第5章

AndIsaid，"How？"

Godsaid，"Theytouchitwiththeirlips，whentheyhavemadeatinywoundinitwiththeirfore—teeththeysetinitthatwhichisundertheirtongues:theycloseitwiththeirlip——thatnomanmayseetheplace，andpasson。"

IsaidtoGod，"Whydotheydoit？"

Godsaid，"Thatanothermaynoteat。"

IsaidtoGod，"Butiftheypoisonallthennonedareeat;whatdotheygain？"

Godsaid，"Nothing。"

Isaid，"Aretheynotafraidtheythemselvesmaybitewhereanotherhasbitten？"

Godsaid，"Theyareafraid。InHellallmenfear。"

Hecalledmefurther。Andthewaterofthelakeseemedlessblue。

Then，totherightamongthetreesweremenworking。AndIsaidtoGod，"I

shouldliketogoandworkwiththem。Hellmustbeaveryfruitfulplace，thegrassissogreen。"

Godsaid，"Nothinggrowsinthegardentheyaremaking。"

Westoodlooking;andIsawthemworkingamongthebushes，diggingholes，butinthemtheysetnothing;andwhentheyhadcoveredthemwithsticksandeartheachwentawayoffandsatbehindthebusheswatching;andI

noticedthataseachwalkedhesethisfootdowncarefullylookingwherehetrod。IsaidtoGod，"Whataretheydoing？"

Godsaid，"Makingpitfallsintowhichtheirfellowsmaysink。"

IsaidtoGod，"Whydotheydoit？"

Godsaid，"Becauseeachthinksthatwhenhisbrotherfallshewillrise。"

IsaidtoGod，"Howwillherise？"

Godsaid，"Hewillnotrise。"

AndIsawtheireyesgleamfrombehindthebushes。

IsaidtoGod，"Arethesemensane？"

Godsaid，"Theyarenotsane;thereisnosanemaninHell。"

Andhetoldmetocomefurther。

AndIlookedwhereItrod。

AndwecamewhereHellopenedintoaplain，andagreathousestoodthere。

Marblepillarsupheldtheroof，andwhitemarblestepsletuptoit。Thewindofheavenblewthroughit。Onlyatthebackhungathickcurtain。

Fairmenandwomentherefeastedatlongtables。Theydanced，andIsawtherobesofwomenflutterintheairandheardthelaughofstrongmen。

Whattheyfeastedwithwaswine;theydrewitfromlargejarswhichstoodsomewhatinthebackground，andIsawthewinesparkleastheydrewit。

AndIsaidtoGod，"Ishouldliketogoupanddrink。"AndGodsaid，"Wait。"AndIsawmencomingintotheBanquetHouse;theycameinfromthebackandliftedthecornerofthecurtainatthesidesandcreptinquickly;andtheyletthecurtainfallbehindthem;theyboregreatjarstheycouldhardlycarry。Andthemenandwomencrowdedroundthem，andthenew—comersopenedtheirjarsandgavethemofthewinetodrink;andIsawthatthewomendrankevenmoregreedilythanthemen。Andwhenothershadwelldrunkentheysetthejarsamongtheoldonesbesidethewall，andtooktheirplacesatthetable。AndIsawthatsomeofthejarswereveryoldandmildewedanddusty，butothershadstilldropsofnewmustonthemandshonefromthefurnace。

AndIsaidtoGod，"Whatisthat？"Foramidthesoundofthesinging，andoverthedancingoffeet，andoverthelaughingacrossthewine—cupsI

heardacry。

AndGodsaid，"Standawayoff。"

AndhetookmewhereIsawbothsidesofthecurtain。Behindthehousewasthewine—presswherethewinewasmade。Isawthegrapescrushed，andI

heardthemcry。Isaid，"Donottheyontheothersidehearit？"

Godsaid，"Thecurtainisthick;theyarefeasting。"

AndIsaid，"Butthemenwhocameinlast。Theysaw？"

