—It
is
yet
dark
,
and
the
morning
is
far
distant
,
but
you
must
set
out
at
once
.
"
He
gave
me
the
hand
,
and
brought
me
a
spade
.
"
This
is
my
gardening
spade
,
"
he
said
;
"
with
it
I
have
brought
many
a
lovely
thing
to
the
sun
.
"
I
took
it
,
and
went
out
into
the
night
.
It
was
very
cold
,
and
pitch-dark
.
To
fall
would
be
a
dread
thing
,
and
the
way
I
had
to
go
was
a
difficult
one
even
in
the
broad
sunlight
!
But
I
had
not
set
myself
the
task
,
and
the
minute
I
started
I
learned
that
I
was
left
to
no
chance
:
a
pale
light
broke
from
the
ground
at
every
step
,
and
showed
me
where
next
to
set
my
foot
.
Through
the
heather
and
the
low
rocks
I
walked
without
once
even
stumbling
.
I
found
the
bad
burrow
quite
still
;
not
a
wave
arose
,
not
a
head
appeared
as
I
crossed
it
.
A
moon
came
,
and
herself
showed
me
the
easy
way
:
toward
morning
I
was
almost
over
the
dry
channels
of
the
first
branch
of
the
river-bed
,
and
not
far
,
I
judged
,
from
Mara
's
cottage
.
The
moon
was
very
low
,
and
the
sun
not
yet
up
,
when
I
saw
before
me
in
the
path
,
here
narrowed
by
rocks
,
a
figure
covered
from
head
to
foot
as
with
a
veil
of
moonlit
mist
.
I
kept
on
my
way
as
if
I
saw
nothing
.
The
figure
threw
aside
its
veil
.
"
Have
you
forgotten
me
already
?
"
said
the
princess
—
or
what
seemed
she
.
I
neither
hesitated
nor
answered
;
I
walked
straight
on
.
"
You
meant
then
to
leave
me
in
that
horrible
sepulchre
!
Do
you
not
yet
understand
that
where
I
please
to
be
,
there
I
am
?
Take
my
hand
:
I
am
alive
as
you
!
"
I
was
on
the
point
of
saying
,
"
Give
me
your
left
hand
,
"
but
bethought
myself
,
held
my
peace
,
and
steadily
advanced
.
"
Give
me
my
hand
,
"
she
suddenly
shrieked
,
"
or
I
will
tear
you
in
pieces
:
you
are
mine
!
"
She
flung
herself
upon
me
.
I
shuddered
,
but
did
not
falter
.
Nothing
touched
me
,
and
I
saw
her
no
more
.
With
measured
tread
along
the
path
,
filling
it
for
some
distance
,
came
a
body
of
armed
men
.
I
walked
through
them
—
nor
know
whether
they
gave
way
to
me
,
or
were
bodiless
things
.
But
they
turned
and
followed
me
;
I
heard
and
felt
their
march
at
my
very
heels
;
but
I
cast
no
look
behind
,
and
the
sound
of
their
steps
and
the
clash
of
their
armour
died
away
.
A
little
farther
on
,
the
moon
being
now
close
to
the
horizon
and
the
way
in
deep
shadow
,
I
descried
,
seated
where
the
path
was
so
narrow
that
I
could
not
pass
her
,
a
woman
with
muffled
face
.
"
Ah
,
"
she
said
,
"
you
are
come
at
last
!
I
have
waited
here
for
you
an
hour
or
more
!
You
have
done
well
!
Your
trial
is
over
.
My
father
sent
me
to
meet
you
that
you
might
have
a
little
rest
on
the
way
.
Give
me
your
charge
,
and
lay
your
head
in
my
lap
;
I
will
take
good
care
of
both
until
the
sun
is
well
risen
.
I
am
not
bitterness
always
,
neither
to
all
men
!
"
Her
words
were
terrible
with
temptation
,
for
I
was
very
weary
.
And
what
more
likely
to
be
true
!
If
I
were
,
through
slavish
obedience
to
the
letter
of
the
command
and
lack
of
pure
insight
,
to
trample
under
my
feet
the
very
person
of
the
Lady
of
Sorrow
!
My
heart
grew
faint
at
the
thought
,
then
beat
as
if
it
would
burst
my
bosom
.
Nevertheless
my
will
hardened
itself
against
my
heart
,
and
my
step
did
not
falter
.
I
took
my
tongue
between
my
teeth
lest
I
should
unawares
answer
,
and
kept
on
my
way
.
If
Adam
had
sent
her
,
he
could
not
complain
that
I
would
not
heed
her
!
Nor
would
the
Lady
of
Sorrow
love
me
the
less
that
even
she
had
not
been
able
to
turn
me
aside
!
Just
ere
I
reached
the
phantom
,
she
pulled
the
covering
from
her
face
:
great
indeed
was
her
loveliness
,
but
those
were
not
Mara
's
eyes
!
no
lie
could
truly
or
for
long
imitate
them
!
I
advanced
as
if
the
thing
were
not
there
,
and
my
foot
found
empty
room
.
I
had
almost
reached
the
other
side
when
a
Shadow
—
I
think
it
was
The
Shadow
,
barred
my
way
.
He
seemed
to
have
a
helmet
upon
his
head
,
but
as
I
drew
closer
I
perceived
it
was
the
head
itself
I
saw
—
so
distorted
as
to
bear
but
a
doubtful
resemblance
to
the
human
.
A
cold
wind
smote
me
,
dank
and
sickening
—
repulsive
as
the
air
of
a
charnel-house
;
firmness
forsook
my
joints
,
and
my
limbs
trembled
as
if
they
would
drop
in
a
helpless
heap
.
I
seemed
to
pass
through
him
,
but
I
think
now
that
he
passed
through
me
:
for
a
moment
I
was
as
one
of
the
damned
.
Then
a
soft
wind
like
the
first
breath
of
a
new-born
spring
greeted
me
,
and
before
me
arose
the
dawn
.
My
way
now
led
me
past
the
door
of
Mara
's
cottage
.
It
stood
wide
open
,
and
upon
the
table
I
saw
a
loaf
of
bread
and
a
pitcher
of
water
.
In
or
around
the
cottage
was
neither
howl
nor
wail
.
I
came
to
the
precipice
that
testified
to
the
vanished
river
.
I
climbed
its
worn
face
,
and
went
on
into
the
desert
.
There
at
last
,
after
much
listening
to
and
fro
,
I
determined
the
spot
where
the
hidden
water
was
loudest
,
hung
Lilith
's
hand
about
my
neck
,
and
began
to
dig
.
It
was
a
long
labour
,
for
I
had
to
make
a
large
hole
because
of
the
looseness
of
the
sand
;
but
at
length
I
threw
up
a
damp
spadeful
.
I
flung
the
sexton-tool
on
the
verge
,
and
laid
down
the
hand
.
A
little
water
was
already
oozing
from
under
its
fingers
.
I
sprang
out
,
and
made
haste
to
fill
the
grave
.
Then
,
utterly
fatigued
,
I
dropped
beside
it
,
and
fell
asleep
.
chapter
xlii
I
SLEEP
THE
SLEEP
WHEN
I
woke
,
the
ground
was
moist
about
me
,
and
my
track
to
the
grave
was
growing
a
quicksand
.
In
its
ancient
course
the
river
was
swelling
,
and
had
begun
to
shove
at
its
burden
.
Soon
it
would
be
roaring
down
the
precipice
,
and
,
divided
in
its
fall
,
rushing
with
one
branch
to
resubmerge
the
orchard
valley
,
with
the
other
to
drown
perhaps
the
monster
horde
,
and
between
them
to
isle
the
Evil
Wood
.
