"Dunsany, Lord - Gods of Pegana, The" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dunsany Lord)

hath heard the voice of MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI, or who hath seen
his drummer?
Whether the season be winter or whether it be summer,
whether it be morning among the worlds or whether it be
night, Skarl still beateth his drum, for the purposes of the
gods are not yet fulfilled. Sometimes the arm of Skarl
grows weary; but still he beateth his drum, that the gods
may do the work of the gods, and the worlds go on, for if he
cease for an instant then MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI will start awake,
and there will be worlds nor gods no more.
But, when at the last the arm of Skarl shall cease to
beat his drum, silence shall startle Pegana like thunder in
a cave, and MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI shall cease to rest..
Then shall Skarl put his drum upon his back and walk
forth into the void beyond the worlds, because it is THE
END, and the work of Skarl is over.
There there may arise some other god whom Skarl may
serve, or it may be that he shall perish; but to Skarl it
shall matter not, for he shall have done the work of Skarl.












Of the Making of the Worlds


When MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI had made the gods there were only the
gods, and They sat in the middle of Time, for there was as
much Time before them as behind them, which having no end
had neither a beginning.
And Pegana was without heat or light or sound, save for
the drumming of Skarl; moreover Pegana was The Middle of
All, for there was below Pegana what there was above it, and
there lay before it that which lay beyond.
Then said the gods, making the signs of the gods and
speaking with Their hands lest the silence of Pegana should
blush; then said the gods to one another, speaking with
Their hands; "Let Us make worlds to amuse Ourselves while
MANA rests. Let Us make worlds and Life and Death, and
colours in the sky; only let Us not break the silence upon
Pegana."
Then raising Their hands, each god according to his sign,