Therefore I welcome a new history from the world
without. Tell it me, thou, Leo, as briefly as thou wilt, so that thou
tell the truth, for in the Presence of which I am a Minister, may
nothing else be uttered."
"Priestess," he said, in his curt fashion, "I obey. Many years ago when
I was young, my friend and foster-father and I, led by records of the
past, travelled to a wild land, and there found a certain divine woman
who had conquered time."
"Then that woman must have been both aged and hideous."
"I said, Priestess, that she had conquered time, not suffered it, for
the gift of immortal youth was hers. Also she was not hideous; she was
beauty itself."
"Therefore stranger, thou didst worship her for her beauty's sake, as a
man does."
"I did not worship her; I loved her, which is another thing. The priest
Oros here worships thee, whom he calls Mother. I loved that immortal
woman."
"Then thou shouldst love her still. Yet, not so, since love is very
mortal."
"I love her still," he answered, "although she died."
"Why, how is that? Thou saidst she was immortal."
"Perchance she only seemed to die; perchance she changed. At least I
lost her, and what I lost I seek, and have sought this many a year."
"Why dost thou seek her in my Mountain, Leo Vincey?"
"Because a vision led me to ask counsel of its Oracle.
Pages:
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256