I
set
out
at
once
on
my
return
to
those
who
sent
me
.
When
I
came
to
the
precipice
,
I
took
my
way
betwixt
the
branches
,
for
I
would
pass
again
by
the
cottage
of
Mara
,
lest
she
should
have
returned
:
I
longed
to
see
her
once
more
ere
I
went
to
sleep
;
and
now
I
knew
where
to
cross
the
channels
,
even
if
the
river
should
have
overtaken
me
and
filled
them
.
But
when
I
reached
it
,
the
door
stood
open
still
;
the
bread
and
the
water
were
still
on
the
table
;
and
deep
silence
was
within
and
around
it
.
I
stopped
and
called
aloud
at
the
door
,
but
no
voice
replied
,
and
I
went
my
way
.
A
little
farther
,
I
came
where
sat
a
grayheaded
man
on
the
sand
,
weeping
.
"
What
ails
you
,
sir
?
"
I
asked
.
"
Are
you
forsaken
?
"
"
I
weep
,
"
he
answered
,
"
because
they
will
not
let
me
die
.
I
have
been
to
the
house
of
death
,
and
its
mistress
,
notwithstanding
my
years
,
refuses
me
.
Intercede
for
me
,
sir
,
if
you
know
her
,
I
pray
you
.
"
"
Nay
,
sir
,
"
I
replied
,
"
that
I
cannot
;
for
she
refuses
none
whom
it
is
lawful
for
her
to
receive
.
"
"
How
know
you
this
of
her
?
You
have
never
sought
death
!
you
are
much
too
young
to
desire
it
!
"
"
I
fear
your
words
may
indicate
that
,
were
you
young
again
,
neither
would
you
desire
it
.
"
"
Indeed
,
young
sir
,
I
would
not
!
and
certain
I
am
that
you
cannot
.
"
"
I
may
not
be
old
enough
to
desire
to
die
,
but
I
am
young
enough
to
desire
to
live
indeed
!
Therefore
I
go
now
to
learn
if
she
will
at
length
take
me
in
.
You
wish
to
die
because
you
do
not
care
to
live
:
she
will
not
open
her
door
to
you
,
for
no
one
can
die
who
does
not
long
to
live
.
"
"
It
ill
becomes
your
youth
to
mock
a
friendless
old
man
.
Pray
,
cease
your
riddles
!
"
"
Did
not
then
the
Mother
tell
you
something
of
the
same
sort
?
"
"
In
truth
I
believe
she
did
;
but
I
gave
little
heed
to
her
excuses
.
"
"
Ah
,
then
,
sir
,
"
I
rejoined
,
"
it
is
but
too
plain
you
have
not
yet
learned
to
die
,
and
I
am
heartily
grieved
for
you
.
Such
had
I
too
been
but
for
the
Lady
of
Sorrow
.
I
am
indeed
young
,
but
I
have
wept
many
tears
;
pardon
me
,
therefore
,
if
I
presume
to
offer
counsel
:
—
Go
to
the
Lady
of
Sorrow
,
and
`
take
with
both
hands
'
what
she
will
give
you
.
Yonder
lies
her
cottage
.
She
is
not
in
it
now
,
but
her
door
stands
open
,
and
there
is
bread
and
water
on
her
table
.
Go
in
;
sit
down
;
eat
of
the
bread
;
drink
of
the
water
;
and
wait
there
until
she
appear
.
Then
ask
counsel
of
her
,
for
she
is
true
,
and
her
wisdom
is
great
.
"
He
fell
to
weeping
afresh
,
and
I
left
him
weeping
.
What
I
said
,
I
fear
he
did
not
heed
.
But
Mara
would
find
him
!
The
sun
was
down
,
and
the
moon
unrisen
,
when
I
reached
the
abode
of
the
monsters
,
but
it
was
still
as
a
stone
till
I
passed
over
.
Then
I
heard
a
noise
of
many
waters
,
and
a
great
cry
behind
me
,
but
I
did
not
turn
my
head
.
Ere
I
reached
the
house
of
death
,
the
cold
was
bitter
and
the
darkness
dense
;
and
the
cold
and
the
darkness
were
one
,
and
entered
into
my
bones
together
.
But
the
candle
of
Eve
,
shining
from
the
window
,
guided
me
,
and
kept
both
frost
and
murk
from
my
heart
.
The
door
stood
open
,
and
the
cottage
lay
empty
.
I
sat
down
disconsolate
.
And
as
I
sat
,
there
grew
in
me
such
a
sense
of
loneliness
as
never
yet
in
my
wanderings
had
I
felt
.
Thousands
were
near
me
,
not
one
was
with
me
!
True
,
it
was
I
who
was
dead
,
not
they
;
but
,
whether
by
their
life
or
by
my
death
,
we
were
divided
!
They
were
alive
,
but
I
was
not
dead
enough
even
to
know
them
alive
:
doubt
would
come
.
They
were
,
at
best
,
far
from
me
,
and
helpers
I
had
none
to
lay
me
beside
them
!
Never
before
had
I
known
,
or
truly
imagined
desolation
!
In
vain
I
took
myself
to
task
,
saying
the
solitude
was
but
a
seeming
:
I
was
awake
,
and
they
slept
—
that
was
all
!
it
was
only
that
they
lay
so
still
and
did
not
speak
!
they
were
with
me
now
,
and
soon
,
soon
I
should
be
with
them
!
I
dropped
Adam
's
old
spade
,
and
the
dull
sound
of
its
fall
on
the
clay
floor
seemed
reverberated
from
the
chamber
beyond
:
a
childish
terror
seized
me
;
I
sat
and
stared
at
the
coffin-door
.
—
But
father
Adam
,
mother
Eve
,
sister
Mara
would
soon
come
to
me
,
and
then
—
welcome
the
cold
world
and
the
white
neighbours
!
I
forgot
my
fears
,
lived
a
little
,
and
loved
my
dead
.
Something
did
move
in
the
chamber
of
the
dead
!
There
came
from
it
what
was
like
a
dim
,
far-off
sound
,
yet
was
not
what
I
knew
as
sound
.
My
soul
sprang
into
my
ears
.
Was
it
a
mere
thrill
of
the
dead
air
,
too
slight
to
be
heard
,
but
quivering
in
every
spiritual
sense
?
I
knew
without
hearing
,
without
feeling
it
!
The
something
was
coming
!
it
drew
nearer
!
In
the
bosom
of
my
desertion
awoke
an
infant
hope
.
The
noiseless
thrill
reached
the
coffin-door
—
became
sound
,
and
smote
on
my
ear
.
The
door
began
to
move
—
with
a
low
,
soft
creaking
of
its
hinges
.
It
was
opening
!
I
ceased
to
listen
,
and
stared
expectant
.
It
opened
a
little
way
,
and
a
face
came
into
the
opening
.
It
was
Lona
's
.
Its
eyes
were
closed
,
but
the
face
itself
was
upon
me
,
and
seemed
to
see
me
.
It
was
white
as
Eve
's
,
white
as
Mara
's
,
but
did
not
shine
like
their
faces
.
She
spoke
,
and
her
voice
was
like
a
sleepy
night-wind
in
the
grass
.
"
Are
you
coming
,
king
?
"
it
said
.
"
I
cannot
rest
until
you
are
with
me
,
gliding
down
the
river
to
the
great
sea
,
and
the
beautiful
dream-land
.
The
sleepiness
is
full
of
lovely
things
:
come
and
see
them
.
