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'what is that to thee？'
And the young King gave a loud cry and woke； and lo！ he was in his
own chamber； and through the window he saw the great honey…coloured
moon hanging in the dusky air。
And he fell asleep again and dreamed； and this was his dream。
He thought that he was lying on the deck of a huge galley that was
being rowed by a hundred slaves。 On a carpet by his side the
master of the galley was seated。 He was black as ebony； and his
turban was of crimson silk。 Great earrings of silver dragged down
the thick lobes of his ears； and in his hands he had a pair of
ivory scales。
The slaves were naked； but for a ragged loin…cloth； and each man
was chained to his neighbour。 The hot sun beat brightly upon them；
and the negroes ran up and down the gangway and lashed them with
whips of hide。 They stretched out their lean arms and pulled the
heavy oars through the water。 The salt spray flew from the blades。
At last they reached a little bay； and began to take soundings。 A
light wind blew from the shore； and covered the deck and the great
lateen sail with a fine red dust。 Three Arabs mounted on wild
asses rode out and threw spears at them。 The master of the galley
took a painted bow in his hand and shot one of them in the throat。
He fell heavily into the surf； and his companions galloped away。 A
woman wrapped in a yellow veil followed slowly on a camel； looking
back now and then at the dead body。
As soon as they had cast anchor and hauled down the sail； the
negroes went into the hold and brought up a long rope…ladder；
heavily weighted with lead。 The master of the galley threw it over
the side； making the ends fast to two iron stanchions。 Then the
negroes seized the youngest of the slaves and knocked his gyves
off； and filled his nostrils and his ears with wax； and tied a big
stone round his waist。 He crept wearily down the ladder； and
disappeared into the sea。 A few bubbles rose where he sank。 Some
of the other slaves peered curiously over the side。 At the prow of
the galley sat a shark…charmer； beating monotonously upon a drum。
After some time the diver rose up out of the water； and clung
panting to the ladder with a pearl in his right hand。 The negroes
seized it from him； and thrust him back。 The slaves fell asleep
over their oars。
Again and again he came up； and each time that he did so he brought
with him a beautiful pearl。 The master of the galley weighed them；
and put them into a little bag of green leather。
The young King tried to speak； but his tongue seemed to cleave to
the roof of his mouth； and his lips refused to move。 The negroes
chattered to each other； and began to quarrel over a string of
bright beads。 Two cranes flew round and round the vessel。
Then the diver came up for the last time； and the pearl that he
brought with him was fairer than all the pearls of Ormuz； for it
was shaped like the full moon； and whiter than the morning star。
But his face was strangely pale； and as he fell upon the deck the
blood gushed from his ears and nostrils。 He quivered for a little；
and then he was still。 The negroes shrugged their shoulders； and
threw the body overboard。
And the master of the galley laughed； and； reaching out； he took
the pearl； and when he saw it he pressed it to his forehead and
bowed。 'It shall be；' he said； 'for the sceptre of the young
King；' and he made a sign to the negroes to draw up the anchor。
And when the young King heard this he gave a great cry； and woke；
and through the window he saw the long grey fingers of the dawn
clutching at the fading stars。
And he fell asleep again； and dreamed； and this was his dream。
He thought that he was wandering through a dim wood； hung with
strange fruits and with beautiful poisonous flowers。 The adders
hissed at him as he went by； and the bright parrots flew screaming
from branch to branch。 Huge tortoises lay asleep upon the hot mud。
The trees were full of apes and peacocks。
On and on he went； till he reached the outskirts of the wood； and
there he saw an immense multitude of men toiling in the bed of a
dried…up river。 They swarmed up the crag like ants。 They dug deep
pits in the ground and went down into them。 Some of them cleft the
rocks with great axes； others grabbled in the sand。
They tore up the cactus by its roots； and trampled on the scarlet
