neverthelessthelightisallone。\"
AndIsawoverthebridgenearestme，whichwaswiderthantheother，countlessfootmarksgo。IaskedGodwhysomanywentoverit。
Godsaid，\"Itslopeslessdeeply，andleadstothefirstheaven。\"
AndIsawthatsomeofthefootmarkswereoffeetreturning。IaskedGodhowitwas。
Hesaid，\"NomanwhohasonceenteredHeaveneverleavesit;butsome，whentheyhavegonehalfway，turnback，becausetheyareafraidthereisnolandbeyond。\"
Isaid，\"Hasnoneeverreturned？\"
Godsaid，\"No;onceinHeavenalwaysinHeaven。\"
AndGodtookmeover。Andwhenwecametooneofthegreatdoors——forHeavenhasmoredoorsthanone，andtheyareallopen——thepostsroseupsohighoneithersideIcouldnotseethetop，norindeediftherewereany。
AnditseemedtomesowidethatallHellcouldgointhroughit。
IsaidtoGod，\"Whichisthelarger，HeavenorHell？\"
Godsaid，\"Hellisaswide，butHeavenisdeeper。AllHellcouldbeengulfedinHeaven，butallHeavencouldnotbeengulfedinHell。\"
Andweentered。Itwasastillgreatland。Themountainsroseoneveryhand，andtherewasapaleclearlight;andIsawitcamefromtherocksandstones。IaskedGodhowitwas。
ButGoddidnotanswerme。
Ilookedandwondered，forIhadthoughtHeavenwouldbeotherwise。Andafterawhileitbegantogrowbrighter，asifthedaywerebreaking，andI
askedGodifthesunwerenotgoingtorise。
Godsaid，\"No;wearecomingtowherethepeopleare。\"
Andaswewentonitgrewbrighterandbrightertillitwasburningday;
andontherockwereflowersblooming，andtreesblossomedattheroadside;
andstreamsofwaterraneverywhere，andIheardthebirdssinging;IaskedGodwheretheywere。
Godsaid，\"Itisthepeoplecallingtooneanother。\"
AndwhenwecamenearerIsawthemwalking，andtheyshoneastheywalked。
IaskedGodhowitwastheyworenocovering。
Godsaid，\"Becausealltheirbodygivesthelight;theydarenotcoveranypart。\"
AndIaskedGodwhattheyweredoing。
Godsaid，\"Shiningontheplantsthattheymaygrow。\"
AndIsawthatsomewereworkingincompanies，andsomealone，butmostwereintwos，sometimestwomenandsometimestwowomen;butgenerallytherewasonemanandonewoman;andIaskedGodhowitwas。
Godsaid，\"Whenonemanandonewomanshinetogether，itmakesthemostperfectlight。Manyplantsneedthatfortheirgrowing。Nevertheless，therearemorekindsofplantsinHeaventhanone，andtheyneedmanykindsoflight。\"
Andonefromamongthepeoplecamerunningtowardsme;andwhenhecamenearitseemedtomethatheandIhadplayedtogetherwhenwewerelittlechildren，andthatwehadbeenbornonthesameday。AndItoldGodwhatI
felt;Godsaid，\"AllmenfeelsoinHeavenwhenanothercomestowardsthem。\"
Andhewhorantowardsmeheldmyhand，andledmethroughthebrightlights。Andwhenwecameamongthetreeshesangaloud，andhiscompanionanswered，anditwasawoman，andheshowedmetoher。Shesaid，\"Hemusthavewater\";andshetooksomeinherhands，andfedme（IhadbeenafraidtodrinkofthewaterinHell），andtheygatheredfruitforme，andgaveitmetoeat。Theysaid，\"Weshonelongtomakeitripen，\"andtheylaughedtogetherastheysawmeeatit。
Themansaid，\"Heisveryweary;hemustsleep\"（forIhadnotdaredtosleepinHell），andhelaidmyheadonhiscompanion’skneeandspreadherhairoutoverme。Islept，andallthewhileinmysleepIthoughtIheardthebirdscallingacrossme。AndwhenIwokeitwaslikeearlymorning，withthedewoneverything。
Andthemantookmyhandandledmetoahiddenspotamongtherocks。Thegroundwasveryhard，butoutofitweresproutingtinyplants，andtherewasalittlestreamrunning。Hesaid，\"Thisisagardenwearemaking，nooneelseknowsofit。Weshinehereeveryday;see，thegroundhascrackedwithourshining，andthislittlestreamisburstingout。See，theflowersaregrowing。\"
Andheclimbedontherocksandpickedfromabovetwolittleflowerswithdewonthem，andgavethemtome。AndItookoneineachhand;myhandsshoneasIheldthem。Hesaid，\"Thisgardenisforallwhenitisfinished。\"Andhewentawaytohiscompanion，andIwentoutintothegreatpathway。
