussion on upholstery is so especially fascinating to my readers then naturally i am desirous to learn how the erroneous rumour of his death was first started whether in the course of his travels he met with some serious accident or illness which gave rise to the report now and she shut her notebook and folded her hands i don't mind waiting an hour or more if necessary but i am sure if you will tell mr allan who i am and what i have come for he will be only too delighted to see me with as little delay as possible she ceased the years drew a long breath his compressed lips parted in a slightly sarcastic smile squaring his shoulders with that peculiar pugnacious gesture of his which always indicated to those who knew him well that his mind was made up and that nothing would induce him to alter he said in a tone of stiff civility i am sorry madam very sorry but i am compelled to inform you that your visit here is entirely useless were i to tell my friend of the purpose you have in view concerning him he would not feel so much flattered as you seem to imagine but rather insulted excuse my frankness you have spoken plainly i must speak plainly too provision dealers and sensational story-writers may find that it serves their purpose to be interviewed if only is a means of gaining extra advertisement but a truly great and conscientious author like theos all one is quite above all that sort of thing the lady raised her pale eyebrows with an expression of interrogative scorn above all that sort of thing she echoed incredulously dear me how very extraordinary

Starting point is 18:12:09 i've always found all our celebrities so exceedingly pleased to be given a little additional notoriety and i should have thought a poet this with much depreciative emphasis would have been particularly glad of the chance because of course you know that unless a very astonishing success is made as in the case of mr all one's newer halma people really take such slight interest in writers averse that it is hardly ever worth while interviewing them precisely agreed villiers ironically the private history of a prize-fighter would naturally be much more thrilling he paused his temper was fast rising but quickly reflecting that after all the indignation he felt was not so much against his visitors against the system she represented he resumed quietly may i ask you madam whether you have ever interviewed her majesty the queen her glance wept slightingly over him certainly not such a thing would be impossible then you have never thought went on vigour's with a thrill of earnestness and his manly vibrating voice that it might be quite as impossible to interview a great poet who if great indeed is in every way as royal as any sovereign that ever adorned a throne i do not speak of petty verse writers i say a great poet by which term i imply a great creative genius who is honestly faithful to his high vocation such an one could no more tell you his methodist's which term i imply a great creative genius who is honestly faithful to his high vocation such an one could no more tell you his method of work, then a rainbow could prattle about the way it shines. And as for his personal history, I should like to know by what right society is entitled to pry into the sacred matters of a man's private life, simply because he happens to be famous.

Starting point is 18:13:41 I consider the modern love of prying and probing into other people's affairs a most degrading and abominable sign of the times. It is morbid, unwholesome, and utterly contemptible. Moreover, I think that writers who consent to be interviewed condemn themselves as literary charlatans, unworthy of them. of that profession they have wrongfully adopted you see i have the courage of my opinions on this matter in fact i believe if every one were to speak their honest mind openly a better state of things might be the result and interviewing would gradually come to be considered in its true life namely as a vulgar and illegitimate method of the advertisement i mean no disrespect to you madam this as the lady suddenly put down a veil thrust her notebook in her pocket and rose somewhat bouncingly from her chair i'm only sorry you should find such an occupation as that of the interviewer open to you i can scarcely imagine such work to be congenial to a lady's feelings as in the case of really distinguished personages she must assuredly meet with many a rebuff i hope i have not offended you by my bluntness here he trailed off into inaudible polite murmurs while the tiger lily

Starting point is 18:14:46 march steadily toward the door oh dear no i am not in the least offended she retorted contemptuously on the contrary this has been a most amusing experience most amusing i assure you and quite unique wide and suddenly stopping short she turned smartly round and gesticulated with one hand i've interviewed all the favorite actors and actresses in london the biggest brewers in great britain have received me at their country mansions and had given me all the particulars of their lives from earliest childhood the author of hugger muggers' curse took the greatest pains to explain to me how he first collected the materials for his design the author of that most popular story darling's twins gave me a description of all the houses he has ever lived in he even told me where he purchased his writing-paper pens and ink and to think that a poet should be too grand to be interrogated oh the idea is really very funny quite too funny for anything she gave a short laugh then relapsing into severity she added you will i hope tell mr allwin i called failures bide assuredly thank you because it is possible he may have different opinions to yours in that case if he writes me a line fixing an appointment i shall be very pleased to call again i will leave my card and if mr allan is a sensible man he will certainly hold broader ideas on the subject of interviewing then you appear to entertain you are quite sure i cannot see him quite there was no mistake about the firm emphasis of this reply oh very well here she opened the door rattling the handle with rather an unnecessary violence i'm sorry to have taken up any of your time mr villiers good morning good morning returned villiers calmly touching the bell that his servant might be in readiness to show her out but the baffled tiger lily was not altogether gone she looked back her face wrinkling into one of those strangely unbecoming expressions of grim playfulness i've half a mind to make an at home out of you she said nodding at him energetically only you're not important enough the years burst out laughing he was not proof against this touch of humour and on a sudden good-natured impulse sprang to the door and shook hands with a no indeed i am not he said with a charming smile think of it i haven't even invented a new biscuit come let me see you into the hall i'm really sorry

Starting point is 18:16:59 if i've spoken roughly but i assure you all-once not at all the sort of man you want for interviewing he's far too modest and noble hearty believe me i'm not romancing a bit i'm in earnest there are some few fine menly gifted fellows left in the world who do their work for the love of the work alone and not for the sake of notoriety and he is one of them now i am not certain if you were quite candid with me you'd admit that you yourself don't think much of the people who actually like to be interviewed his amiable glance his kindly manner took the gaunt female by surprise and threw her quiet off her guard she laughed a natural unforce laugh in which there was not a trace of bitterness he was really a delightful young man she thought in spite of his old-fashioned out of the way notions well perhaps i don't she replied frankly but you see it is not my business to think about them at all i simply interview them and i generally find they are very willing and often eager to tell me all about themselves even to quite trifling and unnecessary details and of course each one thinks himself for herself the only or the chief celebrity in london or for that matter in the world i've always to tone down the egotistical part of it a little especially with authors for if i were to write out exactly what they separately save their contemporaries it would be simply frightful they would be all at daggers drawn in no time i assure you interviewing is often a most delicate and difficult business would it were altogether impossible said villiers heartily but as long as there is a plethora of little authors and a scarcity of great ones so long i suppose must it continue for little men love notariot and great ones shrink from it just in the same way that good women like flattery while bad ones court it i hope you don't bear me any grudge because i consider my friend allan good and great and resent the idea of his being placed no matter with what excellent intention soever on the level of the small and mean the lady surveyed him with a twinkle of latent approval and her pale-colored eyes not in the least she replied in a tone of perfect

Starting point is 18:18:55 good humor on the contrary i rather admire your frankness still i think that as matters stand nowadays you are very odd and i suppose your friend is odd too but of course there must be exceptions to every rule at the same time you should recollect that in many people's opinion to be interviewed is one of the chiefest rewards of fame figures shrugged his shoulders expressively oh yes it seems a poor reward to you no doubt she continued smilingly but there are no end of authors who would do anything to secure the notoriety of it now suppose that after all mr allan does care to submit to the operation you will let me know won't you certainly i will and villiers accepting her card in which was inscribed to her own private name and address shook hands once more and bowed her courteously out no sooner had the door closed upon her than he sprang upstairs three steps at a time and broke impetuously in upon allwin who seated at the table covered the papers looked up with a surprised smile at the abrupt fashion of his entrance in a few minutes he had disburdened himself of the whole story of the tiger lily's visit telling it in a whimsical way of his own much to the amusement of his friend who listened pen in hand with a half-laughing half-perplexed light in his fine poetic eyes now did i express the proper opinion he demanded in conclusion was i not right in thinking you would never consent to be interviewed right why of course you were responded all when quickly can you imagine me calmly stating the details of my personal life and history to a strange woman and allowing her to turn it into a half-geney article for some society journal but villiers what an extraordinary state of things we are coming to if the press can actually condescend to employ a sort of spy or literary detective to inquire into the private experience of each man or woman who comes honorably to the front honorably or dishonorably it doesn't matter which said villiers that is just the worst of it one day it is an author who is interviewed the next it is a murderer now a statesman then a ballet dancer the same honor is paid to all who have won any distinct notoriety and what is so upset

Starting point is 18:20:55 is that the reading million don't seem able to distinguish between notoriety and fame the two things are so widely utterly apart byron's reputation for instance was much more notoriety during his life than fame while keats had actually laid hold on fame while as yet deeming himself unfamous it's curious but true nevertheless that very often the writers who thought least of themselves during their lifetime have become the most universally renowned after their deaths shakespeare i dare say had no very exaggerated idea of the very exaggerated idea of the writers who thought least of themselves during their lifetime have become the most universally renowned after their deaths shakespeare i dare say had no very exaggerated idea of the beauty of his own plays, he seemed to have written just the best that was in him, without caring what anybody thought of it. And I believe that is the only way to succeed in the end. In the end, repeated all in dreamily, in the end, no worldly success is worth attaining. A few thousand years and the greatest are forgotten. Not the greatest, Savileas Womley, the greatest must always be remembered.

Starting point is 18:21:46 No, my friend, not even the greatest. Do you not think there must have been great and wise and gifted men in Tyre in Sidon and Carthage and Babylon. There are five men mentioned in Scripture as being ready to write swiftly, Siria, Debria, Salimia, Econus, and Ariel. There, where is the no doubt admirable work done by these? Perhaps, who knows, one of them was as great as Homer ingenious? We cannot tell. True, we cannot tell, responded to yours meditatively, but Alwyn, if you persist in doing things through such tremendous vistas of time and in measuring the future by the past, then one may ask, what is the use of anything.

Starting point is 18:22:22 There is no use in anything, except in the making of a strong, persistent, steady effort after good, said Alvin earnestly. We men are cast, as aware, between two swift currents, wrong and right, self and God, and it seems more easy to shut our eyes and drift into self and wrong than to strike out brave arms and swim, despite all difficulty toward God and right. Yet if we once take the latter course, we shall find it the most natural and the least fatiguing, and with every separate stroke of high endeavor we carry others with us, we raise our race, we bear it onward, upward, and the true reward or best result to fame is that having

Starting point is 18:22:59 succeeded in winning brief attention from the multitude a man may be able to pronounce one of God's lightning messages of inspired truth plainly to them, while they are yet willing to stand and listen. This momentary hearing from the people is, as I take it, the sole reward any writer can dare to hope for, and when he obtains it he should remember that his audience remains with him but a very short while so that it is his duty to see that he employ his chance well not to win applause for himself but to cheer and lift others to noble thought and still more noble fulfilment the years regarded him wistfully almond my dear fellow do you want to be the sycophis of this air you will find the stone of evil heavy to roll upward moreover it will exhibit the usually painful tendency to slip back and crush you how can it crush me asked his friend with a serene smile my heart cannot be broken or my spirit dismayed, and as for my body it can but die, and death comes to every man. I would rather try to roll up the stone, however fruitless the task, then sit idly looking at it,

Starting point is 18:23:59 and doing nothing. Your heart cannot be broken. Ah, how do you know? And though you shook his head dubiously, what man can be certain of his own destiny? Every man can will his own destiny, returned all one firmly. That is just it, but here we are getting into a serious discussion, and I had determined to talk no more on such subjects till tonight. And tonight we are to go in for them thoroughly, I suppose, and quite valious with a quick look. Tonight, my dear boy, you will have to decide whether you consider me mad or sane, said all one cheerfully. I shall tell you truths that seem like romances and facts that sound like babels. Moreover, I shall have to assure you that miracles do happen whenever God chooses, in spite of all human denial of their possibility.

Starting point is 18:24:43 Do you remember Waitley's clever skit, historical? doubts of Napoleon I, showing how easy it was to logically prove that Napoleon never existed. That ought to enlighten people as to the very precise and convincing manner, in which we can, if we choose, argue away what is nevertheless an incontestable fact. Thus do skeptics deny miracles, yet we live surrounded by miracles. Do you think me crazed for saying so? The ears laugh, crazed? No, indeed.

Starting point is 18:25:09 I wish every man in London were as sane and sound as you are. Ah, but wait till to-night, and all one's eyes sparkle mirthfully. perhaps you will alter your opinion then here collecting his scattered manuscripts he put them by i've done work for the present he said shall we go for a walk somewhere there is assented and they left the room together end of chapter thirty four chapter thirty five of ardave by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain one against many the beautiful and socially popular duchess de la san fozzi sat her at brilliantly appointed dinner-table and flashed her bright eyes comprehensively round the board her party was complete she had secured twenty of the best-known men and women of letters in all london and yet she was not quite satisfied with the result attained one dark splendid face on her right hand had taken the lustre out of all the rest one quiet courteous smile on a mouth haughty yet sweet had somehow or other made the entertainment a little worth in her own estimation she was very fair to look upon very witty very worldly wise but for once her beauty seemed to herself defective and powerless to chawn while the graceful cloak of social

Starting point is 18:26:47 hypocrisy she was always accustomed to wear would not adapt itself to her manner to night so well as usual the author of norhamma the successful poet whose acquaintance she had very eagerly sought to make was not at all the kind of man she had expected and now when he was beside her as her guest she did not quite know what to do with him she had met plenty of poets so-called before and had for the most part found them insignificant-looking men with an enormous opinion of themselves and a suave condescending contempt for all others of their craft but this being this stately kingly creature with the noble head and far-gazing luminous eyes this man whose every gesture was graceful whose demeanour was more royal than that of many a crowned monarch whose voice had such a singular soft thrill of music in its tone e was a personage for whom she had not been prepared and in whose presence she felt curiously embarrassed and almost ill at ease and she was not the only one present who experienced these odd sensations alwyn's appearance when with his friend billiards he had first entered the duchess's drawing-room that evening and had there been introduced to his hostess had been a sort of revelation to the languid fashionable guests assembled. Sudden quick whispers were exchanged, surprised glances, how unlike he was to the general type

Starting point is 18:28:33 of the nervous, fagged, dyspeptic literary man. And now that everyone was seated at dinner, the same impression remained on all, an impression that was to some dispeptic literary man. And now that was to some disagreeable and humiliating and that yet could not be got over namely that this poet whom in a way the duchess and her friends had intended to patronize was distinctly superior to them all nature as though proud of her handy work proclaimed him as such while he quite unconscious of the effect he produced wondered why this bevy of human beings most of whom were more or less distinguished in the world of art and literature had so little to say for themselves their conversation was banal tame ordinary they might have been well-behaved elegantly dressed peasants for aught they said of wise cheerful or witty the weather the parks the theatres the newest actress and the newest remedies for indigestion these sorts of subjects were bandied about from one to the other with a vaguely tame persistence that was really irritating the question of remedies for indigestion seemed to hold ground longest owing to the variety of opinions expressed thereon the duchess grew more and more inwardly vexed and her little foot beat an impatient tattoo under the table as she replied with careless brevity to a few of the commonplace observations addressed to her and cast an occasional annoyed glance at her lord

Starting point is 18:30:22 m le duc a thin military-looking individual with a well-waxed and pointed moustache whose countenance suggested an admirably executed mask it was a face that said absolutely nothing yet beneath its cold impassiveness linked the saddo-like complex half-civilized half brutish mind of the born-and-bred parisian the goblin creature with whom pure virtues whether in man or woman are no more sacred than nuts to a monkey the suave charm of a polished civility sat on m le duc's smooth brow and beamed in his urbane smile his manners were exquisite his courtesy irreproachable his whole demeanour that of a very precise and elegant master of deportment yet notwithstanding his calm and perfectly self-possessed exterior he was oddly enough the frequent prey of certain extraordinary and ungovernable passions there were times when he became impossible to himself and when to escape from his own horrible thoughts he would plunge headlong into an orgy of wild riot and debauchery such as might have made the hair of his respectable english acquaintances stand on end have they known through what an extent he carried his excesses but at these seasons of moral attack he went abroad for his health as he said delicately touching his chest in order to suggest some interesting latent weakness there and in these migratory excursions his wife never accompanied him nor did she complain of his absence when he returned after two or three months he looked more the chevalier sans pour and saint-re-re-re-voge

Starting point is 18:32:21 than ever and neither he nor the fair partner of his joys and sorrows even committed such a breach of politeness as to acquire into each other's doings during the time of their separation so they jogged on together presenting the most delightful outward show of wedded harmony to the world and only a few were found to hazard the remark that the racy novels madame la duchess wrote to while away her duller hours were singularly bitter in tone for a woman whose lot in life was so extremely enviable on this particular evening the duke affected to be utterly unconscious of the meaning looks his beautiful spouse shot at him every now and then looks which plainly said why don't you start some interesting subject of conversation and stop these people from talking such every day he was a clever man in his way and his present mood was malign and mischievous therefore he went on eating daintily and discussing mild platitudes in the most languidly amiable manner imaginable enjoying to the full the mental confusion and discomfort of his guests confusion and discomfort which as he very well knew was the psychological result of their having one in their midst whose life and character were totally opposite to and distinctly separate from their own. As Emerson truly says, let the world beware when a thinker comes into it, and here was this

Starting point is 18:34:04 thinker, this type of the godlike in man, this uncomfortably sincere personage whose eyes were clear of falsehood, whose genius was incontestable, whose fame had taken society by assault, and who therefore was entitled to receive every attention and consideration. Everybody had desired to see him, and here he was, the great man, the new celebrity, and now that he was actually present, no one knew what to say to him. Moreover, there was a very general tendency in the company to avoid his direct gaze. People fidgeted on their chairs and looked aside or bad, downward whenever his glance accidentally fell on them and to the analytical volterian mind of m le duc there was something grimly humorous in the whole situation

Starting point is 18:35:04 he was a great admirer of physical strength and beauty and allwin's noble face and fine figure had won his respect though of the genius of the poet he knew nothing and cared less it was enough for all the purposes of social usage that the author of Nurama was considered illustrious, no matter whether he deserved the appellation or not, and so the Duke satirically amused at the obvious embarrassment of the other notabilities assembled did nothing whatsoever to relieve or to lighten the conversation, which remained so utterly dull, and inane that Alwyn, who had been compelled for politeness's sake to appear interested in the account of a bicycle race detailed to him by a very masculine-looking lady doctor whose seated table was next his own began to feel a little weary and to wonder dismally how long this feast of reason and flow of soul was going to last the years two whose easy good-natured and clever talk generally gave some sparkle and animation to the dreariest social gathering was to-night and-night and-a-natured and clever talk was to-night and and usually tacitone.

Starting point is 18:36:19 He was bored by his partner, a middle-aged woman, with a mania for philology, and, moreover, his thoughts like those of most of the person's present, were centered on Alwyn, whom every now and then he regarded with a certain wistful wonder and reverence.

