Icamehereonewinter’sdaywhenthemiddaysunshonehotonthebricksoftheRomanroad。Iwasweary，andthewayseemedsteep。Iwalkedintothechapeltothebrokenwindow，andlookedoutacrossthebay。Faroff，acrosstheblue，bluewater，weretownsandvillages，hangingwhiteandreddots，uponthemountain—sides，andthebluemountainsroseupintothesky，andnowstoodoutfromitandnowmeltedbackagain。
Themountainsseemedcallingtome，butIknewtherewouldneverbeabridgebuiltfromthemtome;never，never，never！Ishadedmyeyeswithmyhandandturnedaway。Icouldnotbeartolookatthem。
IwalkedthroughtheruinedChapel，andlookedattheChristinredcarryinghiscross，andtheBlessedrubbed—outBambino，andtheRomansoldiers，andthefoldedhands，andthereed;andIwentandsatdownintheopenporchuponastone。Atmyfeetwasthesmallbay，withitswhiterowofhousesburiedamongtheolivetrees;thewaterbrokeinalong，thin，whitelineoffoamalongtheshore;andIleanedmyelbowsonmyknees。Iwastired，verytired;tiredwithatirednessthatseemedolderthantheheatofthedayandtheshiningofthesunonthebricksoftheRomanroad;andIlaymyheaduponmyknees;Iheardthebreakingofthewaterontherocksthreehundredfeetbelow，andtherustlingofthewindamongtheolivetreesandtheruinedarches，andthenIfellasleepthere。
Ihadadream。
AmancrieduptoGod，andGodsentdownanangeltohelphim;andtheangelcamebackandsaid，\"Icannothelpthatman。\"
Godsaid，\"Howisitwithhim？\"
Andtheangelsaid，\"Hecriesoutcontinuallythatonehasinjuredhim;andhewouldforgivehimandhecannot。\"
Godsaid，\"Whathaveyoudoneforhim？\"
Theangelsaid，\"All——。Itookhimbythehand，andIsaid，’See，whenothermenspeakillofthatmandoyouspeakwellofhim;secretly，inwaysheshallnotknow，servehim;ifyouhaveanythingyouvalueshareitwithhim，so，servinghim，youwillatlastcometofeelpossessioninhim，andyouwillforgive。’Andhesaid，’Iwilldoit。’Afterwards，asIpassedbyinthedarkofnight，Iheardonecryingout，’Ihavedoneall。Ithelpsnothing！Myspeakingwellofhimhelpsmenothing！IfIsharemyheart’sbloodwithhim，istheburningwithinmeless？Icannotforgive;I
cannotforgive！Oh，God，Icannotforgive！’
\"Isaidtohim，’Seehere，lookbackonallyourpast。Seefromyourchildhoodallsmallness，allindirectnessthathasbeenyours;lookwellatit，andinitslightdoyounotseeeverymanyourbrother？Areyousosinlessyouhaverighttohate？’
\"Helooked，andsaid，’Yes，youareright;Itoohavefailed，andIforgivemyfellow。Go，Iamsatisfied;Ihaveforgiven;’andhelaidhimdownpeacefullyandfoldedhishandsonhisbreast，andIthoughtitwaswellwithhim。ButscarcelyhadmywingsrustledandIturnedtocomeuphere，whenIheardonecryingoutonearthagain，’Icannotforgive！Icannotforgive！Oh，God，God，Icannotforgive！Itisbettertodiethantohate！Icannotforgive！Icannotforgive！’AndIwentandstoodoutsidehisdoorinthedark，andIheardhimcry，’Ihavenotsinnedso，notso！
IfIhavetornmyfellows’flesheversolittle，Ihavekneeleddownandkissedthewoundwithmymouthtillitwashealed。Ihavenotwilledthatanysoulshallbelostthroughhateofme。IftheyhavebutfanciedthatI
wrongedthemIhavelaindownonthegroundbeforethemthattheymighttreadonme，andso，seeingmyhumiliation，forgiveandnotbelostthroughhatingme;theyhavenotcaredthatmysoulshouldbelost;theyhavenotwilledtosaveme;theyhavenottriedthatIshouldforgivethem！’
\"Isaidtohim，’Seehere，bethoucontent;donotforgive:forgetthissoulanditsinjury;goonyourway。Inthenextworldperhaps——’
