antiquated-looking mortars that stood on the temple parapet, our
procession filed through a narrow doorway on to a broad marble
platform. First emerged the nobles attached to the Court in their
crimson gala robes, then the priests, a long sinuous line of snowy
white; behind them walked the Arch-priest, whilst last of all appeared
myself, a tall commanding majestic figure with my equerries to uphold
my glittering mantle. My entry into sight of the vast multitude that
thronged the courtyard below the platform on which we stood was first
greeted by a spell of perfect silence, which in time changed to a
long low murmur of approval and awe, and finally to a resounding roar
of satisfied delight. Slowly did our long train of nobles, priests,
choristers and attendants unwind and fall into proper groups in their
assigned places, the whole scene reminding me of some wonderful ballet
on an immense stage, with its blending and massing and dividing of the
colours of white, red, gold and blue, like the intricate movements of
some stately dance.
At last only the Arch-priest and myself remained standing in the
central space of the platform, when the former, after an obeisance
of a cringing humility of which I had hitherto deemed him incapable,
conducted me to a throne beneath a canopy of blue and gold. From
this point, during the performance of some singing, I was enabled
surreptitiously to examine the component parts of the huge crowd
beneath. Immediately under the dais were numbers of persons who were
all characterised by wearing green in some form or other, either green
tunics or mantles or scarves. As these seemed to occupy the better
and reserved space in the courtyard I concluded (and rightly so)
that they were members of the middle or mercantile class, who were
given precedence over the general populace. The latter were farther
away, and were consequently more difficult for me to distinguish. But
it was a picturesque throng in any case, and brilliantly coloured,
for the robes were mostly in tints of yellow, orange, violet, pink,
cinnamon and other shades, though the four colours of blue, white,
red and green were conspicuously absent. Men, women and children were
visible in the crowd, all of them being small dark people of the type
already exemplified in the few persons I had hitherto seen. Part of the
court was enclosed by double colonnades that supported upper chambers
screened by lattice-work from inquisitive eyes, like the discreet
convent windows I used to observe in the highest storeys above the
streets of Naples and Palermo. Behind these screens were evidently many
spectators, and from the shrillness of the voices issuing hence and
from other indications I gathered that the occupants of these galleries
were mostly women. As a matter of fact, one side was reserved for the
ladies and children of the nobility, and the other for the female
inmates of the college of nuns or recluses attached to the Temple of
the Sun, of whose duties I mean to speak later.
After a long interval of chanting, at a sign from the Arch-priest I
rose and gave a benediction to the assembled crowd by raising my right
arm and slowly turning round so as to envisage the whole assembly. This
was made the excuse for more applause, and when this had subsided more
canticles were intoned. Again I imparted the required blessing, after
which a golden censer was brought me and I was assisted to advance
towards a small altar, formed apparently of solid crystal, whereon
the sun's rays were falling in blinding coruscations of light. Here I
offered up clouds of incense in the direction of my supposed Parent,
the whole multitude kneeling in the most profound silence and in the
most decorous attitude of rapt attention. For fully ten minutes I must
have been swaying that heavy censer, and what with the weight of my
robes, the scorching heat of the sun's beams, and the extreme tension
caused by the magnificence and novelty of my situation, I felt almost
at last ready to drop from sheer exhaustion, when the Arch-priest
again came to my rescue and relieved me of the smoking thurible. More
cheering, more intoning, more ceremonious movements, till ultimately I
found myself with the Arch-priest on one side of me and Hiridia on the
other, making my way off the platform. I was forthwith led to a chamber
furnished with long tables whereon was served a collation of which I
stood considerably in need. I then learned I was being entertained thus
by the body of the hierarchy, so that once more I felt the necessity of
exhibiting no sign of fatigue or of astonishment. The meal was of brief
duration, for the day was well advanced by this time, and there still
remained the important state entry and procession through the streets
of the capital. Quitting the temple precincts I found a cavalcade, or
guard of honour, awaiting me, whilst some pages were holding a horse
in readiness for me. My steed of state was of a remarkable aspect, for
he was pure white with a strong tint of flesh pink showing through his
coat, and with pink ears and muzzle. His flowing mane and tail had also
been dyed of a blue colour, and, most marvellous thing of all, his eyes
showed of a clear light blue. Afterwards I learned that this animal
belonged to a breed that is specially reserved for the use of the Child
of the Sun on state occasions, and that certain families possess
hereditary rights in connection with the breeding and training of these
uncanny quadrupeds. With a saddle and bridle of blue leather richly
ornamented with gold this white stallion stood ready caparisoned for
my person, and with some assistance owing to the weight of my cloak I
managed to mount without conscious loss of dignity. My long mantle with
its gorgeous devices was deftly spread over the horse's back; my feet
were fixed in the clumsy bucket-like stirrups, and the reins placed in
my hand. Thus seated, with Hiridia and other nobles walking beside me,
I was ready to start, whereupon my mounted escort in their picturesque
chain-armour led the way with a clanking sound.
