Spaces:
Sleeping
Sleeping
| text,label | |
| "I The Castle of Lord Juss Of the rarities that were in the lofty presence chamber fair and lovely to behold , and of the qualities and conditions of the lords of Demonland : and of the embassy sent unto them by King Gorice XI , and of the answer thereto . The eastern stars were paling to the dawn as Lessingham followed his conductor along the grass walk between the shadowy ranks of Irish yews , that stood like soldiers mysterious and expectant in the darkness . The grass was bathed in night - dew , and great white",eddison | |
| "lilies sleeping in the shadows of the yews loaded the air of that garden with fragrance . Lessingham felt no touch of the ground beneath his feet , and when he stretched out his hand to touch a tree his hand passed through branch and leaves as though they were unsubstantial as a moonbeam . The little martlet , alighting on his shoulder , laughed in his ear . “ Child of earth , ” she said , “ dost think we are here in dreamland ? ” He answered nothing , and she said , “ This is no",eddison | |
| "dream . Thou , first of the children of men , art come to Mercury , where thou and I will journey up and down for a season to show thee the lands and oceans , the forests , plains , and ancient mountains , cities and palaces of this world , Mercury , and the doings of them that dwell therein . But here thou canst not handle aught , neither make the folk ware of thee , not though thou shout thy throat hoarse . For thou and I walk here impalpable and invisible , as it were",eddison | |
| "two dreams walking . ” They were now on the marble steps which led from the yew walk to the terrace opposite the great gate of the castle . “ No need to unbar gates to thee and me , ” said the martlet , as they passed beneath the darkness of that ancient portal , carved with strange devices , and clean through the massy timbers of the bolted gate thickly riveted with silver , into the inner court . “ Go we into the lofty presence chamber and there tarry awhile . Morning is kindling the upper air",eddison | |
| ", and folk will soon be stirring in the castle , for they lie not long abed when day begins in Demonland . For be it known to thee , O earthborn , that this land is Demonland , and this castle the castle of Lord Juss , and this day now dawning his birthday , when the Demons hold high festival in Juss ’s castle to do honour unto him and to his brethren , Spitfire and Goldry Bluszco ; and these and their fathers before them bear rule from time immemorial in Demonland , and have the lordship",eddison | |
| "over all the Demons . ” She spoke , and the first low beams of the sun smote javelin - like through the eastern windows , and the freshness of morning breathed and shimmered in that lofty chamber , chasing the blue and dusky shades of departed night to the corners and recesses , and to the rafters of the vaulted roof . Surely no potentate of earth , not Croesus , not the great King , not Minos in his royal palace in Crete , not all the Pharaohs , not Queen Semiramis , nor all the Kings of",eddison | |
| "Babylon and Nineveh had ever a throne room to compare in glory with that high presence chamber of the lords of Demonland . Its walls and pillars were of snow - white marble , every vein whereof was set with small gems : rubies , corals , garnets , and pink topaz . Seven pillars on either side bore up the shadowy vault of the roof ; the rooftree and the beams were of gold , curiously carved , the roof itself of mother - of - pearl . A side aisle ran behind each row of pillars , and",eddison | |
| "seven paintings on the western side faced seven spacious windows on the east . At the end of the hall upon a dais stood three high seats , the arms of each composed of two hippogriffs wrought in gold , with wings spread , and the legs of the seats the legs of the hippogriffs ; but the body of each high seat was a single jewel of monstrous size : the left - hand seat a black opal , a - sparkle with steel - blue fire , the next a fire - opal , as it were a",eddison | |
| "burning coal , the third seat an alexandrite , purple like wine by night but deep sea - green by day . Ten more pillars stood in semicircle behind the high seats , bearing up above them and the dais a canopy of gold . The benches that ran from end to end of the lofty chamber were of cedar , inlaid with coral and ivory , and so were the tables that stood before the benches . The floor of the chamber was tesselated , of marble and green tourmaline , and on every square of tourmaline was carven",eddison | |
| "the image of a fish : as the dolphin , the conger , the catfish , the salmon , the tunny , the squid , and other wonders of the deep . Hangings of tapestry were behind the high seats , worked with flowers , snake’s - head , snapdragon , dragon - mouth , and their kind ; and on the dado below the windows were sculptures of birds and beasts and creeping things . But a great wonder of this chamber , and a marvel to behold , was how the capital of every one of the four",eddison | |
| "- and - twenty pillars was hewn from a single precious stone , carved by the hand of some sculptor of long ago into the living form of a monster : here was a harpy with screaming mouth , so wondrously cut in ochre - tinted jade it was a marvel to hear no scream from her : here in wine - yellow topaz a flying firedrake : there a cockatrice made of a single ruby : there a star sapphire the colour of moonlight , cut for a cyclops , so that the rays of the star trembled from",eddison | |
| "his single eye : salamanders , mermaids , chimaeras , wild men o ’ the woods , leviathans , all hewn from faultless gems , thrice the bulk of a big man ’s body , velvet - dark sapphires , chrysolite , beryl , amethyst , and the yellow zircon that is like transparent gold . To give light to the presence chamber were seven escarbuncles , great as pumpkins , hung in order down the length of it , and nine fair moonstones standing in order on silver pedestals between the pillars on the dais . These jewels ,",eddison | |
