midnight
The chronicles relate , that no sooner had he mastered the Event , than men on the instant perceived what illusion had beguiled them , and , in the words of the poet , -- The blush with which their folly they confess Is the first prize of his supreme success . Even Bootlbac , the drum-beater , drummed in homage to him , and the four Kings were they that were loudest in their revilings of the spouse of Kadza , and most obsequious in praises of the Master . The King of the City was fain to propitiate his people by a voluntary resignation of his throne to Shibli Bagarag , and that King took well to heart the wisdom of the sage , when he says : Power , on Illusion based , o'ertoppeth all ; The more disastrous is its certain fall ! Surely Shibli Bagarag returned the Sword to the Sons of Aklis , flashing it in midnight air , and they , with the others , did reverence to his achievement . They were now released from the toil of sharpening the Sword a half-cycle of years , to wander in delight on the fair surface of the flowery earth , breathing its roses , wooing its brides ; for the mastery of an Event lasteth among men the space of one cycle of years , and after that a fresh Illusion springeth to befool mankind , and the Seven must expend the concluding half-cycle in preparing the edge of the Sword for a new mastery . As the poet declareth in his scorn : Some doubt Eternity : from life begun , Has folly ceased within them , sire to son ? So , ever fresh Illusions will arise And lord creation , until men are wise .