第6章

Itisthematerialcounterpartofthe"NightoftheSoul。"Wehaveleftourhouseandsetforthinthedarknesswhichparalysesthosefacultiesthatmakeusmenintheworldofmen。Butsurelythegreatmystics，withalltheirinsightandheavenlylove，fellshortwhentheysoughtfreedomincompleteseparatenessfromcreationinsteadofinperfectunitywithit。TheGreeksknewbetterwhentheyflungAriadne"scrownamongthestars，andwroteDemeter"sgriefonabarrenearth，andPersephone"sjoyinthefruitfulfield。Fortheearthisgatheredupinman；heisthewholewhichisgreaterthanthesumofitsparts。StandingintheimageofGod，andclothedinthegarmentofGod，heliftsuppriestlyhandsandpresentsthesacrificeofredeemedearthbeforethethroneoftheAll-Father。"Dustandashesandahouseofdevils，"hecries；

andtherecomesbackforanswer，"REXCONCUPISCETDECOREMTUAM。"

TheAngelofDeathhasbroadwingsofsilenceandmysterywithwhichheshadowsthevalleywhereweneedfearnoevil，andwherethevoicewhichspeakstousisasthe"voiceofdoves，taberingupontheirbreasts。"Itisaplaceofhealingandpreparation，ofpeaceandrefreshingafterthesharply-definedoutlinesofagarishday。Walkingtherewelearntousethosenaturalfacultiesofthesoulwhicharehamperedbythefamiliarityofbodilyprogress，toapprehendthetruthswhichwehaveintellectuallyaccepted。Itistheplaceofsecretswherethehumilitywhichembracesallattainableknowledgecries"Iknownot"；andwhileweproclaimfromthehouse-topsthatwhichwehavelearnt，themannerofourlearninglieshidforeachoneofusinthesanctuaryofoursouls。

TheEgyptians，intheirancientwisdom，actinthedesertagreatandrosphinx，imageofmysteryandsilence，staringfromunderlevelbrowsacrossthearidsandsofthesea-way。TheGreeksborrowedanddebasedtheimage，turningtheinscrutableintoasemi-womanwhoaskedafoolishriddle，andhurledherselfdowninpetulantpridewhenOEdipusansweredaright。Sowe，marringtheofficeofsilence，questionitsmystery；thwartourselveswithriddlesofourownsuggesting；andturnaway，leavingourofferingbuthalfconsumedonthealtaroftheunknowngod。ItwasnotthetheftoffirethatbroughtthevengeanceofheavenuponPrometheus，butthemockingsacrifice。OrpheuslostEurydicebecausehemustseeherfacebeforetheappointedtime。Persephoneateofthepomegranateandhungeredingloomforthedayoflightwhichshouldhavebeenendless。

Theuniverseisfullofmiracleandmystery；thedarknessandsilencearesetforasignwedarenotdespise。Thepallofnightlifts，leavingusengulphedinthelightofimmensityunderatossingheavenofstars。Thedawnbreaks，butitdoesnotsurpriseus，forwehavewatchedfromthevalleyandseenthepaletwilight。

ThroughthewondrousSabbathoffaithfulsouls，thelongdayofrosemaryandrue，thelightbrightensintheEast；andwepassontowardsitwithquietfeetandopeningeyes，bearingwithusalloftheredeemedearththatwehavemadeourown，untilwearefulfilledinthesunriseofthegreatEasterDay，andthepeoplescomefromnorthandsouthandeastandwesttotheCitywhichliethfoursquare-theBeatificVisionofGod。

VereIerusalemestillacivitasCuiuspaxiugisetsummaiucunditas；

Ubinonpraevenitremdesiderium，Necdesideriominusestpraemium。

ATTHEWHITEGATE

CHAPTERI

AGREATjoyhascometome；oneofthoseunexpectedgiftswhichlifelovestobestowafterwehavelearnttolooseourgripofher。

Iambackinmyownplaceverynearmyroad-thewhitegatelieswithinmydistantvision；neartheleangreyDownswhichkeepwatchandwardbetweenthecountryandthesea；verynear，nay，inthelapofMotherEarth，forasIwriteIamlyingonagreencarpet，powderedyellowandwhitewiththesun"sownflowers；overheadagreatsycamorewherethebeestoilandsing；andsighingshimmeringpoplarsgoldengreyagainsttheblue。ThedayofPersephonehasdawnedforme，andI，setfreelikeDemeter"schild，gladdenmyeyeswiththisforetasteofcomingradiance，andrestmytiredsensewiththescentandsoundofhome。AwaydownthemeadowI

heartheearlyscythesong，andthewarmairisfragrantwiththefallengrass。IthasitsownmessageformeasIliehere，Iwhohaveobtainedyetonemoremercy，andtheburdenofitislife，notdeath。

