"Lord Dunsany - In Zaccarath (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dunsany Lord)

aboutof little lion cubs where the courts of the palace had
stood.
"Of what is he singing?" said a queen to a queen.
"He is singing of everlasting Zaccarath."
As the singer ceased the assemblage beat listlessly on
thefloor, and the King nodded to him, and he departed.
When all the prophets had prophesied to them and all the
singerssung, that royal company arose and went to other
chambers, leaving the hall of festival to the pale and
lonelydawn. And alone were left the lion-headed gods that
werecarven out of the walls; silent they stood, and their
rockyarms were folded. And shadows over their faces moved
likecurious thoughts as the torches flickered and the dull
dawncrossed the fields. And the colours began to change in
thechandeliers.
When the last lutanist fell asleep the birds began to
sing.
Never was greater splendour or a more famous hall. When
thequeens went away through the curtained door with all
theirdiadems, it was as though the stars should arise in
theirstations and troop together to the West at sunrise.
And only the other day I found a stone that had
undoubtedlybeen a part of Zaccarath, it was three inches
longand an inch broad; I saw the edge of it uncovered by
thesand. I believe that only three other pieces have been
foundlike it.