THE FISHERMAN AND HIS SOUL
"Tell me on what couch, and I will watch by him," I answered.
come with me.
me. He had sandals on his feet, one of soft serpent-skin and the
Street of Pomegranates, the guards of the Emperor entered and led
house. And when he had passed through a garden of pomegranates and
market-place, seeing that the booths are closed and the bales
it is thine, even as I promised to thee. And I will give thee
jasper bordered with great orient pearls. It was carved out of
had a net of crimson silk cord. It stopped opposite one of the
Jewellers the young Fisherman saw a fair silver cup set forth in a
vermilion lacquer studded with brass peacocks. Across the windows
monks and the musicians, and the candle-bearers and the swingers of
always, he fell upon the ground weeping bitterly.
I would send my soul away from me, answered the young Fisherman.
the ships, and wash the chests of rich treasure ashore? I have
And after the second year was over, the Soul came down to the shore
The young Fisherman watched him, as one snared in a spell. At last
with its waves.
charm the great Kraken to sleep; of the little children who catch
purfled and purple silk, he said to me, "Art thou a prophet, that I
thy face no more.
and accursed be the singers of the sea! I have heard them at
seen anything like it before.
the wind, and with a sieve and a pail of water I can send the great
soul leave thee, and it will do so.
the steep, and bent down before her. Fish for thy net, when the
Surely thou mayest enter, said the young Fisherman, for in the
And why he so spake, he knew not.
And after that he had opened the tabernacle, and incensed the
made him no answer.
thee gone.
and I can weave the pale moonbeams into silver if I will it. He
of their perilous joys. They tempt me with temptations, and when I
caught them, and others he took with a spear. And when his boat
merchant, and over the feet of the merchant there was lying a
a wave fretting the smooth pebbles below. So she reached out her
walked slowly, and with bowed head, as one who is in sorrow.
sand, and making a high wall of the prickly pear.
And he turned his back to the moon, and with the little knife that
me? he made question.
he answered. I cannot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know
Every evening the young Fisherman went out upon the sea, and called
which she dances of whom thou didst speak to me?
into a broken vessel. Thou givest away what thou hast, and nought
smeared with myrrh and cinnamon. In one hand it held a crooked
out his arms to his Soul. And his Soul gave a great cry of joy and
the Sibans, who have horses feet, and run more swiftly than
also he blessed, and the little things that dance in the woodland,
The chief smiled, and showed me five heads fixed upon long reeds of
did it, he made on his breast the sign of the Cross, and called
through the streets, and as they passed through the Street of the
sand of the shore. By the itching of her palm the young Witch knew
He put her from him and left her in the rank grass, and going to
filled, some with turquoise-stones, and others with beryls. The
And I did a strange thing, but what I did matters not, for in a
body I would give my soul, and for her love I would surrender
rose up to meet it. But when the wind blew to the shore, the fish
clear emerald, and a pavement of bright pearl; and of the gardens
let us go to another city, and make merry, for we have nine purses
emerald, and finger-rings of hollowed jade. From the tea-houses
sit the merchants on silken carpets. They have straight black
days journey from this place.
How shall we meet? cried the young Fisherman. Thou wilt not
that have wings. The guards looked down from the battlements and
a gerfalcon perched upon his wrist. Behind him stood a brass-
stood great wine-jars filled to the brim with silver pieces. When
go round and round the world; and of the cuttlefish who live in the
struck him so that he swooned and he seized then the nine purses of
that standeth by a river. I sat there with sailors who drank of
the Soul. It may be that thou wilt have need of me.
putting forth all his strength, he tugged at the coarse ropes till,
And his Soul said to the young Fisherman, Strike him, and he
But his Soul answered him, Be at peace, be at peace.
were filled with wonder, and entreated me to pass in.
Queen. But talk not of the soul, for to us it is nought, nor has
trunk was painted with vermilion and turmeric, and over its ears it
The young Fisherman trembled. Is this true? he murmured.
wrought out of red bronze, and carved with sea-dragons and dragons
bells. When the white doves flew past, they struck the bells with
cold waves dashed over her cold breasts, and the salt glistened
smiling strangely she said to him, What men call the shadow of the
city, nor have I any kinsman who might give me shelter.
Thou knowest, answered his Soul, thou knowest it well. Hast
receive.
the Priest went up to the chapel, that he might show to the people
took them to the market-place and sold them.
drive their flocks from cave to cave, and carry the little calves
with tiny seed-pearls, and as it passed by a pale-faced Circassian
caravan, and the mules were twice forty in number.
And the Soul answered, Come nearer, that I may speak with thee,
to dance.
leaves upon it. In the market-place stand the fruitsellers, who
who tell of such wonderful things that the merchants have to stop
to the mariners; and of the sea-lions with their curved tusks, and
gladness was his pain.
Nay, he answered, but I will not let thee go till thou hast told
him.
the pavilion. I walked on without trembling, and drawing the heavy
noon he called to her again, and at night-time he spake her name.
Her hair was as a wet fleece of gold, and each separate hair as a
Field grew flowers of any kind, but the field remained barren even
bowed himself before the altar, he saw that the altar was covered
through the streets, and as they passed through the Street of the
thing. And he doffed his cap to her, and bent his head low, and
The women fled screaming to the waggons, and hid themselves behind
matter, for it is a sin that may not be forgiven. And as for the
be dazzled.
she would follow thee all over the world. Out of the bed of the
My heart is my loves, he answered, therefore tarry not, but get
and I will show him the god."
So the young Fisherman rose up and followed the merchant to his
And one evening he called to her, and said: Little Mermaid,
Then the captain of the guard motioned me towards the entrance of
their knees shook and they fell upon the ground in fear.
But the young Fisherman listened not to his Soul, but called on the
Sea-folk, they are lost, and they who would traffic with them are
moved over the carpet like little white pigeons. Never have I seen
above her head.
Round and round they whirled, and the young Witch jumped so high
witch.
and her breath was hot upon his face. Faster, faster! she cried,
went hurriedly out of the city.
the sea that the night makes purple, and in the sea that the dawn
answered. If only thou wouldst send away thy soul, then could I
finger of thy hand."
He bowed his head in wonder, and, taking me by the hand, he raised
and opened the carved chests of sycamore. And when they had ended
tap at the window, and laugh. They whisper into my ears the tale
its waves, and when he knew that the end was at hand he kissed with
And they who possess this mirror know everything, nor is there
in any place of the sea could he find her though he sought for her
Father, cried the young Fisherman, thou knowest not what thou
When the wind blew from the land he caught nothing, or but little
She laughs while she dances, and the silver rings that are about
of the sea where the great filigrane fans of coral wave all day
between. Go wherever thou wilt, but trouble me not, for my love is
captain of the guard saw me, he wondered. When the eunuchs saw me,
And the Soul stood on the lonely beach and watched them. And when
curved sword, and the tray by the side of the merchant held nine
And I said to the priest, "Where is the god?"
followed her. But when he came close, and without knowing why he
dates. For every hundred baskets we gave them a bead of amber.
desire. Tell me how I can send my soul away from me, for in truth
At last they stopped at a square white house. There were no
wander through His world. Accursed be the Fauns of the woodland,
stands a bronze horse that neighs when the Bedouins come down from
Shouldst thou touch with this flower the hard lips of the Queen,
neither shall they praise Gods name.
The Witch stroked his hair with her thin white hand. Thou must
house, but it was no longer there. When I saw that, I knew who the
daughter of a King, and my father is aged and alone.
And the priest besought me, saying, "Let my lord heal his servant,
turquoise stones, and anklets of brass wire fringed with little
and the shore received it, and lying at his feet the young
it.
hurriedly out of the city.
also."
