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dates。 For every hundred baskets we gave them a bead of amber。
'When the dwellers in the villages saw us coming； they poisoned the
wells and fled to the hill…summits。 We fought with the Magadae who
are born old； and grow younger and younger every year； and die when
they are little children； and with the Laktroi who say that they
are the sons of tigers； and paint themselves yellow and black； and
with the Aurantes who bury their dead on the tops of trees； and
themselves live in dark caverns lest the Sun； who is their god；
should slay them； and with the Krimnians who worship a crocodile；
and give it earrings of green glass； and feed it with butter and
fresh fowls； and with the Agazonbae； who are dog…faced； and with
the Sibans； who have horses' feet； and run more swiftly than
horses。 A third of our company died in battle； and a third died of
want。 The rest murmured against me； and said that I had brought
them an evil fortune。 I took a horned adder from beneath a stone
and let it sting me。 When they saw that I did not sicken they grew
afraid。
'In the fourth month we reached the city of Illel。 It was night…
time when we came to the grove that is outside the walls； and the
air was sultry； for the Moon was travelling in Scorpion。 We took
the ripe pomegranates from the trees； and brake them； and drank
their sweet juices。 Then we lay down on our carpets； and waited
for the dawn。
'And at dawn we rose and knocked at the gate of the city。 It was
wrought out of red bronze； and carved with sea…dragons and dragons
that have wings。 The guards looked down from the battlements and
asked us our business。 The interpreter of the caravan answered
that we had come from the island of Syria with much merchandise。
They took hostages； and told us that they would open the gate to us
at noon； and bade us tarry till then。
'When it was noon they opened the gate； and as we entered in the
people came crowding out of the houses to look at us； and a crier
went round the city crying through a shell。 We stood in the
market…place； and the negroes uncorded the bales of figured cloths
and opened the carved chests of sycamore。 And when they had ended
their task； the merchants set forth their strange wares； the waxed
linen from Egypt and the painted linen from the country of the
Ethiops； the purple sponges from Tyre and the blue hangings from
Sidon； the cups of cold amber and the fine vessels of glass and the
curious vessels of burnt clay。 From the roof of a house a company
of women watched us。 One of them wore a mask of gilded leather。
'And on the first day the priests came and bartered with us； and on
the second day came the nobles； and on the third day came the
craftsmen and the slaves。 And this is their custom with all
merchants as long as they tarry in the city。
'And we tarried for a moon； and when the moon was waning； I wearied
and wandered away through the streets of the city and came to the
garden of its god。 The priests in their yellow robes moved
silently through the green trees； and on a pavement of black marble
stood the rose…red house in which the god had his dwelling。 Its
doors were of powdered lacquer； and bulls and peacocks were wrought
on them in raised and polished gold。 The tilted roof was of sea…
green porcelain； and the jutting eaves were festooned with little
bells。 When the white doves flew past； they struck the bells with
their wings and made them tinkle。
'In front of the temple was a pool of clear water paved with veined
onyx。 I lay down beside it； and with my pale fingers I touched the
broad leaves。 One of the priests came towards me and stood behind
me。 He had sandals on his feet； one of soft serpent…skin and the
other of birds' plumage。 On his head was a mitre of black felt
decorated with silver crescents。 Seven yellows were woven into his
robe； and his frizzed hair was stained with antimony。
'After a little while he spake to me； and asked me my desire。
'I told him that my desire was to see the god。
'〃The god is hunting；〃 said the priest； looking strangely at me
with his small slanting eyes。
'〃Tell me in what forest； and I will ride with him；〃 I answered。
'He combed out the soft fringes of his tunic with his long pointed
nails。 〃The god is asleep；〃 he murmured。
'〃Tell me on what couch； and I will watch by him；〃 I answered。
'〃The god is at the feast；〃 he cried。
'〃If the wine be sweet I will drink it with him； and if it be
bitter I will drink it with him also；〃 was my answer。
'He bowed his head in wonder； and； taking me by the hand； he raised
me up； and led me into the temple。
'And in the first chamber I saw an idol seated on a throne of
jasper bordered with great orient pearls。 It was carved out of
ebony； and in stature was of the stature of a man。 On its forehead
was a ruby； and thick oil dripped from its hair on to its thighs。
Its feet were red with the blood of a newly…slain kid； and its
loins girt with a copper belt that was studded with seven beryls。
'And I said to the priest； 〃Is this the god？〃 And he answered me；
〃This is the god。〃
'〃Show me the god；〃 I cried； 〃or I will surely slay thee。〃 And I
touched his hand； and it became withered。
'And the priest besought me； saying； 〃Let my lord heal his servant；
and I will show him the god。〃
'So I breathed with my breath upon his hand； and it became whole
again； and he trembled and led me into the second chamber； and I
saw an idol standing on a lotus of jade hung with great emeralds。
It was carved out of ivory； and in stature was twice the stature of
a man。 On its forehead was a chrysolite； and its breasts were
smeared with myrrh and cinnamon。 In one hand it held a crooked
sceptre of jade； and in the other a round crystal。 It ware buskins
of brass； and its thick neck was circled with a circle of
selenites。
'And I said to the priest； 〃Is this the god？〃
'And he answered me； 〃This is the god。〃
'〃Show me the god；〃 I cried； 〃or I will surely slay thee。〃 And I
touched his eyes； and they became blind。
'And the priest besought me； saying； 〃Let my lord heal his servant；
and I will show him the god。〃
'So I breathed with my breath upon his eyes； and the sight came
back to them； and he trembled again； and led me into the third
chamber； and lo！ there was no idol in it； nor image of any kind；
but only a mirror of round metal set on an altar of stone。
'And I said to the priest； 〃Where is the god？〃
'And he answered me： 〃There is no god but this mirror that thou
seest； for this is the Mirror of Wisdom。 And it reflecteth all
things that are in heaven and on earth； save only the face of him
who looketh into it。 This it reflecteth not； so that he who
looketh into it may be wise。 Many other mirrors are there； but
they are mirrors of Opinion。 This only is the Mirror of Wisdom。
And they who possess this mirror know everything； nor is there
anything hidden from them。 And they who possess it not have not
Wisdom。 Therefore is it the god； and we worship it。〃 And I looked
into the mirror； and it was even as he had said to me。
'And I did a strange thing； but what I did matters not； for in a
valley that is but a day's journey from this place have I hidden
the Mirror of Wisdom。 Do but suffer me to enter into thee again
and be thy servant； and thou shalt be wiser than all the wise men；
and Wisdom shall be thine。 Suffer me to enter into thee； and none
will be as wise as thou。'
But the young Fisherman laughed。 'Love is better than Wisdom；' he
cried； 'and the little Mermaid loves me。'
'Nay； but there is nothing better than Wisdom；' said the Soul。
'Love is better；' answered the young Fisherman； and he plunged into
the deep； and the Soul went weeping away over the marshes。
And after the second year was over； the Soul came down to the shore
of the sea； and called to the young F