1. Kill not. Dead men cannot buy from thee.
2. Steal not. Give full measure, and thy customer shall return.
3. Covet not. Keep thy mind unto thine own business and thou shalt prosper.
4. Store up thy goods against thine old age. Prepare for adversity, and be prudent in thine expenditures.
5. Be bountiful unto thy children and unto thy brother’s children so that they will be bountiful unto thee when thy vigor is diminished.
6. Bribe not the tax-collector. If he will betray the throne, will he not betray thee also?
7. Adulterate not the coinage nor shave away fragments therefrom. The coin thou sendest away today shall return unto thee tomorrow, and then whom hast thou robbed?
8. Dabble not. Select thy wares and become conversant with them. Who can know both shoes and jewels at the same time?
9. Deal in the very best thou canst afford. Who will buy from one who hath no faith in his own goods?
10. Be patient in thy dealings. Courtesy and wit are gold. Anger and spite are brass.
11. Cheat not. Thy customer will remember thee and shall never return.
12. Revenge thyself not on him who hath dealt falsely with thee. No profit is to be found in revenge.
13. Be ever watchful of the servant with ambition. If he is stupid, he will steal from thee. If he is clever, he will supplant thee.
14. Traffic only in tangible things. Who can weigh the wind or measure a promise?
15. Store up gold. Time cannot tarnish it, nor fashion cheapen. Trade thy gold only in the certainty of bringing in more.22
THE SERMON OF ALDUR
Unto his Disciples23
TRULY
I say unto thee that the world was made with a word. For the Seven joined together and spake the one word—Be—
And the world was.
I say again, in the speaking of the word was the world made, and all that is in the world was made thus. And Truly, I say unto thee also, thus may the world be unmade.24 For in the day that my brothers and I join again and speak the words— Be Not—in that day shall the world perish.
Infinite is the power of the word, for the word is the breath and soul of the mind, and as I have taught thee it is in the mind that all power lies. If thy mind have power, put that power into the word, and that which thou dost desire shall come to pass. But if thy mind be untutored or if it should be that thou falter or fear or doubt, the greatest words of power shall avail thee not—for with thy mind and with the word must be joined the will. And thus has it ever been.
It has come to pass that I must now go from thee and our paths must part. There is discontent and turmoil abroad in the land, and if it should come to pass that my brothers and I were drawn in to this conflict, our contention would destroy the world. Thus, that we might preserve the world and that we never again be forced to raise our hands against our beloved brother who has been maddened by his afflictions must we go from this world.
In sorrow I go from thee, but know that my spirit will be with thee always to aid thee and to comfort thee.
As I leave thee, I charge thee with a duty and lay upon thee a heavy burden. Verily, my beloved Disciples, thou art not as other men. Together have we sought out wisdom that we might more perfectly understand the meaning of the power of the word. That power is with thee, and thy minds have been bent to its use. Upon thee therefore falls the duty of preserving the world now that I and my brothers must depart. Some will remain here in this Vale to seek out further the meaning of the power of the word; others must go forth into the lands of strangers and use the power of the word to preserve the world and to stand as a barrier against my brother until the appointed one shall appear who will do that which must be done.
It will come to pass that some among thee will sicken of this endless burden, and with will and mind and the power of the word will they cause themselves to no longer be—for it is a simple thing to say ‘be not’ and to perish. For them I grieve, knowing that which is to come to pass.
And behold, one among thee shall bend his mind and will and the power of the word to exalt himself above all men, and he too shall perish, and I grieve for him as well.
In parting I abjure thee, seek not to pit thy will and thy mind and the power of the word against my brother Torak. Know that he is a God, and though thy mind be as strong as his and thine understanding of the power of the word be as perfect, his will is to thine as is thine to that of a child. Know that this it is that makes him a God. In the invincibility of his will is Torak a God, and in that only. In the day that thou seekest to raise thy will against the will of Torak, in that day shalt thou surely perish. But more than this—if it should come to pass that the power of the word be raised against Torak, no power that exists in the endless starry reaches of the Universe can save the world. For I say unto thee, if Torak in his madness turn mind and will and the power of the word against thee, shall the world be shattered, and the shards thereof scattered like dust among the stars.
