Itisthematerialcounterpartofthe\'NightoftheSoul。\'Wehaveleftourhouseandsetforthinthedarknesswhichparalysesthosefacultiesthatmakeusmenintheworldofmen。Butsurelythegreatmystics，withalltheirinsightandheavenlylove，fellshortwhentheysoughtfreedomincompleteseparatenessfromcreationinsteadofinperfectunitywithit。TheGreeksknewbetterwhentheyflungAriadne\'scrownamongthestars，andwroteDemeter\'sgriefonabarrenearth，andPersephone\'sjoyinthefruitfulfield。Fortheearthisgatheredupinman；heisthewholewhichisgreaterthanthesumofitsparts。StandingintheimageofGod，andclothedinthegarmentofGod，heliftsuppriestlyhandsandpresentsthesacrificeofredeemedearthbeforethethroneoftheAll-Father。\"Dustandashesandahouseofdevils，\"hecries；
andtherecomesbackforanswer，\"REXCONCUPISCETDECOREMTUAM。\"
TheAngelofDeathhasbroadwingsofsilenceandmysterywithwhichheshadowsthevalleywhereweneedfearnoevil，andwherethevoicewhichspeakstousisasthe\"voiceofdoves，taberingupontheirbreasts。\"Itisaplaceofhealingandpreparation，ofpeaceandrefreshingafterthesharply-definedoutlinesofagarishday。Walkingtherewelearntousethosenaturalfacultiesofthesoulwhicharehamperedbythefamiliarityofbodilyprogress，toapprehendthetruthswhichwehaveintellectuallyaccepted。Itistheplaceofsecretswherethehumilitywhichembracesallattainableknowledgecries\"Iknownot\"；andwhileweproclaimfromthehouse-topsthatwhichwehavelearnt，themannerofourlearninglieshidforeachoneofusinthesanctuaryofoursouls。
TheEgyptians，intheirancientwisdom，actinthedesertagreatandrosphinx，imageofmysteryandsilence，staringfromunderlevelbrowsacrossthearidsandsofthesea-way。TheGreeksborrowedanddebasedtheimage，turningtheinscrutableintoasemi-womanwhoaskedafoolishriddle，andhurledherselfdowninpetulantpridewhenOEdipusansweredaright。Sowe，marringtheofficeofsilence，questionitsmystery；thwartourselveswithriddlesofourownsuggesting；andturnaway，leavingourofferingbuthalfconsumedonthealtaroftheunknowngod。ItwasnotthetheftoffirethatbroughtthevengeanceofheavenuponPrometheus，butthemockingsacrifice。OrpheuslostEurydicebecausehemustseeherfacebeforetheappointedtime。Persephoneateofthepomegranateandhungeredingloomforthedayoflightwhichshouldhavebeenendless。
Theuniverseisfullofmiracleandmystery；thedarknessandsilencearesetforasignwedarenotdespise。Thepallofnightlifts，leavingusengulphedinthelightofimmensityunderatossingheavenofstars。Thedawnbreaks，butitdoesnotsurpriseus，forwehavewatchedfromthevalleyandseenthepaletwilight。
ThroughthewondrousSabbathoffaithfulsouls，thelongdayofrosemaryandrue，thelightbrightensintheEast；andwepassontowardsitwithquietfeetandopeningeyes，bearingwithusalloftheredeemedearththatwehavemadeourown，untilwearefulfilledinthesunriseofthegreatEasterDay，andthepeoplescomefromnorthandsouthandeastandwesttotheCitywhichliethfoursquare-theBeatificVisionofGod。
VereIerusalemestillacivitasCuiuspaxiugisetsummaiucunditas；
Ubinonpraevenitremdesiderium，Necdesideriominusestpraemium。
ATTHEWHITEGATE
CHAPTERI
AGREATjoyhascometome；oneofthoseunexpectedgiftswhichlifelovestobestowafterwehavelearnttolooseourgripofher。
Iambackinmyownplaceverynearmyroad-thewhitegatelieswithinmydistantvision；neartheleangreyDownswhichkeepwatchandwardbetweenthecountryandthesea；verynear，nay，inthelapofMotherEarth，forasIwriteIamlyingonagreencarpet，powderedyellowandwhitewiththesun\'sownflowers；overheadagreatsycamorewherethebeestoilandsing；andsighingshimmeringpoplarsgoldengreyagainsttheblue。ThedayofPersephonehasdawnedforme，andI，setfreelikeDemeter\'schild，gladdenmyeyeswiththisforetasteofcomingradiance，andrestmytiredsensewiththescentandsoundofhome。AwaydownthemeadowI
