Межзвёздный скиталец

           IfonlyIwerearticulatetopaintinthefrailmediumofwordswhatIseeandknowandpossessincorporatedinmyconsciousnessofthemightydriftageoftheracesinthetimesbeforeourpresentwrittenhistorybegan!Yes,wehadourhistoryeventhen.Ouroldmen,ourpriests,ourwiseones,toldourhistoryintotalesandwrotethosetalesinthestarssothatourseedafterusshouldnotforget.Fromtheskycamethelife-givingrainandthesunlight.Andwestudiedthesky,learnedfromthestarstocalculatetimeandapportiontheseasons;andwenamedthestarsafterourheroesandourfoodsandourdevicesforgettingfood;andafterourwanderings,anddrifts,andadventures;andafterourfunctionsandourfuriesofimpulseanddesire.

           And,alas!wethoughttheheavensunchangingonwhichwewroteallourhumbleyearningsandallthehumblethingswedidordreamedofdoing.WhenIwasaSonoftheBull,IremembermealifetimeIspentatstar-gazing.And,laterandearlier,therewereotherlivesinwhichIsangwiththepriestsandbardsthetaboo-songsofthestarswhereinwebelievedwaswrittenourimperishablerecord.Andhere,attheendofitall,Iporeoverbooksofastronomyfromtheprisonlibrary,suchastheyallowcondemnedmentoread,andlearnthateventheheavensarepassingfluxes,vexedwithstar-driftageastheearthisbythedriftsofmen.