"Very mighty are the gods of Old."

Then said the King:

"There are no gods but the gods of Old."

And answered the prophet:

"There are none other."

And they two being alone within the palace the King said:

"Tell me aught concerning gods or men if aught of the truth be known."

Then said the master prophet:

"Far and white and straight lieth the road to Knowing, and down it in
the heat and dust go all wise people of the earth, but in the fields
before they come to it the very wise lie down or pluck the flowers. By
the side of the road to Knowing--O King, it is hard and hot--stand many
temples, and in the doorway of every temple stand many priests, and
they cry to the travellers that weary of the road, crying to them:

"This is the End."

And in the temples are the sounds of music, and from each roof arises
the savour of pleasant burning; and all that look at a cool temple,
whichever temple they look at, or hear the hidden music, turn in to see
whether it be indeed the End. And such as find that their temple is not
indeed the End set forth again upon the dusty road, stopping at each