heartheearlyscythesong，andthewarmairisfragrantwiththefallengrass。IthasitsownmessageformeasIliehere，Iwhohaveobtainedyetonemoremercy，andtheburdenofitislife，notdeath。
Irememberwhen，takingagracefrommyroad，IhelpedtomowFarmerMarler\'sten-acrefield，richinripeupstandinggrass。Themechanismoftheancientreaperhadgivenwayunderthestrainofthehomemeadows，andifthiscropwastobesaveditmustbebyhand。IhavekepttherecordofthosedaysofjoyouslabourunderaJunesky。Menwerehardtogetinourvillage；oldDodden，whowasoverseventy，volunteeredhisservices-hehaddoneyeomanworkwiththescytheinhisyouth-andtwoofthefarmhandswiththeirmastercompletedourstrength。
Wetookourplacesunderafiveo\'clockmorningsky，andthelarkscrieddowntousaswestoodknee-deepinthefragrantdew-steepedgrass，eachmanwithhisgleamingscythepoisedreadyforitssweepingswing。OldDoddenledbyrightofageandripeexperience；bentlikeasickle，brownanddryasanut，hisfaceatraceryofinnumerablewrinkles，hehasneverailedaday，andthecunningofhiscraftwasstillwithhim。Atfirstweworkedstiffly，unreadily，butsoonthemonotonousmotionpossesseduswithitsinsistentrhythm，andthegrassbowedtoeachsibilantswishandfellinsweet-smellingswathesatourfeet。Nowandthenastartledrabbitscurriedthroughtheminiatureforesttovanishwithwhiteflickoftailinthetangledhedge；hereandthereamotherlarkwasdiscoveredsittingmotionless，immovableuponherlittlebrood；butsavefortheseinfrequentincidentswepacedsteadilyonwithnospeechsavethecryofthehoneonthesteelandtheswishofthefallingswathes。Thesunrosehighintheheavenandburntonbentneckandbareandachingarms，thebloodbeatanddrummedinmyveinswiththeunwontedpostureandexercise；Iworkedasamanwhoseesandhearsinamist。Once，asIpausedtowhetmyscythe，myeyecaughtthelineoftheuntroubledhillsstrongandstillinthebroadsunshine；thentoworkagaininthelabouring，fertilevalley。
Resttimecame，andwipingthesweatfrombrowandbladewesoughtthewelcomeshadowofthehedgeandthecoolsweetoatmealwaterwithwhichthewisereaperquencheshisthirst。FarmerMarlerhastenedofftoseewithmaster-eyethatallwentwellelsewhere；
thefarmmenslepttranquilly，stretchedatfulllength，claspedhandsforpillow；andoldDodden，sittingwithcrookedfingersinterlacedtochecktheirtremblingbetrayalofoldage，toldhowinhisyouthhehad\"swep\"afour-acrefieldsingle-handedinthreedays-analmostimpossiblefeat-andofthefirstreapingmachineintheseparts，andhowitbrought，tohisthinking，theruinofagriculturalmoralswithit。\"\'Tisagainnature，\"hesaid，\"theLardgaveusthelandan\'theseed，but\'Eesaidthatamanshouldsweat。Where\'sthesweatdrivin\'roundwi\'twohorsescuttin\'thestrawdownan\'gatherin\'itagain，wi\'scarceahand\'sturni\'theday\'swork？\"
OldDodden\'shigh-pitchedquaveringvoiceroseandfell，mournfulashesurveyedthepresent，vehementasherecordedtheheroicpast。Hespokeoftheruralexodusandshookhisheadmournfully。
\"Weold\'unswerecontentwi\'earthandtheopenskylikeourfeythersbeforeus，butwi\'thechildren\'tisfirstmachinestosavedoin\'ahand\'sturno\'honestwork，an\'thenlandan\'skyain\'tbigenoughseemin\'ly，norgrandenough；itmustbetownan\'apavedstreet，an\'theysweattheirlivesoutatwixtfourwallsan\'
