第5章

Idonotevenknowmybishop"sname，onlythattheworkisofthethirteenthcentury；butheisgoodtocompanywiththroughtheday，forhehasknowndarknessandlightandthemindsofmanymen；mostsurely，too，hehasknownthatGodfulfilsHimselfinstrangeways，sowiththeshadowofhisfeetuponthepolishedfloorherestsinpeace。

CHAPTERIV

ONSundaymylittletreewaslimnedinwhiteandthesparrowswerecravingshelteratmywindowfromtheblizzard。Nowthemildthinairbringsabreathofspringinitswakeandthedaffodilsinthegardenwaitthekissesofthesun。Hand-in-handwithmemoryIslipawaydowntheyears，andrememberadaywhenIawokeatearliestdawn，foracrossmysleepIhadheardthelustygolden-throatedtrumpetersheraldingthespring。

Theairwassharp-set；adelicaterimefrostedroofandroad；thesealayhazyandstilllikeagreatpearl。Thenastheskystirredwithflushuponflushofwarmrosylight，itpassedfrommistypearltoopalwithheartofflame，fromopaltogleamingsapphire。

Theearthcalled，thefieldscalled，therivercalled-thatpiedpipertowhosemusicamancannotstophisears。ItwaswithmeaswiththeCanterburypilgrims:-

"Soprikethhemnatureinhircorages；

Thanlongenfolktogononpilgrimages。"

HalfanhourlaterIwasawaybytheearlytrainthatcarriesthebranchmailsandafewworkmen，andwasdeliveredatthelittlewaysidestationwiththeletters。ThekindairwentsingingpastasIswungalongthereverberatingroadbetweenthehightree-

crownedbankswhichwecallhedgesinmerryDevon，withalltheworldtomyselfandtheBrethren。Agreatblackbirdflewoutwithaloud"chook，chook，"andtheredofthehawonhisyellowbill。

Arobintrilledfromalowrose-bush；twowrenssearcheddiligentlyonafallentreeforbreakfast，quiteunconcernedwhenIrestedamomentbesidethem；andashrewmouseslippedacrosstheroadfolloweddirectlybyitsmate。Marchvioletsbloomedundertheshelteredhedgewithhereandthereapaleprimrose；afrostedbramblespraystillhelditsautumntintsclingingtothesemblanceofthepast；andgreatbranchesofsnowyblackthornbrokethebarrenhedgewayasifspringmadeamockofwinter"ssnows。

LightofheartandfootwiththenewwineoftheyearIspedonagain，straydaffodilslightingthewayside，untilIheardthevoiceofthestreamandreachedthefieldgatewhichleadstothelowermeadows。Therebeforemelayspring"spageant；greenpennonswaving，daintymaidscurtseying，andahostofjoyousyellowtrumpetersproclaiming"Victory"toanawakenedearth。Theyrangeinserriedranksrightdowntotheriver，sothatamanmustwalkwarilytoreachthewater"sedgewheretheystandgazingdownatthemselvesinfairestsemblanceliketheirmosttragicprogenitor，and，risingfromthebrightgrassintheirthousands，stretchawayuntiltheymeltinagoldencloudatthefarendofthemistymead。

ThroughthefieldgateandacrosstheroadIseethem，starringthesteepearthbankthatleadstotheuppercopse，gleaminglikepaleflamesagainstthedarktree-boles。Theretheyhavebutfrailtenure；here，inthemeadows，theyreignsupreme。

Attheupperendofthefieldtheriverprovidesyetclosersanctuaryforthesechildrenofthespring。Heldinitsembracingarmsliesanislandlongandnarrow，somethirtyfeetbytwelve，averitableuntrodEldorado，gloriousingoldfromendtoend，afringeofreedsbythewater"sedge，andsaveforthat-daffodils。

Agreatoakstandsatthemeadow"sneck，anoakwithgnarledandwanderingrootswhereamanmayrest，foritisbareofdaffodilssaveforagroupofthree，andasolitaryoneapartgrowingclosetotheoldtree"sside。Isatdownbymylonelylittlesister，blueskyoverhead，greengrassatmyfeetdecked，likethepasturesoftheBlessed，inglorioussheen；aseaoftriumphant，goldenheadstossingblithelybackasthewindsweptdowntoplaywiththemathispleasure。