"
"
Ah
,
my
darling
!
"
I
cried
.
"
Had
I
but
known
!
—
I
thought
you
were
dead
!
"
She
lay
on
my
bosom
—
cold
as
ice
frozen
to
marble
.
She
threw
her
arms
,
so
white
,
feebly
about
me
,
and
sighed
—
"
Carry
me
back
to
my
bed
,
king
.
I
want
to
sleep
.
"
I
bore
her
to
the
death-chamber
,
holding
her
tight
lest
she
should
dissolve
out
of
my
arms
.
Unaware
that
I
saw
,
I
carried
her
straight
to
her
couch
.
"
Lay
me
down
,
"
she
said
,
"
and
cover
me
from
the
warm
air
;
it
hurts
—
a
little
.
Your
bed
is
there
,
next
to
mine
.
I
shall
see
you
when
I
wake
.
"
She
was
already
asleep
.
I
threw
myself
on
my
couch
—
blessed
as
never
was
man
on
the
eve
of
his
wedding
.
"
Come
,
sweet
cold
,
"
I
said
,
"
and
still
my
heart
speedily
.
"
But
there
came
instead
a
glimmer
of
light
in
the
chamber
,
and
I
saw
the
face
of
Adam
approaching
.
He
had
not
the
candle
,
yet
I
saw
him
.
At
the
side
of
Lona
's
couch
,
he
looked
down
on
her
with
a
questioning
smile
,
and
then
greeted
me
across
it
.
"
We
have
been
to
the
top
of
the
hill
to
hear
the
waters
on
their
way
,
"
he
said
.
"
They
will
be
in
the
den
of
the
monsters
to-night
.
—
But
why
did
you
not
await
our
return
?
"
"
My
child
could
not
sleep
,
"
I
answered
.
"
She
is
fast
asleep
!
"
he
rejoined
.
"
Yes
,
now
!
"
I
said
;
"
but
she
was
awake
when
I
laid
her
down
.
"
"
She
was
asleep
all
the
time
!
"
he
insisted
.
"
She
was
perhaps
dreaming
about
you
—
and
came
to
you
?
"
"
She
did
.
"
"
And
did
you
not
see
that
her
eyes
were
closed
?
"
"
Now
I
think
of
it
,
I
did
.
"
"
If
you
had
looked
ere
you
laid
her
down
,
you
would
have
seen
her
asleep
on
the
couch
.
"
"
That
would
have
been
terrible
!
"
"
You
would
only
have
found
that
she
was
no
longer
in
your
arms
.
"
"
That
would
have
been
worse
!
"
"
It
is
,
perhaps
,
to
think
of
;
but
to
see
it
would
not
have
troubled
you
.
"
"
Dear
father
,
"
I
said
,
"
how
is
it
that
I
am
not
sleepy
?
I
thought
I
should
go
to
sleep
like
the
Little
Ones
the
moment
I
laid
my
head
down
!
"
"
Your
hour
is
not
quite
come
.
You
must
have
food
ere
you
sleep
.
"
"
Ah
,
I
ought
not
to
have
lain
down
without
your
leave
,
for
I
cannot
sleep
without
your
help
!
I
will
get
up
at
once
!
"
But
I
found
my
own
weight
more
than
I
could
move
.
"
There
is
no
need
:
we
will
serve
you
here
,
"
he
answered
.
"
—
You
do
not
feel
cold
,
do
you
?
"
"
Not
too
cold
to
lie
still
,
but
perhaps
too
cold
to
eat
!
"
He
came
to
the
side
of
my
couch
,
bent
over
me
,
and
breathed
on
my
heart
.
At
once
I
was
warm
.
As
he
left
me
,
I
heard
a
voice
,
and
knew
it
was
the
Mother
's
.
She
was
singing
,
and
her
song
was
sweet
and
soft
and
low
,
and
I
thought
she
sat
by
my
bed
in
the
dark
;
but
ere
it
ceased
,
her
song
soared
aloft
,
and
seemed
to
come
from
the
throat
of
a
woman-angel
,
high
above
all
the
region
of
larks
,
higher
than
man
had
ever
yet
lifted
up
his
heart
.
I
heard
every
word
she
sang
,
but
could
keep
only
this
:
—
"
Many
a
wrong
,
and
its
curing
song
;
Many
a
road
,
and
many
an
inn
;
Room
to
roam
,
but
only
one
home
For
all
the
world
to
win
!
"
and
I
thought
I
had
heard
the
song
before
.
Then
the
three
came
to
my
couch
together
,
bringing
me
bread
and
wine
,
and
I
sat
up
to
partake
of
it
.
Adam
stood
on
one
side
of
me
,
Eve
and
Mara
on
the
other
.
"
You
are
good
indeed
,
father
Adam
,
mother
Eve
,
sister
Mara
,
"
I
said
,
"
to
receive
me
!
In
my
soul
I
am
ashamed
and
sorry
!
"
"
We
knew
you
would
come
again
!
"
answered
Eve
.
"
How
could
you
know
it
?
"
I
returned
.
"
Because
here
was
I
,
born
to
look
after
my
brothers
and
sisters
!
"
answered
Mara
with
a
smile
.
"
Every
creature
must
one
night
yield
himself
and
lie
down
,
"
answered
Adam
:
"
he
was
made
for
liberty
,
and
must
not
be
left
a
slave
!
"
"
It
will
be
late
,
I
fear
,
ere
all
have
lain
down
!
"
I
said
.
"
There
is
no
early
or
late
here
,
"
he
rejoined
.
"
For
him
the
true
time
then
first
begins
who
lays
himself
down
.
Men
are
not
coming
home
fast
;
women
are
coming
faster
.
A
desert
,
wide
and
dreary
,
parts
him
who
lies
down
to
die
from
him
who
lies
down
to
live
.
The
former
may
well
make
haste
,
but
here
is
no
haste
.
"
"
To
our
eyes
,
"
said
Eve
,
"
you
were
coming
all
the
time
:
we
knew
Mara
would
find
you
,
and
you
must
come
!
"
"
How
long
is
it
since
my
father
lay
down
?
"
I
asked
.
"
I
have
told
you
that
years
are
of
no
consequence
in
this
house
,
"
answered
Adam
;
"
we
do
not
heed
them
.
Your
father
will
wake
when
his
morning
comes
.
Your
mother
,
next
to
whom
you
are
lying
,
—
—
"
"
Ah
,
then
,
it
is
my
mother
!
"
I
exclaimed
.
"
Yes
—
she
with
the
wounded
hand
,
"
he
assented
;
"
—
she
will
be
up
and
away
long
ere
your
morning
is
ripe
.
"
"
I
am
sorry
.
"
"
Rather
be
glad
.
"
"
It
must
be
a
sight
for
God
Himself
to
see
such
a
woman
come
awake
!
"
"
It
is
indeed
a
sight
for
God
,
a
sight
that
makes
her
Maker
glad
!
He
sees
of
the
travail
of
His
soul
,
and
is
satisfied
!
—
Look
at
her
once
more
,
and
sleep
.
"
He
let
the
rays
of
his
candle
fall
on
her
beautiful
face
.
"
She
looks
much
younger
!
"
I
said
.
"
She
is
much
younger
,
"
he
replied
.
"
Even
Lilith
already
begins
to
look
younger
!
"
I
lay
down
,
blissfully
drowsy
.
"
But
when
you
see
your
mother
again
,
"
he
continued
,
"
you
will
not
at
first
know
her
.
