Marus, a young poet of Levion, was walking in the by-ways of that city,
one day, when he came to a great door which he had never seen before,
and above the door was written in letters of gold:
‘THE COLLEGE OF IMMORTAL FAME’
So Marus knocked loudly at the door, and when it was opened, said to the
Porter: ‘I desire to enter the College.’
‘Do you desire it more than anything else in the whole world?’ asked the
Porter, in a solemn voice.
‘I do,’ said Marus, whose curiosity was awakened.
He entered, and was surprised to find that the door was immediately
locked and bolted behind him, and that two sentinels with drawn swords
took their places in front of it. He found himself in a great hall, and
nothing could be heard but sighing and groaning from every side. An old
man with a long white beard came towards Marus, and laying his hand on
the poet’s shoulder, said: ‘You will stay in this College for the
remainder of your lifetime. Little food, less sleep, no rest, occasional
moments of ecstasy in years of despair!’
‘I have made a mistake,’ muttered Marus, and louder: ‘I cannot stay
here.’
‘You cannot escape now,’ said the old man, quite gently.
The young poet looked about him and spied a little door at the far end
of the hall. ‘Yes, I can!’ he cried, and ran towards the little door,
hoping to find it unlocked. It was; and, his heart flooded with relief,
he swung open the door and looked out.
But which ever way he looked there was nothing to be seen but vast space
let with innumerable stars.