Irememberwhen，takingagracefrommyroad，IhelpedtomowFarmerMarler"sten-acrefield，richinripeupstandinggrass。Themechanismoftheancientreaperhadgivenwayunderthestrainofthehomemeadows，andifthiscropwastobesaveditmustbebyhand。IhavekepttherecordofthosedaysofjoyouslabourunderaJunesky。Menwerehardtogetinourvillage；oldDodden，whowasoverseventy，volunteeredhisservices-hehaddoneyeomanworkwiththescytheinhisyouth-andtwoofthefarmhandswiththeirmastercompletedourstrength。

Wetookourplacesunderafiveo"clockmorningsky，andthelarkscrieddowntousaswestoodknee-deepinthefragrantdew-steepedgrass，eachmanwithhisgleamingscythepoisedreadyforitssweepingswing。OldDoddenledbyrightofageandripeexperience；bentlikeasickle，brownanddryasanut，hisfaceatraceryofinnumerablewrinkles，hehasneverailedaday，andthecunningofhiscraftwasstillwithhim。Atfirstweworkedstiffly，unreadily，butsoonthemonotonousmotionpossesseduswithitsinsistentrhythm，andthegrassbowedtoeachsibilantswishandfellinsweet-smellingswathesatourfeet。Nowandthenastartledrabbitscurriedthroughtheminiatureforesttovanishwithwhiteflickoftailinthetangledhedge；hereandthereamotherlarkwasdiscoveredsittingmotionless，immovableuponherlittlebrood；butsavefortheseinfrequentincidentswepacedsteadilyonwithnospeechsavethecryofthehoneonthesteelandtheswishofthefallingswathes。Thesunrosehighintheheavenandburntonbentneckandbareandachingarms，thebloodbeatanddrummedinmyveinswiththeunwontedpostureandexercise；Iworkedasamanwhoseesandhearsinamist。Once，asIpausedtowhetmyscythe，myeyecaughtthelineoftheuntroubledhillsstrongandstillinthebroadsunshine；thentoworkagaininthelabouring，fertilevalley。

Resttimecame，andwipingthesweatfrombrowandbladewesoughtthewelcomeshadowofthehedgeandthecoolsweetoatmealwaterwithwhichthewisereaperquencheshisthirst。FarmerMarlerhastenedofftoseewithmaster-eyethatallwentwellelsewhere；

thefarmmenslepttranquilly，stretchedatfulllength，claspedhandsforpillow；andoldDodden，sittingwithcrookedfingersinterlacedtochecktheirtremblingbetrayalofoldage，toldhowinhisyouthhehad"swep"afour-acrefieldsingle-handedinthreedays-analmostimpossiblefeat-andofthefirstreapingmachineintheseparts，andhowitbrought，tohisthinking，theruinofagriculturalmoralswithit。""Tisagainnature，"hesaid，"theLardgaveusthelandan"theseed，but"Eesaidthatamanshouldsweat。Where"sthesweatdrivin"roundwi"twohorsescuttin"thestrawdownan"gatherin"itagain，wi"scarceahand"sturni"theday"swork？"

OldDodden"shigh-pitchedquaveringvoiceroseandfell，mournfulashesurveyedthepresent，vehementasherecordedtheheroicpast。Hespokeoftheruralexodusandshookhisheadmournfully。

"Weold"unswerecontentwi"earthandtheopenskylikeourfeythersbeforeus，butwi"thechildren"tisfirstmachinestosavedoin"ahand"sturno"honestwork，an"thenlandan"skyain"tbigenoughseemin"ly，norgrandenough；itmustbetownan"apavedstreet，an"theysweattheirlivesoutatwixtfourwallsan"

