The Worm Ouroboros: The Prelude to Zimiamvia. James Francis Stephens
more,’ said the lady; ‘thy voice is cracked this morning. Is none abroad yet thou canst find to tell me of last night’s doings? Or are all gone my lord’s gate, that I left sleeping still as though all the poppies of all earth’s gardens breathed drowsiness about his head?’
‘One cometh, madam,’ said the damosel.
The lady said, ‘The Lord Gro. He may resolve me. Though were he in the stour last night, that were a wonder indeed.’
Therewith came Gro along the terrace from the north, clad in a mantle of dun-coloured velvet with a collar of raised work of gold upon silver purl; and his long black curly beard was perfumed with orange-flower water and angelica. When they had greeted one another and the lady had bidden her women stand apart, she said, ‘My lord, I thirst for tidings. Recount to me all that befell since sundown. For I slept soundly till the streaks of morning showed through my chamber windows, and then I awoke from a flying dream of sennets sounding to the onset, and torches in the night, and war’s alarums. And there were torches indeed in my chamber lighting my lord to bed, that answered me no word but straightway fell asleep as in utter weariness. Some slight scratches he hath, but else unhurt. I would not wake him, for balm is in slumber; also is he ill to do with if one wake him so. But the tattle and wild surmise of the servants bloweth as ever to all points of wonder: as that a great armament of Demonland is disembarked at Tenemos, and all routed last night by my lord and by Corinius, and Goldry Bluszco slain in single combat with the King. Or that Juss hath set a charm on Laxus and all our fleet, making them sail like parricides against this land, Juss and the other Demons leading them; and all slain save Laxus and Goldry Bluszco, but these brought bound into Carcë, stark mad and frothing at the lips, and Corinius dead of his wounds after slaying of Brandoch Daha. Or, foolishly,’ and her green eyes lightened dangerously, ‘that it was my brother risen in revolt to wrest Pixyland from the overlordship of Gorice, and joined with Gaslark to that end, and their army overthrown and both ta’en prisoner.’
Gro laughed and said, ‘Surely, O my Lady Prezmyra, truth masketh in many a strange disguise when she rideth rumour’s broomstick through kings’ palaces. But somewhat of herself hath she shown thee, if thou conclude that an event was brought to birth betwixt dark and sunrise to stagger the world, and that the power of Witchland bloomed forth this night into unbeholden glory.’
‘Thou speakest big, my lord,’ said the lady. ‘Were the Demons in it?’
‘Ay, madam,’ he said.
‘And triumphed on? and slain?’
‘All slain save Juss and Brandoch Daha, and they taken,’ said Gro.
‘Was this my lord’s doing?’ she asked.
‘Greatly, as I think,’ said Gro; ‘though Corinius claimeth for himself, as commonly, the main honour of it.’
Prezmyra said, ‘He claimeth overmuch.’ And she said, ‘There were none in it save Demons?’
Gro, knowing her thought, smiled and made answer, ‘Madam, there were Witches.’
‘My Lord Gro,’ she cried, ‘thou dost ill to mock me. Thou art my friend. Thou knowest the Prince my brother proud and sudden to anger. Thou knowest it chafeth him to have Witchland over him. Thou knowest the time is many days overpast when he should bring his yearly tribute to the King.’
Gro’s great ox-eyes were soft as he looked upon the Lady Prezmyra, saying, ‘Most assuredly am I thy friend, madam. Belike, if truth were told, thou and thy lord are all the true friends I have in waterish Witchland: you two, and the King: but who sleepeth safe in the favour of kings? Ah, madam, none of Pixyland stood in the battle yesternight. Therefore let thy soul be at ease. But my task it was, standing on the battlements beside the King, to smile and smile while Corinius and our fighting men made a bloody havoc of four or five hundred of mine own kinsfolk.’
Prezmyra caught her breath and was silent a moment. Then, ‘Gaslark?’
‘The main force was his, it appeareth,’ answered Lord Gro. ‘Corinius braggeth himself his banesman, and certain it is he felled him to earth. But I am secretly advertised he was not among the dead taken up this morning.’
‘My lord,’ she said, ‘my desire for news drinks deep while thou art fasting. Some, bring meat and wine for my Lord Gro.’ And two damosels ran and returned with sparkling golden wine in a beaker, and a dish of lampreys with hippocras sauce. So Gro sat him down on the jasper bench and, while he ate and drank, rehearsed to the Lady Prezmyra the doings of the night.
When he had ended she said, ‘How hath the King dealt with those twain, Lord Juss and Lord Brandoch Daha?’
Gro answered, ‘He hath them clapped up in the old banqueting hall in the Iron Tower.’ And his brow darkened, and he said, ‘’Tis pity thy lord lay thus long abed, and so came not to the council, where Corsus and Corinius, backed by thy step-sons and the sons of Corsus, egged on the King to use shamefully these lords of Demonland. True is that distich which admonisheth us—
Know when to speak, for many times it brings
Danger to give the best advice to Kings;
and little for my health, and little gain withal, had it been had I then openly withstood them. Corinius is ever watchful to fling Goblin in my teeth. But Corund weigheth in their councils as his hand weigheth in battle.’
Now as Gro spake came the Lord Corund on the terrace, calling for still wine to cool his throat withal. Prezmyra poured forth to him: ‘Thou art blamed to me for keeping thy bed, my lord, that shouldst have been devising with the King touching our enemies ta’en captive in this night gone by.’
Corund sat by his lady on the bench and drank. ‘If that be all, madam,’ said he, ‘then have I little to charge my conscience withal. For nought lies readier than strike off their heads, and so bring all to a fit and happy ending.’
‘Far otherwise,’ said Gro, ‘hath the King determined. He let drag before him Lord Juss and Lord Brandoch Daha, and with many fleers and jibes, “Welcome,” he saith, “to Carcë. Your table shall not lack store of delicates while ye are my guests; albeit ye come unbidden.” Therewith he let drag them to the old banquet hall. And he bade his smiths drive great iron staples into the wall, whereon he let hang up the Demons by their wrists, spread-eagled against the wall, making both wrists and ankles fast to the staples with gyves of iron. And the King let dight the table before their feet as for a banquet, that the sight and the savour might torment them. And he called all us to his council thither that we might praise his conceit and mock them anew.’
Said Prezmyra, ‘A great king should rather be a dog that killeth clean, than a cat that patteth and sporteth with his prey.’
‘True it is,’ said Corund, ‘that they were safer slain.’ He rose from his seat. ‘’Twere not amiss,’ he said, ‘that I had word with the King.’
‘Wherefore so?’ asked Prezmyra.
‘He that sleepeth late,’ said Corund, eyeing her humorously, ‘sometimes hath news for her that riseth betimes to sit on the western terrace. And this was I come to tell thee, that I but now beheld eastward from our chamber window, riding toward Carcë out of Pixyland down the Way of Kings—’
‘La Fireez?’ she said.
‘Mine eyes be strong enow and clear enow,’ said Corund, ‘but thou’dst scarce require me swear to mine own brother at three miles’ distance. And as for thine, I leave thee the swearing.’
‘Who should ride down the Way of Kings from Pixyland,’ cried Prezmyra, ‘but La Fireez?’
‘That, madam, let Echo answer thee,’ said Corund. ‘And it sticketh in my mind, that the Prince my brother-in-law is one that tieth to his heartstrings the remembrance of past benefits. This too, that none did him ever a greater benefit than Juss, that saved his life six winters back in Impland the More. Wherefore, if La Fireez be to share our revels this night, needful it is that the King command these gabblers to keep silence touching our entertainment