blossoms。 They hurried about； calling to each other； and no man
was idle。
From the darkness of a cavern Death and Avarice watched them； and
Death said； 'I am weary； give me a third of them and let me go。'
But Avarice shook her head。 'They are my servants；' she answered。
And Death said to her； 'What hast thou in thy hand？'
'I have three grains of corn；' she answered； 'what is that to
thee？'
'Give me one of them；' cried Death； 'to plant in my garden； only
one of them； and I will go away。'
'I will not give thee anything；' said Avarice； and she hid her hand
in the fold of her raiment。
And Death laughed； and took a cup； and dipped it into a pool of
water； and out of the cup rose Ague。 She passed through the great
multitude； and a third of them lay dead。 A cold mist followed her；
and the water…snakes ran by her side。
And when Avarice saw that a third of the multitude was dead she
beat her breast and wept。 She beat her barren bosom； and cried
aloud。 'Thou hast slain a third of my servants；' she cried； 'get
thee gone。 There is war in the mountains of Tartary； and the kings
of each side are calling to thee。 The Afghans have slain the black
ox； and are marching to battle。 They have beaten upon their
shields with their spears； and have put on their helmets of iron。
What is my valley to thee； that thou shouldst tarry in it？ Get
thee gone； and come here no more。'
'Nay；' answered Death； 'but till thou hast given me a grain of corn
I will not go。'
But Avarice shut her hand； and clenched her teeth。 'I will not
give thee anything；' she muttered。
And Death laughed； and took up a black stone； and threw it into the
forest； and out of a thicket of wild hemlock came Fever in a robe
of flame。 She passed through the multitude； and touched them； and
each man that she touched died。 The grass withered beneath her
feet as she walked。
And Avarice shuddered； and put ashes on her head。 'Thou art
cruel；' she cried； 'thou art cruel。 There is famine in the walled
cities of India； and the cisterns of Samarcand have run dry。 There
is famine in the walled cities of Egypt； and the locusts have come
up from the desert。 The Nile has not overflowed its banks； and the
priests have cursed Isis and Osiris。 Get thee gone to those who
need thee； and leave me my servants。'
'Nay；' answered Death； 'but till thou hast given me a grain of corn
I will not go。'
'I will not give thee anything；' said Avarice。
And Death laughed again； and he whistled through his fingers； and a
woman came flying through the air。 Plague was written upon her
forehead； and a crowd of lean vultures wheeled round her。 She
covered the valley with her wings； and no man was left alive。
And Avarice fled shrieking through the forest； and Death leaped
upon his red horse and galloped away； and his galloping was faster
than the wind。
And out of the slime at the bottom of the valley crept dragons and
horrible things with scales； and the jackals came trotting along
the sand； sniffing up the air with their nostrils。
And the young King wept； and said： 'Who were these men； and for
what were they seeking？'
'For rubies for a king's crown；' answered one who stood behind him。
And the young King started； and； turning round； he saw a man
habited as a pilgrim and holding in his hand a mirror of silver。
And he grew pale； and said： 'For what king？'
And the pilgrim answered： 'Look in this mirror； and thou shalt see
him。'
And he looked in the mirror； and； seeing his own face； he gave a
great cry and woke； and the bright sunlight was streaming into the
room； and from the trees of the garden and pleasaunce the birds
were singing。
And the Chamberlain and the high officers of State came in and made
obeisance to him； and the pages brought him the robe of tissued
gold； and set the crown and the sceptre before him。
And the young King looked at them； and they were beautiful。 More
beautiful were they than aught that he had ever seen。 But he
remembered his dreams； and he said to his lords： 'Take these
things away； for I will not wear them。'
And the courtiers were amazed； and some of them laughed； for they
thought that he was jesting。
But he spake sternly to them again； and said： 'Take these things
away； and hide them from me。 Though it be the day of my
coronation； I will not wear them。 For on the loom of Sorrow； and
by the white hands of Pain； has this my robe been woven。 T