Lest ye grow fearful and disconsolate at the enormity of thy task, know that the Orb which I have made hath the power to curb the will of Torak. For it hath confounded him, and not without cost hath he raised it against the world.
And it shall come to pass that in a certain day shall come the One who is to use the Orb, and if he be brave and pure, shall Torak be overthrown. But if he falter or be tempted by the power of the Orb, shall Torak overcome him and recapture the Orb, and then shall the world be Torak’s forever.
But behold, the madness of my brother Torak is a disease and a canker unto the Universe, and if it should come to pass that he prevails in this, it must be that my brothers and I raise our hands against him, for the madness of Torak unchecked shall rend the Universe even as he hath cracked this world which we made and which we love. And thus will we come against him with the most fearful power. In sorrow shall we pronounce the dread words—‘Be Not’—and our brother Torak shall be no more, and, as it must needs be, this lovely world also shall be no more.
Guide well therefore the child and the man who is to be the Appointed One and prepare him for his great task. Know that if he fail, Torak shall conquer, and my voice must be joined with the voices of my Brethren to speak that final— ‘Be Not’—which will unmake all that we have made. And, though it will grieve me beyond thy power to understand, I will bend all of my mind and all of my will into that fateful word, and this world will shimmer and vanish as morning mist beneath the weight of the noon sun.
Thus I leave the world in thy keeping, my sons. Fail not in thy duty to me and to the world.
I will go now to seek pleasant fields among the stars and shaded pathways to strange suns; and, if all passeth well, shalt thou join me there when thy task is done.
—And, so saying, did Aldur turn and ascend into the star-strewn skies, and no man hath seen him more—
THE BOOK OF ULGO25
NOTE
This is the famous southern copy of this disputed work. It differs in certain crucial details from the seven other fragmentary copies, and is considered by certain scholars to be a corrupt, third-hand copy with no historical or theological value. It is, however, the only complete copy we have, and provides the only clues we have to the understanding of the enigmatic Ulgos. How it came to be in the possession of the Dryads in southern Tolnedra is, of course, a mystery.
At the Beginning of Days when the world was spun out of Darkness by the wayward Gods, dwelt there in the silences of the heavens a spirit known only as UL. Mighty was he, but withheld his power as the younger Gods combined to bring forth the world and the sun and the moon also. Old was he and wise, but withheld his wisdom from them, and what they wrought was not perfect by reason of that. And they had despite unto him that he would not join with them, and turned they their backs upon him.
And it came to pass that the younger Gods wrought beasts and fowls, serpents and fishes, and lastly, Man. But by reason of the withholding of the power and the wisdom of UL, it was not perfect and w
as marred. Many creatures were wrought which were unseemly and strange, and the younger Gods repented their making and tried they to unmake that which they had wrought so that all things upon the world which they had made might be fair and seemly. But the Spirit of UL stretched forth his hand and prevented them, and they could not unmake that which they had wrought, no matter how monstrous or illshapen. And he spake unto the younger Gods, saying: ‘Behold, what thou hast wrought thou mayest in no wise unmake, for in thy folly hast thou torn asunder the fabric of the heavens and the peace thereof that thou might bring forth this world of thine to be a plaything and an entertainment. Know, however, that whatsoever ye make, be it ever so monstrous or unseemly, it will abide and be a rebuke unto thee for thy folly. For in the day that one thing which is made is unmade, in that day shall all that is made be unmade.’26
And the younger Gods were wroth, and in despite spake they unto each monstrous or unseemly thing they made, saying, ‘Go thou even unto UL, and he shall be thy God.’ And UL spake not.
And the younger Gods wrought men, and each selected that people which pleased him to be God over them. And it came to pass that when each had chosen, there were peoples yet who had no God. And the younger Gods drave them out, saying, ‘Go thou even unto UL, and he shall be thy God.’
