Idonotevenknowmybishop\'sname,onlythattheworkisofthethirteenthcentury;butheisgoodtocompanywiththroughtheday,forhehasknowndarknessandlightandthemindsofmanymen;mostsurely,too,hehasknownthatGodfulfilsHimselfinstrangeways,sowiththeshadowofhisfeetuponthepolishedfloorherestsinpeace。
CHAPTERIV
ONSundaymylittletreewaslimnedinwhiteandthesparrowswerecravingshelteratmywindowfromtheblizzard。Nowthemildthinairbringsabreathofspringinitswakeandthedaffodilsinthegardenwaitthekissesofthesun。Hand-in-handwithmemoryIslipawaydowntheyears,andrememberadaywhenIawokeatearliestdawn,foracrossmysleepIhadheardthelustygolden-throatedtrumpetersheraldingthespring。
Theairwassharp-set;adelicaterimefrostedroofandroad;thesealayhazyandstilllikeagreatpearl。Thenastheskystirredwithflushuponflushofwarmrosylight,itpassedfrommistypearltoopalwithheartofflame,fromopaltogleamingsapphire。
Theearthcalled,thefieldscalled,therivercalled-thatpiedpipertowhosemusicamancannotstophisears。ItwaswithmeaswiththeCanterburypilgrims:-
\"Soprikethhemnatureinhircorages;
Thanlongenfolktogononpilgrimages。\"
HalfanhourlaterIwasawaybytheearlytrainthatcarriesthebranchmailsandafewworkmen,andwasdeliveredatthelittlewaysidestationwiththeletters。ThekindairwentsingingpastasIswungalongthereverberatingroadbetweenthehightree-
crownedbankswhichwecallhedgesinmerryDevon,withalltheworldtomyselfandtheBrethren。Agreatblackbirdflewoutwithaloud\"chook,chook,\"andtheredofthehawonhisyellowbill。
Arobintrilledfromalowrose-bush;twowrenssearcheddiligentlyonafallentreeforbreakfast,quiteunconcernedwhenIrestedamomentbesidethem;andashrewmouseslippedacrosstheroadfolloweddirectlybyitsmate。Marchvioletsbloomedundertheshelteredhedgewithhereandthereapaleprimrose;afrostedbramblespraystillhelditsautumntintsclingingtothesemblanceofthepast;andgreatbranchesofsnowyblackthornbrokethebarrenhedgewayasifspringmadeamockofwinter\'ssnows。
LightofheartandfootwiththenewwineoftheyearIspedonagain,straydaffodilslightingthewayside,untilIheardthevoiceofthestreamandreachedthefieldgatewhichleadstothelowermeadows。Therebeforemelayspring\'spageant;greenpennonswaving,daintymaidscurtseying,andahostofjoyousyellowtrumpetersproclaiming\'Victory\'toanawakenedearth。Theyrangeinserriedranksrightdowntotheriver,sothatamanmustwalkwarilytoreachthewater\'sedgewheretheystandgazingdownatthemselvesinfairestsemblanceliketheirmosttragicprogenitor,and,risingfromthebrightgrassintheirthousands,stretchawayuntiltheymeltinagoldencloudatthefarendofthemistymead。
ThroughthefieldgateandacrosstheroadIseethem,starringthesteepearthbankthatleadstotheuppercopse,gleaminglikepaleflamesagainstthedarktree-boles。Theretheyhavebutfrailtenure;here,inthemeadows,theyreignsupreme。
Attheupperendofthefieldtheriverprovidesyetclosersanctuaryforthesechildrenofthespring。Heldinitsembracingarmsliesanislandlongandnarrow,somethirtyfeetbytwelve,averitableuntrodEldorado,gloriousingoldfromendtoend,afringeofreedsbythewater\'sedge,andsaveforthat-daffodils。
Agreatoakstandsatthemeadow\'sneck,anoakwithgnarledandwanderingrootswhereamanmayrest,foritisbareofdaffodilssaveforagroupofthree,andasolitaryoneapartgrowingclosetotheoldtree\'sside。Isatdownbymylonelylittlesister,blueskyoverhead,greengrassatmyfeetdecked,likethepasturesoftheBlessed,inglorioussheen;aseaoftriumphant,goldenheadstossingblithelybackasthewindsweptdowntoplaywiththemathispleasure。
