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CHAPTER XIII
And now when Marco Polo was rested and had recovered； they
brought him from the Convent of the Red Monks to where the khan was in
the city of Chandu。 Now； there were two palaces in Chandu； there was
the winter palace； which was of marble； and the summer palace； which
was of gilt cane。 Around these palaces there was built a wall sixteen
miles in compass； and inside of it was a park of fountains； and rivers and
brooks with the speckled trout in them； and meadows with the lark at her
ease in the grass； and trees of all varieties where the little birds do be
building and none to grudge them a home。 And all the wild animals were
abundant； the timid hare and the wild deer and the wee croaking frogs；
long…legged colts by their white mothers； and little dogs tumbling over
themselves with the sport of spring。 Brown bees among the clover；
strawberries in profusion； trees would delight your eyes； and brown cows
and black cows； and dappled moilies under the great leaves of them； and
lambs would be snowy of fleece。 All the flowers of the world were there；
the paradise of wild things it was； the park of Kubla Khan。
〃In Xanadu did Kubla Khan；〃 quoted young Randall； 〃A
stately pleasure dome decree； Where Alph； the sacred river； ran
Through caverns measureless to man； Down to a sunless sea。 So
twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled
round： And there were gardens； bright with sinuous rills； Where
blossomed many an incense…bearing tree； And here were forests
ancient as the hills； Enfolding sunny spots of greenery。〃
〃Whose poem is that poem； Brian 0ge？〃
〃It is a poem of Coleridge's； Malachi。〃
〃I though it was maybe a poem of Colquitto Dall McCracken of Skye；
that one of you lads had put English on。 It is a poem of the head； you ken；
and Colquitto； being a dark man； could only see with the eye's ghost。 But
it hasn't the warmth； the life of the work of Blind Colquitto； Brian Oge； do
you mind the poem Angus More Campbell of Rathlin wrote to Colquitto
Dall？〃
〃'Is aoibhinn duid； Colquitto Dall；'〃 I remembered： 〃It is happy for
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Messer Marco Polo
thee； blind Colquitto； who dost not see much of women。 If thou wert to
see what we see； thou wouldst be tormented even as I am。 My sorrow； O
God； that I was not stricken blind before I saw her amber； twisted hair！〃
〃That's it； that's it； Brian Oge。 But this is not the place to be talking
of poetry。 There is no poetry in this story。
〃I will now tell you of Marco Polo and him entering the presence of
the great khan。 。 。〃
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Messer Marco Polo
CHAPTER XIV
And Marco Polo was brought into the presence。 And among all
assembled there you could hear a pin drop。
At the north end of the great hall sat the Khan himself； and Marco Polo
nearly dropped with surprise； for where he expected a great； magnificent
figure of a man； with majesty shining from his eyes； he saw only a
pleasant； bearded man； not quarter so well dressed as the meanest servant
on the room； and a fine； welcoming smile in his face。 His throne was
elevated so that his feet were on the level of the heads of the kinsmen of
the Blood Royal beneath him； and they in silk and ermine and fine
brocades and jewels。 And beneath these were the barons and dukes and
knights。 And beneath these were the captains of the fighting men； three
thousand and three。 And beneath these were the musicians and the
sorcerers。 And behind Kubla Khan； very big； very erect； stood his three
great servants； the Keeper of the Hunting Leopards； the Keeper of the
Speaking Drums； and the Keeper of the Khan's Swords。
And beside Kubla Khan； on a little throne； sat Golden Bells。 。 。 And it
was the sight of her more than the sight of the great assembly that dumbed
the words in his mouth。 And Kubla was smiling at him； and she was
smiling； too。
And Kubla saw there was something wrong with him； that there was
embarrassment on him and he rose from his： throne。
〃There is welcome for you here； Marco Polo； and no enmity。 There
is interest； in and eagerness for your message。 There is none here will
criticize you or make it hard for you。 Let there be no shame on you in
speaking before so many people。 Say what you have to say as if there
were nobody here； if that will help you； barring myself and the little
daughter beside me。 。 。〃
〃O Emperor；〃 the words came back to Marco Polo； 〃and ye； great
princes； dukes； and marquises； counts； knights； and burgesses； and people
of all degrees who desire the light of the world； grace be to you and peace；
from God our Father； and from the Lord Jesus Christ！
〃The message I have to give you； I shall give in the words of Him；
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Messer Marco Polo
Whose perfect message it is：
〃'Beati pauperes spiritu； Blessed are the poor in spirit。
〃'Quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum； for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven。
〃'Beati mites； Blessed are the meek。 。 。'〃
And Marco Polo went on and quoted for them the words that were
spoken on the Mount in Galilee。 And they listened to him with great
civility and attention。 And little Golden Bells leaned forward； with her
chin on her hands； and Kubla leaned back in his throne； with his eyes half
closed。
〃'But I say unto you； that ye resist not evil； but whoever shall smite
thee on the right cheek； turn to him the other also。'〃 And at this the great
Khan looked up puzzled； and a movement went through the fighting men
in the hall。 But wee Golden Bells never budged a minute； and Marco
Polo went on：
〃'Et factum est； cum consummasset Jesus verba haec； And it came to
pass when Jesus had ended these sayings； the people we