 Chapter 14 of our death by Marie Corelli. This LibriVox 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 latticework of crossed and twisted green bows, where 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 verger of the luxuriant landscape. Speaking of creed, Saluma, Sethio said last, looking down with a curious sense of compassion and protection, at his companion's slight graceful form, what religion is it that dominates this city and people? Today, through want of knowledge, it seems I committed a nearly unpardonable offense 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 earn 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 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, 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 the Sun even as Thou must do in this one leading principle at least, our faith is universal. The Yeo spent his head innocent, 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 and illumines 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 luminous flame darting atmosphere, neither self-acting nor omnipotent but only one of many similar orbs moving in strict obedience to fixed 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 the 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 to 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. 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 it last with a little shrug of his shoulders but I think that even a false religion is better for the masses than then at all. Men are closely alive to brutes if the moral sense ceases to restrain them they have 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 son that of the white serpent Nagaya the mediator. Nagaya is the favorite object of the people's adoration they may forget to pay their vows to the son 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 devourer 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 symbol every day in the sacred temple yonder though I much doubt whether such constant devotional attendance is not more for the sake of licea than the deified worm. He laughed with a little undercurrent of scorn in his laughter and fears saw as it were the lightning of an angry or disdainful thought flashing through the somber splinter of his eyes and licea is began theos suggestively the high priestess of Nagaya responded saluma slowly charmer of the god 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 Nessie 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 the guy at worship hold our curious 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 in the shedding of innocent blood moreover this mad coo's rule of whom nephrata spoke lately thunders angry denunciations of licea and nagaya in the open streets with so much fervid eloquence that they were passed by she cannot choose but here he had the strange craze a doctrine of the future which he most furiously proclaims in the language prophets use he holds it far away in the center of a circle of pure light the true god exists a vast all glorious being who with exceeding marvelous love controls and guides creation towards some majestic end even as a musician does melodize his thought from small sweet notes to perfectly 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 teachers by precept an example the surest way to eternal happiness tis a theory both strange and wild has never heard of it before he put the question differently but theos was mute that horrible sense about 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 a kingdom despair till slowly very slowly words came at last like golf robbs of pain beating between his lips i think i fancy i've heard a rumor of such doctrine but i know as little of it as thou saluma i can tell thee no more than thou has said he paused and gaining more firmness of tone went on it seems to me and 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 appear as such to our limited sight and restricted intelligence but tell me and hear his voice had a ring of suppressed anxiety within it tell me saluma thine own thought concerning it i i think not of it replied saluma with eerie 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 or over in the face of all religion my own opinion should not alter i've studied science sufficiently well to know that there is no god and i'm too honest to worship and unproved and merely superstitious identity a shutter as of extreme cold ran through the osis veins and as if impelled on by some invisible monitor he said almost mournfully are thou sure saluma that does not instinctively 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 that grandest aspirations at last fulfilled saluma laughed a clear vibrating laugh as mellow as the note of a thrush in springtime thou solemn soul he exclaimed merthfully 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 and what use is 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 pay flows and pleading i pray thee do not make me sad my friend he murmured premulously these thoughts are like muttering thunder in my heaven death and a quick sigh escaped him will 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 narcissist's regretfully bewailing his own perishable loveliness on a swift impulse of affection theos through one arm round his neck in the fashion of a confiding school board 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 got himself as 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 wandering glance thou hast a silvery and persuasive tongue he said gently and thou speakest of god as if thou newest one again 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 and treaty in his tone went on thinkest thou in very truth that i shall live again for i confessed to thee it seems beyond all things strange and terrible to feel that this genius of mine this spirit of melody which inhabits my frame should perish utterly without further scope for its abilities there have been moments when my soul ravaged 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 burning draft of song when i've stood in thought on the shadowy peaks of time waiting for other worlds to string like beads on my thread of poise when wondrous creatures habitant in light and wreathed with stars that 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 called me upward onward and away i know not where save that a hidden love awaited me he broke up with a wrapped almost angelic expression in his eyes then sighing a little he resumed all dreams of course big phantoms creations of my own imaginative brain yet fair enough to fill my heart with speechless longings for ethereal rapture is unseen unknown thou hast me thinks of certain faith in the unsolved mysteries but i have none for sweet is the promise of a future life may seem there's 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 oh miserable theos what would he not have given to utter allowed that burning knowledge that ate into his mind like slow devouring fire again mute again oppressed by that strange 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 they confessed 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 that was within the aflame that cannot perish again saluma's eyes dwelt upon him with a curious appealing tenderness that word savor of sweet consolation he said half gaily half sadly