Выбрать главу

confines?"

BRT:6:61 "Be like the spirit-filled Earth, who accepts unto herself all the foulness, which you cast out of your body and cleanses and purifies it. She is

neither disgusted nor delighted, but transmutes it. Water accepts both foul and fair, for from its embrace, both emerge together in goodness. The wind is not disgusted with the foul smells of Earth, but mixes them with the essences of earthlife so they are sources of fragrance."

BRT:6:62 "Practise kindness, compassion, poise and decorum. Contemplate beauty and banish ugliness. Contemplate virtue and goodness, and banish carnality. Contemplate the eternal and banish impermanence. For all things of Earth must decay and pass away, and it is the destiny of every human being to embark on the dark adventure." BRT:6:63 Thus, the master spoke and he said, "You must accept any intelligent person into the sheepfold. Accept all who are willing to follow the light of our way. I say this, not desiring to win followers or wishing to turn others from their ways if they walk in light. I seek only those who walk in darkness or seek a better light." BRT:6:64 "For all journey towards The One Light, but not seeing it in its perfection, they must travel by the reflection they see. Each sees a different reflection, and therefore, men dispute among themselves as to the nature of the truth behind it all. Be not one who indulges in such futile foolishness."

BRT:6:65 "Never judge virtue by outward appearance, for then, the evildoer as well as the saint may lay claim to it. An artful imposter may gain more admiration than is given to the zeal of a saint. Do not nourish the cankerworms of malice, hatred, envy and jealousy within your bosom." BRT:6:66 "It is truly said that the heart of man is a labyrinth. Goodness is not merely a matter of right action, it includes bravely enduring and surmounting difficulties. The final test of character is when trouble comes in strength. Then, the question is not so much whether a man does what is right, as to whether he can stand up, with integrity, to what life does to him. The anvil stands steady when the hammer falls." BRT:6:67 "Manliness involves recovery from every moral failure. It involves the retention of honour. What honour is to man, chastity is to woman. Honour and manliness endow a man with inner strength. His slightest word, his very presence, bring peace and leaves others strengthened.

No man or woman, no matter how humble, can be really good without the Earth being better for it, without someone being helped and comforted by that

goodness."

BRT:6:68 "Words such as these blow against the whirlwind of human nature; yet, they are the stuff of the spirit. When the breaths of the multitude blow back the whirlwind, then has life fulfilled its purpose. Say not that the days of victory of good will be brought in with a griffin's egg." BRT:6:69 "No man is free who does not control his own movements. No man is free who is not master of himself. Fear is the tribute the mind of man pays to guilt. He who has never been guilty knows no fear. To see the path of duty and not to follow it is the way of the coward. A man tarnishes the lustre of his greatest actions when he applauds them himself."

BRT:6:70 "No man is more vile than he who causes a woman to shed tears from the heart, tears generated in remorse and regret. Every maid has the potential for ladyhood. A lady never flaunts her estate, but ever remains modest and reserved. She covers her virtue with ladylike ways, for as a veil adds to beauty, so is chastity enhanced by being veiled. The wise woman pays no notice to the spider's lullaby from the lips of hypocritical men who

speak of love. The spider loves its prey." BRT:6:71 "Babblers are not wanted. Shun the Sophists and their sophistry, and be chary of divinators. Avoid the Paynim, and be as strong as a bull, light as a hawk, swift as a deer and tenacious as a salmon. If things go against you, never despair. To be vanquished and still not surrender, that is

victory indeed! Avoid the talebearer, and do not listen to the witches' whisper. Be prudent; giants step off the path in the realm where a dwarf is

king."

BRT:6:72 "Avoid the daydreamer and the moneyluster, the vagabond and the woman fascinator. Avoid the honeytongued hypocrite, for it were better you took a viper to your bosom than to open your heart to one such as these.

Do not become a griffin."

Chapter Seven - The Corrygorsed

BRT:7:1 To you, Nathaniel, son of my brother Will Smith, and to Andrew, his half brother, I leave two books of integrity and others in portions. The bare words are unimportant, but what they convey is as jewels in a crown of gold. Yet, even this is not the crown itself, which should be sought in the Karnamard at Nantladiwen. I am not an unlettered man, but I lack the virtue of subtleness in writing of things best hidden.

BRT:7:2 Inasmuch as the ferocious bloodseekers close in upon us and Christian folk do in their zeal deem it fit to claim for their own persons of innocent blood, persecuting them with ratchet, rope and brand even unto death, I charge you, my assigns, to protect the several holy Books even unto your death. Believing full well that evil cannot triumph over good and the dark days of fearborn hatred will pass, keep them secure under the most

sacred oaths now foresworn.

BRT:7:3 The said Holy Books, of themselves innocent, fill the base hearts of our enemies with craven fear, even as the lamp-bearing lackey causes scuttling among the rats in the larder. What dire secret do they hide closeted within their breasts, occasioning such terror that limbs quake when innocent wisdom is mentioned in their presence?

BRT:7:4 In all the land, no place remains comfortable and the free- spirited are as hares hunted by whippets running into the talebearing wind. Before the doomsmen come, we make our peace and can await our call to sacrifice in patience. The jewels are safely hidden. These things, which follow, are found in The Book of Recitals.

BRT:7:5 There are three adornments of life: Love, Truth and Beauty.

BRT:7:6 There are three things, of which God is The Source: Life,

Wisdom and Power. BRT:7:7 There are three things, which men must get from living: The greatest benefit, the greatest knowledge and the greatest experience. BRT:7:8 There are three causes, in which it is fitting that men should risk their lives: In establishing Truth, in upholding Justice and in seeking Liberty. BRT:7:9 There are three paramount qualities, to which all else should be subordinate: Love, Truth and Good. BRT:7:10 There are three things men should place above themselves:

Their faith, their race and humankind. BRT:7:11 There are three things a man should value above his life and possessions: His family, his honour and his reputation. BRT:7:12 There are three principles of government: Effective security of life and person, security of possessions and dwelling, and security of personal

rights.

BRT:7:13 There are three things a government must hold inviolate: A man's family, his dignity and his opinion. BRT:7:14 There are three things the government must provide: Education, Justice and Safety. BRT:7:15 There are three pillars of the state: The questing scholar, the diligent craftsman and the incorruptible official. BRT:7:16 There are three unities: One God, One Truth and One Creation. BRT:7:17 There are three things, for which the Earth exists: The development of souls, the fulfilment of the destiny of man and the