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not the promise that thou madest to me I will slay thee for a false
witch。'
She grew grey as a blossom of the Judas tree； and shuddered。 'Be
it so；' she muttered。 'It is thy soul and not mine。 Do with it as
thou wilt。' And she took from her girdle a little knife that had a
handle of green viper's skin； and gave it to him。
'What shall this serve me？' he asked of her； wondering。
She was silent for a few moments； and a look of terror came over
her face。 Then she brushed her hair back from her forehead； and
smiling strangely she said to him； 'What men call the shadow of the
body is not the shadow of the body； but is the body of the soul。
Stand on the sea…shore with thy back to the moon； and cut away from
around thy feet thy shadow； which is thy soul's body； and bid thy
soul leave thee； and it will do so。'
The young Fisherman trembled。 'Is this true？' he murmured。
'It is true； and I would that I had not told thee of it；' she
cried； and she clung to his knees weeping。
He put her from him and left her in the rank grass； and going to
the edge of the mountain he placed the knife in his belt and began
to climb down。
And his Soul that was within him called out to him and said； 'Lo！
I have dwelt with thee for all these years； and have been thy
servant。 Send me not away from thee now； for what evil have I done
thee？'
And the young Fisherman laughed。 'Thou hast done me no evil； but I
have no need of thee；' he answered。 'The world is wide； and there
is Heaven also； and Hell； and that dim twilight house that lies
between。 Go wherever thou wilt； but trouble me not； for my love is
calling to me。'
And his Soul besought him piteously； but he heeded it not； but
leapt from crag to crag； being sure…footed as a wild goat； and at
last he reached the level ground and the yellow shore of the sea。
Bronze…limbed and well…knit； like a statue wrought by a Grecian； he
stood on the sand with his back to the moon； and out of the foam
came white arms that beckoned to him； and out of the waves rose dim
forms that did him homage。 Before him lay his shadow； which was
the body of his soul； and behind him hung the moon in the honey…
coloured air。
And his Soul said to him； 'If indeed thou must drive me from thee；
send me not forth without a heart。 The world is cruel； give me thy
heart to take with me。'
He tossed his head and smiled。 'With what should I love my love if
I gave thee my heart？' he cried。
'Nay； but be merciful；' said his Soul： 'give me thy heart； for the
world is very cruel； and I am afraid。'
'My heart is my love's；' he answered； 'therefore tarry not； but get
thee gone。'
'Should I not love also？' asked his Soul。
'Get thee gone； for I have no need of thee；' cried the young
Fisherman； and he took the little knife with its handle of green
viper's skin； and cut away his shadow from around his feet； and it
rose up and stood before him； and looked at him； and it was even as
himself。
He crept back； and thrust the knife into his belt； and a feeling of
awe came over him。 'Get thee gone；' he murmured； 'and let me see
thy face no more。'
'Nay； but we must meet again；' said the Soul。 Its voice was low
and flute…like； and its lips hardly moved while it spake。
'How shall we meet？' cried the young Fisherman。 'Thou wilt not
follow me into the depths of the sea？'
'Once every year I will come to this place； and call to thee；' said
the Soul。 'It may be that thou wilt have need of me。'
'What need should I have of thee？' cried the young Fisherman； 'but
be it as thou wilt；' and he plunged into the waters and the Tritons
blew their horns and the little Mermaid rose up to meet him； and
put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth。
And the Soul stood on the lonely beach and watched them。 And when
they had sunk down into the sea； it went weeping away over the
marshes。
And after a year was over the Soul came down to the shore of the
sea and called to the young Fisherman； and he rose out of the deep；
and said； 'Why dost thou call to me？'
And the Soul answered； 'Come nearer； that I may speak with thee；
for I have seen marvellous things。'
So he came nearer； and couched in the shallow water； and leaned his
head upon his hand and listened。
And the Soul said to him； 'When I left thee I turned my face to the
East and journeyed。 From the East cometh everything that is wise。
Six days I journeyed； and on the morning of the seventh day I came
to a hill that is in the country of the Tartars。 I sat down under
the shade of a tamarisk tree to shelter myself from the sun。 The
land was dry and burnt up with the heat。 The people went to and
fro over the plain like flies crawling upon a disk of polished
copper。
'When it was noon a cloud of red dust rose up from the flat rim of
the land。 When the Tartars saw it； they strung their painted bows；
and having leapt upon their little horses they galloped to meet it。
The women fled screaming to the waggons； and hid themselves behind
the felt curtains。
'At twilight the Tartars returned； but five of them were missing；
and of those that came back not a few had been wounded。 They
harnessed their horses to the waggons and drove hastily away。
Three jackals came out of a cave and peered after them。 Then they
sniffed up the air with their nostrils； and trotted off in the
opposite direction。
'When the moon rose I saw a camp…fire burning on the plain； and
went towards it。 A company of merchants were seated round it on
carpets。 Their camels were picketed behind them； and the negroes
who were their servants were pitching tents of tanned skin upon the
sand； and making a high wall of the prickly pear。
'As I came near them； the chief of the merchants rose up and drew
his sword； and asked me my business。
'I answered that I was a Prince in my own land； and that I had
escaped from the Tartars； who had sought to make me their slave。
The chief smiled； and showed me five heads fixed upon long reeds of
bamboo。
'Then he asked me who was the prophet of God； and I answered him
Mohammed。
'When he heard the name of the false prophet； he bowed and took me
by the hand； and placed me by his side。 A negro brought me some
mare's milk in a wooden dish； and a piece of lamb's flesh roasted。
'At daybreak we started on our journey。 I rode on a red…haired
camel by the side of the chief； and a runner ran before us carrying
a spear。 The men of war were on either hand； and the mules
followed with the merchandise。 There were forty camels in the
caravan； and the mules were twice forty in number。
'We went from the country of the Tartars into the country of those
who curse the Moon。 We saw the Gryphons guarding their gold on the
white rocks； and the scaled Dragons sleeping in their caves。 As we
passed over the mountains we held our breath lest the snows might
fall on us； and each man tied a veil of gauze before his eyes。 As
we passed through the valleys the Pygmies shot arrows at us from
the hollows of the trees； and at night…time we heard the wild men
beating on their drums。 When we came to the Tower of Apes we set
fruits before them； and they did not harm us。 When we came to the
Tower of Serpents we gave them warm milk in howls of brass； and
they let us go by。 Three times in our journey we came to the banks
of the Oxus。 We crossed it on rafts of wood with great bladders of
blown hide。 The river…horses raged against us and sought to slay
us。 When the camels saw them they trembled。
'The kings of each city levied tolls on us； but would not suffer us
to enter their gates。 They threw us bread over the walls； little
maize…cakes baked in honey and cakes of fine flour filled with
dates。 For every hundred baskets we gave them a bead of amber。
'When the dwellers in the villages saw us coming； they poisoned the
w