Selestor's Men of Atlantis
Selestor's Men of Atlantis
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FOREWORD
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I Growth of an island. Its location. Physical
features and peopling 11
II The government of Atlantis. Educational
methods. Peopling and customs. 18
III The origin of wheat. Marriage customs. Laws
regarding children born. Cremation of the
dead. Some industries. Music 30
IV Institutions for the training of youth. Music.
Arts. Industries. Some customs. Food 38
V Other inventions of the Atlantians. The
science of Ellipse of Sound 46
VI Atlantian knowledge of creation's laws.
Origin of the priesthood. Authority of the
priests 52
VII Weakening of priestly power. The
punishment for certain crimes 60
VIII Punishment by the priesthood for murder.
Punishment of women for children's death 64
IX An ancestress of the Assyrians 68
X The navy of Atlantis. Minerals of the island
and theories regarding them held by the
mineralogists of that day and country 73
XI Mining and minerals of Atlantis. The man
who came to Atlantis from "Spain" to study
its minerals 81
XII The crime of old King Osiris and the King
Atlantis gave to Egypt 89
XIII The flight of Prince Osiris. His Egyptian court 94
p. 10
Thus long it floated, sent out roots and sprays down to the
coral of the deep sea bed and anchored; solid was it, not
else could it have arisen from that dread wall of water in
which it was engulfed.
The aeons are the builders in God's building mart, and gave
it size and beauty, all that land e’er gathered or land
needeth. Fairer far it was than mine * which shows its
wastes of sand unsightly; blossoms on that isle were
touched with rainbow tints as fair as those where ether
makes the planes which ye call "Paradise."
p. 12
The seeds of fruits and trees were wafted from that land
named Africa, and gems which made much wealth were
once in galleys borne, and boats once torn to fragments by
the wind and waves had given treasure to the ocean isle.
And thus had grown Atlantis off the Western coast of Africa
one long day's rowing if the winds were fair and waves beat
not.
p. 13
curse on lips that man dared chain his fellow-God's own son
as he—the brother—who was held as slave.
The miles which lay between the isle and Africa were, by
computation of the law thy nation knoweth, five hundred
stadia; it none the less the refuge was for persecuted men
who risked their lives in fragile barks and every refugee was
welcomed to that isle.
They built them homes and throve upon its shores, for
there was need of many men to till, to weave the golden
reed, to build, at first but crudely, then the costly piles that
crumble, crumble where the fish desport in sullen pleasure
and where bright shells mark a spot within the shadows of
the deep.
Such people drifted, reft of sail and oar and cast by sea
upon the fertile isle remained to people and to build in time,
when generations passed who owed their lives to this one
boat of fishermen and maids.
p. 14
The men of old Atlantis held the form of men today, save
that the skull did thicker bone growth show and slanting
p. 15
Long haired were they, with beards that flowed into their
A care was theirs that animals they slew should bear the
stamp of health and symmetry, for their contention was the
food one ate gave to the body like condition.
p. 16
p. 17
sought to read.
Footnotes
11:* Egypt.
16:* English.
CHAPTER II
And thus the government was shaped, and held for years,
by one deft brain that builded as did the host of mortals on
the planet ye call "Mars," and thus I swear.
p. 19
and so to serve with will that all the others listened to his
word.
Wives were chosen not from alien lands for each wise ruler;
but with beauty born, a daughter of the twelve who sat and
judged, admonished and, perchance, reproved him who was
lord of all. Nay, but one wife each knew, though when she
passed to higher ether—soul instead of clay—another came
to bless with tenderest love.
p. 20
Seven thousand years are all I grasp, and still another may
a different version give, for even in the histories writ so
plain that men today read fully all there written, they differ
strongly.
Ever so it was.
We march by epoch.
First the Shepherd King, then followed others of his line for
full one thousand years. The stream was lost in other
branches then, yet were they fit to govern. Men of that
great council who had striven hard to bring to shame the
line that mocked the Higher, and asserted that their reign
began in gods who handed down to children god-fathered,
born of maids, all the mighty line.
p. 21
That cruel king died ere Osiris reigned; his father, stern and
subtle of that line so cruel to his kind and kindred. The taint
of cruel blood ran all adown the line like foulest taint of
dread disease, to lift its head on some uncertain day, or like
to serpent hid it lay beneath the smiling calm—beneath the
kindly deed and kingly courtesy.
The laws were regulated by the Mars trend for the wars,
and Mercury held the subject for the insect plague, and all
were guarded from their ravages by the instructions of the
Government whose laws fulfilled must be or punishment
was meted out, nor stayed.
Ah, nay! The idea of the pyramid was born not in Atlantis.
The pyramids were builded from model from afar, nor in
Atlantis rose the shape; there round obtained in form, a
pretext for much chiselling and caught the fancy of the
builders there.
p. 22
This is truth.
p. 23
Atlantis made her boast that none might build her temples
mighty. But in that far off isle was one who wrote on
parchment all the mode of rearing and of hewing from the
rock such pillars as were needed. His sons, too, learned the
method. It was my father's ancestor who spake the way of
reading poise. He left that sunken isle while yet it stood in
glory.
p. 24
Yet the mood of them who builded lingers still about the
arch that crumbles where the stars look down and Moon
glints with new glory—glory vast but mocking. Such is ruin—
but reminder of a day now passed forever. Yet it holdeth
tantalizing mood; for like the gauds which hide not yet
entrance, it rests where eye may linger and be held yet
meaneth naught save that man's builded greatness is a
mock.
It warmeth not the heart, but gnaws its way through all
remembrance of another age that may not rest beneath the
selfsame sky that once looked on its greatness. Old Karnak
stood as warrior-shield on heart-defying hordes that looked
with greedy eye, well knowing that within those temples
vast lay treasures—"emeralds."
p. 25
Alas! that day has fled and yet another dawns upon my
sight. Within these temple cells lie buried, pillar’d o’er, such
sheets of metal as had known the fire of old Atlantis’
smiths, who beat so thin the weight was naught, a scroll
that tooth of Time eats. not, and characters and lines mark
history of the land beneath the waves.
________
Yea, those Mayans from the heights of India came, and fled
one company from king's oppression and remained to
people wilds, yet not the tangle of the jungle waste
unknown in that first age of Yucatan.
p. 26
p. 27
p. 28
Yea as one hath said, their tools were simple, yet the toil
performed was equal and more lasting than that which
implements of modern men do fashion, and exact the poise
of stone which, formed by a law they understood full well,
that built the pyramids in later age. Yea, from the hills of
India came the tribes, sent forth by sore oppression, from a
race who once had conquered and who on the plains had
dwelt, and also builded from designs of their proud
ancestors.
No leech of skill had they to warn them, thus many died and
others fled from that "accursed spot," and foul became the
cities vast and temples spoiled by one invader fell. But ere
one temple was destroyed, in hidden crypt the blocks of
stone inscribed with name of that disease, disaster, were
safe hid from the despoilers who came once yearly to
engage the men of that reft land in war.
p. 29
Footnotes
CHAPTER III
p. 31
________
"The gods are binding fast two hearts," they spake, "’tis
well." But should a wife be smitten ere a birth proclaimed
her lord a father, he who wed must pray to Ses for years ye
number ten ere he another bride could claim; and she must
have been blessed at birth as bride of one who passed.
"Widows" wedded only with the priesthood. All pertaining to
the marriage state was wrought with words so solemn
naught but death could change.
p. 32
Instructors for the youth could claim both wife and slave; a
second wife who bore no sons nor daughters (this the leech
Aye, named. Named ere the light was shown to those dim
eyes that looked from body on the things of earth; for
leech's skill foretold a daughter or a son—much longed for;
but the matter of the sex could He alone present who giveth
all! No wisdom learns the method. Thus God's mark is set
on all. He maketh as His will dictateth nor shall man so
shape his ways but they shall fit the mood of that
great great God-mind. Ye shall read the law!