may they be fulfilled and if indeed there is a brighter world than this beyond the skies i fancy thou and i will know each other there as here and be somewhat close companions see and he pointed to a small green hillock that rose up like a shining emerald 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 peeling through the stillness bells of every tone that smote the air was 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 tread as light and elastic as that of a young fawn the years 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 grasp 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 where saluma throwing himself indulently on the smooth turf pulled the fields gently down by his side there they rested in silence gazing at the magnificent panorama 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 color the sun low on the rest and 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 pinions of an angel army marching and beyond far away from this blaze of splendid color the white ethereal expands paled into tender blue where on 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 alchiris its white domes towers and pinnacle palaces rising out of the mist like a glorious mirage a float on the borders of a burning desert alchiris the magnificent deserves its name the o's thought as shading his eyes from the red glare he took a wandering and gradually comprehensive view of the enormous extent of that place he soon perceived that it was defended by six strongly fortified walls each place within the other is 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'd rested in the morning by reason of the white granite obelisk 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 salamate presently pointed out around fortress-like piece of architecture ornamented with 12 gilded towers from which bells were now clashing and jangling in a storm of melodious persistency the home 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 sort of 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 theos felt as though he could never look upon it long enough to master all its charms but his eyes ached with a radiance in which everything seemed drenched as with plain and turning his gaze once more toward the sun he saw that he had nearly disappeared only a blood-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 theos 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 block 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 but now gauze run always art thou like a worm in the grass crawling on by an errand with less noise than the wind makes in summer i wish i misters kept a fair messenger the black smile if so hideous a contortion of his repulsive countenance might be called a smile and slowly raising his jetty arms hung all over the 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 heathed and linking his arm through that of theose he bent his head slightly and stood like one in and enforced attitude of attention then gauze 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 negaya hath need of thee tonight saluma he said with a sort of suppressed origin underlying his words and taking from his breast a ring that glittered like a 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 record a welcome behold her signet the use in pill 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 corded 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 with speech of gauze had surely exercised a remarkable influence upon him his frame trembled through and through with scarcely controlled excitement his eyes shot forth in the almost evil fire and a cold calm somewhat cruel smile played on the perfect outline of his delicate mouth taking the signet from gauze was 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 tonight i'm summoned by express command to the palace of our sovereign lord the king i'm bound to the 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 gauze did not at once depart he again smiled that lowering smile of his which resembled nothing so much as a hung criminal's death grin and returned the jeweled signet to his breast afterwards yes afterwards he sat in emphatic yet mock solemn tones even so advancing a little he laid his heavy muscular hand on theos's chest and appeared mentally to measure his height and breath strong nerves iron sinews goodly flesh and blood will serve and his great protruding eyes gleaned maliciously as he spoke then bowing profoundly he added addressing both solemn and theos noble sirs tonight out of all men in alchuris shall you be the most indeed 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 sounds after glow which intensified the vivid red of his costume and let up all the ornaments 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 there by my word most city and repellent bearer of a lady's greeting left theos lightly as he sauntered arm in arm with his host on the downward path leading to the garden and palace and I've yet to learn the true meaning of his message. Tis plain enough replied saluma somewhat salkily with the deep flush still coming and going on his face means that we are summoned thou as well as I to one of lyceas midnight banquets an honor that falls to few a mandate none dare disobey she must have spied the out this morning the only unneeling 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 heeded it not his heart gave a great bound against his ribs as though pricked by a fire tipped air something swift and ardent stirred in his blood like the flowing of quick silver the picture of the dusky eye-witching late beautiful woman he had seen that morning in her gold adorned ship seemed to float between him and the light her face shown out like a glowing 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 fair for in my neglect of reverence due I merited her scorn not her courtesy 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 in as much as she knows all things it would have been strange indeed had she not known and he caught at a down drooping rose and crushed his 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 that has not yet seen that weird mirror and potent dazzler of human sight no but thou wilt see it air along the glittering fiend guarding of the whitest breast that ever shut in passion his voice shook any pause then with some effort continued yes last year has her secret commissioners everywhere throughout the length and breadth of the city the report to her each circumstance that happens no matter how trifling and doubtless we were fall at home tracked step by step as we walk together by one of our stealthy footed servitors in this there would be not unusual and there's no freedom and alchurus set the earth's wonderingly if the whole city thus lies under the circumspection of a woman saluma laughed rather harshly freedom by the ghast as 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 travels of custom and creed becomes the tortured bondsman of desire tied fast with bruising cords to the rack of his own unbridled sense and appetite there's no such thing as freedom my friend unless happily it may be found in death come let us into supper the hour grows late in my heart aches with an unsought heaviness I must cheer me with a cup of wine or my songs tonight were sad 