"This is the god."
And the Emperor frowned. "It is but a ring of lead," he cried,
with her feet. Her eyes are coloured with stibium, and her
beating on their drums. When we came to the Tower of Apes we set
of the smoke. And after a time she clenched her hands in anger.
filled with wonder, and he put out his hand and drew the net close
their eyes met, and wherever he danced it seemed to him that the
stood quite still, and made him no obeisance. The people marvelled
eyes of the man were upon him. He heard the Witch laugh, and
nearer came the circle of flat corks, and the net rose at last to
The black sea came nearer, and the white foam moaned like a leper.
it has a price. What dye lack? What dye lack? A storm to wreck
Suddenly a dog bayed in the wood, and the dancers stopped, and
water. Come with me and I will show them to thee. For what is
are the sons of tigers, and paint themselves yellow and black; and
And when he had finished his word the people wept, and the Priest
are wrought there.
and the bright-eyed things that peer through the leaves. All the
What dye lack? What dye lack? she cried, as he came panting up
and the candle-bearers, and the swingers of censers, and a great
Nay, but there is nothing better than Wisdom, said the Soul.
He tossed his brown curls and laughed. My soul is nought to me,
we reached the centre of the corridor the Emperor spake the word
box of carved cedarwood, she set it up on a frame, and burned
slowly behind and plucking the sweet mulberries from the trees as
another city. There is a little city hard by in which there is a
sniffed up the air with their nostrils, and trotted off in the
within him brake. And as through the fulness of his love his heart
At the end of the garden stood a little pavilion. As we
to his breast. Cold were the lips, yet he kissed them. Salt was
who looketh into it. This it reflecteth not, so that he who
monstrance that was in it, and shown the fair wafer to the people,
for I know what is written within it, and for what purpose."
city of Mecca, where there was a green veil on which the Koran was
hands.
"The god is at the feast," he cried.
close my lips that I may not speak thy words, and I will return to
sign of the cross, he cried aloud and said, I will not bless the
stood the rose-red house in which the god had his dwelling. Its
and a great desire to do as she besought him seized on him, and he
and let it sting me. When they saw that I did not sicken they grew
the wind. By the hoofs of the goat I swear it, she made answer.
curtain aside I entered in.
but said to him, The spell that the Witch told thee avails thee no
all kinds of birds and beasts. Their feet are painted with henna,
And his Soul tempted him and said, Who is thy love, that thou
the deep, and the Soul went weepin九九藏书网g away over the marshes.
night-time, and they have sought to lure me from my beads. They
kings of the world. Come therefore and take it, and the worlds
hemlock. I can turn the autumn leaves into gold, she answered,
bearing with them a burden that was whiter than silver. White as
Phew! they cried, as they lit upon the ground, there is some one
Yet I would that I could help thee, said the young Fisherman.
wiped away the bright sweat from his brow with a little napkin of
the throat. Bitter, bitter was his joy, and full of strange
at him.
they rise and fall as painted bubbles do. In front of their booths
coffers of elephant-hide, and the gold-dust in leather bottles.
When the moon rose I saw a camp-fire burning on the plain, and
And on the first day the priests came and bartered with us, and on
whistled to each other. There was no other sound save the sound of
name? Knowest thou not that I am Emperor of this city?" But I
But wilt thou swear to me to tell me how I may send my soul from
out of thy love. Thou art as one who in time of death pours water
have no need of thee, he answered. The world is wide, and there
corded?
So he spake to the young Fisherman and said, I have told thee of
tempt thee no longer, but I pray thee to suffer me to enter thy
they come from the corner of the Fullers Field. And the Priest
me to the palace. As I went in they closed each door behind me,
And he answered me: "There is no god but this mirror that thou
one of her nostrils hangs a flower that is carved out of a pearl.
smelling rushes of the floor, and cried to the Priest who was
So he came nearer, and couched in the shallow water, and leaned his
I will call to her and tell her the evil I have done and the evil
And after the second year was over, the Soul said to the young
purses of gold. And he reached out his hand and touched the sword,
Mohammed.
And I said to the priest, "Is this the god?"
sand. She sang of the big whales that come down from the north
The love of the body is vile, cried the Priest, knitting his
her ankles tinkle like bells of silver. And so trouble not thyself
woke, and looked at him in terror with her mauve-amethyst eyes, and
and whose servant she will be ever.
days when with no heart thou didst go through the world thou must
But the young Fisherman answered not his Soul, but in a cleft of
where I live, and the painted boat in which I sail. Only tell me
head upon his hand and listened.
Why didst thou tell me to take this cup and hide it, for it was an
lost also. They are as the beasts of the field that know not good
the wicket, and when he saw them he opened, and spread a carpet on
at my boldness, and counselled me to flee from the city. I paid no
With lips parted, and eyes dim with wonder, he sat idle in his boat
Ring of Riches. It is but a days journey from this place, and it
It matters not, she answered. Go thou to-night, and stand under
And when she saw that she could in no way escape from him, she
censers, and a great company, and came to the shore of the sea, and
Ethiops, the purple sponges from Tyre and the blue hangings from
looked out and smiled at me. I followed behind, and the negroes
stretched before him upon the sand that shadow of the body that is
yet hath the Priest been wroth with me, and driven me forth. It
and put a chain across it. Inside was a great court with an arcade
send my soul away, he cried, and you shall be my bride, and I
little salt fish served in bay leaves with vinegar. And as we sat
and listened, listening till the sea-mists crept round him, and the
Nought but that, she answered, and she smiled at him again.
would pray they make mouths at me. They are lost, I tell thee,
blossoming.
little Mermaid and said, Love is better than wisdom, and more
He pointed with his finger at the scimitar, and the Nubian seized
struggled that she might escape. But he held her tightly to him,
and his delicate white hands were gemmed with rings. Heavy eyelids
And the young Fisherman said to himself, Of what use is my soul to
and three spotted birds rustled through the coarse grey grass and
thou wilt. And she took from her girdle a little knife that had a
And the Soul said to him, When I left thee I turned my face to the
whistled. A jennet with silver trappings came running to meet him.
that he could see the scarlet heels of her shoes. Then right
and love them.
head upon his hand and listened.
on them in raised and polished gold. The tilted roof was of sea-
noblest part of man, and was given to us by God that we should
thou return evil for good, and pay with the shedding of blood for
me the secret.
streets of the cities walks Famine, and the Plague sits at their
when he touched her, she gave a cry like a startled sea-gull, and
But no fish at all was in it, nor any monster or thing of horror,
and he kissed the cold red of the mouth, and toyed with the wet
see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it.
harnessed their horses to the waggons and drove hastily away.
sweet as honey. They serve it in little metal cups and strew rose
So he took the cup and hid it in the fold of his tunic, and they
flung themselves on the ground and hid their faces, but I would not
an archer with a bow in his hand. At sunrise he strikes with an
the land. When the Tartars saw it, they strung their painted bows,
other of birds plumage. On his head was a mitre of black felt
two different-coloured wines, and ate bread made of barley, and
see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it.
the Emperor saw me, he raised his painted eyebrows and stopped. I
Are we not all kinsmen? said the merchant. And did not one God
cups was less salt than his tears.
last he reached the level ground and the yellow shore of the sea.
I have no need of it. Of what value is my soul to me? I cannot
At midnight the witches came flying through the air like bats.
followed with the merchandise. There were forty camels in the
broth of it, and stir the broth with a dead mans hand. Sprinkle
And in the first chamber I saw an idol seated on a throne of
accursed be all they who traffic with them. And as for him who for
Fisherman caught her by her wrists, and held her fast.
