The girl now ceased writing and covered her face with her hand, weeping bitterly, as though her great soul bridled at putting her most sacred thoughts on paper but instead revealed them as hot tears soon dried, mingling with the subtle æther, the homeland of lovers’ breaths and the scent of blossoms. After a moment she took the pen and began to write: “My friend, do you remember that youth? Do you remember the light shining from his eyes and the sorrows engraved in his brow? Do you remember his smile, a smile like the tears of a mother who has lost her child? Do you remember his voice, like an echo in a distant valley? Do you remember his long thoughtful looks as he considered something, how he would then speak of it in an unusual way? How he would then bow his head and sigh as though he feared that his words would reveal the secrets of his great heart? Do you remember his dreams and his beliefs? Do you remember how all these things were in a youth whom men reckoned to be only a man and whom my father belittled because he was above earthly desires and too noble to inherit nobility from his ancestors? My sister, you know that I am a martyr to the petty things of this world, a sacrifice to its stupidity. You will pity a sister who watches wakeful in the silence of the fearful night revealing the secrets of her heart to you. You will pity her, for love has also visited your heart.”

When the morning came, the girl at last fell asleep, perhaps to find there dreams finer than the dreams of wakefulness.

DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA

DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA

In the depths of the sea surrounding the islands far to the east, in the depths where many pearls are found, floated the dead body of a young man. The goldenhaired daughters of the sea gathered around it. They sat on ridges of coral looking at it with bright blue eyes. The deep sea heard their musical voices. The waves bore their voices to the shores, and the breeze carried them to my soul.

One said, “This man died yesterday when the sea was angry.”

A second said, “The sea was not angry, but rather Man, he who claims to be descended from the gods. Much blood was spilled in a fierce war, and the sea turned scarlet. This man was killed in the war.”

A third said, “I do not know what war is, but I know that after Man conquered the dry land, he lusted to rule the sea. He devised strange machines and ploughed the sea. Neptune, god of the seas, learned of this and grew angry at this transgression. Man could only seek to placate our lord with sacrifices and gifts. The corpses that fell yesterday were but the latest offering from Man to great Neptune.”