第7章

itpointstoawayofholinesswherethefoolshallnoterr，andthesagemayfindtherealisationofhisfar-seeking；andyet，despiteitsinclusiveness，itisabeliefwhichcannotsavethebirdsfromdestruction，thesilentmountainsfromadvertisement，orthestreamfrompollution，inanavowedlyChristianland。JohnRuskinscoldedandfoughtanddidyeomanservice，somewhathinderedbyhisover-goodconceitofhimself；butitisnottheworshipofbeautyweneedsomuchasthebeautyofholiness。Littlebylittlethebarriergrowsand"religion"becomesaRULEoflife，notlifeitself，althoughtheBridestandsreadytointerpret，likenedinherlovelinesstothechieftreasuresofherhandmaid-Earth。Thereismoretruthinthebelievingcry，"Comefromthywhitecliffs，O

Pan！"thaninthereligionthatmeasuresaman"slifebytheletteroftheTenCommandments，anderectsitselfasjudgeandruleroverhim，insteadofthrowingopenthegateofthegardenwhereGodwalkswithmanfrommorninguntilmorning。

AsIwritethesunissetting；inthepaleradianceoftheskyabovehisglorytheredawnstheeveningstar；andearthlikeatiredchildturnsherfacetothebosomofthenight。

CHAPTERIII

ONCEagainIhavepaidararevisittomytreetofindmanythingschangedsincemylastsojournthere。Thebeesaresilent，forthehoney-ladenflowersofthesycamorearegoneandintheirplacehangdaintytwo-foldkeys。Thepoplarhaslostitsmetallicshimmer，thechestnutitstallwhitecandles；andthesoundofthewindinthefully-leavedbranchesislikethesighingofthesea。

Themartins"nestsarefinished，andoneisoccupiedbyashrill-

voicedbrood；butforthemostpartthebirds"parentalcaresareover，andthenestlingsinboldflightnolongerflutteroninefficientwingsacrossthelawnwithclamorous，openbill。Therobinsshowpromiseoftheirruddyvests，theslimyoungthrushisdiligentlypractisingmaturernotes，andsoonMaidJunewillhavefled。

ItissuchawonderfulworldthatIcannotfinditinmyhearttosighforfreshbeautyamidthesegloriesoftheLordonwhichI

look，seeingmenastreeswalking，inmymaterialimpotencewhichawaitsthefinalanointing。Themarigoldswiththeirorangesuns，thelilies"whiteflame，thecorncockle"sbluecrownofmanyflowers，thehoneysuckle"shornoffragrance-Icanparaphrasethem，name，class，dissectthem；andthen，saveforthepurposesofhumanintercourse，IstandwhereIstoodbefore，myworldboundedbymycapacity，thesecretofcolourandfragrancestillkept。Itisdifficulttobelievethatthesecondlessonwillnotbethesequenceofthefirst，anddeathprovea"feastofopeningeyes"toallthesewonders，insteadoftheheavy-liddedslumbertowhichwesooftenlikenit。"Earthtoearth？"Yes，"dustthouart，anduntodustthoushaltreturn，"butwhatoftherest？Whatofthefoldedgraveclothes，andtheFortyDays？Ifthenextstatebe，asitwellmight，spaceoffourdimensions，andthefirstveilwhichwillliftformebethematerialone，thenthe"other"worldwhichishiddenfromourgrossermaterialorganismwilllieopen，anddeclarestillfurthertomywideningeyesandunstoppedearsthegloryandpurposeofthemanifoldgarmentofGod。KnowledgewillgiveplacetounderstandinginthatsecondchamberoftheHouseofWisdomandLove。Revelationisalwaysmeasuredbycapacity:"Openthymouthwide，"anditshallbefilledwithasatisfactionthatinitselfisdesire。

