Classic Tales of Vesper, Volume 1
Classic Tales of Vesper, Volume 1
'Tis an Honor to present to Thee these Tales collected from Ages Past. In this Inaugural Volume, we present this Verse oft Recited as a Lullabye for sleepy Children.
Preface by Guilhem the Scholar
The meaning of this verse has oft been discussed in halls of scholarly sorts, for its mysterious singsongy melody is oddly disturbing to adult ears, though children seem to find it restful as they sleep. Perhaps it is but the remnant of a longer ballad once extant, for there are internal indications that it once told a longer story about ill-fated lovers, and a magical experiment gone awry. However, poetic license and the folk process has distorted the words until now the locale of the tale is no more than "in the wind," which while it serves a pleasingly metaphorical purpose, fails to inform the listener as to any real locale!
Another possibility is that this is some form of creation myth explaining the genesis of the various humanoid creatures that roam the lands of Britannia. It does not take a stretch of the imagination to name the middle verse's "girl becomes a tree" as a possible explanation for the reaper, for in the area surrounding Minoc, reapers are oft referred to among the lumber jacking community as "widowmakers." That these creatures are of arcane origin is assumed, but the verse seems to imply a long ago creator, and uses the antique magickal terminology of "plaiting strands of ether" that is so often found in ancient texts. In addition, the reference to "snakehills" may profitably be regarded as a reference to an actual location, such as perhaps a local term for the Serpent's Spine.
A commoner interpretation is that like many nursery rhymes, it is a simple explanation for death, wherein the wind snatches up boys and girls and when they sleep in order to keep the balance of the world. Notable tales have been written for children of adventures in "the Snakehills," which are presumed to be an Afterworld whence the spirit lives on. A grim lullabye, to be sure, but no worse than "lest I die before I wake" surely.
In either case, 'tis an old favorite herein printed for the first time for thy enjoyment and perusal
In the Wind where the Balance Is Whispered in Hallways
In the Wind where the Magic Flows All through the Night
There live Mages and Mages
With Robes make of Whole Days
Reading Books full of Doings
Printed on Light
In the Wind where the Lovers Are Crossed under Shadows
Where they Meet and are Parted
By the Orders of Fate
The Girl becomes Tree,
And thus becomes Widow
The Boy becomes Earth
And Wanders Till Late
In the Wind are the Monster
First Born First Created
When Chanting and Ether
Mix Meddling and Nigh
Fear going to Wind,
Fear Finding its Plaitings,
Go Not to the Snakehills
Lest you Care to Die
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