| "drinking in the sunshine by day , gave it forth during the hours of darkness in a radiance of pink light and a soft effulgence as of moonbeams . And yet another marvel , the nether side of the canopy over the high seats was encrusted with lapis lazuli , and in that feigned dome of heaven burned the twelve signs of the zodiac , every star a diamond that shone with its own light . Folk now began to be astir in the castle , and there came a score of serving men into the presence chamber with brooms",eddison | |
| "and brushes , cloths and leathers , to sweep and garnish it , and burnish the gold and jewels of the chamber . Lissome they were and sprightly of gait , of fresh complexion and fair - haired . Horns grew on their heads . When their tasks were accomplished they departed , and the presence began to fill with guests . A joy it was to see such a shifting maze of velvets , furs , curious needleworks and cloth of tissue , tiffanies , laces , ruffs , goodly chains and carcanets of gold : such glitter of",eddison | |
| "jewels and weapons : such nodding of the plumes the Demons wore in their hair , half veiling the horns that grew upon their heads . Some were sitting on the benches or leaning on the polished tables , some walking forth and back upon the shining floor . Here and there were women among them , women so fair one had said : it is surely white - armed Helen this one ; this , Arcadian Atalanta ; this , Phryne that stood to Praxiteles for Aphrodite ’s picture ; this , Thaïs , for whom great Alexander to",eddison | |
| "pleasure her fantasy did burn Persepolis like a candle ; this , she that was rapt by the Dark God from the flowering fields of Enna , to be Queen forever among the dead that be departed . Now came a stir near the stately doorway , and Lessingham beheld a Demon of burly frame and noble port , richly attired . His face was ruddy and somewhat freckled , his forehead wide , his eyes calm and blue like the sea . His beard , thick and tawny , was parted and brushed back and upwards on either side",eddison | |
| ". “ Tell me , my little martlet , ” said Lessingham , “ is this Lord Juss ? ” “ This is not Lord Juss , ” answered the martlet , “ nor aught so worshipful as he . The lord thou seest is Volle , who dwelleth under Kartadza , by the salt sea . A great sea - captain is he , and one that did service to the cause of Demonland , and of the whole world besides , in the late wars against the Ghouls . “ But cast thine eyes again towards the door",eddison | |
| ", where one standeth amid a knot of friends , tall and somewhat stooping , in a corselet of silver , and a cloak of old brocaded silk coloured like tarnished gold ; something like to Volle in feature , but swarthy , and with bristling black moustachios . ” “ I see him , ” said Lessingham . “ This then is Lord Juss ! ” “ Not so , ” said the martlet . “ ’ Tis but Vizz , brother to Volle . He is wealthiest in goods of all the Demons , save the three",eddison | |
| "brethren only and Lord Brandoch Daha . ” “ And who is this ? ” asked Lessingham , pointing to one of light and brisk step and humorous eye , who in that moment met Volle and engaged him in converse apart . Handsome of face he was , albeit somewhat long - nosed and sharp - nosed : keen and hard and filled with life and the joy of it . “ Here thou beholdest , ” answered she , “ Lord Zigg , the far - famed tamer of horses . Well loved is he among the Demons",eddison | |
| ", for he is merry of mood , and a mighty man of his hands withal when he leadeth his horsemen against the enemy . ” Volle threw up his beard and laughed a great laugh at some jest that Zigg whispered in his ear , and Lessingham leaned forward into the hall if haply he might catch what was said . The hum of talk drowned the words , but leaning forward Lessingham saw where the arras curtains behind the dais parted for a moment , and one of princely bearing advanced past the high seats down the body",eddison | |
| "of the hall . His gait was delicate , as of some lithe beast of prey newly wakened out of slumber , and he greeted with lazy grace the many friends who hailed his entrance . Very tall was that lord , and slender of build , like a girl . His tunic was of silk coloured like the wild rose , and embroidered in gold with representations of flowers and thunderbolts . Jewels glittered on his left hand and on the golden bracelets on his arms , and on the fillet twined among the golden curls of his hair",eddison | |
| ", set with plumes of the kingbird of Paradise . His horns were dyed with saffron , and inlaid with filigree work of gold . His buskins were laced with gold , and from his belt hung a sword , narrow of blade and keen , the hilt rough with beryls and black diamonds . Strangely light and delicate was his frame and seeming , yet with a sense of slumbering power beneath , as the delicate peak of a snow mountain seen afar in the low red rays of morning . His face was beautiful to look upon ,",eddison | |
| "and softly coloured like a girl ’s face , and his expression one of gentle melancholy , mixed with some disdain ; but fiery glints awoke at intervals in his eyes , and the lines of swift determination hovered round the mouth below his curled moustachios . “ At last , ” murmured Lessingham , “ at last , Lord Juss ! ” “ Little art thou to blame , ” said the martlet , “ for this misprision , for scarce could a lordlier sight have joyed thine eyes . Yet is this not Juss , but Lord Brandoch",eddison | |
| "Daha , to whom all Demonland west of Shalgreth and Stropardon oweth allegiance : the rich vineyards of Krothering , the broad pasture lands of Failze , and all the western islands and their crag - bound fastnesses . Think not , because he affecteth silks and jewels like a queen , and carrieth himself light and dainty as a silver birch tree on the mountain , that his hand is light or his courage doubtful in war . For years was he held for the third best man - at - arms in all Mercury , along with these",eddison | |
| ", Goldry Bluszco and Gorice X of Witchland . And Gorice he slew , nine summers back , in single combat , when the Witches harried in Goblinland and Brandoch Daha led five hundred and fourscore Demons to succour Gaslark , the king of that country . And now can none surpass Lord Brandoch Daha in feats of arms , save perchance Goldry alone . “ Yet , lo , ” she said , as a sweet and wild music stole on the ear , and the guests turned towards the dais , and the hangings parted , “ at",eddison | |