Nay, Earth received not to her arms the husk of them who
passed, but fires were builded high of fragrant wood and
subtle breath of spice condensed in fragments of fine stone;
and on the pyre was cast, in robes of white, the form once
loved but tendered to the gods when soul had fled.
p. 33
________
p. 34
Thus every palace held the instrument, and men played not
upon it, nor beat they music from the keys of ivory then,
but left the task to sighing winds, to streams so vagrant in
the atmosphere that one would smile at thought of unseen
hands of breeze which gave out music ravishing the soul,
yet so it was.
p. 35
Slaves and gems, aye crowns, would have been bartered for
the secret. Yet the secret was Baun El's alone, nor king nor
noble sought to wrest from him what he had won through
strong approval of the gods, they spake, and dared not
wrest from him lest plague of blindness smite their eyes, or
numbness seize the hands, which sought to grasp the
secret of the God-sent knowledge.
p. 36
Their language but a motion of the lips, yet brain cast out
its thoughts so plain to those about that inner sense was
Aye, life in color, too, and shape and language which the
toiling soul did learn and gathered knowledge where it only
wonder held before. Vast knowledge from a source man
dared proclaim but made for toy to beautify the state each
soul may dare to keep!
p. 37
Atlantis? Aye, Atlantis was our theme; broad isle that held
the shrubs of Africa and, later from the land ye name as
Footnotes
35:* Gold.
CHAPTER IV
Wise men from lands where war and strife prevailed came
from afar to teach the art of war, and "statesmen" gave
here their garnered lore of forming governments on plans
humane and well endowed with all that makes a country
great. Some with ambition, hoping soon to lead, bore well
in mind the duties of instructors and others studied water
navigation.
p. 39
No rule for song was taught in great degree, for in that age
men sang as sing the birds, their teacher but old Nature.
Burst from throat such melody as heart did prompt.
p. 40
life and hope, the hope of youth, alas, too often drowned in
bitter tears!
No child upon that isle so poor he might not taste the joy of
knowledge; for the state, the kingdom later, claimed each
child when born, and only guardians were the parents
named. And so was carefully prepared each mind to farther
bend the impulse to greater lore, and worked they all as for
one common good when "land" or "country" was the
p. 41
The cups for feast were beaten not from gold, but shaped
of that transparent stuff which tossed to pave doth fall in
fragments. Clear as bubble blown from foaming sea and
tinted with the hues that rainbow showeth. All about the
globe were woven with the skill of cunning craftsmen lilies
pale, or rose, that all save scent marked perfect as marked
God who gave it birth from out the soil.
Gold was beaten fair in dish for flesh and trays to bear the
food from fire to banquet hall. The knife, ye call, was
shaped as tool thou useth to sever loaf or meat. Not gold
but other metal played the part of furnishing the men of old
Atlantis * their most useful implement; but that thou
graspeth of fine gold was wrought, of "silver," brought from
far and greater value held than gold which lay
p. 42
Linen, too, they knew; but this was brought in galleys from
The graceful grass was bidden to its folds, the vine with
purple clusters, the drooping palm and plant ye name as
wheat, which giveth food. Most beauteous garments wove
Atlantis’ slaves, although the wife of noble, all engrossed in
making beautiful her form, did weave a garment that no
slave might take into her hands.
p. 43
But one departing to another land unwed bore not with him
the sacred robe of life. Aye, jewels strung on golden cord
they wore; great blazing stones which Africa's mines did
give and emeralds green as leaf. Aye, emeralds. Thus they
called them, spake that self-same word; and from Atlantis
brought my sires the great green globes of light which thou
shalt see—a record of my line—hid in a mummy's breast
awaiting but thy hand.
mud great shells that bore such pearls the eye did give a
thrust of light in viewing what the smith held on his tray—
the moon—pale ring of pearl of palest rose, or jet which
mocked the eye of the beholder.
p. 44
A "feast" was made for men alone. No maid nor wife did sit
at festal board such as thou namest, but slaves, light-
footed, sped among the guests and danced to beat of
hands on polished disc which gave out tone not harsh but
ringing, telling of the mood of them who watched the
lithesome forms of grace clad all superbly and with modesty.
Yet fasting was the rule for child of the Atlantian. Lithe of
form and delicate of face were they. No foul distortion from
the over-feeding which did mark the alien inhabitants who
pressed upon their children grossest food.
p. 45
Footnotes
41:* Africa.
CHAPTER V
This metal wore not neither rusted, nor yet cleft in particles,
but stood superb throughout the ages; aye, ye could see it
still if ye, perchance, could raise the block of stone which
means the temple wall; and lying prone, or standing where
first set would be this tablet; aye, would hundreds be as as
fair as any page from master's hand today.
p. 47
Old instruments are found today which people know not nor
can speak their use, and little dream they gleaned the
strong, vibrative force of Nature's laws which are exact and
reproduction sometimes a work that art may win. The
tissue, clear and strong as gold, doth melt to Time's hot
touch, but shape of frame have ye in "museum," lauded as
some great pedestal, staff, "the origin of looms," perhaps,
but never music instrument. Yet so it was.
p. 48
p. 49
Suddenly the thought did come to one who long had delved
in brain-lore, its forces, all that makes a stroke of will of
other methods; for a stroke of thought can give a world of
power to them who dwell on thought as force—as factor in
the world on which ye bide—on planets where thy kind, yet
wholly not thy kind, do live a life of nearness to the Source—
to breadth—to Scope—to lightness of the
p. 50
The law is simple in its workings, but, ah man! Ah, man! the
spring is set to beatings of a Heart that grew when Time
was not! A Heart that casteth life-blood to the million,
million arteries of the world! That checketh not the beatings
of the hearts of men by aught that is amiss, but is so well
attuned to laws of growth that all may live, but in that
vaster Life.
The law of the beginning none may know; but law of Life on
ether planes we drink, who stand bereft of "body" and
where mind and shape of soul are formed of ether-force
magnetic, which may pierce all substances and yet be soft
to feel the moods of sadness in the one it loves.
p. 51
evil whispers are the lower self, yet welded are the soul and
earth-mind, kin, and yet are severed by the sense of God,
ye call for want of name to designate the vast—the mighty—
all pervading Force, which entereth every form born from
the womb of mother. Blessed state, for she is co-creator,
nurturer with the One we name with reverence and awe.
That One so subtly held to self yet casting out the sparks of
Not in fullest power doth Nature fill the form of man, else
Man were but a senseless block whose shape and subtle
sense, attuned to law of growth alone, were all his heritage,
but atoms rarefied build up the form which is the plan of
soul. These atoms hold the essence of a Life. God-All-in
greatest portion.
CHAPTER VI
Great scrolls they made of finest colors woven with the hues
of rainbow, sunset clouds and all that Nature casteth from
her loom of dyed and mingled substances, so wove to mood
of maker that a poem it doth seem.
p. 53
the very sun doth mock. Alas! we cannot ward the harmful
stream of thought condensed which smiteth brain with woe!"
Heed ye! the secret lies beneath the wave, but semblance
have in that carven boat which men of statue shrunk make
small in wood of tree-trunk; yet in them no slave sits dumb
and plies the blade. Aye, blades were plied which rested in
the holes pierced high for oars, and "decks" raised in their
midst, where sat in state the noble who did journey.
p. 54
And this ere Ophir gave her secret to the hands of one poor
slave!
p. 55
And that first priest—a man of will who boded check but ill—
soon made his presence felt and all did turn to him for
counsel. Waxed he strong in power and handed down his
law to every soul that spake: "I pray thee give me counsel."
Thus ’twas done.
p. 56
Little felt at first the power, but later, when the august
government was formed and nations learned the island was
a-weight with gold, the priesthood cast a spell of angry
thought about the ministers of state, forbidding them to
barter island wealth in quantities, preserving in their line a
love of home and that which home contained all jealously.
Then strife arose, but by a threat that gods would bear the
wand of stern destruction to the isle were priests but
crucified or banished, or yet shifted tor the captive men
afar, as sometimes done, fear gripped hard the government
and priests remained in power. ’Twas well. The weak submit
and strength in mind or hand brings power, awhile at least
to him who holds the gifts.
________
Health laws in measure also made they and the fixing of the
tithes each made for prayer to gods.
p. 57
Also one made a law that man hath known, and needed,
[paragraph
continues]
since first his eyes were opened to the light—the law of
ministering to the unfortunate one whose reasoning mind
had fled.
p. 58
Mark we, too, the laws that govern Sun irradiating worlds.
Its light less luminous this past thousand years than in the
former ages. Thus ye say: "The eyes of children dimmer
grow; such, science hath discovered." ’Tis not so. No focus
for an orb can be obtained if swift vibrations fill the sunlit
air. Vibrations which made round a certain point, and in this
day a point is passed and thus is blindness on the increase,
as ye speak.
p. 59
within the brain, and yet, in inner soul he grasped the law
of higher Intellect that made the earth and all the planets,
systems. Time, and measured with His eye the Universe and
its beginning.