Leaving the temple gates we soon crossed a bridge spanning a rushing
river whose precipitous banks were thickly clothed with rich vegetation
of palm ferns, poinsettias and other tropical plants. Pursuing our
course we turned sharply to the right, whereupon I almost immediately
found myself in the streets of the capital with the prospect of
descending a very narrow steep paved roadway that led eventually to
the beach below. The streets themselves being too narrow to permit
of the presence of spectators, every window and flat house-roof, and
indeed every possible coign of vantage, was occupied by the citizens of
Tamarida, who all evinced the liveliest enthusiasm in thus beholding
their new sovereign in his progress. Much to my relief my horse
contrived to pick his way without mishap down that fearful lane, which
now and again broke into actual steps, like the dingy mediæval streets
of old Naples. Every second I was dreading a stumble on the part of
my queer-coloured steed, and a consequent loss of majesty to myself;
each moment I feared for the fate of my weighty diadem. Mechanically I
continued to smile and to scatter benisons upon the vociferous crowds
of loyal subjects, the while I trusted to my own good luck as well as
to Hiridia's careful guidance; and it was with a sense of unspeakable
gratitude that eventually I reached the water-side that was lined with
shipping of which every yard-arm was positively bristling with eager
brown humanity. For some little distance we now pursued the curved
line of the shore, and then crossing another archway entered a gate
opening into the lower portion of the palace gardens. Here a large
number of servants, gardeners and labourers, with their families,
was drawn up to cheer and to prostrate themselves before me, and I
concluded my ride had drawn to an end. But it was not so, for I had to
cross the gardens and by means of another bridge or viaduct to enter
the southern quarter of the city and to repeat my previous experience,
with the important difference that this time I had to ascend instead
of descend the long narrow winding streets. This at any rate was an
improvement on my former trial, and I carried it through with apparent
unconcern, although it seemed an interminable time before I was finally
quit of the crowds and the streets and was once more on my feet and
in the purlieus of the palace. Thus did I accomplish successfully the
not inconsiderable task allotted me on my second day in Meleager, and
albeit hot and exhausted by my exertions, I flattered myself internally
that I had borne the long ordeal of my coronation ceremonies with
distinction.
It was almost dark when I dismounted from my peculiar but trustworthy
palfrey, to seek the peace and privacy of my bed-chamber, where I was
assisted to unrobe. A warm bath and a cool plunge soon refreshed me,
so that I felt capable of facing any further demands on my bodily or
mental strength that might be required of me that night. There was a
grand banquet with music and some display of dancing and conjuring, but
nothing more occurred of special interest, though I was glad to observe
and feel that I had won the warm approval of the nobles of the Court,
who sat feasting round me. Thus ended my coronation day, and right glad
I was to retire to my bed and to sleep off the fatigue and excitement
of its many strange incidents.
