The Doom of Peiboth

The Doom of Peiboth

From The Lays of Peiboth's Children

Great the glory, bright the splendor:
Peiboth shining white in glory,
Hoary head all-crowned with jewels,
Opals gleaming like the ocean,
Blue and green with silver foaming,
So the silver brow of monarch
Frowns beneath green gems and pearls,
Rides with pride and weight of ages.
Round him courtiers stand together:
Some bear spears for proof of courage,
Marshals of the Treian armies.
Some bear scrolls, their ancient tokens,
Wisdom proven, great in counsel.
Each was writ with pen of silver,
Golden foil instead of parchment.
Other servants, falcons bearing,
Crowned with plumes of ancient eagles,
Waiting on their monarch's bidding,
He the sun of Treian peoples,
Monarch of that blessed island,
Monarch of the wide green coast-lands.
All the kin of ancient giants
Called him lord and paid him homage.
Then that Monarch raised his scepter
High above the seat of power.
Golden seat which Peiboth founded
When in youth he claimed dominion:
"Send to me my happy offspring,
Let them come and stand before me,
Hear my doom and do my bidding.
I'll proclaim my heir hereafter:
Which of princes next shall rule
Over Feihoth's happy children,
Over star-born Treian people.
Let them come and hear my judgment."
Came to court the Treian princelings,
Tall and handsome sons of Peiboth:
Landras elder, robed in richness.
Furs of ermine, silks from Southlands,
Rings of gemstones on his fingers,
Rings of opals gleaming brightly.
Straight the blade and rich the hilt-gems
Swinging from his belt of silver,Gold the buckle, bright adorning.
Neras younger, strong and handsome,
Broad his face and broad his shoulders,
Wore the skins of bulls to guard him.
Gold his mail, his helm of Silver.
Skirt of fine rings hung around him,
Like a man arrayed for battle.
Neras always champed for conflict
Like the war-horse, smelling bloodshed,
Champs his bit to join the spear-play.
Bright he glances, looks around him.
Ancient Peiboth, king of Treians:
"See them coming, warlike princes,
Sons of ancient Peiboth hoary.
Glad am I to see together
Both my sons now grown to manhood,
Known through all the Treian Empire:
Courage sung among the peoples,
Wisdom known in land of Giants,
Valor known in vassal Southlands.
Glad my weary heart to see them.
Now my sons, attend beside me,
Give an ear unto my judgment:
One of you must take the kingdom,
When at last the time allotted
To all men, and to all Treians
Should for me at last expire.
One of you my path must follow,
Ere I speak and choose between you,
I would now recall to memory
How has passed my rule and kingship.
How your mother casts her shadow
From the grave upon this kingdom.

Thoranrai, my fair beloved,
Lovely as the dawn at morning,
Lost her life, my offspring bearing,
Passed away to doom of mankind.
Death decreed the Mighty Maker
For the Songs of sky-born Feihoth,
All things gendered under heaven.
In her pains she spoke a vision,
Thoranrai my heart's beloved,
'Peiboth might, at his zenith,
Turns to set his ruling splendor
As the sun which, after morning,
Downward sets on night-ward journey.
Great our journey, proud hearts waxing,
Heaven frowns upon our hubris.
These two sons had been our glory,
Now my sons will be your downfall,
One to rule, one to counsel.
For if pride should not be mastered
Pride will conquer Feihoth's children,
Whelm our land in ruin and anguish.'
Thus your mother, ere she left us,
Spoke a warning of the future.
Then I saw how secret worship
Of the Death that, some men fearing,
Made the bloody sacrifices--
Fearing death and seeking power--
Quickly brought the Master's ire
On the Isle he gave to Feihoth;
I deserved no better judgment.
Now I know my doom is certain:
Even kings must answer heaven
When their hands are stained with bloodshed.
But the doom of Feihoth's people
May be happy if we rulers
Can avert the wrath of heaven
By the rede today we fashion."

Landras haughty, father doubting,
Asked if Peiboth spoke from madness:
Asked if he had angered heaven,
Who of all that Star-born people
Most enjoyed the gifts of heaven,
Rule of people, far-famed monarch.
Peiboth hoary, king of Treians:
"Raos found me, shining Polestar,
Came to me on eve of summer
When the sun was low in heaven
And the Evening-Star was singing,
'Mighty Peiboth, long in reigning,
See the sun which now is setting.
Many days now you have watched it
Since you seized with force your kingdom
From the rightful heirs of Feihoth.
Then your heart was proud and youthful,
Now is old and full of sorrow.
Still the sun repeats its journey,
Still continues after Peiboth
In the foamy sea-grave lying
Looks no more on star or sunset.
Men are mortal, even Treians;
Kings must die as lowest peasant,
Mighty warriors die and moulder,
Same as craven, fearful cowards.
In your youth this death you worshiped,
Fearing it, you gave it worship.
Death brings only death, not comfort.
Men and kings may not escape it.
Good men then must think on children,
How to leave a brighter future,
So aver the wrath of heaven.
Peiboth's sins must still be answered,
Peiboth's sons may yet seek mercy,
Turn aside the sword of heaven.'
Thus spoke Raos, shining Polestar,
Thus I know the will of heaven.
Heaven's herald, brightest Raos,
Brought these words to me in dreaming.
So believe the word I've spoken,
Know the fitness of my reason.
Thus speaks Peiboth, Lord of Treians:
Landras cunning is the elder,
Born the first by many minutes.
Custom long would see him monarch
When his father goes to judgment,
Lies beneath the white-flecked sea-foam.
Landras like his father hoary
Spends his youth in vain pursuings,
Seeks the dark and hidden knowledge,
Worships death and pays him homage.
Strong in counsel, great in cunning,
But I see myself too strongly.
Landras shall not rule the Treians,
Shall not sit this throne of conquest.
Let him learn the will of Heaven,
Aid his younger, valiant brother.
Neras strong shall be the ruler,
Sit the throne of ancient Peiboth.
Let the news be known in Feihoth,
Tell to all the Treian peoples:
Neras mighty is their prince crowned,
He will have this wide dominion."

Then the sons of Peiboth mighty
Both in anguish cried together,
Fell before him on the pavement.
Neras doughty, speaking quickly:
"Father do not think this evil.
Know the set of mind of Neras:
I do not desire rule,
Nor to sit that throne of ivory.
I desire horse and battle,
Play of spears and hand-strikes hardy.
Rule of people would not suit me,
I would poorly order empire."
Landras cunning speaking shrewdly:
"Neras speaks with words of wisdom,
Men should know their limitations.
Let him on the field of battle
Glory win for king and Kingdom.
I will take the heavy burden,
Lead the people, rule in justice.
Never fear the wrath of heaven!
Landras wisely shall for-fend it."
Peiboth darkly frowned upon them,
Even as the stormy sea-cliff,
So his brows were knit together
Frowning on his erring offspring.
"Hear the words of Peiboth Monarch.
Now I speak as king and liege-lord,
Not as father kindly doting.
Neras shall be king of Treians
When my time on earth is ended
And I go to final judgment.
If my doom should go unbidden
May the fatal wrath of heaven
On this house and throne and nation
Fall, and scour the isle of Feihoth,
Purge it clean of guilt and bloodshed.
Go, and do not tempt indulgence."

So was passed the doom of Peiboth.
So the ruin of Feihoth's island
Was foretold, its doom foreshadowed.