And his Soul answered him, It may be that it is in this city,
towers on the walls are roofed with brass. In every tower stands
the place where she whom I love has her dwelling. Even to the sea
The novice looked out through the wicket, and when he saw who it
seventh day I lifted up my eyes, and lo! the city lay at my feet,
And she sang a marvellous song. For she sang of the Sea-folk who
folk, and so shall my nets be full.
compassed about with love is this heart of thine.
and flute-like, and its lips hardly moved while it spake.
ivory horns were heaped with purple amethysts, and the horns of
they are mirrors of Opinion. This only is the Mirror of Wisdom.
handle of green vipers skin, and gave it to him.
vervain on lighted charcoal before it, and peered through the coils
Its feet were red with the blood of a newly-slain kid, and its
for I have seen marvellous things.
So they made haste, and all that night they journeyed beneath the
I will sell thee my soul, he answered. I pray thee buy it of
Every evening the young Fisherman went out upon the sea, and threw
vipers skin, and cut away his shadow from around his feet, and it
have much suffered.
In front of the temple was a pool of clear water paved with veined
Sellers of Sandals, the young Fisherman saw a child standing by a
gauze, but her feet were naked. Naked were her feet, and they
And the Emperor trembled, and besought me and said, "Take all the
me, for I know where the Valley of Pleasure lies, and what things
that thou hast made me to do I hate. Thee also I hate, and I bid
device. A short cloak lined with sables hang from his shoulder,
heaven. Tell me what I ask of thee, and let me go in peace.
There are nine gates to this city, and in front of each gate
What need should I have of thee? cried the young Fisherman, but
young Fisherman sadly.
world is very cruel, and I am afraid.
troubled, and a great terror fell on him, as of some evil thing
come?
The young Emperor was stretched on a couch of dyed lion skins, and
And that evening, when the moon had risen, the young Fisherman
to enter their gates. They threw us bread over the walls, little
Then he asked me who was the prophet of God, and I answered him
windows to it, only a little door like the door of a tomb. They
love thee.
the ground, and the woman stepped out. As she went in, she turned
No sooner had he done so than the witches screamed like hawks and
dances of whom thou didst speak to me?
not the promise that thou madest to me I will slay thee for a false
Thou art the best of the witches, cried the young Fisherman, and
any more, but come with me to this city.
round and smiled at me again. I had never seen any one so pale.
Where is he, where is he? shrieked the witches when they saw her,
Weeping as one smitten with pain he flung himself down beside it,
away whining.
It was a man dressed in a suit of black velvet, cut in the Spanish
Fisherman by the hand she led him out into the moonlight and began
in a dream.
up seized himself the sword and cried to the young Fisherman, Dost
New Moon the young Emperor came forth from his palace and went into
anything so marvellous; and the city in which she dances is but a
this trouble of thine about the things of sin? Is that which is
She laughed mockingly at him, and struck him with the spray of
body is not the shadow of the body, but is the body of the soul.
and the frozen sailors clinging to the rigging, and the mackerel
from evil, and for them the Lord has not died.
they spread them to the sun are like disks of ivory and like gilt
shouldst set this high store upon it?
beards, and their turbans are covered with golden sequins, and long
and in her hand she had a spray of wild hemlock that was
white teeth and laughed. Who is He of whom thou speakest? he
What are the flowers that stand on the altar, and whence do they
him, Surely I am as fair as the daughters of the sea, and as
market-place, and the negroes uncorded the bales of figured cloths
things of price. As for me, I have no need of these. Nor shall I
the South and journeyed. From the South cometh everything that is
running all round. The walls were of white alabaster, set here and
weeping as one trembling with joy, and in his brown arms he held it
climbed up to the top of the mountain, and stood under the branches
And I answered him, "I will go for half of thy treasure. Give me
of women watched us. One of them wore a mask of gilded leather.
of the kings. Therefore, my son, think not any more of this
but she only laughed, and ran to the hornbeam, and taking the
robe, and his frizzed hair was stained with antimony.
brass with chalcedonies and sards. The pillars, which were of
was, he drew back the latch and said to him, Enter.
their sweet juices. Then we lay down on our carpets, and waited
remembered that the little Mermaid had no feet and could not dance.
And the little Mermaid laughed for pleasure and hid her face in her
to them, they throw pinches of frankincense upon a charcoal brazier
young Fisherman said to his Soul, Is this the city in which she
at best, for it was a bitter and black-winged wind, and rough waves
the Mermaid.
saw an idol standing on a lotus of jade hung with great emeralds.
but a days journey, and I can return to my love, and he laughed,
fall on us, and each man tied a veil of gauze before his eyes. As
the Priest and knocked three times at the door.
Alas! cried his Soul, I can find no place of entrance, so
thin rod like a reed. Grey threads of smoke came from it, and its
blade whizzed through me, and did me no hurt. The man fell
and whatever be thy price I shall pay it.
As he leapt upon the saddle he turned round, and looked at 藏书网the
touched his eyes, and they became blind.
do any of the wickedness that it sought to make him to do, so great
will be as wise as thou.
so heavy that hardly could he draw it into the boat. And he
of great size piled up with red rubies. The gold was stored in
I have dwelt with thee for all these years, and have been thy
booths and began eating the oranges, and the man only laughed.
the mountains. The walls are cased with copper, and the watch-
was a ruby, and thick oil dripped from its hair on to its thighs.
Bronze-limbed and well-knit, like a statue wrought by a Grecian, he
carpets. Their camels were picketed behind them, and the negroes
into the mirror, and it was even as he had said to me.
One evening I met some negroes carrying a heavy palanquin through
dwelt in a cave at the head of the bay and was very cunning in her
smote the child till it wept, and when he had done this they went
to a hill that is in the country of the Tartars. I sat down under
with one of the Sea-folk, and my soul hindereth me from having my
And as he spake there came a great cry of mourning from the sea,
did break, the Soul found an entrance and entered in, and was one
her sight she entered her cave, and having taken a mirror from a
Love is better, answered the young Fisherman, and he plunged into
great curiosity come over me.
themselves live in dark caverns lest the Sun, who is their god,
And the Soul answered, Come nearer, that I may speak with thee,
the deep and said, Why dost thou call to me?
the kindness that I have shown thee?
by name, and said to him, What hast thou to sell?
maize-cakes baked in honey and cakes of fine flour filled with
blew their horns and the little Mermaid rose up to meet him, and
mark above them, nor sign of any kind, that none may know the place
a price.
mighty scimitar of steel.
in the dusky air. The cypress-trees were like burnt-out torches.
it any value for our service.
they did so, a little smile touched his proud lips, as a birds
And at dawn we rose and knocked at the gate of the city. It was
And I did a strange thing, but what I did matters not, for in a
of the sea, and called to the young Fisherman, and he rose out of
Fisherman frowned, and flung the cup away, and said to his Soul,
people came crowding out of the houses to look at us, and a crier
the merchant and take his gold? Surely thou art evil.
and of those that came back not a few had been wounded. They
But the young Fisherman took the nine purses of gold, and flung
went round the city crying through a shell. We stood in the
swimming in and out of the open portholes; of the little barnacles
What sayest thou? murmured the young Fisherman.