I trust I have not wearied or disgusted the reader with my lengthy
account of all these events that took place during the first two days
of my reign in Meleager. Portions of what I have thus described will,
I fear, seem somewhat disjointed and obscure, but in excuse I can
plead that so did they also seem disjointed and obscure to myself at
the time, for at this early stage I had naturally learned next to
nothing of the peculiar conditions prevailing in my new kingdom. These
I intend to treat of in my subsequent chapters, whereby I hope to throw
some light on my own anomalous position as a semi-divine monarch, on
the composition and aims of the hierarchy, on the social status of the
various classes composing the realm, and on the daily life of myself
and of my people.
V
At this very early stage I had naturally not acquired the native
language of Meleager, and my sole communication was carried on with
the Arch-priest in a classical tongue. Besides this, apart from the
restricted nature of our intercourse, it was tolerably clear to me
that the members of the hierarchy as a whole showed themselves anxious
to suppress rather than to explain to me their guiding principles of
polity. With this impression firmly fixed in my mind, I became more
than ever eager and determined to learn the native language with all
speed, so that for the next few weeks I abandoned myself with the
greatest diligence to this object. What with my sharpened wits and with
my close application I made unexpectedly rapid progress; nor should I
omit to pay my tribute of gratitude to Hiridia's pains and patience in
this matter. For many hours daily we engaged in our task, and, with the
exception of taking the exercise necessary for health, practically all
my working time was occupied in linguistic efforts. My toil was well
rewarded, for after no very great length of time I had the satisfaction
of perceiving that daily I grew more and more proficient in my subject,
so that I was able to converse with Hiridia with some degree of
fluency and mutual understanding.
This interval of vigorous study must have lasted about three months in
all, and in spite of many hints from the Arch-priest I firmly refused
to leave the precincts of the palace until I had gained the mastery
of the native tongue. As to whether this attitude of close seclusion
caused disappointment in the capital or annoyance among the members of
the council I paid no heed, but only showed my inflexible resolution
on this head. Having once succeeded completely in my design, I made
every effort to draw from Hiridia all conceivable information about the
land and people I had been called upon to rule, my questions ranging
over the whole field of possible inquiry. I certainly did in this way
contrive to amass a certain amount of valuable knowledge, although
I was by no means satisfied with all the answers and explanations I
received. For, if it was plain that the Arch-priest and his colleagues
were averse to supplying the required details, it was equally plain
that poor Hiridia with all the good intentions possible was excessively
ignorant of his own surroundings; for instance, he could tell me
next to nothing of the mode of life, the general conditions and the
interior affairs of any class of the realm save that of the nobility
to which he himself belonged. As to the hierarchy, on which subject
I plied him with the greatest tact, I had to conclude that, whilst
regarding the ruling caste with unmeasured awe and respect, he was
at the same time in nowise intimate with any of that elusive body,
though its members were drawn solely from his own class and were in
some cases his own relations. Thus was I compelled to build my edifice
of knowledge and discovery of bricks without straw, so that often I
was fain to lose my temper in my fruitless endeavours to attain the
truth; happily, however, my patience and perseverance triumphed over
my natural exasperation. Daily I made careful notes in English on my
parchment, altering or adding to these notes from time to time, as
further inquiry or observation served to throw more light on the main
subject of my study. And it always amused me to observe the look of
profound admiration, even of alarm, wherewith Hiridia used to regard
the cabalistic scrolls I daily annotated on my table, which stood in
the long gallery facing the sea. At the same time I grew to learn that
my tutor's reverence was mingled with an intense feeling of loyalty
and devotion to myself, so that I instinctively knew that his life
would be willingly risked in my service, should any evil chance arise.
Thus my reputation of semi-divinity in this instance certainly carried
some advantages with it! As to the Arch-priest, who always insisted on
speaking in Latin to me, I did not indeed look for the same unwavering
fidelity as I found in Hiridia, yet with that curious extra sixth
sense of mine, that is never at fault, I knew he was pleased with my
painstaking efforts, and that he was for the present at least very much
my sincere friend and champion.
* * * * *
I think I had better at this point in my narrative offer a brief
description of the average day that I spend, so as to afford the reader
some notion of my duties, my pleasures and my occupations--that is, of
course, after I had succeeded in mastering the language of my kingdom.