Aye, so well the priests did know that each endowed the
carven shape he represented in his turn with attributes
because, indeed, it was a spark of that great Mind cast out,
CHAPTER VII
The story of the slaying of the priest, asketh thou? ’tis thus
enwrit upon the page which speaks the truth of such event:
One of the number who did give to Ses his daily offering for
the people's good was stern Bolandos. Dark of brow was
he; a mixture of Atlantian sire with blood of that dark race
that first knew form upon the planet Earth.
p. 61
But when the rose tree's bloom did make a garden of the
gods that favored land, there came an hour when the crafty
Abbas' son did seek the confines of a garden fair, unfaithful
to his beauteous Olasandron. This the priest did mark.
Before the dawn leaped up from sea and flung the shadow
from old Day's broad face the son of Abbas left his garden
tryst: The dew clung to the rose trees. Fragrant night did
halt in silence. All things seemed to sleep, and o’er the pave
the lover's step came softly.
Down beneath the wayside clusters lay the one who waited
for his prey. A thrust of steel—a gurgle! Death was there!
and on the sands lay Abbas' son to rise no more! Not one
thrill rent the breast of his assassin. Fast he fled and flung
his dagger on the sands. On to the temple, where at dawn
of day the wife—the widow knelt at Ses's feet to plead relief.
p. 62
And she, according to her race and age, bemoaned her fate,
her early widowhood, and called upon the great god Phenox
to sustain her heart in its deep torment. Thus her slaves
bore her away, bemoaning as she passed the great arched
door that led into the street.
p. 63
blood: and riveted were they upon the steel held in his
rival's hand.
thrust! and the keen dagger drank so well the twain lay on
the marble at Ses’ feet!
CHAPTER VIII
None other entered the retreat of crime, but rats ran nimbly
to and fro and basked within the spot of sunlight which,
perchance, lit up the rock-hewn chamber when high noon
was rung from throats of bells that cut the air of rarest
purity, so cleansed by breath of sea and atmosphere all
purged from dust by breezes born from waves.
p. 65
Such hath Thought been since first the skull of man did fit a
mood that grew beneath the cap old Nature made for mass
And if perchance, her babe was reft of life while lying at her
side in slumber deep, no murder had she done, so she but
sat beside the highway wailing sore: "My child is dead!—is
dead!" And this long "month of tears" atoned for fault of
oversleep, and such example made the care of young a task
so well performed that seldom thus they died.
p. 66
barge sped out and cast her, shrieking, in the sea to fierce,
finned ghouls.
cord did well the task of ridding husk of soul so foul. A theft
was punished by the thief enstamped upon the shoulder
with the character denoting theft, and he no mantle was
allowed to wear for years ye number four.
And thus did man take in his hands the task of God to
punish for despoiling page of life—the book unsullied first,
but blotted sore with stain of unfixed thoughts—of ill to
fellow men.
p. 67
Footnotes
67:* Bribery.
CHAPTER IX
p. 69
Him they called "The great and rich Bahanan El." And sons
had he and daughters that the state had named, and others
who bore no rank or name save that their mothers—
outcasts from the pure—gave unto them.
Alas for Attoline who drooped and sighed with dread of that
gross presence which they "husband" called and, anger’d,
looked not on her father's face when he appeared at feast
or in the hall, and on her mother's neck did weep, and
moan and pray that death would come and bring her quick
relief.
One day she wandered where the sands met sea and
chanced to face the youth who swore she should be his by
law of Right. And, seeing Attoline, did
p. 70
read the creed of love and so forgot that wives have not the
right to love, save him who giveth shelter, name and gold
and state, as law of man proscribeth.
Law of God forbids the soul to sully with material gifts its
heritage of peace.
Thus spake the youth: "I long have known thy face as one
that angels stamped with perfect law, but thy sweet voice,
alas; I ne’er have heard. Speak but one word! Thy slave
shall drink the tone long after he is banished from thy sight."
"Speak not!" she cried, in voice her slaves might hear. Then
lower: "Speak not of thy departure, for the sun will hide its
face when thou shalt pass from view!"
One glance she gave from eyes whose fire was hid by fringe
of jetty lash, and rose his heart with courage.
She spake: "I go. For life is black indeed within the palace
where the low-browed lord doth rule and seek to win to his
gross soul the love I would withhold for one more noble.
Him I know in thee."
p. 71
"And I," she faltered. "Well thou knowest my state; yet will
I toil in cot, as toil the kind who envy me, ere I return to his
embrace—the foul-souled one who bartered fortune's smiles
to him—my father, for my form, my life, my hopes, for all
thou namest as gifts the gods do send.
The gay throng heeded not the lover's meeting where the
shadow fell from tall, oared, galley, nor the veiled form that
melted to the clasp of one bold water-messenger or chief.
Afar they sped ere that
p. 72
And she—the beautiful, the fond, the happy at the last, bore
sons and daughters to her loved lord, and did become
ancestress of that great race which called Assyria home.
CHAPTER X
The boat which bore the fishermen and maids unto the isle
which smiled from out the sea was model for still others,
builded slow for want of "adz" or tool to shape with grace
the rounded contour of the cypress-built and steel-bound
bark, which was the first attempt at ship for commerce or
yet ship for war which long after followed.
p. 74
That there his dust should lie, did not the hungry sea, which
cryeth for such fare, grasp ere he died with head in lap of
slave, or wife who loved and mourned him, raised him high
shaft of alabaster o’er the carven chest which held his
ashes. Such the custom there.
And he, the foster child of that young nation, grew a man of
might. The rudely fashioned craft first made was soon
supplanted by the graceful barque that hands, grown skilful,
through a tutoring brain, wrought wondrously. A barque
whose sides bore gleaming gold with name inscribed and
flowers carven, or yet a scene from nature drawn, of bird or
graceful leopard.
p. 75
p. 76
And those swart men did emulate so well the ether strong
was chained to build and bring from far some message light
or stern as one dictated. Men, were they, who past and left
Each galley held its men in shackles in that early day, and
no fierce revolt—no captain smitten by rebellious crew. Yet
kindness reigned withal, and kings bestowed some token of
their favor upon all on feast days—days when vast pavilions
built were named and blessed and the fleet received a store
of things deemed needful in that olden time of which ye
dream today.
p. 77
king, and in disgrace he sat and plied the oar, where once
he reigned supreme, for days ye count one hundred.
Her sons were hers indeed, and on her breast must rest
their ashes when the soul had fled. Thus to the shore they
bore them, to great piles, the pyres that lit the night when
Moon was dark and low
p. 78
p. 79
"We laud thee; God of all the gods who doth protect and
hold in bonds of safety us—and ours—our land, our captain
and this noble barque." So clearly rang across the water
loud this cry when stars denoted midnight, or great Orion
swinging far in space, and in his language held the token of
a storm, or Venus dipped her golden head and Mars swung
boldly into sight.
Yea, that navy of Atlantis was a fixed mark, from time when
first they builded from the wrecked boats, which grew to
beauty as the years advanced. The captains of the ships
composing fleet were men of mark whose fathers held the
state to ancient laws. All, men of wealth and minds superior
were theirs.
p. 80
CHAPTER XI
Atlantis was athirst for gold which lay within her soil, and
also for that ruddy metal which abounds in strongest
nitrates from the saline trend of earth. Of these she held
rich store, and men toiled deep beneath the surface gold
and dug such rare and perfect metal blocks as man hath
seldom seen.
Nay, they taught that sulphur enters not the copper growth;
bitumen first in making copper stands. Aye, thus they
taught; a hardened slime expresses what I wish to give. I
can employ no words they spake in other age. Forbear to
judge of all I say today in this—thy alien tongue.
p. 82
The aeons roll along and leave behind the products of their
arcs and pressures, molten state as well. The period of the
ice uncovered much, but more is hid where man doth dig
and delve to reach.
