“‘And at the Last, upon some afternoon, perhaps in summer, shall the gods say, speaking to the gods: “What is the likeness of MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI and what THE END?”
“‘And then shall MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI draw back with his hand the mists that cover his resting, saying: “This is the Face of MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI and this THE END.”’”
Then said the people to the prophet: “Shall not black hills draw round in some forsaken land, to make a vale-wide cauldron wherein the molten rock shall seethe and roar, and where the crags of mountains shall be hurled upward to the surface and bubble and go down again, that there our enemies may boil for ever?”
And the prophet answered: “It is writ large about the bases of Pegana’s mountains, upon which sit the gods: ‘Thine Enemies Are Forgiven.”’
THE SAYINGS OF IMBAUN
The Prophet of the gods said: “Yonder beside the road there sitteth a false prophet; and to all who seek to know the hidden days he saith: ‘Upon the morrow the King shall speak to thee as his chariot goeth by.’”
Moreover, all the people bring him gifts, and the false prophet hath more to listen to his words than hath the Prophet of the gods.
Then said Imbaun: “What knoweth the Prophet of the gods? I know only that I and men know naught concerning the gods or aught concerning men. Shall I, who am their prophet, tell the people this?
“For wherefore have the people chosen prophets but that they should speak the hopes of the people, and tell the people that their hopes be true?”
The false prophet saith: “Upon the morrow the king shall speak to thee.”