Starting point is 18:36:37 He had heard the whole story of the field of Ardath, and he knew not how much to accept of it as true, or how much to set down to his friend's ardent imagination, He had come to a fairly logical explanation of the whole matter, namely that, as the city of Al-Cyrrhus had been proved a dream, so surely the visit of the angel-maiden Edrus must have been a dream likewise, that the trance at the monastery of Daryel, followed by the constant reading of the passages from Estrus and the treatise of Al-Gazali, had produced a vivid impression on Alwyn's susceptible brain. which had resolved itself into the visionary result narrated he found in this the most practical and probable view of what must otherwise be deemed by mortal minds incredible and being a frank and honest fellow he had not scrupled to openly tell his friend what he thought alwin had received his remarks with the most perfect sweetness and equanimity but all the same had remained unchanged in his opinion as to the reality of his betrothal to his angel love in heaven

Starting point is 18:37:50 in one or two points had certainly baffled billiars and perplexed him in his would-be precise analysis of the circumstances first there was the remarkable change in allwin's own nature from an embittered sarcastic disappointed violently ambitious man he had become softened gracious kindly showing the greatest tenderness and forethought for others even in small everyday trifles while for himself he took no care he wore his fame as lightly as a child might wear a flower just plucked and soon to fade his intelligence seemed to expand itself into a broad loving simplicity comprehension of the wants and afflictions of humankind and he was writing a new poem of which willius had seen some lines that had fairly amazed him by their grandeur of conception and clear passion of utterance thus it was evident there was no morbidness in him no obscurity nothing eccentric nothing that removed him in any way from his fellows accept that royal personality of his, that strong, beautiful, well-balanced spirit and him which exercised such a bewildering spell and all who came within its influence. He believed himself loved by an angel. Well, if there were angels, why not? Villiers argued the proposition thus. Whether we are Christians, Jews, Buddhists, or Mohammedans, we are supposed to

Starting point is 18:39:14 accept angels as forming part of the system of our faith. If we are nothing, then of course we believe in nothing, but granted we are something, then we are bound in honor, if consistent, to acknowledge that angels help to guide our destinies. And if, as we are assured by holy writ, such loftier beings do exist, why should they not communicate with, and even love human creatures, provided those human creatures are worthy of their tenderness? Certainly viewed by all the chief religions of the world, there is nothing new or outrageous in the idea of an angel descending to the help of man. Such thoughts as these were in his mind now as he ever and anon, glanced across the glittering table, with its profusion of lights and flowers, to where his poet friend sat,

Starting point is 18:40:02 slightly leaning back in his chair, with a certain half-perplexed, half-disappointed expression, on his handsome features, though his eyes brightened into a smile as he caught Villiers' look, and he gave a small, a scarcely perceptible shrug, as who should, say, is this your brilliant Duchess, your witty and cultured society? Villiers flashed back an amused, responsive glance, and then conscientiously, strove to pay more attention to the irrepressible feminine philologist beside him, determining to take her, as he said to himself by way of penance, for his unremembered sins. After a while there came one of those extraordinary sudden rushes of Gabble that often occur

Starting point is 18:40:47 at even the stiffest dinner-party, a galloping race of tongues, in which nothing really distinct as her, but in which each talks to the other, as though moved by an impulse of sheer desperation. This burst of noise was a relief after the strained murmurs of trite commonplaces, but it had to been the order of the hour,

Starting point is 18:41:06 and the fair duchess somewhat easier in her mind, turned anew to Alwyn, with greater grace and gentleness of manner, than she had yet shown. I am afraid, she said smilingly, you must find us all very stupid after your travels abroad in england we are dull our tree stessa cannot be denied but really the climate is responsible we want more sunshine i suppose in the east where the sun is so warm and bright the people are always cheerful on the contrary i have found them rather serious and contemplative than otherwise returned allwin yet their gravity is certainly of a pleasant and not of a forbidding type i don't myself think the same some has much to do with the disposition of man after all i fancy his temperament as deeply moulded by the life he leads in the east for instance men accept their existence as a sort of divine command which they obey cheerfully yet with a consciousness of high responsibility

Starting point is 18:42:03 on the continent they take it as a bagel lightly one lightly lost hence their indifferent almost childish gaiety but in great britain and he smiled it looks nowadays as if it were viewed very generally as a personal injury and bore a kind of title bestowed without the necessary money to keep it up and this money people set themselves steadily to obtain with many a weary grunt and groan while they are for the most part forgetful of anything else life may have to offer but what is life without plenty of money inquired the duchess carelessly surely not worth the trouble of living alwin looked at her steadily and a swift flush coloured her smooth cheek she toyed with the magnificent diamond and spray at her breast and wondered what strange spell was in this man's brilliant gray-black eyes did he guess that she even she had sold herself to the duke de la santoise for the sake of his money and title as easily and unresistingly as though she were a mere purchasable animal that is an argument i would rather not enter into he said gently it would lead us too far but i am convinced that whether dire poverty or great riches be our portion life considered apart from its worldly opinion is always worth living if lived well. Pray, how can you separate life from its worldly appendages? Inquired a satirical-looking gentleman opposite.

Starting point is 18:43:26 Life is the world and the things of the world. When we lose sight of the world, we lose ourselves, in short we die. And the world is at an end, and we with it. That's plain practical philosophy. Possibly it may be called philosophy, returned Alwyn. It is not Christianity. Oh, Christianity! And the gentleman gave a portentous sniff of condescary.

Starting point is 18:43:46 that is a system of faith that is rapidly dying out fast falling into contempt in fact with the scientific and culture classes it is already an exploded doctrine indeed all one's glance swept over him with a faint coal scorn and what religion do the scientific and culture classes propose to invent as a substitute there is no necessity for any substitute said the gentleman rather impatiently for those who want to believe in something supernatural there are are plenty of different ideas afloat esoteric buddhism for example in what is called scientific religion and natural religion any or all of these are sufficient to gratify the imaginative cravings of the majority till they have been educated out of imagination altogether but for advanced thinkers religion is really not required at all footnote the world is indebted to mr andrew lang for the newest logical explanation of the religious instinct in man namely that the very idea of god first arose from the terror and amazement of an ape at the sound of a thunder so choice and soul-moving a definition of deity needs no comment now i think we must worship something retorted all in a fine satire in his rich voice if it be only self self self self is an excellent deity accommodating and always ready to excuse sin why should we not build temples raise altars and institute services to the glory and honour of self perhaps the time is right for a public proclamation of this creed it will be easily propagated for the beginnings of it are in the heart of every man and need very little fostering his thrilling tone together with the calm half-ironical persuasiveness of his manner sent a sudden hush down the table every one turned eagerly toward him some amused some wondering some admiring while various felt his heart-beating with uncomfortable quickness he hated religious discussions and always avoided them

Starting point is 18:45:44 and now here was all one beginning one and he the centre of a company of persons who were for the most part avowed agnostics to whose opinions his must necessarily be indirect and absolute opposition at the same time he remembered that those who were sure of their faith never lost their temper about it and as he glanced at his friends perfectly serene and coldly smiling countenance he saw there was no danger of his letting slip even for a moment his admirable power of self-command the duke de la sain tuzis meanwhile settling his moustache and gracefully waving one hand on which sparkled a large diamond ring bent forward a little with a courteous deprecatory gesture I think, he said in soft purring accents, that my friend, Dr. Mudley, he re-bowed toward the saturnine-looking individual who had entered into conversation with Alwyn, takes a very proper and indeed a very lofty view of the whole question. The moral sense, and he laid a severely weighty emphasis on these words, the moral sense of each man, if properly trained, is quite sufficient to guide him through existence. without any such weakness as reliance on a merely supposititious deity the duke's french way of speaking english was charming he gave an expressive role to his ars especially when he said the moral sense that of itself almost carried conviction his wife smiled as she heard him and her smile was not altogether pleasant perhaps she wondered by what criterion of excellence he measured his own moral sense or whether despise or whether despised his own moral sense or whether despised her smile as she heard him and her smile was not altogether pleasant perhaps she wondered by what criterion of excellence he measured his own moral sense or whether despite his education and culture he had any moral sense at all higher than that of the pig who eats to be eaten

Starting point is 18:47:35 but alwin spoke and she listened intently finding a singular fascination in the soft and quiet modulation of his voice which gave a vaguely delicious suggestion of music underline speech to guide people by their moral sense alone he said you must first prove plainly to them that the moral sense exists together with moral responsibility. You will find this difficult, as the virtue implied, is intangible, unseeable. One cannot say of it low here or low there. It is as complicated and subtle as any other of the manifestations of pure spirit. Then you must decide on one universal standard or reasonable conception of what morality is. Again, you are met by a crowd of perplexities, as every nation and every tribe has a totally different idea of the same thing. In some countries, it is moral to have many wives, in others to drown female children, in others to solemnly roast one's grandparents for dinner.

Starting point is 18:48:41 Supposing, however, that you succeed with the aid of all the philosophers, teachers, and scientists, in drawing up a practical code of morality, do you not think, an enormous majority will be found to ask you by whose authority you set forth this code and by what right you deem it necessary to enforce it you may say by the authority of knowledge and by the right of morality but since you admit to there being no spiritual or divine inspiration for your law you will be confronted by a legion of opponents who will assure you and probably with perfect justice that their idea of morality is as good as yours, and their knowledge as excellent, that your code appears to them faulty in many respects, and that therefore they propose making another one more suited to their liking. Thus, out of your one famous moral system would spring thousands of others, formed to gratify the various tastes of different individuals, precisely in the same manner as sex have sprung out of the wholly unnecessary and foolish human arguments on Christian.

Starting point is 18:49:53 only that there would lack the one indestructible, pure, selfless example, that even the most quarrelsome bigot must inwardly respect, namely Christ himself. And morality would remain exactly where it is, neither better nor worse, for all the trouble taken concerning it. It needs something more than the moral sense to rightly ennoble man. It needs the spiritual sense, the fostering of the instinctive, immortal aspiration of the creature, to make him comprehend the responsibility of his present life as a preparation for his higher and better destiny. The cultured, the scholarly, the ultra-refined, may live well and uprightly by their moral sense, if they so choose, provided they have some great ideal to,

Starting point is 18:50:50 measure themselves by. But even these, without faith in God, may sometimes slip and fall into deeper depths of ruin than they dreamed of when self-scent on those heights of virtue where they fancied themselves exempt from danger. He paused. There was a curious stillness in the room. Many eyes were lowered, and Monsieur Le Duc's composure was evidently not quite so absolute as usual. Taken at its best, he continued, the world. alone is certainly not worth fighting for. We see the fact exemplified every day, in the cases of those who, surrounded by all that a fair fortune can bestow upon them, deliberately hurl themselves out of existence by their own free will and act. Indeed, suicide is a very general accompaniment

Starting point is 18:51:42 of agnosticism, and self-slaughter, though it may be called madness, is far more often the result of intellectual misery. Of course, too much learning, breeds, brain disease, remarked Dr. Mudley sententiously, but only in weak subjects, and in my opinion, the weak are better out of the world. We've no room for them nowadays. You say truly, sir, replied Owen, we have no room for them. In no patience. They show themselves feeble, and forthwith the strong oppress them. they can hope for little comfort here and less help it is well therefore that some of these weak should still believe in god since they can certainly pen no faith on the justice of their fellow-man but i cannot agree with you that much learning breeze brain disease provided the learning be accompanied by a belief in the supreme wisdom provided every step of study be taken upward toward that source of all knowledge one cannot learn too much since hope increases with discernment and on such food the brain grows stronger healthier and more capable of high effort but dispense with the spirit of the whole

Starting point is 18:53:00 and every movement though it seemed forward is in truth backward study involves bewilderment science becomes a reeling infinitude of atoms madly whirling together for no purpose save death or at the best incessant change, in which mortal life is counted as nothing. And nature frowns at us, a vast question to which there is no answer, an incomprehensible force against which wretched man, gifted with all manner of splendid and godlike capacities, battles forever and forever in vain. This is the terrible material lesson you would have us learn today, the lesson that maddens, people and teacher alike, and has not a glimmer of consolation to offer to any living soul. What a howling wilderness this world would be, if given over entirely, to materialism.

Starting point is 18:53:59 Scarce a line of division could be drawn between men and the brute beasts of the field. I consider, though possibly, I am only one among many of widely differing opinion, that if you take the hope of an after joy and blessedness away from the weary, perpetually toiling, million, you destroy at one wanton blow, their best, purest, and noblest aspirations. As for the Christian religion, I cannot believe that so grand and holy, a symbol is perishing among us. We have a monarch whose title is defender of the faith. We live in an age of civilization, which is primarily the result of that faith. And if, as this gentleman assures me, and he made a slight courteous inclination toward his opposite neighbor,

Starting point is 18:54:44 christianity is exploded then certainly the greatness of this hitherto great nations is exploding with it but i do not think that because a few sceptics uplift their wailing all as vanity from their self-created desert of agnosticism therefore the majority of men and women are turning moneygates from the simplest most humane most unselfish creed that ever the world has known it may be so but at present i prefer to trust in the higher spiritual instincts of man at his best rather than accept the testimony of the lesser unbelieving against the greater many whose strength comfort patience and endurance if these virtues come not from god come not at all his forcible incisive manner of speaking together with his perfect equanimity and concise clearness of argument had an evident effect on those who listened it was no rampant fanatical for particular forms of doctrine or pietism he was a man who stated his opinions calmly, frankly, and with an absolute setting forth of facts, which could scarcely be denied. A man, who firmly grounded himself, made no attempt to force anyone's belief, but who simply took a large view of the whole, and saw, as it were in a glance, what the world might become without faith in a divine cause and principle of creation. And once grant this divine cause and principle to be actually existent, then all

Starting point is 18:56:14 other divine and spiritual things become possible, no matter how impossible they seem to dull mortal comprehension. A brief pause followed his words, a pause of vague embarrassment. The Duchess was the first to break you. You have very noble ideas, Mr. Allwin, she said with a faint, wavering smile, but I'm afraid your conception of things, both human and divine, is to exalt you, and poetically imaginative to be applied to our everyday lights. We cannot close our ears to the thunders of science. We cannot fail to perceive that we mortals are of as small account in the plan of the universe as grains of sand on the seashore. It is very sad that so it should be, and yet so it is. And concerning Christianity, the poor system has been so belaborate of late

Starting point is 18:57:03 with hard blows that it is almost a wonder it still breathes. There is no end to the books that have been written disproving and denouncing it. Moreover, we have had the subject recently treated in a novel which excites our sympathies in behalf of a clergyman who overwhelmed by a scholarship finds he can no longer believe in the religion he is required to teach and who renounces his living in consequence. The story is in parts pathetic.

Starting point is 18:57:30 It has had a large circulation, and numbers of people who never doubted their creed before certainly doubted now. Alwin shrugged his shoulders, faith uprooted by a novel, he said. Elias, poor faith, it could never have been well established at any time to be so easy of destruction. No book in the world, whether of fact or fiction, could persuade me either to or from the consciousness of what my own individual spirit instinctively knows. Faith cannot be taught or forced.

Starting point is 18:58:04 neither if true can it be really destroyed. It is a God-born, God-fustered intuition. Immortal, as God himself, the ephemeral theory set forth in books should not be able to influence it by so much as a hair's breadth. Truth is, however, often conveyed through the medium of fiction, observed Dr. Mudley, and the novel alluded to was calculated to disturb the mind and aroused trouble in the heart of many an ardent believer. It was written by a woman. Nay, then, said all one quickly, with a darkening flash in his eyes, if women give up faith, let the world prepare it for a strange disaster. Good, God-loving women, women who pray, women who hope,

Starting point is 18:58:46 women who inspire men to do the best that is in them, these are the safety and glory of nations. When women forget to kneel, when women cease to teach their children the Our Father, by whose grandly simple plea humanity claims divinity as its origin, then shall we learn what is meant by men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. A woman who denies Christ repudiates him, who, above all others, made her sex as free and honored as everywhere in Christendom it is. He never refused woman's prayer.

Starting point is 18:59:22 He had patience for her weakness, pardon for her sins, and any book written by woman's hand that does him, the smallest shadow of wrong is to me as gross and act as that of one who loaded with benefit scruples not to murder his benefactor the duchess de la santoise moved uneasily there was a vibration in all one's voice that went to her very heart strange thoughts swept cloud-like across her mind again she saw in fancy a little fair dead child that she had loved her only one on whom she had spent all the tenderness of which her nature was capable. It had died at the prettiest age of children, the age of lisping speech and softly toddling feet, when a journey from the protecting background of a wall to outstretched maternal arms, seems fraught with the dire peril to the tiny adventure, and is only undertaking with the help of much coaxing sweet laughter and still sweeter kisses. She remembered how, in spite of her free opinions, she had found it impossible not to teach her little one a prayer, and a

Starting point is 19:00:28 sudden mist of tears blurred her sight as she recollected the child's last words. Words uttered painably in the deaf grasp of a cruel fever, Suffer me to come to thee. A quick sigh escaped her lips, the diamonds on her breast heaved restlessly. Lifting her eyes, grown soft with gentle memory, she encountered those of all one, and again she asked herself, could he read her thoughts. His steadfast gaze seemed to encompass her and absorb in a grave, compassionate earnestness, the entire comprehension of her life. Her husband's polite, mellifluous accents roused her from this half-revery. I confess, I am surprised, Mr. Alwyn. He was saying that you, a man of such genius and ability, should be still in the leading strings of the church. There is no church,

Starting point is 19:01:21 returned all one quietly. The world is waiting for one. The alpha-beta of Christianity has been learned and recited more or less badly by the children of men for nearly two thousand years. The actual grammar and meaning of the whole language has yet to be deciphered. There have been and are what are called churches, one especially which, if it would bravely discard mere vulgar superstition, and accept absorb and use the discoveries of science instead might and possibly will blossom, into the true, universal and pure Christian fabric. Meanwhile, in the shaking two and fro of things the troublest sifting of the wheat from the chap,

Starting point is 19:02:01 we must be content to follow by the way of the cross as best we can. Christianity has fallen into disrepute, probably because of the self-renunciation it demands. For in this age the primal object of each individual is manifestly to serve self-only. It is a wrong road, a side lane that leads nowhere, and we shall inevitably have to turn to, back upon it and recover the right path, if not now? Why, then, hereafter? His voice had a tremor

Starting point is 19:02:29 of pain within it. He was thinking of the millions of men and women who were voluntarily wandering astray into a darkness they did not dream of, and his heart, the great true heart of the poet, became filled with an indescribable passion of yearning. No wonder, he mused, no wonder that Christ came hither for the sake of love, to rescue, to redeem, to save the bless, oh divine sympathy for sorrow if I, a man, can feel such aching pity for the woes of others, how vast, how limitless, how tender, must be the pity of God. And his eyes softened. He almost forgot his surroundings.