Thereisachildhere，ahappyquietlittlecreatureholdinggentlytoitstwomonthsoflife。Sometimestheylayitbesideme，Ithemorehelplessofthetwo-perhapsthemoreignorant-andequallydependentforthesupplyofmysmallestneed。IfeelindecentlylargeasIsurveyitsminuteperfectionsandthetinyballedfistlyinginmygreatpalm。Thelittlecreaturefixesmewiththewisewidestareofasoulinadvanceofitsmediumofexpression；andI，gazingbackatthemysteryinthoseeyes，feelthethrillofcontactbetweenmywornandsustainedselfandtheinnocenceofalittlewhitechild。Itiswonderfultowatchawoman"srapturousfamiliaritywiththesenewcomers。Aman"slovehasfarmoreaweinit，andthepassionateanimalinstinctofdefenceiswantinginhim。"Awomanshallbesavedthroughthechild-bearing，"saidStPaul；notnecessarilyherown，butbyparticipationinthegreatactofmotherhoodwhichisthecrownandgloryofhersex。Sheisthe"prisoneroflove，"caughtinanetofherownweaving；heldfastbylittlehandswhichrulebyimpotence，pursuedbyfeettheswifterfortheirfaltering。

Itseemsincrediblethatthisiswhatawomanwillbarterfortherightto"liveherownlife"-surelythemostemptyofdesires。

Man-VIR，woman-FEMINA，gotomakeupTHEman-HOMO。Therecanbenocomparison，norivalrybetweenthem；theyarethecomplementofeachother，andalittlechildshallleadthem。ItiseasytounderstandthatdesiretoshelterunderthedearmantleofmotherhoodwhichhasledtooneoftheabusesofmodernRomanism。

ImetanoldpeasantcoupleatBornhofenwhohadtrampedmanywearymilestothefamousshrineofOurLadytopleadfortheironlyson。

Theyhadafewpencesavedforacandle，andafterwardswhentheytoldmetheirtaletheoldwomanheavedasighofrelief，"Eswirdbaldgutgehen:Dieda，Sieversteht，"andIsawherlaterpayingafarewellvisittothegreatunderstandingMotherwhomshecouldtrust。Superstitiousmisapprehensionifyouwill，butalsotherecognitionofadivineprinciple。

ItwasBehmen，Ibelieve，whocriedwiththebreathofinspiration，"OnlywhenIknowGodshallIknowmyself"；andsomanremainsthelastofalltheriddles，tobesolveditmaybeonlyinHeaven"sperfectionandthelightoftheBeatificVision。"Knowthyself"isavainlegend，themoresowhenemphasisedbyaskull；andsoI

companywithafriendandastranger，andlookingacrossatthewhitegateIwonderconcerningthequietpasturesandstillwatersthatliebeyond，evenasBrotherAmbrosewonderedlongyearsagointhemonasterybytheforest。

TheBrotherAmbrosewaseverasaintlymanapprovedofGodandbelovedbytheBrethren。Tohimonenight，ashelayabedinthedormitory，camethewordoftheLord，saying，"Come，andIwillshowtheetheBride，theLamb"swife。"AndBrotherAmbrosearoseandwascarriedtoagreatandhighmountain，evenasintheVisionofBlessedJohn。"Twasastillnightofmanystars，andBrotherAmbrose，lookingup，sawaradiantpathintheheavens；andlo！thestarsgatheredthemselvestogetheroneithersideuntiltheystoodaswallsoflight，andthefourwindslappedhimaboutasinamantleandborehimtowardsthewondrousgleamingroadway。ThenbetweenthestarscametheHolyCitywithroofandpinnacleaflame，andwallsaglowwithsuchcoloursasnoearthlylimnerdreamsof，andmuchgold。BrotherAmbrosebeheldtheGatesofPearl，andbyeverygateanangelwithwingsofsnowandfire，andafacenomandarelookonbecauseofitsexceedingradiance。