She
will
go
on
steadily
growing
younger
until
she
reaches
the
perfection
of
her
womanhood
—
a
splendour
beyond
foresight
.
Then
she
will
open
her
eyes
,
behold
on
one
side
her
husband
,
on
the
other
her
son
—
and
rise
and
leave
them
,
to
go
to
a
father
and
a
brother
more
to
her
than
they
.
"
I
heard
as
one
in
a
dream
.
I
was
very
cold
,
but
already
the
cold
caused
me
no
suffering
.
I
felt
them
put
on
me
the
white
garment
of
the
dead
.
Then
I
forgot
everything
.
The
night
about
me
was
pale
with
sleeping
faces
,
but
I
was
asleep
also
,
nor
knew
that
I
slept
.
chapter
xliii
THE
DREAMS
THAT
CAME
I
GREW
aware
of
existence
,
aware
also
of
the
profound
,
the
infinite
cold
.
I
was
intensely
blessed
—
more
blessed
,
I
know
,
than
my
heart
,
imagining
,
can
now
recall
.
I
could
not
think
of
warmth
with
the
least
suggestion
of
pleasure
.
I
knew
that
I
had
enjoyed
it
,
but
could
not
remember
how
.
The
cold
had
soothed
every
care
,
dissolved
every
pain
,
comforted
every
sorrow
.
Comforted
?
Nay
;
sorrow
was
swallowed
up
in
the
life
drawing
nigh
to
restore
every
good
and
lovely
thing
a
hundredfold
!
I
lay
at
peace
,
full
of
the
quietest
expectation
,
breathing
the
damp
odours
of
Earth
's
bountiful
bosom
,
aware
of
the
souls
of
primroses
,
daisies
and
snowdrops
,
patiently
waiting
in
it
for
the
Spring
.
How
convey
the
delight
of
that
frozen
,
yet
conscious
sleep
!
I
had
no
more
to
stand
up
!
had
only
to
lie
stretched
out
and
still
!
How
cold
I
was
,
words
cannot
tell
;
yet
I
grew
colder
and
colder
—
and
welcomed
the
cold
yet
more
and
more
.
I
grew
continuously
less
conscious
of
myself
,
continuously
more
conscious
of
bliss
,
unimaginable
yet
felt
.
I
had
neither
made
it
nor
prayed
for
it
:
it
was
mine
in
virtue
of
existence
!
and
existence
was
mine
in
virtue
of
a
Will
that
dwelt
in
mine
.
Then
the
dreams
began
to
arrive
—
and
came
crowding
.
—
I
lay
naked
on
a
snowy
peak
.
The
white
mist
heaved
below
me
like
a
billowy
sea
.
The
cold
moon
was
in
the
air
with
me
,
and
above
the
moon
and
me
the
colder
sky
,
in
which
the
moon
and
I
dwelt
.
I
was
Adam
,
waiting
for
God
to
breathe
into
my
nostrils
the
breath
of
life
.
—
I
was
not
Adam
,
but
a
child
in
the
bosom
of
a
mother
white
with
a
radiant
whiteness
.
I
was
a
youth
on
a
white
horse
,
leaping
from
cloud
to
cloud
of
a
blue
heaven
,
hasting
calmly
to
some
blessed
goal
.
For
centuries
I
dreamed
—
or
was
it
chiliads
?
or
only
one
long
night
?
—
But
why
ask
?
for
time
had
nothing
to
do
with
me
;
I
was
in
the
land
of
thought
—
farther
in
,
higher
up
than
the
seven
dimensions
,
the
ten
senses
:
I
think
I
was
where
I
am
—
in
the
heart
of
God
.
—
I
dreamed
away
dim
cycles
in
the
centre
of
a
melting
glacier
,
the
spectral
moon
drawing
nearer
and
nearer
,
the
wind
and
the
welter
of
a
torrent
growing
in
my
ears
.
I
lay
and
heard
them
:
the
wind
and
the
water
and
the
moon
sang
a
peaceful
waiting
for
a
redemption
drawing
nigh
.
I
dreamed
cycles
,
I
say
,
but
,
for
aught
I
knew
or
can
tell
,
they
were
the
solemn
,
æonian
march
of
a
second
,
pregnant
with
eternity
.
Then
,
of
a
sudden
,
but
not
once
troubling
my
conscious
bliss
,
all
the
wrongs
I
had
ever
done
,
from
far
beyond
my
earthly
memory
down
to
the
present
moment
,
were
with
me
.
Fully
in
every
wrong
lived
the
conscious
I
,
confessing
,
abjuring
,
lamenting
the
deed
,
making
atonement
with
each
person
I
had
injured
,
hurt
,
or
offended
.
Every
human
soul
to
which
I
had
caused
a
troubled
thought
,
was
now
grown
unspeakably
dear
to
me
,
and
I
humbled
myself
before
it
,
agonising
to
cast
from
between
us
the
clinging
offence
.
I
wept
at
the
feet
of
the
mother
whose
commands
I
had
slighted
;
with
bitter
shame
I
confessed
to
my
father
that
I
had
told
him
two
lies
,
and
long
forgotten
them
:
now
for
long
had
remembered
them
,
and
kept
them
in
memory
to
crush
at
last
at
his
feet
.
I
was
the
eager
slave
of
all
whom
I
had
thus
or
anyhow
wronged
.
Countless
services
I
devised
to
render
them
!
For
this
one
I
would
build
such
a
house
as
had
never
grown
from
the
ground
!
for
that
one
I
would
train
such
horses
as
had
never
yet
been
seen
in
any
world
!
For
a
third
I
would
make
such
a
garden
as
had
never
bloomed
,
haunted
with
still
pools
,
and
alive
with
running
waters
!
I
would
write
songs
to
make
their
hearts
swell
,
and
tales
to
make
them
glow
!
I
would
turn
the
forces
of
the
world
into
such
channels
of
invention
as
to
make
them
laugh
with
the
joy
of
wonder
!
Love
possessed
me
!
Love
was
my
life
!
Love
was
to
me
,
as
to
him
that
made
me
,
all
in
all
!
Suddenly
I
found
myself
in
a
solid
blackness
,
upon
which
the
ghost
of
light
that
dwells
in
the
caverns
of
the
eyes
could
not
cast
one
fancied
glimmer
.
But
my
heart
,
which
feared
nothing
and
hoped
infinitely
,
was
full
of
peace
.
I
lay
imagining
what
the
light
would
be
when
it
came
,
and
what
new
creation
it
would
bring
with
it
—
when
,
suddenly
,
without
conscious
volition
,
I
sat
up
and
stared
about
me
.
The
moon
was
looking
in
at
the
lowest
,
horizontal
,
crypt-like
windows
of
the
death-chamber
,
her
long
light
slanting
,
I
thought
,
across
the
fallen
,
but
still
ripening
sheaves
of
the
harvest
of
the
great
husbandman
.
—
But
no
;
that
harvest
was
gone
!
Gathered
in
,
or
swept
away
by
chaotic
storm
,
not
a
sacred
sheaf
was
there
!
My
dead
were
gone
!
I
was
alone
!
—
In
desolation
dread
lay
depths
yet
deeper
than
I
had
hitherto
known
!
—
Had
there
never
been
any
ripening
dead
?
Had
I
but
dreamed
them
and
their
loveliness
?
Why
then
these
walls
?
why
.
those
empty
couches
?
No
;
they
were
all
up
!
they
were
all
abroad
in
the
new
eternal
day
,
and
had
forgotten
me
!
They
had
left
me
behind
,
and
alone
!
Tenfold
more
terrible
was
the
tomb
its
inhabitants
away
!