I would indeed that thou hadst asked of me either gold or silver.
ran back to the town filled with a great joy.
cave that is but a days journey from this place have, I hidden the
the grass.
who were their servants were pitching tents of tanned skin upon the
"nor has it any value. Therefore take thy half of the treasure and
more, for I may not leave thee, nor mayest thou drive me forth.
peacocks and peacocks that have blue breasts. Their tails when
they are little children; and with the Laktroi who say that they
the second day came the nobles, and on the third day came the
the lepers, and they are cruel to each other. The beggars go up
his craft. Vermilion-finned and with eyes of bossy gold, the
When it was noon a cloud of red dust rose up from the flat rim of
the branches of the hornbeam, and wait for my coming. If a black
That night, as I lay on a cushion in the tea-house that is in the
In very truth I will let thee go, said the young Fisherman.
other, and made signs. Last of all came the young Witch, with her
palace of the Sea-King came the cry of mourning again, and far out
And his Soul answered him, Thou hast not forgotten that when thou
thee, and thou shalt pay me a price, pretty boy, thou shalt pay me
and the earth seemed to spin beneath his feet, and his brain grew
be it as thou wilt, and he plunged into the waters and the Tritons
precious than riches, and fairer than the feet of the daughters of
and wandered away through the streets of the city and came to the
calling to me.
thread of fine gold in a cup of glass. Her body was as white
the Mirror of Wisdom. Do but suffer me to enter into thee again
Sidon, the cups of cold amber and the fine vessels of glass and the
the hollows of the trees, and at night-time we heard the wild men
to his feet.
She grew grey as a blossom of the Judas tree, and shuddered. Be
Every evening he went out upon the sea, and one evening the net was
fro over the plain like flies crawling upon a disk of polished
hammer. An Armenian in a caftan of green leather peered through
wind is foul? I have a little reed-pipe, and when I blow on it the
also.
therefore let us enter in.
approached it two eunuchs came out to meet us. Their fat bodies
together, and all that thou hast sung of thou shalt show me, and
soldiers. They went back to the palace, the eunuchs following
as before. Nor came the Sea-folk into the bay as they had been
as they are, I beseech thee, for their days are as the days of
Then at sunset in some secret place we shall dance together, he
marshes.
went towards it. A company of merchants were seated round it on
is given to thee in return. It were better for thee to come with
they had sunk down into the sea, it went weeping away over the
voice that he forgot his nets and his cunning, and had no care of
And in the morning, while it was still dawn, he went forth with the
of brass, and its thick neck was circled with a circle of
from the islands of the Indian Sea, and the thick oil of red roses,
I journey with thee anywhere, but even as I sent thee away before,
And the young Fisherman said to his Soul, Is this the city in
thy body for a slave, and we will clothe thee in sea-purple, and
blue bird rose screaming from its nest and circled over the dunes,
has a boat of her own that is carved out of an opal and steered
wire strings of his lute, and a girl whose face was veiled ran in
less.
I answered that I was a Prince in my own land, and that I had
mine. And a cry of joy broke from his lips, and standing up in
and made merry, there entered to us an old man bearing a leathern
corridor that was lit with many torches. In niches upon each side
Suffer me now to tell thee of the worlds pain, and it may be that
each other, and one of them came forth to meet him, and called him
and hid it again behind the veil of veils, he began to speak to the
my hands and it stopped in mid-air. Then he drew a dagger from a
his coming, and she laughed and let down her red hair. With her
mad lips the cold lips of the Mermaid, and the heart that was
And the people did as he commanded them, and in the corner of the
And after that they had gone a league from the city, the young
and down on the highways, and their wallets are empty. Through the
possess.
witcheries. And he set to and ran, so eager was he to get rid of
leaves grey.
his nets into the water.
leapt from crag to crag, being sure-footed as a wild goat, and at
little Mermaid, I love thee. Take me for thy bridegroom, for I
little bay. A great owl, with yellow sulphurous eyes, called to
thou hast wrought on me.
sayest. Once in my net I snared the daughter of a King. She is
a man. On its forehead was a chrysolite, and its breasts were
the wounds of the Lord, and speak to them about the wrath of God.
fashion. His face was strangely pale, but his lips were like a
When the dwellers in the villages saw us coming, they poisoned the
And the Witch watched him as he went, and when he had passed from
I left thee, and to my own hurt had I wandered away. Yet ever did
Now early on the next morning, before the sun was the span of a
drooped over his eyes.
munching scented pastilles, which he took with an affected gesture
and biting her foam-flecked lips.
Once in his life may a man send his Soul away, but he who receiveth
the deacons came in and began to unrobe him, and took from him the
seest, for this is the Mirror of Wisdom. And it reflecteth all
the Sea-folk. And he loosened his arms from about her, and she
Fisherman gave him thanks, and kissed the ring that was on his
whispered. It is a Sabbath, and He will be there.
in his split ears. On a table by the side of the couch lay a
back to them, and he trembled again, and led me into the third
And the Priest beat his breast, and answered, Alack, alack, thou
So he sat him down in the market-place and rested, and after a time
across the dancers came the sound of the galloping of a horse, but
awe came over him. Get thee gone, he murmured, and let me see
onyx. I lay down beside it, and with my pale fingers I touched the
selenites.
shouldst return to her? The world has many fairer than she is.
she spoke.
Thou knowest, he made answer.
they let us go by. Three times in our journey we came to the banks
the world, and the merchants say that it is not worth a clipped
And after that they had unrobed him, he looked at them and said,
And to the dead thing he made confession. Into the shells of its
I had done, each of them gave me a god and prayed me to leave them.
Surely I will send it away from me, and much gladness shall be
But his Soul answered him, Be at peace, be at peace.
to smite the child, for it was an evil thing to do?
for the dawn.
But his Soul answered him, Be at peace, be at peace.
in the wells that are at the bottom of the deep.
came in from the deep, and swam into the meshes of his nets, and he
woman was, and wherefore she had smiled at me.
with him even as before. And the sea covered the young Fisherman
of the hornbeam. Like a targe of polished metal the round sea lay
There are the dancing-girls of Samaris who dance in the manner of
the deep and said, Why dost thou call to me?
And the Soul answered, Come nearer, that I may speak with thee,
him by his name, but he made it no answer. A black dog ran towards
The young Fishermans eyes filled with tears when he heard the
want. The rest murmured against me, and said that I had brought
Field of the Fullers, where no sweet herbs grew, they dug a deep
with terror and he hid himself behind the couch.
And his Soul mocked him and said, Surely thou hast but little joy
And when the young Fisherman heard these words he trembled and said
It was carved out of ivory, and in stature was twice the stature of
[TO H.S.H. ALICE, PRINCESS OF MONACO]
wrought ivory, and I found myself in a watered garden of seven
white smiling faces look out at the passers-by.
make night come when they will it. She sang of the nautilus who
the rocks sit the Mermen with their harps of red gold. Let me be
will be thy bridegroom, and in the depth of the sea we will dwell
the top of the water.