Itwasallminetohaveandtoholdwithoutseveringasingleslenderstemorharbouringathoughtofcovetousness;mine,asthewholeearthwasmine,toappropriatetomyselfwithouttheburdenandbaneofworldlypossession。\"ThousayestthatIam-aKing,\"
saidtheLordbeforePilate,and\"Mykingdomisnotofthisworld。\"
WewhoaremadekingsafterHislikenesspossessallthings,notafterthisworld\'sfashionbutinproportiontoourpoverty;andwhenweceasetotoilandspin,arearrayedasthelilies,inaglorytranscendingSolomon\'s。BridePoverty-shewhoclimbedtheCrosswithChrist-stretchedouteagerhandstofreeusfromourchains,butwefleefromher,andlayuptreasureagainstherimportunity,whileAmytasonhisseaweedbedweepstearsofpurepityforcrave-mouthCaesarofgreatpossessions。
Presentlyanotherofspring\'sloverscriedacrossthewater\"Cuckoo,cuckoo,\"andthevoiceofthestreamsangjoyouslyinunison。Itisfreefromburden,thismerrylittleriver,andneitherweirnormillbarsitsquickwaytotheseaasitcompletestheeternalcircle,lavishinggiftsofcoolnessandrefreshmentonthechildrenofthemeadows。
Ithasitsbirthonthegreatlonemoor,cradledinawonderfulpeat-smellingbog,withamany-huedcoverletofsoftmosses-palegold,orange,emerald,tawny,oliveandwhite,withtheredstainofsun-dewandtuftedcotton-grass。Undertheoldgreyrockswhichwatchitrise,yellow-eyedtormantilstarstheturf,andbids\"Godspeed\"tothelittlechildofearthandsky。Thusthejourneybegins;andwithever-increasingstrengththestreamcarvesawaythroughthedearbrownpeat,wearsafreshwrinkleonthepatientstones,andpattersmerrilyunderaclapperbridgewhichspanneditsbreadthwhenthemistletoereignedandBottor,thegrimrockidol,exactedthetollofhumanlifethatmadehimgreat。Onandongoesthestream,foritmaynotstay;leavingofitsfreshnesswiththegreatosmundathatstretcheseagerrootstowardstherunningwater;flowingawhilewithabrotherstream,topartagaineastandwestaseachtakesuphisseparateburdenofservice-myfriendtocherishthelowermeadowsintheirfloweryjoyance-andsobythegreatsea-gatebacktoskyandearthagain。
TheriverofGodisfullofwater。ThestreetsoftheCityarepuregold。Verily,herealsohavingnothingwepossessallthings。
TheairwaskeenandstillasIwalkedbackintheearlyevening,andadaffodillightwasintheskyasifHeavenmirroredbackearth\'sradiance。Nearthestationsomechildrenflittedpast,likelittlewhitemillermothshomingthroughthedusk。AsI
climbedthehillthemoonrodehighinagoldenfield-itwasdaffodilstothelast。
CHAPTERV
THEseagullsfromtheupperreachespassdowntheriverinsobersteadyflightseekingtheopensea。Ishallmisstheswoopandcircleofsilverwingsinthesunlightandtheplaintivecallwhichsoundssostrangelyawayfromrockandshore,butitisgoodtoknowthattheyhavegonefrommudbankandmurkytownbacktothefreeairsoftheirinheritance,totheshadowofsun-sweptcliffsandthecurlingcrestofthewind-beatenwaves,tobroodagainoverthegreatoceanofaworld\'stears。
Mylittletreeisgemmedwithbuds,shy,immature,butfullofpromise。Thesparrowsbusiedwithnest-buildingintheneighbouringpipesandguttersuseitforavantageground,andcrowdthereinnumbers,eachlittlebeaksealedwithlonggoldenstrawordownyfeather。
Theriverisheavywithhaybarges,thelastfruitsofwinter\'sstorehouse;thelengtheningdaysslowlyandsteadilyoustthedark;