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 wear your verse days and nights and find them far too brief and mean to satisfy my longings not the world but worlds should be the poet's heritage the u.s 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 paced slowly across it keeping us 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 theos and what strange and plaintive court 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 14 chapter 15 of our death by Marie Corelli 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 colored lamps all apparently lit at once by a single flash of electricity the magnificent repass was spread for the lawyer and his guest in a lofty richly frescoed banquetting hall a repass 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 seized saluma's conversation brilliant witty refined and sparkling with light anecdote and lighter jest replaced with admirable sufficiency the left off harmonies and theos keenly alive to the sensuous enemy of his own emotions felt that he had never before enjoyed such an astonishing delightful and altogether very like feast its only fault was that it came to an end too soon he thought when the last course of fruit and sweet confets 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 caress 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 in 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 gallop regardless of their master's curbing rain 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 colored lamps that diffused a peculiar intense yet soft radiance produced a saluma explained from stored up electricity on the twelve tall towers of the sacred temple shown 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 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 center the word zephyr on them written in scintillating letters of fire indicated to all beholders the name and abode of the powerful monarch under whose dominion according to saluma alchiris 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 chariot steeds and all into that beautiful fathomless empyrean and drive among planets as though they were flowers raining in at last before some great golden gate which unbarred should open into illustrious glory land fairer than all fair regions ever pictured how like a god saluma looked emused his eyes resting tenderly on the light glittering form he was never weary of contemplating 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 poetry 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 theos 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 desired 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 himself fully alive alive to his very fingertips he was ever an a non aware of a curious sensation like that experienced by a suddenly startled some nambulus to just on the point of awakening 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 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 heartbearer who perched on a narrow foothold on the back of the chariot held his master's golden instrumental loft 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 equippage arrived at the king's palace turning the horse's heads with a sharp jerk so that the metal some 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 marvel 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 tessellated pavement every soldier flung his drawn sword on the ground and doft 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 halfway up the steps and there turning round smiled and bowed with an exquisite grace an infinite condescension and again theos gazed at him yearningly lovingly and somewhat enviously too what a picture he made standing between the great frowning sculptures 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 assembled soldiery graciously acknowledging their enthusiastic greetings then with easy and unhasting tread he mounted the rest of the stairway followed by theos in 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 drunks 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 scimitars all talking laughing gesticulating and elbowing one another as they moved to and fro and so thickly were they pressed together that at first sight it 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 open avenue like space for his admittance he walked slowly with proudly assured mean and a confident smile 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 critics the basties squeezing his lean bent body from out the throng hobbled after saluma at some little distance behind the heart bearer muttering to himself as he went and bestowing many a sightlier 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 today Zabasti said a handsome youth in dazzling blue and silver who just then detaching himself from the crowd laid a hand on the critics arm and laughed as he spoke I doubt me much whether the king is in humor for thy grim fooling his majesty have been seriously discomposed since his return from the royal tiger hunt this morning notwithstanding that his unerring spear slew two goodly and most furious animals his wondrous sullen and only the divine saluma is skilled in the art of soothing his troubled spirit therefore if thou hast ought of crab or contankers to urge against thy masters genius thou hast best reserve it for another time lest thy withered head roll on the marketplace with as little reverence as a dried gourd flung from a fruterers stall I thank thee for that warning young jack and apes retorted Zabasti's pausing in his walk and leaning on his staff while he peered with his small black bad-tempered eyes at the speaker thou art, my thanks, somewhat over well informed for a little likey what notice thou of his majesty's humors has 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 unguents for thy skin greater knowledge than this would injure the tender texture of thy fragile brain pa and Zabasti sniffed the air and discussed thou hast a most vile odor of jesemine about the I would thou work clean of perfumes and less tawdry in attire chuckling hoarsely he ambled onward and chancing to catch the wandering backward glance of fios he made expressive signs with his fingers in 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 varied light sparkling on it at every point in 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 and action and touching a spring beside him the arms of the twin colossi moved the great double shields were slowly lowered and the portal slid asunder noiselessly thus displaying the sumptuous splendor of the royal president's 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 that 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 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 of superb gérandeaux 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 hilt's composed the center officers in four uniform were ranged on both sides of the room and a number of other men richly tired stood about conversing with each other in low tones but the 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 were on a massive throne of ivory and silver set the chief object of attraction zephyronym the king the steps of the royal dais were strewn ankle deep with flowers on either hand of bronze lion lay couchant and four gigantic black statues of men supported the monarch's gold-fringed