callitseein\'life-\'tisdeathan\'worsecomestothemostof\'em。Ay，\'tisbettertostaybytheland，astheLardsaid，tilltimecomestolieunderit。\"Ilookedawayacrossthefieldwherethehotairthrobbedandquivered，andthefallengrass，robbedalreadyofitsfreshness，layproneatthefeetofitsupstandingfellows。ItisquiteuselesstoarguewitholdDodden；heonlyshakeshisheadandsaysfirmly，\"Anoldman，seventy-fivecomeMartinmassknowsmoreo\'lifethanayoungchap，standsterreason\"；besides，hisepitomeofthetownlifeheknowsnothingofwasajustoneasfarasitwent；andhisownsonisthesweeperofaHolborncrossing，andmanyotherthingsthatheshouldnotbe；
butthatistheparson\'ssecretandmine。
Wetookrankagainandsweptsteadilyonthroughthehotstillhoursintotheeveningshadows，untilthesinkingsunsetaGLORIA
tothepsalmofanotherworkingday。Onlyathirdofthefieldlaymown，forwewerenotskilledlabourerstocutouracreaday；I
sawitagainthatnightunderthemoonlightandthestarlight，wrappedinashroudofsummer\'smist。
Thewomenjoinedusonthethirddaytobeginhaymaking，andtheairwasfragrantoftossedandsun-driedgrass。Oneofthemwalkedapartfromtherest，withoutinterestorfreedomofmovement；herface，sealedandimpassive，wasagedbeyondthevigourofheryears。Iknewthewomanbysight，andherhistorybyhearsay。Wehaveacodeofmoralshere-notindeedpeculiartothisplaceorpeople-thataweddingis\'respectable\'ifitprecedeschild-birthbyabaremonth，tolerable，andtoberecognised，shoulditsucceedthesamebylessthanayear（providedthepairarenotlivinginthesamevillage）；butthechildthathasneverbeen\'fathered\'andthewifewithoutaringare\'anathema，\'andsuchinonewasElizabethBanks。Shewentawayamaidandcamebackayearagowithachildandwithoutaname。Hermotherwasdead，herfatherandthevillagewouldhavenoneofher:thehominginstinctisverystrong，orshewouldscarcelyhavereturned，knowingthetraditionsoftheplace。OldDodden，seeingher，grumbledtomeintherest-time-\"Can\'tthinkwhatthefarmerwantswi\'LizzieBanksin\'isfield。\"\"Shemustlive，\"Isaid，\"andbyallshowingherlifeisahardone。\"\"She\'adthemakin\'of\'erbed，\"hewenton，obstinately。\"Whatfordoshebringherdisgracehome，wi\'afatherlessbratforallfolkstosee？Wedon\'twantthemsortinourvillage。TheLord\'shandisheavy，an\'abrat\'sacursethatcannotbehid。\"
Whentea-timecameIcrossedthefieldtolookforamissinghone，andsawElizabethBanksfarfromtheotherwomen，busiedwithabundleunderthehedge。Ipassedcloseonmysearch，andlo！thebundlewasalittleboy。Helaysmilingandstretching，fightingtheairwithhissmallpinkfists，whilethewindplayedwithhiscurls。\"Acursethatcannotbehid，\"oldDoddenhadsaid。Themotherkneltamoment，devouringhimwithhereyes，thensnatchedhimtoherwithachinggreedandcoveredhimwithkisses。Isawthepoor，plainfaceillumined，transfigured，alivewithamother\'slove，andrememberedhowthewordcameoncetoaHebrewprophet:-
SayuntoyourbrethrenAmmi，andtoyoursistersRuhamah。
Theeveningskywascloudingfast，thesoundofrainwasintheair；FarmerMarlershookhisheadashelookedatthegrasslyinginorderedrows。Iwasthelasttoleave，andasIlingeredatthegatedrinkinginthescentofthefieldandthecoolofthecomingrain，thefirstdropsfellonmyupturnedfaceandkissedthepoordryswathesatmyfeet，andIwasglad。
David，childofthefieldsandthesheepfolds，hiskingshiplaidaside，seesthroughthepartedcurtainoftheyearstheadventofhisgreaterSon，andcriesinhispsalmofthehilltops，hislastpropheticprayer:-
Heshallcomedownlikerainuponthemowngrass。
EvensoHecame，andshallstillcome。Threedaysagothefield，initspageantoffreshbeauty，withshimmeringbladesandtossingbanners，greetedsunandshoweralikewithjoyforthefurtheranceofitslifeandpurpose；now，laidlow，ithearstheyounggrasswhisperthesplendourofitscominggreen；andthepoorswathesaregladatthetelling，butfullofgrieffortheirownapparentfailure。Theningreatpitycomestherain，therainofsummer，gentle，refreshing，penetrating，andtheswathesarecomforted，fortheyknowthatstandingtogreetorprostratetosuffer，theconsolationsoftheformerandthelatterrainarestilltheirown，withtendertouchandcoolcaress。Then，oncemoreparchedbythesun，theyareborneawaytothenewservicetheirapparentfailurehasfittedthemfor；andperhapsastheywaitinthedarkfortheunknownthatisstilltocometheyhearsometimesthecallofthedistantrain，andatthesoundthedrysapstirsafresh-theyarenotforgottenandcanwait。
