over him。 never before had he felt so keenly； or with such
exquisite joy； the magic and the mystery of beautiful things。
when midnight sounded from the clock…tower he touched a bell； and
his pages entered and disrobed him with much ceremony； pouring
rose…water over his hands； and strewing flowers on his pillow。 a
few moments after that they had left the room； he fell asleep。
and as he slept he dreamed a dream； and this was his dream。
he thought that he was standing in a long； low attic； amidst the
whir and clatter of many looms。 the meagre daylight peered in
through the grated windows； and showed him the gaunt figures of the
weavers bending over their cases。 pale； sickly…looking children
were crouched on the huge crossbeams。 as the shuttles dashed
through the warp they lifted up the heavy battens； and when the
shuttles stopped they let the battens fall and pressed the threads
together。 their faces were pinched with famine； and their thin
hands shook and trembled。 some haggard women were seated at a
table sewing。 a horrible odour filled the place。 the air was foul
and heavy； and the walls dripped and streamed with damp。
the young king went over to one of the weavers； and stood by him
and watched him。
and the weaver looked at him angrily； and said； why art thou
watching me？ art thou a spy set on us by our master？
who is thy master？ asked the young king。
our master！ cried the weaver； bitterly。 he is a man like
myself。 indeed； there is but this difference between us … that he
wears fine clothes while i go in rags； and that while i am weak
from hunger he suffers not a little from overfeeding。
the land is free； said the young king； and thou art no mans
slave。
in war； answered the weaver； the strong make slaves of the weak；
and in peace the rich make slaves of the poor。 we must work to
live； and they give us such mean wages that we die。 we toil for
them all day long； and they heap up gold in their coffers； and our
children fade away before their time； and the faces of those we
love bee hard and evil。 we tread out the grapes； and another
drinks the wine。 we sow the corn； and our own board is empty。 we
have chains； though no eye beholds them； and are slaves； though men
call us free。
is it so with all？ he asked；
it is so with all； answered the weaver； with the young as well
as with the old； with the women as well as with the men； with the
little children as well as with those who are stricken in years。
the merchants grind us down； and we must needs do their bidding。
the priest rides by and tells his beads； and no man has care of us。
through our sunless lanes creeps poverty with her hungry eyes； and
sin with his sodden face follows close behind her。 misery wakes us
in the morning； and shame sits with us at night。 but what are
these things to thee？ thou art not one of us。 thy face is too
happy。 and he turned away scowling； and threw the shuttle across
the loom； and the young king saw that it was threaded with a thread
of gold。
and a great terror seized upon him； and he said to the weaver；
what robe is this that thou art weaving？
it is the robe for the coronation of the young king； he answered；
what is that to thee？
and the young king gave a loud cry and woke； and lo！ he was in his
own chamber； and through the window he saw the great honey…coloured
moon hanging in the dusky air。
and he fell asleep again and dreamed； and this was his dream。
he thought that he was lying on the deck of a huge galley that was
being rowed by a hundred slaves。 on a carpet by his side the
master of the galley was seated。 he was black as ebony； and his
turban was of crimson silk。 great earrings of silver dragged down
the thick lobes of his ears； and in his hands he had a pair of
ivory scales。
the slaves were naked； but for a ragged loin…cloth； and each man
was chained to his neighbour。 the hot sun beat brightly upon them；
and the negroes ran up and down the gangway and lashed them with
whips of hide。 they stretched out their lean arms and pulled the
heavy oars through the water。 the salt spray flew from the blades。
at last they reached a little bay； and began to take soundings。 a
light wind blew from the shore； and covered the deck and the great
lateen sail with a fine red dust。 three arabs mounted on wild
asses rode out and threw spears at them。 the master of the galley
took a painted bow in his hand and shot one of them in the throat。
he fell heavily into the surf； and his panions galloped away。 a
woman wrapped in a yellow veil followed slowly on a camel； looking
back now and then at the dead body。
as soon as they had cast anchor and hauled down the sail； the
negroes went into the hold and brought up a long rope…ladder；
heavily weighted with lead。 the master of the galley threw it over
the side； making the ends fast to two iron stanchions。 then the
negroes seized the youngest of the slaves and knocked his gyves
off； and filled his nostrils and his ears with wax； and tied a big
stone round his waist。 he crept wearily down the ladder； and
disappeared into the sea。 a few bubbles rose where he sank。 some
of the other slaves peered curiously over the side。 at the prow of
the galley sat a shark…charmer； beating monotonously upon a drum。
after some time the diver rose up out of the water； and clung
panting to the ladder with a pearl in his right hand。 the negroes
seized it from him； and thrust him back。 the slaves fell asleep
over their oars。
again and again he came up； and each time that he did so he brought
with him a beautiful pearl。 the master of the galley weighed them；
and put them into a little bag of green leather。
the young king tried to speak； but his tongue seemed to cleave to
the roof of his mouth； and his lips refused to move。 the negroes
chattered to each other； and began to quarrel over a string of
bright beads。 two cranes flew round and round the vessel。
then the diver came up for the last time； and the pearl that he
brought with him was fairer than all the pearls of ormuz； for it
was shaped like the full moon； and whiter than the morning star。
but his face was strangely pale； and as he fell upon the deck the
blood gushed from his ears and nostrils。 he quivered for a little；
and then he was still。 the negroes shrugged their shoulders； and
threw the body overboard。
and the master of the galley laughed； and； reaching out； he took
the pearl； and when he saw it he pressed it to his forehead and
bowed。 it shall be； he said； for the sceptre of the young
king； and he made a sign to the negroes to draw up the anchor。
and when the young king heard this he gave a great cry； and woke；
and through the window he saw the long grey fingers of the dawn
clutching at the fading stars。
and he fell asleep again； and dreamed； and this was his dream。
he thought that he was wandering through a dim wood； hung with
strange fruits and with beautiful poisonous flowers。 the adders
hissed at him as he went by； and the bright parrots flew screaming
from branch to branch。 huge tortoises lay asleep upon the hot mud。
the trees were full of apes and peacocks。
on and on he went； till he reached the outskirts of the wood； and
there he saw an immense multitude of men toiling in the bed of a
dried…up river。 they swarmed up the crag like ants。 they dug deep
pits in the ground and went down into them。 some of them cleft the
rocks with great axes； others grabbled in the sand。
they tore up the cactus by its roots； and trampled on the scarlet
blossoms。 they hurried about； calling to each other； and no man
was idle。
from the darkness of a cavern death and avarice watched them； and
death said； i am weary； give me a third of them and let me go。
but avarice shook her head。 they are my servants； she answered。
and death said to her； what hast thou in thy hand？
i have three grains of corn； she answered； what is that to
thee？
give me one of them； cried death； to plant in my garden； only
one of them； and i will go away。
i will not give thee anything； said avarice； and she hid her hand
in the fold of her raiment。
and death laughed； and took a cup； and dipped it into a pool of
water； and out of the cup rose ague。 she passed through the great
multitude； and a third of them lay dead。 a cold mist followed her；
and the water…snakes ran by her side。
and when avarice saw that a third of the multitude was dead she
beat her breast and wept。 she beat her barren bosom； and cried
aloud。 thou hast slain a third of my servants； she cried； get
thee gone。 there is war in the mountains of tartary； and the kings
of each side are calling to thee。 the afghans have slain the black
ox； and are marching to battle。 they have beaten upon their
shields with their spears； and have put on their helmets of iron。
what is my valley to thee； that thou shouldst tarry in it？ get
thee gone； and e here no more。
nay； answered death； but till thou hast