United States or Latvia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Riches also are desired by all, for poverty is the direst curse that can embitter life; and as to requited love, surely that is the sweetest, purest, and most divine joy that the human heart may know." At this the Kohen burst forth in a strain of high excitement: "Oh, sacred cavern gloom! Oh, divine darkness! Oh, impenetrable abysses of night! What, oh, what is this! Oh, Atam-or, are you mad?
I think Almah is the only human being in all the world that I ever really hated; and yet, though I hate her, still, strange to say, I feel as though I should like to give her the immense blessing of death, and that is a very strange feeling, indeed, for one of the Kosekin. Do you understand, Atam-or, what such can possibly be?"
Yes, Atam-or, you behold in me a melancholy example of the folly of ambition; for I often think, as I look down from my lofty eminence, that after all it is as well to remain content in the humble sphere in which we are placed at birth; for perhaps, if the truth were known, there is quite as much real happiness among the rich and splendid among the Athons and Meleks."
If I could save her life by laying down my own, death would be sweeter still; and not one of you Kosekin would meet it so gladly." The Kosekin smiled joyously. "Oh, almighty and wondrous power of Love!" he exclaimed, "how thou hast transformed this foreigner! Oh, Atam-or! you will soon be one of us altogether. For see, how is it now?
The hag spoke first, addressing Almah, in accordance with the Kosekin custom, which requires women to take the precedence in many things. "Take this," she said, "O Almah, consort of Atam-or, and Co-ruler of Clouds and Darkness. Henceforth you shall be Judge of Death to the women of the Kosekin." She then handed Almah the sacrificial knife of the Chief Hag, which Almah took in silence.
"Turn back," I cried, "or I will kill this athaleb!" Upon this Layelah dropped the reins, stood up, and looked at me with a smile. "Oh, Atam-or," said she, "what a thing to ask! How can I go back now, when we have started for the land of the Orin?" "We shall never reach the land of the Orin," I cried; "we shall perish in the sea!" "Oh no," said Layelah; "you cannot kill the athaleb.
"Atam-or," said she, "I never loved death like the rest of the Kosekin; but now but now I feel that death with you would be sweet." Then tears came to her eyes, and I found tears coming to my own, so that I had to stoop down and kiss away the tears of Layelah. As I did so she twined both her arms around my neck, held me close to her, and sighed. "Oh, Atam-or, death with you is sweet!
Far away over the crests of the mountains I saw the golden edge of the sun's disc, and the light flowed therefrom in broad effulgence, throwing out long rays of glory in a luminous flood over all the land. I pointed to the glorious orb, and cried to the paupers, and to all who were nearest, in a loud voice: "I am Atam-or, the Man of Light! I come from the land of light!
I said nothing, but tried desperately to think of something that might divert the conversation. Layelah was silent for a few moments, and then went on in a musing tone: "As I was saying, I love you, Atam-or, and I hate Almah because you love her.
Oh, Atam-or, our love means death; for the very fact that you love me and I love you seals our doom!" "Our doom? What doom?" "The sacrifice!" exclaimed Almah, with another shudder. In her voice and look there was a terrible meaning, which I could not fail to take. I understood it now, and my blood curdled in my veins. Almah clung to me despairingly. "Do not leave me!" she cried "do not leave me!
Word Of The Day