Itwasallminetohaveandtoholdwithoutseveringasingleslenderstemorharbouringathoughtofcovetousness；mine，asthewholeearthwasmine，toappropriatetomyselfwithouttheburdenandbaneofworldlypossession。"ThousayestthatIam-aKing，"

saidtheLordbeforePilate，and"Mykingdomisnotofthisworld。"

WewhoaremadekingsafterHislikenesspossessallthings，notafterthisworld"sfashionbutinproportiontoourpoverty；andwhenweceasetotoilandspin，arearrayedasthelilies，inaglorytranscendingSolomon"s。BridePoverty-shewhoclimbedtheCrosswithChrist-stretchedouteagerhandstofreeusfromourchains，butwefleefromher，andlayuptreasureagainstherimportunity，whileAmytasonhisseaweedbedweepstearsofpurepityforcrave-mouthCaesarofgreatpossessions。

Presentlyanotherofspring"sloverscriedacrossthewater"Cuckoo，cuckoo，"andthevoiceofthestreamsangjoyouslyinunison。Itisfreefromburden，thismerrylittleriver，andneitherweirnormillbarsitsquickwaytotheseaasitcompletestheeternalcircle，lavishinggiftsofcoolnessandrefreshmentonthechildrenofthemeadows。

Ithasitsbirthonthegreatlonemoor，cradledinawonderfulpeat-smellingbog，withamany-huedcoverletofsoftmosses-palegold，orange，emerald，tawny，oliveandwhite，withtheredstainofsun-dewandtuftedcotton-grass。Undertheoldgreyrockswhichwatchitrise，yellow-eyedtormantilstarstheturf，andbids"Godspeed"tothelittlechildofearthandsky。Thusthejourneybegins；andwithever-increasingstrengththestreamcarvesawaythroughthedearbrownpeat，wearsafreshwrinkleonthepatientstones，andpattersmerrilyunderaclapperbridgewhichspanneditsbreadthwhenthemistletoereignedandBottor，thegrimrockidol，exactedthetollofhumanlifethatmadehimgreat。Onandongoesthestream，foritmaynotstay；leavingofitsfreshnesswiththegreatosmundathatstretcheseagerrootstowardstherunningwater；flowingawhilewithabrotherstream，topartagaineastandwestaseachtakesuphisseparateburdenofservice-myfriendtocherishthelowermeadowsintheirfloweryjoyance-andsobythegreatsea-gatebacktoskyandearthagain。

TheriverofGodisfullofwater。ThestreetsoftheCityarepuregold。Verily，herealsohavingnothingwepossessallthings。

TheairwaskeenandstillasIwalkedbackintheearlyevening，andadaffodillightwasintheskyasifHeavenmirroredbackearth"sradiance。Nearthestationsomechildrenflittedpast，likelittlewhitemillermothshomingthroughthedusk。AsI

climbedthehillthemoonrodehighinagoldenfield-itwasdaffodilstothelast。

CHAPTERV

THEseagullsfromtheupperreachespassdowntheriverinsobersteadyflightseekingtheopensea。Ishallmisstheswoopandcircleofsilverwingsinthesunlightandtheplaintivecallwhichsoundssostrangelyawayfromrockandshore，butitisgoodtoknowthattheyhavegonefrommudbankandmurkytownbacktothefreeairsoftheirinheritance，totheshadowofsun-sweptcliffsandthecurlingcrestofthewind-beatenwaves，tobroodagainoverthegreatoceanofaworld"stears。

Mylittletreeisgemmedwithbuds，shy，immature，butfullofpromise。Thesparrowsbusiedwithnest-buildingintheneighbouringpipesandguttersuseitforavantageground，andcrowdthereinnumbers，eachlittlebeaksealedwithlonggoldenstrawordownyfeather。

Theriverisheavywithhaybarges，thelastfruitsofwinter"sstorehouse；thelengtheningdaysslowlyandsteadilyoustthedark；

theairisloudwithagrowingclamouroflife:springisnotonlyproclaimed，butonthisFeastsheiscrowned，anddespitethewarringwindthedaysbringtheirmeedofsunshine。Westandforamomentatthemeetingoftheways，thehandclaspofWinterandSpring，ofSleepandWakening，ofLifeandDeath；andthereisbetweenthemnoteventhethinlinewhichRabbiJochananonhisdeath-bedbeheldasallthatdividedhellfromheaven。

