The Night Land

And it was here, into the Country of Silence, that they brought down the

Dead to their Burial. And there came down into the Country of Silence,

maybe an Hundred Million, out of the Cities of the Pyramid, to be

present, and to do Honour.

Now they that had charge of the Dead, did lay them upon the road which

ran up unto The Gateway, even that same road which was named The Last

Road. And the Road moved upwards slowly with the Dead; and the Dead went

inward through The Gateway; first the poor Youths, and afterward they

that had given up life that they might save them.

And as the Dead went upwards, there was a very great Silence over all

the miles of the Country of Silence. But in a little while there came

from afar off, a sound as of a wind wailing; and it came onwards out of

the distance, and passed over the Hills of the Babes, which were a great

way off. And so came anigh to the place where I stood. Even as the

blowing of a sorrowful wind did it come; and I knew that all the great

multitudes did sing quietly; and the singing passed onwards, and left

behind it an utter silence; even as the wind doth rustle the corn, and

pass onwards, and all fall to a greater seeming quietness than before.

And the Dead passed inward through The Gateway, into the great light and

silence of the Dome; and came out no more.

And again from beyond the far Hills of the Babes there was that sound of

the millions singing; and there rose up out of the earth beneath, the

voices of the underground organs; and the noise of the sorrow passed

over me, and went again into the distance, and left all hushed.

And lo! as there passed inward to the silence of the Dome the last of

those dead Heroes, there came again the sound from beyond the Hills of

the Babes; and as it came more nigh, I knew that it was the Song of

Honour, loud and triumphant, and sung by countless multitudes. And the

Voices of the Organs rose up into thunder from the deep earth. And there

was a great Honour done to the glory of the Dead. And afterwards, once

more a silence. Then did the Peoples of the Cities arrange themselves so that from every

city whence had come a Hero, were the People of that City gathered

together. And when they were so gathered, they set up Tokens of Memory

to the Dead of their City. But afterwards did charge Artists to the

making of sculpture great and beautiful to that same end; and now did

but place Tablets against that time.