| "last , the triple lordship of Demonland ! Strike softly , music : smile , Fates , on this festal day ! Joy and safe days shine for this world and Demonland ! Turn thy gaze first on him who walks in majesty in the midst , his tunic of olive - green velvet ornamented with devices of hidden meaning in thread of gold and beads of chrysolite . Mark how the buskins , clasping his stalwart calves , glitter with gold and amber . Mark the dusky cloak streamed with gold and lined with blood - red silk :",eddison | |
| "a charmed cloak , made by the sylphs in forgotten days , bringing good hap to the wearer , so he be true of heart and no dastard . Mark him that weareth it , his sweet dark countenance , the violet fire in his eyes , the sombre warmth of his smile , like autumn woods in late sunshine . This is Lord Juss , lord of this age - remembering castle , than whom none hath more worship in wide Demonland . Somewhat he knoweth of art magical , yet useth not that art ; for it sappeth",eddison | |
| "the life and strength , nor is it held worthy that a Demon should put trust in that art , but rather in his own might and main . “ Now turn thine eyes to him that leaneth on Juss ’s left arm , shorter but mayhap sturdier than he , apparelled in black silk that shimmers with gold as he moveth , and crowned with black eagle ’s feathers among his horns and yellow hair . His face is wild and keen like a sea - eagle ’s , and from his bristling brows the eyes dart glances sharp",eddison | |
| "as a glancing spear . A faint flame , pallid like the fire of a Will - o’-the - Wisp , breathes ever and anon from his distended nostrils . This is Lord Spitfire , impetuous in war . “ Last , behold on Juss ’s right hand , yon lord that bulks mighty as Hercules yet steppeth lightly as a heifer . The thews and sinews of his great limbs ripple as he moves beneath a skin whiter than ivory ; his cloak of cloth of gold is heavy with jewels , his tunic of black sendaline hath great",eddison | |
| "hearts worked thereon in rubies and red silk thread . Slung from his shoulders clanks a two - handed sword , the pommel a huge star - ruby carven in the image of a heart , for the heart is his sign and symbol . This is that sword forged by the elves , wherewith he slew the sea - monster , as thou mayest see in the painting on the wall . Noble is he of countenance , most like to his brother Juss , but darker brown of hair and ruddier of hue and bigger of cheekbone .",eddison | |
| "Look well on him , for never shall thine eyes behold a greater champion than the Lord Goldry Bluszco , captain of the hosts of Demonland . ” Now when the greetings were done and the strains of the lutes and recorders sighed and lost themselves in the shadowy vault of the roof , the cupbearers did fill great gems made in form of cups with ancient wine , and the Demons caroused to Lord Juss deep draughts in honour of this day of his nativity . And now they were ready to set forth by twos and threes into",eddison | |
| "the parks and pleasaunces , some to take their pleasure about the fair gardens and fishponds , some to hunt wild game among the wooded hills , some to disport themselves at quoits or tennis or riding at the ring or martial exercises ; that so they might spend the livelong day as befitteth high holiday , in pleasure and action without care , and thereafter revel in the lofty presence chamber till night grew old with eating and drinking and all delight . But as they were upon going forth , a trumpet was sounded without , three strident",eddison | |
| "blasts . “ What killjoy have we here ? ” said Spitfire . “ The trumpet soundeth only for travellers from the outlands . I feel it in my bones some rascal is come to Galing , one that bringeth ill hap in his pocket and a shadow athwart the sun on this our day of festival . ” “ Speak no word of ill omen , ” answered Juss . “ Whosoe’er it be , we will straight dispatch his business and so fall to pleasure indeed . Some , run to the gate and bring him in .",eddison | |
| "” The serving man hastened and returned , saying , “ Lord , it is an Ambassador from Witchland and his train . Their ship made land at Lookinghaven - ness at nightfall . They slept on board , and your soldiers gave them escort to Galing at break of day . He craveth present audience . ” “ From Witchland , ha ? ” said Juss . “ Such smokes use ever to go before the fire . ” “ Shall ’s bid the fellow , ” said Spitfire , “ wait on our pleasure ? It is pity",eddison | |
| "such should poison our gladness . ” Goldry laughed and said , “ Whom hath he sent us ? Laxus , think you ? to make his peace with us again for that vile part of his practised against us off Kartadza , detestably falsifying his word he had given us ? ” Juss said to the serving man , “ Thou sawest the Ambassador . Who is he ? ” “ Lord , ” answered he , “ His face was strange to me . He is little of stature and , by your highness ’ leave , the",eddison | |
| "most unlike to a great lord of Witchland that ever I saw . And , by your leave , for all the marvellous rich and sumptuous coat a weareth , he is very like a false jewel in a rich casing . ” “ Well , ” said Juss , “ a sour draught sweetens not in the waiting . Call we in the Ambassador . ” Lord Juss sat in the high seat midmost of the dais , with Goldry on his right in the seat of black opal , and on his left Spitfire , throned on the",eddison | |
| "alexandrite . On the dais sat likewise those other lords of Demonland , and the guests of lower degree thronged the benches and the polished tables as the wide doors opened on their silver hinges , and the Ambassador with pomp and ceremony paced up the shining floor of marble and green tourmaline . “ Why , what a beastly fellow is this ? ” said Lord Goldry in his brother ’s ear . “ His hairy hands reach down to his knees . A shuffleth in his walk like a hobbled jackass . ” “ I like not the",eddison | |
