THE GIFT OF THE GODS

There was once a man who sought a boon of the gods.  For peace was over the world and all things savoured of sameness, and the man was weary at heart and sighed for the tents and the warfields.  Therefore he sought a boon of the ancient gods.  And appearing before them he said to them, “Ancient gods; there is peace in the land where I dwell, and indeed to the uttermost parts, and we are full weary of peace.  O ancient gods, grant us war!”

And the ancient gods made him a war.

And the man went forth with his sword, and behold it was even war.  And the man remembered the little things that he knew, and thought of the quiet days that there used to be, and at night on the hard ground dreamed of the things of peace.  And dearer and dearer grew the wonted things, the dull but easeful things of the days of peace, and remembering these he began to regret the war, and sought once more a boon of the ancient gods, and appearing before them he said:  “O ancient gods, indeed but a man loves best the days of peace.  Therefore take back your war and give us peace, for indeed of all your blessedness peace is best.”

And the man returned again to the haunts of peace.

But in a while the man grew weary of peace, of the things that he used to know, and the savour of sameness again; and sighing again for the tents, and appearing once more to the gods, he said to them:  “Ancient gods; we do not love your peace, for indeed the days are dull, and a man is best at war.”

And the gods made him a war.

And there were drums again, the smoke of campfires again, wind in the waste again, the sound of horses of war, burning cities again, and the things that wanderers know; and the thoughts of that man went home to the ways of peace; moss upon lawns again, light in old spires again, sun upon gardens again, flowers in pleasant woods and sleep and the paths of peace.

And once more the man appeared to the ancient gods and sought from them one more boon, and said to them:  “Ancient gods; indeed but the world and we are a-weary of war and long for the ancient ways and the paths of peace.”

So the gods took back their war and gave him peace.

But the man took counsel one day and communed long with himself and said to himself:  “Behold, the wishes I wish, which the gods grant, are not to be much desired; and if the gods should one day grant a wish and never revoke it, which is a way of the gods, I should be sorely tried because of my wish; my wishes are dangerous wishes and not to be desired.”

And therefore he wrote an anonymous letter to the gods, writing:  “O ancient gods; this man that hath four times troubled you with his wishes, wishing for peace and war, is a man that hath no reverence for the gods, speaking ill of them on days when they do not hear, and speaking well of them on holy days and at the appointed hours when the gods are hearkening to prayer.  Therefore grant no more wishes to this impious man.”