Godsaid，"Theyletthecurtainfallbehindthem——andtheyforget！"

Isaid，"Howcametheybytheirjarsofwine？"

Godsaid，"Inthetreadingofthepressthesearetheywhocametothetop;

theyhaveclimbedoutovertheedge，andfilledtheirjarsfrombelow，andhavegoneintothehouse。"

AndIsaid，"Andiftheyhadfallenastheyclimbed——？"

Godsaid，"Theyhadbeenwine。"

Istoodawayoffwatchinginthesunshine，andIshivered。

Godlayinthesunshinewatchingtoo。

Thenthereroseoneamongthefeasters，whosaid，"Mybrethren，letuspray！"

Andallthemenandwomenrose:andstrongmenbowedtheirheads，andmothersfoldedtheirlittlechildren’shandstogether，andturnedtheirfacesupwards，totheroof。Andhewhofirsthadrisenstoodatthetablehead，andstretchedoutbothhishands，andhisbeardwaslongandwhite，andhissleevesandhisbeardhadbeendippedinwine;andbecausethesleeveswerewideandfulltheyheldmuchwine，anditdroppeddownuponthefloor。

Andhecried，"Mybrothersandmysisters，letuspray。"

Andallthemenandwomenanswered，"Letuspray。"

Hecried，"Forthisfairbanquet—housewethankthee，Lord。"

Andallthemenandwomensaid"Wethankthee，Lord。"

"Thineisthishouse，dearLord。"

"Thineisthishouse。"

"Forushastthoumadeit。"

"Forus。"

"Oh，fillourjarswithwine，dearLord。"

"Ourjarswithwine。"

"Givepeaceandplentyinourtime，dearLord。"

"Peaceandplentyinourtime"——IsaidtoGod，"Whomisittheyaretalkingto？"Godsaid，"DoIknowwhomtheyspeakof？"AndIsawtheywerelookingupattheroof;butoutinthesunshine，Godlay。

"——dearLord！"

"DearLord。"

"Ourchildren’schildren，Lord，shallriseandcalltheeblessed。"

"Ourchildren’schildren，Lord。"——IsaidtoGod，"Thegrapesarecrying！"

Godsaid，"Still！Ihearthem"——"shallcalltheeblessed。"

"Shallcalltheeblessed。"

"Pourforthmorewineuponus，Lord。"

"Morewine。"

"Morewine。"

"Morewine！"

"Wine！！"

"Wine！！"

"Wine！！！"

"DearLord！"

Thenmenandwomensatdownandthefeastwenton。Andmotherspouredoutwineandfedtheirlittlechildrenwithit，andmenheldupthecuptowomen’slipsandcried，"Beloved！drink，"andwomenfilledtheirlovers’

flagonsandheldthemup;andyetthefeastwenton。

AndafterawhileIlooked，andIsawthecurtainthathungbehindthehousemoving。

IsaidtoGod，"Isitawind？"

Godsaid，"Awind。"

Anditseemedtome，thatagainstthecurtainIsawpressedtheformsofmenandwomen。Andafterawhilethefeasterssawitmove，andtheywhispered，onetoanother。Thensomeroseandgatheredthemostworn—outcups，andintothemtheyputwhatwasleftatthebottomofothervessels。

Motherswhisperedtotheirchildren，"Donotdrinkall，savealittledropwhenyouhavedrunk。"Andwhentheyhadcollectedallthedregstheyslippedthecupsoutunderthebottomofthecurtainwithoutliftingit。

Afterawhilethecurtainleftoffmoving。

IsaidtoGod，"Howisitsoquiet？"

Hesaid，"Theyhavegoneawaytodrinkit。"

Isaid，"Theydrinkit——theirown！"

Godsaid，"Itcomesfromthissideofthecurtain，andtheyareverythirsty。"

Thenthefeastwenton，andafterawhileIsawasmall，whitehandslippedinbelowthecurtain’sedgealongthefloor;anditmotionedtowardsthewinejars。

AndIsaidtoGod，"Whyisthathandsobloodless？"