| "dirty face of the Ambassador , ” said Lord Zigg . “ His nose sitteth flat on the face of him as it were a dab of clay , and I can see pat up his nostrils a summer day ’s journey into his head . If ’s upper lip bespeak him not a rare spouter of rank fustian , perdition catch me . Were it a finger ’s breadth longer , a might tuck it into his collar to keep his chin warm of a winter ’s night . ” “ I like not the smell of the Ambassador",eddison | |
| ", ” said Lord Brandoch Daha . And he called for censers and sprinklers of lavender and rose water to purify the chamber , and let open the crystal windows that the breezes of heaven might enter and make all sweet . So the Ambassador walked up the shining floor and stood before the lords of Demonland that sat upon the high seats between the golden hippogriffs . He was robed in a long mantle of scarlet velvet lined with ermine , with crabs , woodlice , and centipedes worked thereon in golden thread . His head was covered with",eddison | |
| "a black velvet cap with a peacock ’s feather fastened with a brooch of silver . Supported by his trainbearers and attendants , and leaning on his golden staff , he with raucous accent delivered his mission : “ Juss , Goldry , and Spitfire , and ye other Demons , I come before you as the Ambassador of Gorice XI , most glorious King of Witchland , Lord and great Duke of Buteny and Estremerine , Commander of Shulan , Thramnë , Mingos , and Permio , and High Warden of the Esamocian Marches , Great Duke of Trace",eddison | |
| ", King Paramount of Beshtria and Nevria and Prince of Ar , Great Lord over the country of Ojedia , Maltraëny , and of Baltary and Toribia , and Lord of many other countries , most glorious and most great , whose power and glory is over all the world and whose name shall endure for all generations . And first I bid you be bound by that reverence for my sacred office of envoy from the King , which is accorded by all people and potentates , save such as be utterly barbarous , to ambassadors and envoys .",eddison | |
| "” “ Speak and fear not , ” answered Juss . “ Thou hast mine oath . And that hath never been forsworn , to Witch or other barbarian . ” The Ambassador shot out his lips in an O , and threatened with his head ; then grinned , laying bare his sharp and misshapen teeth , and proceeded : “ Thus saith King Gorice , great and glorious , and he chargeth me to deliver it to you , neither adding any word nor taking away : ‘ I have it in mind that no ceremony of homage",eddison | |
| "or fealty hath been performed before me by the dwellers in my province of Demonland — ’ ” As the rustling of dry leaves strewn in a flagged court when a sudden wind striketh them , there went a stir among the guests . Nor might the Lord Spitfire contain his wrath , but springing up and clapping hand to sword - hilt , as minded to do a hurt to the Ambassador , “ Province ? ” he cried . “ Are not the Demons a free people ? And is it to be endured that Witchland should",eddison | |
| "commission this slave to cast insults in our teeth , and this in our own castle ? ” A murmur went about the hall , and here and there folk rose from their seats . The Ambassador drew down his head between his shoulders like a tortoise , baring his teeth and blinking with his small eyes . But Lord Brandoch Daha , lightly laying his hand on Spitfire ’s arm , said : “ The Ambassador hath not ended his message , cousin , and thou hast frightened him . Have patience and spoil not the comedy . We",eddison | |
| "shall not lack words to answer King Gorice : no , nor swords , if he must have them . But it shall not be said of us of Demonland that it needeth but a boorish message to turn us from our ancient courtesy toward ambassadors and heralds . ” So spake Lord Brandoch Daha , in lazy half - mocking tone , as one who but idly returneth the ball of conversation ; yet clearly , so that all might hear . And therewith the murmurs died down , and Spitfire said , “ I am tame . Say",eddison | |
| "thine errand freely , and imagine not that we shall hold thee answerable for aught thou sayest , but him that sent thee . ” “ Whose humble mouthpiece I only am , ” said the Ambassador , somewhat gathering courage ; “ and who , saving your reverence , lacketh not the will nor the power to take revenge for any outrage done upon his servants . Thus saith the King : ‘ I therefore summon and command you , Juss , Spitfire , and Goldry Bluszco , to make haste and come to me in Witchland in my",eddison | |
| "fortress of Carcë , and there dutifully kiss my toe , in witness before all the world that I am your Lord and King , and rightful overlord of all Demonland . ’ ” Gravely and without gesture Lord Juss harkened to the Ambassador , leaning back in his high seat with either arm thrown athwart the arched neck of a hippogriff . Goldry , smiling scornfully , toyed with the hilt of his great sword . Spitfire sat strained and glowering , the sparks crackling at his nostrils . “ Thou hast delivered all ? ” said Juss",eddison | |
| ". “ All , ” answered the Ambassador . “ Thou shalt have thine answer , ” said Juss . “ While we take rede thereon , eat and drink ; ” and he beckoned the cupbearer to pour out bright wine for the Ambassador . But the Ambassador excused himself , saying that he was not athirst , and that he had store of food and wine aboard of his ship , which should suffice his needs and those of his following . Then said Lord Spitfire , “ No marvel though the spawn of Witchland fear venom in",eddison | |
| "the cup . They who work commonly such villany against their enemies , as witness Recedor of Goblinland whom Corsus murthered with a poisonous draught , shake still in the knees lest themselves be so entertained to their destruction ; ” and snatching the cup he quaffed it to the dregs , and dashed it on the marble floor before the Ambassador , so that it was shivered into pieces . And the lords of Demonland rose up and withdrew behind the flowery hangings into a chamber apart , to determine of their answer to the message sent unto them",eddison | |
| "by King Gorice of Witchland . When they were private together , Spitfire spake and said , “ Is it to be borne that the King should put such shame and mockery upon us ? Could a not at the least have made a son of Corund or of Corsus his Ambassador to bring us his defiance , ’ stead of this filthiest of his domestics , a gibbering dwarf fit only to make them gab and game at their tippling bouts when they be three parts senseless with boosing ? ” Lord Juss smiled somewhat scornfully . “ With",eddison | |