And the young Fisherman passed in, and knelt down on the sweet-
sank down into the water, trembling with a strange fear.
beauty of the white flowers troubled him, and their odour was sweet
they are lost. For them there is no heaven nor hell, and in
was lying.
tunnies went by in shoals, but he heeded them not. His spear lay
Wisdom. Therefore is it the god, and we worship it." And I looked
The Witch grew pale, and shuddered, and hid her face in her blue
they passed. Once the elder of the two turned round, and smiled at
loves sake forsook God, and so lieth here with his leman slain by
dances with white feet is not here.
said, and after that we have danced thou shalt tell me the thing
in the caves and in the green water, in the pools of the tide and
a spear. The men of war were on either hand, and the mules
Yet never did she rise out of the sea to meet him, nor in any place
nor any earthly thing that can be weighed with it. It is worth all
to climb down.
city a man whom I cannot slay."
brows, and vile and evil are the pagan things God suffers to
"The god is hunting," said the priest, 99lib•netlooking strangely at me
its side. And the people of the city looked curiously at him, and
thee?
but only a mirror of round metal set on an altar of stone.
may not harm thee, or the son of a prophet, that I can do thee no
craftsmen and the slaves. And this is their custom with all
At sunrise he went forth from his palace in a robe of silver, and
Nay, but be merciful, said his Soul: give me thy heart, for the
hairy breasts, and blow through twisted conchs when the King passes
world thou gavest me no heart, so I learned to do all these things
the young Fisherman leapt up, and left his wattled house, and ran
and every noon he called to her again, and at night-time he spake
again, and he trembled and led me into the second chamber, and I
desirest to go. And the thing shall be done to-night, for I would
The young Fisherman started and looked at her, and she showed her
seeing she comes not to thy call? And what is love, that thou
porphyry, and a brass-sealed ceiling hung with lamps. The Emperor
their dominions.
which I desire to know.
that swim, or snared some dull monster that will be a marvel to
viper, and his own mother will slay him. With a wheel I can draw
And after the third year was over, the Soul came down to the shore
He laughed, and held her all the more tightly.
and oval lemons of green gold. Once I saw an elephant go by. Its
Tell me how I may do it, and lo! it shall be done.
trampled snake, and a red foam bubbled from his lips.
terrible thing to do.
oval shields there were carbuncles, both wine-coloured and coloured
When the moon rose I returned to the same place and sought for the
that grows in the valley, none knows it but I. It has purple
people, desiring to speak to them of the wrath of God. But the
So I breathed with my breath upon his eyes, and the sight came
And the young Fisherman went down into the market-place, and he
heed to them, but went and sat with the sellers of strange gods,
And when the merchants saw him coming, they began to whisper to
Nay, he cried, but I will have nought to do with thee, nor will
horses. A third of our company died in battle, and a third died of
Six days I journeyed, and on the morning of the seventh day I came
And when she saw that she could not free herself, she whispered to
the evening of the day they came to a city.
balcony and cursed me. The guards hastened on, and the butts of
And his Soul that was within him called out to him and said, Lo!
like lines of blue enamel round a vase of bronze, the long veins
the edge of the mountain he placed the knife in his belt and began
thee. And it has a price, pretty boy, it has a price. What dye
if thou tarriest it will slay thee. Flee away, for I am afraid,
cried, and the little Mermaid loves me.
all that thou desirest I will do, nor shall our lives be divided.
to him, and leaning over the side he clasped her in his arms. And
thou wilt hearken. For of a truth pain is the Lord of this world,
And the young Fisherman rose up and crept towards the room of the
and would not suffer her to depart.
the space of a year. And every morning he called to the Mermaid,
heart, that I may be one with thee even as before.
do so. I stood by the stall of a seller of dates and waited. When
thou wilt not send me without a heart into another world?
him and snarled. He struck it with a rod of willow, and it went
her tail, and the green weeds of the sea coiled round it; and like
am. I will tempt him now with good, and it may be that he will
air was sultry, for the Moon was travelling in Scorpion. We took
Wilt thou in very truth let me go, if I promise thee this? cried
that may not be spoken, and a granite door swung back on a secret
gold, and fled hastily through the garden of pomegranates, and set
The kings of each city levied tolls on us, but would not suffer us
I was. I made answer that I was a Dervish and on my way to the
cried, and the little Mermaid loves me.
and stood up in the shallow water, and strode towards the shore.
me? I cannot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it.
the body of his soul, and behind him hung the moon in the honey-
flutter like large butterflies. When the wind blows over the roofs
himself.
for the Sea-gods are jealous, and have monsters that do their
piece of silver. And he passed out of the market-place, and went
elbow their way through the crowd with great black skins on their
evil thing to do?
to his Soul, Nay, but thou art evil, and hast made me forget my
rose-apples and clusters of white grapes, round red-gold oranges,
were huge tortoise-shells full of pearls, and hollowed moonstones
blown hide. The river-horses raged against us and sought to slay
Thou canst not think how strange a people they are. When they are
asked.
sea-shells were her ears, and her lips were like sea-coral. The
Yet would she never come near him that he might touch her.
But the young Fisherman laughed. Love is better than Riches, he
comes the sound of the guitar, and the opium-smokers with their
it, and rushing forward struck at me with great violence. The
Nay, cried the young Fisherman, I may not be at peace, for all
his sword, and asked me my business.
But the young Fisherman answered it nought, so great was the power
young Fisherman said to his Soul, Is this the city in which she
even the cry that men hear when one of the Sea-folk is dead. And
mantle. Pretty boy, pretty boy, she muttered, that is a
the deep, and the Soul went weeping away over the marshes.
When the Emperor saw me he frowned, and said to me, "What is thy
And we tarried for a moon, and when the moon was waning, I wearied
"If the wine be sweet I will drink it with him, and if it be
hung thin curtains of muslin embroidered with beetles wings and
THE FISHERMAN AND HIS SOUL
It is true, and I would that I had not told thee of it, she
seas and have sharp icicles hanging to their fins; of the Sirens
of the Oxus. We crossed it on rafts of wood with great bladders of
the ways of sin.
valley that is but a days journey from this place have I hidden
go from my city."
the mosque to pray. His hair and beard were dyed with rose-leaves,
As soon as he was dead the Emperor turned to me, and when he had
Faster, cried the Witch, and she threw her arms about his neck,
at sunset he returned to it again in a robe of gold. The people
they to look at, and of curious beauty, and their beauty troubled
the slave should tell of his dishonour. The man writhed like a
nor is there any one who escapes from its net. There be some who
passed over the mountains we held our breath lest the snows might
Round and round her swam the dolphins, and the wild gulls wheeled
lying drowned in the surf, and clasped in his arms was the body of
precious. Six days I journeyed along the highways that lead to the
and understood not why he was glad.
them down, and trampled on them.
And after the year was over, the Soul thought within himself, I
rose up and stood before him, and looked at him, and it was even as
"Nay," I answered, "but I will take nought but that leaden ring,
And ever did his Soul tempt him with evil, and whisper of terrible
and the pavement of a kind of peach-blossom marble. I had never
of their resting. For accursed were they in their lives, and
cling to the rocks, and the pinks bourgeon in the ribbed yellow
entered into the house, the merchant brought him rose-water in a
was the power of the love that was within him.
And the Soul said to him, In a city that I know of there is an inn
joy and wonder. Yet never again in the corner of the Fullers
What wouldst thou? asked the Witch, coming near to him.
Of a truth thou shouldst have been with me. The wine-sellers
Away! Away! cried the Priest: thy leman is lost, and thou
put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth.
things. Yet did it not prevail against him, so great was the power
When I sought to enter, the guards stopped me and asked of me who
are born old, and grow younger and younger every year, and die when
guard, and in a low voice whispered to him. The other kept
their wings and made them tinkle.
And when he had robed himself with his robes, and entered in and
her name. Yet never did she rise out of the sea to meet him, nor
And after a year was over the Soul came down to the shore of the
Three jackals came out of a cave and peered after them. Then they
white rocks, and the scaled Dragons sleeping in their caves. As we
"Show me the god," I cried, "or I will surely slay thee." And I
not to be. Wherefore shouldst thou tarry here calling to thy love,
it.
He crept back, and thrust the knife into his belt, and a feeling of
silently through the green trees, and on a pavement of black marble
leaves, and a star in its heart, and its juice is as white as milk.
beat his breast, and said to his Soul, Why didst thou bid me slay
She was a false Witch in that she told me not that.
company.
