第6章

neverthelessthelightisallone。"

AndIsawoverthebridgenearestme，whichwaswiderthantheother，countlessfootmarksgo。IaskedGodwhysomanywentoverit。

Godsaid，"Itslopeslessdeeply，andleadstothefirstheaven。"

AndIsawthatsomeofthefootmarkswereoffeetreturning。IaskedGodhowitwas。

Hesaid，"NomanwhohasonceenteredHeaveneverleavesit;butsome，whentheyhavegonehalfway，turnback，becausetheyareafraidthereisnolandbeyond。"

Isaid，"Hasnoneeverreturned？"

Godsaid，"No;onceinHeavenalwaysinHeaven。"

AndGodtookmeover。Andwhenwecametooneofthegreatdoors——forHeavenhasmoredoorsthanone，andtheyareallopen——thepostsroseupsohighoneithersideIcouldnotseethetop，norindeediftherewereany。

AnditseemedtomesowidethatallHellcouldgointhroughit。

IsaidtoGod，"Whichisthelarger，HeavenorHell？"

Godsaid，"Hellisaswide，butHeavenisdeeper。AllHellcouldbeengulfedinHeaven，butallHeavencouldnotbeengulfedinHell。"

Andweentered。Itwasastillgreatland。Themountainsroseoneveryhand，andtherewasapaleclearlight;andIsawitcamefromtherocksandstones。IaskedGodhowitwas。

ButGoddidnotanswerme。

Ilookedandwondered，forIhadthoughtHeavenwouldbeotherwise。Andafterawhileitbegantogrowbrighter，asifthedaywerebreaking，andI

askedGodifthesunwerenotgoingtorise。

Godsaid，"No;wearecomingtowherethepeopleare。"

Andaswewentonitgrewbrighterandbrightertillitwasburningday;

andontherockwereflowersblooming，andtreesblossomedattheroadside;

andstreamsofwaterraneverywhere，andIheardthebirdssinging;IaskedGodwheretheywere。

Godsaid，"Itisthepeoplecallingtooneanother。"

AndwhenwecamenearerIsawthemwalking，andtheyshoneastheywalked。

IaskedGodhowitwastheyworenocovering。

Godsaid，"Becausealltheirbodygivesthelight;theydarenotcoveranypart。"

AndIaskedGodwhattheyweredoing。

Godsaid，"Shiningontheplantsthattheymaygrow。"

AndIsawthatsomewereworkingincompanies，andsomealone，butmostwereintwos，sometimestwomenandsometimestwowomen;butgenerallytherewasonemanandonewoman;andIaskedGodhowitwas。

Godsaid，"Whenonemanandonewomanshinetogether，itmakesthemostperfectlight。Manyplantsneedthatfortheirgrowing。Nevertheless，therearemorekindsofplantsinHeaventhanone，andtheyneedmanykindsoflight。"

Andonefromamongthepeoplecamerunningtowardsme;andwhenhecamenearitseemedtomethatheandIhadplayedtogetherwhenwewerelittlechildren，andthatwehadbeenbornonthesameday。AndItoldGodwhatI

felt;Godsaid，"AllmenfeelsoinHeavenwhenanothercomestowardsthem。"

Andhewhorantowardsmeheldmyhand，andledmethroughthebrightlights。Andwhenwecameamongthetreeshesangaloud，andhiscompanionanswered，anditwasawoman，andheshowedmetoher。Shesaid，"Hemusthavewater";andshetooksomeinherhands，andfedme（IhadbeenafraidtodrinkofthewaterinHell），andtheygatheredfruitforme，andgaveitmetoeat。Theysaid，"Weshonelongtomakeitripen，"andtheylaughedtogetherastheysawmeeatit。

Themansaid，"Heisveryweary;hemustsleep"（forIhadnotdaredtosleepinHell），andhelaidmyheadonhiscompanion’skneeandspreadherhairoutoverme。Islept，andallthewhileinmysleepIthoughtIheardthebirdscallingacrossme。AndwhenIwokeitwaslikeearlymorning，withthedewoneverything。

