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Updated: May 5, 2025
At nightfall he drove his flock back to the fold, saw that the gate was secure and retired to his cave for refreshment and for dreams. So passed his life, one day like another, save when the storms uttered the wrath of an offended god. Then Haita cowered in his cave, his face hidden in his hands, and prayed that he alone might be punished for his sins and the world saved from destruction.
Inexpressibly grieved, Haita fell upon his knees and implored her to remain rose and sought her in the deepening darkness ran in circles, calling to her aloud, but all in vain. She was no longer visible, but out of the gloom he heard her voice saying: "Nay, thou shalt not have me by seeking. Go to thy duty, faithless shepherd, or we shall never meet again."
Haita was entranced. Rising, he knelt before her in adoration, and she laid her hand upon his head. "Come," she said in a voice that had the music of all the bells of his flock "come, thou art not to worship me, who am no goddess, but if thou art truthful and dutiful I will abide with thee."
"Because," she said, "thou didst thy duty by the flock, and didst not forget to thank Hastur for staying the wolves of the night, I am come to thee again. Wilt thou have me for a companion?" "Who would not have thee forever?" replied Haita. "Oh! never again leave me until until I change and become silent and motionless." Haita had no word for death.
And there was danger for the unknown cities of the distant plain. It was many days before Haita saw the maiden again. One day he was returning from the head of the valley, where he had gone with ewe's milk and oat cake and berries for the holy hermit, who was too old and feeble to provide himself with food. "Poor old man!" he said aloud, as he trudged along homeward.
Pondering these things Haita became melancholy and morose. He no longer spoke cheerfully to his flock, nor ran with alacrity to the shrine of Hastur. In every breeze he heard whispers of malign deities whose existence he now first observed. Every cloud was a portent signifying disaster, and the darkness was full of terrors.
"Only a single instant," answered Haita, blushing with shame at the confession. "Each time I drove her away in one moment." "Unfortunate youth!" said the holy hermit, "but for thine indiscretion thou mightst have had her for two." For there be divers sorts of death some wherein the body remaineth; and in some it vanisheth quite away with the spirit.
"My son," said the hermit from his couch of straw, freshly gathered that morning by Haita's hands, "it is not like thee to weep for bears tell me what sorrow hath befallen thee, that age may minister to the hurts of youth with such balms as it hath of its wisdom." Haita told him all: how thrice he had met the radiant maid, and thrice she had left him forlorn.
When Haita awoke the sun was high and shone in at the cave, illuminating it with a great glory. And there, beside him, sat the maiden. She smiled upon him with a smile that seemed the visible music of his pipe of reeds. He dared not speak, fearing to offend her as before, for he knew not what he could venture to say.
Haita seized her hand, and stammering his joy and gratitude arose, and hand in hand they stood and smiled into each other's eyes. He gazed on her with reverence and rapture. He said: "I pray thee, lovely maid, tell me thy name and whence and why thou comest." At this she laid a warning finger on her lip and began to withdraw.
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