ThenasBrotherAmbrosestretchedouthisarmsbecauseofhisgreatlonging，alittlegreycloudcameoutofthenorthandhungbetweenthewallsoflight，sothathenolongerbeheldtheVision，butonlyheardasoundasofagreatmultitudecrying"Alleluia"；andsuddenlythewindscameabouthimagain，andlo！hefoundhimselfinhisbedinthedormitory，anditwasmidnight，forthebellwasringingtoMatins；andheroseandwentdownwiththerest。ButwhentheBrethrenleftthechoirBrotherAmbrosestayedfastinhisplace，hearingandseeingnothingbecauseoftheVisionofGod；andatLaudstheyfoundhimandtoldthePrior。

HequestionedBrotherAmbroseofthematter，andwhenheheardtheVisionbadehimlimntheHolyCityevenashehadseenit；andthePrecentorgavehimuterinevellumandmuchfinegoldandwhatcoloursheaskedforthework。ThenBrotherAmbroselimnedawondrousfaircityofgoldwithturretsandspires；andheinlaidblueforthesapphire，andgreenfortheemerald，andvermilionwherethecityseemedaflamewiththegloryofGod；buttheangelshecouldnotlimn，norcouldhesettherestofthecoloursashesawthem，northewallofstarsoneitherhand；andBrotherAmbrosefellsickbecauseoftheexceedinggreatlonginghehadtolimntheHolyCity，andwasverysad；butthePriorbadehimthankGod，andremembertheinfirmityoftheflesh，which，likethelittlegreycloud，veiledJerusalemtohissight。

AsIwritethemonasterybellhardbyringsoutacrossthelark"ssong。Theystillhavetimeforvisionsbehindthoseguardingwalls，butformostofusitisnotso。Weletsliptheidealforwhatwecallthereal，andthegoldendreamsvanishwhileweclutchatphantoms:wespeedalonglife"spathway，countingtothefullthesixtyminutesofeveryhour，yettheraceisnottotheswiftnorthebattletothestrong。Lyinghereinthisquietbackwateritishardtobelievethattheworldwithoutisturbulentwithstormandstressandtheebbandflowofuncertaintides。Thelittleyellowcatrollingonitsbackamongthedaisies，thestaidtortoisemakingastatelymealoffthebuttercupsnearme，thesearegreateventsinthishavenofpeace。Andyet，lookingbacktotheworkingdays，Iknowhowmuchgoodnessandlovingkindnessthereisunderthefrothandfoam。Ifwedonotknowourselveswemostcertainlydonotknowourbrethren:thatrevelationawaitsus，itmaybe，firstinHeaven。Tohavefaithistocreate；tohavehopeistocalldownblessing；tohaveloveistoworkmiracles。Aboveallletusseevisions，visionsofcolourandlight，ofgreenfieldsandbroadrivers，ofpalaceslaidwithfaircolours，andgardenswhereaplaceisfoundforrosemaryandrue。

Itisourprerogativetobedreamers，buttherewillalwaysbemenreadytoofferusdeathforourdreams。Andifitmustbesoletuschoosedeath；itisgain，notloss，andthegloomyportalwhenwereachitisbutawhitegate，thewhitegatemaybewehaveknownallourlivesbarredbythetendrilsofthewoodbine。

CHAPTERIV

RAIN，rain，rain:thelittleflaggedpathoutsidemywindowisastreamingway，wherethecomingraindropsmeetagainthegreycloudswhosestorehousetheyhavebutjustnowleft。ThegrassgrowsgreenerasIwatchit，theburntpatchesfade，athousandthirstybeadsareupliftedforthecoolingdraught。

