HERE FOLLOW THE LAST EXTRACTS FROM THE BOOK OF THE ACTS OF KEMENDIL:
Chapters 19, 20, 21.
Chapter 22 v. 1-4, 9-10, 27. Chapter 24 v. 1-2, 11-13, 25-26. Chapter 28 v. 19. Chapter 47 v. 1-7, 12-13, 20-22. Chapter 48 v. 8-11
19.1. And about this time it came to pass that a new spring brake forth from the rocks, not far from the road between Emynos and Ruminas. And the spring was five leagues from Ruminas.
2. And the waters of the spring were warm, and somewhat salty; and report of it spread among them that dwelt in the region; but none could say when the waters had first arisen.
3. Now one day a wayfarer came along the road. And this man was Dreng, whom Kemendil had summoned; and as yet he knew not that Wencela, his daughter, was dead.
4. Nevertheless he was sad and afraid: for a monstrous fiend, in the form of a black dog with red eyes, had followed him along the road, and menaced him by night and day, and leaped upon him from the heights. And the dog had slain three of the servants of Dreng.
5. And the other servants said, Surely a vengeful spirit possesseth the beast: perchance it is the Lord Melohtar himself. And they all fled, so that Dreng journeyed alone; and his horse threw him, and also ran away in terror.
6. And Dreng beheld the spring, that fell into a basin among the rocks; and it was fair to look upon. Wherefore he did off his garments, and went into the pool, and sat down under the waterfall.
7. And as the warm water continually beat upon his head, and dripped into the pool, his heart was eased and he became less sad. And when he leaned his back against the rock, it seemed to him that the water, falling on his shoulders, was like the fingers of a woman that stroked and kneaded his flesh;
8. And in the plashing of the waterdrops he heard a musical voice: the sound was like the voice of Bryd his wife, and it whispered and murmured unto him. And then he forgot all his cares, and fell asleep in the pool, for his eyes were heavy.
9. But when he awoke, behold, there was the black hound of Melohtar over against him, sitting by the edge of the pool; and the hound grinned at Dreng, like a beast that is sure of its prey. And forthwith it leaped into the pool.
10. And straightway, ere Dreng had arisen, the waters lifted themselves, and curved, and fastened upon the body of the hound, as it were green hands.
11. And the hound was twisted, and its back was broken, and its eyes started from its head, and the waters were defiled with its blood.
12. Then the tumult grew still, and the red blood was washed away: and as Dreng stood looking from the edge, he could see the hound no more. And he said, It hath disappeared.
13. So he put on his clothes and went on with his journey. But ere he left the place he turned back once, saying, Farewell, my dearest, my beloved.
14. But they of the country that dwell round about, husbandmen, shepherds and lords of the manors, all folk high and low, do alike declare that the evil hound hath not perished:
15. But still it struggleth, though diminished in size, and ever the water restraineth it.
16. And though this evil be eternal, and cannot be slain nor brought to an end, by the tears of grief it is fast bound and can wreak no more harm.
20.1. Now Dreng arrived at the City and found Kemendil blind: and the King received him with joy and grief, and told him that Wencela was dead.
2. So Dreng tore his clothes, and mourned, and wept, and fasted for seven days.
3. Then the King summoned him to the Council, saying, Come, put away sorrow, lend us thine aid. For the King would devise his new war against the men of Turmal.
4. And there were the captains and commanders of the King’s host, Lefnui, and Sarvad, and Sigehere, and Wald, and Dreng, and many others, with Aldred the Punchkin.
5. And Dreng spake unto them of the strength of the King of Turmal, his chariots, his horsemen and his mighty men of war, his walled castles with store of weapons, and his terrible engines,
6. Such as had in olden time been used also in the North, even in the days of the first dragon-war. But afterwards they had all been dismantled: for so had Fëaruk commanded, and so, according to the treaty, had it been done.
7. And while Dreng was yet speaking, a messenger came in; and Aldred said to the King, The hermit is here.
8. And the King replied, saying, How thinketh he to interrupt us? Thou hast waited on his pleasure: let the presumptuous fellow now wait in his turn.