| "wisdom , ” he said , “ and with foresight hath Witchland made choice of his time to move against us , knowing that thirty and three of our well - built ships are sunken in Kartadza Sound in the battle with the Ghouls , and but fourteen remain to us . Now that the Ghouls are slain , every soul , and utterly abolished from this world , and so the great curse and peril of all this world ended by the sword and great valour of Demonland alone , now seemeth the happy moment unto these late mouth",eddison | |
| "- friends to fall upon us . For have not the Witches a strong fleet of ships , since their whole fleet fled at the beginning of their fight with us against the Ghouls , leaving us to bear the burden ? And now are they minded for this new treason , to set upon us traitorously and suddenly in this disadvantage . For the King well judgeth we can carry no army to Witchland nor do aught in his despite , but must be long months a - shipbuilding . And doubt not he holdeth an armament ready aboard",eddison | |
| "at Tenemos to sail hither if he get the answer he knoweth we shall send him . ” “ Sit we at ease then , ” said Goldry , “ sharpening our swords ; and let him ship his armies across the salt sea . Not a Witch shall land in Demonland but shall leave here his blood and bones to make fat our cornfields and our vineyards . ” “ Rather , ” said Spitfire , “ apprehend this rascal , and put to sea today with the fourteen ships left us . We can surprise Witchland in his",eddison | |
| "strong place of Carcë , sack it , and give him to the crows to peck at , or ever he is well awake to the swiftness of our answer . That is my counsel . ” “ Nay , ” said Juss , “ we shall not take him sleeping . Be certain that his ships are ready and watching in the Witchland seas , prepared against any rash onset . It were folly to set our neck in the noose ; and little glory to Demonland to await his coming . This , then , is my rede",eddison | |
| ": I will bid Gorice to the duello , and make offer to him to let lie on the fortune thereof the decision of this quarrel . ” “ A good rede , if it might be fulfilled , ” said Goldry . “ But never will he dare to stand with weapons in single combat ’ gainst thee or ’ gainst any of us . Nevertheless the thing shall be brought about . Is not Gorice a mighty wrastler , and hath he not in his palace in Carcë the skulls and bones of ninety and nine great champions",eddison | |
| "whom he hath vanquished and slain in that exercise ? Puffed up beyond measure is he in his own conceit , and folk say it is a grief to him that none hath been found this long while that durst wrastle with him , and woefully he pineth for the hundredth . He shall wrastle a fall with me ! ” Now this seemed good to them all . So when they had talked on it awhile and concluded what they would do , glad of heart the lords of Demonland turned them back to the lofty presence chamber .",eddison | |
| "And there Lord Juss spake and said : “ Demons , ye have heard the words which the King of Witchland in the overweening pride and shamelessness of his heart hath spoken unto us by the mouth of this Ambassador . Now this is our answer which my brother shall give , the Lord Goldry Bluszco ; and we charge thee , O Ambassador , to deliver it truly , neither adding any word nor taking away . ” And the Lord Goldry spake : “ We , the lords of Demonland , do utterly scorn thee , Gorice XI",eddison | |
| ", for the greatest of dastards , in that thou basely fleddest and forsookest us , thy sworn confederates , in the sea battle against the Ghouls . Our swords , which in that battle ended so great a curse and peril to all this world , are not bent nor broken . They shall be sheathed in the bowels of thee and thy minions , Corsus to wit , and Corund , and their sons , and Corinius , and what other evildoers harbour in waterish Witchland , sooner than one little sea - pink growing on the cliffs",eddison | |
| "of Demonland shall do thee obeisance . But , that thou mayest , if so thou wilt , feel our power somewhat , I , Lord Goldry Bluszco , make thee this offer : that thou and I do match ourselves singly each against other to wrastle three falls at the court of the Red Foliot , who inclineth neither to our side nor to thine in this quarrel . And we will bind ourselves by mighty oaths to these conditions , that if I overcome thee , the Demons shall leave you of Witchland in peace , and ye",eddison | |
| "them , and the Witches shall forswear forever their impudent claims on Demonland . But if thou , Gorice , win the day , then hast thou the glory of that victory , and withal full liberty to thrust thy claims upon us with the sword . ” So spake the Lord Goldry Bluszco , standing in great pride and splendour beneath the starry canopy , and scowling terribly on the Ambassador from Witchland , so that the Ambassador was abashed and his knees smote together . And Goldry called his scribe and made him write the message for Gorice",eddison | |
| "the King in great characters on a roll of parchment , and the lords of Demonland sealed it with their seals , and gave it to the Ambassador . The Ambassador took it and made haste to depart ; but when he was come to the stately doorway of the presence chamber , being near the door and amongst his attendants , and away from the lords of Demonland , he plucked up heart a little and turned and said : “ Rashly and to thy certain undoing , O Goldry Bluszco , hast thou bidden our Lord the King",eddison | |
| "to contend with thee in wrastling . For be thou never so mighty of limb , yet hath he overthrown as mighty . And he wrastleth not for sport , but will surely work thy life ’s decay , and keep the dead bones of thee with the bones of the ninety and nine champions whom he hath heretofore laid low in that exercise . ” Therewith , because Goldry and the other lords scowled upon him terribly , and the guests near the door fell to hooting and reviling of the Witches , the Ambassador went forth hastily and",eddison | |