callitseein"life-"tisdeathan"worsecomestothemostof"em。Ay，"tisbettertostaybytheland，astheLardsaid，tilltimecomestolieunderit。"Ilookedawayacrossthefieldwherethehotairthrobbedandquivered，andthefallengrass，robbedalreadyofitsfreshness，layproneatthefeetofitsupstandingfellows。ItisquiteuselesstoarguewitholdDodden；heonlyshakeshisheadandsaysfirmly，"Anoldman，seventy-fivecomeMartinmassknowsmoreo"lifethanayoungchap，standsterreason"；besides，hisepitomeofthetownlifeheknowsnothingofwasajustoneasfarasitwent；andhisownsonisthesweeperofaHolborncrossing，andmanyotherthingsthatheshouldnotbe；

butthatistheparson"ssecretandmine。

Wetookrankagainandsweptsteadilyonthroughthehotstillhoursintotheeveningshadows，untilthesinkingsunsetaGLORIA

tothepsalmofanotherworkingday。Onlyathirdofthefieldlaymown，forwewerenotskilledlabourerstocutouracreaday；I

sawitagainthatnightunderthemoonlightandthestarlight，wrappedinashroudofsummer"smist。

Thewomenjoinedusonthethirddaytobeginhaymaking，andtheairwasfragrantoftossedandsun-driedgrass。Oneofthemwalkedapartfromtherest，withoutinterestorfreedomofmovement；herface，sealedandimpassive，wasagedbeyondthevigourofheryears。Iknewthewomanbysight，andherhistorybyhearsay。Wehaveacodeofmoralshere-notindeedpeculiartothisplaceorpeople-thataweddingis"respectable"ifitprecedeschild-birthbyabaremonth，tolerable，andtoberecognised，shoulditsucceedthesamebylessthanayear（providedthepairarenotlivinginthesamevillage）；butthechildthathasneverbeen"fathered"andthewifewithoutaringare"anathema，"andsuchinonewasElizabethBanks。Shewentawayamaidandcamebackayearagowithachildandwithoutaname。Hermotherwasdead，herfatherandthevillagewouldhavenoneofher:thehominginstinctisverystrong，orshewouldscarcelyhavereturned，knowingthetraditionsoftheplace。OldDodden，seeingher，grumbledtomeintherest-time-"Can"tthinkwhatthefarmerwantswi"LizzieBanksin"isfield。""Shemustlive，"Isaid，"andbyallshowingherlifeisahardone。""She"adthemakin"of"erbed，"hewenton，obstinately。"Whatfordoshebringherdisgracehome，wi"afatherlessbratforallfolkstosee？Wedon"twantthemsortinourvillage。TheLord"shandisheavy，an"abrat"sacursethatcannotbehid。"

Whentea-timecameIcrossedthefieldtolookforamissinghone，andsawElizabethBanksfarfromtheotherwomen，busiedwithabundleunderthehedge。Ipassedcloseonmysearch，andlo！thebundlewasalittleboy。Helaysmilingandstretching，fightingtheairwithhissmallpinkfists，whilethewindplayedwithhiscurls。"Acursethatcannotbehid，"oldDoddenhadsaid。Themotherkneltamoment，devouringhimwithhereyes，thensnatchedhimtoherwithachinggreedandcoveredhimwithkisses。Isawthepoor，plainfaceillumined，transfigured，alivewithamother"slove，andrememberedhowthewordcameoncetoaHebrewprophet:-

SayuntoyourbrethrenAmmi，andtoyoursistersRuhamah。

Theeveningskywascloudingfast，thesoundofrainwasintheair；FarmerMarlershookhisheadashelookedatthegrasslyinginorderedrows。Iwasthelasttoleave，andasIlingeredatthegatedrinkinginthescentofthefieldandthecoolofthecomingrain，thefirstdropsfellonmyupturnedfaceandkissedthepoordryswathesatmyfeet，andIwasglad。

David，childofthefieldsandthesheepfolds，hiskingshiplaidaside，seesthroughthepartedcurtainoftheyearstheadventofhisgreaterSon，andcriesinhispsalmofthehilltops，hislastpropheticprayer:-

Heshallcomedownlikerainuponthemowngrass。

EvensoHecame，andshallstillcome。Threedaysagothefield，initspageantoffreshbeauty，withshimmeringbladesandtossingbanners，greetedsunandshoweralikewithjoyforthefurtheranceofitslifeandpurpose；now，laidlow，ithearstheyounggrasswhisperthesplendourofitscominggreen；andthepoorswathesaregladatthetelling，butfullofgrieffortheirownapparentfailure。Theningreatpitycomestherain，therainofsummer，gentle，refreshing，penetrating，andtheswathesarecomforted，fortheyknowthatstandingtogreetorprostratetosuffer，theconsolationsoftheformerandthelatterrainarestilltheirown，withtendertouchandcoolcaress。Then，oncemoreparchedbythesun，theyareborneawaytothenewservicetheirapparentfailurehasfittedthemfor；andperhapsastheywaitinthedarkfortheunknownthatisstilltocometheyhearsometimesthecallofthedistantrain，andatthesoundthedrysapstirsafresh-theyarenotforgottenandcanwait。