Andthemantookmyhandandledmetoahiddenspotamongtherocks。Thegroundwasveryhard，butoutofitweresproutingtinyplants，andtherewasalittlestreamrunning。Hesaid，"Thisisagardenwearemaking，nooneelseknowsofit。Weshinehereeveryday;see，thegroundhascrackedwithourshining，andthislittlestreamisburstingout。See，theflowersaregrowing。"

Andheclimbedontherocksandpickedfromabovetwolittleflowerswithdewonthem，andgavethemtome。AndItookoneineachhand;myhandsshoneasIheldthem。Hesaid，"Thisgardenisforallwhenitisfinished。"Andhewentawaytohiscompanion，andIwentoutintothegreatpathway。

AndasIwalkedinthelightIheardaloudsoundofmuchsinging。AndwhenIcamenearerIsawonewithclosedeyes，singing，andhisfellowswerestandingroundhim;andthelightontheclosedeyeswasbrighterthananythingIhadseeninHeaven。Iaskedonewhoitwas。Andhesaid，"Hush！Oursingingbird。"

AndIaskedwhytheeyesshoneso。

Andhesaid，"Theycannotsee，andwehavekissedthemtilltheyshoneso。"

Andthepeoplegatheredcloserroundhim。

AndwhenIwentalittlefurtherIsawacrowdcrossingamongthetreesoflightwithgreatlaughter。WhentheycamecloseIsawtheycarriedonewithouthandsorfeet。AndalightcamefromthemaimedlimbssobrightthatIcouldnotlookatthem。

AndIsaidtoone，"Whatisit？"

Heanswered，"Thisisourbrotherwhooncefellandlosthishandsandfeet，andsincethenhecannothelphimself;butwehavetouchedthemaimedstumpssooftenthatnowtheyshinebrighterthananythinginHeaven。Wepasshimonthathemayshineonthingsthatneedmuchheat。Nooneisallowedtokeephimlong，hebelongstoall";andtheywentonamongthetrees。

IsaidtoGod，"Thisisastrangeland。Ihadthoughtblindnessandmaimednessweregreatevils。Heremenmakethemtoarejoicing。"

Godsaid，"Didstthouthenthinkthatlovehadneedofeyesandhands！"

AndIwalkeddowntheshiningwaywithpalmsoneitherhand。IsaidtoGod，"EversinceIwasalittlechildandsataloneandcried，Ihavedreamedofthisland，andnowIwillnotgoawayagain。Iwillstayhereandshine。"AndIbegantotakeoffmygarments，thatImightshineasothersinthatland;butwhenIlookeddownIsawmybodygavenolight。I

saidtoGod，"Howisit？"

Godsaid，"Istherenodarkbloodinyourheart;isitbitteragainstnone？"

AndIsaid，"Yes——";andIthought——"NowisthetimewhenIwilltellGod，thatwhichIhavebeen，meaningtotellhimallalong，howbadlymyfellow—

menhavetreatedme。Howtheyhavemisunderstoodme。HowIhaveintendedtobemagnanimousandgeneroustothem，andthey——。"AndIbegantotellGod;butwhenIlookeddownalltheflowerswerewitheringundermybreath，andIwassilent。

AndGodcalledmetocomeuphigher，andIgatheredmymantleaboutmeandfollowedhim。

Andtherocksgrewhigherandsteeperoneveryside;andwecameatlasttoaplacewhereagreatmountainrose，whosetopwaslostintheclouds。AndonitssideIsawmenworking;andtheypickedattheearthwithhugepicks;andIsawthattheylabouredmightily。Andsomelabouredincompanies，butmostlabouredsingly。AndIsawthedropsofsweatfallfromtheirforeheads，andthemusclesoftheirarmsstandoutwithlabour。

AndIsaid，"Ihadnotthoughtinheaventoseemenlabourso！"AndI

thoughtofthegardenwheremensangandloved，andIwonderedthatanyshouldchoosetolabouronthatbaremountain—side。AndIsawupontheforeheadsofthemenastheyworkedalight，andthedropswhichfellfromthemastheyworkedhadlight。