Starting point is 19:03:02 He was entirely unaware of the various deep and wistful emotions he had wakened in the hearts of his ears. There was a great attractiveness in him that he was not conscious of, and while all present certainly felt that he, though, among them, was not of them, they were at the same time curiously moved by an impression that, notwithstanding his being, as it were, set apart from their ways of existence his sympathetic influence surrounded them as resistlessly as a pure atmosphere in which they drew long refreshing breaths of healthier life i should like suddenly said a bearded individual who was seated half-way down the table and who had listened attentively to everything i should like to tell you a few things about esoteric buddhism i am sure it is a faith that would suit you admirably alwin smiled courteously enough i shall be happy to hear your views on the subject sir he answered gently but i must tell you that before i left england from the east i had studied that theory together with many others that were offered as substitutes for christianity and i found it totally inadequate to meet the

Starting point is 19:04:01 highest demands of the spiritual intelligence. I may also add that I have read carefully all the principal works against religion from the treatises of the earlier skeptics down to Voltaire and others of our own day. Moreover, I had not so very long ago rejected the Christian faith that I now accept and adhere to it is not the result of my merit or attainment, but simply the outcome of an undeserved blessing and singularly happy fortune. Pardon me, Mr. Orwin, said Madame de la Saint-Toisy with a sweet smile by all the laws of nature, i must contradict you there your fame and fortune must needs be the reward of merit since true happiness never comes to the undeserving awen made no reply inasmuch as to repudiate the idea of personal merit too warmly is as such matters are judged nowadays suggestive of more conceit than modesty he skilfully changed the conversation and it glided off by degrees into various other channels music arts science and the political situation of the hour

Starting point is 19:04:59 the men and women assembled as though stimulated and inspired by some new interest now strove to appear at their very best and the friction of intellect with intellect resulted in more or less brilliancy of talk which for once was totally free from the flippant and mocking spirit which usually pervaded the santoise social circle on all the subjects they came up for discussion all when proved himself thoroughly at home and m le duc sitting in a silence that was most unwonted with him became filled with amazement to think that this man so full of fine qualities and intellectual abilities should be actually a christian the thing was quite incongruous or seemed so to the ironical wit of the born and bred parisian he tried to consider it absurd even last but his efforts merely resulted in a sense of uneasy personal shame this poet was at any rate a man he might have posed for coriolanus or mark antony and there was something supreme about him that could not be sneered down the dinner meanwhile reached his desert climax and the duchess rose giving the customary departing signal to her lady guests all went hastened to open the door for her and she passed out followed by a train of women in rich and wrestling costumes all of whom as they swept the kingly figure that with slightly bent head and courteous mean, thus paid silent homage to their sex, were conscious of very unusual emotions of respect and reverence. How would it be, some of them thought, if they were more frequently brought into contact

Starting point is 19:06:26 with such royal and gracious manhood, would not love them, become indeed a hallowed glory, and marriage a true sacrament? Was it not possible for men to be the gods of this world rather than the devils they so often are? Such were a few of the questions that flitted dimly through the same. the minds of the society-fied, fair ones that clustered round the Duchess de la Saint-oise and eagerly discussed Allwin's personal beauty and extraordinary charm of manner. The gentlemen did not have sent themselves long, and with their appearance from the dining-room

Starting point is 19:06:54 the reception of the evening began. Crowds of people arrived and crammed up the stairs, filling every quarter and corner, and all, growing tired of the various introductions and shaking of hands to which he was submitted, managed presently to slip away into a conservatory adjoining the great drawing-room. cool, softly lighted place full of flowering azaleas and rare palms. Eerie sat for a while, among the red and white blossoms, listening to the incessant hum of voices, and wondering what enjoyment human beings could find and thus hurting together en masse, and chattering all at once as though life depended on chatter,

Starting point is 19:07:28 when the rustling of a woman's dress disturbed his brief solitude. He rose directly as he saw his fair hostess approaching him. Ah, you've fled away from us, Mr. Allman, she said with a slight smile, I do not wonder at it. these receptions are the bane of one's social existence then why do you give them asked allwin half laughingly why oh because it is the fashion i suppose she answered languidly leaning against a marble column that supported the towering fondage of a tropical fun and towing with her fan and i like others am a slave to fashion i have escaped for one moment but i must go back directly mr allwin she hesitated then came straight up to him and laid her hand upon his arm i want to thank you to thank me he repeated in surprised accents yes she said steadily to thank you for what you have said to-night we live in a dreary age when no one has much faith or hope and still less charity death is set before us as the final end of all and life is lived by most People is not only not worth living, but utterly contemptible. Your clearly expressed opinions have made me think it possible to do better.

Starting point is 19:08:34 Her lips quivered a little, and her breath came and went quickly, and I shall begin to try and find out how this better can be consummated. Pray do not think me foolish. I think you foolish, and with gravest courtesy, Alwyn raised her hand and touched it bluntly with his lips, then as gently released it. His action was full of grace. It implied reverence, trust, honor, and the touches looked at him, with soft wet eyes in which a smile still lingered.

Starting point is 19:08:59 If there were more men like you, she said suddenly, what a difference it would make to us women. We should be proud to share the burdens of life with those under whose absolute integrity and strength we could rely. But in these days we do not rely so much as we despise. We cannot love so much as we condemn. You are a poet, and for you the world takes ideal colors. For you, perchance, the very heavens have opened.

Starting point is 19:09:24 But remember that the millions, who in the present era are ground down under the heels of the grimace necessity, have no such glimpses of God as are vouchsafed to you. They are truly in the darkness and shadow of death. They hear no angel music. They sit in dungeons, howled at, by preachers and teachers who make no actual attempt to leave them into light and liberty, while we, the so-called upper classes,

Starting point is 19:09:48 are imprisoned as closely as they, and crushed by intolerable weights of learning, such as many of us are not fitted to bear. those who aspire heavenwards are hurled to earth those who of their own choice cling to death become so fastened to it that even if they wish they could not rise believe me you will be sorely disheartened in your efforts toward the highest good you will find most people callous careless ignorant and forever scoffing at what they do not and will not understand you'd better leave us to our dust and ashes and a little mirthless laugh escaped her lips for to pluck us from thence now will almost need a second visitation of christ in whom if you came we should probably not believe moreover you must not forget that we have read darwin and we are so charmed with our monkey ancestors that we are doing our best to imitate them in every possible way, in the hope that with time and patience we may resolve ourselves back into the original species. With which bitter sarcasm uttered half-mockingly, half in good earnest, she left him,

Starting point is 19:10:52 and returned to her guests. Not very long afterward, he having sought and found vigours, and suggested to him that it was time to make a move homeward, approached her in company with his friend, and bade her farewell. I don't think we shall see you often in society, Mr. Allwin, she said rather wistfully, as she gave him her hand. You are too much of a titan among pygmies. He flushed and waved aside the remark with a few playful words, unlike his former self, if there was anything in the world he shrank from. It was flattery, or what seemed like flattery.

Starting point is 19:11:26 Once outside the house he drew a long breath of relief and glanced gratefully, up at the sky, bright with the glistening multitude of stars. Thank God there were worlds in that glorious expanse of ether, people with loftier types of being than what is called humanity. These looked at him questioningly. Tired of your own celebrity, Alwyn, he asked, taking him by the arm, are the pleasures of fame already exhausted? Alwyn smiled, he thought of the fame of Saluma,

Starting point is 19:11:52 loyot barred of Alciras. Nay, if the dream that I told you have had any meaning at all, he replied, then I enjoyed and exhausted those pleasures long ago. Perhaps that is the reason why my celebrity seems such a poor and tame circumstance now. But I was not thinking of myself. I was wondering whether, after all, the slight power I have attained can be of much use to others. I'm only one against many. Nevertheless, there is an old Maxim which says that one hero makes a thousand,

Starting point is 19:12:20 said the years quietly, and it is an undeniable fact that the vastest number ever counted begins at the very beginning with one. Alwyn met his smiling, earnest eyes, with a quick response of light in his own, and the two friends walked the rest of the way home in silence. end of chapter thirty five chapter thirty six of our death by marie carelli this liverav's recording is in the public domain a leobis some few days after the duchess's dinner-party alwyn was strolling one morning through the park enjoying to the full the keen fresh odors of the spring odors that even in london cannot altogether lose their sweetness so long as high scents and violets consent to bloom and almond trees to flower beneath the two often unpropitious murkiness of city skies it had been raining but now the clouds had rolled off and the sun shone as brightly as it ever can shine on the english capital sending sparkles of gold among the still wet foliage and reviving the little crocuses that had lately tumbled down

Starting point is 19:13:41 in heaps on the grass like a frightened fairy army put to rout by the onslaught of the recent shower a black bird whose cheery note suggested melodious memories drawn from the heart of the quiet country was whistling a lively improvisation on the bow of a chestnut tree whereof the brown shining buds were just bursting into leiths and alwin whose every sense was pleasantly attuned to the small as well as great harmonies of nature paused for a moment to listen to the luscious piping of the feathered minstrel that in its own wild woodland way had as excellent an idea of musical variation as any mozart or chopin leaning against one of the part benches with his back turned to the main thoroughfare he did not observe the approach of a man's tall stately figure that with something of his own light easy swinging step had followed him rapidly along for some little distance and that now halted abruptly within a pace or two of where he stood. A man whose fine face and singular distinction of bearing had caused many a passer-by

Starting point is 19:15:05 to stare at him in vague admiration and to wonder who such a regal-looking personage might possibly be. Alwyn, however, absorbed in thought, saw no one and was about to resume his onward walk when suddenly, as though moved by some instinctive, of impulse he turned sharply around and in so doing confronted the stranger who straightway advanced lifting his hat and smiling one amazed glance and then with an ejaculation of wonder recognition and delight all one sprang forward and grasped his extended hand a leobos he exclaimed is it possible you are in london you of all men in the world-and-you of all men in the world even so replied heliobus gaily and why not am i incongruous and out of keeping with the march of modern civilization

Starting point is 19:16:05 allwin looked at him half bewildered half incredulous he could hardly believe his own eyes it seemed such an altogether amazing thing to meet this devout and grave chaldean philosopher this mystic monk of the caucasus here in the very centre of the as it were, of the world's business, traffic, and pleasure. One might as well have expected to find a haloed saint in the world of a carnival masquerade. In Congress, out of keeping, yes, certainly he was, for, though clad in the plain conventional garb to which the men of the present day are doomed by the fiat of commerce and custom, the splendid dignity and picturesqueness of his fond of his fond of,

Starting point is 19:16:54 personal appearance was by no means abated and it was just this that marked him out and made of him as wonderful a figure in london as though some god or evangelist should suddenly pass through a wilderness of chattering apes and screaming vultures but how and when did you come asked dalwin presently recovering from his first glad shock of surprise you see how genuine is my astonishment why i thought you were a perpetually vowed recluse that you never went into the world at all neither i do rejoined haleibus save when strong necessity demands but our order is not so enclosed that if duty calls we cannot advance to its beckoning and there are certain times when both i and those of my fraternity mingle with men in common undistinguished from the ordinary inhabitants of cities either by dress customs or manners as you see and he laughingly touched his overcoat the dark rough cloth of which was relieved by a broad collar and reveres of rich sealskin would you not take me for a highly respectable brewer par conscious that his prowess in the making of beer has entitled him not only to an immediate seat in parliament but also to a dukedom in perspective all when smiled at the droll in applicability of this comparison and haleibas cheerfully continued i am on the wing just now bound for mexico i had business in london and arrived here two days since two days more will see me again on voyage.

Starting point is 19:18:49 I'm glad to have met you thus by chance, for I did not know your address, and though I might have obtained that through your publishers, I hesitated about it, not being quite certain as to whether a letter or visit from me might be welcome.

Starting point is 19:19:06 Surely, began Alwyn, and then he paused, a flush rising to his brow, as he remembered how obstinately he had doubted and suspected this man's good faith, faith and intention toward him and how he had even received his farewell benediction at dariel with more resentment than gratitude everywhere i hear great things of you mr allwin went on haleobus gently taking no notice of his embarrassment your fame is now indeed unquestionable with all my heart i congratulate you and wish you long life and health to enjoy the

Starting point is 19:19:47 triumph of your genius. Alwyn smiled and turning, fixed his clear, soft eyes, full upon the speaker. I thank you, he said simply. But you, who have such a quick, instinctive comprehension of the minds and characters of men, judge for yourself whether I attach any value to the poor renown I have won, renowned that I once would have given my very life to possess. As he spoke, he stopped. They were walking down a quiet side path under the wavering shadow

Starting point is 19:20:26 of newly burgeoning beaches and a bright shaft of sunshine struck through the delicate foliage straight on his serene and handsome countenance. Elibus gave him a swift, keen, observant glance. In a moment he noticed what a moment. marvelous change had been wrought in the man who but a few months before had come to him a wreck of wasted life, a wreck that was not only ready but willing to drift into downward currents and whirl pools of desperate, godless, blank, and hopeless misery. And now, how completely he was transformed, health colored his cheeks and sparkled in his eyes,

Starting point is 19:21:13 health, both of body and mind, gave that quick brilliancy to his smile and that easy yet powerful poise to his whole figure, while the supreme consciousness of the immortal spirit within him surrounded him with the same indescribable fascination and magnetic attractiveness that distinguished the Leibus himself, even as it distinguishes all who have in good earnest discovered and accepted the only true explanation of their individual mystery of being. One steady, flashing look, and then Helibus silently held out his hand, as silently all when clasped it, and the two men understood each other. All constraint was at an end, and when they resumed their slow sauntering under the glistening green branches, they were

Starting point is 19:22:08 mutually aware that they now held an almost equal rank in the hierarchy of spiritual knowledge, strength, and sympathy. Evidently, your adventure to the ruins of Babylon was not altogether without results, said Helibus softly. Your appearance indicates happiness. Is your life at last complete? Complete? No.

Starting point is 19:22:34 And Alwyn sighed somewhat impatiently. it cannot be complete so long as its best and purest half is elsewhere my fame is as you can guess a mere ephemera a small vanishing point in comparison with the higher ambition i have now in view listen you know nothing of what happened to me on the field of our death i should have written to you perhaps but it is better to speak i will tell you all as briefly as i can and talking in an undertone with his arm linked through that of his companion he related the whole strange story of the visitation of edris the dream of alciris his awakening on the prophet's field at sunrise and his final renunciation of self at the cross of christ a leibus listened to him in perfect silence his eyes alone expressing with what eager interest and attention he followed every incident of the narrative and now said alwin in conclusion i always try to remember for my own comfort that i left my dead self in the burning ruin of that dream-built city of the past or seemed to leave it and yet i feel sometimes as if its shadow presence clung to me still i look in the mirror and see strange faint reflections of the actual personal attributes of the slain saluma

Starting point is 19:24:13 occasionally these are so strong and distinctly marked that i turn away in anger from my own image why i loved that phantasm of a poet in my dream as i must for ages have loved myself to my own utter undoing, I admired his work, with such extravagant fondness, that thinking of it I blushed for shame at my own thus manifest conceit. In truth there is only one thing in that picture character of his I can, for the present, judge myself free from, namely the careless rejection of true love for false, the wanton misprisal of a faithful heart such as nephrates whose fair child face even now often flits before my remorseful memory and the evil sensual passion for a woman whose wickedness was as evident as her beauty was paramount i could never understand or explain this willful had strong weakness in my shadow self it was the one circumstance in my vision that seemed to have little to do with the positive me in its application but now i thoroughly grasp the meaning of the lesson conveyed which is that no man ever really knows himself

Starting point is 19:25:41 or fathoms the depths of his own possible inconsistencies and as matters stand with me at the present time i am hemmed in on all sides by difficulties for since the modern success of that very anciently composed poem nurahama and he smiled my friends and acquaintances are doing their best to make me think as much of myself as if i have were. Well, all that I am not. Do what I will, I believe, am still an egoist. Nay, I am sure of it, for even as regards my heavenly Saint Edrus, I am selfish. How so, asked Haleebis, with a grave side-glance of admiration at the thoughtful face and meditated earnest eyes of this poet, this once bitter and blasphemous, sceptic grown up now to a majesty of faith that not all the scorn of men or devils could ever shake again i want her he replied and there was a thrill of pathetic yearning in his voice i longed for her every moment of the day and night it seems to as if everything combined to encourage this craving in me this fond mad desire to draw her down from her own bright sphere of joy down to my arms my heart my light see

Starting point is 19:27:14 and he stopped by a bed of white hyacinths nodding softly in the faint breeze even those flowers remind me of her when i look up at the blue sky i think of the radiance of her eyes they were the heaven's own color when i see light clouds floating together half gray half tinted by the sun they seem to me to resemble the soft and noiseless garb she wore the birds sing only to recall to me the lute-like sweetness of her voice, and at night when I behold the millions upon millions of stars that are worlds, peopled as they must be with thousands of wonderful living creatures, perhaps as spiritually composed as she, I sometimes find it hard that out of all the exhaustless types of being that love, serve, and praise God in heaven, this one fair spirit,

Starting point is 19:28:14 Only this one angel maiden should not be spared to help and comfort me. Yes, I am selfish to the heart's core, my friend, and his eyes darkened with a vague wistfulness and trouble. Moreover, I have weakly striven to excuse my selfishness to my own conscience. Thus, I have thought that if she were vouched safe to me for the remainder of my days, I might then indeed do lasting good and leave lasting consolation to the world. Such work might be performed as would stir the most callous souls

Starting point is 19:28:55 to life and energy and aspiration with her sweet presence near me, visibly close and constant. There is no task so difficult that I would not essay and conquer in for her sake, her service, her greater glory, but alone and he gave a slight hopeless gesture nay christ knows i will do the utmost best i can but the solitary ways of life are hard

Starting point is 19:29:27 aloebus regarded him fixedly you seem to be alone he said presently after a pause but truly you are not so you think you are set apart to do your work in solitude nevertheless she whom you love may be near you even while you speak still i understand what you mean you long to see her again to realize her tangible form and presence well this cannot be until you pass from this earth and adopt her nature unless unless she descends hither and adopts yours the last words were uttered slowly and impressively and alwyn's countenance brightened with a sudden irresistible rapture that would be impossible he said but his voice trembled and there was more interrogativeness than assertion in his tone impossible in most cases yes agreed but in your specially chosen and privileged estate i cannot positively say that such a thing might not be for one moment a strange eager brilliancy shone in allan's eyes the next he set his lips hard and made a firm gesture of denial do not tempt me good heliobis he said with a faint smile or rather do not let me tempt myself i bearing constant mind what she my address told me when she left me that we should not meet again till after death unless the longing of my love compelled

Starting point is 19:31:19 now if it be true as i have often thought that i could compel by what right dare i use such power if power i have upon her she loves me i love her and by the force of love such love as ours who knows i might perchance persuade her to adopt a while this mean uneasy vesture of mere mortal life and the very innate perception that i might do so is the sharpest trial i have to endure because if i would thoroughly conquer myself i must resist this feeling nay i will resist it for let it cost me what it may i have sworn that the selfishness of my own person desire shall never cross or cloud the radiance of her perfect happiness but suppose suggested heliobus quietly suppose she were to find an even more complete happiness in making you happy alwin shook his head my friend do not let us talk of it he answered no joy can be more complete than the joy of heaven, and that in its full blessedness is hers. That in its full blessedness is not hers, declared Helibus with emphasis,

Starting point is 19:32:45 and, moreover, it can never be hers, while you are still in exile and a wanderer. Friend, poet, do you think that even heaven is wholly happy to one who loves and whose beloved is absent a tremor shook allan's nerves his eyes glowed as though the inward fire of his soul had lightened them but his face grew very pale no more of this for god's sake he said passionately i must not dream of it i dare not i become the slave of my own imagined rapture the coward who falls conquered and trembling before his own desire of delight rather let me strive to be glad that she my angel love is so far removed from my unworthiness let her if she be near me now read my thoughts and see in them how dear how sacred is her fair and glorious memory how i would rather endure an eternity of anguish than make her sad for one brief hour of mortal counted time he was greatly moved his voice with the fervor of its own music and heliobus looked at him with a grave and very tender smile enough he said gently i will speak no further on this subject which i see affects you deeply nevertheless i would have you remember how when the master whom we serve passed through his agony at gessimony and with all the knowledge of his own power and glory strong upon him still in his vast self-abnegation said not my will but thine be done that then there appeared an angel under him from heaven strengthening him

Starting point is 19:34:47 think of this for every incident in that divine human life is a hint for ours and often it chances that when we reject happiness for the sake of goodness happiness is suddenly bestowed upon us. God's miracles are endless, God's blessings, exhaustless, and the marvels of this wondrous universe are as nothing compared to the working of his sovereign will, for good on the lives of those who serve him faithfully. Alwyn flashed upon him a quick, half-questioning glance, but was silent, and they walked on together for some minutes without exchanging a word, a few people passed and re-passed them. Some little children were playing hide-and-seat behind the trunks of the largest trees. The air was fresh and invigorating, and the incessant roar of busy traffic outside the

