Part 9 (1/2)
”'Far through Pegana a silvery fountain, lured upward by the G.o.ds from the Central Sea, shall fling its waters aloft, and over the highest of Pegana's peaks, above Trehagobol, shall burst into gleaming mists, to cover Highest Pegana, and make a curtain about the resting-place of MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI.
”'Alone, still and remote below the base of one of the inner mountains, lieth a great blue pool.
”'Whoever looketh down into its waters may behold all his life that was upon the Worlds and all the deeds that he hath done.
”'None walk by the pool and none regard its depths, for all in Pegana have suffered and all have sinned some sin, and it lieth in the pool.
”'And there is no darkness in Pegana, for when night hath conquered the sun and stilled the Worlds and turned the white peaks of Pegana into grey then s.h.i.+ne the blue eyes of the G.o.ds like sunlight on the sea, where each G.o.d sits upon his mountain.
”'And at the Last, upon some afternoon, perhaps in summer, shall the G.o.ds say, speaking to the G.o.ds: ”What is the likeness of MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI and what THE END?”
”'And then shall MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI draw back with his hand the mists that cover his resting, saying: ”This is the Face of MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI and this THE END.”'”
Then said the people to the prophet: ”Shall not black hills draw round in some forsaken land, to make a vale-wide cauldron wherein the molten rock shall seethe and roar, and where the crags of mountains shall be hurled upward to the surface and bubble and go down again, that there our enemies may boil for ever?”
And the prophet answered: ”It is writ large about the bases of Pegana's mountains, upon which sit the G.o.ds: 'Thine Enemies Are Forgiven.”'
THE SAYINGS OF IMBAUN
The Prophet of the G.o.ds said: ”Yonder beside the road there sitteth a false prophet; and to all who seek to know the hidden days he saith: 'Upon the morrow the King shall speak to thee as his chariot goeth by.'”
Moreover, all the people bring him gifts, and the false prophet hath more to listen to his words than hath the Prophet of the G.o.ds.
Then said Imbaun: ”What knoweth the Prophet of the G.o.ds? I know only that I and men know naught concerning the G.o.ds or aught concerning men. Shall I, who am their prophet, tell the people this?
”For wherefore have the people chosen prophets but that they should speak the hopes of the people, and tell the people that their hopes be true?”
The false prophet saith: ”Upon the morrow the king shall speak to thee.”
Shall not I say: ”Upon The Morrow the G.o.ds shall speak with thee as thou restest upon Pegana?”
So shall the people be happy, and know that their hopes be true who have believed the words that they have chosen a prophet to say.
But what shall know the Prophet of the G.o.ds, to whom none may come to say: ”Thy hopes are true,” for whom none may make strange signs before his eyes to quench his fear of death, for whom alone the chaunt of his priests availeth naught?
The Prophet of the G.o.ds hath sold his happiness for wisdom, and hath given his hopes for the people.
Said also Imbaun: ”When thou art angry at night observe how calm be the stars; and shall small ones rail when there is such a calm among the great ones? Or when thou art angry by day regard the distant hills, and see the calm that doth adorn their faces. Shalt thou be angry while they stand so serene?
”Be not angry with men, for they are driven as thou art by Dorozhand. Do bullocks goad one another on whom the same yoke rests?
”And be not angry with Dorozhand, for then thou beatest thy bare fingers against iron cliffs.
”All that is is so because it was to be. Rail not, therefore, against what is, for it was all to be.”