Thereoncewasanimpwhoseappearancewasvain, hisbehaviorwasfoolish,evenhisspeechandimposing mannerismsweremaimed!
Fromthoseeasterncannibalisticlandsafarheandhiskind hadoncebeenblessed, indenturedtoservethesuperlativebloods'best.
Hismortalsalvationwashisownindenture, forinhisownlandsveryfewofhisagedidsurvive thedailyadventure, letalonethrive asasimplebutleremployedinbasicmealtimebequest, beingallowedhisnourishmentfromamongthetables' finest!
Formanyyearswithhissituationhewasquitecontented untilhecommencedtokeepcompanywithenviousout-landers, whotoldhimtalesofwealthreservedfromhislaborandinvented moretalesoffabulousrichesinhisownlandthathispresencepanderedhadforcedhisloss, callouslyforgettinghispastperiloussituation andtheweightheonceboreincarryinghisdailycross.
Sohecrieduntothefairyprincessbeseechinghiscompleteliberty; thoughatfirstshedeniedhimhisrequesteddelivery, shepromisedhimthatshewouldgranthimhisfreedomfor allinfinity....
Sohecontinuedoninhisdailychoresinsidethatlavish mansionhome, existinginluxuryoflivingandneveralone, astheweekswentby,transformingintocreepingmonthsinhisatone.
Asthedayspassedandsodidtheweeks, hewasapproachedbytheout-lander, Rahab, who pretendedtoofferwisdom untothoseinneedwhoseek.
Hertruedesirewastohexwith Chaos and Destruction, bycausinghertargetedvictimtobecomemalcontent inhispresentposition, desiringthedecadenceofhispasthomeland
o'ertheplacewhereinluxuryhedidpresentlystand.
“Justobservethyselfinthatpeon'splacewhereyenowstand, yeawantonservantinanotheron''smansionestate,whentheeoncepossessedthineownso grand.Dostthoutrulybelievethatthyownercanaffordtoallowtheeliberty?Mybest suggestionthen, istoputherwordstothetest, nowwouldstthounotagree?”
“Ohthen,letsdosee,”repliedtheimpsosheepishly, “thethoughtofalyingtonguehadnevercrossedme.... ButIwilltakeyoursuggestionandyou'llneverregret thedaythatyouofferedmeyourverybest Inwordsandhonorableadvice.”
“Thouartveryattentivetotruewisdom'sslice, andthygainindoingsoshallindeedbeverynice. Soapproachthedearprincesscomefirstglowtomorrowmorn, andbeholdthemannerinwhichherwaninginattentiveness shallallowthynewrevelationstobeborn,” firmlyrepliedRahab.
Thusonthefirstlightofnextmorn, theimpdidmakehisapproachingmove; hischancetakendidcausethedearprincessscorn, hersoundderisionputtinghimonthegroove.
Herreplybeing“nextlightormaybethenextblushingsunrise, ormightbethelightfollowing,ifthegoodfeelingshouldstrike; butonwhoseadvicedoyoumakeyourinquiry,untooneofmyadoration ormydespise?
Oneofthydisdainoroneofhonestinvite?
Dothhestandfirmamongthoseflounderingfoolsortallamongthewise? Fordobehold,thysuccessshallrestontheshouldersofmypersonallikes ofbothyouan'theverymoment, andpleasedorememberthatitisuntomenoobligation anywherethatIshouldbearbindingties!,” sostatedthedearprincessinaresoundingreply.
Onthetwelfthstrikingintheshadowofthefullmoon didstRahabapproachtoofferhimconfidenceinsuccess,
grantinghimcouragetoperseverethroughonthetest. Beforeshemeltedfromhissecularpresence, shedemandedofhimanotheradvisingspoon, wishinghimherverybest, neaththelightofafullwitchmoon.