theairisloudwithagrowingclamouroflife:springisnotonlyproclaimed,butonthisFeastsheiscrowned,anddespitethewarringwindthedaysbringtheirmeedofsunshine。Westandforamomentatthemeetingoftheways,thehandclaspofWinterandSpring,ofSleepandWakening,ofLifeandDeath;andthereisbetweenthemnoteventhethinlinewhichRabbiJochananonhisdeath-bedbeheldasallthatdividedhellfromheaven。
\"SPHAERACUJUSCENTRUMUBIQUE,CIRCUMFERENTIANULLIBUS,\"wassaidofMercury,thatmessengerofthegodswhomarshalledreluctantspiritstotheUnderworld;andforMercurywemaywriteLifewithDeathasitsgreatsacramentofbrotherhoodandrelease,tobedreadedonlyaswedreadtopartakeunworthilyofgreatbenefits。
Likeallsacramentsithasitsrightfultimeandduesolemnities;
thehorrorandsinofsuicidelieinthepresumptionoffreewill,theforestallingofagift,-thesinofEveinParadise,whotookthatwhichmightonlybegivenatthehandoftheLord。Ithastooitsphysicalpains,buttheyarethoseofawomanintravail,andwerememberthemnomoreforjoythatachild-manisbornintotheworldnakedandnotashamed:beholdingourselvesasweareweshallseealsotheleavesoftheTreeofLifesetforthehealingofthenations。
Weareslowly,veryslowly,abandoningourbeliefinsuddenandviolenttransitionsforasurerandfulleracceptanceofthedoctrineofevolution;butmostofusstilldrawasharplineofdemarcationbetweenthisworldandthenext,andexpectaradicalchangeinourselvesandoursurroundings,abreakinthechainofcontinuityentirelycontrarytotheteachingofnatureandexperience。Inthesamewayweclingtothespeciousuntruththatwecanbeginoverandoveragaininthisworld,forgettingthatwhileoursorrowandrepentancebringsacramentalgiftsofgraceandstrength,GodHimselfcannot,byHisownlimitation,rewritethePast。Weareinoursorrowthatwhichwehavemadeourselvesinoursin;ourtemptationsarethereaswellasthewayofescape。
WeareintheimageofGod。Wecreateourworld,ourundyingselves,ourheaven,orourhell。\"QUICREAVITTESINETENON
SALVABITTESINETE。\"Itisstupendous,magnificent,andmostappalling。Amandoesnotchangeashecrossesthethresholdofthelargerroom。Hispersonalityremainsthesame,althoughtheexpressionofitmaybealtered。Herewehavematerialbodiesinamaterialworld-there,perhaps,etherbodiesinanetherworld。
Thereisnoindecencyinreasonablespeculationandcuriosityaboutthelifetocome。Oneendofthethreadisbetweenourfingers,butwearehauntedforthemostpartbythesnapofAtropos\'
shears。
Socratesfaceddeathwiththemagnificentcalmbredofdignifiedfamiliarity。Hehadbuiltforhimselfadesiredheavenofcolour,light,andpreciousstones-thephilosophicformulaofthosewhosetthespiritualabovethematerial,andworshiptruthinthebeautyofholiness。Heisnottroubledbydoubtsorregrets,forthepathofthejustliesplainbeforehisface。Heforbidsmourningandlamentationsasoutofplace,obeysminutelyandcheerilythedirectionsofhisexecutioner,andpasseswithunaffecteddignitytotheapprehensionofthatlargertruthforwhichhehadconstantlypreparedhimself。HisfriendsmayburyhimprovidedtheywillremembertheyarenotburyingSocrates;andthatallthingsmaybedonedecentlyandinorder,acockmustgotoAEsculapius。
Longbefore,inthedaysoftheCaptivity,therelivedingodless,blood-sheddingNinevehanexiledJewwhosefatherhadfallenfromthefaith。Hewasasimpleman,child-likeanddirect;livingthecareful,kindlylifeofanorthodoxJew,sufferingmanypersecutionsforconscience\'sake,andinconstantdangerofdeath。
Henarratesthestoryofhislifeandoftheblindnesswhichfellonhim,withgentleplacidity,andcheckstheexuberanceofhismoreemotionalwifewiththeassuranceofuntroubledfaith。
