Chapter 4. Chapter 5 v. 1-4
4.1. Then King Kemendil sat on his throne and pronounced his judgements.
2. And he rewarded all those who had served him in his war. And to the children of the Foro he said, I know that ye desire to return to your own lands, which were stolen from you and withered by the dragon.
3. But forbear a little longer, and have patience: for the wastelands shall become green and fair, and the desert shall rejoice.
4. Meanwhile an old affliction still hangeth over this people, and a subtle blight lingereth.
5. And he sent messages to Emynos, commanding his Lord Marshal to come with all speed; but the Lord Marshal came not at that time.
6. Wherefore the King took counsel with himself alone, and said, Now let the people attend, and heed my words as the words of a leech: for verily I have discerned that many are sick.
7. In this land hath arisen a great custom, the writing of words and the making of books; by which do men suppose that knowledge and wisdom are increased.
8. Yet they err: for though information be multiplied, memory goeth backward, and the minds of men become weaker, and there is no remembrance of former things,
9. And wisdom is all turned into vanity and weariness and vexation of spirit: and of the writing of many books there is no end.
10. Therefore do I decree that this realm shall be cleansed of books: verily I am resolved to burn all books and papers and parchments: and here, in this house of my forefathers, will I begin.
11. And he sent servants to take all the books from the library; and he commanded that the books be piled in the courtyard and burnt.
12. But the servants returned unto him, saying, Lord, the door of the library is shut, and the keepers of the books stand before it with halberds and drawn swords. We did not lay hands on the men, for they are old and venerable; is this indeed the King’s will?
13. And Kemendil said, Go again, and tell them that the King commandeth it. And the servants went again, but the keepers of the books still stood before the door; and Sadron said, A fig for the King’s commandment.
14. Then the King was angry, and he ordered men of his own guard to follow him, with Aldred the Punchkin leading him; and they came to the door of the library.
15. And the King said to Aldred, How many are they? And Aldred answered, They are but seven in number. And Sadron said, And truly, Your Majesty, we are resolute.
16. Then the King ordered his men to slay the keepers of the books. And the men advanced with drawn swords. And the old men lifted up their weapons; and Aldred said, Lo, their hands tremble, yet their faces are grim.
17. Then the King said to his men, Stay. And to Sadron he said, For what cause are ye so valiant? What signifieth this room of books, that ye are willing to die defending it?
18. And Sadron answered and said, Your Majesty, we defend that which is worth more than all the gold in the world.
19. And the King said, Even so would Melohtar say, were he here with us. Yet how canst thou be so deceived? What subsisteth in written words, and lines of scribbled ink, that can outweigh the gold of the world, and what is more precious, the living thoughts of our minds, and the true speech of our tongues?
20. Then they disputed together: and Aldred took the part of Sadron, and argued on his behalf.
21. And the King said, Not for the wealth that is in these books, but for the faith and valour that they have inspired in you, do I revoke my decree. Behold, the library shall stay, and the books that are in this land shall remain unburnt; and your disobedience is pardoned.
22. Then they fell on their knees and blessed the King for his mercy; but Aldred said, Of a truth the cause of the sickness must be sought elsewhere.
23. So King Kemendil left the City, and the Queen governed in his stead, and for a month he made a progress through the North of Thandor.
24. And he passed through the withered lands and hallowed them, so that the parched land did become a pool, and the thirsty land did break out into springs of water, and the habitation of the dragon, where he had lain, did become green with reeds and rushes.
25. And the wilderness rejoiced, and blossomed as a rose, and the children of the Foro returned with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; and the solitary places were glad for them.
5.1. But King Kemendil rejoiced not, for he was weary of his blindness. And he returned to the City, and there he greeted the Queen; but she welcomed him coldly, for her heart refused him still.
2. And so he journeyed on into the south, proclaiming the good news to the people of the Foro that still dwelt there.
3. And he came to the border of Daelum, where the people were in fear of certain outlaws: these being former soldiers of the Queen who had turned to banditry before the end of the war.
4. And Kemendil hunted the outlaws, and caught them, and hanged them all, showing mercy to none.