AndGodsaid，"Itisawine—pressedhand。"

Andmensawitandstartedtotheirfeet;andwomencried，andrantothegreatwinejars，andthrewtheirarmsaroundthem，andcried，"Ours，ourown，ourbeloved！"andtwinedtheirlonghairaboutthem。

IsaidtoGod，"Whyaretheyfrightenedofthatonesmallhand？"

Godanswered，"Becauseitissowhite。"

Andmenraninagreatcompanytowardsthecurtain，andstruggledthere。I

heardthemstrikeuponthefloor。Andwhentheymovedawaythecurtainhungsmoothandstill;andtherewasasmallstainuponthefloor。

IsaidtoGod，"Whydotheynotwashitout？"

Godsaid，"Theycannot。"

Andtheytooksmallstonesandputthemdownalongtheedgeofthecurtaintokeepitdown。Thenthemenandwomensatdownagainatthetables。

AndIsaidtoGod，"Willthosestoneskeepitdown？"

Godsaid，"Whatthinkyou？"

Isaid，"Ifthewindblew？"

Godsaid，"Ifthewindblew？"

Andthefeastwenton。

AndsuddenlyIcriedtoGod，"Ifoneshouldriseamongthem，evenofthemselves，andstartupfromthetableandshouldcastawayhiscup，andcry，’Mybrothersandmysisters，stay！whatisitthatwedrink？’——andwithhisswordshouldcutintwothecurtain，andholdingwidethefragments，cry，’Brothers，sisters，see！itisnotwine，notwine！notwine！Mybrothers，oh，mysisters！’andheshouldoverturnthe——"

Godsaid，"Bestill！——，seethere。"

Ilooked:beforethebanquet—house，amongthegrass，Isawarowofmounds，flowerscoveredthem，andgildedmarblestoodattheirheads。I

askedGodwhattheywere。

Heanswered，"Theyarethegravesofthosewhoroseupatthefeastandcried。"

AndIaskedGodhowtheycamethere。

Hesaid，"Themenofthebanquet—houseroseandcastthemdownbackwards。"

Isaid，"Whoburiedthem？"

Godsaid，"Themenwhocastthemdown。"

Isaid，"Howcameitthattheythrewthemdown，andthensetmarbleoverthem？"

Godsaid，"Becausethebonescriedout，theycoveredthem。"

AndamongthegrassandweedsIsawanunburiedbodylying;andIaskedGodwhyitwas。

Godsaid，"Becauseitwasthrowndownonlyyesterday。Inalittlewhile，whenthefleshshallhavefallenfromitsbones，theywillburyitalso，andplantflowersoverit。"

Andstillthefeastwenton。

Menandwomensatatthetablesquaffinggreatbowls。Somerose，andthrewtheirarmsabouteachother，anddancedandsang。Theypledgedeachotherinthewine，andkissedeachother’sblood—redlips。

Higherandhighergrewtherevels。

Men，whentheyhaddrunktilltheycouldnolonger，threwwhatwasleftintheirglassesuptotheroof，andletitfallbackincascades。Womendyedtheirchildren’sgarmentsinthewine，andfedthemonittilltheirtinymouthswerered。Sometimes，asthedancerswhirled，theyoverturnedavessel，andtheirgarmentswerebespattered。Childrensatuponthefloorwithgreatbowlsofwine，andswamrose—leavesonit，forboats。Theyputtheirhandsinthewineandblewlargeredbubbles。

Andhigherandhighergrewtherevels，andwilderthedancing，andlouderandlouderthesinging。Buthereandthereamongtherevellerswerethosewhodidnotrevel。Isawthatatthetableshereandthereweremenwhosatwiththeirelbowsontheboardandhandsshadingtheireyes;theylookedintothewine—cupbeneaththem，anddidnotdrink。Andwhenonetouchedthemlightlyontheshoulder，biddingthemtoriseanddanceandsing，theystarted，andthenlookeddown，andsattherewatchingthewineinthecup，buttheydidnotmove。