“Falluponthykneesfacingthecolddampearthbelow, offeringprayersuntothylordingKing,Apolyon,forhimto bestow upontheehisfetidblessing,deliveringuphissacred prince, thelordof Chaos, Antagonism and Suspense. Thisdarksaint,thence, shallthenmarchforwarduntothefairyprincess, causinghertofeeltheforcesofdreadandwoe, untilsheallowsthypeopleandthoutheunfetteredlibertytogo.”
Sothentheimpheedsherdarkwordsoftwistedknowledge, horriblymistakingthemforgiftedwisdom. Thus...outinhintermostwildernessgraveyarddarkcorner, keelingin homage totheLordofDarkLiesandDeceit,pleadinguntohimin hisenthronedkingdom tointercedeinhisownbehalf. ThusdidstApolyon'sdisdainingfigureappearfromthethinair, demandingthatheforbearhisrequestuntilthelightofthefollowingdayhadpassed.
“Wasitnottheewhosoughtoutmyrelaxingpresence? Howwouldsttheedaredisturbmyrest, beseechingmeloudlyinmyveryresidence! Evendemandingfrommemyverybest!”
Thetremblingimp..,nowonesoterrified, glancedwithwidepalledeyesfromsidetohorrifyingside, knowingnotwhattosayorevenhowtoreply Hecouldonlyattempttogazeforthintoafaceso repulsive, thenonlyhanginghisfacetowardtheground,tryingnotto soundexplosive.
“YestheguiltyonewasI, thoughIamnotasaint..,sirIcannevertellalie;
myintentionwasnevertodisturbyou, buttobeseechonlyinearnestrequest..,withalastgasping sigh.., justtoseewhatitwasthattheewouldthendo.”
Apollyonlaughedinavoicethunderingontheragingwind, thenthedarkeningskiesclearedasthestreakinglighteningwent. Themaliciousgeniethenpausedwithbothmuscleboundarmscrossed, gazingdownuponthepoorimpo'erwhomheknewhimselftobeboss.
“Verywell,”hedidthunder,“ifthoubebraveenoughtoenduretheloss.., indeedIammostcertainthattheehathonceponderedandwavedallofthecost? Theonewhomadvisedtheetoapproachandbravethetempestroll, casuallyneglectedtoinformthee..,thatmypriceextracted shallbethyblunderingsoul!”
“Ohplease,there, Mr.Genie,”beggedthepoorimp. “Iampleadingofyoujustonemoreattempt toswaythefairyprincess,bothverychasteandwise, toletmeandmypeoplego,ifyoucouldsoadvise?”
“Verywellthen,”repliedthegenie,“doastheefeelsoled, butIshallnowinformtheethatthyforlorneffortisdead; fortheprincess'heartisassolidasgranitestone, herconcernispreservedforherownextravagantwealth... andletlavishlivingbeheronlysong. Thouartonlyborntoexistashersweatdrenchedlaboring mule....
Thymiserablelifeinherfieldsshallsurlybethyonly incessantrule.”
Withthepeachriseofthemorningsun, theimpdidmakehiswaytowardthegardensandthe vineyardrun, approachingthedelicatefairyprincesswiththequestion hotonhismind, theanswerloomingeverstillthathewashopingtofind. Ingreatreverencetheimpdidstdaretoapproach, droppingdownuponasinglekneeinearnestbeseech, placingbothhandstogetherinhumblepiningbow, dearlyrequestingthattheprincesshonorhisearnest avow.
“PleasemydearestMrs.Xantho, ofmygaspingpleatheedoessurlyknow thatIonlydesiremyownfreedomofwill. IfitisthatIshouldonlycandidlycomeAroundandgo; butoftheethouwillpossesmydevotedloyaltystill, Iingraciousearnestdesiretoimpartso.”