I gave thee my heart? he cried.
cat, the leopard, set in gold also, and earrings of pierced
And he answered me, "This is the god."
and Wisdom shall be thine. Suffer me to enter into thee, and none
Nay, answered his Soul, but she was true to Him she worships,
bury them in the corner of the Field of the Fullers, and set no
kissed the closed eyelids, and the wild spray that lay upon their
afraid.
with good, and thy love is stronger than I am. Wherefore will I
it on thine enemy while he sleeps, and he will turn into a black
jar of water. And his Soul said to him, Smite that child. So he
set down the palanquin and knocked three times with a copper
fruits before them, and they did not harm us. When we came to the
But the Mermaid shook her head. Thou hast a human soul, she
and his cheeks were powdered with a fine gold dust. The palms of
sell all kinds of fruit: ripe figs, with their bruised purple
reading out of the Holy Book and said to him, Father, I am in love
had the handle of green vipers skin he strove to cut from his feet
her face. Then she brushed her hair back from her forehead, and
anything hidden from them. And they who possess it not have not
the latter in cups of jade. Round green emeralds were ranged in
ear.
pleasant to eat not made for the eater? Is there poison in that
makest me a promise that whenever I call thee, thou wilt come and
upon her eyelids.
And his Soul answered him, When thou didst send me forth into the
he said to me: "This is my house of treasure, and half that is in
bitter words of the Priest, and he rose up from his knees and said
nobly use it. There is no thing more precious than a human soul,
and began to dance before us. Her face was veiled with a veil of
back his Soul must keep it with him for ever, and this is his
me up, and led me into the temple.
Fisherman saw the body of the little Mermaid. Dead at his feet it
And when the Emperor had taken away his hands from before his face
Fisherman, Ask me anything but that!
head upon his hand and listened.
sceptre of jade, and in the other a round crystal. It ware buskins
water and be drowned; of the sunken galleys with their tall masts,
She shook her head. When the moon is full, when the moon is
with me. Across the narrow streets the gay lanterns of paper
In the fourth month we reached the city of Illel. It was night-
put a ring upon thy finger, and make thee the minion of the great
Thou couldst not believe how marvellous a place it was. There
alb and the girdle, the maniple and the stole. And he stood as one
I am no longer its lord."
pit, and laid the dead things within it.
from his hands, and took the seal of silence from his lips, and
riches shall be thine.
Nought but that? cried the young Fisherman in wonder and he rose
And his Soul besought him to depart, but he would not, so great was
East and journeyed. From the East cometh everything that is wise.
pilgrims are wont to go did I journey, and on t99lib•nethe morning of the
What then shall I give thee, he cried, if thy price be neither
that was watching him, and at last he became aware that under the
terraces. It was planted with tulip-cups and moonflowers, and
Fisherman grew wroth, and said to his Soul, Why didst thou tell me
And his Soul said to him, Let us not tarry, but get hence at once,
it so, she muttered. It is thy soul and not mine. Do with it as
his feet and hands were yellow with saffron.
But he thrust her back frowning, and said to her, If thou keepest
began to weep, and said, I pray thee let me go, for I am the only
take aught from thee but that little ring that thou wearest on the
Gods judgment, take up his body and the body of his leman, and
copper dish that he might wash his hands, and ripe melons that he
bamboo.
was on her head.
red hair falling around her, she stood at the opening of the cave,
roasted kid before him.
carpet and a lute that had two horns of amber. And when he had
was well-laden, the Mermaid would sink down into the sea, smiling
set it free that their joy may be greater, and when they are sad
silver-studded aloes. Like a slim reed of crystal a fountain hung
Nay, but there is nothing better than Riches, said the Soul.
And the young Fisherman said to himself: How strange a thing this
embroidered with peacocks eyes, and a little cap of green velvet
thee tell me wherefore thou hast wrought with me in this wise.
servant. Send me not away from thee now, for what evil have I done
King she would rise, and over the whole world she would follow
hurried their steps and scowled. But I did not care. I felt a
had been troubled. And with him went the monks and the musicians,
Certainly thou shouldst have been with me. On the feast of the
art mad, or hast eaten of some poisonous herb, for the soul is the
out of an oval box of lilac enamel.
around thy feet thy shadow, which is thy souls body, and bid thy
And the priest besought me, saying, "Let my lord heal his servant,
cried, and she clung to his knees weeping.
waits for thy coming. He who has this Ring is richer than all the
wool he fell asleep.
with a spasm of pain. The man went over to a little wood, and
went back to the sacristy, and his eyes were full of tears. And
flowers. And as for my soul, what doth my soul profit me, if it
there.
comely as those that dwell in the blue waters, and she fawned on
of his love.
From one of them a nightingale was singing.
green porcelain, and the jutting eaves were festooned with little
There were opals and sapphires, the former in cups of crystal, and
Alas! I know not, said the little Mermaid: the Sea-folk have
Oftentimes he called to her and prayed of her, but she would not;
by the hand, and placed me by his side. A negro brought me some
so will I send thee away now, for thou hast wrought me no good.
that we had come from the island of Syria with much merchandise.
copper.
bitter I will drink it with him also," was my answer.
hand, and flung himself down on the carpets of dyed goats-hair.
love thee.
and myrrh and little nail-shaped cloves. When one stops to speak
But I answered him, "The gold that is here is thine, and the
What secret? said the Witch, wrestling with him like a wild cat,
So I breathed with my breath upon his hand, and it became whole
broad leaves. One of the priests came towards me and stood behind
flew away, and the pallid face that had been watching him twitched
moon heard thy name, yet hadst thou no heed of me. For evilly had
Stand on the sea-shore with thy back to the moon, and cut away from
He tossed his head and smiled. With what should I love my love if
Fisherman, and he took the little knife with its handle of green
with strange flowers that never had been seen before. Strange were
And in the morning the Priest went forth to bless the sea, for it
on their shoulders; of the Tritons who have long green beards, and
dark and there will be robbers on the way.
And when the young Fisherman knew that he could no longer get rid
might quench his thirst, and set a bowl of rice and a piece of
with a silken sail; of the happy Mermen who play upon harps and can
the bazaar. It was made of gilded bamboo, and the poles were of
Now when the young Fisherman heard the words of his Soul, he
arrow on a gong, and at sunset he blows through a horn of horn.
We went from the country of the Tartars into the country of those
wing touches the water and makes it laugh. But there was disdain
full, she muttered. Then she peered all round, and listened. A
sea and called to the young Fisherman, and he rose out of the deep,
So beautiful was she that when the young Fisherman saw her he was
shalt be lost with her.
sprawling on the floor, and when he rose up his teeth chattered
the honey of the hair, yet he tasted it with a bitter joy. He
cedar, were hung with strings of yellow lynx-stones. In the flat
there with blue and green tiles. The pillars were of green marble,
So he came nearer, and couched in the shallow water, and leaned his
And as she sang, all the tunny-fish came in from the deep to listen
dog run towards thee, strike it with a rod of willow, and it will
men, or some thing of horror that the great Queen will desire, and
galleys to the bottom of the sea. But I have a price, pretty boy,
And at noon he remembered how one of his companions, who was a
But the young Fisherman answered not his Soul, but closed his lips
Nevertheless let us enter in. So they entered in and passed
And the Witch with the red hair tried to fly away also, but the
he grew afraid and said to his Soul, Let us go hence, for she who
She was silent for a few moments, and a look of terror came over
And after that he had finished, the merchant led him to the guest-
and I will show him the god."
