[Date: 6w/1l/1a] The rainbow responds.
Nearby, a sacred oak tree spread abroad its branches, thinly covered with green leaves; and creeping as an army, on the tree we saw a train of ants that carried grain, half-hidden in the deep and wrinkled bark. And while I wondered at the endless line I said, "Great Father, give me citizens equal to the number of hours." As soon as I said those words, —though not a wind was moving nor a breeze,—the lofty tree began to tremble, and I heard a sound of motion in its branches. With sudden fears that possessed me, my flesh and hair rose up; and I could hardly stand for so my weak knees tottered! As I made obeisance to the soil and sacred tree, I kissed the oak down to its roots. Perhaps I cherished in my heart a thought, that, not acknowledged, cheered me with some hope.
At night, I lay exhausted by such thoughts as a deep sleep seized my body, but the tree seemed always present to my gaze, distinct with all its branches. I could even see the birds among its leaves; and from its boughs that trembled in the still air, moving ants were scattered to the ground in troops below; and ever, as they touched the soil, they grew larger and larger. As they raised themselves, they stood with upright bodies, and put off their lean shapes; and absorbed their many feet: and even as their dark brown color changed, their rounded forms took on a human shape.
When my strange dream departed, I awoke. The vision vanished. I complained to Heaven against the idle comfort of such dreams; but as I voiced my own lament, I heard a mighty murmur echoing through the tunnels of the cave, and a multitude of voices in confusion; where the sound of scarce an echo had disturbed the still deserted chambers for so many days. All this I thought the fancy of my dream, until my brave son in haste threw open the closed doorway, as he called, "Come quickly father, and behold a sight beyond the utmost of your fondest dreams!"
And as I followed, there I saw such men as I had seen transformed in that weird vision of the moving ants. They all advanced, and hailed me as their king. So soon as I had offered v_ws to Jupiter, I subdivided the THE WOODS and the mountain to these men miraculously raised —which now are called my Myrmidons,—the living evidence of my strange vision.
They have retained the well-known customs of the days before their transformation. Patiently they toil; they store the profits of their labor, which they guard with valiant skill.
They number one for each hour:
1: First Light
13: Janus
2: Sunrise
14: Gjálp
3: Music
15: Greip
4: Gymnastica
16: Eistla
5: Ablutions
17: Angeyja
6: Mesembria
18: Ulfrún
7: Libations
19: Eyrgjafa
8: Elete
20: Imðr
9: Acte
21: Atla
10: Evening
22: Járnsaxa
11: Sunset
23: Heimdallr
12: Arctos
24: Midas
They shall serve you as gatekeepers, well matched in years and courage.
[Date: 6y/1l/1a] A slag laughs.
Having read the tome, an order to kill the chimæra was given. The uninitiated believed that they would be destroyed by the beasts, for a single chimæra was more than a match for many, let alone one.
Each had the fore part of, the tail of, and three heads of the five poisons. They lurked in THE WOODS and harried our minds' tranquility, for each was a single creature with the power of three poisons. It is said, too, that these chimæra were bred by three masters and that they were begotten by the moon.
So The Meadow smote the first chimæra with a lead tipped spear forged by Poseidon.
[Date: 6r/1l/1a] A frog strains!
They laid plans and said, "Come, let us create ‹S›ages that will be ripples from the pond." They had taken water from the pond and modeled their ‹S›ages after themselves and after the images that had appeared to them in the waters. They said, "The enthusiastic departure exposes this doubtless designer." Like storm winds they persisted, that they might try to capture the images which had appeared to them in the waters. And they did not know the identity of its power.
They gathered together all the ORGANISMs of the world and brought them in to THE WOODS to see how the ‹S›ages would respond, that the nature of their minds] could be ascertained.
The dominant puzzles around the mystery!
[Date: 6b/1l/1a] A capitalist hurts.
A player was leaving the cave. Ten students were ordered to see the player off at the gate. The player pointed to the swimming fish in the pond and said, "Such beautiful fish! They don't swim in any other place."
At that time there was a student named flagamuffin, who said, "Where then do they swim?"
The player gave him a slap.
flagamuffin said, "Player, don't be so rough."
The player said, "If you name yourself a student in such a condition, the Archons will never release you!"
flagamuffin said,"What then would you say, player?"
The player slapped him again and said, "You see with your eyes but you are just like a blind man. You speak with your mouth, but you are just like a dumb man."
[Date: 6k/1l/1a] The deadline lies.
One day, the king went out for a hunting with his men. The carriage was going along, when suddenly ▪M▪antis stood in the middle of the road with its sickle-like forelegs opened. It was obvious that he was trying to fight against the carriage to hold it back. Surprised at the case, the king ordered to stop and asked what creature it was. He was told it was called ▪M▪antis, and it would go well up to bridle decisively when it was challenged. The king sighed with exclamation at its braveness. He mused a moment and added: "It's a great pity that it is not more than an insect. If it were a man, he must be the bravest warrior in the world!" Then the king ordered his carriage to turn around it to leave ▪M▪antis there standing martially.