AndIsaid，\"How？\"
Godsaid，\"Theytouchitwiththeirlips，whentheyhavemadeatinywoundinitwiththeirfore—teeththeysetinitthatwhichisundertheirtongues:theycloseitwiththeirlip——thatnomanmayseetheplace，andpasson。\"
IsaidtoGod，\"Whydotheydoit？\"
Godsaid，\"Thatanothermaynoteat。\"
IsaidtoGod，\"Butiftheypoisonallthennonedareeat;whatdotheygain？\"
Godsaid，\"Nothing。\"
Isaid，\"Aretheynotafraidtheythemselvesmaybitewhereanotherhasbitten？\"
Godsaid，\"Theyareafraid。InHellallmenfear。\"
Hecalledmefurther。Andthewaterofthelakeseemedlessblue。
Then，totherightamongthetreesweremenworking。AndIsaidtoGod，\"I
shouldliketogoandworkwiththem。Hellmustbeaveryfruitfulplace，thegrassissogreen。\"
Godsaid，\"Nothinggrowsinthegardentheyaremaking。\"
Westoodlooking;andIsawthemworkingamongthebushes，diggingholes，butinthemtheysetnothing;andwhentheyhadcoveredthemwithsticksandeartheachwentawayoffandsatbehindthebusheswatching;andI
noticedthataseachwalkedhesethisfootdowncarefullylookingwherehetrod。IsaidtoGod，\"Whataretheydoing？\"
Godsaid，\"Makingpitfallsintowhichtheirfellowsmaysink。\"
IsaidtoGod，\"Whydotheydoit？\"
Godsaid，\"Becauseeachthinksthatwhenhisbrotherfallshewillrise。\"
IsaidtoGod，\"Howwillherise？\"
Godsaid，\"Hewillnotrise。\"
AndIsawtheireyesgleamfrombehindthebushes。
IsaidtoGod，\"Arethesemensane？\"
Godsaid，\"Theyarenotsane;thereisnosanemaninHell。\"
Andhetoldmetocomefurther。
AndIlookedwhereItrod。
AndwecamewhereHellopenedintoaplain，andagreathousestoodthere。
Marblepillarsupheldtheroof，andwhitemarblestepsletuptoit。Thewindofheavenblewthroughit。Onlyatthebackhungathickcurtain。
Fairmenandwomentherefeastedatlongtables。Theydanced，andIsawtherobesofwomenflutterintheairandheardthelaughofstrongmen。
Whattheyfeastedwithwaswine;theydrewitfromlargejarswhichstoodsomewhatinthebackground，andIsawthewinesparkleastheydrewit。
AndIsaidtoGod，\"Ishouldliketogoupanddrink。\"AndGodsaid，\"Wait。\"AndIsawmencomingintotheBanquetHouse;theycameinfromthebackandliftedthecornerofthecurtainatthesidesandcreptinquickly;andtheyletthecurtainfallbehindthem;theyboregreatjarstheycouldhardlycarry。Andthemenandwomencrowdedroundthem，andthenew—comersopenedtheirjarsandgavethemofthewinetodrink;andIsawthatthewomendrankevenmoregreedilythanthemen。Andwhenothershadwelldrunkentheysetthejarsamongtheoldonesbesidethewall，andtooktheirplacesatthetable。AndIsawthatsomeofthejarswereveryoldandmildewedanddusty，butothershadstilldropsofnewmustonthemandshonefromthefurnace。
AndIsaidtoGod，\"Whatisthat？\"Foramidthesoundofthesinging，andoverthedancingoffeet，andoverthelaughingacrossthewine—cupsI
heardacry。
AndGodsaid，\"Standawayoff。\"
AndhetookmewhereIsawbothsidesofthecurtain。Behindthehousewasthewine—presswherethewinewasmade。Isawthegrapescrushed，andI
heardthemcry。Isaid，\"Donottheyontheothersidehearit？\"
Godsaid，\"Thecurtainisthick;theyarefeasting。\"
AndIsaid，\"Butthemenwhocameinlast。Theysaw？\"
Godsaid，\"Theyletthecurtainfallbehindthem——andtheyforget！\"