The course of time being reckoned in Meleager after the old Italian
mode of counting the twenty-four hours from the uprising of the sun, at
the first streak of dawn watchers in the temple proclaim the new-born
day, by firing a piece of ordnance. This is succeeded by loud trumpet
calls in the barracks of the soldiery, and the whole city awakens.
Every one leaps from bed, and kneeling repeats the following short
prayer to the Sun:
"O Sun, mighty King, Father of Lights, I bless thee and thank thee for
another day! It is Thou alone that canst gladden our hearts, warm our
homes, nourish our crops, sweeten our grass, ripen our fruits. By Thy
Light alone Thy servants can live and adore Thee. Blessed be Thy Face
once more appearing!"
This simple formula is the universal morning prayer on Meleager, whose
inhabitants are true sun-worshippers, in the sense that they attribute
all good and all gifts to the sun's visible power and majesty that are
daily revealed to them. As for myself, however, being deemed the Child
of the Sun, I do not consider it incumbent on me to indulge in this
matutinal act of worship, though each dawn I wake to see my servant
lying prostrate on the floor with face turned reverently towards the
east. The act of prayer performed, he approaches my couch with a
goblet filled with some sort of mineral water of a slightly bitter
flavour, that is invariably swallowed before arising. I then have a
rather perfunctory bath in an adjoining room, submitting myself to
a rapid ablution with water slightly perfumed with verbena, a scent
that is reserved exclusively for the royal use. I dress in the manner
previously described, and am then ready for my breakfast, which is
usually set out in the open gallery that is already flooded by the warm
early sunlight. My repast consists of coffee (which is extensively
cultivated here), together with thick cream, a manchet of fine white
bread, and a platter heaped with superb fruit. I leisurely enjoy these
dainties and then (what on my first acquaintance afforded me equal
pleasure and surprise) I proceed to smoke a cigar, or large cigarette,
consisting of coarse granular tobacco rolled in maize leaf, like the
type of cigarette affected by the natives of Brazil. For tobacco is
largely grown here, and its leaves are put to many uses, including this
last-mentioned agreeable purpose.
Whilst I am enjoying my fragrant cigarette, Hiridia invariably
appears, bringing me the news of the day, and thus conversing we soon
stroll into the gardens that are still fresh and gleaming with the
dew. As I stand about six feet three inches, and perhaps a trifle
more, and my tutor is of the average Meleagrian height of five foot
five inches, I used at first to find our walks on the terrace rendered
unsatisfactory by reason of our disparity in stature. To remedy this,
I have caused a low platform of stone to be constructed the whole of
its length some ten inches above the ground, and along this erection
Hiridia now walks beside me so that we can chat at a convenient level.
I thought the Arch-priest rather inclined to boggle at this suggestion,
but I contrived to carry my point all the same.
At the third hour of the day begins my work. First of all I hold an
audience, which is attended by the Arch-priest and some other members
of the hierarchy, whereat various matters of state concerning the needs
of the community, or the colonies, or the troops are broached and
discussed. An hour or more is generally exhausted in this business, and
by the fourth hour or a little later I issue from the palace with a
military escort and shadowed by the umbrella of state to the judgment
hall of the people, which is situated in the city itself. (Or rather,
to be quite explicit, I visit thus the two courts of the northern and
southern quarters of Tamarida on alternate mornings.) Here I take my
seat on a dais, and dispense justice and advice to all and sundry in
a fashion that constantly reminds me of the multitudinous duties of a
London stipendiary magistrate, though the conditions of the two cases
are happily very diverse. My suppliants are drawn almost wholly from
the lowest estate of the realm, and sometimes the points submitted to
my judgment are of the most trivial character. But I sit and listen
with all the patience I can command, and then announce my verdict with
all the care and circumspection whereof I am capable. It is pathetic to
observe the intense faith my people have in my decisions; a suitor who
has lost his plea may perhaps feel disappointment, but he is obviously
fully resigned to my judgment, and accepts my award as absolutely just
and final. In short, the popular confidence in my wisdom and sense of
equity is unbounded, as the large and ever-increasing roll of my daily
petitioners can testify.