Starting point is 19:35:46 park palings offered a perpetual noisy reminder of the great world that surged around them. The world of petty aims and transitory pleasures with which they filled full of the knowledge of higher and eternal things, has so little in common, save sympathy, sympathy for the willful wrongdoing of man, and pity for his self-imposed blindness. Presently Helibus spoke again in his customary light and cheerful tone, are you writing anything new just now, he asked, or are you resting from literary labor? Well, rest and work are with me very nearly one and the same, replied Alwyn, i think the most absolutely tiring and exhausting thing in the world would be to have nothing to do then i can imagine life becoming indeed a weighty burden

Starting point is 19:36:41 yes i am engaged on a new poem it gives me intense pleasure to write it but whether it will give any one equal pleasure to read it is quite another question does the basti still loom on your horizon inquired his companion mirthfully or are you still inclined as in the past to treat him whether he comes singly or in numbers as the poet's court jester and paid fool alwin laughed lightly perhaps he answered with a sparkle of amusement in his eyes but really so far as the wind of criticism goes i don't think any author nowadays particularly cares whether it blows fair weather or foul you see we all know how it is done we can name the clubs and clicks from whence it emanates and we are fully aware that if one leading man of a set gives the starting signal of praise or blame the rest follow like sheep without either thought or personal discrimination moreover some of us have met and talked with certain of these magazines and newspaper oracles and have tested for ourselves the limited extent of their knowledge and the shallowness of their wit i assure you it often happens that a great author is tried judged and condemned by a little casual pressman who in his very criticism proves himself ignorant of grammar of course if the public choose to accept such a verdict why then all the worse for the public but luckily the majority of men are beginning to learn the ends and outs of the modern critics business they see his or her methods it is a notable fact that-a-factor women do a great deal of criticism now, they being willing to scribble oracular commonplaces

Starting point is 19:38:32 at a cheaper rate of pay than men, so that if a book is condemned, people are dubious, and straightway read it for themselves to see what is in it that excites aversion. If it is praised, they are still dubious, and generally decide that the critical eulogist must have some personal interest in its sale. It is difficult for an author to win his public, but when one the critics may applaud or derive as suits their humor, it makes no appreciable difference to his popularity. Now I consider my own present fame was won by chance, a misconception that, as I know, had its ancient foundation and truth,

Starting point is 19:39:17 but that as far as everybody else is concerned, remains a misconception, so that I estimate my success at its right value, or rather let me say at its proper worthlessness. And in a few words he related how the leaders of English journalism had judged him dead and had praised his work chiefly because it was posthumous. I believe he added good-humoredly that if this mistake had not arisen, I should scarcely have been heard of, since I advocate no particular cult and belong to no mutual admiration alliance, offensive or defensive,

Starting point is 19:39:50 but my supposed untimely decease deserved me better than the Browning, society serves browning. Again he laughed, to Leibus had listened with a keen and sarcastic enjoyment of the whole story. Undoubtedly, your Zabastis was no phantom, he observed emphatically. His was evidently a very real existence, and he must have divided himself from one into several to sit in judgment again upon you in this present day. History repeats itself and unhappily all the injustice, apocry, and inconsistency of man is repeated to, and out of the multitudes that inhabit the earth, how few will succeed in fulfilling their highest destinies. This is the one bitter drop in the cup of our knowledge. We can if we choose save ourselves, but we can seldom,

Starting point is 19:40:40 if ever, save others. All one stopped short, his eyes darkening with a swift intensity of feeling. Why not? he asked earnestly, must we look on, and see, men rushing toward certain misery without making an effort to turn them back, to warn them of the darkness whether they are bound, to rescue them before it is too late? My friend, we can make the efforts, certainly, and we are bound to make it, because it is our duty. But in 99 cases, out of a hundred, we shall fail of our persuasion. What can I, or you, or anyone, do against the iron force of free will. God himself will not constrain it. How then shall we? In the books of Esdras, which have already been of such use to you, you will find the following significant words.

Starting point is 19:41:36 The most high hath made this world for many, but the world to come for few. As when thou askest the earth, it shall say unto thee that it giveth much mold where in earthen vessels are made, and but little dust, that gold cometh of even so is the course of this present world there be many created but few shall be saved god elects to be served by choice and not by compulsion it is his law that man shall work out his own immortal destiny and nothing can alter this overwhelming fact the sublime example of christ was given us as a means to assist us in for our own conclusions. But there is no coercion in it, only a divine love. You, for instance, were and are still perfectly free to reject the whole of your experience on the field of our death as a delusion. Nothing would be easier, and from the world's point of view, nothing more natural. Faith and doubt are equally voluntary acts. The one is the instinct of the

Starting point is 19:42:52 immortal soul, the other the tendency of that perishable body. And the will decides which of the two shall conquer in the end? I know that you are firm in your high and true conviction. I know also what thoughts are at work in your brain. You are bending all your energies on the task of trying to instill into the minds of your fellowmen some comprehension of the enlightenment and hope you yourself possess. Ah, you must prepare for disappointment. For though the times are tending toward strange upheavals and terrors, when the trumpet voice of an inspired poet may do enormous good, still the name of the willfully ignorant is legion. The age is one of the grossest mammon worship and coarsest atheism, and the noblest teachings of the noblest teacher,

Starting point is 19:43:48 where he even another Shakespeare, must have missed. necessity be but a casting of pearls before swine still and his rare sweet smile brighten the serene dignity of his features fling out the pearls freely all the same the swine may grunt at but cannot rend you and a poet's genius should be like the sunlight that falls on rich and poor good and bad with glorious impartiality if you can comfort one sorrow check one sin or rescue one soul from the widening quicksand of the atheist world. You have sufficient reason to be devoutly thankful. By this time their walk had led them imperceptibly to one of the gates of egress from the park, and Eleobus pointing to a huge square building opposite said, There is the hotel of which I'm staying, one of the americanized monster fabrics in which tired travelers find much splendid show and little rest will you lunch with me i'm quite alone

Starting point is 19:44:56 alwin gladly assented he was most unwilling to part at once from this man to whom in a measure he felt he owed his present happy and tranquil condition of body and mind besides he was curious to find out more about him to obtain from him if possible an entire explanation of the actual tenets and chief characteristics of the system of religious worship he himself practised and followed elibus seemed to guess his thoughts for suddenly turning upon him with a quick glance he observed you want to pluck out the heart of my mystery as hamlet says do you not my friend and he smiled well so you shall if you can discover odd in me that is not already in yourself i assure you there is nothing preternatural about me my peculiar Centricity consists in steadily adapting myself to the scientific spiritual, as well as scientific material laws of the universe. The two sets of laws, united, make harmony, hence I find my life harmonious and satisfactory, that is my abnormal condition of mind, and you are now fully as abnormal as I am. Come, we will discuss our mutual, strange, non-conformity to the world's custom or caprice over a glass of good one.

Starting point is 19:46:14 line observe please that i am neither a total abstainer nor a vegetarian and that i have a curious fashion of being tempered and of using all the gifts of beneficent nature equally and without prejudice while he spoke they had crossed the road and they now entered the vestibule of the hotel where declining the hall porter's offer of the lift elubis ascended the stairs leisurely to the second floor and ushered his companion into a comfortable private sitting-room fancy men consenting to be drawn up to their apartments like babes in a basket he said laughingly alluding to the lift process upon my word when i think of the strong people of a past age and compare them with the enervated race of to-day i feel not only pity but shame for the visible degeneration of mankind frail nerves weak hearts uncertain limbs these are common characteristics of the young nowadays instead of being as formal the natural failings of the old wear and tear and worry of modern existence oh yes i know but why the wear tear and worry at all what is it for simply for the over-getting of money one must live certainly but one is not bound to live in foolish luxury for the sake of out-flonting one's neighbours better to live simply in preserve health than gain a fortune and be a moping dyspeptic for life but unless one toils and moils like a beast of burden one cannot even live simply some will say i don't believe that a socian the peasants of france live simply and save the peasants of england live wretchedly and waste voila la as with nations so with individuals it is all a question of will where there's a will there's a way is a dreadfully trite copy book maxim but it's amazingly true all those same

Starting point is 19:48:09 now let us to the acceptation of these good things this as a pallid boyish-looking waiter just then entered the room with the luncheon and in his bustling to and fro manifested unusual eagerness to make himself agreeable i've made excellent friends with this young ganymeat he is sworn never to palm off raisin upon me for chambertin the waiter blushed and chuckled as though he were conscious of having gained special new dignity and importance and having laid the table and set the chairs he departed with a flourishing bough worthy of a prince's maitre d'htel your name must seem a curious one to these fellows observed all one when he had gone unusual and even mysterious why yes returned hiliobus with a laugh it would be judged so i suppose if i ever gave it but i don't it was only in england and by an englishman that i was once to my utter amazement addressed as halyobus and i was quite alarmed at the sound of it one would think that most people in these educational days knew the greek word helios and one would also imagine it as easy to say heliobus as heliograph but now to avoid mistakes whenever i touch british territory and come into contact with british tongues i give my christian name only cassimer the result of which arrangement is that i am known in this hotel as mr casmer oh i don't mind in the least why should i neither the english nor the americans ever pronounce foreign names properly why i met a newly established young publisher yesterday who assured me that most of his authors the female ones especially are so ignorant of foreign literature that he doubts whether any of them know whether savante's was a writer or an ointment owen laughed i dare say the young publisher may be perfectly right he said but all the same he has no business to publish the literary emanations of such ignorance perhaps not but what is he to do if nothing else is offered to him

Starting point is 19:50:11 he has to keep his occupation going somehow from bad he must select the best he cannot create a great genius he has to wait till nature in the course of events evolves one from the elements and in the present general dearth of high ability the publishers are really more sinned against than sinning they spend large sums and incur large risk in launching new ventures on the fickle sea of popular favor and often their trouble is taken all in vain it is really the stupid egotism of authors that is the stumbling-block in the way of true literature each little scribbler that produces a shilling sensational thinks his or her own work a marvel of genius and nothing can shake them from their obstinate conviction if every man or woman before putting pen to paper would be sure they had something new suggestive symbolical or beautiful to say how greatly art might gain by their labors authors who take up arms against publishers en masse and in every transaction expect to be cheated are doing themselves irreparable injury they betrayed the cloven hoof namely a greed for money and when once that passion dominates them down goes their reputation and bade with it it is the old story over again ye cannot serve god of mammon and all art is a portion of god a descending of the divine into humanity allan sat for a minute silent and thoughtful a descending of the divine into humanity he repeated slowly it seems to me that miracle is forever being enacted and yet we doubt we do not doubt said elieubis we know we have touched reality but see yonder and he pointed through the window to the crowded thoroughfare below there are the flying phantoms of life the minute the men and women who are God oblivious, and who are therefore no more actually living than the shadows

Starting point is 19:52:00 of Alcyrus. They shall pass as a breath and be no more, and this roaring, trafficking metropolis, this immediate center of civilization, shall ere long disappear off the surface of the earth, and leave not a stone to mark the spot where once it stood. So have thousands of such cities fallen since this planet was flung into space, and even so shall thousands still fall. Learning, civilization, science, progress, these things exist merely for the training and education of a chosen few, and out of many earth, centuries, and generations of men, shall be one only a very small company of angels. Be glad that you have fathomed the mystery of your own life's purpose, for you are now as much a positive identity among vanishing

Starting point is 19:52:48 spectres as you were when on the field of Ardath you witnessed and took part in the mirage of your past. In the chapter 36, chapter 37 of Ardath by Marie Carelli. This Librevatt's recording is in the public domain, a missing record. He spoke the last words with deep feeling and earnestness, and all when meeting his clear great, brilliant eyes, was more than ever impressed by the singular dignity and overpowering magnetism of his presence. Remembering how insufficiently he had realized this man's true word, when he had first sought him out in his monastic retreat, he was struck by a sudden sense of remorse, and leaning across the table, gently touched his hand. How greatly I wronged you

Starting point is 19:53:50 once, Eliobus, he said penitently with a tremor of appeal in his voice, forgive me, will you, though I shall never forgive myself? Alyubis smiled and cordially pressed the extended hand in his own. Nay, there's nothing to forgive, my friend, he answered cheerfully, and nothing to regret. Your doubts of me were very natural, indeed viewed by the world's standard of opinion, much more natural than your present faith, for faith is always a very natural. a supernatural instinct would you be practically sensible according to modern social theories then learn to suspect everybody and everything even your best friend's good intentions he laughed in the luncheon being concluded he rose from the table and taking an easy chair nearer the window motioned all one to do the same i want to talk to you he continued we may not meet again for years you are entering on a difficult career

Starting point is 19:54:49 and a few hints from one who knows and thoroughly understands your position may possibly be of use to you in the first place then let me ask you have you told any one save me the story of your ardaff adventure one friend only my old school comrade frank villiers replied allwin and what does he say about it oh he thinks it was a dream from beginning to end and alwin smiled a little he believes that i set out on my journey with my brain already heated to an imaginative excess and that the whole thing even my angel's presence was a pure delusion of my own overwrought fancy a curious and wonderful delusion but always a delusion he is a very excellent fellow to judge you so leniently observed heliobis composedly most people would call you mad mad exclaimed allwin hotly why i am as sane as any man in london sane or i should say replied heliobus smiling compared with some of the eminently practical speculating maniacs that howl and struggle among the fluctuating currents of the stock exchange for instance you are indeed a marvel of sound and wholesome mental capability But let us view the matter coolly. You must not expect such an exceptional experience as yours to be believed in by ordinary persons, because the majority of people, being utterly unspiritual and worldly,

Starting point is 19:56:17 have no such experiences, and they therefore deem them impossible. They are the goldfish-born in a bowl, who have no consciousness of the existence of an ocean. Moreover, you have no proofs of the truth of your narrative, beyond the change in your own life, and disposition, and that can be easily referred to various other causes. You spoke of having gathered one of the miracle flowers on the prophet's field. May I see it? Silently, Alwyn drew from his breast-pocket the velvet case, in which he always kept the cherished blossom and taking it tenderly out,

Starting point is 19:56:53 placed it in his companion's hand. An immortal, said Heliobis softly, while the flower uncurling its silvery petals in the warmth of his, his palm, opened star-like and white as snow, an immortal, rare and possibly unique. That is all the world would say of it. It cannot be matched. It will not fade, true, but you will get no one to believe that. Frown not, good poet, I want you to consider me for the moment a practical worldling

Starting point is 19:57:24 bent on driving you from the spiritual position you have taken up, and you will see how necessary it is for you to keep the secret of your own enlightenment to yourself, or at least only hint at it through the parables of poise. He gave back the Ardath blossom to its owner, with reverent care, and when Alwyn had, as reverently put it by, he resumed, your friend Villiers has offered you a perfectly logical and common-sense solution of the mystery of Ardaaf, one which if you chose to accept it would drive you back into scepticism as easily as a strong wind blows a straw only see how simple the intricate problem is unravelled by this means you a man of ardent and imaginative temperament made more or less unhappy by the doctrines of materialism come to me haleibis a chaldean student of the higher philosophies an individual whose supposed mysterious power or an inexplicably studious way of life,

Starting point is 19:58:30 entitle him to be considered by the world at large an imposter. Now, don't look so indignant, any laugh. I am merely discussing the question from the point of view that would be sure to be adopted by wise modern society. Thus, I, Haleibus, the imposter, take advantage of your state of mind to throw you into a trance in which by occult means you see the vision of an angel who bid you meet her at a place, called Ardath, and you also in your hypnotized condition write a poem which you entitled

Starting point is 19:59:02 Nurhalma. Then I, always playing my own little underhand game, read your portions of Esdras, and prove to you that Ardath exists, while I delicately suggest, if I do not absolutely command your going thither. You go, but I, still by magnetic power, retain, my influence over you, you visit El Ziar, a hermit, whom we will for the sake of the sake of a little. the present argument, call my accomplice. He reads between the lines of the letter you deliver to him from me, and he understands its secret import. He continues, no matter how your delusion.

Starting point is 19:59:41 You broke your fast with him, and surely it was easy for him to play some potent drug. In the wine he gave you, which made you dream the rest. Nay, viewed from this standpoint, it is open to question whether you ever went to the field of our death at all, but merely dreamed. you did. You see how admirably I can with little trouble disprove the whole story, and make myself out to be the various charlatan and trickster that ever duped his credulous fellow-man. How do you like my practical dissection of your new-found joys? Alwin was gazing at him with puzzled and anxious eyes. I do not like it at all, he murmured, in a pain-tone.

Starting point is 20:00:21 It is an insidious semblance of truth, but I know it is not the truth itself. Why, how obstinate you are, said Helibus good-humoredly with a quick, flashing glance at him, you insist on seeing things in a directly reversed way to that in which the world sees them? How can you be so foolish? To the world your Ardath adventure is the semblance of truth, and only man's opinion thereon is worth trusting as the truth itself. Over the wistful brooding thoughtfulness of all one's countenance swept a sudden light of magnificent resolution. The Leobus do not jest with me, he cried passionately.

Starting point is 20:00:58 I know, better perhaps, than most men, how divine things can be argued away by the jargon of tongues till heart and brain grow weary. I know, God help me, how the noblest ideals of the soul can be swept down and dispersed into blank ruin by the specious arguments of cold-blooded casuists, but I also know by a supreme inner knowledge beyond all human proving, that God exists.