9. But the hermit spake unto the guards and the attendants, and they lowered their spears, and gainsaid him not. And the messenger led him to the council chamber.
10. And within the chamber it was dusky, for evening had come. But then the doors were opened, and the Man of God stood upon the threshold, and the brightness of his presence was like the brightness of the sun.
11. For his linen garment was white as snow, and his loins were girded with fine gold, and the hair of his head was like the pure wool;
12. His body also like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of the lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and feet like in colour to polished brass, and the words of his voice like the words of a multitude,
13. So that the lords and captains all sprang up, and some cried aloud. But the King remained in his chair; and he unbound his bandage, and he beheld who stood in the doorway: for the brightness of the Man of God was able to penetrate the blindness of the King.
14. And the King said, Erum, is it thou? And all marvelled, seeing that he thus recognised him by sight. And the hermit answered and said, Verily I am he whom thou didst call by that name.
15. And Kemendil said, Thou art welcome, pray enter: join our council. So he entered the chamber, and his brightness lessened somewhat, so that they might look upon him without shielding their eyes; and he sat down among them.
16. And Aldred the Punchkin greeted the hermit, and said, Canst thou heal the King’s infirmity?
17. And the hermit looked at the sockets of the King’s eyes, which were scarred and hideous: and he touched them, and he sighed, and said, I perceive that thou hast a twofold blindness, one darkness being of the eyes, and the other darkness being of the soul.
18. And although I can heal the darkness that is of the eyes, the darkness of the soul will require great repentance. And Kemendil said, Then do what thou wilt.
19. So the hermit took a napkin, and dipped it in water, and bound it about the King’s head; and he stood behind the King, and laid his hands on his head, and prayed to Dru. And the presence of the Man of God was still a light in the chamber.
20. Then he unbound the cloth from the King’s head, and lo, his eyes were restored, blue and whole: but still they were blind, for the soul of the King remained in its darkness.
21. And the hermit said, Let all leave the chamber. So they all went out, even Aldred, and the hermit remained with the King, and the two conversed for an hour.
22. And the Queen came among the barons as they waited outside the door. And the door was opened. And they heard the King say unto the Man of God, This that thou offerest unto me is a very bitter cup: truly, the bitterest cup that I shall ever drink.
23. And the Queen said, Erumardil. And the King said, She hath an eye blinded also.
24. And so the hermit healed the eye of the Queen, which had received the shard of glass; thus was she twice disenchanted by him. And when she looked on Kemendil with her whole sight, she loved him and repented of her coldness toward him.
25. But a little longer she held herself aloof; for she perceived that he was troubled in spirit, as one who laboureth under a great burden.
26. Then the Man of God would return to his hermitage, nor would he sojourn with the King and Queen, although they both besought him. But Aldred said unto the hermit ere he departed, When the King hath recovered his sight, and needeth me less, may I come to visit thee? For I would speak with thee again.
27. And the hermit said, Aldred, thou shalt be welcome. And he said, But what doest thou in thy hermitage?
28. And the hermit answered and said, Sometimes I cast my hook into the lake, and catch fish: at other times I make songs and sing them. And when I make songs |I laugh, weep and mutter.
29. With singing, weeping, laughing and muttering I praise Lord Dru who is my God. Hearing these things, dost thou still feel called to visit me? For all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are hooked by his purpose.
30. And Aldred said, That is a hard saying.
21.1. Now the season of Yule was nigh, which beginneth on the day after the longest night of the year: in which night the Priests are accustomed to keep the Festival of Lamps.
2. And King Kemendil resolved in his heart, that he would do according to the advice which the hermit had given. Therefore he summoned Sorondur, and other priests of the Temple with Thoronhir, and declared the matter unto them.
3. And they lamented, and would dissuade him; but he commanded them sternly, and so they did obey.
4. And on the eve of the Festival of Lamps, which is called the Shortest Day, the King came forth from the palace, Aldred leading him, and the Queen accompanying, and all their household following. And they proceeded through the streets of the City until they came to the Erumar.