And they answered him, What flowers they are we cannot tell, but
upon the holy name.
things that are in heaven and on earth, save only the face of him
go away. If an owl speak to thee, make it no answer. When the
Soul, I will bind my hands that I may not do thy bidding, and
dye lack? What dye lack? Tell me thy desire, and I will give it
merchants as long as they tarry in the city.
take from him his gold, for we have need of it.
thy love abide with me, and ever was it strong, nor did aught
and when he touched it the merchant started and awoke, and leaping
wandering moon stained his brown limbs with silver.
touched his hand, and it became withered.
ebony, and in stature was of the stature of a man. On its forehead
To-night thou must come to the top of the mountain, she
sing to me, for the fish delight to listen to the song of the Sea-
embroidered in silver letters by the hands of the angels. They
me with an evil smile.
seeing that thy heart is closed against me by reason of the
With white claws of foam the sea grabbled at the shore. From the
order upon thin plates of ivory, and in one corner were silk bags
might dive, nor did he see her again that day. And each day the
And when it was day the young Fisherman rose up and said to his
love, and hast tempted me with temptations, and hast set my feet in
The Emperor leapt to his feet, and taking a lance from a stand of
their task, the merchants set forth their strange wares, the waxed
asked us our business. The interpreter of the caravan answered
didst send me forth into the world thou gavest me no heart. Come,
Inside it is even as a bazaar. Surely thou shouldst have been
called on thee at dawn, and thou didst not come to my call. The
mullet come sailing into the bay. But it has a price, pretty boy,
chamber, and bade him sleep and be at rest. And the young
As I came near them, the chief of the merchants rose up and drew
but only a little Mermaid lying fast asleep.
And his Soul said to him, If indeed thou must drive me from thee,
odour as it burned was as the odour of the pink almond in spring.
And a great desire came over him, and he said to himself, It is
But the merchants mocked at him, and said, Of what use is a mans
What wilt thou give me if I tell thee? asked the Witch, looking
shadow of a rock there was a figure that had not been there before.
stood on the sand with his back to the moon, and out of the foam
glad they go to the bird-sellers and buy of them a caged bird, and
gates. Come, let us go forth and mend these things, and make them
After a little while he spake to me, and asked me my desire.
And his Soul answered him, It is not this city, but another.
the felt curtains.
and give it earrings of green glass, and feed it with butter and
laughed, and said to himself, Surely I have caught all the fish
the little Mermaid. And he drew back frowning, and having made the
came white arms that beckoned to him, and out of the waves rose dim
loins girt with a copper belt that was studded with seven beryls.
"Show me the god," I cried, "or I will surely slay thee." And I
surf took it from the waves, and the foam took it from the surf,
us. When the camels saw them they trembled.
pearls, and tigers claws set in gold, and the claws of that gilt
ivory, and her tail was of silver and pearl. Silver and pearl was
for I have seen marvellous things.
So they entered in and passed through the streets, but nowhere
accursed shall they be in their deaths also.
him, and their odour was sweet in his nostrils. And he felt glad,
mans hand above the hill, the young Fisherman went to the house of
down to the shore of the sea, and began to ponder on what he should
doors were of powdered lacquer, and bulls and peacocks were wrought
arms, he threw it at me. I caught it in its flight, and brake the
the painted boat, he held out his arms to the Mermaid. I will
how to get rid of my soul, and I will give thee all that I
the shade of a tamarisk tree to shelter myself from the sun. The
I told him that my desire was to see the god.
And the young Fisherman grew pale and clenched his hands and cried,
them an evil fortune. I took a horned adder from beneath a stone
should slay them; and with the Krimnians who worship a crocodile,
not that the Sun, who is my father, should see that there is in my
There is a chamber in the palace that has eight walls of red
in it. He kept looking at the young Fisherman.
by; of the palace of the King which is all of amber, with a roof of
Nevertheless let us enter in. So they entered in and passed
the surf it was, and like a flower it tossed on the waves. And the
But how shall I send my soul from me? cried the young Fisherman.
coloured air.
men. The fires cannot destroy it, nor can the waters quench it. I
to him, Father, the Fauns live in the forest and are glad, and on
sound of her voice became sweeter to his ears. So sweet was her
And on the evening of the third day they came to a city, and the
gold nor silver?
And the Soul said to him, When I left thee, I turned my face to
After a few moments the captain of the guard dismissed the
garden of tulip-trees. And there dwell in this comely garden white
me, for I am weary of it. Of what use is my soul to me? I cannot
sea nor anything that is in it. Accursed be the Sea-folk, and
And his Soul besought him piteously, but he heeded it not, but
the gold that is in the world, and is more precious than the rubies
caught her by the waist, and whirled her madly round and round.
round his neck, and with his fingers he touched the thin reed of
a listless manner with the pommel of his dagger. On the grass
going up two by two, knelt down, and kissed the mans hands. As
linen from Egypt and the painted linen from the country of the
who curse the Moon. We saw the Gryphons guarding their gold on the
And three hours before dawn, and while it was still night, his Soul
long, and the fish dart about like silver birds, and the anemones
waked him and said to him, Rise up and go to the room of the
As I passed across the court two veiled women looked down from a
soul to us? It is not worth a cl九九藏书网ipped piece of silver. Sell us
half of thy treasure, and I will go away."
And after that they had gone a league from the city the young
down to the shore. And the black waves came hurrying to the shore,
And when they had gone a league from the city, the young Fisherman
fresh fowls; and with the Agazonbae, who are dog-faced; and with
gatherer of samphire, had told him of a certain young Witch who
that shadow of the body which is the body of the Soul.
with gilt lace, and sewn with seed-pearls wrought into a curious
and said, Why dost thou call to me?
But his Soul answered, Nay, but let us tarry, for the night is
opposite direction.
called to the little Mermaid. But she came not to his call, though
in his nostrils, and there came another word into his lips, and he
At daybreak we started on our journey. I rode on a red-haired
of the sea could he find her, though he sought for her in the
So she made him the promise he desired, and sware it by the oath of
rivers of the sea, and in the valleys that are under the waves, in
wells and fled to the hill-summits. We fought with the Magadae who
spake not of the wrath of God, but of the God whose name is Love.
Love is better, answered the young Fisherman, and he plunged into
with the seal of silence and with a tight cord bound his hands, and
"Tell me in what forest, and I will ride with him," I answered.
the body of the Soul.
Should I not love also? asked his Soul.
Tower of Serpents we gave them warm milk in howls of brass, and
nails. "The god is asleep," he murmured.
the Moon from heaven, and in a crystal I can show thee Death. What
there went by a hooded merchant who had a cloak of cloth of
And he gave him no blessing, but drove him from his door.
Flee away, said his Soul, for ever doth the sea come nigher, and
What shall this serve me? he asked of her, wondering.
And when he had reached the dry shore he laughed again, and held
heart to take with me.
fingers. Some of them sell galbanum and nard, and curious perfumes
which is sweet to drink? Trouble not thyself, but come with me to
his soul, and a cloud of dust followed him as he sped round the
spring, and he put his hands before his face lest his eyes should
of the Mermaids who lie in the white foam and hold out their arms
could the young Fisherman find the river or the inn that stood by
I will surely dance with thee to-night on the top of the mountain.
by his side unused, and his baskets of plaited osier were empty.
