At any time, the narrative of The King of Ys can be interrupted by a challenge in the Wood and, theoretically, Gratillonius could lose such a challenge although we know that that is not going to happen. The first such challenge is easily disposed of in V, 4. Disgusted by his own slaughter of an unworthy opponent, Gratillonius inwardly calls on Mithras to end the Three. Another god will do this. (Some say that the true God hears all prayers.)
It is three years after the events of Roma Mater and the seasons return:
"Up from the South wandered spring..." (VI, 1, p. 116)
"At high summer, the rain sometimes fell nearly warm through unmoving air." (VII, 1, p. 132)
"As closely as it followed winter solstice, the Birthday of Mithras at Ys gave a glimmer of daylight, barely more than six hours, in a cavern of night." (VII, 4, p. 153)
"The equinoctial gales blew out of Ocean like longings,to wake the soul from winter drowse." (VIII, 1, p. 159)
"Early summer brought a spell of calm, light, warmth." (VIII, 2, p. 168)
"An autumn storm roared, whistled, flung rain and hail, throughout one night." (VIII, 4, p. 181)
"Winter's early night had fallen..." (IX, 1, p. 198)
"As summer waned, Ys lay in a chill dankness and a white blindness that seemed to go on without end." (X, 1, p. 222)
"Often around the autumnal equinox, storms caused Ys to lock its sea gate..." (XI, 4, p. 253)
"The months wheeled onward, through winter and spring and again to summer." (XII, 2, p. 269)
"At Lugnassat, King Niall must by law preside over the great fair at Tallten..." (XIII, 1, p. 291)
"Again the year swung towards equinox. Summer died..." (XIII, 3, p. 302)
"Forty days after solstice, the diminishing gloom of winter was made bright in Ys." (XIV, 2, p. 310)
"At Imbolc Niall Naegeslach gave out that after Beltene (sic) he would fare overseas." (XIV, 3, p. 315)
"Very early in the shipping season..." (XV, 2, p. 327)
"Summer lay heavy over the land." (XVI, 2, p. 351)
"Autumn cooled and hazed the air." (XVI, 3, p. 358)
"Midwinter rites and festival, together with the Council meeting, went past solstice." (XVI, 4, p. 362)
"Tommaltach maqq Donngalii returned to Ys with the springtime." (XVII, 1, p. 369)
Maybe this, not the doings of human beings, is the true story?
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And I do believe the true God does hear all prayers.
But without INTELLIGENT life in the world those changes of years, seasons, weather, etc., would be meaningless.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: physical facts don't have 'meaning' except as human beings (or theoretically other sophonts) attach meaning to them.
As the philosopher said, there are no facts -- only -interpretations- of fact. Without interpretation, all you have is raw data, which in human terms is meaningless.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree, that is what I was trying to say.
Ad astra! Sean
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