We were then sitting under the greatest of the cedar trees, and he was
eating pomegranates from my lap. I looked from out the shade of the
cedar tree, and I saw the King of Babylon walking in his gardens.
The King was fearful; he looked to the right and to the left as he went
on. When he saw a little deer that was standing still he was startled,
and he turned back. As he came nigh the cedar tree he saw me standing
there before him. I prostrated myself and I said, “O King, fear not
for Babylon. The tower has not yet fallen, and the Magic Mirror will
yet be placed in your hands.” But the King only said, “Go to the tower
and bring back to me the black cock that I tied to a board but did not
sacrifice.” Thereupon the King went within the palace.
I called upon Eean to come, and we went down the Way of the Lions, and
through the Gate of Brass, and out into the city. It was the Hour of
the Market, but there were no people in the market place. We went on,
Eean and I, and we came before the tower. There we saw a throng such as
would have filled many markets, and they were standing round and gazing
on the tower.
I had never looked before on the Tower of Babylon. It was built tower
upon tower to the height of four towers, and its color was red. Around
the whole height of it went a stairway showing steps on this side and
that as it went winding around. On the top of the topmost tower I saw a
gleam, and I knew it was the Magic Mirror of the Babylonians.
That gleam dazzled me and put into my mind the thought of going to the
top of the tower. I, out of all that throng, would go and bring down
the Magic Mirror! I went amongst them and they let me pass, for I had
on me now the dress of one who belonged to the palace. I stood before
the throng and I saw where a great space of rock was worn smooth--it
was the rock against which Harut and Marut had lain.
I came to the first steps of the tower, and I climbed three of them. I
heard the murmur of those who spoke of me, and I stood still. Then up
the first round of the steps I went, keeping my mind from the thought
of the great height that was above me. I came at last to where the
second tower grew from the top of the first, and I stood and looked
down, and I saw that the men below had already become little. It was
then that I felt terror of the height that was above me.
I began to climb the steps of the second tower, fearful to look down
and fearful to think of the number of steps that were before me. I went
on and up, all in a terrible silence, and feeling that at the step
above me something unbelievable would happen.
After a great length of time I came out on the space that was the top
of the second tower. On that breadth I rested. As I waited there the
coldness of death seemed to come over me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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