Thegreatthrushthatrobstheraspberrycanesisbusy；yesterdayhehadlittlebutdustforhisguerdon，butnowfresh，juicyfruitrepayshimasheswingstoandfroonthepliantbranches。Theblackbirdsandstarlingsfindthewormsaneasyprey-poorbrotherwormeverreadyforsacrifice。Icanhearthesoftexpectantchatterofthefamilyofmartinsundertheroof；therewillbegoodhunting，andtheyknowit，forthefliesareoutwhentherainisover，andthereareclamorousmouthsawaiting。Mylittlebrownbrothers，thesparrows，remainmychiefdelight。Ofallthebirdsthesenestleclosesttomyheart，betheygrimylittlecockneysortheirtrimanddaintycountrycousins。Theycomedaybydayfortheirmeedofcrumbsspreadforthemoutsidemywindow，andatthisseasontheyeatleisurelyandwithgoodappetite，fortherearenohungrybabiespesteringtobefed。VeryearlyinthemorningI

hearthewhirrandrustleofeagerwings，andthetap，tap，oflittlebeaksuponthestone。Thesoundcarriesmeback，foritwasthefirsttogreetmewhenIrosetodrawwaterandgatherkindlinginmyroadmenderdays；andifIslipbackanotherdecadetheysurveyme，reprovingmylaziness，fromthefootofthenarrowbedinmylittleatticoverseas。

Lookingalongtheroadwaythatwehavetravelledweseethelandmarks，greatandsmall，whichhavedeterminedthedirectionofourfeet。Forsomethoseofchildhoodstandoutabovealltherest；butIrememberfewnotableones，andthosefewtheemphaticchordoftheuniverse，ratherthananycommercewithmyfellows。

Therewasthenightofmygreatdisappointment，whenIwasbornefrommycomfortablebedtoseethewondersofthemoon"seclipse。

Disappointmentwassogreatthatitsealedmylips；but，oncebackonmypillow，IsobbedforgriefthatIhadseenawondersofarbelowmyexpectation。ThentherewasanightatWhitby，whenthewindmadespeechimpossible，andtheseasrushedupandoverthegreatlighthouselikethehungryspiritsofthedeep。Ilikebettertorememberthescentofthefirstcowslipfieldunderthewarmsideofthehedge，whenIsangtomyselfforpurejoyoftheircolourandfragrance。Again，therewerethebluebellsinthedesertedquarrylikethebackwashofasouthernsea，andbelowthemtheminiatureforestofshelteringbrackenwithitsquaintconceits；and，crownedaboveall，thedayIstoodonWatcombeDown，andlookedacrossastretchofgoldengorseandnew-turnedblood-

redfield，thegreenoftheheadland，andbeyond，thesapphiresea。

Timesped，andtherecameadaywhenIfirstsetfootonGermansoilandfeltthethrobofitspaternity，thebeatofourcommonLife。Englandismymother，andmostdearlydoIloveherswellingbreastsandwind-swept，salt-strewnhair。Scotlandgavememyname，withitshauntingderivationhandeddownbybravemen；butGermanyhasalwaysbeentometheFatherlandPAREXCELLENCE。True，myloveislimitedtothesouthernprovinces，withtheirmedievalmemories；fortheprogressivegutturalnorthIhavelittlesympathy，buttheRhineclaimedmefromthefirst，calling，calling，withthatwonderfulvoicewhichspeaksofdeathandlife，ofchivalryandgreedofgold。Ifyouwouldhavetheriver"scompanyyoushouldwander，ahappysolitary，alongitsbanks，watchingitsgleamingcurrentintheearlymorning，itsgoldengloryasitanswersthefarewellofpartingday。Then，inthesilenceofthenight，youcanhearthewashandeddycallingonetoanother，counttheheart-beatsofthegreatbearerofburdens，andwatchinthemoonlightthesistersofthemistastheylamentwithwringinghandsthedaysthataregone。

