 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
and they prospered and grew numerous. And in their gratitude
raised they up an altar unto me in the high places of Korim which are
no more. And to test and prove their love of me, I required at certain
seasons the sacrifice of a score of their fairest maidens and another
score of their bravest youths. And it was done gladly, so great was
their love of me, and was it deemed honor to be chosen for the knife
and the altar-fire. And I was well-pleased and blessed them even
more, and they prospered above all men and multiplied exceedingly.
And it came to pass that my brother, Aldur, who had despite unto
me in that I had a numerous people who loved and worshiped me,
conspired in the secret places of his soul and created in my despite a
thing with which he might thwart my purposes, and a thing
whereby he might gain Lordship and Dominion.
Went I then unto Aldur and besought him that he give up this
thing and return to the fellowship of the Gods. But he had despite
unto me and spake slightingly to me in a manner unfit, and I saw
that this thing which he had made had such power over him that it
twisted his soul and raised enmity between him and his brothers.
And so it was that to save my brother took I the burden of the 'g
itself upon me.
But Aldur was wroth and went unto our brothers and beguiled
them into enmity toward me, and each of them came to me and
spake slightingly unto me, commanding me to return to Aldur the
thing that had twisted his soul and which I had taken that he might
be freed of the enchantment of it. But I resisted them, and would in
no wise do it.
Then girded they for war, and the sky was made black with the
stinking smoke of their forges as their people beat out weapons with
which to rend and maim my people.
But I would not permit it - that the blood of men be spilt and the
Gods make war upon each other, and raised I the cursed thing
which Aldur had made and with it divided I the land that the seas
might come in and separate the peoples one from the other that they
might not come upon each other and their blood be spilt.
But such was the malice which Aldur had wrought into the thing
accursed that in the day that I raised it to divide the world that
men's blood not be spilt did it smite me with fire. Even as I spake
the commands unto it did it sear my flesh. And the malice of Aldur
consumed the hand with which I held the thing accurs6d and
blinded the eye with which I beheld it and marred one half of my
face with its burning.
And I caused it to be bound up in a cask of iron that it might
injure none other, and named it CTHRAG-YASKA, the burning
stone, that men and Gods might be wary of it and its evil never
again be unleashed to destroy flesh with the malice of Aldur. And
it
upon myself I took the burden of guarding CTHRAG-YASKA that I
be bound in iron until the end of days and all its mischief with it.
And I bore my people away to the east in Mallorea, and on a
sheltered plain did they build a great city and called its name Cthol
Mishrak in remembrance of my suffering. And I concealed their city