The
quiet
ones
had
made
me
quiet
with
their
presence
—
had
pervaded
my
mind
with
their
blissful
peace
;
now
I
had
no
friend
,
and
my
lovers
were
far
from
me
!
A
moment
I
sat
and
stared
horror-stricken
.
I
had
been
alone
with
the
moon
on
a
mountain
top
in
the
sky
;
now
I
was
alone
with
her
in
a
huge
cenotaph
:
she
too
was
staring
about
,
seeking
her
dead
with
ghastly
gaze
!
I
sprang
to
my
feet
,
and
staggered
from
the
fearful
place
.
The
cottage
was
empty
.
I
ran
out
into
the
night
.
No
moon
was
there
!
Even
as
I
left
the
chamber
,
a
cloudy
rampart
had
risen
and
covered
her
.
But
a
broad
shimmer
came
from
far
over
the
heath
,
mingled
with
a
ghostly
murmuring
music
,
as
if
the
moon
were
raining
a
light
that
plashed
as
it
fell
.
I
ran
stumbling
across
the
moor
,
and
found
a
lovely
lake
,
margined
with
reeds
and
rushes
:
the
moon
behind
the
cloud
was
gazing
upon
the
monsters
'
den
,
full
of
clearest
,
brightest
water
,
and
very
still
.
—
But
the
musical
murmur
went
on
,
filling
the
quiet
air
,
and
drawing
me
after
it
.
I
walked
round
the
border
of
the
little
mere
,
and
climbed
the
range
of
hills
.
What
a
sight
rose
to
my
eyes
!
The
whole
expanse
where
,
with
hot
,
aching
feet
,
I
had
crossed
and
recrossed
the
deep-scored
channels
and
ravines
of
the
dry
river-bed
,
was
alive
with
streams
,
with
torrents
,
with
still
pools
—
"
a
river
deep
and
wide
"
!
How
the
moon
flashed
on
the
water
!
how
the
water
answered
the
moon
with
flashes
of
its
own
—
white
flashes
breaking
everywhere
from
its
rock-encountered
flow
!
And
a
great
jubilant
song
arose
from
its
bosom
,
the
song
of
new-born
liberty
.
I
stood
a
moment
gazing
,
and
my
heart
also
began
to
exult
:
my
life
was
not
all
a
failure
!
I
had
helped
to
set
this
river
free
!
—
My
dead
were
not
lost
!
I
had
but
to
go
after
and
find
them
!
I
would
follow
and
follow
until
I
came
whither
they
had
gone
!
Our
meeting
might
be
thousands
of
years
away
,
but
at
last
—
at
last
I
should
hold
them
!
Wherefore
else
did
the
floods
clap
their
hands
?
I
hurried
down
the
hill
:
my
pilgrimage
was
begun
!
In
what
direction
to
turn
my
steps
I
knew
not
,
but
I
must
go
and
go
till
I
found
my
living
dead
!
A
torrent
ran
swift
and
wide
at
the
foot
of
the
range
:
I
rushed
in
;
it
laid
no
hold
upon
me
;
I
waded
through
it
.
The
next
I
sprang
across
;
the
third
I
swam
;
the
next
I
waded
again
.
I
stopped
to
gaze
on
the
wondrous
loveliness
of
the
ceaseless
flash
and
flow
,
and
to
hearken
to
the
multitudinous
broken
music
.
Every
now
and
then
some
incipient
air
would
seem
about
to
draw
itself
clear
of
the
dulcet
confusion
,
only
to
merge
again
in
the
consorted
roar
.
At
moments
the
world
of
waters
would
invade
as
if
to
overwhelm
me
—
not
with
the
force
of
its
seaward
rush
,
or
the
shouting
of
its
liberated
throng
,
but
with
the
greatness
of
the
silence
wandering
into
sound
.
As
I
stood
lost
in
delight
,
a
hand
was
laid
on
my
shoulder
.
I
turned
,
and
saw
a
man
in
the
prime
of
strength
,
beautiful
as
if
fresh
from
the
heart
of
the
glad
creator
,
young
like
him
who
cannot
grow
old
.
I
looked
:
it
was
Adam
.
He
stood
large
and
grand
,
clothed
in
a
white
robe
,
with
the
moon
in
his
hair
.
"
Father
,
"
I
cried
,
"
where
is
she
?
Where
are
the
dead
?
Is
the
great
resurrection
come
and
gone
?
The
terror
of
my
loneliness
was
upon
me
;
I
could
not
sleep
without
my
dead
;
I
ran
from
the
desolate
chamber
.
—
Whither
shall
I
go
to
find
them
?
"
"
You
mistake
,
my
son
,
"
he
answered
,
in
a
voice
whose
very
breath
was
consolation
.
"
You
are
still
in
the
chamber
of
death
,
still
upon
your
couch
,
asleep
and
dreaming
,
with
the
dead
around
you
.
"
"
Alas
!
when
I
but
dream
how
am
I
to
know
it
?
The
dream
best
dreamed
is
the
likest
to
the
waking
truth
!
"
"
When
you
are
quite
dead
,
you
will
dream
no
false
dream
.
The
soul
that
is
true
can
generate
nothing
that
is
not
true
,
neither
can
the
false
enter
it
.
"
"
But
,
sir
,
"
I
faltered
,
"
how
am
I
to
distinguish
betwixt
the
true
and
the
false
where
both
alike
seem
real
?
"
"
Do
you
not
understand
?
"
he
returned
,
with
a
smile
that
might
have
slain
all
the
sorrows
of
all
his
children
.
"
You
cannot
perfectly
distinguish
between
the
true
and
the
false
while
you
are
not
yet
quite
dead
;
neither
indeed
will
you
when
you
are
quite
dead
—
that
is
,
quite
alive
,
for
then
the
false
will
never
present
itself
.
At
this
moment
,
believe
me
,
you
are
on
your
bed
in
the
house
of
death
.
"
"
I
am
trying
hard
to
believe
you
,
father
.
I
do
indeed
believe
you
,
although
I
can
neither
see
nor
feel
the
truth
of
what
you
say
.
"
"
You
are
not
to
blame
that
you
cannot
.
And
because
even
in
a
dream
you
believe
me
,
I
will
help
you
.
—
Put
forth
your
left
hand
open
,
and
close
it
gently
:
it
will
clasp
the
hand
of
your
Lona
,
who
lies
asleep
where
you
lie
dreaming
you
are
awake
.
"
I
put
forth
my
hand
:
it
closed
on
the
hand
of
Lona
,
firm
and
soft
and
deathless
.
"
But
,
father
,
"
I
cried
,
"
she
is
warm
!
"
"
Your
hand
is
as
warm
to
hers
.
Cold
is
a
thing
unknown
in
our
country
.
Neither
she
nor
you
are
yet
in
the
fields
of
home
,
but
each
to
each
is
alive
and
warm
and
healthful
.
"
Then
my
heart
was
glad
.
But
immediately
supervened
a
sharp-stinging
doubt
.
"
Father
,
"
I
said
,
"
forgive
me
,
but
how
am
I
to
know
surely
that
this
also
is
not
a
part
of
the
lovely
dream
in
which
I
am
now
walking
with
thyself
?
"
"
Thou
doubtest
because
thou
lovest
the
truth
.
Some
would
willingly
believe
life
but
a
phantasm
,
if
only
it
might
for
ever
afford
them
a
world
of
pleasant
dreams
:
thou
art
not
of
such
!
Be
content
for
a
while
not
to
know
surely
.