canopy their uplifted arms being decked with innumerable rows of large and small pearls the king's features were not just 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 saloon mazir 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 and 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 shoulds plunge boldly into the midst thereof how long wilt mouth thy words canst never speak plain most potent sovereign went on the stammering herald saloon ma waits thy royal pleasure saloon ma and the monarch sprang erect his eyes flashing fire nay that he should wait bodes ill for thee thou name how dares thou bid him wait entreat him hither with all gentleness as befits mine equal in the realm as he thus spoke the earth 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 zephyr on him thought he had never beheld so magnificent a man of stately height and herculean build he was most truly royal in outward bearing though a physiognomist judging him from the expression of his countenance would it once have given him all the worst vices of a reckless voluptuary and 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 luster while the heavy lines of his mouth only partly concealed by a short thick black beard plainly but tokened 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 broided 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 shot with gold colored sandals his arms were bare and lavishly decked with jeweled armlets his rough dark hair was tossed carelessly about his bra where on a circle of gold studded with large rubies glittered in the light from his belt hung a great sheath sword together with all manner of hunting implements and beside him on a velvet covered stand lay a short scepter having at its tip one huge egg shaped pearl set in sapphires noting the grand poise of his figure and the statues grace of his attitude a strange hazy far off memory began to urge itself on the osa's mind a memory that with every second grew more painfully distinct he had seen zefor on him 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 undefinable dread of vecter and foreboding though he knew no actual cause for fear he had however no time to analyze his emotion for just then the herald and 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 the cape closed behind him the heart bearer followed and thus all three approached the dais where the king still stood erect awaiting them sabasti's the critic glided in also almost unnoticed and joined a group of courtiers at the furthest end of the long gorgeously lighted room while at sight of the laureate the assembled officers saluted in all conversations ceased at the foot of the throne saw lima paused but made no obeisance raising his glory size to the monarch's face he smiled and the osa be held 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 zefor on him 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 impress the beholder's imagination 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 the 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 the in haste blame me not as well blame the desert of thirst for rain or the hungry heart gape for love to come and fill it here his rest aside flashed on theos who stood quietly behind saluma passive yet expectant of he knew not what whom hast thou there a friend this saluma apparently explained 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 king's zepharonim appeared good-naturedly surprised at this action and i'd him somewhat scrutinizingly as he said thou art not of saluma's divine calling assuredly fair sir elsta with hardly stooped to a mere crowned head like mine soldiers and statesmen may bend the need to their chosen rulers but to whom shall poets bend they who with error we lines cause thrones to totter and fall they who with deathless utterance brand with infamy or hollow with honor 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 me thanks for the minstrel vocation does call thyself a minstrel or a student of the art of song theos looked up his eyes resting full on the monarch's countenance as he replied in low clear tones most noble zepharonim 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 has 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 zepharonim regarded him somewhat curiously by my faith the art a modest and gentle disciple of po as he said we received the gladly to our court as suit saluma's pleasure and our own stand the 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 cheaply the mystery of love in which all other passions center and have power re-ascending the steps of the dais he flung himself indolently back in his throne whereupon two pages brought a magnificent chair of inlaid ivory in place at 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 sword with a great wound in his heart and a bird of prey hovering above him expectant of its grim re-past 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 chime 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 let the women enter he commanded speak but saluma'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 that is built 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 zabasti's edging himself out from the hushed and attempted 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 marshaling 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 two full view such exquisite faces such languishing brilliant eyes such snow white necks and arms such graceful voluptuous forms that thee was 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 piled up flowers and still less the lovely donors who retiring modestly backwards took their places on low silken devans provided for their accommodation in a semi-circle round the throne again a silence ensued saluma was evidently centered 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 somber and amusing trouble shattered the brightness of his face strange it is oh king he said in low suppressed tones that had in them a quiver of pathetic sweetness strange it is that tonight 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 soar 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 has been croaked in mine ears too often and too harshly already what has though been met by the man co's rule who lately sprang on me even as a famished wolf on prey and grasping my bridal reign bad me prepared to die was an ill jest and one not to be likely forgiven prepared to die osa for on him he cried for by time of reckoning his come by my soul and the monarch broke into a boyster's lap had he bad me prepare lived would have been more to the purpose but yon frantic gray beard crates of not but death to where well he should be silenced and as he spoke he frowned his hand involuntarily playing with the jeweled hilt of his sword I death is an unpleasing suggestion suddenly said zabasties who had gradually moved up nearer and nearer till he made one of the group immediately round saluma to the word that should never be mentioned in the presence of kings yet notwithstanding the instability of the statement 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 savory and thou also zabasties retorted the king with a dark smile justingly 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 and 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 poor fury