Preface To The Third Edition

Hello again, my darling friends and friendly strangers. The time has come again to launch my little book out on the waters of the world again, for I have got new isles with new inhabitants to show you. Now Merlin makes his first appearance, his second and his third. Clark Gable's here along with dark Pandora and her small guitar. Who else? The Lady of the Lake again, in a new adventure, and the Fairy Queen, and the simple girl who bests that awesome mistress in the art of love. A sorcerer weaves his mighty spells to benefit a young apprentice. An honest sailor and a soldier drown in pounding Death but speak. Another sailor weeps his last despairing blessing on the world and fires a fatal shot. Some ragged minstrels sing to gain their supper. There is a bit of whirling dance as well.

And we shall wander landscapes where the boat makes shore. There is a continent to stride if we head west. I'll guide you to a shadow puppet show or to a garden where the roses grow all wild and tangling, to a bubbling fountain by an oak, the meadow where a patient hunter waits, a pool wherein the starry heavens glow around a wandering soul, the cavern of a hollow hill. A bit of this, a bit of that. The magic door has been prized open and you are welcome.

Once more it proudly says upon the cover "published by the author". This time, though, the job is done more properly. It has a proper binding to the proper cover and it was printed on the best machines available, heedless of the vast expense. This is non-fading ink This is a good commercial grade of paper. If you have got these pages in your hand for free, good luck to you, but if you've paid me as an honest person would, then all the better. More copies are available by mail, from my address that's listed on the title page. It makes a lovely gift. Other advertisers say a diamond is forever, but what is that to mortal men and women? A diamond for the price that you and I could pay would hardly sparkle in a magnifying glass. I say: A story is begotten and comes forth and walks about the very way that we do. With a good story, every time you look at it, the thing has grown. Herein stand some true companions. Herein lie some places which will seem to you alike a second home. I say, by rights you ought to voluntarily pay more than the asking price to get this book. But that is up to you.

Another thing. My health is good but I am growing old. Perhaps it has been wise for you to wait until the third edition – with so much invaluable material now added – but surely you should buy and read it now. Speaking fairly, I may even say that Lady Prudence now intends for you to buy this book. After all, perhaps there'll be no fourth edition.

For example, let's suppose that you are standing at a bookshelf in a store. You're wondering how to spend your time and money. Most likely there is someone there nearby with whom, in truth, you'd rather chat if you could only quite be sure that they would see your heart and beckon to your soul with theirs. And yet you've plucked this book because of its unusual artistic cover, rather idly aimed your glance within somewhere and thence progressed to here. Now I believe you have three choices.

1.) You might close this book and put it back, stroll over and speak some little thing to interrupt that person's thoughts, here in this very public place, hoping past all hope that you will conjure up the very line of poetry to touch their beating heart. But experience has surely shown this is a rash unlikely scheme with little chance.

2.) You might close the book and put it back, stroll away alone and hope that someday Luck and Fate may let you find some such a one as they may be, but then amid more intimate circumstances where talk and touch are more expected. But surely, you have waited quite enough already.

3.) You might, right now, laugh out loud and point here at this page. Have you done it yet? Surely they have glanced – at least a moment's glance – so if you're quick you have the chance to look them in the eyes and say: "Now this is so fine!" I guarantee you get at least a smile. After such a boon as that, I'm sure you'll close this book within your hand and, later on, pay more than the asking price up at the counter. And too, considering your author's soon impending death, this possibly could be your final chance to find your heart's desire.

I wish you well.

Stone

Twixt Lugnasadh and Mabon, 1999