Now these were the generations of the wanderings of the Godless ones. Long and bitter were the years when they wandered in the wastelands and the wilderness of the west.
And it came to pass that among their number was a just and righteous man named Gorim, and he spake unto the multitudes of the Godless ones, saying, ‘Stay thou and rest from thy wanderings here upon this plain. I will take upon myself the search for the God named UL that we might worship him and find thereby a place in the world. For verily, we wither and fall as leaves by the wayside by reason of the rigors of our wanderings. The children die and the old men also. Better it is that one only die. Abide here against my return.’
And lo, Gorim went out from the multitude alone and sought the God named UL that his people might find a God to worship and a place in the world.
Twenty years sought he the God named UL in the wilderness and found him not. And things monstrous and gross assailed him in the wilderness, but he prevailed and was not slain.
And yet he wearied in his wanderings, and his hair grew grey as the years dropped like leaves upon his head. And upon a certain day Gorim despaired and went up unto a high mountain and spake unto the sky in a great voice, saying, ‘No more! I will search no longer. The Gods are a mockery and a deception; the world is a barren void; there is no UL; and I am sick of my life which is a curse and an affliction unto me.’
And behold, the Spirit of UL spake unto him, saying, ‘Wherefore art thou wroth with me, Gorim? Thy making and thy casting out were not of my doing.’
And Gorim was sore afraid and fell down upon his face before the Spirit of UL.
And UL spake unto him, saying, ‘Rise, Gorim, for I am not thy God.’
But Gorim rose not. ‘Oh, my God,’ quoth he, ‘hide not thy face from thy people who are sorely afflicted by reason that they are outcast and have no God to protect them.’
And again UL spake unto him, saying, ‘Rise, Gorim. Seek thou a God elsewhere, for I am God unto no people. I made thee not, and am incurious as to thy fate.’
But still Gorim rose not. ‘Oh, my God,’ quoth he again, ‘thy people are outcast and they perish as leaves before the cold winds of winter. The children die and the old men also, and there is no place in the broad world where they might find rest.’
And the Spirit of UL was troubled by the words of Gorim, the just and righteous man, and he rose up in wrath saying, ‘Rise, Gorim, and quit this place. Cease thy drasty complaining, and leave me in peace. Seek thou elsewhere a God, and trouble me no more, for I am not thy God.’
And still Gorim rose not. ‘Oh, my God,’ quoth he, ‘yet will I abide. Thy people hunger and they thirst also. They seek only thy blessing and a place wherein they might dwell.’
And UL spake, saying, ‘Then will I depart from here, for thy speech wearies me.’
And yet did Gorim abide in that place and went not away. And, behold, the beasts of the fields brought him to eat, and the fowls of the air brought him to drink by reason of his holiness. And did he abide there a year and more.
And the Spirit of UL was sore troubled.
And came unto that place the things monstrous and unseemly that the Gods had made and that the Spirit of UL forbade them to destroy, and sat they at the feet of Gorim. Chimeras and Unicorns were there and Basilisks and Winged Serpents also, and they abode there watching Gorim.
And UL came unto Gorim and he spake, saying, ‘Abidest thou still?’
And Gorim fell upon his face, saying, ‘Oh, my God, thy people cry unto thee in their affliction.’
And the Spirit of UL fled.
And there did Gorim abide and was brought meat by dragons and water to drink by creatures unnamed. And the days and months did rain down, and another year passed.
And again came UL unto Gorim and spake, saying, ‘Abidest thou still?’
And again Gorim fell upon his face, saying, ‘Oh, my God, thy people perish in the absence of thy care.’
And again did the spirit of UL flee from the righteous man.
And there still did Gorim abide, and food and drink were brought unto him as an offering unto his holiness and his righteousness by things that have no name and things that are unseen. And passed yet another year.
And the Spirit of UL came again unto the high mountain where Gorim abode, and the creatures monstrous, named and unnamed, seen and unseen, made great moan.
And UL spake, saying, ‘Rise, Gorim.’
And Gorim fell upon his face and spake, saying, ‘Oh, my God, have mercy.’
