|
Prev
| Next
| Contents
THE BEGINNING and THE END and all the Worlds besides. Then said
the gods, speaking as speak the gods: "Go, back to thy sheep."
"'But I, who am the fool, had heard it said on earth that whoso
seeth the gods upon Pegana becometh as the gods, if so he demand
to Their faces, who may not slay him who hath looked them in the
eyes.
"'And I, the fool, said: "I have looked in the eyes of the gods,
and I demand what a man may demand of the gods when he hath seen
Them in Pegana." And the gods inclined Their heads and Hoodrazai
said: "It is the law of the gods."
"'And I, who was only a shepherd, how could I know?
"'I said: "I will make men rich." And the gods said: "What is
rich?"
"'And I said: "I will send them love." And the gods said: "What is
love?" And I sent gold into the Worlds, and, alas! I sent with it
poverty and strife. And I sent love into the Worlds, and with it
grief.
"'And now I have mixed gold and love most woefully together, and I
can never remedy what I have done, for the deeds of the gods are
done, and nothing may undo them.
"'Then I said: "I will give men wisdom that they may be glad." And
those who got my wisdom found that they knew nothing, and from
having been happy became glad no more.
"'And I, who would make men happy, have made them sad, and I have
spoiled the beautiful scheme of the gods.
"'And now my hand is for ever on the handle of Their plough. I was
only a shepherd, and how should I have known?
"'Now I come to thee as thou restest by the river to ask of thee
thy forgiveness, for I would fain have the forgiveness of a man.'
"And I answered: 'O Lord of seven skies, whose children are the
storms, shall a man forgive a god?'
"He answered: 'Men have sinned not against the gods as the gods
have sinned against men since I came into Their councils.'
"And I, the prophet, answered: 'O Lord of seven skies, whose
plaything is the thunder, thou art amongst the gods, what need
hast thou for words from any man?'
"He said: 'Indeed I am amongst the gods, who speak to me as they
speak to other gods, yet is there always a smile about Their
mouths, and a look in Their eyes that saith: "Thou wert a man."'
"I said: 'O Lord of seven skies, about whose feet the Worlds are
as drifted sand, because thou biddest me, I, a man, forgive thee.'
"And he answered: 'I was but a shepherd, and I could not know.'
Then he was gone."
Prev
| Next
| Contents
|