The weird of the wanderer Being the papyrus records of some incidents in one of the previous lives of Mr. Nicholas Crabbe
my sons, with the sons of neighbouring kings, as hostages, to Rome.
Here, also, shall be written of the manner of my dealing with the said
embassador, at high noon, on a terrace of my palace builded of white
jade and alabaster and eye-chalcedonyx and silver, on the shore of
my Thospitian Sea: to whom I casually appeared, of immortal stature,
blazing like the serene and vivid moon, arrayed in ermine and silver
tissue sown all over with rose-crystals and blue moonstones, flying
through the air across the sea in my silver-shining chariot inlaid with
crabs and moons in mother-of-pearl, having with me (in the chariot)
Queen Helen, daughter of Zeys the Swan, robed in gold and amethyst
tissue, with her gold hair floating like a web of woven sunbeams, and
with immortal Hermes the Luck-bringer, wing-footed, golden-wanded,
flying (as usual) above my head, and with immortal Love, my charioteer.
Here, also, shall be written of the splendid ceremonies which I caused
to be observed at the interment of the Roman embassador, after his
intempestive demise.
On the twelfth roll, it shall be written of the names of all the mages
of all kingdoms on the wide-bosomed earth, whom I have brought into
my kingdom, where they teach their wisdom to me and to my mages, and
learn ours, serving me in both ways. Here also shall be written of the
histories of those mages, and of the magics which they have used as
masters.
On the thirteenth roll, it shall be written (in the hand of Empedokles
son of Polypemon, and in his own words) of who he was and whence he
came: but he shall write also (in my words) of the reason why I brought
him into my kingdom, and of what he has done there.
On the fourteenth roll, it shall be written of the book of magic
inchantments which I (of my wisdom) compiled for my royal college of
mages seeking wisdom: of the parts of the said book, and also the
secret[68]....
FOOTNOTES:
[66] Euphrates, of course. A. H.
[67] The word here is “pterodactyl.” The largest known specimen of
this abominable winged lizard measures about six metres from wing-tip
to wing-tip. Its frightful crocodilish jaws seem to indicate a very
voracious appetite. But I was unaware that the species persisted till
so late a date. Perhaps I ought to add that the “pteranodon” was about
the same size: but the wing-dimension of the “rhamphorhynkhos” was only
a little over two metres. Both, however, seem to have been extremely
nasty creatures. A. H.
[68] Most unfortunately this Thirty-third Papyrus ends abruptly here.
A. H.
THE THIRTY-FOURTH PAPYRUS
Now I, Queen Helen, daughter of Zeys, an immortal, say these words to
be written fairly by Empedokles son of Polypemon, scribe of my beloved
lord and true husband King Balthazar of Moxoene, whom the immortals and
the Argives call King Odysseys, but he calls himself Nikolaos the Crab,
viceroy of Victory queen of the stalwart stately Anglicans.
And these are the words which I shall say for the scribe to write.
* * * * *
Yesterday, at dawn, our strange and very dear son Nikolaos Diadokhos
came with the faithful Thalos from our royal college of mages.
They said to the king that they had seen a great new Star, suddenly
shining in the south-western heaven, far brighter than any other star
ever seen, and moving south-westward.
My lord and husband the king, having straitly examined them, became
filled with fear and gladness strangely commingled. I never have seen
him thus.
My lord and husband the king enacted an act of regency, naming me,
Queen Helen, as Regent of his kingdom of Moxoene.
My lord and husband the king arrayed himself in his silver-shining
panoply, and he caused our strange and very dear son Nikolaos Diadokhos
and the faithful Thalos to put on their garments of glory.
My lord and husband the king summoned his silver-shining chariot; and
he caused our strange and very dear son Nikolaos Diadokhos and the
faithful Thalos to mount to their places.
My lord and husband the king, with his own hands, took out of our
treasury that casket of rock-crystal, three spans long and two spans
deep and one span broad, which, during his leisure of these many years,
he has carved with crabs and moons and inlaid with blue moonstones,
binding it with hasps and hinges and bands of silver, all with his
own hands; and he filled it full with our royal quintessence of
gum-olibanon, which he has sublimed, also with his own hands during his
leisure of these many years.
My lord and husband the king kissed me in a manner which he never
has used before, bidding me to be of good heart and ready to receive
tidings of great joy.
Having done all these strange things, my lord and husband the king
ascended his silver-shining chariot, with the two mages aforesaid,
taking with him the rock-crystal casket of frankincense aforesaid; and,
so, he very swiftly departed south-westward, at sunset, following the
Star.
Now I, Queen Helen, daughter of Zeys, an immortal, having already
endured many evils, and being now perturbed in my mind, have caused
these words to be written, that I may place them in a most secret holy
crypt. And I will place them with that which is most dear, which is
there, and with the secret silver urns which contain toys, and with
the secret silver chest which contains writings, because these are the
chief treasures of my lord the king.
And, when I have done this, I will see the secret holy crypt closed by
Empedokles son of Polypemon and by the faithful Neandros. And I will
seal the door with the royal sigil. And I will see the very door itself
hidden by the faithful Neandros.
And I will do all these things, that my lord and husband the king may
find his secrets safe, when he shall return to me. For I know not when
he shall return to me.
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