Fragmentae Abyssum Hermaeus Morus Content . … So Ysgramor collected the laments of the Giant - Wives and brought them to Froa and Grosta , who twisted them into the Woeful Bowstring , so that Ysgramor could re - string his mighty bow Long - Launcher . And thereafter did Long - Launcher sigh when it was borne , and moan when it was shot . And Ysgramor decided to take it hunting . And he hunted and slew much game in the Atmoran Frostwood , until he paused at a ford to drink his fill . Then across the stream bounded the White Stag of Forelgrim , and Ysgramor shot at it and missed , which in no wise pleased him , and he swore to pursue the White Stag until it fell to him . But the stag was canny and quiet , and passed as a mist over the snow , so that Ysgramor did again and again sight it and lose it . For even the sighing of the Woeful Bowstring made more sound than did the White Stag . When again he lost the trail and stopped , sore vexed , an Hare did appear and spake , saying , " The stag hieth down into yon vale . " " How knoweth you this ? " demanded Ysgramor of the Hare , which replied , " I know for I have long ears . Yea , had you ears as long as mine , you too could hear your prey wherever it went . " " Would , then , " said Ysgramor , " that my ears were as long as thine . " At that the Hare ' s nose did twitch , and Ysgramor felt his ears begin to grow and point . But a Fox did leap from the coppice and fall upon the Hare , slaying it , and Ysgramor , in wonder , felt his ears dwindle to their wonted size . And the Fox spake , saying , " Know thou , mortal , that I am Shor , and this was nary Hare , but indeed , Herma Mora , who did nearly trick thee into becoming of Elvenkind . Rely you hereafter , mortal , upon the forthright methods of Man , and eschew the tricks of the Elves , lest ye become one . Now , go — for the White Stag awaiteth thee in the vale . " Hyrma MORA pado ADA oia NAGAIA aba AGEA cava APOCRA dena GORIA gandra ARCAN " Hermaeus Mora , elder than Ada , Abyssal Cephaliarch , hearken to the plea of this unworthy , for I come to barter for knowledge denied . That which I seek is named on this parchment , which I consume in your honor , O Demon of Knowledge . For my desire to know is beyond reckoning , and in recompense , whatever price is named shall be met . AE HERMA MORA . " AE HERMA MORA ALTADOON PADHOME LKHAN AE AI ( My next dream was ) of Apocrypha , where I walked the halls of shadow among the ( nameless books ) , among concepts and arguments I inhaled like smoke . In my left hand was a scroll of vellum , in my right hand a plume , ( and I wrote ) histories as I passed , yet the scroll was unfilled , for as I wrote ( words ) beneath the ( words ) above vanished . Then I paused at a plinth of lapis , for it contained ( an object ) heretofore unremarked , an urn with a curious finial . So I ( set aside ) scroll and plume , grasped the finial and lifted the lid . ( Within the urn ) was a viscous and noisome ( fluid ) , upon which floated , gray and glistening , a mortal ' s ( organ of thought ) . And I knew , though I know not how , that the ( fluid ) was not brine , and the brain was not preserved , but alive , alert , and brooding with a dark intellect . I dropped the lid and ( looked up from ) the urn , and saw , ( beyond the plinth ) , a long and endless corridor , lined left and right with plinths uncountable , and ( upon each plinth was ) its urn . ( Which was why , when ) I awoke , my tongue was bitten through .