Isaid，\"Howcametheybytheirjarsofwine？\"
Godsaid，\"Inthetreadingofthepressthesearetheywhocametothetop;
theyhaveclimbedoutovertheedge，andfilledtheirjarsfrombelow，andhavegoneintothehouse。\"
AndIsaid，\"Andiftheyhadfallenastheyclimbed——？\"
Godsaid，\"Theyhadbeenwine。\"
Istoodawayoffwatchinginthesunshine，andIshivered。
Godlayinthesunshinewatchingtoo。
Thenthereroseoneamongthefeasters，whosaid，\"Mybrethren，letuspray！\"
Andallthemenandwomenrose:andstrongmenbowedtheirheads，andmothersfoldedtheirlittlechildren’shandstogether，andturnedtheirfacesupwards，totheroof。Andhewhofirsthadrisenstoodatthetablehead，andstretchedoutbothhishands，andhisbeardwaslongandwhite，andhissleevesandhisbeardhadbeendippedinwine;andbecausethesleeveswerewideandfulltheyheldmuchwine，anditdroppeddownuponthefloor。
Andhecried，\"Mybrothersandmysisters，letuspray。\"
Andallthemenandwomenanswered，\"Letuspray。\"
Hecried，\"Forthisfairbanquet—housewethankthee，Lord。\"
Andallthemenandwomensaid\"Wethankthee，Lord。\"
\"Thineisthishouse，dearLord。\"
\"Thineisthishouse。\"
\"Forushastthoumadeit。\"
\"Forus。\"
\"Oh，fillourjarswithwine，dearLord。\"
\"Ourjarswithwine。\"
\"Givepeaceandplentyinourtime，dearLord。\"
\"Peaceandplentyinourtime\"——IsaidtoGod，\"Whomisittheyaretalkingto？\"Godsaid，\"DoIknowwhomtheyspeakof？\"AndIsawtheywerelookingupattheroof;butoutinthesunshine，Godlay。
\"——dearLord！\"
\"DearLord。\"
\"Ourchildren’schildren，Lord，shallriseandcalltheeblessed。\"
\"Ourchildren’schildren，Lord。\"——IsaidtoGod，\"Thegrapesarecrying！\"
Godsaid，\"Still！Ihearthem\"——\"shallcalltheeblessed。\"
\"Shallcalltheeblessed。\"
\"Pourforthmorewineuponus，Lord。\"
\"Morewine。\"
\"Morewine。\"
\"Morewine！\"
\"Wine！！\"
\"Wine！！\"
\"Wine！！！\"
\"DearLord！\"
Thenmenandwomensatdownandthefeastwenton。Andmotherspouredoutwineandfedtheirlittlechildrenwithit，andmenheldupthecuptowomen’slipsandcried，\"Beloved！drink，\"andwomenfilledtheirlovers’
flagonsandheldthemup;andyetthefeastwenton。
AndafterawhileIlooked，andIsawthecurtainthathungbehindthehousemoving。
IsaidtoGod，\"Isitawind？\"
Godsaid，\"Awind。\"
Anditseemedtome，thatagainstthecurtainIsawpressedtheformsofmenandwomen。Andafterawhilethefeasterssawitmove，andtheywhispered，onetoanother。Thensomeroseandgatheredthemostworn—outcups，andintothemtheyputwhatwasleftatthebottomofothervessels。
Motherswhisperedtotheirchildren，\"Donotdrinkall，savealittledropwhenyouhavedrunk。\"Andwhentheyhadcollectedallthedregstheyslippedthecupsoutunderthebottomofthecurtainwithoutliftingit。
Afterawhilethecurtainleftoffmoving。
IsaidtoGod，\"Howisitsoquiet？\"
Hesaid，\"Theyhavegoneawaytodrinkit。\"
Isaid，\"Theydrinkit——theirown！\"
Godsaid，\"Itcomesfromthissideofthecurtain，andtheyareverythirsty。\"
Thenthefeastwenton，andafterawhileIsawasmall，whitehandslippedinbelowthecurtain’sedgealongthefloor;anditmotionedtowardsthewinejars。
AndIsaidtoGod，\"Whyisthathandsobloodless？\"
AndGodsaid，\"Itisawine—pressedhand。\"