| "hastily down the shining stairs and across the court , as one who fleeth along a lane on a dark and windy night , daring not to turn his head lest his eye behold some fearsome thing prepared to clasp him . So speeding , he was fain to catch up about his knees the folds of his velvet cloak richly worked with crabs and creeping things ; and huge whooping and laughter went up among the common lag of people without , to behold his long and nerveless tail thus bared to their unfriendly gaze . Insomuch that they",eddison | |
| "fell to shouting with one accord , “ Though his mouth be foul he hath a fair tail ! Saw ye not his tail ? Hurrah for Gorice who hath sent us a monkey for his Ambassador ! ” And with jibe and unmannerly yell the crowd hung lovingly upon the Ambassador and his train all the way down from Galing castle to the quays . So that it was like a sweet homecoming to him to come on board his well - built ship and have her rowed amain out of Lookinghaven . So when they had rounded Lookinghaven",eddison | |
| "- ness and were free of the land , they hoisted sail and voyaged before a favouring breeze eastward over the teeming deep to Witchland . II The Wrastling for Demonland Of the prognosticks which troubled Lord Gro concerning the meeting between the King of Witchland and the Lord Goldry Bluszco ; and how they met , and of the issue of that wrastling . “ How could I have fallen asleep ? ” cried Lessingham . “ Where is the castle of the Demons , and how did we leave the great presence chamber where they saw the Ambassador",eddison | |
| "? ” For he stood on rolling uplands that leaned to the sea , treeless on every side as far as the eye might reach ; and on three sides shimmered the sea , kissed by the sun and roughened by the salt - glad wind that charged over the downs , charioting clouds without number through the illimitable heights of air . The little black martlet answered him , “ My hippogriff travelleth as well in time as in space . Days and weeks have been left behind by us , in what seemeth to thee but the twinkling",eddison | |
| "of an eye , and thou standest in the Foliot Isles , a land happy under the mild regiment of a peaceful prince , on the day appointed by King Gorice to wrastle with Lord Goldry Bluszco . Terrible must be the wrastling betwixt two such champions , and dark the issue thereof . And my heart is afraid for Goldry Bluszco , big and strong though he be and unconquered in war ; for there hath not arisen in all the ages such a wrastler as this Gorice , and strong he is , and hard and unwearying ,",eddison | |
| "and skilled in every art of attack and defence , and subtle withal , and cruel and fell like a serpent . ” Where they stood the down was cut by a combe that descended to the sea , and overhanging the combe was the palace of the Red Foliot , rambling and low , with many little towers and battlements , built of stones hewn from the wall of the combe , so that it was hard from a distance to discern what was palace and what native rock . Behind the palace stretched a meadow , flat and",eddison | |
| "smooth , carpeted with the close wiry turf of the downs . At either end of the meadow were booths set up , to the north the booths of them of Witchland , and to the south the booths of the Demons . In the midst of the meadow was a space marked out with withies sixty paces either way for the wrastling ground . Only the birds of the air and the sea - wind were abroad as then , save those that walked armed before the Witches ’ booths , six in company , harnessed as for battle",eddison | |
| "in byrnies of shining bronze , with greaves and shields of bronze and helms that glanced in the sun . Five were proper slender youths , the eldest of whom had not yet beard full grown , black - browed and great of jaw ; the sixth , huge as a neat , topped them by half a head . Age had flecked with gray the beard that spread over his big chest to his belt stiffened with studs of iron , but the vigour of youth was in his glance and in his voice , and in the tread",eddison | |
| "of his foot , and in his fist so lightly handling his burly spear . “ Behold , wonder , and lament , ” said the martlet , “ that the innocent eye of day should be enforced still to look upon the children of night everlasting . Corund of Witchland and his cursed sons . ” Lessingham thought , “ A most fiery politician is my little martlet : damned fiends and angels and nothing betwixt for her . But I ’ll dance to none of their tunes , but wait for these things ’ unfolding . ” So",eddison | |
| "walked those back and forth as caged lions before the Witches ’ booths , until Corund halted and leaning on his spear said to one of his sons , “ Go in and seek out Gro that I may speak with him . ” And the son of Corund went , and returned anon with Lord Gro , that came with furtive step , yet goodly and fair to behold . The nose of him was hooked like a sickle and his eyes great and fair like the eyes of an ox , inscrutable as they . Lean and spare",eddison | |
| "was his frame . Pale was his face and pale his delicate hands , and his long black beard was tightly curled and bright as the coat of a black retriever . Corund said , “ How is it with the King ? ” Gro answered him , “ He chafeth to be at it ; and to pass away the time he playeth at dice with Corinius , and the luck goeth against the King . ” “ What makest thou of that ? ” asked Corund . And Gro said , “ The fortune of the dice jumpeth",eddison | |
| "not commonly with the fortune of war . ” Corund grunted in his beard , and laying his large hand on Lord Gro ’s shoulder , “ Speak to me a little apart , ” he said ; and when they were private , “ Darken not counsel , ” said Corund , “ to me and my sons . Have I not these four years past been as a brother unto thee , and wilt thou still be secret toward us ? ” But Gro smiled a sad smile and said , “ Why should we by words of",eddison | |
| "ill omen strike yet another blow where the tree tottereth ? ” Corund groaned . “ Omens , ” said he , “ increase upon us from that time forth when the King accepted the challenge , evilly , and flatly against thy counsel and mine and the counsel of all the great ones in the land . Surely the Gods have made him fey , having ordained his destruction and our humbling before these Demons . ” And he said , “ Omens thicken upon us , O Gro . First , the night raven that went widdershins round",eddison | |