\"Hecried，’Gofromme，youunderstandnothing！Whatisthenextworldtome！Iamlostnow，today。Icannotseethesunlightshine，thedustisinmythroat，thesandisinmyeyes！Gofromme，youknownothing！Oh，onceagainbeforeIdietoseethattheworldisbeautiful！Oh，God，God，I
cannotliveandnotlove。Icannotliveandhate。Oh，God，God，God！’SoIlefthimcryingoutandcamebackhere。\"
Godsaid，\"Thisman’ssoulmustbesaved。\"
Andtheangelsaid\"How？\"
Godsaid，\"Godownyou，andsaveit。\"
Theangelsaid，\"WhatmoreshallIdo？\"
ThenGodbentdownandwhisperedintheangel’sear，andtheangelspreadoutitswingsandwentdowntoearth。
AndpartlyIwoke，sittingthereuponthebrokenstonewithmyheadonmyknee;butIwastoowearytorise。Iheardthewindroamthroughtheolivetreesandamongtheruinedarches，andthenIsleptagain。
Theangelwentdownandfoundthemanwiththebitterheartandtookhimbythehand，andledhimtoacertainspot。
Nowthemanwistnotwhereitwastheangelwouldtakehimnorwhathewouldshowhimthere。Andwhentheycametheangelshadedtheman’seyeswithhiswing，andwhenhemoveditthemansawsomewhatontheearthbeforethem。ForGodhadgivenittothatangeltounclotheahumansoul;
totakefromitallthoseoutwardattributesofform，andcolour，andage，andsex，wherebyonemanisknownfromamonghisfellowsandismarkedofffromtherest，andthesoullaybeforethem，bare，asamanturninghiseyeinwardsbeholdshimself。
Theysawitspast，itschildhood，thetinylifewiththedewuponit;theysawitsyouthwhenthedewwasmelting，andthecreatureraiseditsLilliputianmouthtodrinkfromacuptoolargeforit，andtheysawhowthewaterspilt;theysawitshopesthatwereneverrealized;theysawitshoursofintellectualblindness，mencallsin;theysawitshoursofall—
radiatinginsight，whichmencallrighteousness;theysawitshourofstrength，whenitleapedtoitsfeetcrying，\"Iamomnipotent;\"itshourofweakness，whenitfelltotheearthandgraspeddustonly;theysawwhatitmighthavebeen，butneverwouldbe。
Themanbentforward。
Andtheangelsaid，\"Whatisit？\"
Heanswered，\"ItisI！itismyself！\"Andhewentforwardasifhewouldhavelainhisheartagainstit;buttheangelheldhimbackandcoveredhiseyes。
NowGodhadgivenpowertotheangelfurthertounclothethatsoul，totakefromitallthoseoutwardattributesoftimeandplaceandcircumstancewherebytheindividuallifeismarkedofffromthelifeofthewhole。
Againtheangeluncoveredtheman’seyes，andhelooked。Hesawbeforehimthatwhichinitstinydropreflectsthewholeuniverse;hesawthatwhichmarkswithinitselfthestepofthefurtheststar，andtellshowthecrystalgrowsundergroundwherenoeyehasseenit;thatwhichiswherethegermintheeggstirs;whichmovestheoutstretchedfingersofthelittlenewbornbabe，andkeepstheleavesofthetreespointingupward;
whichmoveswherethejelly—fishsailaloneonthesunnyseas，andiswherethelichensformonthemountains’rocks。
Andthemanlooked。
Andtheangeltouchedhim。
Butthemanbowedhisheadandshuddered。Hewhispered——\"ItisGod！\"
Andtheangelre—coveredtheman’seyes。Andwhenheuncoveredthemtherewasonewalkingfromthemalittlewayoff;——fortheangelhadre—clothedthesoulinitsoutwardformandvesture——andthemanknewwhoitwas。
Andtheangelsaid，\"Doyouknowhim？\"
Andthemansaid，\"Iknowhim，\"andhelookedafterthefigure。
Andtheangelsaid，\"Haveyouforgivenhim？\"
Butthemansaid，\"Howbeautifulmybrotheris！\"
Andtheangellookedintotheman’seyes，andheshadedhisownfacewithhiswingfromthelight。HelaughedsoftlyandwentuptoGod。
Butthemenweretogetheronearth。
Iawoke。
