But now the winter had set in over the land, and the wastes were
bleak, and the trees stood like pallid ghosts, sheeted and shrouded
in snow. And the north wind moaned across the open country, and
the traveler grew cold and weary. Then he spoke to the bird and
said, "Bird, when I and my companions set out on our journey from
the land beyond the sunset, the Princess promised us each a guide,
who should bring us back in safety if only we would faithfully heed
his monitions. Where then is this guide? for hitherto I have walked
alone, and have seen no leader.

And the bird answered, "O poet, I, whom thou bearest about in thy
bosom, am that guide and monitor! I am thy director, thine angel,
and thine inward light. And to each of thy companions a like guide
was vouchsafed, but the man of appetite drove away his monitor,
and the man of intellect did even worse, for he gave over to death
his friend and his better self. Gold against dross, the wisdom
of the Gods against the knowledges of men! But thou, poet, art
the child of the Gods, and thou alone shalt again behold with joy
the land beyond the sunset, and the face of Her whose true servitor
and knight thou art!"

Then the traveler was right glad, and his heart was lifted up,
and as he went he sang. But, for all that, the way grew steeper
to his feet, and the icy air colder to his face; and on every hand
there were no longer meadows and orchards full of laboring folk,
but glittering snow-wreaths, and diamond-bright glaciers, shining
hard and keen against the deeps of darkening space; and at times
the roar of a distant avalanche shook the atmosphere about him,
and then died away into the silence out of which the sound had come.
Peak above peak of crystal-white mountain ranges rose upon his sight,