and gold zabasties bowed with a sort of mock humility it may be so most mighty zephyr on him he returned composedly nevertheless ashes are always ashes and the scattering of them is but a question of time for urns of gold and poor fury 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 in tis doubt but 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 menstrual pampered or a critic contend and each chuckle 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 saluma roused himself signing to his attendant he took the heart from him and resting it lightly on one knee passed his hands over it once or twice half musingly half 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 fullness such as surely was never before heard in human tones theos leaned forward breathlessly his pulse is beating with unwanted rapidity what what was it that saluma sang a love song in those caressing val sounds which compose the language of alkyris a love song burning as strong wine tender as that murmur of the sea on mellow moon entranced evenings an arrow we shaft a rhyme tipped with fire and meant to strike home to the core of feeling and their 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 song was his song his own his very own he knew it well he had written it long ago in the hey davis youth when he had fancied 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 laureate who had stolen his ideas and filched his jewels of thought eye and he would tell him so to his face he would speak he would cry out his claims in the presence of the king and demand instant justice 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 in motion less rage and fear contending in his heart enduring the torture of a truly terrific mystery of mind despair forest 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 15 chapter 16 of our death by Marie Corelli this LibriVox 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 strain tension of his nerves gave way an adult 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 class pans tears rung from the very depth 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 and meeting that happy self-conscious bland half inquiring gaze he strove his best to return the smile just then zephyronum's fiery glance swept over him with a curious expression of wonder and commissuration by the gods yon stranger weeps said the monarch in a half bantering tone then with more gentleness he added yet is not the first time a saluma's voice have 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 straight way to die but when they sing of sweeter themes of lovers vows of passion frenzies and languorous desires cold as the blood that will not warm and thrill to their divinely eloquent allurements come hither fair sir and endy beckon 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 hast ought 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 dress of hair or a kiss more luscious than all the honey hidden in lotus flowers theos looked up dreamily his eyes wandered from the king to saluma as though in wistful search for some missing thing his lips were parked 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 a last 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 seem as to have suffered he observed in gentle accents thou hast to look as of one bereft of joy has lost some maiden love of thine and thus thou mourn her still up hang bitter as death shot through theos's heart had the monarch suddenly pierced him with his great sword he could scarce the heaven do it 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 wade 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 side broke from him and zephyronum apparently touched by his deduction continued good nature day nay nay we will not seek to pry into the cause of thy spirits having us 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 leave us to our court and city meanwhile sit thou there and he pointed to the lower step of the dais and thou saluma sing again and this time let thy song be set to a less planted key he leaned back in his throne and theos 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 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 i 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 our death but what was this our death 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 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 versus 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 al-qiras as far more likely to steal saluma's thoughts than that saluma should steal his know there was no help for it as matter 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 unequaled for grace and dignity began to recite a poem he remembered to have written when he was about 20 years of age up home daringly planned which when published had aroused the bitterest animosity of the press critics on account of what they called its forest 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 comp position and now he was listlessly amazed at the breathless rapture and excitement it evoked here in this marvelous city of alcarus 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 and 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 our love and love alone was the dominant cloud of the triumphal march of the universe and with what matchless eloquence 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 the touch of minor pay thoughts 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 while the various impressions produced on the hears were curious to witness the king moved restlessly his bronze cheeks alternately flushing and paling his hand now grasping his sword now towing 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 their brook for 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 a frenzied rapture echoed again and again through the vault of roof like thuds of thunder shouts in which the 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 here to for he was glad to find it now so well appreciated at least in Al Keras 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 honor 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 poise 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 width moved by it his dazzling smile dawned like a gleam of sunshine all over his beautiful face but say for this he gave no sign of even hearing the deafening acclamations that resounded about him on all sides a new illy sparrows cried the king enthusiastically and detaching a magnificently cut ruby from among the gemsy war he flung it toward his favored minstrel it flashed through the air like a bright sparkle flame and fell glistening readily on the pavement just halfway between theos and saluma theos sided with faintly amused indifference the laureate bowed gracefully but did not stoop to raise it he left that task to his heartbeare who taking it up presented it to his master humbly on one knee then and only then saluma received it kissed it likely 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 sabbastis 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 hub above 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 clamor ye praise what ye do not understand like all the rest of the discerning public many is the time as the weariness of my spirit witnesses that i have heard saluma rehearse