The copper mines which held the greatest worth lay on the
western shore. To East the gold on sands did lie, the grains,
they called, the ocean seemingly had washed upon the
beach. In that day it was a common product of that land,
yet prized as now, for nations far brought products, goods,
to barter for the precious metal.
p. 83
The intense, creative heat which beat upon this and other
globes when directly focussed by the sun-rays which were
at that period much nearer and the globes unprotected by
haze or separate planes or systems of ether as now exist,
cannot be described by numbers—statistics—now employed.
p. 84
No theory today better fits the growth of that dark ore than
the Atlantian. Mark ye also its trend in mass or mine. A
"drift" ye speak, of snow or ashes blown, or sand, and iron
was a drift in days gone by. Days? Aeons! Cycles! all that
God doth count, but man may stand appalled and dare not
think the ages in one column, for ’tis Time!
p. 85
That certain acid of the ore was called "glo" a casting out as
metal hardens and coats the rock, nor is it found inside the
mass. As medicine the use of bismuth was not known, but it
was used as softening property in brittle rock when ground
to make the composition slab to build, or yet for tablets
raised to gods, or for the use of mariner, in stating laws in
moist, hot countries under the Atlantian rule. Bismuth as a
drug was best understood in Egypt when the old alchemists
ruled the world of science. Learned they, too, its uses in a
draught—elixir—sluggish medicine for ailments of the mad;
those "moon-struck," called, for so tradition spake, that
bismuth was a casting out of planets in their growth in
dawn of time—Eternity's great dust which maketh worlds.
Cementing, bismuth, all the molecules of light or air in one
great mass.
p. 86
Bronze was formed with parts of tin and iron with the
copper flux to give it gloss and substance.
But ere his death his early kin and sons he did foreswear to
seek the spot and to enrich his early home—his country—
with strange weapons, implements of household thrift, by
digging, smelting and so turning into shapes the ore as
times then taught.
p. 87
Yea, wells of slimy wash as thou hast here, and from which
ye make light in this new land. And yet those people knew
no light like this ye make from the same stuff which
permeated wood, caused it to yield them heat for "furnace"
great, to smelt the ore dug in that land, now sunk beneath
the waves, alas!
Light, askest thou? Oil of the fish gave all the light Atlantis
knew in homes when darkness hid the light of day. In
southern seas a monster sometimes did appear all
phosphorescent, and the fishers slew such monster. In their
nets it havoc made. Its pelt
p. 88
Footnotes
CHAPTER XII
The crime of old King Osiris and the king Atlantis gave to
Egypt.
Ask ye again how "lost Atlantis’" sons bent first their steps
to Egypt? Ask ye not in vain, for such would be my question
—was, in that dim age when youth held message of the
olden line as something to be drunk with ecstasy.
The queen Osiris’ father wed, in age was not of his own
land, but stranger to his people. A sage foretold a doom for
him who thus perverted law and wed beyond the sea.
p. 90
Close ties were broken through his choice, for of his house
he saw no soul of all who had before been welcome to the
feast, these turned their faces from his city fair and sought
a home afar, and she who filled another's stead had
"welcome" boldly writ to all her house and name.
Fondly had he loved the one who gave him birth; And she
foretold the fate which waited all when death had claimed
her—Queen first chosen—banishment to all her house
should he, the king, rued.
Osiris, old and doting, sent his ships afar to bring to him a
daughter of that land which since that day Assyria claimed;
the race which first inhabited had passed ere I had seen the
light—a fairer race than mine whose origin none knew—a
subtle race who sold as slaves their kindred, drank of blood
and tilled no soil.
p. 91
nor stand a subject of the kingdom till his father's death, so,
firm, departing took the friends who bode within his halls.
Osiris reigned in Egypt first. His court, the rocks that made
a mark indeed to them who bode on barren plains, for in
that higher spot they first did set their sandaled feet—the
feet of refugees. Of them who bowed in grief at thought of
palace walls which, kissed by Sun, shot out such gleams of
light as comes from towers fair set with polished stones.
________
I told the tale of how the monarch old made one a queen
from out that far-off land, in later time
p. 92
Reigned there? Ah, no! for waters licked the throne, and
rotted ermine, silken jewelled robe which clung about a
form called "king"! And he, the chastened son, had shared
that fate had he but lingered on the mother isle where rosy
dreams of power, greatness, marked the pathway of his
youth.
no cry cast out upon the night did ring alarm. Osiris, prince,
the future king, fared in the galley eighty manned—
Aamhotep to the left, Usertsen at the right with men to
battle seasoned.
Spoil they bore not. Not one grain of gold, one length of
linen, silk one thread the more, nor lace one shuttle's length
that was not theirs by right. For Justice was the watchword
of that band, and also feared they swift and sure pursuit if
so they bore them plunder from the state.
Proud, also, were the refugees and scorned the gifts from
king degraded, hampered on his road to heights the soul
must climb to reach that higher world portrayed by priest.
For marriage was the law which brought men good or ill to
soul—that roused or crushed all higher impulse, taught the
priests.
Wives were thought to hold within their hands the gift of life
to soul as body. From higher planes, etheric, did they
spring, contended law of marriage
p. 93
And when afar the refugees did hear the fate befallen king
and subjects, all, low spake they in their horror: "Thus the
gods decree for violation of the marriage laws read from lips
unseen by men of fleshly mood, but law imparted to such
priest as sins not, fasts and peers into the higher world
through eyes of soul alone.
CHAPTER XIII
Dark was the night and still, Osiris sailed. One star alone
peeped out from somber clouds.
Not she the "goddess" did become, but one who lived and
died and lived again and left no trace, no name save in the
hearts of them who loved her.
This was he who drew his barques, who pitched his tents
upon the shore where Philae stands, ye call. And near the
spot the men of origin from out the clouds—the first created
man forms abode nor yet attempted war.
Great trunks of cypress shut the sun from faces dark, and
eyes that blazed with feeling looked with awe—with pity,
too, upon the son of him who for a beauteous face cast off
the bloom of kingly tree. Yet kingly blood will bubble in the
fount and raise itself in any land. No clime can make it
sluggish, bow to taint nor sink to level of the lowly born.
p. 95
And when Osiris—king the first—did wed, the sister also laid
her snowy hand in that of consort—brother of the queen
who lived a life of sweet content and died with blessings on
her lips, and swore the king, her lord, that he would never
wed, but keep her line unsullied, centered in the son first
born to them—Osiris—named as then the custom was for
father—that old king who did break his oath and wed, alas!
the pagan woman—she of that lost race who won contempt
for deeds so foully done that all looked with alarm when
men of her strange land drew nigh.
p. 96
And young Aamhotep in his early youth did love and long to
wed her. The king but smiled: "In infancy," he spake, "I
wed in thought, and by the law of Custom, the son of her—
mine other—sister—half—and this strange god-sent
creature born 'mid elements I ne’er beheld. Blessed be thy
union, O my sister's son, with this loved, radiant one."
p. 97
war; drove from its plains the kindred, people of that queen
who, being queen, brought deep disgrace upon the fairest
name Atlantis knew, the bravest king, the kindest heart that
The selfsame sea that bore the barques that night; the
barques assembling far to sea, as Day, new born, cast her
first faint line across the glistening waves in one great fleet,
defying stern pursuit.
p. 98
To taste humiliation! he, the son of kingly line! and she, the
foreign queen, the early slave of one who sold her to a
throne, brought forth another son to him—the lord she
loathed. Behold! the wailing cry of that young child
—"usurper, hated thing" the people called—filled loud the
ears of that old, dotard sire when island kingdom melted,
palace sunk to deeps and she—the loved, the won by loss
of soul, sunk down in waves' embrace.
The luster of her braided hair befouled with slime! Her white
hands grasping sand! Her jewels mocking eyes of
monstrous things that soon would batten on the beauteous
dead!
And even the slaves smiled slowly, worn with toil, for haste
had sore impelled.
p. 99
“We journey to that land which soon shall know his power
as king.”
"Depart they like the rovers of the sea! I call not back these
rebels of my line. 'The world is wide,' they speak—the sages
who from far appear through stress of elements. Ah! well! I
seek no wider world than is contained within the walls of
this, thy chamber, sweet. Let them depart!"
________
But thrice three years did pass ere sunk the island home.
Egypt already had become a power in war, for certain
mighty tribes adhered to young Osiris’ rule ere sunk
Atlantis. This the old king learned and knew the power his
son had gained.
p. 100
ye call the circles which the sun doth breed, had passed
when Nature rent the spot within the bosom of the southern
sea and forth belched baleful motion, terror, scourge, and
all engulfed went forth the souls from form.
This they in Egypt read through stress and flames which lit
the sky. From planet's vortex vast a tale of horror sprang.