Finally,whenhispiousexpectationsarefulfilled,hissightrestored,andhissonprosperouslyestablishedbesidehim,hebreaksintoaprayerofrejoicingwhichrevealsthesecretofhisconfidentcontent。Hemadeuseoftwogreatfaculties:thesenseofproportion,whichenabledhimtoappriselifeanditsaccidentsjustly,andthegiftofin-seeing,whichledSocratesafterhim,andBlessedJohninlonelyexileonPatmos,tolookthroughthethingstemporaltothehiddenmeaningsofeternity。
\"LetmysoulblessGodthegreatKing,\"hecries;andlooksawaypastthepresentdistress;pasttheRestorationwhichwastoendinfreshscatteringandconfusion;pastthedreamofgold,andporphyry,andmarbledefacedbytheeaglesandemblemsoftheconqueror;untilhiseyesareheldbytheJerusalemofGod,\"builtupwithsapphires,andemeralds,andpreciousstones,\"withbattlementsofpuregold,andthecryof\'Alleluia\'inherstreets。
Manyyearslater,whenhewasveryaged,hecalledhissontohimandgavehimasheritagehisownsimpleruleoflife,addingbutonerequest:\"Keepthouthelawandthecommandments,andshewthyselfmercifulandjust,thatitmaygowellwiththee……
Considerwhatalmsdoeth,andhowrighteousnessdothdeliver……
Andburymedecently,andthymotherwithme。\"Havingsosaid,hewenthiswayquietlyandcontentedlytotheJerusalemofhisheart。
Itisthesimplenoteoffamiliaritythatiswantinginus;thatbywhichwelinkworldwithworld。Once,yearsago,IsatbythebedsideofadyingmaninawretchedgarretintheEastEnd。Hewasentirelyignorant,entirelyquiescent,andentirelyuninterested。Theministerofaneighbouringchapelcametoseehimandspoketohimatsomelengthoftheneedforrepentanceandthejoysofheaven。Afterhehadgonemyfriendlaystaringrestlesslyatthemassofdecrepitbrokenchimneypotswhichmadehishorizon。Atlasthespoke,andtherewasanewnoteinhisvoice:-
\"Eesaidas\'owthereweregoldingstreetsinthemparts。Iain\'tnowaysparticlerwotthey\'remadeof,butit\'llfeelnatrallikeifthere\'schimleystoo。\"
Thesunstretchedasuddenfingerandpaintedthechimneypotsredandgoldagainstthesmoke-dimmedsky,andwithhisfacealightwithsurprisedreliefmyfrienddied。
Weareonewiththeearth,oneinsin,oneinredemption。ItisthefringeofthegarmentofGod。\"IfImaybuttouchthehem,\"
saidacertainwoman。
OnthegreatDeath-daywhichshadowstheearlyspringwithashadowofwhichitmaybesaidUMBRADEIESTLUX,theearthbroughtgiftsofgrief,thefruitofthecurse,barrenthorns,hollowreed,andthewoodofthecross;theseamadeofferingofTyrianpurple;theskyveiledherfaceingreatdarkness,whilethenationofpriestscrucifiedforthelasttimetheirPaschallamb。\"Iwillhear,saiththeLord;Iwillheartheheavens,andtheyshallheartheearth,andtheearthshallhearthecornandwineandoil,andtheyshallhearJezreel,andIwillsowheruntomeintheearth;andI
willhavemercyuponherthathadnotobtainedmercy,andIwillsayuntothemwhichwerenotmypeople,\'Thouartmypeople,\'andtheyshallsay\'ThouartmyGod。\'\"
ThesecondAdamstoodinthegardenwithquickeningfeet,andalltheearthpulsedandsangforjoyofthenewhopeandthenewlifequickeningwithinher,tobehersthroughthepainsoftravail,thepangsofdissolution。TheTreeofLifebearsBreadandWine-foodofthewayfaringman。Thedayofdivisionsispast,thedayofunityhasdawned。Onehasrisenfromthedead,andintheValleyofAchorstandswidetheDoorofHope-theSacramentofDeath。
ScioDomine,etverescio……quianonsumdignusaccedereadtantummysteriumpropternimiapeccatameaetinfinitasnegligentiasmeas。Sedscio……quiatupotesmefaceredignum。
CHAPTERVI
