OF THE GAME OF THE GODS

 A million years passed over the first game of the gods. And

MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI still rested, still in the middle of Time, and

the gods still played with Worlds. The Moon regarded, and the

Bright One sought, and returned again to his seeking.

 

Then Kib grew weary¹ of the first game of the gods, and raised his hand in Pegana, making the sign of Kib, and Earth became covered with beasts for Kib to play with.

 

And Kib played with beasts.

 

But the other gods said one to another, speaking with their hands:

"What is it that Kib has done?"

 

And They said to Kib: "What are these things that move upon The Earth yet move not in circles like the Worlds, that regard like the Moon and yet they do not shine?"

 

And Kib said: "This is Life."

 

But the gods said one to another: "If Kib has thus made beasts he will in time make Men, and will endanger the Secret of the gods."

 

And Mung was jealous² of the work of Kib, and sent down Death among the beasts, but could not stamp them out.

 

A million years passed over the second game of the gods, and still it was the Middle of Time.

 

And Kib grew weary of the second game, and raised his hand in the Middle of All, making the sign of Kib, and made Men: out of beasts he made them, and Earth was covered with Men.

 

Then the gods feared greatly for the Secret of the gods, and set a veil³ between Man and his ignorance⁴ that he might not understand. And Mung was busy among Men.

 

But when the other gods saw Kib playing his new game They came and played it too. And this They will play until MANA arises to rebuke⁵ Them, saying: "What do ye playing with Worlds and Suns and Men and Life and Death?" And They shall be ashamed of Their playing in the hour of the laughter of MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI.

 

It was Kib who first broke the Silence of Pegana, by speaking with his mouth like a man.

 

And all the other gods were angry with Kib that he had spoken with his mouth.

 

And there was no longer silence in Pegana or the Worlds.

1 weary   

adj.疲劳的，使人疲劳的；vi.厌烦，不耐烦

参考例句：

• He has laid out all his strength and is weary.他使出了全部气力，非常疲倦。
• I am weary of his constant complaints.我对他不断发牢骚感到厌烦。

2 jealous   

adj.妒忌的，猜忌的；精心守护的

参考例句：

• He was jealous when he discovered that she loved someone else.当他发现她爱别人的时候，他吃醋了。
• An honorable Chinese citizen should be jealous of his own rights.一名光荣的中国公民应当珍惜自己的公民权利。

3 veil   

n.面纱，掩饰物，修女；vt.给...戴面纱或面罩；vi.带面纱或面罩

参考例句：

• Please veil your face.请用面纱遮住脸。
• There was a veil of mist over the mountains.山上覆盖着一层薄雾。

4 ignorance   

n.无知，愚昧，不了解，（of，about）不知道

参考例句：

• The relation of disease to poverty and ignorance is easy to see.疾病与贫穷、无知之间的关系是显而易见的。
• Maybe it is all due to my own ignorance.也许是我少见多怪。

5 rebuke   

v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise

参考例句：

• He had to put up with a smart rebuke from the teacher.他不得不忍受老师的严厉指责。
• Even one minute's lateness would earn a stern rebuke.哪怕迟到一分钟也将受到严厉的斥责。