"They go, alas! We live," they spake. "The world doth spell
but happiness for us, and ours, at last."
Ah, Philae, thou art but an island spot upon the sluggish or
yet swifter stream, yet in the past, all dim to history lost,
thou wast the birthplace of mine ancient sires, who sleep
’neath sand that drifts and drifts to tune of desert winds,
and jackal's screams, and shadows chase across the spot
where feet of emperors trod all stately!
Philae was rent from shore by slaves who cut the rock, cut
sod and made a channel where no water ran before. In
carven casket midst the mouldering specks of husk shall be
revealed thy history ere this hand that pens is stilled, and
Earth may read what once the sun hath witnessed;
message old, dug from the earth, and written by the hand
of him who held the scepter first to Egypt known, Osiris—
king!
p. 101
Thus was the history of the comet handed down the line till
men who learned to build, not dig their homes, had caught
the history and emblazoned on stone, or skin, in crevice of
the rock it lay fair hidden when my sires from Atlantis came.
I tell the tale as told to me. I read it not. The records lost to
all save in tradition as some hint in history gave. Yea, world
of disintegration. Comet, to thee, is but a ball of ether, yet
the central core,
p. 102
CHAPTER XIV
Osiris sought that farther border from the fear of swift and
stern pursuit.
In that past age, as now, the cage that swung at prow did
hold a fearsome bird which shot forth from its eyes a light
that mocked the stars. Full half a mile it showed the
pathway of the sea. And "farther still! still farther!" was the
loud command of him, Aamhotep, when the Nile bore
refugees upon its breast. "Still up and up."
The desert passed, the plains which later hid their city's
wealth. For storms of sand have filled the arches broad and
hid the dome, the wall of brittle spar, the pride of King
Osiris. It lieth deep where sands still drift.
p. 104
Alas! I see the picture as ’twas drawn for me. Slaves were
The galley-slave lay still with eyes fixed on the stars and
thought, perchance, beyond was rest from toil.
“One shall come at last and thou shalt her behold and
dream thou lovest; what care I? for in that higher world I
shall be crowned queen and still be thine. She is of earth for
thee, I for Eternity.
“Down near the rapids where the slaves tugged long upon
the chain of galley let me sleep—’neath carven shape—to
meet the eye of man long centuries hence. Let sleep the
semblance. I shall watch the night fold wings above the
spot, and smile and keep close vigil over thee, my loved, my
lord, when in a casket clasped with golden bands the all
shall lie in ashes that thy earth-mind deemest that thou
lovest. ’Tis not so; the state and semblance of a queen may
live on earth, but I am of the stars!
p. 105
“Mourn never thou for me, oh Lord, so loved the day seems
night when from my side thou strayest!
“One shall come at last who in thy arms shall lie and down
the line of history be absolved from sin, but her thou lovest
never, for the tie of soul to soul is held between us, born on
heights where Nature readeth Law at first, breathed from
the lips of Majesty, the king God of the gods.”
Her ashes in the urn of golden metal stands far down amid
the rocks that circle round the spot. A carving of her face,
divine in love and youth, still holdeth semblance of the one
who died—young Albirothisis, child of old Amsolabis—that
grandest
p. 106
The spot where she had died Osiris sought to shield from
vulgar purpose. Thus they digged a channel deep, made
island of that spot where first their feet in Egypt rested.
"Barren be the spot, and lone" he spake, "where I bereft did
mourn in this strange land the one I loved."
And down the graceful river moved the fleet and builded
grandly where the cataract marked the sacred spot—the
tomb of one who passed—nor wife nor maid of him—Osiris.
Yet so dear he held her memory that the years fled by and
left him aging ere he held his hand to maiden, speaking:
"Come to me as bride."
The sand still drifts and, underneath, the urns with ashes of
a king and queen hold court. Deliverance is at hand and all
the world shall drink the history of the king who mourned a
score of years for one they named his queen.
________
Philae asketh thou? Aye, such of old bore mark in that dim
day of numbers. Yet no wall doth stand, but farther down
are palace walls of marble buried deep in sand. And one
hath shown an architrave of white, embossed marble writ
with figures of the gods they worshipped in Atlantis.
p. 107
brass and stone fine ground and other matter, held at bay
old Time and lieth yet up-bearing arch.
False the word that husk of him doth meet the eye
embalmed and seen in walls of glass! Ah, no! such is not
nor has been. Osiris’ tomb is hid from prying eye. His
generals stand at portal, sword in hand, to guard the sacred
dead! Three sculptured forms shall meet the eye of man—
Osiris, Aamhotep, Usertsen, wrought so well that later art
seems crude.
The temples raised by skill are ruins now, but here an arch,
a pillar shattered there, shows still the wondrous colors.
Cleft the marble base, and sculptured leaf is broken, yet
there lies a wondrous store for man who dreams, and
dreams above, and seeks to shape a history from the blocks
that teach of peoples once so versed in arts that other ways
seem baubles set by gems.
p. 108
tell calmly that a smith may beat, entwine, and weave his
vase at will, but bubbles blown from forms, or cords in
shape, may not this day hold wine or lotus. With the
strength of gold, thus ancient vase was wove.
Atlantis thou hast sunk, but Earth doth hold today the
records of thy greatness and thy power.
________
Aye, where Thebes stood the camel still may browse, but
parchment hid in golden case is still intact, and wall that
carven image shows of him—Osiris—still doth stand
enwrapped in sands which clog the well-wrought lines
depicting flight and subsequent events.
p. 109
in prophecy.
CHAPTER XV
They knew the law of greed, and this they read with eyes
so well attuned to higher moods that all was wisely done,
and Mercy tempered Greed.
A people dark, but lacking not in brain, lived where the river
which knows fleet of boats for commerce laves the banks of
slime; yet once upon those banks grew grain to feed the
world. And thither sent Atlantis men of trust to barter what
the smiths did beat from gold, or yet those pictures rare
wrought in the metal fair ye name upon the scroll, and yet
not so exact in every point of worth, for it still held another
added part which saved the metal for the tooth of Time to
gnaw and yet not crumble. Aye, I give the method when
the hour hath struck.
p. 111
Spake one: “Thou shalt know a people all thine own ere
thou goest hence to that, unseen, far land which shadows
people, and where light that laves doth draw its glow and
worth from out a Heart that once was all when Earth
revolved about a central Sun that held the Life-spark.
Nothing else was there.
p. 112
Aye, Kling did turn within his mind these promptings of the
one who learned of growth of nations by much study. Knew
the worth of power, and long had held in ample cave such
"goods" as he had pillaged through the years of his high
office.
Kling this crafty one had named as chief. "For," argued he,
"the chief hath but the word, the power to bind with reason.
I hold power in keys that lock and unlock all the coffers
great the state doth own. An empty title tempts me not, for
matter not what I am called. Praise is an empty casket.
Gold doth fill the mind with fairest visions; in their midst the
one who owneth gold is shrined."
And thus began their journey secretly. At night the ships set
out for northern point well known to the advisor. Many days
both long and weary sailed they until that point was
reached. Their ships they bartered to squat men with craft
for beasts, for food and for safe conduct to the kingdom's
boundary.
p. 113
And she, his wife, had father, mother there, beneath whose
roof her rosy childhood passed, and from whose sheltering
arms he had decoyed with promises of love unfailing as the
gods!
Sore beset with memories did Kling glide forth from out his
tent at night and paced the sands, unmindful of the eyes
which gleamed and glowed, where hillocks vast held long-
haired brutes that fought to death. One night he wandered
far and halted in surprise, for in the starlight, making
p. 114
I pray?" The voice spake low, Kling fell unto his knees.
“Ah, Father! Stranger! Man with tongue that draws from out
the chambers of my mind the mark of speech like unto
them who made my life a heaven when boyhood held my
form! My father thus did speak, my mother sweet, with eyes
aslant and sparkling, sang fond lays in this, thy tongue
which then was mine own tongue.
“The others' fates through years I know not, nor shall know
till I have passed! For Death is nigh, but He, my people's
God, will gather to Himself the scattered shards and make
again a mighty tribe
p. 115
“I bore the name of Asher; I knew thy father, for I feel the
touch of mind with meaning in this hour. Thy father was my
kinsman. Side by side we fought in battle. Love touched
both our hearts, its rosy finger pointing to the same sweet
face, vet he, not I, was chosen by the god to claim the one
who bore thee.