AndasIwalkedinthelightIheardaloudsoundofmuchsinging。AndwhenIcamenearerIsawonewithclosedeyes，singing，andhisfellowswerestandingroundhim;andthelightontheclosedeyeswasbrighterthananythingIhadseeninHeaven。Iaskedonewhoitwas。Andhesaid，\"Hush！Oursingingbird。\"
AndIaskedwhytheeyesshoneso。
Andhesaid，\"Theycannotsee，andwehavekissedthemtilltheyshoneso。\"
Andthepeoplegatheredcloserroundhim。
AndwhenIwentalittlefurtherIsawacrowdcrossingamongthetreesoflightwithgreatlaughter。WhentheycamecloseIsawtheycarriedonewithouthandsorfeet。AndalightcamefromthemaimedlimbssobrightthatIcouldnotlookatthem。
AndIsaidtoone，\"Whatisit？\"
Heanswered，\"Thisisourbrotherwhooncefellandlosthishandsandfeet，andsincethenhecannothelphimself;butwehavetouchedthemaimedstumpssooftenthatnowtheyshinebrighterthananythinginHeaven。Wepasshimonthathemayshineonthingsthatneedmuchheat。Nooneisallowedtokeephimlong，hebelongstoall\";andtheywentonamongthetrees。
IsaidtoGod，\"Thisisastrangeland。Ihadthoughtblindnessandmaimednessweregreatevils。Heremenmakethemtoarejoicing。\"
Godsaid，\"Didstthouthenthinkthatlovehadneedofeyesandhands！\"
AndIwalkeddowntheshiningwaywithpalmsoneitherhand。IsaidtoGod，\"EversinceIwasalittlechildandsataloneandcried，Ihavedreamedofthisland，andnowIwillnotgoawayagain。Iwillstayhereandshine。\"AndIbegantotakeoffmygarments，thatImightshineasothersinthatland;butwhenIlookeddownIsawmybodygavenolight。I
saidtoGod，\"Howisit？\"
Godsaid，\"Istherenodarkbloodinyourheart;isitbitteragainstnone？\"
AndIsaid，\"Yes——\";andIthought——\"NowisthetimewhenIwilltellGod，thatwhichIhavebeen，meaningtotellhimallalong，howbadlymyfellow—
menhavetreatedme。Howtheyhavemisunderstoodme。HowIhaveintendedtobemagnanimousandgeneroustothem，andthey——。\"AndIbegantotellGod;butwhenIlookeddownalltheflowerswerewitheringundermybreath，andIwassilent。
AndGodcalledmetocomeuphigher，andIgatheredmymantleaboutmeandfollowedhim。
Andtherocksgrewhigherandsteeperoneveryside;andwecameatlasttoaplacewhereagreatmountainrose，whosetopwaslostintheclouds。AndonitssideIsawmenworking;andtheypickedattheearthwithhugepicks;andIsawthattheylabouredmightily。Andsomelabouredincompanies，butmostlabouredsingly。AndIsawthedropsofsweatfallfromtheirforeheads，andthemusclesoftheirarmsstandoutwithlabour。
AndIsaid，\"Ihadnotthoughtinheaventoseemenlabourso！\"AndI
thoughtofthegardenwheremensangandloved，andIwonderedthatanyshouldchoosetolabouronthatbaremountain—side。AndIsawupontheforeheadsofthemenastheyworkedalight，andthedropswhichfellfromthemastheyworkedhadlight。
AndIaskedGodwhattheywereseekingfor。
AndGodtouchedmyeyes，andIsawthatwhattheyfoundweresmallstones，whichhadbeentoobrightformetoseebefore;andIsawthatthelightofthestonesandthelightonthemen’sforeheadswasthesame。AndIsawthatwhenonefoundastonehepasseditontohisfellow，andhetoanother，andhetoanother。Nomankeptthestonehefound。Andattimestheygatheredingreatcompanyaboutwhenalargestonewasfound，andraisedagreatshoutsothattheskyrang;thentheyworkedonagain。
AndIaskedGodwhattheydidwiththestonestheyfoundatlast。ThenGodtouchedmyeyesagaintomakethemstronger;andIlooked，andatmyveryfeetwasamightycrown。Thelightstreamedoutfromit。
Godsaid，\"Eachstoneastheyfinditissethere。\"
Andthecrownwaswroughtaccordingtoamarvellouspattern;onepatternranthroughall，yeteachpartwasdifferent。
IsaidtoGod，\"Howdoeseachmanknowwheretosethisstone，sothatthepatternisworkedout？\"
