Роберт Чамберс (Robert W. Chambers)The Project Gutenberg EBook of The King in Yellow, by Robert W. Chambers
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: The King in Yellow
Author: Robert W. Chambers
Posting Date: December 24, 2011 [EBook #8492]
Release Date: July, 2005
[This file was first posted on July 16, 2003]
Language: English
Produced by Suzanne Shell, Beth Trapaga, Charles Franks,
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. HTML version by
Chuck Greif.
THE KING IN YELLOW
BY
ROBERT W. CHAMBERS
Original publication date: 1895
THE KING IN YELLOW
IS DEDICATED
TO
MY BROTHER
| Along the shore the cloud waves break, |
| The twin suns sink beneath the lake, |
| The shadows lengthen |
| In Carcosa. |
| Strange is the night where black stars rise, |
| And strange moons circle through the skies |
| But stranger still is |
| Lost Carcosa. |
| Songs that the Hyades shall sing, |
| Where flap the tatters of the King, |
| Must die unheard in |
| Dim Carcosa. |
| Song of my soul, my voice is dead; |
| Die thou, unsung, as tears unshed |
| Shall dry and die in |
| Lost Carcosa. |
| Cassilda's Song in "The King in Yellow," Act i, Scene 2. |
| THE REPAIRER OF REPUTATIONS |
| THE MASK |
| IN THE COURT OF THE DRAGON |
| THE YELLOW SIGN |
| THE DEMOISELLE D'YS |
| THE PROPHETS' PARADISE |
| THE STREET OF THE FOUR WINDS |
| THE STREET OF THE FIRST SHELL |
| THE STREET OF OUR LADY OF THE FIELDS |
| RUE BARRÉE |
THE REPAIRER OF REPUTATIONS
I
"Ne raillons pas les fous; leur folie dure plus longtemps que la nôtre.... Voila toute la différence."
Toward the end of the year 1920 the Government of the United States had practically completed the programme, adopted during the last months of President Winthrop's administration. The country was apparently tranquil. Everybody knows how the Tariff and Labour questions were settled. The war with Germany, incident on that country's seizure of the Samoan Islands, had left no visible scars upon the republic, and the temporary occupation of Norfolk by the invading army had been forgotten in the joy over repeated naval victories, and the subsequent ridiculous plight of General Von Gartenlaube's forces in the State of New Jersey. The Cuban and Hawaiian investments had paid one hundred per cent and the territory of Samoa was well worth its cost as a coaling station. The country was in a superb state of defence. Every coast city had been well supplied with land fortifications; the army under the parental eye of the General Staff, organized according to the Prussian system, had been increased to 300,000 men, with a territorial reserve of a million; and six magnificent squadrons of cruisers and battle-ships patrolled the six stations of the navigable seas, leaving a steam reserve amply fitted to control home waters.