“He to other land from our far home set sail in galley
“Long years passed by. I counted not their flight, for I have
scorned to measure Time as man may count, but brain hath
wove its stories; brain conjectured. Brain hath teemed with
products of a state so grown to fit conditions that it felt no
woe in loneliness.
“Thus I read the stars. Have peered into the lives of things
that prowl and gnash white fangs at all save of their breed.
To me an open book the weather's moods. I learn of
tempests, sand storms, days to come. I learned to crush
with foot, all bared, the deadly head and yet remain
unharmed.
p. 116
“Now doth the body shrink and soul look forth, I read of
future methods which shall be employed by thinkers wise in
many crafts and arts in ages yet to come. I read, alas! my
earth-eyes soon must close, and soul be borne to strange
and brilliant planes where sense of touch, they taught, is
dead, and sight alone and voice and hearing shall so linger
“I read thy purpose. Read, and for long days I watched and
waited for thy coming. Get thee hence when I have passed
and to the northward turn thy face to solitude; and where
long stretches of green reeds wave broad raise thou thy
tents.
“In time a city vast shall spring of people all thine own. A
race of men adhering to thy teachings through all time. A
race of cunning craftsmen, skilled in arts, shall rule. The
world at large apart shall view with keen surprise.
p. 117
well, who hath communed through soul since that wild day
when, reft of body, lying on the sands he fled in speech to
me! And I have woven thoughts as strands to draw to me
thy presence, son of him once loved, of her I loved, but
later, she—the bone of strife that brought me hence!
“In yonder cave it lies. The new day dawns soon. Hold thou
my hand till it's appearing, for the chill of night is yet
supplanted by another thrill that loosens cords and muscles,
rends the bonds and frees the dove that nestles in my
breast. To freedom, dove, which is a soul!
“Take thou the path that wanders from this tiny spring and
by a rock, all whitened, seek the long, loose hanging of my
portal. Pass within and ’neath the stone which makes the
inner threshold find thou that which thou shalt hand adown
the years.
p. 118
And yet they stood apart from alien tribes. Were strangers
p. 119
Footnotes
110:* Mongolia.
CHAPTER XVI
Upon its banks their tents were pitched. The city, populous
at first, was built in mind, then took it shape from hands of
skilful workers.
Streets which cross and wind were but the fancy of the
crafty one who held the keys which locked the nation's
useless horde, for many years but useless—useless, as they
sought no more their ancient home where gold in grains
were held for merchandise.
p. 121
The temples founded none might hope for life who deviated
Akin; yet not akin, they grew with certain bonds unbroken.
Mark of Time rests on the central point where wisely built
the One who keeps stern council.
And later, when the land did teem with people who forgot
the source of their great nation, seemingly,
p. 122
war was proclaimed aloud and tribe met tribe and slaughter
fouled the land.
The cities lesser growth in man form knew; for air and
water, food which builds the brain and bulk, were there but
poison for the child to thrive on. Mind indeed was fed, but
body strength seemed lost to growth of mind. The law
which worketh out its will that one may thrive but at the
others’ loss.
________
p. 123
CHAPTER XVII
An Atlantian tradition.
One read, and, reading told so plain the tale to eager sage
beside him, that the mood of all upon the island then was
turned unto the story.
One morn the master mind of him who dwelt in tower made
high with marble columns formed for strength, and steps
wound cunningly among the carven leaves and blossoms
rivaling the snow on mountain spur of North, heard with the
inner sense the note preluding conflict. Heard with the inner
sense, which in that age was factor brought to bear on all
the speech of Earth, and taught by science.
Long ago the tone was needed not by certain learned men,
and in Atlantis dwelt the art perfected. In this day the men
on mountain spur afar, ye view with scorn, hold simple
speech in manner of the Atlantian sage—through current of
the mind.
p. 125
The brain casts out an ether potent, all unseen yet swift and
subtle as the lightning's stroke to them who understand; a
potency of mind which dormant hath become in all mankind
save favored few who, guided by the mind, seek not the
outward mark to glean, but cultivate the inner force of man.
p. 126
p. 127
“Behold the tridents, fiery balls are shot from such as those.
I see the fine-wrought spring (by inner sense) the spring
which leaps to throw its missile to the foe. The spears,
three-pointed, savage instruments—that tear so well the
breast. A javelin at the belt made of the woven links and
discs and wire of copper hardened.
“Mars men, too, carry spikes of wood like steel; behold the
polished point dipped in the blood of adversary—poisoned!
doth the inner sense contend, and thus is life all quickly
ended. And now behold the shield each bears! a shield en-
shaped like leaf of grape; shields made of light yet
toughened stuff
p. 128
“The ships sail outward from the land and bear a keen-eyed
messenger to spy on foe. The foe? I see them not. O men
of Mars, whence comes thy foe?—Hark! In their hands they
bear them trumpets long, such as our sages spake, their
eyes beheld on Mars.
“I hear their music. Nay, alas! I hear it not. Too great the
distance for my strained ears to catch, yet I can see the
gleam of light on burnished metal; see the fingers lithe
press cunning keys—toy gently with the stops and pull from
pierced sides the chain which carries note to other portion
of the trumpet long—as long as man with outstretched arms
could span.
p. 129
“White tufts of silk upon each helm are set. Such helms! of
scales the fish might deftly grow, embroidered with each
name all set in gems of azure, yellow, too, I see the noble
captains of the host affect—the color of the shifting light on
corn, the yellow symbol, too, of holiness—the flower's heart
—the center of an orb—the pigment pure that mellows flesh
in tint.
Footnotes
125:* Cotton.
126:† Copper.
CHAPTER XVIII
"Aye, I will finish now the tale of Mars men on that day
when sage—Atlantian—peered with eye—sense, heightened
by tradition's flow of explanation. Explanation of the habits,
garb and methods of those men who long before had
taught their arts and sciences to others of their kind
through that broad stream of interchanging thought which
then was practiced.
"Ye ask what foe he spied him through his glass? As he was
pondering, on his sight there burst a wondrous vision. The
tiny specks long floating to his eye, grew larger; birds at
first they seemed, then clearly, flying ships of shape and
size unlike the galleys sailing on the sea. Yet longer, lighter,
woven from the fiber of some plant and held in shape by
polished strands that metal seemed, yet Earth-man hath not
seen its like.
p. 131
"What men are these?" quoth he. "The sages of old have
told no tale of such as these! As men, yet ape, they seem!
The men of Neptune!" cried he loud, at last. "I see the silver
spears four-pronged! The circling light above each head
that as a halo seems!
"I wist thine eyes ne’er saw such shape"—to him beside.
"Deft fingered, yet the fingers longer grown than man's on
earth. Not claw-point, but a clean white tip which feels as
keenly as the brain contends."
The men of Mars stand watching with the helm on head and
spear well pointed. Javelin throwers by the thousand stand
with foot pressed hard upon the bars of shields that hold
them from the foemen. Shields of toughened wood.
"But why not break in air the ships, these men of Mars, ere
these, their foes, alight?"
All strong a stream of thought smote full his brain: "The law
forbiddeth strife uneven. Man may hold his land, his home,
by vantage of the spear and yet give to his foe a chance for
life, nor send the shuddering soul unfairly from its shell."
Thus came the power of thought unto him.
p. 132
All was done in silence. Not a voice was heard, but trumpet
blew loud blasts unheard by him who in the tower high did
eager watch the fray. He saw the fiery, darting prongs of
spears which tore the body in that fight. It was a fight of
skill which men of Earth ne’er dreamed could be unfolded.
p. 133
Hair was blown from cheeks all rounded, youth was there
enthralled beneath the helm of waving plumes and eyes,
dark, laughing, scorning, perchance, looked from beneath
their silken lash. Their limbs turned perfect as a statue
stands of carven marble, and the flesh tint showed them
fairer than the pausing warriors there.
p. 134
Yet the horror of the fight was on them. Helpless fell the
hand that held the spear, and to their air boats rushed old
Neptune's sons while Mars’ stood helpless, dumb! The men
of air rose slowly, seemingly returning whence they came.
I know the science-body is the shell, and soul the all. The
"form of thought" once seen seems but as man imbued with
every attribute of flesh, yet frail to touch as shadow on the
wall it be. Aye, such is thought. The men of Earth strove
long to learn the secrets of old Mars and long had waited
for the moment, thus, by science trained, the line of
warriors slept as body sleeps but in the soul they wandered.