Starting point is 20:01:28 And with His being exist, likewise, all splendors, great and small, spiritual and material, splendors, vaster than our intelligence can reach, ideals loftier than imagination can depict. I want no proof of this, save those that burn, in my own individual consciousness. I do not need a miserable taper of human reason to help me to discern the sun. of my own choice prayer and hope voluntarily believe in god in christ in angels and all things beautiful and pure and grand let the world and its ephemeral opinions wither i will not be shaken down from the first step of the latter whereon one climbs to heaven his features were radiant with fervor and feeling his eyes brilliant with the kindling inward light of night of night of nethered whereon one climbs to heaven his features were radiant with fervour and feeling his eyes brilliant with the kindling inward light of noblest aspiration, and to Leibus, who had watched him intently, now bent toward him, with the grave gesture of the gentlest homage. How strong is he whom an angel's love makes glorious,

Starting point is 20:02:38 he said, we are partners in the same destiny, my friend, and I have but spoken to you as the world might speak to prepare you for opposition. This specious arguments of men confront us at every turn, in every book in every society and it is not always that we are ready to meet them as a rule silence on all matters of personal faith is best let your life bear witness for you it shall thunder loud oracles when your mortal limbs are dumb he paused a moment then went on you have desired to know the secret of the active and often miraculous power of the special form of the religion I and my brethren follow. Well, it is all contained in Christ and Christ only. His is the only true spiritualism in the world. There was never any before he came. We obey Christ in the simple rules he preach, Christ according to his own enunciated wish and will. Moreover we, that is our fraternity, received our commission from Christ himself in person. All when

Starting point is 20:03:51 started his eyes dilated with amazement and awe from christ himself in person he echoed incredulously even so returned heliobus calmly what do you suppose our divine master was about during the years between his appearance among the rabbis of the temple and the commencement of his public preaching do you can you imagine with the rest of the purblind world that he would have left his marvellous gospel in the charge of a few fishermen and common folk only i never thought i never inquired began arwin hurriedly no and eliebis smiled rather sadly few men do think or inquire very far on sacred subjects listen for what i have to say to you will but strengthen you in your faith and you will need more than all the strength of the four evangelists to bear you stiffly up against the suicidal negation of this present disastrous epoch ages ago i more than six or seven thousand years ago there were certain communities of men in the east scholars sages poets astronomers and scientists who desiring to give themselves up entirely to study and research, withdrew from the world, and formed themselves into fraternities, dividing whatever goods they had in common, and living together under one roof as the brotherhoods of the Catholic Church do to this day. The primal object of these men's investigations

Starting point is 20:05:24 was a search after the divine cause of creation, and as it was undertaken with prayer, penance humility and reverence much enlightenment was vouched safe to them and secrets of science both spiritual and material were discovered by them secrets which the wisest of modern sages know nothing of as yet out of these fraternities came many of the prophets and preachers of the old testament asdras for one isaiah for another they were the chroniclers of many now forgotten events they kept the history of the times as far as it was possible and in their ancient records your city of alcarus is mentioned as a great and populous place which was suddenly destroyed by the bursting out of a volcano beneath its foundations yes this as all one uttered an eager exclamation your vision was a perfectly faithful reflection of the manner in which it perished i must tell you however that nothing concerning its kings or great men has been preserved only a few allusions to one his spiros a writer of tragedies whose genius seems to have corresponded to that of our shakespeare of to-day the name of saluma is nowhere extant a burning wave of color flushed allan's face but he was silent the leobus went on gently at a very early period of their formation these fraternities i tell you of were in possession of most of the material scientific facts of the present day such things as the electric wire and battery the phonograph the telephone and other new discoveries being perfectly familiar to them

Starting point is 20:07:11 the spiritual manifestations of nature were more intricate and difficult to penetrate and though they knew that material effects could only be produced by spiritual causes they worked in the dark as it were only groping toward the light however the wisdom and purity of the lives they led was not without its effect emperors and kings sought their advice and gave them great stores of wealth which they divided according to rule into equal portions and use for the benefit of those in need willing the remainder to their successors so that at the present time the few brotherhoods that are left hold immense treasures accumulated through many centuries treasures which are theirs to share with one another in prosecution of discoveries and the carrying on of good works in secret ages before the coming of christ one a salzian a man of austere and strict life belonging to a fraternity stationed in syria was engaged in working out a calculation of the average quantity of heat and light provided per minute by the sun's rays when glancing upward at the sky the hour being clearer noonday he beheld a cross of crimson hue suspended in the sky whereon hung the cloudy semblance of a human figure believing himself to be the victim of some optical delusion he hastened to fetch some of his brethren who at a glance perceived the self-same marvel which presently was viewed with reverent wonder by the whole assembled community for one entire hour the symbol stayed then vanished suddenly a noise like thunder accompanying its departure within a few months of its appearance messages came from all the other fraternities stationed in egypt in spain and greece in etruria stating that they also had seen this singular sight and suggesting that from henceforth the cross should be adopted by the united brotherhoods as a holy sign of some deity unrevealed a proposition that was at once agreed to this happened some five thousand years before christ

Starting point is 20:09:07 and hence the sign of the cross became known in all or nearly all the ancient rites of worship the multitude considering that because it was the emblem of the philosophical fraternities it must have some sacred meaning so it was used in this service of Serapus and the adoration of the Nile God. It has been found carved on Egyptian discs and obelisk, and it was included among the numerous symbols of Saturn. He paused. Alwyn was listening with eager, almost breathless attention. After this,

Starting point is 20:09:36 went on, Haleibus, came a long period of pre-figurements, types, and suggestions that running through all the various religions that sprang up swiftly and as swiftly decayed hinted vaguely at the birth of a child, offspring of a pure virgin, a miraculously generated God in man, an absolutely sinless one who should be sent to remind

Starting point is 20:09:56 humanity of its intended final high destiny, and who should by precept and example draw the earth nearer to heaven. I would here ask you to note what most people seem to forget, namely that since Christ came, all these shadowy types and prefigurements have ceased, a notable fact, even to skeptical minds, the world waited dimly for something it knew not what, the various fraternities of the cross waited also feeling conscious that some great era of hope and happiness was about to dawn for all men when the star in the east arose announcing the redeemer's birth there were some forty or fifty of these fraternities existing three in the ancient province of chaldea from whence a company of the wisest seers and its sages were sent to acknowledge by their immediate homage the divinity born in bethlehem these were the wise men out of the east mentioned in the gospel We knew, I say we, because I am descended directly from one of these men and have always belonged to their brotherhood. We knew it was divinity that had come amongst us.

Starting point is 20:11:01 In our parchment chronicles there is a long account of how the deserts of Arabia rang with music that holy night. What wealth of flowers sprang up in places that had hitherto lain waste and dry, how the sky blazed with rings of rosy at radiance, how fair and wondrous shapes were seen flitting across the heavens, the road of communication between men and angels being opened at a touch by the Savior's advent. Again he paused, and after a little silence resumed, then we added the star to our existing symbol, the cross, and became the brotherhood of the cross and star. As such, after the Redeemer's birth, we put all other matters from us

Starting point is 20:11:39 and set ourselves to chronicle his life and actions to pray and wait, unknowing what might be the course of his work or will. one day he came to us ah happy those whom he found watching and whose privilege it was to receive their divine guest his voice had a passionate thrill within it as of tears and arwin's heart beat fast what a wonderful new chapter was here revealed of the old old story of the only perfect life on earth one of the fraternities went on helibus had its habitation in the wilderness where some years later the mass wandered fasting forty days and forty nights to that solitary abode of prayerful men he came when he was about twenty-three earthly years of age the record of his visit has been reverently penned and preserved and from it we know how fair and strong he was how stately and like a king how gracious and noble and bearing how far exceeding in beauty all their sons of men his speech was music that thrilled to the heart the wondrous glory of his eyes gave life to those who knelt and worshipped him his touch was pardoned his smile was peace from his own lips a store of wisdom was set down and prophecies concerning the fate of his own teaching which then he uttered are only now at this very day being fulfilled therefore we know the time has come he broke off and sighed deeply the time has come for what demanded all one eagerly for certain secrets to be made known to the world which till now have been kept sacred returned to leobis you must understand that the chief vow of the fraternity of the cross and star is secrecy a promise never to divulge the mysteries of god and nature to those who are unfitted to receive such high instruction

Starting point is 20:13:31 it is christ's own saying a faithless and perverse generation ask for a sign and no sign shall be given you surely are aware how even in the simplest discoveries of material science the world's attitude is at first one of jeering in credulity how much more so then in things which pertain solely to the spiritual side of existence but god will not be mocked and it behooves us to think long and pray much before we unveil even one of the lesser mysteries to the eyes of the vulgar christ knew the immutable condition of free will he knew that faith humility and obedience are the hardest of all hard virtues to the self-sufficient arrogance of man and we learn from him that his gospel simple though it is would be denied disputed quarreled over shamefully distorted and almost lost sight of in a multitude of free opinions that his life-giving truth would be obscured and rendered incomprehensible by the willful obstinacy of human arguments concerning it christ has no part whatever in the distinctly human atrocities that had been perpetrated under cover of his name such as the inquisition the wars of the crusades the slaughter of martyrs and the degrading bitterness of sex in all these things christ's teaching is entirely set aside and lost he knew how the proud of this world would must read his words that is why he came to men who for thousands of years in succession had steadily practised the qualities he most desired namely faith humility and obedience and finding them ready to carry out his will he left with them the mystic secrets of his doctrine which he forbade them to give to the multitude till men's quarrels and disputations had called his very existence into doubt

Starting point is 20:15:26 then through pure channels and by slow degrees we were to proclaim to the world his last message owen's eyes rested on the speaker in reverent yet anxious inquiry surely he said you will begin to proclaim it now yes we shall begin answered heliobus his brow darkening as with a cloud of troubled thought but we are in a certain difficulty for we may not speak in public ourselves nor write for publication our ancient vow binds us to this and may not be broken moreover the master gave us a strange command namely that when the hour came for the gradual declaration of the secret of his doctrine we should entrust it in the first place to the hands of one who should be young in the world yet not of it simple as a child yet wise with the wisdom of faith of little or no estimation among men and who should have the distinctive quality of loving nothing in earth or heaven more dearly than his name and honour for this unique being we have searched and are searching still we can find many or young and both wise and innocent but alas one who loves the unseen christ actually more than all things this is indeed a perplexity i fancied of late that i have discovered in my own circle that is among those who have been drawn to study god and nature according to my views one who makes swift and steady progress in the higher sciences and who so far as i have been able to trace really loves our master with singular adoration above all joys on earth and hopes of heaven but i cannot be sure and there are many tests and trials to be gone through before we dare bid this little human land of love shine forth upon the raging storm. He was silent a moment, then went on in a low

Starting point is 20:17:18 tone, as though speaking to himself, when the mechanism of this universe is explained in such wise that no discovery of science can ever disprove but most rather support it, when the essence of the immortal soul in man is described in clear and concise language, and when the marvelous action of spirit on matter is shown to be actually existent and never idle. Then, if the world still doubts and denies God, it will only have itself to blame. But to you, and he resumed his ordinary tone, all things, through your angel's love, are made more or less plain, and I have told you the history of our fraternity, merely that you may understand how it is we know so much that the outer world is ignorant of. There are very few

Starting point is 20:18:08 of us left nowadays, only a dozen brotherhood scattered far apart on different portions of the earth, but such as we are, we are all united, and have never, through these 1800 years, had a shade of difference in opinion concerning the divinity of Christ. Through him we have learned true spiritualism and all the miraculous power, which is the result of it, and as there is a great deal of false spiritualism rampant just now. I may as well give you a few hints whereby you may distinguish it at once. Imprimus, if a so-called spiritualist tells you that he can summon spirits, who will remove tables and chairs, write letters, play the piano, and wrap on the walls,

Starting point is 20:18:51 he is a charlatan. For spirits can touch nothing corporeal, unless they take corporeal shape for the moment, as in the case of your angelic address. But in this condition they are only seen by the one person whom they visit, never by several persons at once, remember that. Nor can they keep their corporeal state long, except by their express wish and will. They should seek to enter absolutely into the life of humanity,

Starting point is 20:19:20 which I must tell you has been done, but so seldom that in all the history of Christian spirituality, there are only about four examples. Here are six tests for all the spiritualists you may chance to meet. First, do they serve themselves more than others? If so, they are entirely lacking, in spiritual attributes. Secondly, will they take money for their profess knowledge?

Starting point is 20:19:43 If so, they condemn themselves as paid tricksters. Thirdly, are they men and women of commonplace and thoroughly material life? Then it is plain they can influence others to strive for a higher existence. Fourthly, do they love notoriety? If they do, the gates of the unseen world are shut upon them. Fifthly, do they disagree among themselves, and speak against one another? If so, they contradict by their own behavior, all the laws of spiritual force and harmony. Sixthly and lastly, do they reject Christ?

Starting point is 20:20:17 If they do, they know nothing whatever about spiritualism. There being none without him. Again, when you observe professing psychists living in any eccentric way, so as to cause their trifling everyday actions to be remarked and commented upon, you may be sure the real power is not in them. as, for instance, people who have become vegetarians because they imagine that by doing so, they will see spirits, people who adopt a singular mode of dress in order to appear different from their fellow creatures, people who are lacrimose, dissatisfied, or in any way morbid.

Starting point is 20:20:50 Never forget that true spiritualism engenders health of body and mind, serenity and brightness of aspect, cheerfulness, and perfect contentment, and that its influence on those who are brought within its radius is distinctly marked and beneficial. The chief characteristic of a true that is Christian spiritualist is that he or she cannot be shaken from faith or thrown into despair by any earthly misfortune whatsoever. And while on this subject I will show you where the existing forms of Christianity depart from the teachings of Christ, first in lack of self-abnegation, secondly in lack of unity, thirdly in failing to prove to the multitude that death is not destruction, but simply change. Nothing really dies, and the priests should make use of science to illustrate this fact to the people. Each of these virtues has its miracle effect. Unity is strength. Self-abnegation attracts the divine influences, and death viewed as a glorious transformation, which it is,

Starting point is 20:21:54 inspires the soul with a sense of larger life. Sex are unchristian. There should be only one vast united church for all the Christian world. A church whose pure doctrines should include all the hints received from nature and the scientific working of the universe, the marvels of the stars and the planetary systems, the wonders of plants and minerals, the magic of light and color music, and the true miracles of spirit and matter should be inquired into reverently, prayerfully, and always with the deepest humility.

Starting point is 20:22:29 While the first act of worship performed every high, Olly, mourn, and eat, should be gratitude, gratitude, gratitude, I, even for a sorrow, we should be thankful. It may conceal a blessing we what not of. For sight, for sense, for touch, for the natural beauty of this present world, for the smile and the face we love, for the dignity and responsibility of our lives, and the immortality with which we are endowed, oh, my friend, would that every breath we drew could in some way express to the all-loving creator,

Starting point is 20:23:02 our adoring recognition of his countless benefits. Carried away by his inward fervor, his eyes flashed with extraordinary brilliancy, his countenance was grand, inspired, and beautiful, and Alwyn gazed at him in wondering, fascinated silence. It was a man who had indeed made the best of his manhood. What a life was his, how satisfying and serene, master of himself he was, as it were, master of the world.

Starting point is 20:23:27 All nature ministered to him, and the pageant of passing history was as a mere brilliant picture painted for his instruction a picture on which he looking learned all that it was needful for him to know and concerning this mystic brotherhood of the cross and star what treasures of wisdom they must have secreted in their chronicles through so many thousands of years what a privilege it would be to explore such world-forgotten tracks of time yielding to a sudden impulse all one spoke his thought aloud haleabas he said tell me could not i too become a member of your fraternity aloebus smiled kindly you could assuredly he replied if you chose to submit to fifteen years severe trial and study but i think a different sphere of duty is designed for you wait and see the rules of our order forbid the disclosure of knowledge attained save through the medium of others not connected with us and we may not write out our discoveries for open publication such a vow would be the death-bow to your poetical labors and the command your angel gave you points distinctly to a life lived in the world of men not out of it but you yourself are in the world of men at this moment argued all one and you are free did you not tell me you were bound for mexico does going to mexico constitute liberty laughed to leobis i assure you i am close to constrained by my vows, wherever I am, as closely as though I were shut in our turret among the heights of Caucasus.

Starting point is 20:24:53 I'm going to Mexico solely to receive some manuscripts from one of our brethren who is dying there. He is lived as a recluse, like Elzea of Meliana, and to him have been confided certain important chronicles which must be taken into trustworthy hands for preservation, such as the object of my journey. But now tell me, have you thoroughly understood all I have said to you? perfectly rejoined allan my way seems very clear before me a happy way enough too if it were not quite so lonely and he sighed a little the leobis rose and laid one hand kindly on his shoulder courage he said softly bare with the lonely a so while it may not last long ah slight thrill ran through allan's nerves he felt as though he were on the giddy verge of some great and unexpected joy his heart beat quickly and his eyes grew dim mastering the strange emotion with an effort

Starting point is 20:25:45 that he was reluctantly beginning to think of his time to take his leave when the leibus who had been watching him intently spoke in a cheerful friendly tone now that we have had our serious talk out mr allman suppose you come with me and hear the ange demon of music at st james's hall will you he can bestow upon you a perfect benediction of sweet sound a benediction not to be despised in this workaday world of clamour and out of all the exquisite symbols of heaven offered to us on earth music i think is the grandest and best i will go with you wherever you please replied allan glad of any excuse that gave him more of the attractive chaldean's company but what ang demon are you speaking of sarah satay or sarah sadie as some of the clear britishers call him laughed leibus putting on his overcoat as he spoke the spanish fiddler as the crabbed musical critics define him when they want to be contemptuous, which they do pretty often. These, together with the literary oracles, have their special cliques, their little chalked-out circles in which they, like tranced geese, stand, cackling, unable to move beyond the marked narrow limit.

Starting point is 20:26:59 As there are fools to be found who have the ignorance, as well as the affrontry, to declare that the obfuscated ill-expressed in ephemeral productions of browning are equal, if not superior to the clear, majestic, mattress and immortal utterances of Shakespeare, he gods, the force of Asinine brain can no further go than this. Even so there are similar fools who say that the cold, correct student-like playing of Joaquin is superior to that of Sarasata, but come and judge for yourself, if you have never heard him, it will be a sort of musical revelation to you. He is not so much a violinist as a human violin played by a,

Starting point is 20:27:38 some invisible sprite of song london listens to him but doesn't know quite what to make of him he is a riddle that only poets can read if we start now we shall be just in time have two stalls shall we go alwin needed no second invitation he was passionately fond of musy his interest was aroused his curiosity excited moreover whatever the fine taste of a leibus pronounced as good must he felt sure be super excellent in a few minutes they had left the hotel together and were walking briskly toward piccadilly their singularly handsome faces and stately figures causing many a passer-by to glance after them admiringly and mother sartre splendid-looking fellows not english for though englishmen are second to none in mere muscular strength and symmetry of form it is a fact worth noting that if any one possessing poetic distinction of look or picturesque and animated grace of bearing be seen suddenly among the more or less monotonously uniform crowd in the streets of london he or she is pretty sure to be set down rightly or wrongly as not english is not this rather pity for england end of chapter thirty seven chapter thirty eight of our death by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain the wizard of the beau when they entered the concert hall the orchestra had already begun the programme of the day with mendelssohn's italian symphony the house was crowded to excess numbers of people were standing apparently willing to endure a whole afternoon's fatigue rather than miss hearing the orpheus of andalusia the endymion out of spain as one of our latest and best poets has aptly called him

Starting point is 20:29:35 only a languidly tolerant interest was shown in the orchestral performance the italian symphony is not a really great or suggestive work and this is probably the reason why it so often fails to arouse popular enthusiasm for be it understood by the critical elect that the heart-whole appreciation of the million is by no means so vulgar as it is frequently considered. It is the impulsive response of those who, now being bound, hand and foot by any special fetters of thought or prejudice, express what they instinctively feel to be true. You cannot force these vulgar by any amount of societies to adopt Browning as a household God, but they will appropriate Shakespeare and glory in him, too, without any one's compulsion. If authors, painters, and musicians would probe more earnestly than they do to the core of this instinctive higher aspiration of peoples, it would be all the better for their future fame.