Godsaid，\"Becauseinthelighthisforeheadshedseachmanseesfaintlyoutlinedthatfullcrown。\"
AndIsaid，\"Buthowisitthateachstoneisjoinedalongitsedgestoitsfellows，sothatthereisnoseamanywhere？\"
Godsaid，\"Thestonesarealive;theygrow。\"
AndIsaid，\"Butwhatdoeseachmangainbyhisworking？\"
Godsaid，\"Heseeshisoutlinefilled。\"
Isaid，\"Butthosestoneswhicharelastsetcoverthosewhichwerefirst;
andthosewillagainbecoveredbythosewhichcomelater。\"
Godsaid，\"Theyarecovered，butnothid。Thelightisthelightofall。
Withoutthefirst，nolast。\"
AndIsaidtoGod，\"Whenwillthiscrownbeended？\"
AndGodsaid，\"Lookup！\"
Ilookedup;andIsawthemountaintoweraboveme，butitssummitIcouldnotsee;itwaslostintheclouds。
Godsaidnomore。
AndIlookedatthecrown:thenalongingseizedme。Likethepassionofamotherforthechildwhomdeathhastaken;liketheyearningofafriendforthefriendwhomlifehasburied;likethehungerofdyingeyesforalifethatisslipping;likethethirstofasoulforloveatitsfirstspringwaking，so，butfiercerwasthelonginginme。
IcriedtoGod，\"Itoowillworkhere;Itoowillsetstonesinthewonderfulpattern;itshallgrowbeneathMYhand。Andifitbethat，labouringhereforyears，Ishouldnotfindonestone，atleastIwillbewiththementhatlabourhere。Ishallheartheirshoutofjoywheneachstoneisfound;Ishalljoinintheirtriumph，Ishallshoutamongthem;I
shallseethecrowngrow。\"SogreatwasmylongingasIlookedatthecrown，Ithoughtafaintlightfellfrommyforeheadalso。
Godsaid，\"Doyounothearthesinginginthegardens？\"
Isaid，\"No，Ihearnothing;Iseeonlythecrown。\"AndIwasdumbwithlonging;IforgotalltheflowersofthelowerHeavenandthesingingthere。AndIranforward，andthrewmymantleontheearthandbenttoseizeoneofthemightytoolswhichlaythere。Icouldnotliftitfromtheearth。
Godsaid，\"WherehastTHOUearnedthestrengthtoraiseit？Takeupthymantle。\"
AndItookupmymantleandfollowedwhereGodcalledme;butIlookedback，andIsawthecrownburning，mycrownthatIhadloved。
Higherandhigherweclimbed，andtheairgrewthinner。Notatreeorplantwasonthebarerocks，andthestillnesswasunbroken。Mybreathcamehardandquick，andthebloodcreptwithinmyfinger—tips。IsaidtoGod，\"IsthisHeaven？\"
Godsaid，\"Yes;itisthehighest。\"
Andstillweclimbed。IsaidtoGod，\"Icannotbreathesohigh。\"
Godsaid，\"Becausetheairispure？\"
Andmyheadgrewdizzy，andasIclimbedthebloodburstfrommyfinger—
tips。
Thenwecameoutuponalonelymountain—top。
Nolivingbeingmovedthere;butfaroffonasolitarypeakIsawalonelyfigurestanding。WhetheritweremanorwomanIcouldnottell;forpartlyitseemedthefigureofawoman，butitslimbswerethemightylimbsofaman。IaskedGodwhetheritwasmanorwoman。
Godsaid，\"IntheleastHeavensexreignssupreme;inthehigheritisnotnoticed;butinthehighestitdoesnotexist。\"
AndIsawthefigurebendoveritswork，andlabourmightily，butwhatitlabouredatIcouldnotsee。
IsaidtoGod，\"Howcameithere？\"
Godsaid，\"Byabloodystair。StepbystepitmountedfromthelowestHell，anddaybydayasHellgrewfartherandHeavennonearer，ithungalonebetweentwoworlds。Hourbyhourinthatbitterstruggleitslimbsgrewlarger，tilltherefellfromitragbyragthegarmentswhichitstartedwith。Dropsfellfromitseyesasitstrainedthem;eachstepitclimbedwaswetwithblood。Thenitcameouthere。\"
AndIthoughtofthegardenwheremensangwiththeirarmsaroundoneanother;andthemountain—sidewheretheyworkedincompany。AndI
shuddered。
AndIsaid，\"Isitnotterriblyalonehere？\"
Godsaid，\"Itisneveralone！\"
Isaid，\"Whathasitforallitslabour？Iseenothingreturntoit。\"
ThenGodtouchedmyeyes，andIsawstretchedoutbeneathustheplainsofHeavenandHell，andallthatwaswithinthem。
Godsaid，\"Fromthatloneheightonwhichhestands，allthingsareopen。
