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THE TABLES OF THE LAW; &
THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI




_Five hundred and ten copies printed;
type distributed._      _No._ 311




THE TABLES OF THE LAW; &
THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI
BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS




THE SHAKESPEARE HEAD PRESS
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON MCMXIV




THE TABLES OF THE LAW




THE TABLES OF THE LAW


I

'Will you permit me, Aherne,' I said, 'to ask you a question, which I
have wanted to ask you for years, and have not asked because we have
grown nearly strangers? Why did you refuse the berretta, and almost
at the last moment? When you and I lived together, you cared neither
for wine, women, nor money, and had thoughts for nothing but theology
and mysticism.' I had watched through dinner for a moment to put my
question, and ventured now, because he had thrown off a little of
the reserve and indifference which, ever since his last return from
Italy, had taken the place of our once close friendship. He had just
questioned me, too, about certain private and almost sacred things, and
my frankness had earned, I thought, a like frankness from him.

When I began to speak he was lifting to his lips a glass of that old
wine which he could choose so well and valued so little; and while
I spoke, he set it slowly and meditatively upon the table and held
it there, its deep red light dyeing his long delicate fingers. The
impression of his face and form, as they were then, is