Andmensawitandstartedtotheirfeet;andwomencried，andrantothegreatwinejars，andthrewtheirarmsaroundthem，andcried，\"Ours，ourown，ourbeloved！\"andtwinedtheirlonghairaboutthem。
IsaidtoGod，\"Whyaretheyfrightenedofthatonesmallhand？\"
Godanswered，\"Becauseitissowhite。\"
Andmenraninagreatcompanytowardsthecurtain，andstruggledthere。I
heardthemstrikeuponthefloor。Andwhentheymovedawaythecurtainhungsmoothandstill;andtherewasasmallstainuponthefloor。
IsaidtoGod，\"Whydotheynotwashitout？\"
Godsaid，\"Theycannot。\"
Andtheytooksmallstonesandputthemdownalongtheedgeofthecurtaintokeepitdown。Thenthemenandwomensatdownagainatthetables。
AndIsaidtoGod，\"Willthosestoneskeepitdown？\"
Godsaid，\"Whatthinkyou？\"
Isaid，\"Ifthewindblew？\"
Godsaid，\"Ifthewindblew？\"
Andthefeastwenton。
AndsuddenlyIcriedtoGod，\"Ifoneshouldriseamongthem，evenofthemselves，andstartupfromthetableandshouldcastawayhiscup，andcry，’Mybrothersandmysisters，stay！whatisitthatwedrink？’——andwithhisswordshouldcutintwothecurtain，andholdingwidethefragments，cry，’Brothers，sisters，see！itisnotwine，notwine！notwine！Mybrothers，oh，mysisters！’andheshouldoverturnthe——\"
Godsaid，\"Bestill！——，seethere。\"
Ilooked:beforethebanquet—house，amongthegrass，Isawarowofmounds，flowerscoveredthem，andgildedmarblestoodattheirheads。I
askedGodwhattheywere。
Heanswered，\"Theyarethegravesofthosewhoroseupatthefeastandcried。\"
AndIaskedGodhowtheycamethere。
Hesaid，\"Themenofthebanquet—houseroseandcastthemdownbackwards。\"
Isaid，\"Whoburiedthem？\"
Godsaid，\"Themenwhocastthemdown。\"
Isaid，\"Howcameitthattheythrewthemdown，andthensetmarbleoverthem？\"
Godsaid，\"Becausethebonescriedout，theycoveredthem。\"
AndamongthegrassandweedsIsawanunburiedbodylying;andIaskedGodwhyitwas。
Godsaid，\"Becauseitwasthrowndownonlyyesterday。Inalittlewhile，whenthefleshshallhavefallenfromitsbones，theywillburyitalso，andplantflowersoverit。\"
Andstillthefeastwenton。
Menandwomensatatthetablesquaffinggreatbowls。Somerose，andthrewtheirarmsabouteachother，anddancedandsang。Theypledgedeachotherinthewine，andkissedeachother’sblood—redlips。
Higherandhighergrewtherevels。
Men，whentheyhaddrunktilltheycouldnolonger，threwwhatwasleftintheirglassesuptotheroof，andletitfallbackincascades。Womendyedtheirchildren’sgarmentsinthewine，andfedthemonittilltheirtinymouthswerered。Sometimes，asthedancerswhirled，theyoverturnedavessel，andtheirgarmentswerebespattered。Childrensatuponthefloorwithgreatbowlsofwine，andswamrose—leavesonit，forboats。Theyputtheirhandsinthewineandblewlargeredbubbles。
Andhigherandhighergrewtherevels，andwilderthedancing，andlouderandlouderthesinging。Buthereandthereamongtherevellerswerethosewhodidnotrevel。Isawthatatthetableshereandthereweremenwhosatwiththeirelbowsontheboardandhandsshadingtheireyes;theylookedintothewine—cupbeneaththem，anddidnotdrink。Andwhenonetouchedthemlightlyontheshoulder，biddingthemtoriseanddanceandsing，theystarted，andthenlookeddown，andsattherewatchingthewineinthecup，buttheydidnotmove。
