cheerless sea. For that which a man loves most is not on this side of
Time, and all which drifts on its aeons is a lure.

"All knowledge is with the King."

Then said the King: "Ay, there was a dream once but Time hath swept it
away."


_III_

Then spake Monith, Prophet of the Temple of Azure that stands on the
snow-peak of Ahmoon and said: "All knowledge is with the King. Once
thou didst set out upon a one day's journey riding thy horse and before
thee had gone a beggar down the road, and his name was Yeb. Him thou
didst overtake and when he heeded not thy coming thou didst ride over
him.

"Upon the journey that thou shalt one day take riding upon no horse,
this beggar has set out before thee and is labouring up the crystal
steps towards the moon as a man goeth up the steps of a high tower in
the dark. On the moon's edge beneath the shadow of Mount Angises he
shall rest awhile and then shall climb the crystal steps again. Then a
great journey lies before him before he may rest again till he come to
that star that is called the left eye of Gundo. Then a journey of many
crystal steps lieth before him again with nought to guide him but the
light of Omrazu. On the edge of Omrazu shall Yeb tarry long, for the
most dreadful part of his journey lieth before him. Up the crystal
steps that lie beyond Omrazu he must go, and any that follow, though
the howling of all the meteors that ride the sky; for in that part of