The Death of Prester John
(yasht xxii.)
When Prester John was like to die, he called his priests and said:
"O Mages, seers, and sorcerers, sayers of holy sooth,
Where's the soul of a faithful man when the body's cold and dead?
Where's the soul of a corpse on the bier?
Answer, and speak the truth."
The priests stood round the couch in rows beside the dying king,
"Will no one speak?" said Prester John, "Ye who have time and breath?"
Is there not one of all my priests will answer me this thing:
Where's the soul of a faithful man on the first night after death?"
Then up and spake the oldest seer, and he was white
as rime:
"Have I not fasted ninety years to see what none may see?
Between thy death and mine (he said) is but a little time,
And what I speak, O King, I speak for me no less than thee.
"When Death had loosed the soul of a man, it kneels upon the bier
Among the lights about the head, lighter and brighter than they,
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