but never in all my experience of his prologues maltilliquence hath he given utterance to such a senseless jingle jangle of verse jargon as tonight strange it is that the so-called poetical trickle confusedly heaping words together regardless of meaning should sober-wildered men and deprive them of all wise and sober judgment by my faith i would as soon listen to the gavel of geese in a farmyard as to the silly glibness of such inflated twaddle such mawkish sentiment such turgid gerulity 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 humor and complete amusement while the king's stentorian ha ha ha resounded in ringing peals through the great audience chamber thou drull knave cried zephyr on him at last dashing away the drops his merry men had brought into his eyes wilt kill me with thy bitter mouth 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 sun of his divine inspiration as the serpent lives thou art an excellent mount abank and well deservedest thy masters pay he laughed again but zebasti seemed to know why he's disconcerted his withered countenance appeared to harden itself into lines of impenetrable obstinacy talking his long staff under his arm he put his fingers together in the manner of one who inwardly counts up certain numbers and with the preparatory smack of his lips began free speech being permitted to me oh most mighty zephyr on him i would in the first place say that the home 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 ravings of a moon struck madman moreover it hath a prevailing tone of forest 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 whoever 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 a verse 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 oh 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 describe in the common natural protection of a bud before it blooms there was a phrase too concerning nightingales and the gods know we have heard enough and too much of those overpraised 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 zebasti's recovering himself and eyeing the throng with a derisive smile laugh you witness 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 the eos suddenly unknowing why he spoke but feeling inwardly compelled to take up saluma's defense for the colors 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 poise is 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 where 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 wellsprings of thought will his abasties 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 sections its way of growth and habit but can he raise it from the ground alive and fare a perfect flower full of sweet odors and still sweeter suggestions no but saluma within trancing art can make us see 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 splendor not one joy but a thousand joys 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 responds who shall deny his deathless fame loud applause followed these words and the king leaning forward clapped theos familiarly on the shoulder bravely spoken sir stranger he exclaimed thou hast well vindicated thy friend's honor and by 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 Zabasti's 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 sun is a blot rather than a brightness thou quitsched in thine own opinion have created a fair luminary doubtless have that matter been left to thee aye aye we know thee for our beauty hating fool and though we laugh at thee we find thee worrisome stand thou aside and be straightway forgotten we will entreat Saluma for another song the discomforted Zabasti's retired grumbling to himself in and undertone and the laureate whose dreamy eyes had till now rested on Theo's 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 and waiting entered in hot haste and excitement and prostrating himself before the throne exclaimed oh great king may thy name live forever coast rule is taken zephyronum's black brows drew together in a dark scowl and he said his lips hard so for once thou art quick-tongued in the utterance of news he said half scornfully bring hither the captain and he chafes at his bonds we will ourselves release him and he touched his sword significantly to a wider freedom than is found on earth a thrill ran through the courtly throng at these words and the women shuttered and grew pale saluma irritated at the sudden interruption that had thus distracted the general attention from his own fair and flattered self gave an expressly petulant glance toward theos whose smile back at him soothingly as one who seeks to coax a spoiled child out of its ill humor and then all eyes were turned expectantly toward the entrance of the audience chamber a band of soldiers clad from head to foot in glittering steel armor and carrying short drawn swords appeared and marched with quick ringing steps across the hall toward the throne arrived at the day as 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 gaunt 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 with all 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 faith has yet unrevealed to men the dauntless foreteller of the downfall of alcaras and its king theos 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 super naturally 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 or so a deep silence reigned silence apparently born of superstitious dread inspired by the mere fact of his presence zephyronum's glance rested upon him with cold and supercilious indifference seated heartily 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 iotheos the veins in his forehead seemed to become suddenly knotted 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 coast rule he said slowly and with a sinister smile 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 sayeth 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 coast rule met his threatening gaze unflinchingly nothing shall hinder thee zephyronum he replied in his voice deeply musical and resonant struck to theos' heart with a strange foreboding chill nothing say 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 the sorrowful grandeur of the old man's bearing coupled with his enfeebled and defenseless 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 feathers he commanded the men hesitated apparently doubting whether they had heard a rite zephyronum stamped his foot impatiently unloose him I say by the god must I repeat the same thing twice since men have soldiers grown deaf to the voice of their sovereign and why have he bound this aged fool with such many and tight bonds his veins and sinews are not of iron me think she might have tied him with thread and met with small resistance I've known many a muscular deserter from the army fast and blessing securely when captured unloose him and quickly to our pleasures that ere he dies he shall speak and he will in his own defense as a free man in trembling haste and eagerness the guards at once set to work to obey this order the twisted cords were untied the heavy armed fedders wrenched a sunder and in a very short space coast 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 in motion must was his weird attenuated figure that the us beholding him began to wonder whether he were made of actual flesh and blood