\"SAYUNTOYOURSISTERSRUHAMAH，\"criestheprophet。
\"HESHALLCOMEDOWNLIKERAINONTHEMOWNGRASS，\"sangthepoetofthesheepfolds。
\"MYWAYSARENOTYOURWAYS，SAITHTHELORD。\"
IrememberhowIwenthomealongthedampsweet-scentedlanesthroughthegreymistoftherain，thinkingofthemownfieldandElizabethBanksandmany，manymore；andthatnight，whentheskyhadclearedandthenightingalesang，Ilookedoutatthemoonridingatanchor，asilverboatinastillblueseaablazewiththeheadlightsofthestars，andthesayingoftheherdsmanofTekoacametome-asithascomeoftentimessince:-
SeekHimthatmakeththesevenstarsandOrion，andturneththeshadowofdeathintothemorning，andmakeththedaydarkwithnight；thatcallethforthewatersoftheseaandpoureththemoutuponthefaceofearth；theLordisHisname。
CHAPTERII
THISgardenisanepitomeofpeace；sunandwind，rain，flowers，andbirdsgathermeintotheblessednessoftheiractiveharmony。
Theworldholdsnowishforme，nowthatIhavecomehometodiewithmyownpeople，forverifyIthinkthatthesapofgrassandtreesmustruninmyveins，sosteadyistheirpulluponmyheart-
strings。Londonclaimedallmyphilosophy，butthecountrygivesall，andasksofmeonlythewarmreceptivityofachildinitsmother\'sarms。
WhenIlieinmycoollightroomonthegardenlevel，Ilookacrossthebrightgrass-ILVERDESMALTO-toagreatredrosebushinlavishdisarrayagainstthedarkcypress。Nearby，amidatangleofmany-huedcorn-flowersIseethepromiseofcominglilies，thesuddencrimsonofasolitarypaeony；andinlowlierstateagainstthepoorparchedearthglowthegoldencupsoftheeschseholtzias。
Beyondthelowhedgeliespasturebrightwithbuttercups，wherethecattlefeed。Fartheroff，wherethescythehasbeenbusy，aresheep，cleanandshorn，withmerry，well-grownlambs；andinthefarthestfieldIcanseethegreathorsesmovinginslowsteadypaceasthefarmerturnshisfurrow。
Thebirdsarenoisycomradesandoldfriends，fromthelarkwhichchantsthedew-steepedmorning，tothenightingalethatbreaksthesilenceofthemostwonderfulnights。Ihearthewisdomoftherooksinthegreatelms；theliftingliltofthelinnet，andtherobin\'squaintlittlesummersong。Thestarlingschatterceaselessly，theirqueerstridentvoicesharshagainstthemelodiousgossipoftheotherbirds；themartinsshrillsoftlyastheyswooptoandfrobusiedwiththeirnestingunderthecaves；
thrushandblackbirdvieinfriendlyrivalryliketheMeister-
singerofold；sometimesIhearthedrawlingcryofapeacockstrayedfromthegreathouse，orthelaughofthewoodpecker；andatnightthehuntingnoteoftheowlreachesmeashesweepsbyinsearchofprey。
To-dayIamoutagain；andthegreatsycamoreshowershoneyandflowersonmeasIliebeneathit。Sometimesabeefallslikeanover-ripefruit，andwaitsawhiletocleanhispollen-coatedlegsereheflieshometodischargehisburden。Heistoobusytobefriendly，buthisgreatvelvetycousinismuchmoresociable，andstaysforagentlerubbetweenhisnoisyshimmeringwings，andanapinthehollowofmyhand，forheisanidlefriendlysoulwithplentyoftimeathisowndisposalandnoresponsibilities。
LookingacrossIcanwatchthemartinsatwork；theyhaveastarlingandasparrowfornearneighboursinthewoodengutter。
Onenestisalreadycompleteallbutthecoping，theothertwoarea-building:IwonderwhetherIortheywillbefirsttogosouththroughthemist。
