The Worm Ouroboros by Eric Rücker Eddison (english readers txt) 📕

from our lady wives and dear children and all our good land and fee

the fury of the men of Witchland, and to save alive the great name of

Demonland. Let not thy proud heart be capable of despair.”

But Spitfire groaned and said, “Certain it was that woe and evil hap

must be to Demonland until my kinsmen be gotten home again. And that

day I think shall never dawn.” And he cried, “Boasted he not that he

is king in Demonland? and yet I had not my sword in his umbles. And

thou thinkest I’ll live in shame?”

Therewithal he strove again to tear off the bandages, but Voile

prevented him. And he raved and said, “Who was it forced me from the

battle? ‘Tis pity of his life, to have abused me so. Better dead than

run from Corinius like a beaten puppy. Let me go, false traitors! I

will amend this. I will die fighting. Let me go back.”

Volle said, “Lift up thine eyes, great Spitfire, and behold the lady

moon, how virgin free she walketh the wide fields of heaven, and the

glory of the stars of heaven which in their multitudes attend her. And

as little as earthly mists and storms do dim her, but though she be

hid awhile yet when the tempest is abated and the sky swept bare of

clouds there she appeareth again in her steadfast course, mistress of

tides and seasons and swayer of the fates of mortal men: even such is

the glory of sea-girt Demonland, and the glory of thine house, O

Spitfire. And as little as commotions in the heavens should avail to

remove these everlasting mountains, so little availeth disastrous war,

though it be a great fight lost as was to-day, to shake down our

greatness, that are mightiest with the spear from of old and able to

make all earth bow to our glory.”

So said Volle. And the Lord Spitfire looked out across the mist-choked

sleeping valley to the great rock-faces dim in the moonlight and the

lean peaks grand and silent beneath the moon. He spake not, whether

for strengthlessness or as charmed to silence by the mighty influences

of night and the mountain solitudes and by Volle’s voice speaking deep

and quiet in his ear, like the voice of night herself calming earthborn tumults and despairs.

After a time Volle spake once more: “Thy brethren shall come home

again: doubt it not. But till then art thou our strength. Therefore

have patience; heal thy wounds; and raise forces again. But shouldst

thou in desperate madness destroy thy life, then were we shent

indeed.”

Of the entry of the Lord Corinius into Owlswick

and how he was crowned in Spitfire’s sapphire

chair as viceroy of Gorice the King and King in

Demonland: and how all that were in Owlswick

Castle did so receive and acknowledge him.

CORINIUS, having completed this great victory, came with his army

north again to Owlswick as daylight began to fade. The drawbridge was

let down for him and the great gates flung wide, that were studded

with silver and ribbed with adamant; and in great pomp rode he and his

into Owlswick Castle, over the causey builded of the living rock and

great blocks of hewn granite out of Tremmerdale. The more part of his

army lay in Spitfire’s camp before the castle, but a thousand were

with him in his entry into Owlswick with Corund’s sons and the lords

Gro and Laxus besides, for the fleet had put across to anchor there

when they saw the day was won.

Corsus greeted them well, and would have brought them to their

lodgings near his own chamber, that they might put off their harness

and don clean linen and festival garments before supper. But Corinius

excused himself, saying he had eat nought since breakfast-time: “Let

us therefore not pass for ceremony, but bring us I pray you forthright

to the banquet house.”

Corinius went in with Corsus before them all, putting lovingly about

his shoulder his arm all befouled with dust and clotted blood. For he

had not so much as stayed for washing of his hands. And that was

scarce good for the broidered cloak of purple taffety the Duke Corsus

wore about his shoulders. Howbeit, Corsus made as if he marked it not.

When they were come into the hall, Corsus looked about him and said,

“So it is, my Lord Corinius, that this hall is something little for

the great press that here befalleth. Many of mine own folk that be of

some account should by long custom sit down with us. And here be no

seats left for them. Prithee command some of the common sort that came

in with thee to give place, that all may be done orderly. Mine

officers must not scramble in the buttery.”

“I’m sorry, my lord,” answered Corinius, “but needs must that we

bethink us o’ these lads of mine which have chiefly borne the toil of

battle, and well I weet thou’lt not deny them this honour to sit at

meat with us: these that thou hast most to thank for opening Owlswick

gates and raising the siege our enemies held so long against you.”

So they took their seats, and supper was set before them: kids stuffed

with walnuts and almonds and pistachios; herons in sauce cameline,

chines of beef geese and bustards; and great beakers andjars of

ruby-hearted wine. Right fain of the good banquet were Corinius and his

folk, and silence was in the hall for awhile save for the clatter of

dishes and the champing of the mouths of the feasters.

At length Corinius, quaffing down at one draught a mighty goblet of

wine, spake and said, “There was battle in the meads by Thremnir’s

Heugh to-day, my lord Duke. Wast thou at that battle?”

