The Rivan Codex: Ancient Texts of The Belgariad and The Malloreon. David Eddings

The antiquity of the fragment and the general condition of the ruins of the temple in which it was found indicate that both more probably date back to the time of the invasion of the Marags rather than the more recent Alorn incursion.

      

      1. Once

      lived we in caves,

      beside still brooks

      and in mossy dells,

      and ISSA

      was with us,

      (dull-eyed ISSA with cold skin)

      – Praise the glory of ISSA’s name –

       2. Content

      were we to bask in sun

      on warm rocks

      and to slither at night

      into dens cool and dry

      beneath the rocks,

      and ISSA

      moved among us –

      (Slow the movements,

       sinuous and subtle)

      and touched our faces

      with dry cold hand,

      and lapped

      our scent from

      out of air with

      flickering tongue

      – Praise the glory of ISSA’s name –

      3. Solitary

      watched we

      the turn

      of seasons,

      years, light as dust

      lay upon us,

      and uncaring we watched

      and ISSA

      Instructed us

      (sibilant the

      voice

      of beloved

      ISSA and wise) –

      Glory to the wisdom of ISSA –

      4. Coiled

      we with our

      brothers,

      the serpents,

      and kissed

      the

      sweet

      venom from

      their lipless smiles

      while ISSA

      watched

      and guarded our

      childlike play

       – Praise the watchfulness of mighty ISSA –

       5. But

      Other Gods made war, and we knew not why.

      Some trifle

      that had no use or value was the cause of their contention.

      Still lay we in timeless drowse, basking in sun’s

      Warmth and the glory of ISSA’s gaze

      – Adore the beauty of the scaled face of ISSA –

       6. And

      Shattered then the other Gods the earth herself, and the rocks of our dens fell in upon us, crushing the people of ISSA as they slept, and the seas rushed in, drowning the caves and the mossy dells, stilling forever the soft sibilance of our brooks and streams, engulfing the sweet land which ISSA had given us.

      – Oh weep for the precious land of ISSA –

       7. Journeyed

      We then toward those lands where the sun makes his bed, and ISSA led us. Found we there a fair land of swamp and tangled thicket and sluggish rivers, dark beneath the trees. And our brothers, the serpents, dwelt there in abundance. And ISSA commanded us that we raise a city beside the holy River of the Serpent, and called we the name of the city Sthiss Tor in honor of the holy wisdom of ISSA.

      – All praise to ISSA, cold and fair –

      8. And yet

      There came a time when ISSA called us to him and spake unto us, saying:

      ‘Behold, it has come to pass that I must depart from thee. The Gods have warred, and the earth may no longer sustain us.’

      Loud were our lamentations at ISSA’s words, and we cried out unto him, saying:

      ‘We beseech thee, oh mighty God, absent thyself not from us, for who will lead and guide us if thou depart?’

      And ISSA wept.

      – Revere the tears of sorrowing ISSA –

      9. Again

      Spake ISSA unto us, saying:

      ‘Behold, I am thy God, and I love thee. In spirit shall I abide with thee, and from thy number will I select the one through whom shall I speak. Thou shalt hear and obey the one – even as it were me.’

      – Hear and obey the word of ISSA –

      10. Now

      Of all the servants of ISSA, most beloved was Salmissra, the Priestess, and ISSA touched her and exalted her and spake unto the people again, saying:

      ‘Behold my handmaiden, Salmissra. Her have I touched and exalted. And she shall be queen over thee and have dominion, and her voice shall be my voice, and thou shall call her name eternal, for I am with her – even as with thee unto the end of days.’

      – All praise to eternal Salmissra, handmaiden of ISSA –

      

      11. Spake

      Then eternal Salmissra, Queen of the Serpent People, saying:

      (The remainder of the fragment has been lost.)^*

       HYMN TO CHALDAN

      NOTE This is the famous War-hymn of the Asturian Arends believed to have been composed sometime early in the second millennium. While there exist Mimbrate and Wacite hymns of similar tenor, this particular piece most universally captures the spirit of Arendia, and despite its Asturian origin it is widely sung in Mimbrate chapels even to this day. Historical research indicates that it was also popular in Wacune before those people were obliterated during the Arendian Civil Wars.

      

      Honor, Glory and Dominion be thine, O Chaldan.

      Grant, Divine Lord, Victory unto thy Servants.

      See, O our God, how we adore Thee.

      Smite, Great Judge, the Wicked and Unjust.

      Chastise our Foes. Consume them with Fire.

      Scourge him who has despite unto us.