Starting point is 20:30:44 For each human unit in a nation has its great, as well as base, passions, and it is the clear duty of all the votaries of art to appeal to and support the noblest side of nature only moreover to do so with a simple unforced yet graphic eloquence of meaning they can be grasped equally and at once by both the humble and exalted it is not in the least italian said heliobus alluding to the symphony when it was concluded and the buzz of conversation surged through the the hall like the noise that might be made by thousands of swarming bees there is not a breath of italian air or a glimpse of italian light about it the dreamy warmth of the south the radiant colour that lies all day and all night on the lakes and mountains of dante's land the fragrance of flowers that snatches of peasants and fishermen songs the tunefulness of nightingales in the moonlight the tinkle of passing mandolins all these things should be hinted at in an italian symphony and all these are lacking mendelssohn tried to do what was not in him i do not believe the half phlegmatic half philosophical nature of a german could ever understand the impetuously passionate soul of italy as he spoke a fair girl with grey eyes that were almost black glance round at him inquiringly a faint blush flitted over her cheeks and she seemed about to speak but as though restrained by timidity she looked away again and said nothing elibus smiled that pretty child is italian he whispered to alwin patriotism sparkled in those bright eyes of hers love for the land of lilies from which she is at present one transplanted

Starting point is 20:32:37 allwin smiled also assentingly and thought how gracious kindly and gentle were the look and voice of the speaker he found it difficult to realize that this man who now sat beside him in the stalls of a fashionable london concert room was precisely the same one who, clad in the long-flowing white robes of his order, had stood before the altar in the chapel at Daryel, a stately embodiment of evangelical authority, intoning the seven glories. It seemed strange and yet not strange, for Leibis was a personage who might be imagined anywhere,

Starting point is 20:33:13 by the bedside of a dying child, among the parliaments of the learned, in the most brilliant social assemblies, at the head of a church, anything he chose to do would equally become him, inasmuch as it was utterly impossible to depict him engaged in otherwise than good and noble deeds. At that moment, a tumultuous clamor of applause broke out on all sides, applause that was joined in by the members of the orchestra, as well as the audience. A figure emerged from a side door on the left and ascended the platform,

Starting point is 20:33:47 a slight agile creature with rough dark hair and eager passionate eyes no other than the hero of the occasion sarasate himself sarasate a il suo wio lino there they were the two companions master and serving king and subject the one alive active-looking man of handsome somewhat serious countenance and absorbed expression the other a mere frame of of wood with four strings deftly knotted across it in which cunningly contrived little bit of mechanism was imprisoned the intangible yet living spirit of sound a miracle in its way that out of such common and even vile materials as wood cat-gut and horsehair the divinest music can be drawn forth by the hand of a master who knows how to use these rough implements suggestive too is it not my friends for if man can by his own poor skill and limited intelligence so invoke spiritual melody by material means shall not god contrive some wondrous tunefulness for himself even out of our common earthly discord hush a sound sweet and far as the chime of angelic bells in some vast sky tower rang clearly through the hall over the heads of the now hushed and attentive audience and all when hearing the penetrating silveryness of those first notes that fell from sarah satay's boat gave a quick sigh of amazement and ecstasy such marvellous purity of tone was intoxicating to his senses and set his nerve quivering for sheer delight in sympathetic tune he glanced at the programme concerto beethoven and swift as a flash there came to his mind some lines he had lately read and learned to love

Starting point is 20:35:46 it was the kaiser of the land of song the giant singer who did storm the gates of heaven and hell a man to whom the fates were fierce as furies and who suffered wrong and ached and bore it and was brave and strong and grand as ocean when its rage abates beethoven musical fullness of divine light, how the glorious nightingale notes of his unworded poesy came dropping through the air like pearls, rolling off the magic wand of the violin wizard, whose delicate dark face now slightly flushed with the glow of inspiration seemed to reflect by its very expression the various phases of the mighty composer's thought. Alwyn half-closed his eyes and listened, entranced, allowing his soul to drift like an oarless boat on the sweeping waves of the music's will he was under the supreme sway of two emperors of art beethoven and sarah satay and he was content to follow such leaders through whatever sweet tangles and tall growths of melody they might devise for his wandering at one mad passage of dancing semi-tones he started it was as though a sudden wind dreaming an enraged dream had leaped up to shake tall trees to and fro

Starting point is 20:37:03 and the pass of darrell with its frozen mountain peaks its tottering pines and howling hurricanes loomed back upon his imagination as he had seen it first on the night he had arrived at the monastery but soon these wild notes sank and slept again in the dulcet harmony of an adagio softer than a lover's song at midnight many strange suggestions began to glimmer ghostlike through this same adagio the fair dead face of nephata flitted past him as a wandering moonbeam flits athwart a cloud then came flashing reflections of light and color the bewildering dazzlement of lycia's beauty shone before the eyes of his memory with a blinding lustre as a flame the phantasmagoria of the city of alcyrus seemed to float in the air like a faintly discovered mirage ascending from the sea again he saw its picturesque streets its domes and bell towers its courts and gardens again he heard the dreamy melody of the dance that had followed the death of Nijalis and saw the cruel Lysia's wondrous garden lying white in the radiance of the moon. Anon he beheld the great square, with his fallen obelisk, and the prostrate, lifeless form of the prophet Koseruz, and, oh, most sadden, dear remembrance of all, the cherished shadow of himself, the brilliant, the joyous Saluma, appeared to beckon him from the other side of some vast gulf of mist and darkness, with a smile that was sorrowful, yet persuasive a smile that seemed to say o friend why hast thou left me as though i were a dead thing and unworthy of regard lo i have never died i am here an abandoned part of thee ready to become thine inseparable comrade once more thou make but the slightest sign then it seemed as though voices whispered in his ear saluma beloved saluma and theos theos my beloved till moved by a vague tremor of anxiety he lifted his drooping eyelids and gazed full in a sort of half-incredulous half-reproachful amaze

Starting point is 20:39:08 at the musical necromancer who had conjured up all these apparitions what did this wonderful sarah sate know of his past nothing indeed he had ceased and was gravely bowing to the audience in response to the thunder of applause that like a sudden whirlwind seemed to shake the building but he had not quite finished his incantations the last part of the concerto was yet to come and as soon as the hubbub of excitement had calmed down he dashed into it with the delicious speed and joy of a lark soaring into the spring-tide air and now on all sides what clear showers and sparkling choruscations of melody what a broad blue sky above what a fair green earth below how warm and odorous this radiating space made resonant with the ring of sweet bird harmonies wild thrills of ecstasy and lover-like tenderness snatches of song caught up from the flower-filled meadows and set to float in echoing liberty through the azure dome of heaven and in all and above all the light and heat and lustre of the unclouded sun here there was no dreaming possible nothing but glad life glad youth glad love with an ambrosial rush of tune like the lark descending the dancing blow cast forth the final chord from the violin as though it were a diamond flung from the hand of a king a flawless jewel of pure sound and the minstrel monarch of andalusia serenely saluting the now wildly enthusiastic audience left the platform. But he was not allowed to escape so soon. Again and again, and yet again, the enormous crowd summoned him before them, for the mere satisfaction of looking at his slight figure,

Starting point is 20:40:48 his dark, ported face, and soft, half-passionate, half-melancholy eyes, as though anxious to convince themselves that he was indeed human, and not a supernatural being, as his marvelous genius seemed to indicate, when at last he had retired for a breathing while, Haleobus turned to all with the question. What do you think of him? think of him echoed allan why what can one think what can one say of such an artist he is like a grand sunrise baffling all description and all criticism a leibis smile there was a little touch of satire in his smile do you see that gentleman he said in a low tone pointing out by a gesture a pale flabby-looking young man who was lounging languidly in a stall not very far from where they themselves sat he is the musical critic for one of the leading london daily papers He is not stirred an inch or moved an eyelash during Sarah Saté's performance, and the violent applause of the audience was manifestly distasteful to him.

Starting point is 20:41:50 He is merely written one line down in his notebook. It is most probably to the effect that the Spanish fiddler met with his usual success at the hands of the undiscriminating public. Alwyn laughed, not possible, and he eyed the impassive individual in question with a certain compassionate amusement. Why, if he cannot admire such a magnificent artist of Sarah Asate, what is there in the world that will? Rouse his admiration. Nothing, rejoined Helibus, his eyes twinkling humorously as he spoke, nothing, unless it is his own perspicuity.

Starting point is 20:42:26 Neil Admirari is the critic's motto. The modern Zabastis must always be careful to impress his readers in the first place with his personal superiority to all men and all things. and the musical oracle yonder will no doubt be clever enough to make his report of sarasote in such a manner as to suggest the idea that he could play the violin much better himself if he only cared to try ass said all one under his breath one would like to shake him out of his absurd self-complacency elibus shrugged his shoulders expressively my dear fellow he would only bray and the braying of an ass is not euphonious no you might as well shake a dry clothes prop and expect to blossom into fruit and flower as argue with a musical critic and expect him to be enthusiastic the worst of it is these men are not really musical they perhaps know a little of the grammar and technique of the thing but they cannot understand its full eloquence in the presence of a genius like pablo de sara satte they are more or less perplex it is as though you ask them to describe in set cold terms the counterpoint and thorough bass of the wind's symphony to the trees the great ocean sonata to the shore or the delicate madrigals sung almost inaudibly by little bell blossoms to the tinkling fall of april rain the man is too great for them he is a blazing star that dazzles and confounds their sight and after the manner of their craft they abused what they can't can't understand. Music is distinctly the language of the emotions, and they have no emotion.

Starting point is 20:43:58 They therefore generally prefer Joaquin, the good stolid Joaquin, who so delights all the dreary old spinsters and dowagers who nod over their knitting needles at the Monday popular concerts and fancy themselves lovers of the classical in music. Sarasate appeals to those who have loved and thought and suffered, those who have climbed the heights of passion and wrung out the depths of pain, and therefore the people, taken on mass, as for instance, in this crowded hall, instinctively respond to his magic touch, and why, because the greater majority of human beings are full of the deepest and most passionate feelings, not as yet having been educated out of them.

Starting point is 20:44:39 Here the orchestra commence, lists preludes, and all conversation ceased. Afterwards, Sarasate came again to bestow upon his eager admirers, another saving grace of sound in the shape of the famous mendelsso concerto which he performed with such fiery ardour tenderness purity of tone and marvellous execution that many listeners held their breath for sheer amazement and delighted awe anything approaching the beauty of his rendering of the final allegro awain had never heard and indeed it is probable none will ever hear a more poetical more exquisite singing of thought than this matchless example of sarasote's genius and power who would not warm to the brightness and delicate of those delicious rippling tones that seem to leap from the strings alive like sparks of fire the dainty tripping ease of the apeji that float from the bow with the grace of rainbow bubbles blown forth upon the air the breed runs that glide and glitter up and down like chattering brooks sparkling among violets and meadows sweet the lovely softer notes that here and there sigh between the varied harmonies with the dreamy passion of lovers who part only to meet again in a rush of eager joy allwin sat absorbed and spellbound he forgot the passing of time he forgot even the presence of helibus he could only listen and gratefully drink in every drop of sweetness that was so lavishly poured upon him from such a glorious sky a sunlit sound presently toward the end of the performance a curious thing happened sarasate had appeared to play the last piece set down for him a composition of his own entitled zyguna vison a gipsy song or medley of gipsy songs it would be thought allan glancing at his programme

Starting point is 20:46:19 then looking towards the artist who stood with lifted bow like another prospero prepared to summon forth the aerial of music at a touch he saw that the dark spanish eyes of the maestro were fixed full upon him with as he then fancied a strange penetrating smile in their fiery depths one instant and a weird lament came sobbing from the smitten violin a wildly beautiful despair was wordlessly proclaimed a melody that went straight to the heart and made it ache and burn and throb with a rising tumult of unlanguaged passion and desire the solemn yet unfettered grace of its rhythmic respiration suggested to all one first darkness then twice than the gradual far glimmering of a silvery dawn till out of the shuddering notes there seemed to grow up a vague vast and cool whiteness splendid and mystical a whiteness that from shapeless fleecy mist took gradual form and abundance the great concert hall with its closely packed throng of people appeared to fade away like vanishing smoke and low before the poets entranced there rose up a wondrous vision of stately architectural grandeur a vision of snowy columns and lofty arches upon which fell a shimmering play of radiant color flung by the beams of the sun through stained glass windows glistening jewel-wise a tremulous sound of voices floated aloft singing kirier elaisaisais and the murmuring undertone of the organ shook the still air with deep vibrations of holy tune everywhere peace everywhere purity everywhere that spacious whiteness flecked with side gleam of royal purple gold in ardent crimson and in the midst of all o dearest tenderness o fairest glory a face shining forth like a star in a cloud a face dazzingly beautiful and sweet a golden head above which the pale halo of a light ethereal hovered lovingly in a radiant ring

Starting point is 20:48:20 edris the jays name breathed itself silently in allwin's thoughts silently and yet with all the passion of a lover's prayer how was it he wondered dimly that he he saw her thus distinctly now, now when the violin music wept its wildest tears, now when love, love, love, seemed to clamor in a tempestuous agony of appeal from the low-pulsating melody of the marvelous Zygunnervesen, a melody which, despite its name, had revealed to one listener at any rate, nothing concerning the wanderings of gypsies over forest and more land, but on the contrary had built up all these sublime cathedral arches, this lustrous light, this exquisite face, whose loveliness was his life? How had he found his

Starting point is 20:49:06 way into such a dream sanctuary, a frozen snow? What was his mission there? And why, when the picture slowly faded, did it still haunt his memory invitingly, persuasively, nay almost commandingly? He could not tell, but his mind was entirely ravished and possessed by an absorbing impression of white sculpture calm. And he was as startled as though. he had been brusquely awakened from a deep sleep when the loud plaudits of the people made him aware that Sarasate had finished his program and was departing from the scene of his triumphs. The frenzied shouts and encores, however, brought him once more before the excited public to play a set of Spanish dances, fanciful and delicate as the gambolling of a light breeze over rose gardens and dashing fountains. And when this wonder music ceased, all woke from tranced rapture. into enthusiasm and joined in the thunders of applause, with fervent warmth and zeal. Eight several times did the weary but ever affable maestro, ascend the platform to bow and smile his graceful acknowledgments,

Starting point is 20:50:13 till the audience satisfied with having thoroughly emphasized. Their hearty appreciation of his genius permitted him to finally retire. Then the people flocked out of the hall in crowds, talking, laughing, and delightedly commenting upon the afternoon's enjoyment, the brief remarks exchanged by two americans who were sauntering on immediately in front of elibus and alwyn being perhaps the very pith and essence of the universal opinion concerning the great artist they had just heard i tell you what he is said one he's a demi-god oh don't have it rejoined the other wittily he's the whole thing anyway once outside the hall and in the busy street now rendered doubly brilliant by the deep saffron light of a gloriously setting sun heliobis prepared to take leave of his somewhat silent and preoccupied companion i see you are still under the sway of the ang demon he remarked cheerfully as he took hands is he not an amazing fellow that bow of his is a veritable divining rye it finds out the fountain of elucidus but note a miraculous fountain spoken of in old chronicles whose waters rose to the sound of music and the music seizing sank again in each human heart it has but to pronounce a

Starting point is 20:51:27 note and straightway the hidden waters begin to bubble but don't forget to read the newspaper accounts of this concert you will see that the critics will make no allusion whatever to the enthusiasm of the audience and that the numerous encores will not even be mentioned that is unfair said all one quickly the expression of the people's appreciation should always be chronicled of course but it never is unless it suits the immediate taste of the clicks click art click literature click criticism keep all three things on a low ground that slopes daily more and more toward decadence, and the pity of it is that the English get judged abroad chiefly by what their own journalists say of them. Thus, if Sarasate is coldly criticized, foreigners laugh at the unmusical English, whereas the fact is that the nation itself is not a musical, but its musical critics mostly are. They are very often picked out of the rank and file of the dullest academy students and contrapuntus who are incapable of understanding anything original and therefore are the persons most unfitted to form a correct estimate of genius.

Starting point is 20:52:30 However, it has always been so, and I suppose it always will be so. Don't you remember, that when Beethoven began his grand innovations, a certain critic Astor wrote of him, the absurdity of his effort is only equal by the hideousness of its result. He laughed lightly and once more shook hands, while Alvin, looking at him, wistfully said, I wonder when we shall meet again. oh very soon i dare say he rejoined the world is a wonderfully small place after all as men find when they jostle up against each other unexpectedly in the most unlikely corners of far countries you may if you choose correspond with me and that is a privilege i accord to you i assure you he smiled and then went on in a more serious tone you are of course welcome at our monastery whenever you wish to come to take my advice do not willfully step out of the sphere in which you are placed live in society in need men of your stamp and intellectual caliber show it a high and consistent example let no

Starting point is 20:53:27 eccentricity mar your daily actions work at your destiny steadily cheerfully serenely and leave the rest of god and the angels there was a slight tender inflection in his voice as he spoke the last words and all one gave him a quick searching glance but his blue penetrating eyes were calm and steadfast full of their usual luminous softness and pathos and there was nothing you expressed in them but the gentlest friendliness well i'm glad i may write to you at any rate said all when at last reluctantly releasing his hand it is possible i may not remain long in london i want to finish my poem and it gets on too slowly in the tumult of daily life in town then will you go abroad again inquired he'll leave us perhaps i may bond where i was once a student for a time it is a peaceful sleepy little place i shall probably complete my work easily there moreover it will be like going back to a bit of my youth i remember i first began to entertain all my dreams of poesy at bonn inspired by the seven mountains and the drachenfels laughed to leobis no wonder you recall the lost saluma period in the sight of the entrancing line ah sir poet you have had your fill of fame and i fear the plaudits of london will never be like those of alcyrrhus no monarchs will honor you now but rather despise for the kings and queens of this age prefer financiers to laureates now wherever you wander let me hear of your well-being and progress and contentment when you write addressed to our dariel retreat for though on my return from mexico i shall probably visit lemnos my letters will always be forwarded adieu

Starting point is 20:55:06 adieu in their eyes met a grave sweet smile brightened the chaldean's handsome features god remained with you my friend he said in a low thrillingly earnest tone believe me you are elected to a strangely happy fate far happier than you at present know with these words he turned and was gone lost to sight in the surging throng of passers-by alwin looked eagerly after him but saw him no more his tall figure had vanished as utterly as any of the phantom shapes in alcyrus only that far from being spectre-like he had seemed more actually a living personality than any of the people in the streets who were hurrying to and fro on their various errands of business or pleasure that same night when allwin related his day's adventure to villiers who heard it with the most absorbed interest he was describing the effect of sarasate's violin playing when all at once he was seized by the same curious overpowering impression of white lofty arches stained windows and jewel-like glimmerings of color and he suddenly stopped short in the midst of his narrative what's the matter asked various astonished go on you were saying that sarasate is one of the divinest of god's wandering melodies went on all one slowly and with a faint smile and that though as a rule musicians are forgotten when their music ceases this and delusioned orpheus in thrace will be remembered long after his violent his latest side and he himself has journeyed to a sunnier land than spain but i am not master of my thoughts to night villiers my chaldean friend has perhaps mesmerized me who knows and i have an odd fancy upon me i should like to spend an hour in some great and beautiful cathedral and see the light of the rising sun flashing through the stained windows across the altar poet and dreamer laughed villiers you can't gratify that whim in london there's no great and beautiful edifice of the kind here only the unfinished oratory westminster abbey broken up into ugly pews and vile monuments and the repellently grimy st paul so go to bed old boy and indulge yourself in some more visions for i assure you you'll never find any reality come up to your idea of things in general no and all one smile strange that i see it in quite the rivers where-we're

Starting point is 20:57:15 it seems to me no ideal will ever come up to the splendor of reality but remember said villiers quickly your reality is heaven a reality that is every one else's myth true terribly true and all one's eyes darkened sorrowfully yet the world's myth is the only eternal real and for the shadows of this present seeming we barter our immortal substance end of chapter thirty eight chapter thirty nine of our death by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain by the rhyme in the two or three weeks that followed his meeting with the leibus alwyn made up his mind to leave london for a while he was tired and restless tired of the routine society more or less imposed upon him Restless because he had come to a stand still in his work, an invisible barrier over which his creative fancy was unable to take its usual sweeping flight. He had an idea of seeking some quiet spot among mountains, as far remote as possible, from the traveling world of men, a peaceful place where, with the majestic silence of nature all about him, he might plead in lover-like retirement with his refractory moment. use and strive to coax her into a sweeter and more indulgent humor. It was not that thoughts were lacking to him. What he complained of was the monotony of language and the difficulty of finding new, true, and choice forms of expression. A great thought leaps into the brain, like a lightning