"SPHAERACUJUSCENTRUMUBIQUE，CIRCUMFERENTIANULLIBUS，"wassaidofMercury，thatmessengerofthegodswhomarshalledreluctantspiritstotheUnderworld；andforMercurywemaywriteLifewithDeathasitsgreatsacramentofbrotherhoodandrelease，tobedreadedonlyaswedreadtopartakeunworthilyofgreatbenefits。

Likeallsacramentsithasitsrightfultimeandduesolemnities；

thehorrorandsinofsuicidelieinthepresumptionoffreewill，theforestallingofagift，-thesinofEveinParadise，whotookthatwhichmightonlybegivenatthehandoftheLord。Ithastooitsphysicalpains，buttheyarethoseofawomanintravail，andwerememberthemnomoreforjoythatachild-manisbornintotheworldnakedandnotashamed:beholdingourselvesasweareweshallseealsotheleavesoftheTreeofLifesetforthehealingofthenations。

Weareslowly，veryslowly，abandoningourbeliefinsuddenandviolenttransitionsforasurerandfulleracceptanceofthedoctrineofevolution；butmostofusstilldrawasharplineofdemarcationbetweenthisworldandthenext，andexpectaradicalchangeinourselvesandoursurroundings，abreakinthechainofcontinuityentirelycontrarytotheteachingofnatureandexperience。Inthesamewayweclingtothespeciousuntruththatwecanbeginoverandoveragaininthisworld，forgettingthatwhileoursorrowandrepentancebringsacramentalgiftsofgraceandstrength，GodHimselfcannot，byHisownlimitation，rewritethePast。Weareinoursorrowthatwhichwehavemadeourselvesinoursin；ourtemptationsarethereaswellasthewayofescape。

WeareintheimageofGod。Wecreateourworld，ourundyingselves，ourheaven，orourhell。"QUICREAVITTESINETENON

SALVABITTESINETE。"Itisstupendous，magnificent，andmostappalling。Amandoesnotchangeashecrossesthethresholdofthelargerroom。Hispersonalityremainsthesame，althoughtheexpressionofitmaybealtered。Herewehavematerialbodiesinamaterialworld-there，perhaps，etherbodiesinanetherworld。

Thereisnoindecencyinreasonablespeculationandcuriosityaboutthelifetocome。Oneendofthethreadisbetweenourfingers，butwearehauntedforthemostpartbythesnapofAtropos"

shears。

Socratesfaceddeathwiththemagnificentcalmbredofdignifiedfamiliarity。Hehadbuiltforhimselfadesiredheavenofcolour，light，andpreciousstones-thephilosophicformulaofthosewhosetthespiritualabovethematerial，andworshiptruthinthebeautyofholiness。Heisnottroubledbydoubtsorregrets，forthepathofthejustliesplainbeforehisface。Heforbidsmourningandlamentationsasoutofplace，obeysminutelyandcheerilythedirectionsofhisexecutioner，andpasseswithunaffecteddignitytotheapprehensionofthatlargertruthforwhichhehadconstantlypreparedhimself。HisfriendsmayburyhimprovidedtheywillremembertheyarenotburyingSocrates；andthatallthingsmaybedonedecentlyandinorder，acockmustgotoAEsculapius。

Longbefore，inthedaysoftheCaptivity，therelivedingodless，blood-sheddingNinevehanexiledJewwhosefatherhadfallenfromthefaith。Hewasasimpleman，child-likeanddirect；livingthecareful，kindlylifeofanorthodoxJew，sufferingmanypersecutionsforconscience"sake，andinconstantdangerofdeath。

Henarratesthestoryofhislifeandoftheblindnesswhichfellonhim，withgentleplacidity，andcheckstheexuberanceofhismoreemotionalwifewiththeassuranceofuntroubledfaith。

