"Xeethra" by Clark Ashton Smith
Subtle and manifold are the nets of the Demon, who followeth his chosen from birth to death and from death to death, throughout many lives.
-The Testaments of Carnamagos
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As with many of Smith's stories, we have a plethora of strange names with no obvious pronunciation, and no hint or guide as to what he had in mind. And less than perfect consistency in pronunciation on my part. I expect we're going to have a very great deal of that in this Zothique cycle...
combe: this could mean either "a short valley or hollow on a hillside or coastline" if you are British, or "a dry valley in a limestone or chalk escarpment" if you are a geologist. Either way, some sort of valley. There are two accepted pronunciations for this word, perhaps depending on whether you use British English or American English?
pleasance: a secluded enclosure or part of a garden, especially one attached to a large house
straiten: become narrow
gorge: in this context: throat
coigns: a projecting corner
sward an expanse of short grass
puissant: having great power or influence
covert: in this context: a thicket in which game can hide
levin: lightning
odalisque: a female slave or concubine in a harem, especially one in the seraglio of the Sultan of Turkey
wot: have knowledge
senescence: the condition or process of deterioration with age
objurgation: a harsh rebuke
cirque: circle
league: for English units of measurement, this would normally be 3 miles (4.8 km) (or 3 nautical miles (5.56 km) in a maritime context).
Canopus: the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina and the second-brightest star in the night sky.
midden: refuse heap
marmorean: of, relating to, or suggestive of marble or a marble statue especially in coldness or aloofness
mummery: ridiculous ceremonial, especially of a religious nature
plaint: complaint, lamentation
leman: lover or mistress
murrain: a plague, epidemic, or crop blight
divertissement: minor entertainment or diversion
mummer: pantomimist (an actor in a traditional masked mime, especially of a type associated with Christmas and popular in England in the 18th and early 19th centuries)
guerdon: reward or recompense
zephyr: a soft gentle breeze
mufti: plain clothes worn by a person who wears a uniform for their job, such as a soldier or police officer
recreancy: shameful cowardice; perfidy
The picture used is an illustration from the original Weird Tales publication in the 1930s.
To follow along: http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/250/xeethra
Well, at least Xeethra wasn't a sore loser about the whole thing, eh?
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