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。 so i gave myself to magic； and spent my life in fasting and in labour that i might bring the gods and the fairies to my side； and now at last one of the fairies has told me that the moment is at hand。 one； who wore a red cap and whose lips were white with the froth of the new milk； whispered it into my ear。 tomorrow； a little before the close of the first hour after dawn； i shall find the moment； and then i will go away to a southern land and build myself a palace of white marble amid orange trees； and gather the brave and the beautiful about me； and enter into the eternal kingdom of my youth。 but； that i may hear the whole song； i was told by the little fellow with the froth of the new milk on his lips； that you must bring great masses of green boughs and pile them about the door and the window of my room； and you must put fresh green rushes upon the floor； and cover the table and the rushes with the roses and the lilies of the monks。 you must do this to？night； and in the morning at the end of the first hour after dawn； you must e and find me。
will you be quite young then？ said the boy。
i will be as young then as you are； but now i am still old and tired； and you must help me to my chair and to my books。
when the boy had left aengus son of forbis in his room； and had lighted the lamp which； by some contrivance of the wizards； gave forth a sweet odour as of strange flowers； he went into the wood and began cutting green boughs from the hazels； and great bundles of rushes from the western border of the isle； where the small rocks gave place to gently sloping sand and clay。 it was nightfall before he had cut enough for his purpose； and well？nigh midnight before he had carried the last bundle to its place； and gone back for the roses and the lilies。 it was one of those warm； beautiful nights when everything seems carved of precious stones。
sleuth wood away to the south looked as though cut out of green beryl； and the waters that mirrored them shone like pale opal。 the roses he was gathering were like glowing rubies； and the lilies had the dull lustre of pearl。 everything had taken upon itself the look of something imperishable； except a glow？worm； whose faint flame burnt on steadily among the shadows； moving slowly hither and thither； the only thing that seemed alive； the only thing that seemed perishable as mortal hope。 the boy gathered a great armful of roses and lilies； and thrusting the glow？ worm among their pearl and ruby； carried them into the room； where the old man sat in a half？slumber。 he laid armful after armful upon the floor and above the table； and then； gently closing the door； threw himself upon his bed of rushes； to dream of a peaceful manhood with his chosen wife at his side； and the laughter of children in his ears。 at dawn he rose； and went down to the edge of the lake； taking the hour？glass with him。 he put some bread and a flask of wine in the boat； that his master might not lack food at the outset of his journey； and then sat down to wait until the hour from dawn had gone by。
gradually the birds began to sing； and when the last grains of sand were falling； everything suddenly seemed to overflow with their music。 it was the most beautiful and living moment of the year； one could listen to the springs heart beating in it。 he got up and went to find his master。 the green boughs filled the door； and he had to make a way through them。 when he entered the room the sunlight was falling in flickering circles on floor and walls and table； and everything was full of soft green shadows。 but the old man sat clasping a mass of roses and lilies in his arms； and with his head sunk upon his breast。 on the table； at his left hand； was a leathern wallet full of gold and silver pieces； as for a journey； and at his right hand was a long staff。 the boy touched him and he did not move。 he lifted the hands but they were quite cold； and they fell heavily。
it were better for him； said the lad； to have told his beads and said his prayers like another； and not to have spent his days in seeking amongst the immortal powers what he could have found in his own deeds and days had he willed。 ah； yes； it were better to have said his prayers and kissed his beads！ he looked at the threadbare blue velvet； and he saw it was covered with the pollen of the flowers； and while he was looking at it a thrush； who had alighted among the boughs that were piled against the window； began to sing。
。。
THE CURSE OF THE FIRES AND OF THE SHADOWS
。
one summer night； when there was peace； a score of puritan troopers under the pious sir frederick hamilton； broke through the door of the abbey of the white friars which stood over the gara lough at sligo。 as the door fell with a crash they saw a little knot of friars； gathered about the altar； their white habits glimmering in the steady light of the holy candles。 all the monks were kneeling except the abbot； who stood upon the altar steps with a great brazen crucifix in his hand。 shoot them！ cried sir frederick hamilton； but none stirred； for all were new converts； and feared the crucifix and the holy candles。 the white lights from the altar threw the shadows of the troopers up on to roof and wall。 as the troopers moved about； the shadows began a fantastic dance among the corbels and the memorial tablets。 for a little while all was silent； and then five troopers who were the body？guard of sir frederick hamilton lifted their muskets； and shot down five of the friars。 the noise and the smoke drove away the mystery of the pale altar lights； and the other troopers took courage and began to strike。 in a moment the friars lay about the altar steps； their white habits stained with blood。 set fire to the house！ cried sir frederick hamilton； and at his word one went out； and came in again carrying a heap of dry straw； and piled it against the western wall； and； having done this； fell back； for the fear of the crucifix and of the holy candles was still in his heart。 seeing this； the five troopers who were sir frederick hamiltons body？guard darted forward； and taking each a holy candle set the straw in a blaze。 the red tongues of fire rushed up and flickered from corbel to corbel and from tablet to tablet； and crept along the floor； setting in a blaze the seats and benches。 the dance of the shadows passed away； and the dance of the fires began。 the troopers fell back towards the door in the southern wall； and watched those yellow dancers springing hither and thither。
for a time the altar stood safe and apart in the midst of its white light； the eyes of the troopers turned upon it。
the abbot whom they had thought dead had risen to his feet and now stood before it with the crucifix lifted in both hands high above his head。 suddenly he cried with a loud voice； woe unto all who smite those who dwell within the light of the lord； for they shall wander among the ungovernable shadows； and follow the ungovernable fires！ and having so cried he fell on his face dead； and the brazen crucifix rolled down the steps of the altar。 the smoke had now grown very thick； so that it drove the troopers out into the open air。
before them were burning houses。 behind them shone the painted windows of the abb