Night and the Sea and the depths of Despair! The gulfs of Time, the moaning of wastrel souls, the ullulation of fiends in the brackish currents of Change: I heard with an myriad Ear, and was withered and worn and wrenched in the screws. How came I into the Alleys of Eld? Endless doors were closing behind me—I could not go back, the slams were decisive, I heard ITS skeleton-key turn in each lock, and peering back, I looked into its eyes, sinister as Time's face, brooding upon me— As I hurried down the Alleys of Eld. A sudden emergence here on this shore, my brain still gimletted with the memory of those eyes, my ears still pricked with the click! click! of ITS skeleton-key— Emerged! ah! the Night and the Sea and its depths of Despair and the memory of IT!— Emerged from the Alleys of Eld!
Publication History
The Shadow-Eater [1915/17 and 1923]
1923 Edition Text Changes
- [New stanzas at “Endless doors…” and “A sudden emergence…”]
- wastrel souls, the ullulation > wastrel souls, ⁋ The ululation
- an myriad > a myriad
- behind me—I could > behind me— ⁋ I could
- ITS > Its [2 instances]
- each lock, and peering > each lock, ⁋ And peering
- into its eyes > into Its eyes
- this shore, my brain > this shore, ⁋ My brain
- those eyes, my ears > those eyes, ⁋ My ears
- IT > It