Thisgreattreeisaworldinitself，andthedenizensappearfullofcuriosityastotheGulliverwhohastakenuphisabodebeneathit。Palegreencaterpillarsandspidersofallsizescomespinningdowntovisitme，andhavetobepersuadedwithinfinitedifficultytoascendtheirthreadsagain。Thereareflieswithbeautifuliridescentwings，beetlesofallshapes，someofthemliketinyjewelsinthesunlight。Theirnomenclatureisasealedbooktome；
oftheirlifeandhabitsIknownothing；yetthisisbutalittlecornerofthecosmosIamleaving，andIfeelnotsomuchdesireforthebeautytocome，asagreatlongingtoopenmyeyesalittlewiderduringthetimewhichremainstomeinthisbeautifulworldofGod\'smaking，whereeachmomenttellsitsowntaleofactive，progressivelifeinwhichthereisnoundoing。NatureknowsnaughtofthewebofPenelope，thatacmeofanxiouspatheticwaiting，butgoessteadilyonineverwideningcircletowardsthefulfilmentofthemysteryofGod。
Thereare，Itakeit，twomaster-keystothesecretsoftheuniverse，viewedSUBSPECIEAETERNITATIS，theIncarnationofGod，andthePersonalityofMan；withtheseitistrueforusasforthepantheisticlittlemanofcontemptiblespeech，that\"allthingsareours，\"yea，evenuntothethirdheaven。
Ihavelostmyvoraciousappetiteforbooks；theirlanguageislessplainthanscentandsongandthewindinthetrees；andformethecluetothenextworldliesinthewisdomofearthratherthaninthelearningofmen。\"LIBERAMEABFUSCINAHOPHNI，\"prayedthegoodBishopfearfulofreligiousgreed。Iknowtoomuch，nottoolittle；itisrealisationthatIlack，whereforeIdesiretheselastdaystoconfirminmyselfthesustaininggoodnessofGod，thelovewhichisourcontinuingcity，theNewJerusalemwhoselength，breadth，andheightareallone。Itisatimeofexceedingpeace。
Thereisaplacewaitingformeunderthefirsinthequietchurchyard；thankstomypovertyIhavenoworldlyanxietiesorpersonaldispositions；andIamrichinfriends，manyofthemunknowntome，wholavishlysupplymyneedsandmakeitidealtoliveonthecharityofone\'sfellow-men。Iammostgladlyindebttoalltheworld；andtoEarth，mymother，forhergreatbeauty。
IcanneverrememberthetimewhenIdidnotloveher，thismotherofminewithherwonderfulgarmentsandorderedloveliness，hertendercareandpatientbearingofman\'sburden。IntheearliestdaysofmylonelychildhoodIusedtoliechinonhandamidthemilkmaids，redsorrel，andheavyspear-grasslisteningtohermanyvoices，andabovealltothevoiceofthelittlebrookwhichranthroughthemeadowswhereIusedtoplay:Ithinkithasrunthroughmywholelifealso，toloseitselfatlast，notinthegreatseabutintheriverthatmakethgladtheCityofGod。
Valleyandplain，mountainandfruitfulfield；thelark\'ssongandthespeedwellinthegrass；surelyamanneednotsighforgreaterlovelinessuntilhehasreadsomethingmoreofthislivingletter，andkneltbeforethatearthofwhichheistheonlyconfusion。
Itisagravematterthatthewordreligionholdssuchawayamongus，makingtheverygapseemtoyawnagainwhichtheIncarnationonceandforeverfilledfull。Wehavebanishedtheprotectinggodsthatruledinriverandmountain，treeandgrove；wehavegainsayedforthemostpartfolk-loreandmyth，superstitionandfairy-tale，evilonlyintheirabuse。Wehavedoneawaywithmystery，ornameditdeceit。Allthiswehavedoneinanenlightenedage，butdespitethispolicyofdestructionwehaveleftourselvesabelief，thegrandestandmostsimpletheworldhaseverknown，whichsanctifiesthewaterthatisshedbyeverypassingcloud；andgathersupinitsgreatcentralactvineyardandcornfield，proclaimingthemtobethatLifeoftheworldwithoutwhichamanisdeadwhileheliveth。Further，itisabeliefwhosefoundationsarethemostheavenlymysteryoftheTrinity，butwhosecentreisalittleChild:itsetsapriceupontheheadofthesparrow，andreckonstherichesofthisworldattheirtruevalue；