Tohimiscleartheshininginthegarden，heseestheflowerbreakforthandthestreamssparkle;noshoutisraiseduponthemountain—sidebuthisearmayhearit。Heseesthecrowngrowandthelightshootfromit。AllHellisopentohim。Heseesthepathsmountupwards。Tohim，HellistheseedgroundfromwhichHeavensprings。Heseesthesapascending。\"
AndIsawthefigurebendoveritswork，andthelightfromitsfacefelluponit。
AndIsaidtoGod，\"Whatisitmaking？\"
AndGodsaid，\"Music！\"
Andhetouchedmyears，andIheardit。
AndafteralongwhileIwhisperedtoGod，\"ThisisHeaven。\"
AndGodaskedmewhyIwascrying。ButIcouldnotanswerforjoy。
Andthefaceturnedfromitswork，andthelightfelluponme。ThenitgrewsobrightIcouldnotseethingsseparately;andwhichwereGod，ortheman，orI，Icouldnottell;wewereallblended。IcriedtoGod，\"Whereareyou？\"buttherewasnoanswer，onlymusicandlight。
Afterwards，whenithadgrownsodarkagainthatIcouldseethingsseparately，IfoundthatIwasstandingtherewrappedtightinmylittleold，brown，earthlycloak，andGodandthemanwereseparatedfromeachother，andfromme。
IdidnotdaresayIwouldgoandmakemusicbesidetheman。IknewI
couldnotreacheventohisknee，normovetheinstrumentheplayed。ButI
thoughtIwouldstandthereonmylittlepeakandsinganaccompanimenttothatgreatmusic。AndItried;butmyvoicefailed。Itpipedandquavered。Icouldnotsingthattune。Iwassilent。
ThenGodpointedtome，thatIshouldgooutofHeaven。
AndIcriedtoGod，\"Oh，letmestayhere！Ifindeeditbe，asIknowitis，thatIamnotgreatenoughtosinguponthemountain，norstrongenoughtolabouronitsside，norbrightenoughtoshineandlovewithinthegarden，atleastletmegodowntothegreatgateway;humblyIwillkneeltheresweeping;and，asthesavedpassin，Iwillseethelightupontheirfaces。Ishallhearthesinginginthegarden，andtheshoutuponthehillside——\"
Godsaid，\"Itmaynotbe;\"hepointed。
AndIcried，\"IfImaynotstayinHeaven，thenletmegodowntoHell，andIwillgraspthehandsofmenandwomenthere;andslowly，holdingoneanother’shands，wewillworkourwayupwards。\"
StillGodpointed。
AndIthrewmyselfupontheearthandcried，\"Earthissosmall，somean！
ItisnotmeetasoulshouldseeHeavenandbecastoutagain！\"
AndGodlaidhishandonme，andsaid，\"Gobacktoearth:thatwhichyouseekisthere。\"
Iawoke:itwasmorning。Thesilenceanddarknessofthenightweregone。
ThroughmynarrowatticwindowIsawthelightofanotherday。Iclosedmyeyesandturnedtowardsthewall:Icouldnotlookuponthedullgreyworld。
Inthestreetsbelow，menandwomenstreamedpastbyhundreds;Iheardthebeatoftheirfeetonthepavement。Menontheirwaytobusiness;servantsonerrands;boyshurryingtoschool;wearyprofessorspacingslowlytheoldstreet;prostitutes，menandwomen，draggingtheirfeetwearilyafterlastnight’sdebauch;artistswithquick，impatientfootsteps;tradesmenfororders;childrentoseekforbread。Iheardthestreambeatby。Andatthealley’smouth，atthestreetcorner，abrokenbarrel—organwasplaying;
sometimesitquaveredandalmoststopped，thenwentonagain，likeabrokenhumanvoice。
Ilistened:myheartscarcelymoved;itwasascoldaslead。Icouldnotbearthelongdaybeforeme;andItriedtosleepagain;yetstillIheardthefeetuponthepavement。AndsuddenlyIheardthemcryloudastheybeat，\"Weareseeking！——weareseeking！——weareseeking！\"andthebrokenbarrel—organatthestreetcornersobbed，\"TheBeautiful！——theBeautiful！——
theBeautiful！\"Andmyheart，whichhadbeendead，criedoutwitheverythrob，\"Love！——Truth！——theBeautiful！——theBeautiful！\"ItwasthemusicI
hadheardinHeaventhatIcouldnotsingthere。
AndfullyIawoke。
Uponthefadedquilt，acrossmybedalongyellowstreakofpaleLondonsunlightwaslying。Itfellthroughmynarrowatticwindow。
Ilaughed。Irose。
Iwasgladthelongdaywasbeforeme。
ParisandLondon。