 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
follow him will I cut off even as the limb is cut from the tree, and
they shall wither and perish and be no more.'
And he who had been Gorim and was now called UL-GO spake
unto the people and commanded them to take up their goods and
their cattle and to follow him into the mountains before them.
And behold, the elders of the people believed him not, nor that
the Voice which they had heard had been the Voice of UL, and they
spake unto him in great despite, saying, 'If thou be the servant of the
God UL, perform thou a wonder in proof thereof.'
And UL-GO answered them, saying, 'Behold thy skin and thy
hair. Is this not wonder enough for thee?'
And they were troubled and went away. And again they came
unto him, saying, 'Lo, the mark upon us is by reason of a pestilence
which hath fallen upon us and which thou hast brought unto us from
some unclean place. Still see we no wonder in proof of the favor of
the God UL.'
And UL-GO grew weary of them and spake in a great voice,
saying, 'Verily I say unto the people, ye have heard the Voice of the
Great God UL. Much have I suffered in thy behalf, and now will I
return even unto Prolgu, the holy place. Let him who would follow
rne do; let him who would not, remain.And he spake no more, but
turned and went even toward the mountains. And some few of the
people took up their goods and their cattle and followed him. But
behold, the greater part of the people remained, and they reviled
UL-GO and those who followed him, saying, 'Where is this wonder
l!,'
i
THE RIVAN CODEX
which proves the favor of UL? We defy the Voice which spake unto
ds. We will not follow UL-CO, neither will we obey him, and behold,
we wither not, neither do we perish.'
And UL-GO looked upon them with a great sadness and spake
unto them for the last time, saying, Verily, ye have besought a wonder
from me. Behold, then, the wonder. Even as the Voice of UL hath
said are ye wither'd as the limb of the tree which is cut off. In this
day have ye perished . And he led the few who would follow him
up into the mountains even unto Prolgu.
And the multitude of the people mocked hhnhim and then returned
they unto their tents and laughed at the folly of those who had
followed UL-CO.
'Behold,' they said, 'howso are we wither'd, and by what token
might we know that we have perished?' And they 'laughed at this
great folly for the space of a year, and then laughed no more, for
behold, their women were barren and bore no more, and the people
wither'!d as the limb that is cut off, and, in time, they perished and
were no more.
But the people who followed UL-GO came with him unto Prolgu,
the holy place, and built there a city' and the Spirit of UL was with
them, and they dwelt m peace with all the creatures who had sustamed
UL-CO.
And the peace of UL was with them for a thousand years, and yet
another thousand, and they were troubled not. And they deemed