ed, "Speak, I am listening." Then the
Mountain Spirit cried, "Arise, then, and come to my aid; alone I cannot
chase away these men who are driving out all the ancient gods from
their shrines in the land." The Water Spirit answered, "Of what avail
is our strength against theirs? Here on the starry waters is one whose
nets I cannot break, and whose boat I cannot overturn. Without ceasing
he prays, and never are his eyes closed in slumber." Then Hilary arose
on his raft, and raising his hand to heaven cried against the Spirit of
the Peak and the Spirit of the Mere: "In the name of Him crucified, be
silent for evermore, and leave these hills and waters to the servants
of God." And these creatures of evil were stricken dumb, and they fled
in dismay, making a great moaning and sobbing, and the dolorous sound
was as that of the wind in the pines and the water on the rocks.

Then Hilary and his companions fared away into the north, through the
Grey Waste, which is a wild and deserted country where in the olden
time vast armies had passed with fire and sword; and now the field had
turned into wildwood and morass, and the rich townsteads were barrows
of ruins and ashes overgrown with brambles, and had been given for a
lodging to the savage beasts. The name of this waste was more terrible
than the place, for the season was sweet and gracious, and of birds and
fish and herbs and wild honey there was no dearth. They were now no
longer harassed by the phantoms of the ancient gods, or by the evil
spirits of the unblessed earth. Thus for many long leagues was their
journey made easy for them.

Now it chanced, when they had reached the further edge of this region,
that as they went one night belated along a green riding, which in the
old time had been a spacious paved causeway between rich cities, they
heard the music of a harp, more marvellously sweet and solacing than
any mortal minstrel may make; and sweet dream-voices sighed to them
"Follow, follow!" and they felt their feet drawn as by enchantment; and
as they yielded to the magical power, a soft shining filled the dusky
air, and they saw that the ground was covered with soft deep grass and
brilliant flowers, and the trees were of the colour of gold and silver.
So in strange gladness, and feeling neither hunger nor fatigue, they
went forward through the hours of the night till the dawn, wondering
what angelic ministry was thus beguiling them of hardship and pain.
But with