Finally，whenhispiousexpectationsarefulfilled，hissightrestored，andhissonprosperouslyestablishedbesidehim，hebreaksintoaprayerofrejoicingwhichrevealsthesecretofhisconfidentcontent。Hemadeuseoftwogreatfaculties:thesenseofproportion，whichenabledhimtoappriselifeanditsaccidentsjustly，andthegiftofin-seeing，whichledSocratesafterhim，andBlessedJohninlonelyexileonPatmos，tolookthroughthethingstemporaltothehiddenmeaningsofeternity。

"LetmysoulblessGodthegreatKing，"hecries；andlooksawaypastthepresentdistress；pasttheRestorationwhichwastoendinfreshscatteringandconfusion；pastthedreamofgold，andporphyry，andmarbledefacedbytheeaglesandemblemsoftheconqueror；untilhiseyesareheldbytheJerusalemofGod，"builtupwithsapphires，andemeralds，andpreciousstones，"withbattlementsofpuregold，andthecryof"Alleluia"inherstreets。

Manyyearslater，whenhewasveryaged，hecalledhissontohimandgavehimasheritagehisownsimpleruleoflife，addingbutonerequest:"Keepthouthelawandthecommandments，andshewthyselfmercifulandjust，thatitmaygowellwiththee……

Considerwhatalmsdoeth，andhowrighteousnessdothdeliver……

Andburymedecently，andthymotherwithme。"Havingsosaid，hewenthiswayquietlyandcontentedlytotheJerusalemofhisheart。

Itisthesimplenoteoffamiliaritythatiswantinginus；thatbywhichwelinkworldwithworld。Once，yearsago，IsatbythebedsideofadyingmaninawretchedgarretintheEastEnd。Hewasentirelyignorant，entirelyquiescent，andentirelyuninterested。Theministerofaneighbouringchapelcametoseehimandspoketohimatsomelengthoftheneedforrepentanceandthejoysofheaven。Afterhehadgonemyfriendlaystaringrestlesslyatthemassofdecrepitbrokenchimneypotswhichmadehishorizon。Atlasthespoke，andtherewasanewnoteinhisvoice:-

"Eesaidas"owthereweregoldingstreetsinthemparts。Iain"tnowaysparticlerwotthey"remadeof，butit"llfeelnatrallikeifthere"schimleystoo。"

Thesunstretchedasuddenfingerandpaintedthechimneypotsredandgoldagainstthesmoke-dimmedsky，andwithhisfacealightwithsurprisedreliefmyfrienddied。

Weareonewiththeearth，oneinsin，oneinredemption。ItisthefringeofthegarmentofGod。"IfImaybuttouchthehem，"

saidacertainwoman。

OnthegreatDeath-daywhichshadowstheearlyspringwithashadowofwhichitmaybesaidUMBRADEIESTLUX，theearthbroughtgiftsofgrief，thefruitofthecurse，barrenthorns，hollowreed，andthewoodofthecross；theseamadeofferingofTyrianpurple；theskyveiledherfaceingreatdarkness，whilethenationofpriestscrucifiedforthelasttimetheirPaschallamb。"Iwillhear，saiththeLord；Iwillheartheheavens，andtheyshallheartheearth，andtheearthshallhearthecornandwineandoil，andtheyshallhearJezreel，andIwillsowheruntomeintheearth；andI

willhavemercyuponherthathadnotobtainedmercy，andIwillsayuntothemwhichwerenotmypeople，"Thouartmypeople，"andtheyshallsay"ThouartmyGod。""

ThesecondAdamstoodinthegardenwithquickeningfeet，andalltheearthpulsedandsangforjoyofthenewhopeandthenewlifequickeningwithinher，tobehersthroughthepainsoftravail，thepangsofdissolution。TheTreeofLifebearsBreadandWine-foodofthewayfaringman。Thedayofdivisionsispast，thedayofunityhasdawned。Onehasrisenfromthedead，andintheValleyofAchorstandswidetheDoorofHope-theSacramentofDeath。

ScioDomine，etverescio……quianonsumdignusaccedereadtantummysteriumpropternimiapeccatameaetinfinitasnegligentiasmeas。Sedscio……quiatupotesmefaceredignum。