Scarce three seconds had they stood upon the planet when
the "fight" was done.
p. 135
Footnotes
134:* America.
CHAPTER XIX
Thy mood is ill, my scribe, for learning all of that great sea
fight of the centuries gone—a thousand years before
Atlantis sank.
Yea, thus I swear who read the time by Stars and Moon in
transit. Mars in mood of harm and Mercury fiercer yet with
venom plied. Great nations then as now did sprinkle Earth
with tribes of warriors born with love of spoil.
This king was Olaf. Aye, dim history speaks that selfsame
name so "common" to thine ear. A clod sometimes,
sometimes a keener soul doth answer to that name, but in
that day when "Olaf-of-the-bear’s-claw-set-on-helm" did
strike a blow, his name took on the meaning of a single
star, there was none other.
p. 137
“I know not all the wonders there may be upon that island.
Ye shall see and name in our own tongue, for by our gods I
swear that ere the snow falls on Britanji's spur we start us
southward; winter is there Spring, and Spring a joyous time
of warmth and gayest life in nature. Southward, Ho! we
journey, set for war.”
p. 138
mood unto that island fair, the home of her ancestry. Land
where first her ruler dwelt in youth and manhood, fraught
with greed of power which wrecked full many a home, and
tore the child from parent arms and made his name a by-
word—word for theft of trusted grains and theft of talents
great bestowed not on the land to which he owed his fealty
—Kling.
Thus their ears were open to the wiles of those bold men of
Asia, strong in mind and subtle as the serpent; brains were
theirs condemned to carry guile, to plot, to hold in keen
abhorrence any state of mind that dealt with pity where an
enemy was held in bonds.
p. 139
“What matter if the city loses fleet? It holds great power still
and gems, and lofty piles, in which your children groan in
“Let loose the galleys manned by thee and thine, and these,
my trusted warriors fill the bulk of ships which hold so
proudly many hundred souls, aye, thousands! and my
warriors, like the sands of desert, droop where deep in
forest paths draw to the hills.
And thus from day to day the wily strangers plied with
words, and wine, the officers of duty to the fleet that
stretched out proudly-whitened wood and bark, great iron
bands that made the cypress firm; and floating banners,
dangling in the breeze, were later wafted broadly as they
set them forth at midnight when the plot had worked its
potency.
p. 140
shall come and find but leafy isles where now ye lie in wait.
Let beasts prowl growling for your absence; spears are
needed for another duty. Come! The galleys lie at anchor
down the stream and ye have but to step upon their decks
"No man hath wings, and these alone can bear the king and
his retainers in pursuit. So, free are we to sail at leisure,
swiftly, to the island fair where that awaits which makes the
eye to leap, and cause to sigh in lover's deep delight the
tender-hearted youth.
"The bravest first shall land to gather spoil. Haste ye! The
night falls swiftly, dawn shall break if swift ye come not. To
the galleys, men!"
"I see a speck of life upon yon height of water," Olaf spake
to one who stood beside, and in his hand
p. 141
"Our gods are false!" cried Olaf. "We are made the sport of
tyranny, of rank deceit! Atlantis sailed northward and we
meet her fair in battle! No surprise we give, no spoil held
easily; but spear to spear and stave to stave and galley
locked with barque, manned by as many and as brave as
we, perchance; we may not gain the day!"
"Yea, but waste we not our spears nor war on such foe as
she. We will combine our forces; the victory won—that
makes the island ours—we battle
p. 142
with our allies, spoil their fleet thus double booty, double
glory, waits."
And thus a truce was made. Full willingly did Asia's leader
hold the offer good, and side by side they sailed—the
crimson kite and polar bear, each holding in his heart the
selfsame thought of brotherhood in strife against Atlantis;
later, war on each and spoil fierce wrested from a rival's
hand.
Aye, from the south Zambesi's sons did sail to reach the
northern point. Atlantis held a menace at her Southern ports
—a menace to marauders all well knew.
CHAPTER XX
The blue waves dimpled in the morning light and all Atlantis
met in fête, nor thought that nearer, nearer drawing yet
were barques by hundreds—hurrying wolves of war that
hovered nigh and waited for the night, to set their feet on
forest bordered spot and march on home and wrest its
treasures all, in human life and gems and gold.
All sudden, faint and far away, the call of trumpet crossed
the cadence sweet of voices raised in song, and instruments
of strings that fingers smote all deftly—the harps of air or
yet the water harp whose music rose and fell so soft and
low, then loud and clear as bell from tower calling men to
war.
p. 144
seemed as stars.
And waited he. Out on the carven marble of the outer court
reclined in angry mood a man of lordly mien who bode
alone and drank such wisdom rare as few may hope to gain.
"I wait, indeed! when in my hand's palm hold I the life of all
who bide upon this isle! This isle is doomed, speak they not
fair as I had deemed my king might speak to me!" And swift
as spear thrust came the thought to him—the king: "A favor
granted is a blessing gained when stress of pleasure holds.
Bring to us him who calleth for our ear," spake he.
p. 145
"To northward lies the fleet. Aye, fleets, the sage hath said
who never error made, nor had his fathers of the olden line
who came from that dim land where forests wave above a
slimy river.
"We are thine, O king! For life and death! For battle, too,
are we! Set sail, we, in this hour."
Loud rang the bells that called the men to quays. Wine
drunken some were treated to the flow of
p. 146
"To war!" The cry rang through the festooned streets, rose
garlanded in honor of the prince.
Those slaves were men in mien, for that past king bade all
behold the soul within and live as free as One intended
when He cast the mould of man about the ether form. Each
slave of galley bore himself a stave, and in the thickest of
the fight he bounded from the swivel bench and struck such
blows as soldiers learn to strike and foemen fell, through
him, on every hand.
Chosen, too, his son that day to lead in battle; for the
rightful lord of fleet lay writhing sore in
p. 147
pain that none could soon allay, although the king's own
leech sat by his couch with cooling mixtures.
"Bid him to speak as bell rings out its summons, clear and
firm and true each order ringing to the ears of men."
Not one oar's length from its fellow forward rode, but prow
to prow they glided, leaped the waves. The sun set like a
fiery wheel, of air and many leagues to North the invading
fleet still lay.
The galleys of the island rested not, but row on row of men
sank down to rest while others filled their places, slowly
rowing as the night fell down and stars hung glittering. All
keenly felt the stress of caution. Lips were shut to speech.
The breath came slowly. Muscles strained and chests
expanded as the morn drew nigh and galley leaped to
stroke.
p. 148
They bared the casket from its silken folds, which checked
the jar of rower's stroke, and bore it to the bower of the
leader, perched high above the deck on which the soldiers
lay, and yet were they above the rowers.
Carefully the hands let loose from casket that no jar might
break the keen, absorbing sense of spring and bar that
made the instrument a thing to fear. Springs of hair and
metal wheels, and fastenings that were made from
substance of the stars cast down on earth. The magnet of
the moods of men mayhap it was, for the keen-eyed thing
directed, so it seemed, that gods indeed had builded for the
use of chosen ones.
p. 149
Up higher rose the sun. The morning born was well towards
its zenith when spake one who held his instrument to eye in
galley of the leader: "Methinks the sky-line dark about the
northern boundary of our isle."
"What? Hold the galleys! They are come indeed! Let low the
anchors! Bide here till the night shall fall! The long night
through the great Moon circles, gives us light to send the
souls from bodies sheltering.
All swiftly sped the men, so sure of word none asked for
repetition. Anchors cast, deep sheltering point with giant
palms protected even from the Northmen's eyes.
CHAPTER XXI
Swift came the foemen's galleys ere the night fell down
upon the sea.
"They pray to gods with black, black hair and eyes!" sang
Olaf merrily.
"To gods who so forget that sleep falls heavily upon the
galley's lord who bides on shore while galleys swing to
anchor.
"My men, row gleefully, for night doth fall all soon and we
must reach that border faint—outlined—the outline of an
isle so ladened with its riches wonder we that it sinks not.
p. 151
"Tonight our feet shall tread the flowery isle," sang Olaf's
men, as near and nearer drew the galleys to the shore.
“The forest aisles are lit as well for beasts that prowl as
man, and if, perchance, Atlantis’ king and guards sleep not,
what better target for their spears than we who land with
moonlight showing well each helm?
p. 152
"The snow land wolves are false!" the Asiaites softly spake.