AndhereandthereIsawawomansitapart。Theothersdancedandsangandfedtheirchildren，butshesatsilentwithherheadasideasthoughshelistened。Herlittlechildrenpluckedhergown;shedidnotseethem;shewaslisteningtosomesound，butshedidnotstir。

Therevelsgrewhigher。Mendranktilltheycoulddrinknolonger，andlaytheirheadsuponthetablesleepingheavily。Womenwhocoulddancenomoreleanedbackonthebencheswiththeirheadsagainsttheirlovers’

shoulders。Littlechildren，sickwithwine，laydownupontheedgesoftheirmothers’robes。Sometimes，amanrosesuddenly，andashestaggeredstruckthetablesandoverthrewthebenches;someleaneduponthebalustradessickuntodeath。Hereandthereonerosewhostaggeredtothewinejarsandlaydownbesidethem。Heturnedthewinetap，butsleepovercamehimashelaythere，andthewineranout。

Slowlythethin，redstreamranacrossthewhitemarbledfloor;itreachedthestonesteps;slowly，slowly，slowlyittrickleddown，fromsteptostep，fromsteptostep:thenitsankintotheearth。Athinwhitesmokeroseupfromit。

Iwassilent;Icouldnotbreathe;butGodcalledmetocomefurther。

AndafterIhadtravelledforawhileIcamewhereonsevenhillslaytheruinsofamightybanquet—houselargerandstrongerthantheonewhichI

hadseenstanding。

IsaidtoGod，"Whatdidthemenwhobuiltithere？"

Godsaid，"Theyfeasted。"

Isaid，"Onwhat？"

Godsaid，"Onwine。"

AndIlooked;anditseemedtomethatbehindtheruinslaystillalargecircularhollowwithintheearthwhereafootofthewine—presshadstood。

IsaidtoGod，"Howcameitthatthislargehousefell？"

Godsaid，"Becausetheearthwassodden。"

Hecalledmetocomefurther。

Andatlastwecameuponahillwherebluewatersplayed，andwhitemarblelayupontheearth。IsaidtoGod，"Whatwashereonce？"

Godsaid，"Apleasurehouse。"

Ilooked，andatmyfeetgreatpillarslay。IcriedaloudforjoytoGod，"Themarbleblossoms！"

Godsaid，"Ay，’twasafairyhouse。Therehasnotbeenoneliketoit，norevershallbe。Thepillarsandtheporticoesblossomed;andthewinecupswereasgatheredflowers:onthissideallthecurtainwasbroideredwithfairdesigns，thestitchingwasofgold。"

IsaidtoGod，"Howcameitthatitfell？"

Godsaid，"Onthesideofthewine—pressitwasdark。"

Andaswetravelled，wecamewherelayamightyridgeofsand，andadarkriverranthere;andthererosetwovastmounds。

IsaidtoGod，"Theyareverymighty。"

Godsaid，"Ay，exceedinggreat。"

AndIlistened。

GodaskedmewhatIwaslisteningto。

AndIsaid，"Asoundofweeping，andIhearthesoundofstrokes，butI

cannottellwhenceitcomes。"

Godsaid，"Itistheechoofthewine—presslingeringstillamongthecoping—stonesuponthemounds。Abanquet—housestoodhere。"

Andhecalledmetocomefurther。

Uponabarrenhill—side，wherethesoilwasarid，Godcalledmetostandstill。AndIlookedaround。

Godsaid，"Therewasafeasting—househereonceuponatime。"

IsaidtoGod，"Iseenomarkofany！"

Godsaid，"Therewasnotleftonestoneuponanotherthathasnotbeenthrowndown。"AndIlookedround;andonthehill—sidewasalonelygrave。

IsaidtoGod，"Whatliesthere？"

Hesaid，"Avinetruss，bruisedinthewine—press！"