or whether he might not more possibly be some gaunt specter forced back by mystic art from another world in order to testify of things unknown to living men zephyr on him meanwhile called for his cup bearer a beautiful youth radiant as ganymede who at a sign from his royal master approached the prophet and pouring wine from a jeweled flag and into a goblet of gold offered it to him with a courteous salute and smile coast rule 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 away away he muttered in a thrilling whisper that penetrated to every part of the vast hall will force me to drink blood he paused and in the same low horror stricken tone continued blood blood it stains the earth and sky it's 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 air ever the grapes be pressed or the harvest gathered blood blood the blood of the innocent to the scarlet sea wherein like a broken and empty ship alkyr's founders founders never to rise again these words uttered with such hushed yet passionate intensity produced the most profound impression several courteous 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 zaffronum obliged them to resume their places though they did so with obvious nervous reluctance thou art mad coast rule then said the monarch calmly measured accents and for thy madness as also for that age we have till now retarded justice out of pity nevertheless excess of pity and great kings too often degenerates into weakness and this we cannot suffer to be set of us not even for the sake of sparing thy few poor remaining years thou hast overstepped the limit of art 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 thou art accused of honesty interrupted coast rule suddenly with a touch of melancholy satire in his tone i've spoken truth in an age of lies there's 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 caravan image of man zaffronum frowned angrily yet answered nothing and a brief pause ensued theos grew more and more painfully interested in the scene there was something in it that to his mind seemed faithfully suggestive and fraught with impending evil suddenly saluma looked up his bright face a lit 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 and taciturn of humor and with a taste for melodramatic simile marked you not the mixing of his word colors in the picture he drew a valkyrus bounding like a wrecked ship in a blood red sea whilst overhead trembled a white sky set thick with blackening stars as i lived was not ill devised for a madman's brain and so saluma ranter should serve your majesty to make merriment with all in place of my poor zabastis whose peevish jests grow somewhat stale owing to the critics chronic want of originality nay i myself shall be willing to enter into a rhyming joust with so disconsolately morose the contemporary and who knows whether betwixt us twain the chords of the major and minor may not be harmonized in some new and altogether marvelous fashion of music such as we whatnot of and turning to coast rule he added wilt break a lance of song with me sir graybeard thou shall croak of death and i will chant of love and the king shall pronounce judgment as to which melody hath the most potent and lasting sweetness coast rule lifted his head and met the laureates half mirthful half mocking small with the look of infinite compassion in his own deep solemnly penetrating eyes thou poor deluded singer about 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 mist of the morning that banished in 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 poise placed really in the hands thou hast not woven one clue whereby thou shalt find god alas luma bright soul unconscious of thy fate thou shalt be suddenly and roughly slain and bear 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 then to the apparent relief of all present zephyranum burst out laughing by all the virtues of negaya he cried this is most excellent fooling i zephyranum the destroyer of my friend and first favorite in the realm old man thy frenzy exceeds belief and exhaust patience though of truth i am sorry for the shattering of thy wits it is 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 we're alchiris besieged by a thousand enemies and the strong palace walls raised to the ground by the engines of warfare we would ourselves defend saluma i even cry aloud in the heat of combat that he the chief minstrel 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 coast rules 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 in 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 coast rule whose before rigidly somber demeanor had suddenly changed and who now with raised head tossed hair outstretched 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 zephyronum thy conquests are ended and the flag of thy glory shall cease to wave on the towers of thy strong citadels death stands behind the destruction clamors at thy palace gates and the enemy that cometh upon the unawares is an enemy that none shall banquish or subdue not even they who are mightiest among the mighty thy strong men of war shall be trodden down his wheat thy captains and rulers shall tremble and wail as children bewildered with fear thy great engines of battle shall be to thee is not and the arrows of thy skilled archers shall be useless as straws in the gathering tempest of fire and fury zephyronum zephyronum 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 fulfillment alcarus the magnificent shall fall shall fall its beauty its greatness its pleasantness its power shall be utterly destroyed in air the waning of the midsummer moon not one stone of its glorious buildings shall be left to prove that here 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 steps stood boldly within hand reach of the king who taken aback by the suddenness of his actions stared at him with a sort of amazed and angry fascination to arms zephyronum 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 tongues of flame the thick smoke weeks of blood alcairs the magnificent the pleasant city of sin the idolatrous city is broken in pieces and has become a waste of ashes who will join with me in a lament for alcarus i will call upon the desert of the sea to hear my voice i will pour forth my sars 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 dour for end of alcarus the city beautiful the empress of kingdoms woe unto alcarus for she has suffered herself to be led astray by her rulers she has drunken deep of the innocent blood and have followed after idols her abominations are manifold in the hearts of her young men and maidens are full of evil therefore because alcarus delighted in pride and despised with repentance so shall destruction descend furiously upon her even as a sudden tempest in the midwatches of the night she shall be swept away from the surface of the earth wolf shall make their lair in her pleasant gardens and the generations of men shall remember her no more oh ye kings princes and warriors weep for the doom of alcarus and now as wild voice sank by degrees into her piteous plaintiveness weep for never again our earth shall be found a fairer dwelling place for the lovers of joy never again shall be built in the grander city for the glory and wealth of her people alcarus alcarus thou that boasts of