第10章

Andhelaunchedashipofsilvermail，Withfiftyladstohoistthesail，Andtwentywisealltonguestheyknew，AndAflatun，andAristu。

TherehadnotdawnedtheseconddayButtheglitteringgalleonsailedaway，AndthroughthenightlikeonegreatbellThemarshalledarmiessangfarewell。

IntwentydaysthesilvershipHadpassedtheIsleofSerendip，AndmadetheflatArauniancoastsInhabited，atnoon，byGhosts。

InthirtydaystheshipwasfarBeyondthelandofCalcobar，WheremendrinkDeadMen\'sBloodforwine，Anddyetheirbeardsalizarine。

ButonthehundredthdaytherecameStormwithhiswindywingsaflame，AnddravethemouttothatLoneSeaWhoseshoresarenearEternity。

ForsevenyearsandsevenyearsSailedthoseforgottenmariners，NorcouldtheyspyoneitherhandThefaintestlevelofgoodredland。

Birdorfishtheysawnotone;

Thereswamnoshipbesidetheirown，AnddaynightlongtheliliedDeepLayroundthem，withitsflowersasleep。

Thebeamsbegantowarpandcrack，Thesilverplatesturnedfilthyblack，AnddroopingdownonthecarvenrailsHungthoseoncelovelysilkensails。

Andallthegreatship\'screwwhowereSuchnobleladstodoanddareGrewoldandtiredofthechangelessskyAndlaidthemdownonthedecktodie。

AndtheywhospakealltonguestherebeMadeanticswithsolemnity，OrcloselyhuddledeachtoeachTalkedribaldinaforeignspeech。

AndAflatunandAristuLettheirBeardsgrow，andtheirBeardsgrewRoundandaboutthemainmasttreeWheretheystoodstill，andwatchedthesea。

AnddaybydaytheirCaptaingreyKneltontherottingpooptopray:

AndyetdespitetenthousandprayersTheysawnoshipthatwasnottheirs。

WhenthricethesevenyearshadpassedTheysawaship，ashipatlast！

Untarnishedgloweditssilvermail，Windlessbellieditssilkensail。

WithashoutthegrizzledsailorsroseCursingtheyearsofsickrepose，AndtheywhospakeintonguesunknownGladlyrevertedtotheirown。

TheCaptainleaptandlefthisprayersAndhasteneddownthedustdarkstairs，AndtakingtohandabrazenWhipHewoketolifethelongdeadship。

ButAflatunandAristu，Whohadnoworkthattheycoulddo，GazedatthestrangerShipandSeaWiththeirbeardsaroundthemainmasttree。

Nearerandnearerthenewboatcame，Tillthehandscriedoutontheoldship\'sshame

"Silkensailtoasilverboat，Wetooshonewhenwefirstsetfloat！"

Swifterandswifterthebrightboatsped，Butthehandsspakethinlikemenlongdead

"HowstrikinglikethatboatwereweInthedays，sweetdays，whenweputtosea。

TheshipallblackandtheshipallwhiteMetlikethemeetingofdayandnight，Met，andtherelayserenedarkgreenAtwilightyardoftheseabetween。

AndthetwentymastersofforeignspeechOfeverytonguetheyknewtriedeach;

Smiling，thesilverCaptainheard，Butshookhisheadandsaidnoword。

ThenAflatunandAristuAddressedthesilverLordanew，SpeakingtheirlanguageofYoonistanLikecountrymentoacountryman。

And"Whence，"theycried，"OSonsofPride，Sailyouthedarketernaltide？

LieyourhallstotheSouthorNorth，AndwhoistheKingthatsentyouforth？"

"Welive，"repliedthatLordwithasmile，"Amilebeyondthemillionthmile。

WeknownotSouthandweknownotNorth，AndSULTANISKANDERsentusforth。"

SaidAristutoAflatun

"SurelyourKing，despondentsoon，HassentthissecondshiptofindUnconqueredtractsofhumankind。"

ButAflatunturnedroundonhimLaughingabitterlaughandgrim。

"Alas，"hesaid，"OAristu，Awhiteweakthinoldfoolareyou。

"AnddoesyonsilverShipappearAsshehadjourneyedtwentyyear？

AndhasthatsilverCaptain\'sfaceAmortalorImmortalgrace？

"Theirsistheland（aswellIknow）

WherelivetheShapesofThingsBelow:

TheirsisthecountrywheretheykeepTheImagesmenseeinSleep。

"TheirsistheLandbeyondtheDoor，Andtheirstheoldidealshore。

Theysteerourship:beholdourcrewIdeal，andourCaptaintoo。

"Andlo！besidethatmainmasttreeTwotallandshiningformsIsee，Andtheyarewhatweoughttobe，Yetwearethey，andtheyarewe。"

Hespake，andsomeyoungZephyrstirredThetwoshipstouched:nosoundwasheard;

TheBlackShipcrumbledintoair;

OnlythePhantomShipwasthere。

AndagreatcryrangroundtheskyOfglorioussingerssweepingby，AndcalmandfaironwavesthatshoneTheSilverShipsailedonandon。