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themselves with the sport of spring。 Brown bees among the clover；
strawberries in profusion； trees would delight your eyes； and brown cows
and black cows； and dappled moilies under the great leaves of them； and
lambs would be snowy of fleece。 All the flowers of the world were there；
the paradise of wild things it was； the park of Kubla Khan。
〃In Xanadu did Kubla Khan；〃 quoted young Randall； 〃A
stately pleasure dome decree； Where Alph； the sacred river； ran
Through caverns measureless to man； Down to a sunless sea。 So
twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled
round： And there were gardens； bright with sinuous rills； Where
blossomed many an incense…bearing tree； And here were forests
ancient as the hills； Enfolding sunny spots of greenery。〃
〃Whose poem is that poem； Brian 0ge？〃
〃It is a poem of Coleridge's； Malachi。〃
〃I though it was maybe a poem of Colquitto Dall McCracken of Skye；
that one of you lads had put English on。 It is a poem of the head； you ken；
and Colquitto； being a dark man； could only see with the eye's ghost。 But
it hasn't the warmth； the life of the work of Blind Colquitto； Brian Oge； do
you mind the poem Angus More Campbell of Rathlin wrote to Colquitto
Dall？〃
〃'Is aoibhinn duid； Colquitto Dall；'〃 I remembered： 〃It is happy for
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Messer Marco Polo
thee； blind Colquitto； who dost not see much of women。 If thou wert to
see what we see； thou wouldst be tormented even as I am。 My sorrow； O
God； that I was not stricken blind before I saw her amber； twisted hair！〃
〃That's it； that's it； Brian Oge。 But this is not the place to be talking
of poetry。 There is no poetry in this story。
〃I will now tell you of Marco Polo and him entering the presence of
the great khan。 。 。〃
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Messer Marco Polo
CHAPTER XIV
And Marco Polo was brought into the presence。 And among all
assembled there you could hear a pin drop。
At the north end of the great hall sat the Khan himself； and Marco Polo
nearly dropped with surprise； for where he expected a great； magnificent
figure of a man； with majesty shining from his eyes； he saw only a
pleasant； bearded man； not quarter so well dressed as the meanest servant
on the room； and a fine； welcoming smile in his face。 His throne was
elevated so that his feet were on the level of the heads of the kinsmen of
the Blood Royal beneath him； and they in silk and ermine and fine
brocades and jewels。 And beneath these were the barons and dukes and
knights。 And beneath these were the captains of the fighting men； three
thousand and three。 And beneath these were the musicians and the
sorcerers。 And behind Kubla Khan； very big； very erect； stood his three
great servants； the Keeper of the Hunting Leopards； the Keeper of the
Speaking Drums； and the Keeper of the Khan's Swords。
And beside Kubla Khan； on a little throne； sat Golden Bells。 。 。 And it
was the sight of her more than the sight of the great assembly that dumbed
the words in his mouth。 And Kubla was smiling at him； and she was
smiling； too。
And Kubla saw there was something wrong with him； that there was
embarrassment on him and he rose from his： throne。
〃There is welcome for you here； Marco Polo； and no enmity。 There
is interest； in and eagerness for your message。 There is none here will
criticize you or make it hard for you。 Let there be no shame on you in
speaking before so many people。 Say what you have to say as if there
were nobody here； if that will help you； barring myself and the little
daughter beside me。 。 。〃
〃O Emperor；〃 the words came back to Marco Polo； 〃and ye； great
princes； dukes； and marquises； counts； knights； and burgesses； and people
of all degrees who desire the light of the world； grace be to you and peace；
from God our Father； and from the Lord Jesus Christ！
〃The message I have to give you； I shall give in the words of Him；
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Messer Marco Polo
Whose perfect message it is：
〃'Beati pauperes spiritu； Blessed are the poor in spirit。
〃'Quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum； for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven。
〃'Beati mites； Blessed are the meek。 。 。'〃
And Marco Polo went on and quoted for them the words that were
spoken on the Mount in Galilee。 And they listened to him with great
civility and attention。 And little Golden Bells leaned forward； with her
chin on her hands； and Kubla leaned back in his throne； with his eyes half
closed。
〃'But I say unto you； that ye resist not evil； but whoever shall smite
thee on the right cheek； turn to him the other also。'〃 And at this the great
Khan looked up puzzled； and a movement went through the fighting men
in the hall。 But wee Golden Bells never budged a minute； and Marco
Polo went on：
〃'Et factum est； cum consummasset Jesus verba haec； And it came to
pass when Jesus had ended these sayings； the people were astonished at
his doctrine。'
〃I shall now tell you of the life and death of the Lord Jesus。 。 。〃
He told them of the birth in Bethlehem； and of the teaching on the hills；
and the poets nodded their heads； and he told them of the cleansing of the
lepers and of the casting out of devils and the raising of Lazarus from the
dead； and the magicians wondered； and he told them of the betrayal by
Judas with a kiss； and the captains…at…arms shuffled in their seats； and he
told them of the scourging； and of the crowning with thorns； and the great
Khan snicked his dagger in and out of the sheath。 And a mist of tears
came into the eyes of Golden Bells。
And he told them of the crucifixion between two thieves； and a great
oath ripped from the beard of Kubla Khan； and the silver tears ran from
the eyes of Golden Bells。
〃'And on the third day He arose from the dead。 。 。'〃
And a great shout came from the throat of Kubla Khan； and he stood
up。 〃He arose from among the dead men； I'll warrant； He showed
himself to the Roman Pilate in all His power and majesty 〃
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Messer Marco Polo
〃No；〃 said Marco Palo。
〃Then He showed himself to the thousands who had seen him die upon
the gallows tree！〃
〃No；〃 said Marco Polo。
〃Who saw Him； then？〃
〃His twelve Apostles and they in a little room！〃
And Kubla Khan sat down suddenly and said no more。 There was a
moment's murmur of wonder among the assembly； and then silence。 And
Marco's heart fell。 And he was aware of two things； of the great
politeness of the Chinese people and of Golden Bell's pitying eyes。 。 。
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Messer Marco Polo
CHAPTER XV
When Kubla Khan dismissed the assembly； and he took Marco Polo
into a sitting…room； and Golden Bells came with them。
〃And what did you think； sir； of what I said？ And can you not see； sir；
the truth that's in me？〃
〃Well； now； laddie；〃 said the great Khan； 〃when we come to examine
this sermon you quoted to us； what is there in it but the rule of the
righteous man？ We've had a great thinker and pious man of our own；
Confucius。 I'm not a reading man；〃 says he； 〃but I've got an idea；〃 says
he； 〃that there isn't a thing you said but is embraced in the Analects。 And
if it isn't it'll be in the teachings of the Lord Buddha。〃
〃Ah； but； sir；〃 Marco Polo said； 〃You'll have to admit that He of
Whom I speak was the true God made man。〃
〃Now； laddie； remember