the distance guarding the river Eidis; behind them the fierce people of
Zeenar lived in a bleak land.

Later the King, going abroad through his new kingdom, came on the
Temple of the gods of Old. There he found the roof shattered and the
marble columns broken and tall weeds met together in the inner shrine,
and the gods of Old, bereft of worship or sacrifice, neglected and
forgotten. And the King asked of his councillors who it was that had
overturned this temple of the gods or caused the gods Themselves to be
thus forsaken. And they answered him:

"Time has done this."

Next the King came upon a man bent and crippled, whose face was
furrowed and worn, and the King having seen no such sight within the
court of his father said to the man:

"Who hath done this thing to you?"

And the old man answered:

"Time hath ruthlessly done it."

But the King and his councillors went on, and next they came upon a
body of men carrying among them a hearse. And the King asked his
councillors closely concerning death, for these things had not before
been expounded to the King. And the oldest of the councillors answered:

"Death, O King, is a gift sent by the gods by the hand of their servant
Time, and some receive it gladly, and some are forced reluctantly to