sub-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 the none shall be moaned the 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 shall vanish utterly and be lost far out of memory even as though thou hath never been here he stopped abruptly and caught his breath hard his blazing eyes preternaturally large and brilliant fix themselves steadfast the almost 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 everyone 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 ascended see see he cried in fierce haste and eagerness see how the crested 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 has thou to do with sefiramen that thou dost whine thy many coils about his heart lycea lycea here the king started violently his face flushing darkly red thou delicate abomination thou tyrannous treachery what shall be done unto thee in the hour of darkness put off put off the ornaments of gold and the jewels we're with thou our donors thy beauty and crown thyself with the crown of an endless affliction for thou shall be girdled round about with flame and fire shall be thy garment thy lips that have drunk in sweet wine shall be steeped in bitterness vainly shout thou make thyself bare and call aloud on thy legion of lovers they shall be as dead men deaf to thine entreaties and none shall answer thee no not one none shall hide thee from shame or offer the comfort in the midst of thy lascivious delights shout thou suddenly perish and my soul shall be avenged on thy sins thou unvirgin 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 fiercely down on the steps of the dais placed one foot on his frost-draight body then drawing his gigantic sword he lifted it on high the blight blade glittered in air an audible gasp of tear broke from the throng of spectators another second in kosher's life would have paid the forfeit for his temerity when crash a sudden and tremendous clap of thunder shook the hall and every lamp was extinguished impenetrable darkness rained thick close suffocating darkness 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 crown the helpless nervous and reasoning distraction that human beings exhibit when striving together for escape from some imminent deadly peril and though the king's stentorian voice could be heard above all the tumult loudly commanding order his alternate threats and persuasions were of no avail to calm the frenzy of fear into which the whole court was thrown grounds and sobs wild and treaties to nagaya and the sun god curses from the soldiery who intent on saving themselves were brutally trying to force a passage through the door regardless of the wailing women whose frantic appeals for rescue and assistance were heart-rending to hear all these sounds increase the horror of the situation and theos blind giddy and confused listen to the uproar around him with something of the a friday compassion that a stranger in hell might be supposed to feel when hearkening to the ceaseless planes of the self-tortured wicked endeavor to group his way to sell him aside and just then lights appeared lights that were not of earth's kindling strange wandering flames that danced and flitted along the tapestry walls like one of the wisps on a dark morass and flung a ghastly blue glare on the pale uneasy faces of the scared people still gathering in a sort of lured ring around the throne they outlined in strong relief the enraged titan-esque figure of zephyr on him whose upraised sword looked in itself like an arrested flash of lightning brighter and brighter grew the weird luster illuminating the whole scene the vast length of the splendid hall the shining armor the soldiers the white robes of the women the flags and penins that hung from the roof and swayed to and fro as though blown by august 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 death and fury he shouted striking a 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 netherworld 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 balance dolts idiots cowards and he hurled these epithets of the timorous gravathal the ferocity of a giant hurling stones at a swarm of pygmies babes that are frighted by a summer thunderstorm he had let yon accursed heretics let from my hands there i choked him with his own lie oh 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 polterines what call yourselves men day your feeble girls pranked out at men's attire and your steel course that's covered the faintest hearts that ever fail for dastard fear shut past the palace gates close every barrier search every court and corner less happily this base false prophet be still here in hiding he that blasphemed with ribble tongue the high priestess of our faith the holy virgin licea are ye all turned renegades and traitors that you will suffer him to go free and triumph in his lawless heresy ye shameless naves ye milk veined rascals what abject terror makes ye thus quiver like aspen leaves in a storm this darkness is but a conjurious trick to scare women and co-strues followers can so play with the strings of electricity that you are duped into accepting the rich glamour's heaven's own cloud flame by the gods if alcarus falls as yon doter pronounce it her ruin shall bury but few heroes our superstitious and degraded oh 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 shame silence began to marshal themselves together in readiness to start on the search for the fugitive 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 of the fluttering tapestry all forming together a curious giro scuro from which the massive figure of zephyronum stood out in bold and striking prominence against the white and silver background of his throne vaguely bewildered and lost in the dim stupor faction of wonderment theos looked upon everything with an odd sense of strained calmness the glittering saloon world before his eyes like a passing picture in a magic glass and then an imperative knowledge forced itself upon his mind he'd witnessed the 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 saloon was hand caught his own saloon his voice whispered in his ear let us away my friend there will be not now but mounting of guards and dire confusion the king is as a lion roused and will not cease growling till his vengeance be satisfied a plague on this shattered pated prophet he hath broken through my music and jarred poise into discord by the sacred veil just ever hear such a hideous clamor of contradictory tongues whilst driving to explain what defies explanation namely coast rules flight for which after all no one is to blame so much as zephyronum himself but is the privilege of monarchs to shift their own mistakes and follies on to the shoulders of their subjects come licea awaits us and will not easily pardon our tardy obedience to our summons that has hence ere the gates of the palace close licea the unvirgin virgin the queen courtesan so had said coast rule nevertheless her name like a silver clarion made the heart of theos bound with indescribable gladness and feverish expectation without an instant pause he readily yielded to saluma's guidance through the gorgeously colored confusion of the swaying crowd arm in arm between 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 prophet's 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 16