And UL spake, saying, ‘Rise, Gorim. I am UL—thy God, and I command thee to rise and stand before me.’ And reached he down and lifted Gorim up with his hands.
‘Then wilt thou be my God?’ Gorim asked of UL, ‘and God unto my people also?’
And UL spake, saying, ‘I am thy God and the God of thy people also.’
And Gorim looked down from the high place whereon he had abode and beheld the unseemly creatures which had fed him and comforted him during his travail, and he spake unto the God UL, saying, ‘And what of these, oh, my God? Who will be God unto the Basilisk and the Minotaur, the Dragon and the Chimera, the Unicorn and the Thing Unnamed, the Winged Serpent and the Thing Unseen?’
And the Spirit of UL spake not and was wroth.
‘For also are these outcast, oh, my God,’ quoth Gorim. ‘The younger Gods cast them out in thy despite because they were monstrous and unseemly. Yet is there beauty in each. The scales of the Basilisk are like jewels. The head of the Chimera is lofty and noble. The Unicorn is of exceeding beauty, and its single horn is intricately twisted and graceful. The wings of the Dragon are majestic, and the body of the Minotaur magnificent. Behold them, oh, my God. Turn not thy face from them, for in them is great beauty and delight unto the eye if thou be but willing to look. Unto thee was each sent by the younger Gods and was told to seek thee out to be their God. Who will be their God if thou turnest thy face from them?’
‘It was done in my despite,’ quoth UL, ‘and these monstrous beings sent unto me to bring shame upon me that I had rebuked the younger Gods. I am not God unto monsters.’
And Gorim looked upon his God and spake, saying, ‘Oh, my God, mayhap the space of a little time will give thee leisure to reconsider. Yet will I abide here a little while, trusting in thy justice and thine infinite mercy.’ And so saying, he sat himself again upon the earth.
And the God UL spake unto Gorim, saying, ‘Tempt not the patience of thy God, Gorim. I have consented to be God unto thee and thy people, but in no wise will I be God unto monstrous things.’
And the creatures who sat at the feet of Gorim made great moan.
‘Yet will I abide, oh, my God,’ Gorim said and rose not from the earth.<
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‘Abide if it please thee,’ quoth UL and departed from that place.
And it was even as before. Gorim abode, and the creatures sustained him, and UL was troubled.
And it came to pass that the Great God UL relented even as before by reason of the holiness of the righteous man, Gorim, and he came unto Gorim and spake, saying, ‘Rise, Gorim, that thou mayest serve thy God.’ And he reached down and lifted up Gorim with his hands, and commanded him, saying, ‘Bring unto me in turn each of the creatures who sit before thee that I might consider them, for if it is as thou sayest and each hath beauty and worthiness, then will I consent to be their God also.’
And Gorim brought each creature before his God, and UL marveled at the beauty of each and that he had not seen it before. And the creatures prostrated themselves before the Great God UL and made great moan and besought his blessing.
And the Spirit of UL raised up his hands and blessed them, saying, ‘Behold, I am UL, and I find great beauty and worthiness in each of you, in the Dragon and the Minotaur, in the Dwarf and the Basilisk, in the Unicorn and the Chimera, in the Dryad and the Troll, in the Centaur and in the Thing Unnamed, and even find I beauty in the Thing Unseen. And I will be thy God, and thou shalt prosper, and peace shall prevail among you.’
And the heart of Gorim was made glad, and he called the name of the high place where all of this had come to pass ‘Prolgu’, which is ‘holy place’. And he departed from that place and returned he unto the plain to bring his people unto UL, their God. And behold, they recognized him not, for the hands of UL had touched him, and all color had fled from the touch of UL, and the body and the hair of Gorim were as white as new snow. And his people feared him and drave him from their midst with stones.
And Gorim cried out unto UL, saying, ‘Oh, my God, thy touch hath changed me, and my people know me not.’
The Rivan Codex: Ancient Texts of THE BELGARIAD and THE MALLOREON (The Belgariad / The Malloreon) Page 10