5. And all solemnly walked, none riding nor being borne. And the King wore a gown of sackcloth, with ashes on his head; and his feet were bare. And he shivered in the cold, and he was sick at heart, and he leaned on Aldred’s shoulder.
6. And Aldred said unto him, Sire, wilt thou persevere in this? And he said, I will.
7. So they came into the Temple. And there was a great congregation of the people, and priests gathered before the screen that is named Kegyaina, and amongst the priests one wearing black garb, with the hood and mask of an executioner.
8. And Sorondur cried in a loud voice, saying, For that the King walketh in darkness, and forasmuch as he admitteth that his blindness is a just punishment of Dru, he having shed innocent blood within this Temple and done over-many deeds of evil, he hath resolved publicly to expiate his sins.
9. Then Kemendil threw off his gown of sackcloth, and he wore naught beneath it save a clout for his loins; and when the people saw his scars, they pitied him.
10. So Kemendil turned his back, and laid hold of two iron branches of the Kegyaina, and bowed down towards the altar, and said, Begin.
11. And the man garbed as an executioner took a scourge with seven long cords, and smote the King’s back. And the King straightened himself, for he could hardly endure the pain of the scourge; and quickly he said, But who is it that smiteth me?
12. Then said Thoronhir to the King, Forbear: it mattereth not who this man is: still thou hast to receive seven times seven strokes.
13. So Kemendil turned and bowed himself again, and restrained himself, and held still; and the executioner did scourge him with seven times seven strokes. And the people murmured for sorrow. And Kemendil wept; but amid his tears he perceived a lightening of his blindness.
14. And it was noon: and the sun shone, and its rays fell through the open vault, and the young tree flourished in the light. And Thoronhir washed the King’s back. And then King Kemendil stood up again, and his eyes were full of light.
15. And when he looked upon the executioner, he said, Truly my fate hath overtaken me. But who art thou? Remove thy mask.
16. And the executioner removed his mask; and the King said, Berven. And this Berven was a missionary whom the King of Enaderth had taken prisoner. And he had returned with Kemendil from the South; but he loved him not.
17. Now Berven made no reply to the King, nor greeted him; but he pointed upward through the open vault. And then the King saw what Berven had first seen in the sky, and all the priests and people saw it also:
18. A great eagle with great wings, long-winged, full of feathers, which had divers colours. And this was one of the golden eagles of the Western Mountains, such as had not been seen in the City from before the time of the coming of Fëaruk.
19. And behold, the eagle descended; and it perched on the cornice of the vault. And it cried in a loud voice, saying,
20. Now is the worm slain, now hath the boar returned, now is the tree restored: now shall all things work together for good, and the light be reconciled with the darkness.
21. Now shall the King be reconciled unto the Queen, yea, and the Woman married unto the Priest of the Temple: and the twain shall ride together upon one horse.
22. The purposes of men were broken, but they shall be mended and knit together like bones; the Kingdom stumbled and erred, but it shall be led into the right way: for the mercy of Dru endureth for ever, and his wisdom bringeth healing.
23. No longer shall the proud mind disdain the meek heart, nor the City oppress them that dwell in the land: no longer shall the rich look scornfully upon the poor and needy, nor the North be at enmity with the South.
24. Lo, the whole world was split, and fought against itself; but now shall peace be exalted, now shall the earth raise it up: yea, darkness shall nourish the fruit of the tree of justice.
25. Sing and rejoice, O ye people: for now is the time of the new dispensation, and the Lord Dru hath healed your King.
22.1. And the eagle clapped its wings and flew away. And the people sang a hymn of praise to Dru, as King Kemendil went forth from the Temple.
2. And when they had returned to the palace, the Queen anointed his back, and wrapped it about with a cloth. Then she knelt before him, and said, Behold, I am my lord’s handmaiden: behold, I submit myself unto thee entirely: do with me as thou wilt.
3. For thy wisdom, and thy courage, and thy kindness, and thy strength, and thy humility do all surpass mine, as the oaktree surpasseth the small flower of the grass. And she laid her head upon his knees, and wept.
4. But Kemendil raised her up, and kissed her, and took her into his bed. And then both their hearts were gladdened, and all night long they lay together in love: which was the longest night of the year.