Starting point is 20:59:04 flash. There it is an indescribable mystery, warming the soul and pervading the intellect. But the proper expression of that thought is a matter of the deepest anxiety to the true poet, who, if he be worthy of his vocation, is bound not only to proclaim it to the world clearly, but also clad in such a perfection of wording that it shall chime on men's ears with a musical sound as of purest golden bells. There are very few faultless examples of this felicitous utterance in English. or in any literature so few indeed that they could almost all be included in one newspaper column of ordinary print keats's exquisite line ea's isle was wandering at the moon in which the word wondering paints a whole landscape of dreamy enchantment and the couplet in the ode to a nightingale that speaks with a delicious vagueness of magic casement opening on the foam of perilous seas in fairy lands forlorn are absolutely unique and unrivaled

Starting point is 21:00:23 as is the exquisite alliteration taken from a poet of our own day the holy lark with fire from heaven and sunlight on his wing who wakes the world with witcheries of the dark renewed in rapture in the reddening air. Again from the same, the cords of the lute are entranced with the weight of the wonder of things, and his skyward notes have drenched the summer with the dews of song. This last line, being certainly one of the most suggested and beautiful in all poetical literature, such expressions have the intrinsic quality of completeness. One said, we feel that they can never be set again. They belong to the centuries, rather than the seasons, and any imitation of them, we immediately and instinctively resent as an outrage. And Theo Solwyn was essentially, and above all things,

Starting point is 21:01:29 faithful to the lofty purpose of his calling. He dealt with his art reverently, and not in rough haste and scrambling carelessness. If he worked out any idea in rhyme, the idea was distinct, and the rhyme was perfect. He was not content, like Browning, to jumble together such hideous

Starting point is 21:01:50 and ludicrous combinations as high, humph, and triumph. Moreover, he knew that what he had to tell his public must be told comprehensively, yet grandly, with all the authority and persuasiveness of

Starting point is 21:02:06 incisive rhetoric, yet also with all the sweetness and fascination of a passionate love-song. Occupied with such work as this, London, with its myriad mad noises, and vulgar distractions became impossible to him, and the years his vitus Akates, who had read portions of his great palm and was impatient to see it finished, knowing as he did what an enormous sensation it would create when published, warmly seconded his own desire to gain a couple of months complete seclusion and tranquillity. He left town, therefore, about the middle of May, and started across the channel, resolving to make for Switzerland by the leisurely and a life away of the Rhine, in order to visit Bonn the scene of his old student days. What days they had been, days of dreaming, more than action,

Starting point is 21:03:04 for he had always regarded learning as a pastime rather than a drudgery, and so had easily distanced his comrades in the race for knowledge, while they were flirting with the Litchin or Gretchen of the hour. He had willingly absorbed himself in study. Thus he had attained the head of his classes with scarce an effort, and, in fact, had often found time, hanging heavily on his hands for want of something more to do. He had astonished the universal,

Starting point is 21:03:34 professors, but he had not astonished himself inasmuch as no special branch of learning presented any difficulties to him. And the more he mastered, the more dissatisfied he became. It had seemed such a little thing to win the honors of scholarship, for at that time his ambition was always climbing up the apparently inaccessible heights of fame. Fame that he then imagined was the greatest glory any human being could aspire to. He smiled as he recollected this and thought how changed he was since then. What a difference between the former discontented mutability of his nature and the deep, unswerving calm of patience that characterized it now.

Starting point is 21:04:21 Learning and scholarship, these were the mere child's alphabet of things, and fame was a passing breath that ruffled for one brief moment the on rushing flood of time, a bubble blown in the air to break into nothingness, thus much wisdom he had acquired, and what more a great deal more, he had won the difficult comprehension of himself. He had grasped the priceless knowledge that man has no enemy, save that which is within him, and that the pride of a rebellious will is the parent sin from which all others are generated. The old scriptural saying is true for all time that through pride the angels fell, and it is only through humility that they will ever rise again.

Starting point is 21:05:15 Pride, the proud will that is left free by divine law to work for itself, and answer for itself, and wreak upon its own head the punishment of its own errors. the will that once voluntarily crushed down in the dust at the cross of Christ, with these words truly drawn from the depths of penitence, Lord, not as I will, but as thou wilt, is straightway, lifted up from its humiliation, a supreme stately force, resistless, miraculous, world commanding, smoothing the way for all greatness and all goodness,

Starting point is 21:05:53 and guiding the happy soul from joy to joy, from glory to glory, till heaven itself is reached, and the perfection of all love and life begins, for true humility is not slavish, as some people imagine, but rather royal, since while acknowledging the supremacy of God, he claims close-kindred with him, and is at once invested with all the diviner virtues, fame and wealth, the two perishable prizes for which men struggle with one another in ceaseless and cruel combat, bring no absolute satisfaction in the end. They are toys that please for a time, and then grow wearisome, but the conquering of self is a battle in which each fresh victory bestows a deeper content, a larger happiness, a more perfect peace,

Starting point is 21:06:45 and neither poverty sickness nor misfortune can quench the courage or abate the ardor of the warrior who is absorbed in a crusade against his own worser passions egotism is the vice of this age the maxim of modern society is each man for himself and no one for his neighbor and in such a state of things when personal interest or advantage as the chief boon desired we cannot look for honesty in either religion politics or commerce nor can we expect any grand work to be done in art or literature when pictures are painted and books are written for money only when laborers take no pleasure in labor save for the wage it brings when no real enthusiasm is shown in anything except the accumulation of wealth and when all the finer sentiments and nobler instincts of men are made subject to mammon worship is any one so mad and blind as to think that good can come of it nothing but evil upon evil can accrue from such a system and those who have prophetic eyes to see through the veil of events can perceive even now the not far distant end namely the ruin of the country that has permitted itself to degenerate into a mere nation of shopkeepers and something worse than ruin degradation it was past eight in the evening when all went after having spent a couple of days in bright little brussels arrived at cologne most travellers know to their cost how noisy narrow and unattractive are the streets of this ancient colonia agrippina of the romans

Starting point is 21:08:31 how persistent and wearying is the rattle of the vehicles over the rough cobbly stones how irritating to the nerves is the incessant shrieking whistle and clank of the rhine steamboats as they glide in or glide out from the jewelless and dirty pier but at night when these unpleasant sounds have partially subsided and the lights twinkle in the shop windows and the majestic mass of the cathedral casts its broad shadow on the moonlit dom and a few soldiers, with clanking swords and glittering spurs, come marching out from some dark stone archway, and the green gleam of the river sparkles along in luminous ripples, then it is that a something weird and mystical creeps over the town, and the glamour of ancient historical memories begins to cling about its irregular buildings. One thinks of the legendary three kings, and believes in them too, of St. Ursula and her company of virgins of Marie de Medici's, dying alone in that tumbled-down house and the Starn

Starting point is 21:09:36 Gasa of Rubens, who it is said here, first saw the light of this world, of an angry Satan, flinging his two-full stein from the seven mountains and an impotent attempt to destroy the dom, and gradually the indestructible romantic spell of the Rhine steals into the spirit of common things that were unlovely by day and makes the old city beautiful, under the sacred glory of the stars. Alwyn dined at his hotel, and then finding it still too early to retire, to rest, strolled slowly across the plots,

Starting point is 21:10:13 looking up at the sublime, God's temple above him, the stately cathedral, with its wondrously delicate carvings and flying buttresses, on which the moonlight glittered like little points of pale flame. He knew it of old,

Starting point is 21:10:27 many and many a time, had he taken train from bond, for the sole pleasure of spending an hour in gazing on that splendid sermon in stone. One of the grandest testimonies in the world of man's instinctive desire to acknowledge, and honor by his noblest design and work, the unseen but felt majesty of the creator.

Starting point is 21:10:49 He had a great longing to enter it now and ascended the steps with that intention, but much to his vexation. The doors were shut. He walked from the side to the side to the, the principal entrance, that superb western frontage, which is so cruelly blocked in by a dwarfish street of the commonest shops and meanest houses, and found that also closed against him. Disappointed and sorry, he went back again to the side of the colossal structure and stood on the top of the steps,

Starting point is 21:11:20 closed to the central barred doors, studying the sculptured saints in the niches, and feeling a sudden, singular impression of extreme loneliness, a sense of being shut out, as it were, from some high festival in which he would gladly have taken part. Not a cloud was in the sky. The evening was one of the most absolute calm, and a delicious warmth pervaded the air, the warmth of a fully declared and balmy screen. The plots was almost deserted,

Starting point is 21:11:50 only a few persons crossed it now and then, like flitting shadows, and somewhere down in one of the opposite streets a long way off, there was a sound of men's voices, singing a part song. Presently, however, this distant music ceased, and a deep silence followed. All when still remained in the somber shade of the Cathedral Archway, arguing with himself against the foolish and unaccountable depression that had seized him, and watching the brilliant May moon soar up higher and higher in the heavens, when all at once the throbbing murmur of the great

Starting point is 21:12:28 organ inside the dom, startled him from pensive dreaminess into swift attention. He listened. The rich, round notes sundered through the stillness with forceful and majestic harmony, anon weird tones like the passionate lament of Sarasate's Zyginnervison, floated around and above him. Then a silvery chorus of young voices broke forth in solemn unison. Kiri'e elais-en, Christe elaisant, Kiriier-Eleissant. A faint cold tremor crept through his veins,

Starting point is 21:13:08 his heart beat violently. Again he vainly strove to open the great door, was there a choir, practicing inside at this hour of the night? Surely not? Then, from whence, had this music its origin. Stooping, he bent his ear to the crevice of the closed portal, but as suddenly, as they had begun, the harmonies ceased.

Starting point is 21:13:28 and all was once more profoundly still drawing a long deep breath he stood for a moment amazed and lost in thought these sounds he felt sure were not of earth but of heaven they had the same ringing sweetness as those he had heard on the field of ardaf what might they mean to him here and now quick as a flash the answer came death god had taken pity upon his solitary earth wanderings and the prayers of edras had shortened his world exile and probation he was to die and that solemn singing was the warning or the promise of his approaching end yes it must be so he decided as with a strange half-sad peace at his heart he quietly descended the steps of the dom he would perhaps be permitted to finish the work he was at present doing and then then the poet pen would be laid aside for ever chains would be undone and he would be set at liberty such was his fixed idea was he glad of the prospect he asked himself yes and no for himself he was glad but in these latter days he had come to understand the thousand wordless wants and aspirations of mankind wants and aspirations to which only the poet can give fitting speech he had begun to see how much can be done to cheer and raise and ennoble the world by even one true brave earnest and unselfish worker and he had attained to such a height in sympathetic comprehension of the difficulties and drawbacks of others

Starting point is 21:15:09 that he had ceased to consider himself at all in the question either with regard to the present or the immortal future. He was without knowing it in the simple unconsciously perfect attitude of a soul that is absolutely at one with God and that thus involuntary God-likeness is only happy in the engendering of happiness. he believed that with the divine help he could do a lasting good for his fellow-men and to this cause he was willing to sacrifice everything that pertained to his own mere personal advantage but now now or so he imagined he was not to be allowed to pursue his labors of love his trial was to end suddenly and he so long banished from his higher heritage was to be restored to it without delay restored and drawn back to the last land of perfect loveliness where Edrus his angel waited for him, his saint, his queen,

Starting point is 21:16:07 his bride. A thrill of ecstatic joy rushed through him. Joy intermingled with an almost supernal pain, for he had not, as yet, set enough to the world, the world of many afflictions, the little sorrowful star covered with toiling anxious, diluted God-forgetting millions, in every unit of which was a spark of heavenly flame, a germ of the spiritual essence that makes the angel, if only, fostered aright. Lost in a deep reverie, his footsteps had led him unconsciously to the Rhine Bridge,

Starting point is 21:16:43 paying the customary fee. He walked about halfway across it and stood for a while listening to the incessant swift rush of the river beneath him. Lights twinkled from the boats, moored on either side. The moon poured down a wide, shower of white beams on the rapid flood, the city, dusty, and dreamlike crowned with the

Starting point is 21:17:04 majestic towers of the dom, looked picturesquely calm and grand. It was a night of perfect beauty and wondrous peace, and he was to die, to die and leave all this, the present fairness of the world. He was to depart, with as he felt his message half unspoken. He was to be made eternally happy, while many of the thousands he left behind were, through ignorance, willfully electing to be eternally miserable. A great almost divine longing to save one, only one, downward-difting soul, possessed him, and the comprehension of Christ's sacrifice was no longer a mystery, yet he was so certain that death, sudden and speedy,

Starting point is 21:17:47 closely awaited him, that he seemed to feel it in the very air, not like a coming chill of dread, but like the soft approach of some holy seraph bringing benediction. It mattered little to him that he was actually in the very plenitude of health and strength, that perhaps in all his life he had never felt such a keen delight in the physical perfection of his manhood as now. Death without warning and at a touch could smite down the most vigorous and to be so spitting he believed was his imminent destiny. And while he lingered on the bridge, fancy perplexed between grief and joy, a small window opened in a quaint house that bent its bulging gables crookedly over the gleaming water and a girl, holding a small lamp, looked

Starting point is 21:18:32 out for a moment. Her face, fresh and smiling, was fair to see against the background of dense shadow. The light she carried flashed like a star, and leaning down from the lattice, she sang half timidly, half-mistifously, the first two or three bars of the old song, Do Do Do Likes in Mine, Hudson. Aguta Nauch-Liggen, said a man's voice, below. Gutenak shlofen zeevold. A light laugh and the window closed.

Starting point is 21:19:02 Good night. Sleep well. Love's best wish, and for some sad souls, life's last hope. A good night and sleep well. Poor, tired world, for whose weary inhabitants oftentimes the greatest blessing is sleep.

Starting point is 21:19:16 Good night, sleep well, but the sleep implies waking, waking to a morning of pleasure or sorrow or labor that is only lightened by love, love, love divine, love human, and sweetest love of all for us as Christ has taught when both divine and human are mingled in one. Alwyn glancing up at the clustering stars, hanging light pendant, fire, jewels above him, thought of this marvel glory of love, this celestial visitant who, on noiseless opinions,

Starting point is 21:19:49 comes flying divinely into the poorest homes, transfiguring common life with the theory radiance, making toil easy, giving beauty to the plainest faces, and poetry to the dullest brains. Love, its tremulous hand-clasped, its rapturous kiss, the speechless eloquence it gives to gentle eyes. The grace it bestows on even the smallest gift from lover to beloved, were such gift but a handful of meadow blossoms tied with some silken threads of hair. Not for the poet-creator of Nurama, such love anymore, had he. he not drained the cup of passion to the dregs in the far past, and tasted its mixed sweetness and bitterness to no purpose save self-indulgence,

Starting point is 21:20:33 all that was over, and yet, as he walked away from the bridge back to his hotel, in the quiet moonlight, he thought, what a transcendent thing, love might be, even on earth, between two whose spirits were spiritually akin, whose lives were like two notes played in tune for concord, whose hearts be echoing faith and tenderness to one another, and who held their love as a sacred bond of union, a gift from God not to be despoiled by that rough familiarity which surely brings contempt, and then before his fancy appeared to float the radiant visage of Edress,

Starting point is 21:21:09 half-child, half-angel, he seemed to see her beautiful eyes, so pure, so clear, so unshattered by any knowledge of sin, and the exquisite lines of a poet contemporary, whose work, he specially admired occurred to him with singular suggestiveness o thou'lt confess that love from man to made is more than kingdoms more than light and shade in sky-built gardens where the minstrels dwell and more than ransom from the bonds of hell thou wilt i say admit the truth of this and half relent that shrinking from a kiss thou didst consign me to mine own disdain athwart the raptures of a vision bliss I'll seek no joy that is not linked with thine, no touch of hope, no taste of holy wine, and after death no home in any star

Starting point is 21:22:01 that is not shared by thee supreme afar. As here thou art first and foremost of all things, glory is thine, and gladness and the wings that wait on thought, when in thy spirit sway thou dost invest a realm unknown to kings. Had not she, Edrus consigned him to his own disdain, athwart the raptures of a vision bliss, I truly and deservedly, and this disdain of himself had now reached its culminating point, namely that he did not consider himself worthy of her love, or worthy to do aught then sink again into far spaces of darkness,

Starting point is 21:22:40 and perpetually retrospective memory, there to explore the uttermost depths of anguish and count up his errors one by one from the very beginning of life in every separate phase he had passed through till he had penitently striven his best to atone for them all christ had atoned yes but was it not almost base on his part to shield himself with that divine light and do nothing further he could not yet thoroughly grasp the amazing truth that one absolutely pure act of faith in christ blots out past sin forever it seemed too marvellous and great a boon when he retired to rest that night he was fully and firmly prepared to die with this expectation upon him he was nevertheless happy and tranquil the line glory is thine and gladness and the wings haunted him and he repeated it over and over again without knowing why wings the brilliant shafts of radiance that part angels from mortals wings that after all are not really wings but lambent rays of living lightning of which neither painter nor poet has any true conception long dazzling rays such as encircle god's maiden edress with an arch of rosyate effulgence so that the very air was sunset coloured in the splendour of her presence how if she were a wingless angel made woman glory is thine and gladness and the wings and with the name of his angel love upon his lips he closed his eyes and sank into a deep and dreamless slumber

Starting point is 21:24:20 chapter forty of ardath by marie carelli this librivox recording is in the public domain in the cathedral a booming thunderous yet mellow sound a grand solemn sonorous swing of full and weighty rhythm striking the air with deep slowly measured resonance like the rolling of close cannon awake all ye people awake to prayer and praise for the night is past and sweet morning reddens in the east another day is born a day in which to win god's grace and pardon another wonder of light movement creation beauty love awake awake be glad and grateful for the present joy of life this life dear harbinger of life to come open your eyes ye drowsy mortals to the divine blue of the beneficent sky the golden beams of the sun the color of flowers the foliage of trees the flash of sparkling waters open your ears to the singing of birds the whispering of winds the gay ripple of children's laughter the soft murmurs of home affection for all these things are freely bestowed upon you with each breaking dawn and will you offer unto god no thanksgiving awake awake the voice you have yourself set in your high cathedral towers reproach as your lack of love with its iron tongue and summons you all to worship him the ever-glorious through whose mercy alone you live to and fro to and fro gravely persistent sublimely eloquent the huge sustained and heavy

Starting point is 21:26:15 monotone went thudding through the stillness till startled from his profound sleep by such loud lofty and incessant clamor alwin turned on his pillow and listened half aroused half bewildered then remembering where he was he understood it was the great bell of the dom pealing forth its first summons to the earliest mass he lay quiet for a little while dreamily counting the number of reverberations each separate stroke sent quivering on the air but presently finding it impossible to sleep again he got up and drawing aside the curtain looked out of the window of his room which fronted on the plots though it was not yet six o'clock the city was all astir the rhinelanders are an early working people and to see the sun rises not with them a mere fiction of poesy, but a daily fact. It was one of the loveliest of lovely spring mornings. The sky was clear as a pale, polished sapphire, and every little bib of delicate carving and sculpture

Starting point is 21:27:24 on the dom stood out from its groundwork with microscopically beautiful distinctness. And as his gaze rested on the perfect fairness of the day, a strange and sudden sense of rapturous anticipation possessed his mind. He felt his one prepared for some high, and exquisite happiness some great and wondrous celebration or feast of joy the thoughts of death on which he had brooded so persistently during the past yester eve had fled leaving no trace behind only a keen and vigorous delight in life absorbed him now it was good to be alive even on this present earth it was good to see to feel to know and there was much to be thankful for in the mere capability of easy and healthful breathing full of a singular light-heartedness he hummed a soft tune to himself as he moved about his room his desire to view the interior of the cathedral had not abated with sleep but had rather augmented and he resolved to visit it now while he had the chance to see the chair to view the interior of the cathedral had not abated with sleep but had rather augmented and he resolved to visit it now while he had the chance chance of beholding it in all the impressive splendor of uncrowded tranquillity,

Starting point is 21:28:37 for he knew that by the time he was dressed the first mass would be over, the priests and people would be gone, and he would be alone to enjoy the magnificence of the place in full poet luxury, the luxury of silence and solitude. He attired himself quickly, and with a vaguely nervous eagerness, he was in almost as great a hurry to enter the Dom as he had been to arrive at the field of Ardath. The same feverish impatience was upon him, impatience that he was conscious of yet could not account for. His fancy busied itself with a whole host of memories

Starting point is 21:29:14 and fragments of half-forgotten love songs he had written in his youth, came back to him without his wish or will, songs that he instinctively felt belonged to his past. Winna Saluma, he had won golden opinions in Alciras, and though they were but echoes, they seemed this morning to touch him with half-pleasing, half-tender suggestiveness. Two lines especially from the idol of roses, he had penned so long, ah, so very long ago, came floating through his brain like a message sent from some other world. By the pureness of love shall our glory and loving increase, and the roses of passion for us are the lilies of peace. The lilies of peace and the flowers of our death, the roses of love.