And when he had reached the shore of the sea, he loosed the cord
whom I serve is richer than all the kings of this world, and has
like grass. And yet I have told thee but a tithe of what was
and having leapt upon their little horses they galloped to meet it.
escaped from the Tartars, who had sought to make me their slave.
belt of white leather, and stabbed the Nubian in the throat lest
his love. And the sea came nearer, and sought to cover him with
time when we came to the grove that is outside the walls, and the
thy share of the treasure to whatever part of the world thou
little bay where his love had been wont to sing. And ever did his
city of Ashter, along the dusty red-dyed highways by which the
the sea-horses with their floating manes.
no horse was to be seen, and he felt afraid.
more storms than the wind has, for I serve one who is stronger than
of the sea, and called to the young Fisherman, and he rose out of
Get thee gone, for I have no need of thee, cried the young
forms that did him homage. Before him lay his shadow, which was
with his small slanting eyes.
should not be named, and shown the sign that may not be looked at.
amber of the hair. He flung himself down beside it on the sand,
hurt? I pray thee leave my city to-night, for while thou art in it
And when the Priest reached the shore he saw the young Fisherman
blessed the sea, and all the wild things that are in it. The Fauns
merchant, even to the room in which he sleepeth, and slay him, and
thou forgotten that thou gavest me no heart? I trow not. And so
Come! let us worship, whispered the Witch, and she led him up,
at noon, and bade us tarry till then.
the joy of the world, and thou hast turned a deaf ear to me.
greatness of thy love. Flee away to a place of safety. Surely
Fisherman at night-time, and as he sat in the wattled house alone,
Loose me, she cried, and let me go. For thou hast named what
chamber, and lo! there was no idol in it, nor image of any kind,
laid out the carpet on the floor, he struck with a quill on the
But the young Fisherman answered, I will not let thee go save thou
is but for a little thing, and the merchants have mocked at me, and
he called to her all day long and besought her.
the rock he built himself a house of wattles, and abode there for
moon is full I shall be with thee, and we will dance together on
trouble not thyself nor me, but be at peace, for there is no pain
turbaned Nubian, naked down to the waist, and with heavy earrings
swayed as they walked, and they glanced curiously at me with their
land was dry and burnt up with the heat. The people went to and
When it was noon they opened the gate, and as we entered in the
punishment and his reward.
And his Soul answered him, It is not this city, but another.
who are great travellers, and cling to the keels of the ships and
their ears with wax lest they should hear them, and leap into the
sometimes she dances on her hands and at other times she dances
booth. And his Soul said to him, Take that silver cup and hide
the ripe pomegranates from the trees, and brake them, and drank
hand, and drew him near to her and put her dry lips close to his
And when he had covered himself with a covering of black lambs-
trembled, and returned to his own house and prayed.
Yet his Soul stirred not from him, nor paid heed to his command,
Once every year I will come to this place, and call to thee, said
they dance, and their laughter is as clear as the laughter of
mares milk in a wooden dish, and a piece of lambs flesh roasted.
with the Aurantes who bury their dead on the tops of trees, and
the lances rang upon the polished floor. They opened a gate of
him and put her face close to his.
She moved out into the sunlight, and through her red hair rippled
proud red flower. He seemed weary, and was leaning back toying in
is Heaven also, and Hell, and that dim twilight house that lies
make us? Therefore come with me, for I have a guest-chamber.
to her, and the young Fisherman threw his nets round them and
lack raiment, and others who lack bread. There be widows who sit
hold of the slippery porpoises and ride laughing upon their backs;
red hair streaming in the wind. She wore a dress of gold tissue
for it is in a valley.
curious vessels of burnt clay. From the roof of a house a company
down at him with her beautiful eyes.
ran to meet him, and entered into him, and the young Fisherman saw
Others sell silver bracelets embossed all over with creamy blue
When he heard the name of the false prophet, he bowed and took me
his face to the star that is the star of morning.
of his Soul, and that it was an evil Soul and would abide with him
at his feet, and the shadows of the fishing-boats moved in the
and make the air sweet. I saw a Syrian who held in his hands a
He took me by the hand, and led me out into the garden. When the
of his love. And every morning he called to the Mermaid, and every
And I said to the priest, "Is this the god?" And he answered me,
And the young Fisherman laughed. Thou hast done me no evil, but I
prevail against it, though I have looked upon evil and looked upon
to the Mermaid, and she rose out of the water and sang to him.
They took hostages, and told us that they would open the gate to us
have tempted my master with evil, and his love is stronger than I
He should have been mine, she muttered, I am as fair as she is.
no souls. And she sank down into the deep, looking wistfully at
Five pieces of gold, he said, and my nets, and the wattled house
follow me into the depths of the sea?
ears he poured the harsh wine of his tale. He put the little hands
camel by the side of the chief, and a runner ran before us carrying
dance with me, pretty boy, she murmured, and she smiled at him as
At twilight the Tartars returned, but five of them were missing,
moon, and all the next day they journeyed beneath the sun, and on
Tartary, and bare a lantern of pierced horn at the end of a jointed
for I have seen marvellous things.
shoulders. Most of them sell the wine of Schiraz, which is as
sides of the cliffs and stretch out their long black arms, and can
And when the third year was over, and on a day that was a holy day,
disks. And she who feeds them dances for their pleasure, and
dances of whom thou didst speak to me?
in purple, and widows who sit in rags. To and fro over the fens go
silver also is thine, and thine are the precious jewels and the
do.
here we know not! and they sniffed about, and chattered to each
denied me. Therefore am I come to thee, though men call thee evil,
Her grass-green eyes grew dim with tears, and she said to the
and when he sought to seize her she dived into the water as a seal
send me not forth without a heart. The world is cruel, give me thy
He combed out the soft fringes of his tunic with his long pointed
garden of its god. The priests in their yellow robes moved
nostrils are shaped like the wings of a swallow. From a hook in
But the young Fisherman laughed. Love is better than Wisdom, he
reed. And the merchant said to him, Why dost thou sit in the
Nay, but we must meet again, said the Soul. Its voice was low
So he came nearer, and couched in the shallow water, and leaned his
journeyed back to the place from which he had come, even to the
stand between me and the thing that I love?
And the young Fisherman answered him, I can find no inn in this
is! The Priest telleth me that the soul is worth all the gold in
wont to do, for they went to another part of the sea.
shaft into two pieces. He shot at me with an arrow, but I held up
we passed through the valleys the Pygmies shot arrows at us from
rose up on his arms. He tugged at the thin ropes, and nearer and
I have a price. What dye lack? What dye lack? I know a flower
things in Gods world he blessed, and the people were filled with
they scourge themselves with thorns that their sorrow may not grow
treasure and go from my city. The half that is mine shall be thine
beside him lay a plumed hat, and a pair of riding-gloves gauntleted
Soul tempt him by the way, but he made it no answer, nor would he
lack? What dye lack? I can pound a toad in a mortar, and make
yellow-lidded eyes. One of them drew aside the captain of the
touched one of the walls and it opened, and we passed down a
looketh into it may be wise. Many other mirrors are there, but
and in their hands they have little copper bells. They laugh while
My desire is but for a little thing, said the young Fisherman,
will I return, and to the little bay where she is wont to sing, and
of gold.
who by reason of their craft are abominated. When I told them what
decorated with silver crescents. Seven yellows were woven into his
good. And now that thou art dead, surely I will die with thee
camels and camel drivers, and they shall do thy bidding and take
and be thy servant, and thou shalt be wiser than all the wise men,
that thou shalt not give away, nor any pleasure that thou shalt not
Lo! now I have tempted thee with evil, and I have tempted thee
But such as thy price is thou shalt have it, for it is but a little
upon the sea the great Tritons blew hoarsely upon their horns.
bidding.
strings of amber and carved peach-stones glide through their cool
fairer than the morning star, and whiter than the moon. For her
And on the evening of the second day they came to a city, and the
flesh, melons, smelling of musk and yellow as topazes, citrons and