| "about the palace of Carcë , that night when the King accepted this challenge , and we were all drunken with wine after our great feasting and surfeiting in his halls . Next , the stumbling of the King whenas he went upon the poop of the long ship which bare us on this voyage to these islands . Next , the squint - eyed cupbearer that poured out unto us yesternight . And throughout , the devilish pride and bragging humour of the King . No more : he is fey . And the dice fall against him .",eddison | |
| "” Gro spake and said , “ O Corund , I will not hide it from thee that my heart is heavy as thy heart under shadow of ill to be . For as I lay sleeping betwixt the strokes of night , a dream of the night stood by my bed and beheld me with a glance so fell that I was all adrad and quaking with fear . And it seemed to me that the dream smote the roof above my bed , and the roof opened and disclosed the outer dark , and in the dark travelled",eddison | |
| "a bearded star , and the night was quick with fiery signs . And blood was on the roof , and great gouts of blood on the walls and on the cornice of my bed . And the dream screeched like the screech - owl , and cried , Witchland from thy hand , O King ! And methought the whole world was lighted in a lowe , and with a great cry I awoke out of the dream . ” “ Thou art wise , ” said Corund ; “ and belike the dream was a true dream ,",eddison | |
| "sent thee through the gate of horn , and belike it forebodeth events great and evil for the King and for Witchland . ” Gro said , “ Disclose it not to the others , for none can strive with Fate and gain the victory , and it would but cast down their hearts . But it is fitting we be ready against evil hap . If ( which yet may the Gods forfend ) ill come of this wrastling bout , fail not every one of you ere you act on any enterprise to take counsel of me .",eddison | |
| "‘ Bare is back without brother behind it . ’ Together must we do that we do . ” “ Thou hast my firm assurance on’t , ” said Corund . Now began a great company to come forth from the palace and take their stand on either side of the wrastling ground . The Red Foliot sate in his car of polished ebony , drawn by six black horses with flowing manes and tails ; before him went his musicians , pipers and minstrels doing their craft , and behind him fifty spearmen , weighed down with armour and",eddison | |
| "ponderous shields that covered them from chin to toe . Their armour was stained with madder , in such wise that they seemed bathed in blood . Mild to look on was the Red Foliot , yet kingly . His skin was scarlet like the head of the green woodpecker . He wore a diadem of silver , and robes of scarlet trimmed with black fur . So when the Foliots were assembled , one stood forth with a horn at the command of the Red Foliot and blew three blasts . Therewith came forth from their booths the lords",eddison | |
| "of Demonland and their men - at - arms , Juss , Goldry , Spitfire , and Brandoch Daha , all armed as for battle save Goldry , who was muffled in a cloak of cloth of gold with great hearts worked thereon in red silk thread . And from their booths in turn came the lords of Witchland all armed , and their fighting men , and little love there was in the glances they and the Demons cast upon each other . In the midst stalked the King , his great limbs muffled , like Goldry ’s ,",eddison | |
| "in a cloak : and it was of black silk lined with black bearskin , and ornamented with crabs worked in diamonds . The crown of Witchland , fashioned like a hideous crab and encrusted with jewels so thickly that none might discern the iron whereof it was framed , weighed on his beetling brow . His beard was black and bristly , spade - shaped and thick : his hair close cropped . His upper lip was shaved , displaying his sneering mouth , and from the darkness below his eyebrows looked forth eyes that showed a green light",eddison | |
| ", like those of a wolf . Corund walked at the King ’s left elbow , his giant frame an inch less in stature than the King . Corinius went on the right , wearing a rich cloak of sky - blue tissue over his shining armour . Tall and soldier - like was Corinius , and young and goodly to look upon , with swaggering gait and insolent eye , thick - lipped withal and somewhat heavy of feature , and the sun shone brightly on his shaven jowl . Now the Red Foliot let sound the horn again",eddison | |
| ", and standing in his ebony car he read out the conditions , as thus : “ O Gorice XI , most glorious King of Witchland , and O Lord Goldry Bluszco , captain of the hosts of Demonland , it is compact betwixt you , and made fast by mighty oaths whereof I , the Red Foliot , am keeper , that ye shall wrastle three falls together on these conditions , namely , that if Gorice the King be victorious , then hath he that glory and withal full liberty to enforce with the sword his claims of",eddison | |
| "lordship over many - mountained Demonland : but if victory fall to the Lord Goldry Bluszco , then shall the Demons let the Witches abide in peace , and they them , and the Witches shall forswear forever their claims of lordship over the Demons . And you , O King , and you , O Goldry Bluszco , are likewise bound by oath to wrastle fairly and to abide by the ruling of me , the Red Foliot , whom ye are content to choose as your umpire . And I do swear to judge justly between you .",eddison | |
| "And the laws of your wrastling are that neither shall strangle his adversary with his hands , nor bite him , nor claw nor scratch his flesh , nor poach out his eyes , nor smite him with his fists , nor do any other unfair thing against him , but in all other respects ye shall wrastle freely together . And he that shall be brought to earth with hip or shoulder shall be accounted fallen . ” The Red Foliot said , “ Have I spoken well , O King , and do you swear to these conditions",eddison | |