Theforests，too，arereadywithstoryhidinthefastnessoftheirsolitude，anditisajoytothinkthatthosegreatpines，pointingeverupwards，goforthemostparttocarrythesailsofgreatshipsseekingafarunderopensky。Theforestholdsotherwondersstill。ItseemsbutlastnightthatIwandereddowntheroadwhichledtothelittleunheededvillagewhereIhadmademytemporaryhome。Thewarm-scentedbreathofthepinesandthestillnessofthenightwrappedmeingreatcontent；thesummerlightningleaptinalambentarchacrosstheeast，andthestars，seendimlythroughthesombretreecrests，wereoutrivalledbytheglow-wormswhichshoneincountlesspointsoflightfrombankandhedge；eventwocharcoal-burners，whopassedwithfriendlygreeting，hadwreathedtheirhatswiththelivingflame。Thetinyshiftinglampswereeverywhere；paleyellow，purelywhite，orgreenastheundersideofanorthernwave。Bydaybutanugly，repellentworm；

butdarknesscomes，andlo，astaralight。Natureisfullforusofseeminginconsistenciesandgladsurprises。Theworld"sasleep，sayyou；onyourearfallsthenightingale"ssongandthestiroflivingcreaturesinbushandbrake。Themantleofnightfalls，andallunattendedthewindleapsupandscattersthecloudswhichveiltheconstantstars；orinthehourofthegreatdark，dawnpartsthecurtainwiththelongforegleamofthecomingday。Itishardtoturnone"sbackonnightwithherkissofpeacefortiredeye-

lids，thekisswhichisnotsleepbutitsneglectedforerunner。I

mademywayatlastdowntothevine-girtbridgeasleepunderthestarsandupthewindingstairsoftheoldgreytower；andastone"s-throwawaytheRhineslippedquietlypastinthemidsummermoonlight。Switzerlandcameinitsturn，unearthlyinitswhitelovelinessandgloryoflakeandsky。ButperhapsthelandmarkwhichstandsoutmostclearlyisthesolitarybluegentianwhichI

foundintheshortslipperygrassoftheRigi，gazingupattheskywhosebluecouldnothopetoexcelit。Itwasmyfirst；andwhatneedofanother，forfindingoneIhadgazedintothemysteryofall。ThissidethePass，snowandtheblueofheaven；laterI

enteredItalythroughfieldsofmany-huedlilies，herpastgloriesblazonedintheflowersofthefield。

NowitisastrangelyuneventfulroadthatleadstomyWhiteGate。

Eachdayquestionsmeasitpasses；eachdaymakesanswerforme"notyet。"Thereisnomaterialpreparationtobemadeforthisjourneyofmineintoafarcountry-asimplefactwhichaddstothe"unknowableness"oftheotherside。DoItravelalone，oramI

oneofagreatcompany，swiftyetunhurriedintheirpassage？ThevoicesofPenelope"ssuitorsshrilledontheearsofUlysses，astheyjourneyedtothenether-world，likenocturnalbirdsandbatsintheinarticulatenessoftheirspeech。Theyhadabusedthegift，andfledself-condemned。Maybesilencecommendsitselfasmostsuitableforthewayfarerstowardsthesunrise-silencebecausetheyseektheWord-butforthosehasteningtowardstheconfusiontheyhavewroughttherefallsalreadythesharponcomingofthecurse。

Whilewearestillherethelanguageofworshipseemsfar，andyetliesverynigh；forwhatbetternotecanourfrailtongueslispthanthevoiceofwindandsea，riverandstream，thosegratefulservantsgivingallandaskingnothing，thesoftwhisperofsnowandraineagertoreplenish，orthethunderproclaimingamajestytoogreatforutterance？Here，too，standstheangelwiththecensergatheringupthefragranceofteemingearthandforest-tree，offlowerandfruit，andsweetlypungentherbdistilledbysunandrainforjoyfuluse。Here，too，comeacolyteslightingthedarkwithtapers-sun，moon，andstars-giftsoftheLordthatHissanctuarymaystandeverserved。

Itliesherereadytoourhand，thislifeofadorationwhichweneedsmustlivehandinhandwithearth，forhasshenotbornethecursewithus？Butbeyondthewhitegateandthetrailofwoodbinefallsthesilencegreaterthanspeech，darknessgreaterthanlight，apauseof"alittlewhile"；andthenthetouchofthathealinggarmentaswepasstotheKinginHisbeauty，inalandfromwhichthereisnoreturn。

AtthegatewaythenIcryyoufarewell。