This chapter section presents a beautiful account of Ys as experienced by a young mariner visiting the city for the first time:
green waves darkened by kelp, white on rocks
hundredfold fowl
gulls
terns
guillemots
puffins
cormorants
seals
dangerous reefs
dark rose sea wall between two promontories
on it, a frieze of fabulous creatures
battlements
turrets
gleaming glass on spires
the tidally closing gate
harbour
docks
warehouses
ships
boats
tugs
a robed official
guards in Ysan armour
longshoremen
hawkers
whores
entertainers
spectators
runners for inns, speaking some Latin
unfamiliar, elongated, sleek, swirling, surging proportions and artwork
throb
clamour
activity
prosperity
bright garments jewellery
folk clean, well-groomed, lean, energetic and dignified
Celtic and Phoenician features
women's equality
free servants
hostel room fresco of ship and blue-cloaked, star-holding woman
(Star of the Sea)
common room food
marinated mussels
leeks in chicken broth
fried plaice with thyme and watercress
hazelnuts in white bread
sweet butter
blue chees
honeycake
mead
an invitation to meet the King
Ysan marines
Roman guards
labyrinthine paths
flowerbeds
hedges
topiaries
bowers
scenes of wild beasts in forests on palace walls
bronze boar and bear before the staircase
copper roof
an image of an eagle with outspread wings on the dome
gilt wings blazing at sundown
the centurion/prefect/King
two of his nine wives
an old scholar
the head of a mercantile house
Rufinus
a visiting Scot
Princess Dahut...
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Falling behind again, exasperating!
Now I'm wondering if that visiting Scot was a spy for King Niall, collecting useful information for use in his grudge against Ys.
Ad astra! Sean
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