CHAPTERVI

"ANYTUSandMeletuscankillme，buttheycannothurtme，"saidSocrates；andGovernorSancho，withalltheitchofnewly-acquiredauthority，couldnotmaketheyoungweaverofsteel-headsforlancessleepinprison。IntheVisionofErthesoulspassedstraightforwardunderthethroneofnecessity，andoutintotheplainsofforgetfulness，wheretheymustseverallydrinkoftheriverofunmindfulnesswhosewaterscannotbeheldinanyvessel。

Thethrone，theplain，andtheriverarestillhere，butinthedistancerisethegreatloneheavenwardhills，andthewiseamongusnolongeraskofthegodsLethe，butratherremembrance。

Necessitycansetmehelplessonmyback，butshecannotkeepmethere；norcanfourwallslimitmyvision。IpassoutfromunderherthroneintothegardenofGodafreeman，tomyultimatebeatitudeormyexceedingshame。Alldaylongthisworldliesopentome；ay，andotherworldsalso，ifIwillbuthaveitso；andwhennightcomesIpassintothekingdomandpowerofthedark。

Iliethroughthelonghoursandwatchmybridge，whichissetwithlightsacrossthegloom；watchthetrafficwhichisformebutsomanypassinglampstellingtheirtalebyvaryingheightandbrightness。Ihearundermywindowthesprintofover-tiredhorses，therattleofuncertainwheelsasthestreet-sellershastensouth；thejangleofcabbellsasthetheatre-goerstaketheirhomewardway；thegruffaltercationofwearymen，theunmelodioussongandclamorouslaughofwomenwhosemerrimentiswearierstill。

Thencomesatimeofstillnesswhenthelightintheskywaxesandwanes，whenthecloud-driftsobscurethestars，andIgazeoutintoblacknesssetwithwatchingeyes。Nosoundcomesfromwithoutbutthevoiceofthenight-windandthecryofthehour。Theclockonthemantelpieceticksimperatively，foracheckhasfallenonthefamiliaritywhichbreedsadisregardofcommonthings，andareasonhastobesoughtforeachsoundwhichclaimsahearing。Thepauseiswonderfulwhileitlasts，butitisnotforlong。Theworkingworldawakes，thepoorerbrethrentakeuptheburdenofservice；

thedawnlightsthesky；remembrancecriesanendtoforgetting。

Sometimesinthecountryonanightinearlysummeryoumayshutthecottagedoortostepoutintoanimmensedarknesswhichpallsheavenandearth。Goingforwardintotheembraceofthegreatgloom，youareasababeswaddledbythehandsofnightintohelplessquiescence。Yourfeettreadanunseenpath，yourhandsgraspatavoid，orshrinkfromthecontacttheycannotrealise；

youreyesareholden；yourvoicewoulddieinyourthroatdidyouseektorendtheveilofthatimpenetrablesilence。

Shutinbytheintangibledark，wearebroughtupagainstthoseworldswithinworldsblottedoutbyourconcretedailylife。Theworkingofthegreatmicrocosmatwhichwepeerdimlythroughthelittlewindowofscience；thewonderful，breathingearth；thepulsing，throbbingsap；thegrowingfragranceshutinthecalyxofto-morrow"sflower；theheart-beatofasleepingworldthatwedreamthatweknow；andaround，above，andinterpenetratingall，theworldofdreams，ofangelsandofspirits。

ItwasthisworldwhichJacobsawonthefirstnightofhisexile，andagainwhenhewrestledinPenieluntilthebreakofday。ItwasthisworldwhichElishasawwithopeneyes；whichJobknewwhendarknessfellonhim；whichEzekielgazedintofromhisplaceamongthecaptives；whichDanielbeheldashestoodalonebythegreatriver，theriverHiddekel。

Forthemomentwehaveleftbehindtherealmofquestionandexplanation，ofpowerovermatterandtheexerciseofbodilyfaculties；andpassedintodarknessalightwithvisionswecannotsee，intosilencealivewithvoiceswecannothear。Likehelplessmenwesetourallontheonethingleftus，andliftupourhearts，knowingthatwearebutamerespeckamongamyriadworlds，yetgreaterthanthesumofthem；havingourrootsinthedarkplacesoftheearth，butourbranchesinthesweetairsofheaven。