While she was so thinking Pan returned, a little disheartened
that he had found no person to listen to his pipings. He had been
seated but a little time when suddenly, from without, a chorus of
birds burst into joyous singing. Limpid and liquid cadenzas, mellow
flutings, and the sweet treble of infancy met and danced and piped
in the airy soundings. A round, soft tenderness of song rose and
fell, broadened and soared, and then the high flight was snatched,
eddied a moment, and was borne away to a more slender and wonderful
loftiness, until, from afar, that thrilling song turned on the very
apex of sweetness, dipped steeply and flashed its joyous return
to the exultations of its mates below, rolling an ecstasy of song
which for one moment gladdened the whole world and the sad people
who moved thereon; then the singing ceased as suddenly as it began,
a swift shadow darkened the passage, and Angus Óg came into the
cave.
Caitilin sprang from her seat Frighted, and Pan also made a half
movement towards rising, but instantly sank back again to his
negligent, easy posture.
The god was slender and as swift as a wind. His hair swung about
his face like golden blossoms. His eyes were mild and dancing and
his lips smiled with quiet sweetness. About his head there flew
perpetually a ring of singing birds, and when he spoke his voice
came sweetly from a centre of sweetness.
“Health to you, daughter of Murrachu,” said he, and he sat down.
“I do not know you, sir,” the terrified girl whispered.
“I cannot be known until I make myself known,” he replied. “I am
called Infinite Joy, O daughter of Murrachu, and I am called Love.”
The girl gazed doubtfully from one to the other.
Pan looked up from his pipes.
“I also am called Love,” said he gently, “and I am called Joy.”
Angus Óg looked for the first time at Pan.
“Singer of the Vine,” said he, “I know your names-they are Desire
and Fever and Lust and Death. Why have you come from your own place
to spy upon my pastures and my quiet fields?”
Pan replied mildly.
“The mortal gods move by the Immortal Will, and, therefore, I am
here.”
“And I am here,” said Angus.
“Give me a sign,” said Pan, “that I must go.”
Angus Óg lifted his hand and from without there came again the
triumphant music of the birds.
“It is a sign,” said he, “the voice of Dana speaking in the air,”
and, saying so, he made obeisance to the great mother.
Pan lifted his hand, and from afar there came the lowing of the
cattle and the thin voices of the goats.
“It is a sign,” said he, “the voice of Demeter speaking from the
earth,” and he also bowed deeply to the mother of the world.
Again Angus Óg lifted his hand, and in it there appeared a spear,
bright and very terrible.
But Pan only said, “Can a spear divine the Eternal Will?” and Angus
Óg put his weapon aside, and he said: “The girl will choose between
us, for the Divine Mood shines in the heart of man.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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