Andattheheadofthegravestoodacross，andonitsfootlayacrownofthorns。

AndasIturnedtogo，Ilookedbackward。Thewine—pressandthebanquet—

houseweregone;butthegraveyetstood。

AndwhenIcametotheedgeofalongridgethereopenedoutbeforemeawideplainofsand。AndwhenIlookeddownwardIsawgreatstoneslieshattered;andthedesertsandhadhalfcoveredthemover。

IsaidtoGod，"Thereiswritingonthem，butIcannotreadit。"

AndGodblewasidethedesertsand，andIreadthewriting:"Weighedinthebalance，andfound——"butthelastwordwaswanting。

AndIsaidtoGod，"Itwasabanquet—house？"

Godsaid，"Ay，abanquet—house。"

Isaid，"Therewasawine—presshere？"

Godsaid，"Therewasawine—press。"

Iaskednofurtherquestion。Iwasveryweary;Ishadedmyeyeswithmyhand，andlookedthroughthepinkeveninglight。

Faroff，acrossthesand，Isawtwofiguresstanding。Withwingsupfoldedhighabovetheirheads，andsternfacesset，neithermannorbeast，theylookedoutacrossthedesertsand，watching，watching，watching！IdidnotaskGodwhattheywere，forIknewwhattheanswerwouldbe。

And，furtherandyetfurther，intheeveninglight，Ilookedwithmyshadedeyes。

Faroff，wherethesandswerethickandheavy，Isawasolitarypillarstanding:thecrownhadfallen，andthesandhadburiedit。Onthebrokenpillarsatagreyowl—of—the—desert，withfoldedwings;andintheeveninglightIsawthedesertfoxcreeppastit，trailinghisbrushacrossthesand。

Further，yetfurther，asIlookedacrossthedesert，Isawthesandgatheredintoheapsasthoughitcoveredsomething。

IcriedtoGod，"Oh，Iamsoweary。"

Godsaid，"YouhaveseenonlyonehalfofHell。"

Isaid，"Icannotseemore，IamafraidofHell。InmyownnarrowlittlepathIdarenotwalkbecauseIthinkthatonehasdugapitfallforme;andifIputmyhandtotakeafruitIdrawitbackagainbecauseIthinkithasbeenkissedalready。IfIlookoutacrosstheplains，themoundsareburialheaps;andwhenIpassamongthestonesIhearthemcryingaloud。

WhenIseemendancingIhearthetimebeateninwithsobs;andtheirwineisliving！Oh，IcannotbearHell！"

Godsaid，"Wherewillyougo？"

Isaid"TotheearthfromwhichIcame;itwasbetterthere。"

AndGodlaughedatme;andIwonderedwhyhelaughed。

Godsaid，"Come，andIwillshowyouHeaven。"……

AndpartlyIawoke。Itwasstillanddark;thesoundofthecarriageshaddiedinthestreet;thewomanwholaughedwasgone;andthepoliceman’streadwasheardnomore。Inthedarkitseemedasifagreathandlayuponmyheart，andcrushedit。Itriedtobreatheandtossedfromsidetoside;

andthenagainIfellasleep，anddreamed。

Godtookmetotheedgeofthatworld。Itended。Ilookeddown。Thegulf，itseemedtome，wasfathomless，andthenIsawtwobridgescrossingitthatbothslopedupwards。

IsaidtoGod，"Istherenootherwaybywhichmencrossit？"

Godsaid，"One;itrisesfarfromhereandslopesstraightupwards。

IaskedGodwhatthebridges’nameswere。

Godsaid，"Whatmatterforthenames？CallthemtheGood，theTrue，theBeautiful，ifyouwill——youwillyetnotunderstandthem。"

IaskedGodhowitwasIcouldnotseethethird。

Godsaid，"Itisseenonlybythosewhoclimbit。"

Isaid，"Dotheyallleadtooneheaven？"

Godsaid，"AllHeavenisone:neverthelesssomepartsarehigherthanothers;thosewhoreachthehighermayalwaysgodowntorestinthelower;

butthoseinthelowermaynothavestrengthtoclimbtothehigher;