AndhereandthereIsawawomansitapart。Theothersdancedandsangandfedtheirchildren，butshesatsilentwithherheadasideasthoughshelistened。Herlittlechildrenpluckedhergown;shedidnotseethem;shewaslisteningtosomesound，butshedidnotstir。
Therevelsgrewhigher。Mendranktilltheycoulddrinknolonger，andlaytheirheadsuponthetablesleepingheavily。Womenwhocoulddancenomoreleanedbackonthebencheswiththeirheadsagainsttheirlovers’
shoulders。Littlechildren，sickwithwine，laydownupontheedgesoftheirmothers’robes。Sometimes，amanrosesuddenly，andashestaggeredstruckthetablesandoverthrewthebenches;someleaneduponthebalustradessickuntodeath。Hereandthereonerosewhostaggeredtothewinejarsandlaydownbesidethem。Heturnedthewinetap，butsleepovercamehimashelaythere，andthewineranout。
Slowlythethin，redstreamranacrossthewhitemarbledfloor;itreachedthestonesteps;slowly，slowly，slowlyittrickleddown，fromsteptostep，fromsteptostep:thenitsankintotheearth。Athinwhitesmokeroseupfromit。
Iwassilent;Icouldnotbreathe;butGodcalledmetocomefurther。
AndafterIhadtravelledforawhileIcamewhereonsevenhillslaytheruinsofamightybanquet—houselargerandstrongerthantheonewhichI
hadseenstanding。
IsaidtoGod，\"Whatdidthemenwhobuiltithere？\"
Godsaid，\"Theyfeasted。\"
Isaid，\"Onwhat？\"
Godsaid，\"Onwine。\"
AndIlooked;anditseemedtomethatbehindtheruinslaystillalargecircularhollowwithintheearthwhereafootofthewine—presshadstood。
IsaidtoGod，\"Howcameitthatthislargehousefell？\"
Godsaid，\"Becausetheearthwassodden。\"
Hecalledmetocomefurther。
Andatlastwecameuponahillwherebluewatersplayed，andwhitemarblelayupontheearth。IsaidtoGod，\"Whatwashereonce？\"
Godsaid，\"Apleasurehouse。\"
Ilooked，andatmyfeetgreatpillarslay。IcriedaloudforjoytoGod，\"Themarbleblossoms！\"
Godsaid，\"Ay，’twasafairyhouse。Therehasnotbeenoneliketoit，norevershallbe。Thepillarsandtheporticoesblossomed;andthewinecupswereasgatheredflowers:onthissideallthecurtainwasbroideredwithfairdesigns，thestitchingwasofgold。\"
IsaidtoGod，\"Howcameitthatitfell？\"
Godsaid，\"Onthesideofthewine—pressitwasdark。\"
Andaswetravelled，wecamewherelayamightyridgeofsand，andadarkriverranthere;andthererosetwovastmounds。
IsaidtoGod，\"Theyareverymighty。\"
Godsaid，\"Ay，exceedinggreat。\"
AndIlistened。
GodaskedmewhatIwaslisteningto。
AndIsaid，\"Asoundofweeping，andIhearthesoundofstrokes，butI
cannottellwhenceitcomes。\"
Godsaid，\"Itistheechoofthewine—presslingeringstillamongthecoping—stonesuponthemounds。Abanquet—housestoodhere。\"
Andhecalledmetocomefurther。
Uponabarrenhill—side，wherethesoilwasarid，Godcalledmetostandstill。AndIlookedaround。
Godsaid，\"Therewasafeasting—househereonceuponatime。\"
IsaidtoGod，\"Iseenomarkofany！\"
Godsaid，\"Therewasnotleftonestoneuponanotherthathasnotbeenthrowndown。\"AndIlookedround;andonthehill—sidewasalonelygrave。
IsaidtoGod，\"Whatliesthere？\"
Hesaid，\"Avinetruss，bruisedinthewine—press！\"
Andattheheadofthegravestoodacross，andonitsfootlayacrownofthorns。