Theblue，blueskywasovermyhead，andthewaveswerebreakingbelowontheshore。Iwalkedthroughthelittlechapel，andIsawtheMadonnainblueandred，andtheChristcarryinghiscross，andtheRomansoldierswiththerod，andtheBlessedBambinowithitsbrokenface;andthenI
walkeddowntheslopingrocktothebrickpathway。Theolivetreesstooduponeithersideoftheroad，theirblackberriesandpale—greenleavesstoodoutagainstthesky;andthelittleice—plantshungfromthecrevicesinthestonewall。ItseemedtomeasifitmusthaverainedwhileIwasasleep。IthoughtIhadneverseentheheavensandtheearthlooksobeautifulbefore。Iwalkeddowntheroad。Theold，old，oldtirednesswasgone。
Presentlytherecameapeasantboydownthepathleadinghisass;shehadtwolargepanniersfastenedtohersides;andtheywentdowntheroadbeforeme。
Ihadneverseenhimbefore;butIshouldhavelikedtowalkbyhimandtohaveheldhishand——only，hewouldnothaveknownwhy。
Alassio，Italy。
VIII。LIFE’SGIFTS。
Isawawomansleeping。InhersleepshedreamtLifestoodbeforeher，andheldineachhandagift——intheoneLove，intheotherFreedom。Andshesaidtothewoman，\"Choose！\"
Andthewomanwaitedlong:andshesaid，\"Freedom！\"
AndLifesaid，\"Thouhastwellchosen。Ifthouhadstsaid，’Love，’Iwouldhavegiventheethatthoudidstaskfor;andIwouldhavegonefromthee，andreturnedtotheenomore。Now，thedaywillcomewhenIshallreturn。
InthatdayIshallbearbothgiftsinonehand。\"
Iheardthewomanlaughinhersleep。
London。
IX。THEARTIST’SSECRET。
Therewasanartistonce，andhepaintedapicture。Otherartistshadcoloursricherandrarer，andpaintedmorenotablepictures。Hepaintedhiswithonecolour，therewasawonderfulredglowonit;andthepeoplewentupanddown，saying，\"Welikethepicture，weliketheglow。\"
Theotherartistscameandsaid，\"Wheredoeshegethiscolourfrom？\"Theyaskedhim;andhesmiledandsaid，\"Icannottellyou\";andworkedonwithhisheadbentlow。
AndonewenttothefarEastandboughtcostlypigments，andmadeararecolourandpainted，butafteratimethepicturefaded。Anotherreadintheoldbooks，andmadeacolourrichandrare，butwhenhehadputitonthepictureitwasdead。
Buttheartistpaintedon。Alwaystheworkgotredderandredder，andtheartistgrewwhiterandwhiter。Atlastonedaytheyfoundhimdeadbeforehispicture，andtheytookhimuptoburyhim。Theothermenlookedaboutinallthepotsandcrucibles，buttheyfoundnothingtheyhadnot。
Andwhentheyundressedhimtoputhisgrave—clothesonhim，theyfoundabovehisleftbreastthemarkofawound——itwasanold，oldwound，thatmusthavebeenthereallhislife，fortheedgeswereoldandhardened;butDeath，whosealsallthings，haddrawntheedgestogether，andcloseditup。
Andtheyburiedhim。Andstillthepeoplewentaboutsaying，\"Wheredidhefindhiscolourfrom？\"
Anditcametopassthatafterawhiletheartistwasforgotten——buttheworklived。
St。Leonards—on—Sea。
X。\"ITHOUGHTISTOOD。\"
IthoughtIstoodinHeavenbeforeGod’sthrone，andGodaskedmewhatI
hadcomefor。IsaidIhadcometoarraignmybrother，Man。
Godsaid，\"Whathashedone？\"
Isaid，\"Hehastakenmysister，Woman，andhasstrickenher，andwoundedher，andthrustheroutintothestreets;sheliesthereprostrate。Hishandsareredwithblood。Iamheretoarraignhim;thatthekingdombetakenfromhim，becauseheisnotworthy，andgivenuntome。Myhandsarepure。\"
Ishowedthem。
Godsaid，\"Thyhandsarepure。——Liftupthyrobe。\"
Iraisedit;myfeetwerered，blood—red，asifIhadtroddeninwine。
Godsaid，\"Howisthis？\"
Isaid，\"DearLord，thestreetsoneartharefullofmire。IfIshouldwalkstraightoninthemmyouterrobemightbebespotted，youseehowwhiteitis！ThereforeIpickmyway。\"
