Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Notes

Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations in hyphenation have been standardised but all other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged.

Italics are represented thus _italic_.

All chapters begin with an illustrated capital, and most end with a decorative image. These have not been indicated.

_The
High
Place_

BOOKS _by_ MR. CABELL

_Biography_:

BEYOND LIFE
FIGURES OF EARTH
DOMNEI
CHIVALRY
JURGEN
THE LINE OF LOVE
THE HIGH PLACE
GALLANTRY
THE CERTAIN HOUR
THE CORDS OF VANITY
FROM THE HIDDEN WAY
THE RIVET IN GRANDFATHER’S NECK
THE EAGLE’S SHADOW
THE CREAM OF THE JEST

_Scholia_:

THE LINEAGE OF LICHFIELD
TABOO
JOSEPH HERGESHEIMER
THE JEWEL MERCHANTS

* * * * *

JURGEN AND THE LAW
(_Edited by Guy Holt_)

THE HIGH PLACE:

A COMEDY OF DISENCHANTMENT
BY JAMES BRANCH CABELL
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND DECORATIONS BY
FRANK C. PAPÉ

“_Build on high place for Chemosh, the abomination
of Moab, and for horned Ashtoreth, the
abomination of Zidon, and for Moloch, the
abomination of the children of Ammon._”

ROBERT M. McBRIDE & COMPANY
NEW YORK: 1923

Copyright, 1923, by
JAMES BRANCH CABELL

_Printed in the
United States of America_

_This First Edition of THE
HIGH PLACE is limited to
two thousand numbered copies,
of which this is_

_Copy Number_ 1825

Published, 1923

To

ROBERT GAMBLE CABELL III

_this book, where so much more is due_.

_Contents_

PART ONE

THE END OF LONG WANTING

CHAPTER PAGE

I THE CHILD ERRANT 3

II SAYINGS ABOUT PUYSANGE 10

III WIDOWERS SEEK CONSOLATION 24

IV ECONOMICS OF AN OLD RACE 36

V FRIENDLY ADVICE OF JANICOT 42

VI PHILOSOPHY OF THE LOWER CLASS 53

VII ADJUSTMENTS OF THE RESURRECTED 64

VIII AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD 74

IX MISGIVINGS OF A BEGINNING SAINT 80

X WHO FEASTED AT BRUNBELOIS 89

PART TWO

THE END OF LIGHT WINNING

XI PROBLEMS OF BEAUTY 97

XII NICETIES OF FRATRICIDE 114

XIII DÉBONNAIRE 123

XIV GODS IN DECREPITUDE 141

XV DUBIETIES OF THE MASTER 148

XVI SOME VICTIMS OF FLAMBERGE 159

XVII THE ARMORY OF ANTAN 166

XVIII PROBLEMS OF HOLINESS 178

XIX LOCKED GATES 189

XX SMOKE REVEALS FIRE 204