"SAYUNTOYOURSISTERSRUHAMAH，"criestheprophet。

"HESHALLCOMEDOWNLIKERAINONTHEMOWNGRASS，"sangthepoetofthesheepfolds。

"MYWAYSARENOTYOURWAYS，SAITHTHELORD。"

IrememberhowIwenthomealongthedampsweet-scentedlanesthroughthegreymistoftherain，thinkingofthemownfieldandElizabethBanksandmany，manymore；andthatnight，whentheskyhadclearedandthenightingalesang，Ilookedoutatthemoonridingatanchor，asilverboatinastillblueseaablazewiththeheadlightsofthestars，andthesayingoftheherdsmanofTekoacametome-asithascomeoftentimessince:-

SeekHimthatmakeththesevenstarsandOrion，andturneththeshadowofdeathintothemorning，andmakeththedaydarkwithnight；thatcallethforthewatersoftheseaandpoureththemoutuponthefaceofearth；theLordisHisname。

CHAPTERII

THISgardenisanepitomeofpeace；sunandwind，rain，flowers，andbirdsgathermeintotheblessednessoftheiractiveharmony。

Theworldholdsnowishforme，nowthatIhavecomehometodiewithmyownpeople，forverifyIthinkthatthesapofgrassandtreesmustruninmyveins，sosteadyistheirpulluponmyheart-

strings。Londonclaimedallmyphilosophy，butthecountrygivesall，andasksofmeonlythewarmreceptivityofachildinitsmother"sarms。

WhenIlieinmycoollightroomonthegardenlevel，Ilookacrossthebrightgrass-ILVERDESMALTO-toagreatredrosebushinlavishdisarrayagainstthedarkcypress。Nearby，amidatangleofmany-huedcorn-flowersIseethepromiseofcominglilies，thesuddencrimsonofasolitarypaeony；andinlowlierstateagainstthepoorparchedearthglowthegoldencupsoftheeschseholtzias。

Beyondthelowhedgeliespasturebrightwithbuttercups，wherethecattlefeed。Fartheroff，wherethescythehasbeenbusy，aresheep，cleanandshorn，withmerry，well-grownlambs；andinthefarthestfieldIcanseethegreathorsesmovinginslowsteadypaceasthefarmerturnshisfurrow。

Thebirdsarenoisycomradesandoldfriends，fromthelarkwhichchantsthedew-steepedmorning，tothenightingalethatbreaksthesilenceofthemostwonderfulnights。Ihearthewisdomoftherooksinthegreatelms；theliftingliltofthelinnet，andtherobin"squaintlittlesummersong。Thestarlingschatterceaselessly，theirqueerstridentvoicesharshagainstthemelodiousgossipoftheotherbirds；themartinsshrillsoftlyastheyswooptoandfrobusiedwiththeirnestingunderthecaves；

thrushandblackbirdvieinfriendlyrivalryliketheMeister-

singerofold；sometimesIhearthedrawlingcryofapeacockstrayedfromthegreathouse，orthelaughofthewoodpecker；andatnightthehuntingnoteoftheowlreachesmeashesweepsbyinsearchofprey。

To-dayIamoutagain；andthegreatsycamoreshowershoneyandflowersonmeasIliebeneathit。Sometimesabeefallslikeanover-ripefruit，andwaitsawhiletocleanhispollen-coatedlegsereheflieshometodischargehisburden。Heistoobusytobefriendly，buthisgreatvelvetycousinismuchmoresociable，andstaysforagentlerubbetweenhisnoisyshimmeringwings，andanapinthehollowofmyhand，forheisanidlefriendlysoulwithplentyoftimeathisowndisposalandnoresponsibilities。

LookingacrossIcanwatchthemartinsatwork；theyhaveastarlingandasparrowfornearneighboursinthewoodengutter。

Onenestisalreadycompleteallbutthecoping，theothertwoarea-building:IwonderwhetherIortheywillbefirsttogosouththroughthemist。