Starting point is 21:29:57 passion and the love of Edris these were all mingled almost unconsciously in his thoughts as with an inexplicable happy sense of tremulous expectation expectation of he knew not what he went walking as one in haste across the broad plots and ascended the steps of the cathedral but the side entrance was fast shut as on the previous night he therefore made his rapid way round to the great western door that stood open the bell had long ago ceased mass was over and all was profoundly still out of the warm sunlit air he stepped into the vast cool clear obscure white glory of the stately shrine with bared head and noiseless reverent feet he advanced a little way up the nave and then stood motionless every artistic perception in him satisfied soothed and entranced anew as in his student days by the tranquil grandeur of the scene what majestic silence what hallowed peace how jewel-like the radiance of the sun pouring through the rich stained glass on those superb carved pillars that like petrified stems of forest trees bare lightly up the lofty vaulted roof to that vast height suggestive of a white sky rather than stone moving on slowly further toward the altar he was suddenly seized by an overpowering impression, a memory that rushed upon him with a sort of shock, albeit it was only the memory of a tomb,

Starting point is 21:31:28 a wild melody, haunting and passionate, rang in his ears, the melody that Sarasate, Euapius of Spain, had evoked from the heart of his speaking violin, the sobbing love lament of the Zaguna Vison, the weird minor music that had so forcibly suggested what, this very place, these snowy columns, this sculptured sanctity, this flashing light of rose

Starting point is 21:31:54 and blue and amber, this wondrous hush of consecrated calm. What next? Dear God, sweet Christ, what next? The face of Edrus, with that heavenly countenance shines suddenly through those rainbow-colored beams that struck slant-wise down toward him, and should he presently hear her dalsit voice, charming the silence into deeper ecstasy, overcome by a sensation that was something like fear, he stopped abruptly, and leaning against one of the quaint old oaken benches strove to control the quick, excited throbbing of his heart, then gradually, very gradually, he became conscious that he was not alone. Another besides himself was in the church, another whom it was necessary for him to see. He could not tell how he first grew to

Starting point is 21:32:43 be certain of this, but he was soon so completely possessed by the idea that for a moment he dared not raise his eyes or move. Some invincible force held him there spellbound, yet trembling, in every limb, and while he thus waited hesitatingly, the great organ woke up in a glory of tuneful utterance, wave after wave of riches' harmony, rolled through the stately aisles, and Chirier-Ele-is-is-on rang forth in loud, full and golden-toned chorus. lifting his head he stared wonderingly around him not a living creature was visible in all the spacious width and length of the cathedral his lips parted he felt as though he could scarcely breathe strong shutters ran through him and he was penetrated by a pleasing terror that was almost a physical pang and agonized entrancant like death or the desire of love presently mastering himself by a determined effort he advanced steadily with the absorbed air of one who was drawn along by magnetic power steadily and slowly up the nave and as he went the music surged more tumultuously among the vaulted arches there was a faint echo afar off as of tinkling crystal bells and at each onward step he gained a new access of courage strength

Starting point is 21:34:01 and untrammeled ease till every timorous doubt and fear had fled away and he stood directly in front of the altar railing gazing at the enshrined cross and seeing for the moment nothing save that divine symbol alone and still the organ played and still the voices sang he knew these sounds were not of earth and he also knew that they were intended to convey a meaning to him but what meaning all at once moved by a sudden impulse he turned toward the right-hand side of the altar where the great statue of st christopher stands and where one of the loveliest windows in the world gleams like a great carven gem aloft filtering the light through a myriad marvellous shades of colour and there he beheld kneeling on the stone pavement one solitary worshipper a girl her hands were clasped and her face was bent upon them so that her features were not visible but the radiance from the window fell on her uncovered golden hair encircling it with the glisting thunder of a heavenly nimbus and round her slight devotional figure rays of azure and rose jasper and emerald flickered in white and lustrous patterns like the glow of the setting sun on a translucent sea how very still she was how fervently absorbed in prayer vaguely startled and thrilled by an electric indefinable instinct awain went toward her with hushed and reverential tread his eyes dwelling upon the drooping delicate outline of her form with fascinated and eager attention she was clad in grey a soft silken dove-like grey that clung about her in picturesque daintily draped folds he approached her still more nearly and then could scarcely refrain from a loud cry of amazement what flowers were those she wore at her breast so white so star-like so suggestive of paradise lilies new gathered were they not the flowers of our death dizzy with the sudden tumult of his own emotions he dropped on his knees beside her

Starting point is 21:35:57 she did not stir was she real or a phantom trembling violently he touched her garment he was of tangible smooth texture actual enough if the sense of touch could be relied upon in an agony of excitement and suspense he lost all remembrance of time place or custom her bewildering presence must be explained he must know who she was he must speak to her speak if he died for it pardon me he whispered faintly scarcely conscious of his own words i fancy i think we have met before may i dare i ask your name slowly she unclasped her gently folded hands slowly very slowly she lifted her bent head and smiled at him oh the lovely light upon her face oh the angel glory of those strange sweet eyes my name is edress she said and as the pure bell-like tone of her voice smote the air with its silvery sound the mysterious music of the organ and the invisible singers throbbed away away away into softer and softened away softer echoes that died at last tremulously and with a sigh as of farewell into the deepest silence edress in a trance of passionate awe and rapture he caught her hand the warm delicate hand that yielded to his strong clasp insubmiss of tenderness pulsations of terror pain and wild joy all commingled rushed through him with adoring wistful gaze he scanned every feature of that love-smiling countenance a countenance no longer lustrous with heaven's blinding glory but only most maidenlike and innocently fair dazzled, perplexed, and half afraid he could not at once grasp, the true comprehension of his ineffable delight.

Starting point is 21:37:37 He had no doubt of her identity. He knew her well. She was his own heart-worshipped angel, but on what errand had she wandered out of paradise? Had she come once more, as on the field of our death, to comfort him for a brief space, with the beauty of her visible existence, or did she bring from heaven the warrant for his death? edress he said as softly as one may murmur a prayer edress my life my love speak to me again make me sure that i am not dreaming tell me where i have failed in my sworn faith since we parted teach me how i must still further atone is this the hour appointed for my spirit's ransom has this dear and sacred hand i whole brought me my acquittance of earth and have i so soon won the privilege to die as he spoke she rose and stood erect with all the glisting light of the stained window falling royally about her and he obeying her mute gesture rose also and faced her in wondering ecstasy half expecting to see her vanish suddenly in the sun-rays that poured through the cathedral

Starting point is 21:38:37 even as she had vanished before like a white cloud absorbed in clear space but no she remained quiet as a tame bird her eyes met his with beautiful trust and tenderness and when she answered him her low sweet accents thrilled to his heart with a pathetic note of human affection as well as of angelic sympathy theeus my beloved i am all thine she said a holy rapture vibrating through her exquisite voice thine now in mortal life as in immortal one with thee in nature and condition pent up in perishable clay even as thou art subject to sorrow and pain and weariness willing to share with thee thine earthly lot ready to take my part in thy grisheable clay even as thou art subject to sorrow and pain and weariness willing to share with thee thine earthly lot ready to take my part in thy grief or joy by mine own choice have i come hither sinless yet not exempt from sin but safe in christ every time thou hast renounced the desire of thine own happiness so much the nearer hast thou drawn me to thee every time thou hast prayed god for my peace rather than thine own so much the closer has my existence been linked with thine and now o my poet my lord my king We are together forevermore, together in the brief present as in the eternal future. The solitary, heaven days of Edrus are past, and her mission is not death but love. Oh, the transcendent beauty of that warm flush upon her face, the splendid hope, faith, and triumph of her attitude,

Starting point is 21:40:13 what strange miracle was here accomplished, an angel had become human for the sake of love, even as light substantiates itself in the colors of flowers. The Eden lily had consented to be gathered. The paradise dove had fluttered down to earth, breathless, bewildered, lifted to a height of transport beyond all words. Alvin gazed upon her in entranced, devout silence. The vast cathedral seemed to swing round and round in great glittering circles, and nothing was real, nothing steadfast,

Starting point is 21:40:44 but that slight, sweet maiden in her soft gray roads, with the Ardath blossoms, gleaming white against her breast, angel she was, angel she ever would be, and yet, what did she seem? Not but a childlike woman, wise and very fair, crowned with the garland of her golden hair.

Starting point is 21:41:05 This and no more, and yet in this was all earth and all heaven comprised. He gazed and gazed, overwhelmed by the amazement of his own bliss, he could have gazed upon her, so in speechless ravishment for hours when with a gesture of infinite grace and appeal she stretched out her hands toward him speak to me dearest one she murmured wistfully tell me am i welcome oh exquisite humility oh beautiful maiden timid hesitation was she even she god's angel so far removed from pride as to be uncertain of her lover's reception of such a gift of love roused from his half-sweening sense of wonder

Starting point is 21:41:47 he caught those gentle hands and laid them tenderly against his breast. Tremblingly and all devoutly, he drew the lovely, yielding form into his arms, close to his heart. With dazzled sight he gazed down into that pure, perfect face, those clear and holy eyes shining like new-created stars beneath the soft cloud of clustering fair hair. Welcome, he echoed in a tone that thrilled with passionate awe and ecstasy, my address, my saint, my queen, welcome more welcome, welcome than the first flowers seen after winter snows welcome more welcome than swift rescue to one in dire peril welcome my angel into the darkness of mortal things which happily so sweet a presence shall make bright o sacred innocence that i am not worthy to shield o sinless beauty that i am all unfitted to claim or possess welcome to my life my heart my soul welcome sweet trust sweet hope sweet love that as christ lives I will never wrong betray or resign again through all the glory spaces of far eternity.

Starting point is 21:42:52 As he spoke, his arms closed more, surely about her. His lips met hers, and in the mingled human, in divine rapture of that moment there came a rushing noise as of thousands of wings beating the air, followed by a mighty wave of music that rolled approachingly and then departingly through and through the cathedral arches, and a voice clear and resonant as a silver clarion proclaimed aloud, those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Then with a surging, jubilant sound like the sea and a storm,

Starting point is 21:43:25 the music seemed to tread past in a measured march of stately harmony, and presently there was silence once more, the silence and sunshine of the morning pouring through the rose-winders of the church, and sparkling on the cross above the altar, the silence of a love made perfect of twin souls made one. And then Edgis drew herself gently from her lovers in front, grace and raised her head, putting her hand confidingly in his, a lovely smile, played on her sweetly parted lips, take me theos, she said softly, lead me into the world. Slowly, the great, side

Starting point is 21:43:59 doors of the cathedral swung back on their hinges, and out on the steps in a glorious blaze of sunlight came poet and angel together, the one, a man in the full prime, of splendid and vigorous manhood, the other a maiden, timid as sweet, robed in gray attire, with a posy of white flowers at her throat, a simple girl, and most distinctly human, the fresh, pure color reddened in her cheeks, the soft spring-tide wind fanned her gold hair, and the sunbeams seemed to dance about her in a bright revel of a maze and curiosity. Her lustrous eyes dwelt on the busy plots below, with a vaguely compassionate wonder, a look that suggested some far-forward knowledge of things that at the same time were strangely unfamiliar, hand in hand with her companion, she stood,

Starting point is 21:44:44 while he, holding her fast, drunk in the pureness of her beauty, the love-light of her glance, the holy radiance of her smile, till every sense in him was spiritualized anew by the passionate faith and reverence in his heart, the marvelous glory that had fallen upon his life, the nameless rapture that possessed his soul. To have knelt at her feet and bowed his head before her in worshipping silence would have been to follow the strongest impulse in him, but she had given him a higher duty than this. He was to lead her into the world, the dreary dark world, so and fitted to receive such brightness. She had come to him clad in all the sacred weakness of womanhood,

Starting point is 21:45:20 and it was his proud privilege to guard and shelter her from evil, from the evil in others, but chiefly from the evil in himself. No taint must touch that spotless life with which God had entrusted him. Sorrow might come, nay, must come since, so long as humanity errs. So long must angels grieve sorrow, but not sin. A grand, awed, sense of responsibility filled him. a responsibility that he accepted with passionate gratitude and joy he had attained a vaster dignity than any king on any throne and all the visible universe was transfigured into a golden pageant of loveliness and light fairer than the fabled valley of avillian yet still he kept her close beside him on the steps of the mighty dom half longing half hesitating to take her further and ever an annon assailed by a dreamy doubt as to whether she might not even now pass away from him suddenly and swiftly as a mist

Starting point is 21:46:13 fading into heaven when all at once the sound of beating drums and martial trumpets struck loudly on the quiet morning air a brilliant regiment of mounted uhlans emerged from an opposite street and cantered sharply across the plots over the rhine bridge with streaming pennons burnished helmets and accoutrements glistening in a long compact line of silvery white that vanished as speedily as it had appeared like a winding flash a meteor flame alwin drew a deep quick breath the sight of those armed soldiers roused him to the fact that he was actually in the turmoil of present daily events that his supernal happiness was no vision but reality that edrus his spirit love was with him in tangible human guise of flesh and blood though how such mysterious marvel had been accomplished he knew no more than scientists know how the lovely life of greenleaf and perfect flower can still be existent in seeds that have lain dormant and dry in old tombs for thousands of years and as he looked at her proudly adoring She raised her beautiful, innocent, questioning eyes to his. This is a city, she asked, a city of men, who labor for good and serve each other. Alas, not so, my sweet, he answered, his voice trembling with its own infinite tenderness. There is no city on the sad earth where men do not labor for mere vanity's sake and oppose each other.

Starting point is 21:47:31 Her inquiring gaze softened into a celestial compassion. Come, let us go, she said gently. We, twain, made one in love and faith, must hasten to begin our work. Darkness gathers and deepens over the sorrowful star, but we perchance with Christ's most holy blessing may help to lift the shadows into light. Away in a sheltered mountainous retreat

Starting point is 21:47:53 apart from the louder clamor of the world, the poet and his heavenly companion dwell in peace together, their love, their wondrous happiness, no mortal language can define. For a spiritual love perfected as far exceeds material passion as the steadfast glory of the sun outshines

Starting point is 21:48:10 the knickering of an earthly taper. Few, very few there are who recognize or who attain such joy. For men chiefly occupy themselves with the semblances of things, and therefore fail to grasp all high realities. Perishable beauty, perishable fame, these are mere appearances.

Starting point is 21:48:27 Imperishable worth is the only positive and lasting good, and in the search for imperishable worth alone, the secret most needs encounter angels, unawares. But for those whose pleasure it is to doubt and deny all spiritual life and being the history of Theos Alwyn can be disposed of with much

Starting point is 21:48:43 languid ease and cold logic as a foolish chimera, scarce worth narrating, practically viewed, there is nothing wonderful in it, since it can all be traced to a powerful exertion of magnetic skill, tranced into a dream, bewilderment, by the arts of the mystic Chaldean the Leibis, tricked into visiting

Starting point is 21:49:02 the field of our death what more likely than that a real earth-born maiden trained to her part should have met the dream of their, and with the secret of the hermit Elazar continued his strange delusion. What more fitting as a sequel to the whole than that the same maiden should have been sent to him again in the great Rhine Cathedral, to complete the deception, and satisfy his imagination by linking her life finally with his. It is a perfectly simple explanation of what some credulous souls might be inclined to consider a mystery,

Starting point is 21:49:32 and let the dear, wise, oracular people who cannot admit any mystery in anything, and who love to trace all seeming miracles to clever imposture, except this elucidation by all means they will be able to fit every incident of the story into such an hypothesis with most admirable and consecutive neatness alcy was truly a vision the rest was what merely the working of a poetic imagination under mesmeric influence so be it the poet knows the truth but what are poets only the prophets and seers only the eyes of time which clearly behold heaven's fact beyond this world's fable let them sing if they choose and we will hear them in our eyes hours, we will give them a little of our gold, a little of our grudging praise together with much of our private practical contempt and mispriser. So say the unthinking and foolish, so will they ever say. And hence it is that, though the fame of Theo's Alwyn widens year by year year and his sweet clarion harp of song rings loud warning, promise hope, and consolation

Starting point is 21:50:31 above the noisy tumult of the whirling age, people listen to him merely in vague, wonderment and awe, doubting his prophet utterance and loath to put away their sin. But he never weary in well-doing works on, ever regardless of self, caring nothing for fame, by giving all the riches of his thoughtful love, clear, grand, pure, and musical, his writings fill the time with hope and passionate faith and courage. His inspiration fails not and can never fail, since Edrus is his fount of ecstasy. His name, made glorious by God's blessing, shall never, as in his perished past, be again forgotten and what of edris what of the flower-crowned wonder of the field of our death strayed for a while out of her native heaven does the world know her marvellous origin perhaps the mystic hilibus knows perhaps even good frank villiers has hazarded a reverent guess at his friend's great secret but to the uninstructed what does she seem

Starting point is 21:51:25 Nothing but a woman, most pure, womanly, a woman whose influence on all is strangely sweet and lasting, whose spirit overflows with tender sympathy for the many wants and sorrows of mankind, whose voice charms away care, whose smile engender's peace, whose eyes lustrous and thoughtful are unclouded, by any shadow of sin, and on whose serene beauty the passing of years leaves no visible trace. That she is fair and wise, joyous, radiant, and holy, is apparent to all, but only the poet, her lover and lord, her subject and servant can tell how truly his address is not so much sweet woman as most perfect angel a dream of heaven made human let some of us hesitate ere we doubt the miracle for we are sleepers and dreamers all and the hour is close at hand when we shall wake of chapter forty end of our death by marie carelli

Classic Audiobook Collection - Ardath by Marie Corelli ~ Full Audiobook [fantasy]

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