The
hour
will
come
,
and
that
ere
long
,
when
,
being
true
,
thou
shalt
behold
the
very
truth
,
and
doubt
will
be
for
ever
dead
.
Scarce
,
then
,
wilt
thou
be
able
to
recall
the
features
of
the
phantom
.
Thou
wilt
then
know
that
which
thou
canst
not
now
dream
.
Thou
hast
not
yet
looked
the
Truth
in
the
face
,
hast
as
yet
at
best
but
seen
him
through
a
cloud
.
That
which
thou
seest
not
,
and
never
didst
see
save
in
a
glass
darkly
—
that
which
,
indeed
,
never
can
be
known
save
by
its
innate
splendour
shining
straight
into
pure
eyes
—
that
thou
canst
not
but
doubt
,
and
art
blameless
in
doubting
until
thou
seest
it
face
to
face
,
when
thou
wilt
no
longer
be
able
to
doubt
it
.
But
to
him
who
has
once
seen
even
a
shadow
only
of
the
truth
,
and
,
even
but
hoping
he
has
seen
it
when
it
is
present
no
longer
,
tries
to
obey
it
—
to
him
the
real
vision
,
the
Truth
himself
,
will
come
,
and
depart
no
more
,
but
abide
with
him
for
ever
.
"
"
I
think
I
see
,
father
,
"
I
said
;
"
I
think
I
understand
.
"
"
Then
remember
,
and
recall
.
Trials
yet
await
thee
,
heavy
,
of
a
nature
thou
knowest
not
now
.
Remember
the
things
thou
hast
seen
.
Truly
thou
knowest
not
those
things
,
but
thou
knowest
what
they
have
seemed
,
what
they
have
meant
to
thee
!
Remember
also
the
things
thou
shalt
yet
see
.
Truth
is
all
in
all
;
and
the
truth
of
things
lies
,
at
once
hid
and
revealed
,
in
their
seeming
.
"
"
How
can
that
be
,
father
?
"
I
said
,
and
raised
my
eyes
with
the
question
;
for
I
had
been
listening
with
downbent
head
,
aware
of
nothing
but
the
voice
of
Adam
.
He
was
gone
;
in
my
ears
was
nought
but
the
sounding
silence
of
the
swift-flowing
waters
.
I
stretched
forth
my
hands
to
find
him
,
but
no
answering
touch
met
their
seeking
.
I
was
alone
—
alone
in
the
land
of
dreams
!
To
myself
I
seemed
wide
awake
,
but
I
believed
I
was
in
a
dream
,
because
he
had
told
me
so
.
Even
in
a
dream
,
however
,
the
dreamer
must
do
something
!
he
cannot
sit
down
and
refuse
to
stir
until
the
dream
grow
weary
of
him
and
depart
:
I
took
up
my
wandering
,
and
went
on
.
Many
channels
I
crossed
,
and
came
to
a
wider
space
of
rock
;
there
,
dreaming
I
was
weary
,
I
laid
myself
down
,
and
longed
to
be
awake
.
I
was
about
to
rise
and
resume
my
journey
,
when
I
discovered
that
I
lay
beside
a
pit
in
the
rock
,
whose
mouth
was
like
that
of
a
grave
.
It
was
deep
and
dark
;
I
could
see
no
bottom
.
Now
in
the
dreams
of
my
childhood
I
had
found
that
a
fall
invariably
woke
me
,
and
would
,
therefore
,
when
desiring
to
discontinue
a
dream
,
seek
some
eminence
whence
to
cast
myself
down
that
I
might
wake
:
with
one
glance
at
the
peaceful
heavens
,
and
one
at
the
rushing
waters
,
I
rolled
myself
over
the
edge
of
the
pit
.
For
a
moment
consciousness
left
me
.
When
it
returned
,
I
stood
in
the
garret
of
my
own
house
,
in
the
little
wooden
chamber
of
the
cowl
and
the
mirror
.
Unspeakable
despair
,
hopelessness
blank
and
dreary
,
invaded
me
with
the
knowledge
:
between
me
and
my
Lona
lay
an
abyss
impassable
!
stretched
a
distance
no
chain
could
measure
!
Space
and
Time
and
Mode
of
Being
,
as
with
walls
of
adamant
unscalable
,
impenetrable
,
shut
me
in
from
that
gulf
!
True
,
it
might
yet
be
in
my
power
to
pass
again
through
the
door
of
light
,
and
journey
back
to
the
chamber
of
the
dead
;
and
if
so
,
I
was
parted
from
that
chamber
only
by
a
wide
heath
,
and
by
the
pale
,
starry
night
betwixt
me
and
the
sun
,
which
alone
could
open
for
me
the
mirror-door
,
and
was
now
far
away
on
the
other
side
of
the
world
!
but
an
immeasurably
wider
gulf
sank
between
us
in
this
—
that
she
was
asleep
and
I
was
awake
!
that
I
was
no
longer
worthy
to
share
with
her
that
sleep
,
and
could
no
longer
hope
to
awake
from
it
with
her
!
For
truly
I
was
much
to
blame
:
I
had
fled
from
my
dream
!
The
dream
was
not
of
my
making
,
any
more
than
was
my
life
:
I
ought
to
have
seen
it
to
the
end
!
and
in
fleeing
from
it
,
I
had
left
the
holy
sleep
itself
behind
me
!
—
I
would
go
back
to
Adam
,
tell
him
the
truth
,
and
bow
to
his
decree
!
I
crept
to
my
chamber
,
threw
myself
on
my
bed
,
and
passed
a
dreamless
night
.
I
rose
,
and
listlessly
sought
the
library
.
On
the
way
I
met
no
one
;
the
house
seemed
dead
.
I
sat
down
with
a
book
to
await
the
noontide
:
not
a
sentence
could
I
understand
!
The
mutilated
manuscript
offered
itself
from
the
masked
door
:
the
sight
of
it
sickened
me
;
what
to
me
was
the
princess
with
her
devilry
!
I
rose
and
looked
out
of
a
window
.
It
was
a
brilliant
morning
.
With
a
great
rush
the
fountain
shot
high
,
and
fell
roaring
back
.
The
sun
sat
in
its
feathery
top
.
Not
a
bird
sang
,
not
a
creature
was
to
be
seen
.
Raven
nor
librarian
came
near
me
.
The
world
was
dead
about
me
.
I
took
another
book
,
sat
down
again
,
and
went
on
waiting
.
Noon
was
near
.
I
went
up
the
stairs
to
the
dumb
,
shadowy
roof
.
I
closed
behind
me
the
door
into
the
wooden
chamber
,
and
turned
to
open
the
door
out
of
a
dreary
world
.
I
left
the
chamber
with
a
heart
of
stone
.
Do
what
I
might
,
all
was
fruitless
.
I
pulled
the
chains
;
adjusted
and
re-adjusted
the
hood
;
arranged
and
re-arranged
the
mirrors
;
no
result
followed
.
I
waited
and
waited
to
give
the
vision
time
;
it
would
not
come
;
the
mirror
stood
blank
;
nothing
lay
in
its
dim
old
depth
but
the
mirror
opposite
and
my
haggard
face
.
I
went
back
to
the
library
.
There
the
books
were
hateful
to
me
—
for
I
had
once
loved
them
.
That
night
I
lay
awake
from
down-lying
to
uprising
,
and
the
next
day
renewed
my
endeavours
with
the
mystic
door
.
But
all
was
yet
in
vain
.
How
the
hours
went
I
cannot
think
.
No
one
came
nigh
me
;
not
a
sound
from
the
house
below
entered
my
ears
.
