"Seeing," they said, "that old-time Pan is dead, let us now
make a tomb for him and a monument, that the dreadful
worship of long ago may be remembered and avoided by all."
So said the people of the enlightened lands. And they
built a white and mighty tomb of marble. Slowly it rose
under the hands of the builders and longer every evening
after sunset it gleamed with rays of the departed sun.
And many mourned for Pan while the builders built; many
reviled him. Some called the builders to cease and to weep
for Pan and others called them to leave no memorial at all
of so infamous a god. But the builders built on steadily.
And one day all was finished, and the tomb stood there
like a steep sea-cliff. And Pan was carved thereon with
humbled head and the feet of angels pressed upon his neck.
And when the tomb was finished the sun had already set, but
the afterglow was rosy on the huge bulk of Pan.
And presently all the enlightened people came, and saw
the tomb and remembered Pan who was dead, and all deplored
him and his wicked age. But a few wept apart because of the
death of Pan.
But at evening as he stole out of the forest, and slipped
like a shadow softly along the hills, Pan saw the tomb and
laughed.