At noon a discharge of cannon, such as one still hears in the large
Italian cities at midday, resounds through the air, and the business of
the court is hurried to a conclusion. Everyone now retires to dine and
sleep, for at least two hours' space of rest is allotted to the whole
community. I return to the palace with my escort, quite ready for my
midday meal, which usually consists of eggs, fish, bread and fruit,
with plenty of the rough red or white Meleagrian wine, that is both
palatable and wholesome. To this repast I am in the habit of inviting
various members of the nobility, and I always find these small
informal parties far preferable to the rather dreary public supper of
the Court, which takes place each evening soon after sundown. After
eating, I sometimes play at chess (which is a very popular game here)
with one of my invited friends, whilst my other guests amuse themselves
as best they may; or at other times I listen to tales or poems recited
by such as aspire to become distinguished in this department of
Meleagrian social life. About the ninth or tenth hour I walk in the
gardens, and after that I change my clothes so as to enjoy a vigorous
game of hand-ball, which usually lasts till dusk. After my exercise
follows the bath, a lengthy but delightful daily experience, for after
the usual sweating and course of rubbing in the heated chambers, one
can plunge into a deep basin of cool water. This pool also contains
a cascade of artificial construction that one shoots, in the manner
employed by some of the islanders of the South Seas, the bather being
hurled over the falling volume of water into another deep pool below.
By swimming rapidly for a few strokes beneath the surface one emerges
farther on in the calm clear water of a large natural basin that is
fringed with ferns and verdure. A rapid stream flowing down from the
mountain-tops above through a precipitous channel has at some time or
other been cleverly utilised in the construction of this cataract and
lower pool, which have been incorporated in these bathing arrangements
for the palace. Afterwards, I rest a while before dressing, when I
proceed at my own convenience to the large banqueting hall, though
not before a salvo of trumpets has given the signal that the workaday
phase of Meleagrian daily life is ended. All toil save that of domestic
service now ceases, and the whole city of Tamarida willingly resigns
itself to rest and recreation until the morrow's dawn. At the evening
meal eaten in public I remain but a short time, and then retire to
my own apartments, whither I summon, if so disposed, such persons as
I feel inclined to honour with an interview. Often however I sit or
pace alone for hours in the darkened or moonlit solitude of my loggia,
meditating on my strange fate and concocting plans for my future course
of conduct.
Such is the outline of my average day, but this programme is often
varied. In the first place, every seventh day being a public day of
thanks-giving and rest from labour, I have to attend the necessary
ceremonies in the temple instead of holding my informal court in
the city. On these days, too, I usually ride afield with some of my
courtiers, generally to go hunting into the wild mountainous region
behind the temple, where the keen air and the wide views over sea and
land seem to freshen my body and my spirits. Occasionally I pay a visit
on horseback to the seat of some hospitable nobleman, whence we return
late at night. At other times I honour some country village with my
presence, much to the delight and surprise of its inhabitants. There
are no books, as I have already explained, so that in reality my life
is necessarily compounded of action and meditation, which on the whole
has not hitherto caused me weariness or disgust. Whether or no I shall
always rest thus contented with this monotonous routine of splendour
and duty is a disagreeable and anxious question that I try, with only
moderate success, to thrust into the background of my thoughts.
VI
Not a day passes here but that I lament my crass ignorance of even
the elementary principles of astronomy. In my school-days I was never
taught the use of the celestial globe, though my young brains were
burdened with the problems and theorems of Euclid, with Greek enclitics
and other scholastic lumber, dear to the dry-as-dust soul of the
English pedagogue. Such books dealing with the heavens as I chanced to
read in later life failed to leave an abiding impression on my adult
mind, with the result that now I can only bewail uselessly the gaps in
my early education. I mention this defect for a special reason--namely,
to crave allowance for the tentative character and amateurish account
of the features of my planet, which I want to present to the reader.