Thisgreattreeisaworldinitself，andthedenizensappearfullofcuriosityastotheGulliverwhohastakenuphisabodebeneathit。Palegreencaterpillarsandspidersofallsizescomespinningdowntovisitme，andhavetobepersuadedwithinfinitedifficultytoascendtheirthreadsagain。Thereareflieswithbeautifuliridescentwings，beetlesofallshapes，someofthemliketinyjewelsinthesunlight。Theirnomenclatureisasealedbooktome；

oftheirlifeandhabitsIknownothing；yetthisisbutalittlecornerofthecosmosIamleaving，andIfeelnotsomuchdesireforthebeautytocome，asagreatlongingtoopenmyeyesalittlewiderduringthetimewhichremainstomeinthisbeautifulworldofGod"smaking，whereeachmomenttellsitsowntaleofactive，progressivelifeinwhichthereisnoundoing。NatureknowsnaughtofthewebofPenelope，thatacmeofanxiouspatheticwaiting，butgoessteadilyonineverwideningcircletowardsthefulfilmentofthemysteryofGod。

Thereare，Itakeit，twomaster-keystothesecretsoftheuniverse，viewedSUBSPECIEAETERNITATIS，theIncarnationofGod，andthePersonalityofMan；withtheseitistrueforusasforthepantheisticlittlemanofcontemptiblespeech，that"allthingsareours，"yea，evenuntothethirdheaven。

Ihavelostmyvoraciousappetiteforbooks；theirlanguageislessplainthanscentandsongandthewindinthetrees；andformethecluetothenextworldliesinthewisdomofearthratherthaninthelearningofmen。"LIBERAMEABFUSCINAHOPHNI，"prayedthegoodBishopfearfulofreligiousgreed。Iknowtoomuch，nottoolittle；itisrealisationthatIlack，whereforeIdesiretheselastdaystoconfirminmyselfthesustaininggoodnessofGod，thelovewhichisourcontinuingcity，theNewJerusalemwhoselength，breadth，andheightareallone。Itisatimeofexceedingpeace。

Thereisaplacewaitingformeunderthefirsinthequietchurchyard；thankstomypovertyIhavenoworldlyanxietiesorpersonaldispositions；andIamrichinfriends，manyofthemunknowntome，wholavishlysupplymyneedsandmakeitidealtoliveonthecharityofone"sfellow-men。Iammostgladlyindebttoalltheworld；andtoEarth，mymother，forhergreatbeauty。

IcanneverrememberthetimewhenIdidnotloveher，thismotherofminewithherwonderfulgarmentsandorderedloveliness，hertendercareandpatientbearingofman"sburden。IntheearliestdaysofmylonelychildhoodIusedtoliechinonhandamidthemilkmaids，redsorrel，andheavyspear-grasslisteningtohermanyvoices，andabovealltothevoiceofthelittlebrookwhichranthroughthemeadowswhereIusedtoplay:Ithinkithasrunthroughmywholelifealso，toloseitselfatlast，notinthegreatseabutintheriverthatmakethgladtheCityofGod。

Valleyandplain，mountainandfruitfulfield；thelark"ssongandthespeedwellinthegrass；surelyamanneednotsighforgreaterlovelinessuntilhehasreadsomethingmoreofthislivingletter，andkneltbeforethatearthofwhichheistheonlyconfusion。

Itisagravematterthatthewordreligionholdssuchawayamongus，makingtheverygapseemtoyawnagainwhichtheIncarnationonceandforeverfilledfull。Wehavebanishedtheprotectinggodsthatruledinriverandmountain，treeandgrove；wehavegainsayedforthemostpartfolk-loreandmyth，superstitionandfairy-tale，evilonlyintheirabuse。Wehavedoneawaywithmystery，ornameditdeceit。Allthiswehavedoneinanenlightenedage，butdespitethispolicyofdestructionwehaveleftourselvesabelief，thegrandestandmostsimpletheworldhaseverknown，whichsanctifiesthewaterthatisshedbyeverypassingcloud；andgathersupinitsgreatcentralactvineyardandcornfield，proclaimingthemtobethatLifeoftheworldwithoutwhichamanisdeadwhileheliveth。Further，itisabeliefwhosefoundationsarethemostheavenlymysteryoftheTrinity，butwhosecentreisalittleChild:itsetsapriceupontheheadofthesparrow，andreckonstherichesofthisworldattheirtruevalue；