Not
once
did
I
feel
weary
—
only
desolate
,
drearily
desolate
.
I
passed
a
second
sleepless
night
.
In
the
morning
I
went
for
the
last
time
to
the
chamber
in
the
roof
,
and
for
the
last
time
sought
an
open
door
:
there
was
none
.
My
heart
died
within
me
.
I
had
lost
my
Lona
!
Was
she
anywhere
?
had
she
ever
been
,
save
in
the
mouldering
cells
of
my
brain
?
"
I
must
die
one
day
,
"
I
thought
,
"
and
then
,
straight
from
my
death-bed
,
I
will
set
out
to
find
her
!
If
she
is
not
,
I
will
go
to
the
Father
and
say
—
`
Even
thou
canst
not
help
me
:
let
me
cease
,
I
pray
thee
!
'
"
chapter
xliv
THE
WAKING
THE
fourth
night
I
seemed
to
fall
asleep
,
and
that
night
woke
indeed
.
I
opened
my
eyes
and
knew
,
although
all
was
dark
around
me
,
that
I
lay
in
the
house
of
death
,
and
that
every
moment
since
there
I
fell
asleep
I
had
been
dreaming
,
and
now
first
was
awake
.
"
At
last
!
"
I
said
to
my
heart
,
and
it
leaped
for
joy
.
I
turned
my
eyes
;
Lona
stood
by
my
couch
,
waiting
for
me
!
I
had
never
lost
her
!
—
only
for
a
little
time
lost
the
sight
of
her
!
Truly
I
needed
not
have
lamented
her
so
sorely
!
It
was
dark
,
as
I
say
,
but
I
saw
her
:
she
was
not
dark
!
Her
eyes
shone
with
the
radiance
of
the
Mother
's
,
and
the
same
light
issued
from
her
face
—
nor
from
her
face
only
,
for
her
death-dress
,
filled
with
the
light
of
her
body
now
tenfold
awake
in
the
power
of
its
resurrection
,
was
white
as
snow
and
glistering
.
She
fell
asleep
a
girl
;
she
awoke
a
woman
,
ripe
with
the
loveliness
of
the
life
essential
.
I
folded
her
in
my
arms
,
and
knew
that
I
lived
indeed
.
"
I
woke
first
!
"
she
said
,
with
a
wondering
smile
.
"
You
did
,
my
love
,
and
woke
me
!
"
"
I
only
looked
at
you
and
waited
,
"
she
answered
.
The
candle
came
floating
toward
us
through
the
dark
,
and
in
a
few
moments
Adam
and
Eve
and
Mara
were
with
us
.
They
greeted
us
with
a
quiet
good-morning
and
a
smile
:
they
were
used
to
such
wakings
!
"
I
hope
you
have
had
a
pleasant
darkness
!
"
said
the
Mother
.
"
Not
very
,
"
I
answered
,
"
but
the
waking
from
it
is
heavenly
.
"
"
It
is
but
begun
,
"
she
rejoined
;
"
you
are
hardly
yet
awake
!
"
"
He
is
at
least
clothed-upon
with
Death
,
which
is
the
radiant
garment
of
Life
,
"
said
Adam
.
He
embraced
Lona
his
child
,
put
an
arm
around
me
,
looked
a
moment
or
two
inquiringly
at
the
princess
,
and
patted
the
head
of
the
leopardess
.
"
I
think
we
shall
meet
you
two
again
before
long
,
"
he
said
,
looking
first
at
Lona
,
then
at
me
.
"
Have
we
to
die
again
?
"
I
asked
.
"
No
,
"
he
answered
,
with
a
smile
like
the
Mother
's
;
"
you
have
died
into
life
,
and
will
die
no
more
;
you
have
only
to
keep
dead
.
Once
dying
as
we
die
here
,
all
the
dying
is
over
.
Now
you
have
only
to
live
,
and
that
you
must
,
with
all
your
blessed
might
.
The
more
you
live
,
the
stronger
you
become
to
live
.
"
"
But
shall
I
not
grow
weary
with
living
so
strong
?
"
I
said
.
"
What
if
I
cease
to
live
with
all
my
might
?
"
"
It
needs
but
the
will
,
and
the
strength
is
there
!
"
said
the
Mother
.
"
Pure
life
has
no
weakness
to
grow
weary
withal
.
The
Life
keeps
generating
ours
.
—
Those
who
will
not
die
,
die
many
times
,
die
constantly
,
keep
dying
deeper
,
never
have
done
dying
;
here
all
is
upwardness
and
love
and
gladness
.
"
She
ceased
with
a
smile
and
a
look
that
seemed
to
say
,
"
We
are
mother
and
son
;
we
understand
each
other
!
Between
us
no
farewell
is
possible
.
"
Mara
kissed
me
on
the
forehead
,
and
said
,
gayly
,
"
I
told
you
,
brother
,
all
would
be
well
!
—
When
next
you
would
comfort
,
say
,
`
What
will
be
well
,
is
even
now
well
.
'
"
She
gave
a
little
sigh
,
and
I
thought
it
meant
,
"
But
they
will
not
believe
you
!
"
"
—
You
know
me
now
!
"
she
ended
,
with
a
smile
like
her
mother
's
.
"
I
know
you
!
"
I
answered
:
"
you
are
the
voice
that
cried
in
the
wilderness
before
ever
the
Baptist
came
!
you
are
the
shepherd
whose
wolves
hunt
the
wandering
sheep
home
ere
the
shadow
rise
and
the
night
grow
dark
!
"
"
My
work
will
one
day
be
over
,
"
she
said
,
"
and
then
I
shall
be
glad
with
the
gladness
of
the
great
shepherd
who
sent
me
.
"
"
All
the
night
long
the
morning
is
at
hand
,
"
said
Adam
.
"
What
is
that
flapping
of
wings
I
hear
?
"
I
asked
.
"
The
Shadow
is
hovering
,
"
replied
Adam
:
"
there
is
one
here
whom
he
counts
his
own
!
But
ours
once
,
never
more
can
she
be
his
!
"
I
turned
to
look
on
the
faces
of
my
father
and
mother
,
and
kiss
them
ere
we
went
:
their
couches
were
empty
save
of
the
Little
Ones
who
had
with
love
's
boldness
appropriated
their
hospitality
!
For
an
instant
that
awful
dream
of
desolation
overshadowed
me
,
and
I
turned
aside
.
"
What
is
it
,
my
heart
?
"
said
Lona
.
"
Their
empty
places
frightened
me
,
"
I
answered
.
"
They
are
up
and
away
long
ago
,
"
said
Adam
.
"
They
kissed
you
ere
they
went
,
and
whispered
,
`
Come
soon
.
'
"
"
And
I
neither
to
feel
nor
hear
them
!
"
I
murmured
.
"
How
could
you
—
far
away
in
your
dreary
old
house
!
You
thought
the
dreadful
place
had
you
once
more
!
Now
go
and
find
them
.
—
Your
parents
,
my
child
,
"
he
added
,
turning
to
Lona
,
"
must
come
and
find
you
!
"
The
hour
of
our
departure
was
at
hand
.
Lona
went
to
the
couch
of
the
mother
who
had
slain
her
,
and
kissed
her
tenderly
—
then
laid
herself
in
her
father
's
arms
.
"
That
kiss
will
draw
her
homeward
,
my
Lona
!
"
said
Adam
.
"
Who
were
her
parents
?
"
asked
Lona
.
"
My
father
,
"
answered
Adam
,
"
is
her
father
also
.