Thefairyprincesslaugheddeeplyfromwithin, herfacethenstreakedwithathinwaxinggrin. Herbeholdingtheimp..,donnedinperfectdressandtie, shecouldonlyshakeherheadingreatwonderastowhy
“Whereasthylavishproviderhathnowbeenme, thyonlyindentureisuntothee,whenitisthatthouartfree. Whenyeprecioussuitandtieyemustsurlyforbear, whatthenmayyeendeavortowear...,ragcloth,possum skin,orhare?
Whenthyfoodiscaviar,rice,andtenderrivercaneshoots, whenyearethenforcedtoforbear,whatthenmaybethynourishment..., carrion,ratflesh,andtuckahawroots?
Whatmannerofemploymentshallsustainthee, whenthyonlylaborhathbeeninsupportofthiselegantmansionhouse andit'saffluentcompany?”
“None-the-lessMrs.Xantho,pleaseallowmywishestobe, mydearheartdesiresit'spassionofwill, formypoorsoulyearnsonlytobefree....
Doesnottherobinsdesiretocrosso'eronhighstill, whenthefallarrivesandthefarsouthisbesttobe? Doesnotthegracefulstagchoosetoroamwoodsandopenfields, sothatonlyhemayprofitfromtheirbounteousyields? Wellinlikewisefashion,sodoI desiretogobymyowndesign.
Bymyowningenuityanyresultingpossiblewealth shallbemysoulpine.
Ifallelseshouldfail,Mrs.Xantho, thenbytherightsofmyownlabor,Ishalldojustfine.”
Thefairyprincessdidtakeadeepsigh,onlytoshakehergoldenheadinwonderastowhy... Whenonelivessowellandenjoyslifeintheshade thathewouldchoosetoabandonallofitforpovertyon anygivenday.
“Well..,soitisthatweshallsimplyjust wait and see. Onoccasionittakestimeforthemindtoconceive thefollythatithascometobelieve, whenallappearssomuchbetter,indeed..., fromwhereitisthathestandsmakinghisfoolishreprieve.”
Latethatnightonastormytwelfthstrikingthewickedgeniedidreappear, hishauntingspectrum,eversonear. Theimpnowcametodreadhisdauntingapproach, forheknewwellthatdeeplyintohisbreasttheevilhanddesiredtoencroach.
“Verywellthenyefoolishimp, allowthybumblewishesnowtoinitiate. Forpresentlyuntometheehathmadethyrequest. Ifyeshouldeverturnandrun,Ishalllaytheeandallof thinetoinfinitewaste.
Nowthereisnoturningback. Thyrequestwasthegiftofthyinfinitelibertyandwithout haste..., andsoonthepriceshallcomedueuntomeofthymost treasuredbest. Hadyechosentoremain,thenyemighthavebeen allowed thegrantingofanotherdeepsilent,mostsecretdebauched wish..,
thatbeingthesightofunadornedpastelflesh; butsinceyehavethrownitallawayonwhimsicalthoughts, nowthereisnoturningbacktoobtainthycorruptingwants. Nowhaveabitmorepatienceandheedthesedirewarnings, forsoonthereshallcomeamightystorming uponthegrandestateofthefairyprincess..,untilthe momentisright, thensheshallallowyeandallofyeimpishkind tofleeawayintothebleakstormynight.”
“OhdearGenie,”sighedtheimp,“ifonlyIcouldnowretreat,
mypooreyescouldtinglethenwithenrapturedglee, forthereisnootherpleasurethatit'sgoodfeelingmay beat thatofmypooreyesbeholdingchastepastelflesh.., soclean.
Sopleasantisthesighttobehold,thatIshallrhymesong andsing; forit'sjoyuntomyeyesisfargreaterthanthatevertobe wroughtbytheprecioussound ofsweetfreedom'sring!”
Soontheninthnightfromthegenie'slastvisit thefigureof Chaos didmoveupontheearthboundestate toinsist thatthehardenedheartofthefairyprincessreconsiderto makereprieve, allowingtheimpandhiskindtohavetheirunchaperoned leave.