AndasIturnedtogo，Ilookedbackward。Thewine—pressandthebanquet—
houseweregone;butthegraveyetstood。
AndwhenIcametotheedgeofalongridgethereopenedoutbeforemeawideplainofsand。AndwhenIlookeddownwardIsawgreatstoneslieshattered;andthedesertsandhadhalfcoveredthemover。
IsaidtoGod，\"Thereiswritingonthem，butIcannotreadit。\"
AndGodblewasidethedesertsand，andIreadthewriting:\"Weighedinthebalance，andfound——\"butthelastwordwaswanting。
AndIsaidtoGod，\"Itwasabanquet—house？\"
Godsaid，\"Ay，abanquet—house。\"
Isaid，\"Therewasawine—presshere？\"
Godsaid，\"Therewasawine—press。\"
Iaskednofurtherquestion。Iwasveryweary;Ishadedmyeyeswithmyhand，andlookedthroughthepinkeveninglight。
Faroff，acrossthesand，Isawtwofiguresstanding。Withwingsupfoldedhighabovetheirheads，andsternfacesset，neithermannorbeast，theylookedoutacrossthedesertsand，watching，watching，watching！IdidnotaskGodwhattheywere，forIknewwhattheanswerwouldbe。
And，furtherandyetfurther，intheeveninglight，Ilookedwithmyshadedeyes。
Faroff，wherethesandswerethickandheavy，Isawasolitarypillarstanding:thecrownhadfallen，andthesandhadburiedit。Onthebrokenpillarsatagreyowl—of—the—desert，withfoldedwings;andintheeveninglightIsawthedesertfoxcreeppastit，trailinghisbrushacrossthesand。
Further，yetfurther，asIlookedacrossthedesert，Isawthesandgatheredintoheapsasthoughitcoveredsomething。
IcriedtoGod，\"Oh，Iamsoweary。\"
Godsaid，\"YouhaveseenonlyonehalfofHell。\"
Isaid，\"Icannotseemore，IamafraidofHell。InmyownnarrowlittlepathIdarenotwalkbecauseIthinkthatonehasdugapitfallforme;andifIputmyhandtotakeafruitIdrawitbackagainbecauseIthinkithasbeenkissedalready。IfIlookoutacrosstheplains，themoundsareburialheaps;andwhenIpassamongthestonesIhearthemcryingaloud。
WhenIseemendancingIhearthetimebeateninwithsobs;andtheirwineisliving！Oh，IcannotbearHell！\"
Godsaid，\"Wherewillyougo？\"
Isaid\"TotheearthfromwhichIcame;itwasbetterthere。\"
AndGodlaughedatme;andIwonderedwhyhelaughed。
Godsaid，\"Come，andIwillshowyouHeaven。\"……
AndpartlyIawoke。Itwasstillanddark;thesoundofthecarriageshaddiedinthestreet;thewomanwholaughedwasgone;andthepoliceman’streadwasheardnomore。Inthedarkitseemedasifagreathandlayuponmyheart，andcrushedit。Itriedtobreatheandtossedfromsidetoside;
andthenagainIfellasleep，anddreamed。
Godtookmetotheedgeofthatworld。Itended。Ilookeddown。Thegulf，itseemedtome，wasfathomless，andthenIsawtwobridgescrossingitthatbothslopedupwards。
IsaidtoGod，\"Istherenootherwaybywhichmencrossit？\"
Godsaid，\"One;itrisesfarfromhereandslopesstraightupwards。
IaskedGodwhatthebridges’nameswere。
Godsaid，\"Whatmatterforthenames？CallthemtheGood，theTrue，theBeautiful，ifyouwill——youwillyetnotunderstandthem。\"
IaskedGodhowitwasIcouldnotseethethird。
Godsaid，\"Itisseenonlybythosewhoclimbit。\"
Isaid，\"Dotheyallleadtooneheaven？\"
Godsaid，\"AllHeavenisone:neverthelesssomepartsarehigherthanothers;thosewhoreachthehighermayalwaysgodowntorestinthelower;
butthoseinthelowermaynothavestrengthtoclimbtothehigher;