Білий корабель

           Sometimesattwilightthegrayvaporsofthehorizonhavepartedtograntmeglimpsesofthewaysbeyond;andsometimesatnightthedeepwatersoftheseahavegrownclearandphosphorescent,tograntmeglimpsesofthewaysbeneath. Andtheseglimpseshavebeenasoftenofthewaysthatwereandthewaysthatmightbe,asofthewaysthatare;foroceanismoreancientthanthemountains,andfreightedwiththememoriesandthedreamsofTime. 

           OutoftheSouthitwasthattheWhiteShipusedtocomewhenthemoonwasfullandhighintheheavens. OutoftheSouthitwouldglideverysmoothlyandsilentlyoverthesea. Andwhethertheseawasroughorcalm,andwhetherthewindwasfriendlyoradverse,itwouldalwaysglidesmoothlyandsilently,itssailsdistantanditslongstrangetiersofoarsmovingrhythmically. OnenightIespieduponthedeckaman,beardedandrobed,andheseemedtobeckonmetoembarkforfarunknownshores. ManytimesafterwardIsawhimunderthefullmoon,andeverdidhebeckonme. 

           VerybrightlydidthemoonshineonthenightIansweredthecall,andIwalkedoutoverthewaterstotheWhiteShiponabridgeofmoonbeams. ThemanwhohadbeckonednowspokeawelcometomeinasoftlanguageIseemedtoknowwell,andthehourswerefilledwithsoftsongsoftheoarsmenasweglidedawayintoamysteriousSouth,goldenwiththeglowofthatfull,mellowmoon. 

           Andwhenthedaydawned,rosyandeffulgent,Ibeheldthegreenshoreoffarlands,brightandbeautiful,andtomeunknown.