--- title: A Sleep and a Dream., part 5 — The descent of the sun: A cycle of birth · full text with trees · page 2 description: A Sleep and a Dream., part 5, «The descent of the sun: A cycle of birth» by Unknown: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: So all day he remained on that high place, not daring to descend. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/7/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The descent of the sun: A cycle of birth](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/) / A Sleep and a Dream., part 5 # A Sleep and a Dream., part 5 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/7/) **2** Then Umra-Singh rose up also, and he struck his forehead with his hand.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") And he exclaimed: I cannot tell, whether it is reality, or whether it is a dream.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") But this I know, that now I must get back without delay to Indirálayá, and cross, somehow or other, over that sea, and that terrible desert, and through that hideous wood, and tell my story to the King, and claim my bride.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") But first I will bathe in yonder pool: for my heart is heavy, and my head aches, for all that I have endured during the night, and all that I have seen.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") And he went down the steps, and plunged into the waters of the pool.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") IX.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") Recognition[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") And as he rose from the water, there rang in his ears, loud and clear, the sound of the beating of drums.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") And he listened, and heard the criers crying: \_Whatsoever high-caste man has been to the Land of the Lotus of the Sun, let him come to the King: he shall share the King's kingdom, and marry the King's daughter\_.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") And he looked round.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") Lo! he was standing in that very tank in Indirálayá, from which he had started, years before, to find the Land of the Lotus of the Sun. Then in his amazement, his flesh crept, and his hair stood on end.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") And he stood in the pool like a pillar of stone, with the water streaming from his body, and doubt bewildering his soul.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said to himself: Is it indeed reality, or is it a dream?[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") And what has become of the Land of the Lotus, and all my toil?[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") For here I am in Indirálayá, and there are the very criers whom I left behind me, crying, and beating, just as they did before, their drums\![73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") And then suddenly he uttered a shout, and exclaimed: Well, now I will go to the King, for the time has come to claim the reward.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") And he leaped out of the water, and ran up the steps like one that is mad, and went up to the criers, and said to them: Cease this useless crying, and this empty beating of drums, and take me quickly to the King, for I have seen that Lotus Land.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") And the criers did not recognise him, but they were full of joy at hearing his words: for their crying had made them weary of life.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") So as they were preparing to take him to the King, he clapped his hands, and said again: Quick! delay not! but make haste, great haste! or else my heart will break.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") For I endured separation, when union seemed at a distance, with ease: but now that the moment of re-union approaches, my heart is breaking: every moment seems an age: and if you delay long, I cannot endure.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the criers made great haste, and brought him as quickly as possible to the King.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") But when the King saw Umra-Singh, he looked at him narrowly, and knew him again, for all that he was changed.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said to himself: Surely this is that very rogue, who came to me before to cheat me; and now, here he is again\![81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said to Umra-Singh: I know thee, thou impostor.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") Beware! for this time thou shalt not escape.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Then said Umra-Singh: King, be it as thou wilt.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") Only let me see thy daughter, and that quickly: for I have really seen that Lotus Land: thereafter deal with me as it may please thee best.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") And as he spoke, ungovernable impatience seized him: and he stamped his foot upon the ground, and tears came into his eyes, and suddenly he began to laugh.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") And the King looked at him with curiosity, and wondered at him: and he said to himself: Either this fellow is mad, or it is as he says, and he has really seen that Lotus Land.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") But he said again to Umra-Singh: Remember, if this time also thou art playing false, death is the reward.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Umra-Singh said: Show me thy daughter, and put me then to any kind of death.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") So the King sent for his daughter, and after a while, Shrí came in.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") But when Umra-Singh saw her enter, he sobbed aloud, and strode towards her.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") And as she turned her eyes on him in fear, he plunged his fainting soul into their azure sea.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") And in an instant he forgot his journey and his toil, and obtained in that moment the nectar of emancipation from the hunger of longing, and the pain of separation, and the terror of untimely death.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") And Shrí looked at him, as he stood before her, and instantly she knew him again.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") And her heart beat in her bosom like a drum, and she was seized with trembling, and could not speak, for fear and doubt.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") For again the forgotten ties of her former birth fought for utterance in her soul, and yet she feared him for his insolence, and despised him for his poverty: for he was ten times leaner and more ragged than before.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") And long she looked at him without speaking.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") And then at last she found her voice, and spoke, and said slowly: What! is it thou, most doughty traveller?[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") And hast thou made another story?[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Good it had better be, thy second tale, for never shall thou live to make a third.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") But Umra-Singh leaned towards her, with hungry eyes, for his soul yearned for the repetition of a forgotten past.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") And he looked at her long and wistfully, till her glance quailed, for her spirit was mastered by his courage and his love.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") And twice he strove to speak, and twice he failed, while great tears fell from his eyes upon the ground.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") And then at last, he became master of himself.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said: Dear, now use me as thou wilt, and put me to any death.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") But tell me first, before I die: How comes it that I see thee here alive, and yet I saw thee, in that Lotus City, lying dead upon a couch. in the cold rays of the moon?[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Shrí threw up her arms with a shriek.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") And she cried out: Ha! it is the truth: this man has really seen the Land of the Lotus of the Sun. And suddenly, the veil of oblivion was drawn for an instant, and she caught a glimpse of her former birth, and knew her husband again.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") And instantly she ran to him, and threw herself into his arms, and hung on his breast, and clung to him, like a jasmine creeper on a noble tree.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") And tears fell from her eyes like rain, and she laughed for joy, and caressed his face with her hand, and said: Brave heart, and didst thou dare to go alone to that distant Lotus Land?[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Thou art indeed my own husband, in this life as in the last.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") And now, after long separation, I have found thee for an instant, and thou hast me.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") Only seek as well again, and we shall meet once more, and taste yet another drop of the nectar of mutual enjoyment, before we die: for so it is decreed.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") I say, remember: we shall meet again.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/7/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/7/) - next →: [A Sleep and a Dream., part 6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/8/) - ↑ back to [The descent of the sun: A cycle of birth](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg68641/)