\"ANYTUSandMeletuscankillme,buttheycannothurtme,\"saidSocrates;andGovernorSancho,withalltheitchofnewly-acquiredauthority,couldnotmaketheyoungweaverofsteel-headsforlancessleepinprison。IntheVisionofErthesoulspassedstraightforwardunderthethroneofnecessity,andoutintotheplainsofforgetfulness,wheretheymustseverallydrinkoftheriverofunmindfulnesswhosewaterscannotbeheldinanyvessel。
Thethrone,theplain,andtheriverarestillhere,butinthedistancerisethegreatloneheavenwardhills,andthewiseamongusnolongeraskofthegodsLethe,butratherremembrance。
Necessitycansetmehelplessonmyback,butshecannotkeepmethere;norcanfourwallslimitmyvision。IpassoutfromunderherthroneintothegardenofGodafreeman,tomyultimatebeatitudeormyexceedingshame。Alldaylongthisworldliesopentome;ay,andotherworldsalso,ifIwillbuthaveitso;andwhennightcomesIpassintothekingdomandpowerofthedark。
Iliethroughthelonghoursandwatchmybridge,whichissetwithlightsacrossthegloom;watchthetrafficwhichisformebutsomanypassinglampstellingtheirtalebyvaryingheightandbrightness。Ihearundermywindowthesprintofover-tiredhorses,therattleofuncertainwheelsasthestreet-sellershastensouth;thejangleofcabbellsasthetheatre-goerstaketheirhomewardway;thegruffaltercationofwearymen,theunmelodioussongandclamorouslaughofwomenwhosemerrimentiswearierstill。
Thencomesatimeofstillnesswhenthelightintheskywaxesandwanes,whenthecloud-driftsobscurethestars,andIgazeoutintoblacknesssetwithwatchingeyes。Nosoundcomesfromwithoutbutthevoiceofthenight-windandthecryofthehour。Theclockonthemantelpieceticksimperatively,foracheckhasfallenonthefamiliaritywhichbreedsadisregardofcommonthings,andareasonhastobesoughtforeachsoundwhichclaimsahearing。Thepauseiswonderfulwhileitlasts,butitisnotforlong。Theworkingworldawakes,thepoorerbrethrentakeuptheburdenofservice;
thedawnlightsthesky;remembrancecriesanendtoforgetting。
Sometimesinthecountryonanightinearlysummeryoumayshutthecottagedoortostepoutintoanimmensedarknesswhichpallsheavenandearth。Goingforwardintotheembraceofthegreatgloom,youareasababeswaddledbythehandsofnightintohelplessquiescence。Yourfeettreadanunseenpath,yourhandsgraspatavoid,orshrinkfromthecontacttheycannotrealise;
youreyesareholden;yourvoicewoulddieinyourthroatdidyouseektorendtheveilofthatimpenetrablesilence。
Shutinbytheintangibledark,wearebroughtupagainstthoseworldswithinworldsblottedoutbyourconcretedailylife。Theworkingofthegreatmicrocosmatwhichwepeerdimlythroughthelittlewindowofscience;thewonderful,breathingearth;thepulsing,throbbingsap;thegrowingfragranceshutinthecalyxofto-morrow\'sflower;theheart-beatofasleepingworldthatwedreamthatweknow;andaround,above,andinterpenetratingall,theworldofdreams,ofangelsandofspirits。
ItwasthisworldwhichJacobsawonthefirstnightofhisexile,andagainwhenhewrestledinPenieluntilthebreakofday。ItwasthisworldwhichElishasawwithopeneyes;whichJobknewwhendarknessfellonhim;whichEzekielgazedintofromhisplaceamongthecaptives;whichDanielbeheldashestoodalonebythegreatriver,theriverHiddekel。
Forthemomentwehaveleftbehindtherealmofquestionandexplanation,ofpowerovermatterandtheexerciseofbodilyfaculties;andpassedintodarknessalightwithvisionswecannotsee,intosilencealivewithvoiceswecannothear。Likehelplessmenwesetourallontheonethingleftus,andliftupourhearts,knowingthatwearebutamerespeckamongamyriadworlds,yetgreaterthanthesumofthem;havingourrootsinthedarkplacesoftheearth,butourbranchesinthesweetairsofheaven。