BEFOREtheHighandFar-OffTimes,OmyBestBeloved,cametheTimeoftheVeryBeginnings;andthatwasinthedayswhentheEldestMagiwasgettingThingsready.FirsthegottheEarthready;theheSeaready;aoldalltheAnimalsthattheycouldeoutandplay.AndtheAnimalssaid,OEldestMagi,whatshallweplayat?andhesaid,Iwillshowyou.HetooktheElephant--All-the-Elephant-there-was--andsaid,PlayatbeinganElephant,andAll-the-Elephant-there-layed.HetooktheBeaver--All-the-Beaver-there-wasandsaid,PlayatbeingaBeaver,andAll-theBeaver-there-layed.

    HetooktheCow--All-theCow-there-was--andsaid,PlayatbeingaCow,andAll-the-Cow-there-layed.HetooktheTurtle--All-the-Turtlethere-wasandsaid,PlayatbeingaTurtle,andAll-the-Turtle-there-layed.Onebyoookallthebeastsandbirdsandfishesandtoldthemlayat.

    Buttowardsevening,whenpeopleandthingsgrowrestlessandtired,therecameuptheMan(Withhisownlittlegirl-daughter?)--Yes,withhisowbelovedlittlegirl-daughtersittinguponhisshoulder,andhesaid,Whatisthisplay,EldestMagi?AndtheEldestMagisaid,Ho,SonofAdam,thisistheplayoftheVeryBeginning;butyouaretoowiseforthisplay.AndtheMansalutedandsaid,Yes,Iamtoowiseforthisplay;butseethatyoumakealltheAnimalsobedienttome.

    Now,whilethetwoweretalkingtogether,PauAmmatheCrab,whowasinthegame,scuttledoffsidewaysandsteppedintothesea,sayingtohimself,Iwillplaymyplayalohedeepwaters,andIwillneverbeobedienttothissonofAdam.Nobodysawhimgoawayexceptthelittlegirl-daughterwheresheleaheMansshoulder.AndtheplaywentontilltherewerenomoreAnimalsleftwithoutorders;andtheEldestMagiwipedthef