"We know their value! Know their blackened hearts, and
after death is dealt to them of that proud, flying fleet we
tear the wolves in twain, and hearts that beat in breasts of
traitors
p. 153
now, shall quiver on our lances! Aye, they all shall perish!
lying dogs of snow!"
His locks were yellow as the light on corn, his form as pine
the straightest, his mien a king's indeed, but—Olaf—!
p. 154
man. "What hope have we with such, who hold in sway the
voice of birds, of nightingales, the moan of ravens, reed-gull
calling to her young?"
Their leaders felt the mood and swiftly spake: "To war! To
spoil! To black-eyed maids whose lips shall speak of love as
slow the summer days wear on!
The sullen men of Zambesi but fixed their eyes on the well
favored men who from Atlantis oft had sailed unto their
shores in boats unlike their own yet equal in their worth,
and strength and swiftness.
"To the gyves! To chains, they go!" called he, the leader,
head of that bold band of Mongols.
"Men, we may not fight this day within the narrow confines
of our galleys, on our brothers warring—brothers in our
need. They gave us freedom, chance for equal spoil.
Atlantis is our foe, since we are part of this great army
which hath set to war."
and right.
p. 155
Then from the throats of all there burst the long, sad wail
presaging war or death. A wail that shook the fleet with
trembling mood. A wail that o’er the desert have I heard
when mighty men were met in savage war. A cry, which,
handed down the line gave foe in Egypt, centuries after,
fear.
It was the cry of Ram and Phenox, Ses and other gods
"who victory gave."
The Northmen's cry rang out, at first but trembling; for the
foemen's cry spake tombs and places where the souls of
Northmen trend, not to their minds.
Low fell the cry of Asia. Plains and sands, to them familiar,
seemed afar, and thoughts turned from the water to the
waste and made the voice to falter, yet the blood of stern
resolve took fire at last and ran in fire and made the hand
to spring to weapon, fierce the cry rose then.
would rock the land and cause the sea to bubble, foam and
roar, and waves dashed high as sped the galleys on.
p. 156
some well aimed stroke he fell all palsied and his duty done.
Atlantis, silent from the first long cry, dealt blow on blow.
The master mind, that drank from him who lay in pain upon
his couch, directing all with even words and calm, through
instrument which made his voice to sound familiar in the
ear of every man who fought in galley of his land.
Ten galleys did engage ten of the foes. Reserves flew swift
to aid when one succumbed to stroke, and thus a wall of
warriors met each charging boat. Condensed the numbers,
so that none might say: "The gap is made! The break we
pass with speed!"
p. 157
One boat held priests who prayed with men who died—
young priests who side by side had strove with these, their
brothers of the spear, when from an island of the southern
sea came men for plunder.
Like lions roused to anger rose the men of that great island
p. 158
p. 159
"Lost the Atlantians now, nor dare their men throw missiles
save in extremest moments," spake the youth, for thus was
told the island's custom.
All loved the foeman youth for that brave front, and not one
spear was pointed, stave was thrown at that proud flaxen
head, whose locks strayed bright beneath the heavy casque.
p. 160
And galley met with galley, back to Atlantis bore the slaves
of him, Zambesi's king, who later pardoned all, the
fragment of a band. And over all, the shattered, saddened
souls who bode in battered galley—bode in shell of body
still, there fell a calm when voice of trumpet spake.
The night lust falling. Soft and low the call as mother's to
her babe, then loud and clear, then angry murmur swelling,
later fell in fierce glad cry of victory as sunk the sun to rest,
the sun which vied in blood-red glow with foam upon the
waves of stranger hue, all spotted with the life-blood from
the veins of men so brave their names were spake with
reverence by younger lips that followed o’er the sea.
"The dead are warriors, such their fate," they spake, but far
beyond the shining Moon their souls are wending.
"We mourn not for them; they are quaffing glory from the
Fount.
"We still of earth may envy but not grieve, and yet our
galleys number less by half than when we fared us forth.
"But, joy! Our foe hath ridden out to sea in battered hulk—a
remnant of that army mocking us this morn."
CHAPTER XXII
Thou asketh of the fate of him, the king who reigned when
the great nations met in war upon the day that followed
fête?
He whom Atlantis called her king was wise, not wily, and
excess he did abhor; and yet that day his galleys sailed to
war he drank him deep of "liquor," as ye speak in modern
times.
His brain grew dizzy nor sight nor sound he knew, and
falling prone, ere slaves could spring to save, the kingly
brow smote marble and his senses
p. 162
All was peace and calm, save in the hearts of subjects, torn
that day with various woes—the youth of nation on the sea
to war—the king in stupor—waiting they.
Crept an ancient one into the hall where on the ivory couch
the king lay prone.
Spake she, unchecked, for grief had so sore beset the leech
that vaunted skill fulfilled no purpose.
Statesmen stood dumb, the queen had fled and by the hand
led children weeping sore—the offspring of a line of kings
for generations, but their hearts, as tender as the slaves
bore sorrow ill.
With lips that set all firmly, brow that frowned, spake she,
the ancient: "King, but not a god, ye now are called! and
going take not state nor thing of earth, not life nor love nor
gold to mark thee aught save but a wandering soul!
"And yet, mayhap, the state which Earth doth keep the
gods permit in realms more fair than
p. 163
“He dieth!
“My son!
p. 164
The sun had set ere called the gods the soul of him, the
king, to realms of peace.
"The son, now king, perchance will strive to reign with just
humility, yet fail to reach the standard of his sire."
All day, I spake, the king did linger, but at eve the mists of
deep oblivion left the sunken eye, and reaching out his arms
as though to clasp he cried:
The third in line was he. His sires brave and wise. His son
no traitor to ancestral grasp of power.
CHAPTER XXIII
Aye, beauty of form as well, for died at birth the child who
bore not the imprint of the higher model in perfect form,
lacking naught that would please the eye of man, or god,
they taught, for the people of that lost land worshipped as
did we of Egypt.
The law was not perfected which adjusts gravity and points
to danger signals, known in nature by those so-called
senseless objects and by them avoided.
p. 166
Thou shalt yet see with mortal eyes a spot of that vast
Atlantis whose fairness lies beneath the waters.
p. 167
Thou yet shalt see with eyes of flesh, and mind shall drink
the wonders on the stone—the carven symbol of a mighty
race.
p. 168
Great pearls had he hid in the casket lined with fleece, the
finest from the shrub and tinted fair with henna. Pearls
whose weight alone bore well the scales which held the
hollow globe of jet, or snow or primrose dawn, whose worth
meant ships, or palaces or the slave who would outweigh
their weight a thousandfold.
Wares of gold and silver, stuffs from Tyre and Gom were
spread on what the merchant knew would best display the
gleam of golden thread and floss made by that insect horror
in its shape doth show to timid ones.
Fair fruits lay basking in the fiery light the golden globe
more golden for its ray; pomegranates took to them still a
deeper blood, and blossoms turned from snow to rose, and
showed red masses where the lilies blossomed pale.
p. 169
build, or yet rebuild, the costly piles that marked the beauty
of the cities strewn like gems throughout the land whose
day was set, though not complete its doom
p. 170
And as the music died that every morn bespake that duty
“The stars last night shone with a baleful light, like eyes of
lions caged and thirsting strong for blood; and in the
mountains, pointing spear-wise, high, a muttered voice was
speaking to the soul of him, so formed of fiber and of flesh
are we that one doth tremble when the elements are wroth
in unison with God.
p. 171
quiet seems to reign, but Death hath faced the world and
still it thrills with that dread presence which ye name as
finish to all deeds.
"Our dear ones!" Ah, that taint of self which all the world
doth poison! Not his neighbor's grief, but grief of self he
dare not face.
p. 172
strong. The pure, the vile, the greybeard and the child;
while in the shelter of the house of wealth, or lowly cot,
where when the day had dawned, was hope for yet another
life to bless, lay mother's wailing in the hour of birth and
adding wails of fear to wails of agony.
Yet those few pictured "When the water fell," the death-
struck valleys, ruined walls and towers and forests, lacking
naught save leaves of green. Alas, the dream that had no
end! their hope bore no fruition.
p. 173
Among the Ruins, by Lawrence Alma-Tadema (detail) [1902-4] (Public Domain Image)