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candle…light； and many's the young girl will give you love； and you dead
for centuries。 But for this you must keep your dream。
〃Now you'll think it's the queer pope I am to be telling you things like
this instead of demanding converts。 But the wisdom that surpasses
wisdom comes to you with the Annointing of the Oil。 'I knew a man in
Christ above fourteen years ago；' writes Saint Paul； '（whether in the body I
cannot tell； or whether out of the body I cannot tell。 God knoweth。）
〃'How that he was caught up into paradise； and heard unspeakable
words； which is not lawful for a man to utter。'
〃Now you see there is a wisdom surpassing wisdom； and it is out of
this fount of wisdom I am drawing when I speak to you these words。
〃Child； I will not keep you any longer。 Only to say this； and this is
the chiefest thing： never let your dream be taken from you。 Keep it
unspotted from the world。 In darkness and in tribulation it will go with
you as a friend； but in wealth and power hold fast to it； for then is danger。
Let not the mists of the world； the gay diversions； the little trifles； draw
you from glory。
〃Remember！
〃Si oblitus fuero tui Jerusalem； If I forget thee； O Jerusalem；
〃Oblivioni detur dextera mea； let my right hand forget her cunning
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〃Adhaereat lingua mea faucibus meis； si non meminero tui； if I do
not remember thee； let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth
〃Si non proposuero Jerusalem； in principis laetitiae meae； If I prefer
not Jerusalem above my chief joy。
〃I shall now send a prayer to Heaven；〃 he said； 〃to keep you safe in the
strange foreign ways； to protect you against wind and tempest； against
pestilence and sudden death； against the powers of darkness； and Him who
goes up and down the world for the ruin of souls。〃
And he turned to the high altar again； and now you'd hear his voice
loud and powerful； and now low and secret； and the bell struck； and the
acolyte intoned the responses； and all of a sudden he turned and spread
forth his hands。
〃Ite！ Let you go now。 Missa est。〃
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CHAPTER VIII
And so they set forth with their great train of red； snarling camels and
little patient donkeys and slender； nervous horses toward the rising sun。
Behind them the green hills of Palestine died out as a rainbow dies out；
and now there was sand before them and now bleak mountains； and by day
the wind was swift and hot and by night it was black and cold。 And
moons were born and died。 。 。
And they passed through the land of the King of Armenia； and they
passed Ararat； the mountain where Noah brought his ark to anchor； and
where it still is； and where it can be seen still； but cannot be reached； so
cold and high and terrible is that mountain。
And they passed ruined Babel； that was built of Nimrod； the first king
of the world； and now is desolation。 They passed it on a waning moon。
And out of the ruins the dragons came and hissed at them； and strange；
obscene birds flapped their wings in the air and cawed and pecked at them；
and over the desert the satyr called unto her mate。 。 。
And they passed through the Kingdom of Georgia； whose kings are
born with the mark of an eagle on their right shoulder。 They passed
through Persia； where the magicians worship fire。 And they passed
through the city of Saba； where sleep the three magi who came to worship
at Bethlehem； and their names were Kaspar； Balthlasar； and Melchior。
And they passed through Camadi； where great ruins are and robbers
roam through the magical darkness。 And they passed northward of the
Perilous Valley； where the Devil's Head is in black stone； and that is one of
the nine entrances to hell； and passed the Valley of the Cockadrills； where
there are serpents five fathoms in length； and passed the Valley of Cruel
Women； who have precious stones in place of eyes。 。 。
And they went through the Dismal Desert； where no stream sang。 。 。
And in the desert they passed the Trees of the Sun and Moon； which
speak with the voices of men。 And it was from the Speaking Tree that
Alexander heard of his death。 And it was near there that he and Darius
fought。 And they passed the Arbre Sec； the Dry Tree； which has a green
bark on one side and white on the other； and there are no trees within a
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hundred miles of that tree； and it is sprung from the staff of Adam。
And they passed through Balkh； the Mother of Cities。 And they
passed through Tailian； where the great salt mountains are。 And they
passed through Badashan； where the mountains of the rubies are。 And they
passed through Kashmir； whose women are very beautiful； and whose
magicians weave the strongest spells in the world。 。 。
And moons were born and died。 。 。
And they came to Alamoot； the fortess of Senex de Monte； the Old
Man of the Mountain； the King of the Assassins； the greatest wizard of all
time。 。 。
Now this is the tale of the Old Man the Mountain。
Whenever within his dominions there was a fine young horseman； the
Old Man would put a spell on him and draw him to the Castle of Alamoot；
and outside of the castle sleep would come on him。 And when he woke
up； he would be inside the castle； in the wonderful gardens。 And they'd
tell him he was dead and in paradise。 And paradise it would be for him
what with the lovely women and the great playing on the flutes； the birds
singing； and the sun shining； the crystal rivers and the flowers of the world。
And after a while the Old Man of the Mountain would call for him； and
tell him he was sending him back on earth again on a mission to punish
Such…and…Such。 And the Old Man would put sleep on him and a knife in
his hand； and when he woke he would be outside the Castle of Alamoot。
And he would start on his mission。 And when he came back he would be
readmitted to paradise。 And if he didn't come back； there were others to
take his place。