“Showmethegod,” Icried, “orIwillsurelyslaythee.” AndItouchedhishand, anditbecamewithered.“Andthepriestbesoughtme, saying, “Letmylordhealhisservant, andIwillshowhimthegod.”
“SoIbreathedwithmybreathuponhishand, anditbecamewholeagain, andhetrembledandledmeintothesecondchamber, , , , , anditsthickneckwascircledwithacircleofselenites.“AndIsaidtothepriest, “Isthisthegod?”
“Andheansweredme, “Thisisthegod.”
“Showmethegod,” Icried, “orIwillsurelyslaythee.” AndItouchedhiseyes, andtheybecameblind.“Andthepriestbesoughtme, saying, “Letmylordhealhisservant, andIwillshowhimthegod.”
“SoIbreathedwithmybreathuponhiseyes, andthesightcamebacktothem, andhetrembledagain, andledmeintothethirdchamber, andlo! therewasnoidolinit, norimageofanykind, butonlyamirrorofroundmetalsetonanaltarofstone.“AndIsaidtothepriest, “Whereisthegod?”
“Andheansweredme: “Thereisnogodbutthismirrorthatthouseest, , , , , , andweworshipit.” AndIlookedintothemirror, anditwasevenashehadsaidtome.“AndIdidastrangething, butwhatIdidmattersnot, forinavalleythatisbutaday’, andthoushaltbewiserthanallthewisemen, , andnonewillbeaswiseasthou.”
ButtheyoungFishermanlaughed.“LoveisbetterthanWisdom,” hecried, “andthelittleMermaidlovesme.”
“Nay, butthereisnothingbetterthanWisdom,” saidtheSoul.“Loveisbetter,” answeredtheyoungFisherman, andheplungedintothedeep, , theSoulcamedowntotheshoreofthesea, andcalledtotheyoungFisherman, andheroseoutofthedeepandsaid, “Whydostthoucalltome?”
AndtheSoulanswered, “Comenearer, thatImayspeakwiththee, forIhaveseenmarvellousthings.”
Sohecamenearer, andcouchedintheshallowwater, , “WhenIleftthee, , alongthedustyred-dyedhighwaysbywhichthepilgrimsarewonttogodidIjourney, andonthemorningoftheseventhdayIliftedupmyeyes, andlo! thecitylayatmyfeet, foritisinavalley.“Thereareninegatestothiscity, , andthewatch- , andatsunsetheblowsthroughahornofhorn.“WhenIsoughttoenter, , , andentreatedmetopassin.“, andtheirturbansarecoveredwithgoldensequins, , andcuriousperfumesfromtheislandsoftheIndianSea, andthethickoilofredroses, , , , andankletsofbrasswirefringedwithlittlepearls, andtigers’ clawssetingold, andtheclawsofthatgiltcat, theleopard, setingoldalso, andearringsofpiercedemerald, -housescomesthesoundoftheguitar, andtheopium-smokerswiththeirwhitesmilingfaceslookoutatthepassers-by.“, -placestandthefruitsellers, whosellallkindsoffruit: ripefigs, withtheirbruisedpurpleflesh, melons, smellingofmuskandyellowastopazes, citronsandrose-applesandclustersofwhitegrapes, roundred-goldoranges, , , -sellersandbuyofthemacagedbird, andsetitfreethattheirjoymaybegreater, andwhentheyaresadtheyscourgethemselveswiththornsthattheirsorrowmaynotgrowless.“, ’ wingsandwithtinyseed-pearls, ,.“, , andwhenhesawthemheopened, andspreadacarpetontheground, ,.“WhenthemoonroseIreturnedtothesameplaceandsoughtforthehouse, , Iknewwhothewomanwas, andwhereforeshehadsmiledatme.
