gods of Pegana are fearing the fear that hath fallen upon the gods
because of the vengeance of men, for They know not when _The End_ shall
be, or whether it shall come.




WHEN THE GODS SLEPT


All the gods were sitting in Pegana, and Their slave, Time, lay idle at
Pegana's gate with nothing to destroy, when They thought of worlds,
worlds large and round and gleaming, and little silver moons. Then (who
knoweth when?), as the gods raised Their hands making the sign of the
gods, the thoughts of the gods became worlds and silver moons. And the
worlds swam by Pegana's gate to take their places in the sky, to ride
at anchor for ever, each where the gods had bidden. And because they
were round and big and gleamed all over the sky, the gods laughed and
shouted and all clapped Their hands. Then upon earth the gods played
out the game of the gods, the game of life and death, and on the other
worlds They did a secret thing, playing a game that is hidden.

At last They mocked no more at life and laughed at death no more, and
cried aloud in Pegana: "Will no new thing be? Must those four march for
ever round the world till our eyes are wearied with the treading of the
feet of the Seasons that will not cease, while Night and Day and Life
and Death drearily rise and fall?"

And as a child stares at the bare walls of a narrow hut, so the gods
looked all listlessly upon the worlds, saying: