The Eclipse

In the stillness and the darkness, realization soon began to supplement knowledge. The mere knowledge of a fact is pale; but when you come to realize your fact, it takes on color. It is all the difference between hearing of a man being stabbed to the heart, and seeing it done. In the stillness and the darkness, the knowledge that I was in deadly danger took to itself deeper and deeper meaning all the time; a something which was realization crept inch by inch through my veins and turned me cold.

In the stillness and darkness, I soon began not just to know, but to realize. Simply knowing a fact is pale. But when you realize a fact, it takes on color. It is the difference between hearing that a man has been stabbed through the heart and seeing it happen. In the stillness and darkness, my knowledge that I was in deadly danger grew more meaningful by the moment. Realization crept inch by inch through my veins and turned me cold.

But it is a blessed provision of nature that at times like these, as soon as a man’s mercury has got down to a certain point there comes a revulsion, and he rallies. Hope springs up, and cheerfulness along with it, and then he is in good shape to do something for himself, if anything can be done. When my rally came, it came with a bound. I said to myself that my eclipse would be sure to save me, and make me the greatest man in the kingdom besides; and straightway my mercury went up to the top of the tube, and my solicitudes all vanished. I was as happy a man as there was in the world. I was even impatient for to-morrow to come, I so wanted to gather in that great triumph and be the center of all the nation’s wonder and reverence. Besides, in a business way it would be the making of me; I knew that.

But nature has a blessed way of helping us at times like these. Once a man’s spirits sink to a certain point, he turns around and rallies. Hope springs up, and cheerfulness comes with it. Then he is ready to do something for himself, if anything can be done. When I rallied, I did it in a rush. I told myself that my eclipse was sure to save me and make me the greatest man in the kingdom. At once, my spirits soared, and all my worries vanished. I was as happy as anyone in the world. I was even impatient for tomorrow to come. I wanted to claim that great triumph and be the object of the whole nation’s wonder and reverence. Besides, I knew it would make my career.

Meantime there was one thing which had got pushed into the background of my mind. That was the half-conviction that when the nature of my proposed calamity should be reported to those superstitious people, it would have such an effect that they would want to compromise. So, by and by when I heard footsteps coming, that thought was recalled to me, and I said to myself, “As sure as anything, it’s the compromise. Well, if it is good, all right, I will accept; but if it isn’t, I mean to stand my ground and play my hand for all it is worth.”

Meanwhile, one thought had been pushed to the back of my mind. I half believed that the superstitious people would want a compromise when they heard what disaster I had proposed. So when I heard footsteps approaching, I remembered that thought and said to myself, “Sure enough, they're coming to compromise. Well, if it's a good offer, I'll accept. But if it isn't, I'll stand my ground and play my hand for all it's worth.”

The door opened, and some men-at-arms appeared. The leader said:

The door opened, and some armed men appeared. Their leader said:

“The stake is ready. Come!”

“The stake is ready. Come!”

The stake! The strength went out of me, and I almost fell down. It is hard to get one’s breath at such a time, such lumps come into one’s throat, and such gaspings; but as soon as I could speak, I said:

The stake! My strength left me, and I almost fell down. At a time like that, it’s hard to breathe. A lump forms in your throat, and you gasp for air. But as soon as I could speak, I said:

“But this is a mistake—the execution is to-morrow.”

“But this is a mistake. The execution is tomorrow.”

“Order changed; been set forward a day. Haste thee!”

“The order has changed. It’s been moved up a day. Hurry!”

I was lost. There was no help for me. I was dazed, stupefied; I had no command over myself, I only wandered purposely about, like one out of his mind; so the soldiers took hold of me, and pulled me along with them, out of the cell and along the maze of underground corridors, and finally into the fierce glare of daylight and the upper world. As we stepped into the vast enclosed court of the castle I got a shock; for the first thing I saw was the stake, standing in the center, and near it the piled fagots and a monk. On all four sides of the court the seated multitudes rose rank above rank, forming sloping terraces that were rich with color. The king and the queen sat in their thrones, the most conspicuous figures there, of course.

I was lost. There was no help for me. I was dazed and stunned, with no control over myself. I just wandered about with a sense of purpose, like someone out of his mind. So the soldiers grabbed me and pulled me out of the cell. They led me through the maze of underground corridors and finally into the fierce glare of daylight above. As we stepped into the castle's vast enclosed courtyard, I got a shock. The first thing I saw was the stake in the center, with piles of firewood and a monk nearby. On all four sides of the courtyard, crowds sat in rows rising one above another. They formed sloping terraces rich with color. The king and queen sat on their thrones, of course the most conspicuous figures there.

To note all this, occupied but a second. The next second Clarence had slipped from some place of concealment and was pouring news into my ear, his eyes beaming with triumph and gladness. He said:

It took only a second to notice all this. The next second, Clarence slipped out of hiding and poured news into my ear, his eyes shining with triumph and joy. He said:

“’Tis through me the change was wrought! And main hard have I worked to do it, too. But when I revealed to them the calamity in store, and saw how mighty was the terror it did engender, then saw I also that this was the time to strike! Wherefore I diligently pretended, unto this and that and the other one, that your power against the sun could not reach its full until the morrow; and so if any would save the sun and the world, you must be slain to-day, while your enchantments are but in the weaving and lack potency. Odsbodikins, it was but a dull lie, a most indifferent invention, but you should have seen them seize it and swallow it, in the frenzy of their fright, as it were salvation sent from heaven; and all the while was I laughing in my sleeve the one moment, to see them so cheaply deceived, and glorifying God the next, that He was content to let the meanest of His creatures be His instrument to the saving of thy life. Ah how happy has the matter sped! You will not need to do the sun a real hurt—ah, forget not that, on your soul forget it not! Only make a little darkness—only the littlest little darkness, mind, and cease with that. It will be sufficient. They will see that I spoke falsely,—being ignorant, as they will fancy—and with the falling of the first shadow of that darkness you shall see them go mad with fear; and they will set you free and make you great! Go to thy triumph, now! But remember—ah, good friend, I implore thee remember my supplication, and do the blessed sun no hurt. For my sake, thy true friend.”

“It was through me that the change happened! And I worked very hard to bring it about. But when I told them about the disaster ahead, I saw how terrified they were. Then I saw that this was the time to strike! So I went around pretending to one person after another that your power over the sun would not be complete until tomorrow. I told them that anyone who wanted to save the sun and the world must kill you today. Your spells were still being woven and had no power yet. Odsbodikins, it was a dull lie, a very poor invention. But you should have seen them seize it and swallow it in their frenzy of fear, as if it were salvation sent from heaven. All the while, I was laughing to myself one moment at how easily they were fooled. The next moment, I was praising God for allowing the lowest of his creatures to be his instrument in saving your life. Ah, how happily everything has worked out! You will not need to do the sun any real harm. Ah, do not forget that. On your soul, do not forget it! Just make a little darkness, the very smallest bit of darkness, mind you, and stop there. That will be enough. They will see that I spoke falsely, though they will think I was simply mistaken. And as soon as the first shadow of darkness falls, you will see them go mad with fear. They will set you free and make you great! Go to your triumph now! But remember, ah, good friend, I beg you to remember my plea. Do not harm the blessed sun. For my sake, your true friend.”

I choked out some words through my grief and misery; as much as to say I would spare the sun; for which the lad’s eyes paid me back with such deep and loving gratitude that I had not the heart to tell him his good-hearted foolishness had ruined me and sent me to my death.

Through my grief and misery, I choked out a promise to spare the sun. The boy’s eyes showed such deep and loving gratitude that I couldn’t bear to tell him the truth. His kindhearted foolishness had ruined me and sent me to my death.

As the soldiers assisted me across the court the stillness was so profound that if I had been blindfold I should have supposed I was in a solitude instead of walled in by four thousand people. There was not a movement perceptible in those masses of humanity; they were as rigid as stone images, and as pale; and dread sat upon every countenance. This hush continued while I was being chained to the stake; it still continued while the fagots were carefully and tediously piled about my ankles, my knees, my thighs, my body. Then there was a pause, and a deeper hush, if possible, and a man knelt down at my feet with a blazing torch; the multitude strained forward, gazing, and parting slightly from their seats without knowing it; the monk raised his hands above my head, and his eyes toward the blue sky, and began some words in Latin; in this attitude he droned on and on, a little while, and then stopped. I waited two or three moments; then looked up; he was standing there petrified. With a common impulse the multitude rose slowly up and stared into the sky. I followed their eyes, as sure as guns, there was my eclipse beginning! The life went boiling through my veins; I was a new man! The rim of black spread slowly into the sun’s disk, my heart beat higher and higher, and still the assemblage and the priest stared into the sky, motionless. I knew that this gaze would be turned upon me, next. When it was, I was ready. I was in one of the most grand attitudes I ever struck, with my arm stretched up pointing to the sun. It was a noble effect. You could see the shudder sweep the mass like a wave. Two shouts rang out, one close upon the heels of the other:

As the soldiers helped me across the courtyard, the silence was profound. If I had been blindfolded, I would have thought I was alone, not surrounded by four thousand people. No movement was visible in the crowd. They were as still and pale as stone statues, and every face showed dread. The silence continued as I was chained to the stake. It continued as bundles of firewood were carefully and slowly piled around my ankles, knees, thighs, and body. Then there was a pause, and the silence grew even deeper, if that was possible. A man knelt at my feet with a blazing torch. The crowd leaned forward, staring, and rose slightly from their seats without realizing it. The monk raised his hands above my head, looked up at the blue sky, and began speaking in Latin. He droned on in that position for a little while, then stopped. I waited two or three moments and looked up. He stood there, frozen. As if moved by a single impulse, the crowd slowly rose and stared at the sky. I followed their eyes, and sure enough, there was my eclipse beginning! Life surged through my veins. I was a new man! The black edge slowly spread across the sun’s disk. My heart beat faster and faster, while the crowd and the priest continued to stare motionlessly at the sky. I knew they would turn their eyes on me next. When they did, I was ready. I had struck one of my grandest poses, stretching my arm up and pointing at the sun. It was a noble effect. You could see the shudder sweep through the crowd like a wave. Two shouts rang out, one close after the other:

“Apply the torch!”

“Use the torch!”

“I forbid it!”

“I forbid it!”

The one was from Merlin, the other from the king. Merlin started from his place—to apply the torch himself, I judged. I said:

One was from Merlin, the other from the king. Merlin got up from his place. I assumed he meant to light the torch himself. I said:

“Stay where you are. If any man moves—even the king—before I give him leave, I will blast him with thunder, I will consume him with lightnings!”

“Stay where you are. If anyone moves before I give permission, I will blast him with thunder and consume him with lightning! Even the king must not move!”

The multitude sank meekly into their seats, and I was just expecting they would. Merlin hesitated a moment or two, and I was on pins and needles during that little while. Then he sat down, and I took a good breath; for I knew I was master of the situation now. The king said:

The crowd meekly sat down, just as I expected. Merlin hesitated for a moment or two, and I was on pins and needles the whole time. Then he sat down, and I took a deep breath. I knew I was in control of the situation now. The king said:

“Be merciful, fair sir, and essay no further in this perilous matter, lest disaster follow. It was reported to us that your powers could not attain unto their full strength until the morrow; but—”

“Please, sir, show mercy and go no further with this dangerous matter, or disaster may follow. We were told your powers would not reach full strength until tomorrow, but...”

“Your Majesty thinks the report may have been a lie? It was a lie.”

“Your Majesty thinks the report may have been a lie? It was a lie.”

That made an immense effect; up went appealing hands everywhere, and the king was assailed with a storm of supplications that I might be bought off at any price, and the calamity stayed. The king was eager to comply. He said:

That had an enormous effect. Hands went up everywhere in appeal, and people begged the king to buy me off at any price and stop the disaster. The king was eager to do so. He said:

“Name any terms, reverend sir, even to the halving of my kingdom; but banish this calamity, spare the sun!”

“Name any price, reverend sir, even half my kingdom. But stop this disaster, spare the sun!”

My fortune was made. I would have taken him up in a minute, but I couldn’t stop an eclipse; the thing was out of the question. So I asked time to consider. The king said:

My fortune was made. I would have accepted his offer at once, but I couldn’t stop an eclipse. That was out of the question. So I asked for time to think. The king said:

“How long—ah, how long, good sir? Be merciful; look, it groweth darker, moment by moment. Prithee how long?”

“How long? Oh, how long, sir? Please, have mercy. Look, it’s getting darker every moment. Please, how long?”

“Not long. Half an hour—maybe an hour.”

“Not long. Half an hour, maybe an hour.”

There were a thousand pathetic protests, but I couldn’t shorten up any, for I couldn’t remember how long a total eclipse lasts. I was in a puzzled condition, anyway, and wanted to think. Something was wrong about that eclipse, and the fact was very unsettling. If this wasn’t the one I was after, how was I to tell whether this was the sixth century, or nothing but a dream? Dear me, if I could only prove it was the latter! Here was a glad new hope. If the boy was right about the date, and this was surely the 20th, it wasn’t the sixth century. I reached for the monk’s sleeve, in considerable excitement, and asked him what day of the month it was.

There were a thousand desperate protests, but I couldn’t make it any shorter. I couldn’t remember how long a total eclipse lasts. Besides, I was puzzled and wanted to think. Something was wrong about that eclipse, and it was very unsettling. If this wasn’t the eclipse I was looking for, how could I tell whether I was in the sixth century? How could I know it wasn’t just a dream? Oh, if only I could prove it was a dream! That gave me a happy new hope. If the boy was right about the date, and it really was the 20th, it wasn’t the sixth century. Quite excited, I reached for the monk’s sleeve and asked him what day of the month it was.

Hang him, he said it was the twenty-first! It made me turn cold to hear him. I begged him not to make any mistake about it; but he was sure; he knew it was the 21st. So, that feather-headed boy had botched things again! The time of the day was right for the eclipse; I had seen that for myself, in the beginning, by the dial that was near by. Yes, I was in King Arthur’s court, and I might as well make the most out of it I could.

Damn him, he said it was the twenty-first! Hearing him say that made me turn cold. I begged him to make sure he wasn't mistaken, but he was sure. He knew it was the 21st. So that scatterbrained boy had messed things up again! The time of day was right for the eclipse. I had seen that for myself at the beginning, by the nearby sundial. Yes, I was in King Arthur’s court, and I might as well make the most of it.

The darkness was steadily growing, the people becoming more and more distressed. I now said:

It was steadily getting darker, and the people were growing more and more distressed. I now said:

“I have reflected, Sir King. For a lesson, I will let this darkness proceed, and spread night in the world; but whether I blot out the sun for good, or restore it, shall rest with you. These are the terms, to wit: You shall remain king over all your dominions, and receive all the glories and honors that belong to the kingship; but you shall appoint me your perpetual minister and executive, and give me for my services one per cent of such actual increase of revenue over and above its present amount as I may succeed in creating for the state. If I can’t live on that, I sha’n’t ask anybody to give me a lift. Is it satisfactory?”

“I’ve thought it over, Sir King. As a lesson, I’ll let this darkness continue and spread night across the world. But you will decide whether I blot out the sun for good or bring it back. Here are my terms: You will remain king over all your lands. You will receive all the glory and honors that belong to a king. But you must appoint me your permanent minister and executive. For my services, you must give me one percent of any increase I manage to create in the state’s current revenue. If I can’t live on that, I won’t ask anyone to help me out. Is that satisfactory?”

There was a prodigious roar of applause, and out of the midst of it the king’s voice rose, saying:

There was a tremendous roar of applause, and the king’s voice rose above it, saying:

“Away with his bonds, and set him free! and do him homage, high and low, rich and poor, for he is become the king’s right hand, is clothed with power and authority, and his seat is upon the highest step of the throne! Now sweep away this creeping night, and bring the light and cheer again, that all the world may bless thee.”

“Remove his chains and set him free! Everyone, high and low, rich and poor, must honor him. For he has become the king’s right hand. He has power and authority, and his seat is on the highest step of the throne! Now sweep away this creeping darkness and bring back the light and cheer, so that all the world may bless you.”

But I said:

But I said:

“That a common man should be shamed before the world, is nothing; but it were dishonor to the king if any that saw his minister naked should not also see him delivered from his shame. If I might ask that my clothes be brought again—”

“It is nothing for a common man to be shamed before the world. But it would dishonor the king if anyone who saw his minister naked did not also see him freed from his shame. May I ask that my clothes be brought back . . .”

“They are not meet,” the king broke in. “Fetch raiment of another sort; clothe him like a prince!”

“They are not suitable,” the king interrupted. “Bring different clothes. Dress him like a prince!”

My idea worked. I wanted to keep things as they were till the eclipse was total, otherwise they would be trying again to get me to dismiss the darkness, and of course I couldn’t do it. Sending for the clothes gained some delay, but not enough. So I had to make another excuse. I said it would be but natural if the king should change his mind and repent to some extent of what he had done under excitement; therefore I would let the darkness grow a while, and if at the end of a reasonable time the king had kept his mind the same, the darkness should be dismissed. Neither the king nor anybody else was satisfied with that arrangement, but I had to stick to my point.

My idea worked. I wanted to keep things as they were until the eclipse was total. Otherwise, they would try again to get me to make the darkness go away. And of course, I couldn't do that. Sending for the clothes bought some time, but not enough. So I had to make another excuse. I said it would be natural for the king to change his mind. He might regret some of what he had done in the heat of the moment. So I would let the darkness grow for a while. If the king hadn't changed his mind after a reasonable time, I would make the darkness go away. Neither the king nor anyone else was satisfied with that arrangement, but I had to stick to my point.

It grew darker and darker and blacker and blacker, while I struggled with those awkward sixth-century clothes. It got to be pitch dark, at last, and the multitude groaned with horror to feel the cold uncanny night breezes fan through the place and see the stars come out and twinkle in the sky. At last the eclipse was total, and I was very glad of it, but everybody else was in misery; which was quite natural. I said:

It grew darker and darker, blacker and blacker, as I struggled with those awkward sixth-century clothes. At last it was pitch dark. The crowd groaned in horror as cold, eerie night breezes swept through the place and stars appeared and twinkled overhead. Finally, the eclipse was total, and I was very glad. But everyone else was miserable, which was quite natural. I said:

“The king, by his silence, still stands to the terms.” Then I lifted up my hands—stood just so a moment—then I said, with the most awful solemnity: “Let the enchantment dissolve and pass harmless away!”

“The king’s silence means he still agrees to the terms.” Then I raised my hands and held them there for a moment. With the utmost solemnity, I said: “Let the enchantment dissolve and pass away without harm!”

There was no response, for a moment, in that deep darkness and that graveyard hush. But when the silver rim of the sun pushed itself out, a moment or two later, the assemblage broke loose with a vast shout and came pouring down like a deluge to smother me with blessings and gratitude; and Clarence was not the last of the wash, to be sure.

For a moment, there was no response in the deep darkness and graveyard silence. But a moment or two later, the sun's silver rim appeared. The crowd burst into a huge shout and poured down on me like a flood, smothering me with blessings and thanks. Clarence, of course, was not the last to reach me.