| "? ” The King said , “ I swear . ” The Red Foliot asked in like manner , “ Dost thou swear to these conditions , O Lord Goldry Bluszco ? ” And Goldry answered him , “ I swear . ” Without more ado the King stepped into the wrastling ground on his side , and Goldry Bluszco on his , and they cast aside their rich mantles and stood forth naked for the wrastling . And folk stood silent for admiration of the thews and sinews of those twain , doubting which were mightier of build and",eddison | |
| "likelier to gain the victory . The King stood taller by a little , and was longer in the arm than Goldry . But the great frame of Goldry showed excellent proportions , each part wedded to each as in the body of a God , and if either were brawnier of chest it was he , and he was thicker of neck than the King . Now the King mocked Goldry , saying , “ Rebellious hound , it is fit that I make demonstration unto thee , and unto these Foliots and Demons that witness our meeting ,",eddison | |
| "that I am thy King and Lord not by virtue only of this my crown of Witchland , which I thus put by for an hour , but even by the power of my body over thine and by my might and main . Be satisfied that I will not have done with thee until I have taken away thy life , and sent thy soul squealing bodiless into the unknown . And thy skull and thy marrowbones will I have away to Carcë , to my palace , to be a token unto all the world that I have",eddison | |
| "been the bane of an hundredth great champion by my wrastling , and thou not least among them that I have slain in that exercise . Thereafter , when I have eaten and drunken and made merry in my royal palace at Carcë , I will sail with my armies over the teeming deep to many - mountained Demonland . And it shall be my footstool , and these other Demons the slaves of me , yea , and the slaves of my slaves . ” But the Lord Goldry Bluszco laughed lightly and said to the Red Foliot ,",eddison | |
| "“ O Red Foliot , I am not come hither to contend with the King of Witchland in windy railing , but to match my strength against his , sinew against sinew . ” Now they stood ready , and the Red Foliot made a sign with his hand , and the cymbals clashed for the first bout . At the clash the two champions advanced and clasped one another with their strong arms , each with his right arm below and left arm above the other ’s shoulder , until the flesh shrank beneath the might of their arms",eddison | |
| "that were as brazen bands . They swayed a little this way and that , as great trees swaying in a storm , their legs planted firmly so that they seemed to grow out of the ground like the trunks of oak trees . Nor did either yield ground to other , nor might either win a master hold upon his enemy . So swayed they back and forth for a long time , breathing heavily . And now Goldry , gathering his strength , gat the King lifted a little from the ground , and was minded to swing",eddison | |
| "him round and so dash him to earth . But the King , in that moment when he found himself lifted , leaned forward mightily and smote his heel swiftly round Goldry ’s leg on the outside , striking him behind and a little above the ankle , in such wise that Goldry was fain to loosen his hold on the King ; and greatly folk marvelled that he was able in that plight to save himself from being thrown backward by the King . So they gripped again until red wheals rose on their backs and shoulders by reason",eddison | |
| "of the grievous clasping of their arms . And the King on a sudden twisted his body sideways , with his left side turned from Goldry ; and catching with his leg Goldry ’s leg on the inside below the great muscle of the calf , and hugging him yet closer , he lurched mightily against him , striving to pull Goldry backward and so fall upon him and crush him as they fell to earth . But Goldry leaned violently forward , ever tightening his hold on the King , and so violently bare he forward in his strength",eddison | |
| "that the King was baulked of his design ; and clutched together they fell both to earth side by side with a heavy crash , and lay bemused while one might count half a score . The Red Foliot proclaimed them even in this bout , and each returned to his fellows to take breath and rest for a space . Now while they rested , a flittermouse flew forth from the Witchland booths and went widdershins round the wrastling ground and so returned silently whence she came . Lord Gro saw her , and his heart waxed heavy within",eddison | |
| "him . He spake to Corund and said , “ Needs must that I make trial even at this late hour if there be not any means to turn the King from further adventuring of himself , ere all be lost . ” Corund said , “ Be it as thou wilt , but it will be in vain . ” So Gro stood by the King and said , “ Lord , give over this wrastling . Great of growth and mightier of limb than any that you did overcome aforetime is this Demon , yet have you vanquished",eddison | |
| "him . For you did throw him , as we plainly saw , and wrongfully hath the Red Foliot adjudged you evenly matched because in the throwing of him your majesty ’s self did fall to earth . Tempt not the fates by another bout . Yours is the victory in this wrastling : and now we , your servants , wait but your nod to make a sudden onslaught on these Demons and slay them , as we may lightly overcome them taken at unawares . And for the Foliots , they be peaceful and sheep - like folk",eddison | |
| ", and will be held in awe when we have smitten the Demons with the edge of the sword . So may you depart , O King , with pleasure and great honour , and afterward fare to Demonland and bring it into subjection . ” The King looked sourly upon Lord Gro , and said , “ Thy counsel is unacceptable and unseasonable . What lieth behind it ? ” Gro answered , “ There have been omens , O King . ” And the King said , “ What omens ? ” Gro answered and said , “",eddison | |
| "I will not hide it from you , O my Lord the King , that in my sleep about the darkest hour a dream of the night came to my bed and beheld me with a glance so fell that the hairs of my head stood up and pale terror gat hold upon me . And methought the dream smote up the roof above my bed , and the roof yawned to the naked air of the midnight , that laboured with fiery signs , and a bearded star travelling in the houseless dark . And I beheld the roof",eddison | |