Godsaid，\"Onwhat？\"
Iwassilent，andIletmyrobefall。Iwrappedmymantleaboutmyhead。
Iwentoutsoftly。Iwasafraidthattheangelswouldseeme。
II。
OncemoreIstoodatthegateofHeaven，Iandanother。Weheldfastbyoneanother;wewereverytired。Welookedupatthegreatgates;theangelsopenedthem，andwewentin。Themudwasonourgarments。Wewalkedacrossthemarblefloor，anduptothegreatthrone。Thentheangelsdividedus。Her，theysetuponthetopstep，butme，uponthebottom;for，theysaid，\"Lasttimethiswomancameheresheleftredfoot—
marksonthefloor;wehadtowashthemoutwithourtears。Lethernotgoup。\"
Thenshe，withwhomIcame，lookedback，andstretchedoutherhandtome;
andIwentandstoodbesideher。Andtheangels，they，theshiningoneswhoneversinnedandneversuffered，walkedbyustoandfroandupanddown;Ithinkweshouldhavefeltalittlelonelythereifithadnotbeenforoneanother，theangelsweresobright。
GodaskedmewhatIhadcomefor;andIdrewmysisterforwardalittlethathemightseeher。
Godsaid，\"Howisityouareheretogethertoday？\"
Isaid，\"Shewasuponthegroundinthestreet，andtheypassedoverher;I
laydownbyher，andsheputherarmsaroundmyneck，andsoIliftedher，andwetworosetogether。\"
Godsaid，\"Whomareyounowcometoaccusebeforeme？\"
Isaid，\"Wearecometoaccusenoman。\"
AndGodbent，andsaid，\"Mychildren——whatisitthatyeseek？\"
AndshebesidemedrewmyhandthatIshouldspeakforboth。
Isaid，\"WehavecometoaskthatthoushouldstspeaktoMan，ourbrother，andgiveusamessageforhimthathemightunderstand，andthathemight——\"
Godsaid，\"Go，takethemessagedowntohim！\"
Isaid，\"Butwhatisthemessage？\"
Godsaid，\"Uponyourheartsitiswritten;takeitdowntohim。\"
Andweturnedtogo;theangelswentwithustothedoor。Theylookedatus。
Andonesaid——\"Ai！buttheirdressesarebeautiful！\"
Andtheothersaid，\"Ithoughtitwasmirewhentheycamein，butsee，itisallgolden！\"
Butanothersaid，\"Hush，itisthelightfromtheirfaces！\"
Andwewentdowntohim。
Alassio，Italy。
XI。THESUNLIGHTLAYACROSSMYBED。
InthedarkonenightIlayuponmybed。Iheardthepoliceman’sfeetbeatonthepavement;Iheardthewheelsofcarriagesrollhomefromhousesofentertainment;Iheardawoman’slaughbelowmywindow——andthenIfellasleep。AndinthedarkIdreamtadream。IdreamtGodtookmysoultoHell。
Hellwasafairplace;thewaterofthelakewasblue。
IsaidtoGod，\"Ilikethisplace。\"
Godsaid，\"Ay，dostthou！\"
Birdssang，turfcametothewater—edge，andtreesgrewfromit。AwayoffamongthetreesIsawbeautifulwomenwalking。Theirclotheswereofmanydelicatecoloursandclungtothem，andtheyweretallandgracefulandhadyellowhair。Theirrobestrailedoverthegrass。Theyglidedinandoutamongthetrees，andovertheirheadshungyellowfruitlikelargepearsofmeltedgold。
Isaid，\"Itisveryfair;Iwouldgoupandtastethe——\"
Godsaid，\"Wait。\"
AndafterawhileInoticedaveryfairwomanpass:shelookedthiswayandthat，anddrewdownabranch，anditseemedshekissedthefruituponitsoftly，andwentonherway，andherdressmadenorustleasshepassedoverthegrass。AndwhenIsawhernomore，fromamongthestemscameanotherwomanfairasshehadbeen，inadelicatetintedrobe;shelookedthiswayandthat。Whenshesawnoonethereshedrewdownthefruit，andwhenshehadlookedoverittofindaplace，sheputhermouthtoitsoftly，andwentaway。AndIsawotherandotherwomencome，makingnonoise，andtheyglidedawayalsooverthegrass。
AndIsaidtoGod，\"Whataretheydoing？\"
Godsaid，\"Theyarepoisoning。\"