The Dreamer of Dreams

der through nameless lands ... beca

go

e branches were weighed down by the wealth of their blossoms. The wanderer was young, and his face was good to look upon; his clothes were new, and round his neck he wore a golden chain which was the royal gift of a King. His step

ed, ... Eric the sweet-voiced, ... Eric the mad painter, had left the white castle of be

wing colours that ran all round the room. A master hand alone could have been capable of such perfect com

aidens who were singing songs of praise, whilst they swung bloom-laden branches over their heads and cast white roses before the throne of Love. Behind this vision of youth came stern-faced warriors on snorting chargers, and pearl-crowned queen

asterpiece, Eric's brush had failed him. In his dreams he had seen the face he wanted, the eyes that haunted him; but the moment h

d been the stern King's joy-had gone mad beca

f his helplessness, and a great longing for the fair-haired youth who had been his joy and pride. Little Oona came up to where he stood, and slipped he

g. His shoes were covered with dust, and when his steps began to lag he would take from his po

use since his dream he seemed to have another head on his shoulders, and none of the tidy thoughts of other days would come to him. He had no notion where

nd what he was seeking; God would care for him as He did for the birds of the air, and time did not count. He wiped his damp brow, and then looked about him; all was very still, the air was laden with the sweet perfumes of summer flowers; the sky was blue, and not a leaf stirred on the trees. Eric smiled to himself, and played on his flute; he liked to listen to his own little tunes; they were very sweet to him, and he quite forgot everything whilst he piped away like a bird. He began many different melodies, but they always ended on the same questioning notes. He never remarke

that stretched before him, never inquiring his way, serenely confident t

fly, played with her golden balls in the sunshine, occasionally tripping over

n-haired youth, who had been the joy of his days, leaving him and all his kingly splendour to follow a vision which the grey-haired man