Notonlythatifshestillshouldanswerno, thenthedarkcurseof Chaos wouldcometofilleveryestate intheentirelandwithwoe.
Thushe
beingthesecondout-landertomovewithenvy forthefairyprincessstablewealth inRahab'swake.
Inthewitchingmoonofthetwelfthstriking didChaosascendupontheprincessgraciousestate, destroyingallthelushgardensandthemansion,asitmay, layingallofthelavishfieldsandstorestowaste. Whentheimpdidagainmakehisapproachtowardher, oncemorehersharpreplywas “no” andwithouthaste.
SoagaindidChaosmove,butthistime,tofilltheentireland. Layingdestructionuponeverybeastandthelaboredworksofman. Nowthereexistednorestraintsupontheimpandthoseunfetteredbrutesofhisownkind. Theywereatlonglastfreetodoaccordingtothewhimsoftheirownmind. Butbeforetheyallweretohavetheirfirstdashtowardtheirheart'sdesire, therewasonemorevisitorwhowouldappearuntothemall, bearingabrilliantswordofperfectbronze,flamingwithdancingmid-nightfire. Thisvisitorwasasingingcherubfromthesupremeone...,somightyanddivine, whoboreapunitivewarningwithalloftheminmind.
“Yes...,dogoandroamtheearthinsearchofallthattheeandthyvainkind maychancetofind, butinthydesultoryquestforluxuryandliberty, justrememberthatyeneglectedmefor makingthyfirstinquiry.
Forallofeternityyeshallthusberemindedofmywords. Dogoonandtakethysecularpleasuresofpurloined wealth andwastedcorruptingpastelflesh; butforthesinofmakingthyappealtoSataninbequest, onedaytheeandthykindshallbeboundinnumbers greaterthaneverbeforeheard, theirshacklesloudlysnappingbeforeyeandthykindcanevenpause toponderorguessfromwhencecamethewickedbird.
BEHOLD
Theentirelandshallthenbeinfinitelyliberatedfromthy noxiousgirth....
Bewarethefirstlure,whichshallbethyprofitinabsenceof anytransferinwork.
Whenthesecondlureshallbeadismantlingabsenceof corporateregulation, thegoldentwintowersshallsoonfallingreatconflagration. WhentherestraintsuponthesubtleKing'sauthorityshallthenseetheircompleteremoval, hisabsolutereignshallfindit'ssuperiormortalapproval. ThusItellye,thattheeandthykindshouldtremblewith trepidationandfear, forthenthycompletedamningsubjugationloomsnear.”
Aftertheannouncementofthesewords..,theimpdidmoveon. Thepleasuresofthemomentconsumedhisheart,soul,fleshandbone. Hissonsanddaughtersacceptnottomorrowsfate, fortheirgluttonousdebaucheddesirescannolongerwait. Butsotruetotheangel'swarningreprimand, theflamingtowershavealreadycollapsedsodeeplyinto thesand.
Thekingincommandnowbearsnorestraint, thatpreciousdoctrineoflibertyhewillsoonmoveto taint....
Thenalloftheimpsshallexistashisownmortalbane, hissonsanddaughtersforcedonceagaintoliveinchains; theirimpishmindswillnevercomprehendeventheirownpain, livingonlytogratifyanelitistelement’sinsatiablegain.
Thegoodfairyprincess..., thoughshesosadlyweptinherbitterreprieve, hersonsanddaughtersforcedtoforgoallexcess, countlessnumberschoosingtoleave. Inthepassageoftimesheonceagainrosetoherfeet, thoughnotyetnearlyasstrong,appearingsomewhat weak....
She..,despisingthedebaucheryintheworldallaroundher, schemestoascendintoauthority,hopingtoremovethepoisonouscancer. Inherheartsheknowsthatonedayhergloriousreignshallsomehowagaincome.., Shefeelsthecelestialpromiseuponherfaceeverymorn witheachriseofthepeachsun.