Corsus’s heavy cheeks flushed somewhat red. He answered, “Thou knowest

I was not. And I should account it most blameable hotheadedness to

have sallied forth when it seemed Spitfire had the victory.”

“O my lord,” said Corinius, “think not I made this a quarrel to thee.

The rather let me show thee how much I hold thee in honour.”

Therewith he called his boy that stood behind his chair, and the boy

returned anon with a diadem of polished gold set all about with

topazes that had passed through the fire; and on the frontlet of that

diadem was the small figure of a crab-fish in dull iron, the eyes of

it two green beryls on stalks of silver. The boy set it down on the

table before the Lord Corinius, as it had been a dish of meat before

him. Corinius took a writing from his purse, and laid it on the table

for Corsus to see. And there was the signet upon it of the worm

Ouroboros in scarlet wax, and the sign manual of Gorice the King.

“My Lord Corsus,” said he, “and ye sons of Corsus, and ye other

Witches, I do you to wit that our Lord the King made me by these

tokens his viceroy for his province of Demonland, and willed that I

should bear a king’s name in this land and that under him all should

render me obedience.”

Corsus, looking on the crown and the royal warrant of the King, waxed

in one instant deadly pale, and in the next red as blood.

Corinius said, “To thee, O Corsus, out of all these great ones that

here be gathered together in Owlswick, will I submit me for thee to

crown me with this crown, as king in Demonland. This, that thou mayst

see and know how most I honour thee.”

Now were all silent, waiting on Corsus to speak. But he spake not a

word. Dekalajus said privily in his ear, “O my father, if the monkey

reigns, dance before him. Time shall bring us occasion to right you.”

And Corsus, disregarding not this wholesome rede, for all he might not

wholly rule his countenance, yet ruled himself to bite in the injuries

he was fain to utter. And with no ill grace he did that office, to set

on Corinius’s head the new crown of Demonland.

Corinius sat now in Spitfire’s seat, whence Corsus had moved to make

place for him: in Spitfire’s high seat of smoke-coloured jade,

curiously carved and set with velvet-lustred sapphires, and right and

left of him were two high candlesticks of fine gold. The breadth of

his shoulders filled all the space between the pillars of the spacious

seat. A hard man he looked to deal with, clothed upon with youth and

strength and all armed and yet smoking from the battle.

Corsus, sitting between his sons, said under his breath, “Rhubarb!

bring me rhubarb to purge away this choler!”

But Dekalajus whispered him, “Softly, tread easy. Let not our counsels

walk in a net, thinking they are hidden. Nurse him to security, which

shall be our safety and the mean to our wiping out this shaming. Was

not Gallandus as big a man?”

Corsus’s dull eye gleamed. He lifted a brimming winecup to toast

Corinius. And Corinius hailed him and said, “My lord Duke, call in

thine officers I pray thee and proclaim me, that they in turn may

proclaim me king unto all the army that is in Owlswick.”

Which Corsus did, albeit sore against his liking, knowing not where to

find a reason against it.

When the plaudits were heard in the courts without, acclaiming him as

king, Corinius spake again and said, “I and my folk be a-weary, my

lord, and would betimes to our rest. Give order, I pray thee, that

they make ready my lodgings. And let them be those same lodgings

Gallandus had whenas he was in Owlswick.”

Whereat Corsus might scarce forbear a start. But Corinius’s eye was on

him, and he gave the order.

While he waited for his lodgings to be made ready, the Lord Corinius

made great good cheer, calling for more wine and fresh dainties to set

before those lords of Witchland: olives, and botargoes, and conserves

of goose’s liver richly seasoned, taken from Spitfire’s plenteous

store.

In the meantime Corsus spake softly to his sons: “I like not his

naming of Gallandus. Yet seemeth he careless, as one that feareth no

guile.”

And Dekalajus answered in his ear, “Peradventure the Gods ordained his

destruction, to make him choose that chamber.”

So they laughed. And the banquet drew to a close with much pleasure

and merrymaking.

Now came serving men with torches to light them to their chambers. As

they stood up to bid goodnight, Corinius said, “I’m sorry, my lord,

if, after thy pleasant usage, I should do aught that is not convenable

to thee. But I doubt not Owlswick Castle must be irksome to thee and

thy sons, that were so long mewed up within it, and I doubt not ye are

wearied by this siege and long warfare. Therefore it is my will that

you do instantly depart home to Witchland. Laxus hath a ship manned

ready to transport you thither. To put a fit and friendly term to our

festivities, we’ll bring you down to the ship.”

Corsus’s jaw fell. Yet he schooled his tongue to say, “My lord, so as

it shall please thee. Yet let me know thy reasons. Surely the swords

of me and my sons avail not so little for Witchland in this country of

our evil-willers that we should sheathe ‘em and go home. Howbeit, ‘tis

a matter demandeth no sweaty haste. We will take rede hereon in the

morning.”

But Corinius answered