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47
As Alexander approached
Eden, an old man was pursued
into a steep defile
by an advance party.
They at once detained him
as an enemy combatant,
but the greybeard signalled
weakly, and they stopped.
"Go tell Sir Alexander,"
said the man of years,
"that he seeks paradise in vain;
his striving is all futile,
for the highway
to paradise
is a lowly course, a course
he does not know.
Take you this stone,
give it to Alexander, saying,
'This stone sums
your worth.'"
Now the stone
was of inestimable value
and of excessive weight,
very paramount of gems,
but spun to dust
was as a wisp of hay,
and of less worth.
By which sign
the venerable
represented
Alexander living
king of kings,
Alexander zero dead.
(From the Thesaurus Novus of Paludanus)
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