9. And Kemendil made a progress through the barren lands that he had not visited before: and the far West and North, until thou comest to the Black Mountains, and Lhygost and Beraid-Moreithel, did also rejoice and blossom.
10. Howbeit that after the passing of Fëaruk the winds changed, and the north wind blew cold as in the former time, and the ice of winter returned: yet these lands also had spring and summer according to their own season, and they too were blessed.
27. And King Kemendil no longer planned war against Turmal, but sought by all means to preserve peace.
24.1. Then the Queen gave birth to a son: and his name was Guthreo. And in that year many other children were born in the City.
2. The sons of Kemendil and Gauriel were Guthreo, and Oresgal, and Athelstan; and a daughter also she bore to him, and her name was Nomiel.
11. And Berven the priest left Ruminas, and served in the temple of Emynos. And there he was discharged from the priesthood, for he loved a maiden of the town; and her name was Feima.
12. And by the King’s order, Aldred the King’s Minister allotted to Berven seventy acress out of the estate of Ostendil. And Lady Miriel, the mistress of Feima, bestowed on her a white horse as a marriage-gift, that the prophecy of the eagle might be fulfilled.
13. And Berven and Feima were married; and they rode together on this horse from out of the town, and they took possession of the homestead, and dwelt there.
25. And Ristila begged leave to depart from the service of Lady Arloth; for she said, The time is come for me to make the dark pilgrimage.
26. So Arloth dismissed her, and gave her an umbrella, for it was a day of rain; and Ristila set forth alone, seeking the way to Caras Gulwen.
28.19. And in the time of Kemendil the old forms and manners of speech were revived, for the King liked them well. And all things were called plainly by their proper names.
47.1. And it came to pass that the men of Turmal gathered themselves together to fight against the tribes of Doroech, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and warriors as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude; and they came through Harlad, and encamped before Selagend.
2. And Araxor, the King of the South, sent a messenger unto Ides, Queen of the Nibyth, saying, Yield thy people and thy pastures unto me: for this land belongeth to Turmal by ancient right.
3. But the Queen withdrew from Selagend into the north-east part of her realm, and sent a message to King Kemendil, saying, As thou art a friend and a native of this land, come and help thy kin: for Araxor is too strong for us.
4. And when Kemendil received the message, he said, Behold the reward of our forbearance! Verily this invasion is but a means to an end: for Araxor desireth war between Thandor and Turmal.
5. Better would it have been for us to strike first, according to our first purpose: for now hath Turmal grown stronger.
6. And Thoronhir the chief priest of the Temple said unto the King, Nay, sire, do not repent of thy moderation. Justly hast thou acted in all things; therefore will Dru reward thee with victory.
7. So King Kemendil gathered his forces and made ready to march down to Doroech. And he appointed Aldred the Punchkin as his regent; and Aldred also had charge of the City and the royal household.
12. And Thandor went out to fight against the men of Turmal, and passed through Garholt, and pitched camp below it on the slopes: and the men of Turmal put themselves in array before Thandor.
13. And when they joined battle, Turmal was smitten by Thandor, and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
20. And Dreng followed hard upon Araxor and his sons: and the men of Thandor slew the sons of Araxor beyond Selagend, before new help came up from beyond the river.
21. And now the battle went sore against Dreng, and the archers hit him: he was sore wounded of the archers.
22. Then came King Kemendil with many chariots and horsemen of the Queen, and saved Dreng with his host; and Araxor retreated to the South.
48.8. And the men of Turmal encamped in the plain of Harlad, while Araxor summoned new engines of war to him from Turmal. Then Kemendil, with Sarvad and Sigehere, came up to them and would give battle; but it was late in the day.
9. So the armies prepared for battle on the morrow. And King Kemendil went among the men of his host, saying, Be of good cheer: the Lord Dryghten-Sweald will give us the victory.
10. And then he lay down and slept for a little while. And Wald and Sigehere came to him before dawn, even as he had commanded them.
11. And they bare to him a lamp; and as they came to the bed where the King lay, the light of the lamp did fall on his face: and they saw that he smiled in his sleep.
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