"
She
turned
and
laid
her
hand
in
mine
.
I
kneeled
and
humbly
thanked
the
three
for
helping
me
to
die
.
Lona
knelt
beside
me
,
and
they
all
breathed
upon
us
.
"
Hark
!
I
hear
the
sun
,
"
said
Adam
.
I
listened
:
he
was
coming
with
the
rush
as
of
a
thousand
times
ten
thousand
far-off
wings
,
with
the
roar
of
a
molten
and
flaming
world
millions
upon
millions
of
miles
away
.
His
approach
was
a
crescendo
chord
of
a
hundred
harmonies
.
The
three
looked
at
each
other
and
smiled
,
and
that
smile
went
floating
heavenward
a
three-petaled
flower
,
the
family
's
morning
thanksgiving
.
From
their
mouths
and
their
faces
it
spread
over
their
bodies
and
shone
through
their
garments
.
Ere
I
could
say
,
"
Lo
,
they
change
!
"
Adam
and
Eve
stood
before
me
the
angels
of
the
resurrection
,
and
Mara
was
the
Magdalene
with
them
at
the
sepulchre
.
The
countenance
of
Adam
was
like
lightning
,
and
Eve
held
a
napkin
that
flung
flakes
of
splendour
about
the
place
.
A
wind
began
to
moan
in
pulsing
gusts
.
"
You
hear
his
wings
now
!
"
said
Adam
;
and
I
knew
he
did
not
mean
the
wings
of
the
morning
.
"
It
is
the
great
Shadow
stirring
to
depart
,
"
he
went
on
.
"
Wretched
creature
,
he
has
himself
within
him
,
and
cannot
rest
!
"
"
But
is
there
not
in
him
something
deeper
yet
?
"
I
asked
.
"
Without
a
substance
,
"
he
answered
,
"
a
shadow
cannot
be
—
yea
,
or
without
a
light
behind
the
substance
!
"
He
listened
for
a
moment
,
then
called
out
,
with
a
glad
smile
,
"
Hark
to
the
golden
cock
!
Silent
and
motionless
for
millions
of
years
has
he
stood
on
the
clock
of
the
universe
;
now
at
last
he
is
flapping
his
wings
!
now
will
he
begin
to
crow
!
and
at
intervals
will
men
hear
him
until
the
dawn
of
the
day
eternal
.
"
I
listened
.
Far
away
—
as
in
the
heart
of
an
æonian
silence
,
I
heard
the
clear
jubilant
outcry
of
the
golden
throat
.
It
hurled
defiance
at
death
and
the
dark
;
sang
infinite
hope
,
and
coming
calm
.
It
was
the
"
expectation
of
the
creature
"
finding
at
last
a
voice
;
the
cry
of
a
chaos
that
would
be
a
kingdom
!
Then
I
heard
a
great
flapping
.
"
The
black
bat
is
flown
!
"
said
Mara
.
"
Amen
,
golden
cock
,
bird
of
God
!
"
cried
Adam
,
and
the
words
rang
through
the
house
of
silence
,
and
went
up
into
the
airy
regions
.
At
his
Amen
—
like
doves
arising
on
wings
of
silver
from
among
the
potsherds
,
up
sprang
the
Little
Ones
to
their
knees
on
their
beds
,
calling
aloud
,
"
Crow
!
crow
again
,
golden
cock
!
"
—
as
if
they
had
both
seen
and
heard
him
in
their
dreams
.
Then
each
turned
and
looked
at
the
sleeping
bedfellow
,
gazed
a
moment
with
loving
eyes
,
kissed
the
silent
companion
of
the
night
,
and
sprang
from
the
couch
.
The
Little
Ones
who
had
lain
down
beside
my
father
and
mother
gazed
blank
and
sad
for
a
moment
at
their
empty
places
,
then
slid
slowly
to
the
floor
.
There
they
fell
each
into
the
other
's
arms
,
as
if
then
first
,
each
by
the
other
's
eyes
,
assured
they
were
alive
and
awake
.
Suddenly
spying
Lona
,
they
came
running
,
radiant
with
bliss
,
to
embrace
her
.
Odu
,
catching
sight
of
the
leopardess
on
the
feet
of
the
princess
,
bounded
to
her
next
,
and
throwing
an
arm
over
the
great
sleeping
head
,
fondled
and
kissed
it
.
"
Wake
up
,
wake
up
,
darling
!
"
he
cried
;
"
it
is
time
to
wake
!
"
The
leopardess
did
not
move
.
"
She
has
slept
herself
cold
!
"
he
said
to
Mara
,
with
an
upcast
look
of
appealing
consternation
.
"
She
is
waiting
for
the
princess
to
wake
,
my
child
,
"
said
Mara
.
Odu
looked
at
the
princess
,
and
saw
beside
her
,
still
asleep
,
two
of
his
companions
.
He
flew
at
them
.
"
Wake
up
!
wake
up
!
"
he
cried
,
and
pushed
and
pulled
,
now
this
one
,
now
that
.
But
soon
he
began
to
look
troubled
,
and
turned
to
me
with
misty
eyes
.
"
They
will
not
wake
!
"
he
said
.
"
And
why
are
they
so
cold
?
"
"
They
too
are
waiting
for
the
princess
,
"
I
answered
.
He
stretched
across
,
and
laid
his
hand
on
her
face
.
"
She
is
cold
too
!
What
is
it
?
"
he
cried
—
and
looked
round
in
wondering
dismay
.
Adam
went
to
him
.
"
Her
wake
is
not
ripe
yet
,
"
he
said
:
"
she
is
busy
forgetting
.
When
she
has
forgotten
enough
to
remember
enough
,
then
she
will
soon
be
ripe
,
and
wake
.
"
"
And
remember
?
"
"
Yes
—
not
too
much
at
once
though
.
"
"
But
the
golden
cock
has
crown
!
"
argued
the
child
,
and
fell
again
upon
his
companions
.
"
Peter
!
Peter
!
Crispy
!
"
he
cried
.
"
Wake
up
,
Peter
!
wake
up
,
Crispy
!
We
are
all
awake
but
you
two
!
The
gold
cock
has
crown
so
loud
!
The
Sun
is
awake
and
coming
!
Oh
,
why
wo
n't
you
wake
?
"
But
Peter
would
not
wake
,
neither
would
Crispy
,
and
Odu
wept
outright
at
last
.
"
Let
them
sleep
,
darling
!
"
said
Adam
.
"
You
would
not
like
the
princess
to
wake
and
find
nobody
?
They
are
quite
happy
.
So
is
the
leopardess
.
"
He
was
comforted
,
and
wiped
his
eyes
as
if
he
had
been
all
his
life
used
to
weeping
and
wiping
,
though
now
first
he
had
tears
wherewith
to
weep
—
soon
to
be
wiped
altogether
away
.
We
followed
Eve
to
the
cottage
.
There
she
offered
us
neither
bread
nor
wine
,
but
stood
radiantly
desiring
our
departure
.
So
,
with
never
a
word
of
farewell
,
we
went
out
.
The
horse
and
the
elephants
were
at
the
door
,
waiting
for
us
.
We
were
too
happy
to
mount
them
,
and
they
followed
us
.
chapter
xlv
THE
JOURNEY
HOME
IT
had
ceased
to
be
dark
;
we
walked
in
a
dim
twilight
,
breathing
through
the
dimness
the
breath
of
the
spring
.
A
wondrous
change
had
passed
upon
the
world
—
or
was
it
not
rather
that
a
change
more
marvellous
had
taken
place
in
us
?
Without
light
enough
in