AndIaskedGodwhattheywereseekingfor。

AndGodtouchedmyeyes，andIsawthatwhattheyfoundweresmallstones，whichhadbeentoobrightformetoseebefore;andIsawthatthelightofthestonesandthelightonthemen’sforeheadswasthesame。AndIsawthatwhenonefoundastonehepasseditontohisfellow，andhetoanother，andhetoanother。Nomankeptthestonehefound。Andattimestheygatheredingreatcompanyaboutwhenalargestonewasfound，andraisedagreatshoutsothattheskyrang;thentheyworkedonagain。

AndIaskedGodwhattheydidwiththestonestheyfoundatlast。ThenGodtouchedmyeyesagaintomakethemstronger;andIlooked，andatmyveryfeetwasamightycrown。Thelightstreamedoutfromit。

Godsaid，"Eachstoneastheyfinditissethere。"

Andthecrownwaswroughtaccordingtoamarvellouspattern;onepatternranthroughall，yeteachpartwasdifferent。

IsaidtoGod，"Howdoeseachmanknowwheretosethisstone，sothatthepatternisworkedout？"

Godsaid，"Becauseinthelighthisforeheadshedseachmanseesfaintlyoutlinedthatfullcrown。"

AndIsaid，"Buthowisitthateachstoneisjoinedalongitsedgestoitsfellows，sothatthereisnoseamanywhere？"

Godsaid，"Thestonesarealive;theygrow。"

AndIsaid，"Butwhatdoeseachmangainbyhisworking？"

Godsaid，"Heseeshisoutlinefilled。"

Isaid，"Butthosestoneswhicharelastsetcoverthosewhichwerefirst;

andthosewillagainbecoveredbythosewhichcomelater。"

Godsaid，"Theyarecovered，butnothid。Thelightisthelightofall。

Withoutthefirst，nolast。"

AndIsaidtoGod，"Whenwillthiscrownbeended？"

AndGodsaid，"Lookup！"

Ilookedup;andIsawthemountaintoweraboveme，butitssummitIcouldnotsee;itwaslostintheclouds。

Godsaidnomore。

AndIlookedatthecrown:thenalongingseizedme。Likethepassionofamotherforthechildwhomdeathhastaken;liketheyearningofafriendforthefriendwhomlifehasburied;likethehungerofdyingeyesforalifethatisslipping;likethethirstofasoulforloveatitsfirstspringwaking，so，butfiercerwasthelonginginme。

IcriedtoGod，"Itoowillworkhere;Itoowillsetstonesinthewonderfulpattern;itshallgrowbeneathMYhand。Andifitbethat，labouringhereforyears，Ishouldnotfindonestone，atleastIwillbewiththementhatlabourhere。Ishallheartheirshoutofjoywheneachstoneisfound;Ishalljoinintheirtriumph，Ishallshoutamongthem;I

shallseethecrowngrow。"SogreatwasmylongingasIlookedatthecrown，Ithoughtafaintlightfellfrommyforeheadalso。

Godsaid，"Doyounothearthesinginginthegardens？"

Isaid，"No，Ihearnothing;Iseeonlythecrown。"AndIwasdumbwithlonging;IforgotalltheflowersofthelowerHeavenandthesingingthere。AndIranforward，andthrewmymantleontheearthandbenttoseizeoneofthemightytoolswhichlaythere。Icouldnotliftitfromtheearth。

Godsaid，"WherehastTHOUearnedthestrengthtoraiseit？Takeupthymantle。"

AndItookupmymantleandfollowedwhereGodcalledme;butIlookedback，andIsawthecrownburning，mycrownthatIhadloved。

Higherandhigherweclimbed，andtheairgrewthinner。Notatreeorplantwasonthebarerocks，andthestillnesswasunbroken。Mybreathcamehardandquick，andthebloodcreptwithinmyfinger—tips。IsaidtoGod，"IsthisHeaven？"

Godsaid，"Yes;itisthehighest。"

Andstillweclimbed。IsaidtoGod，"Icannotbreathesohigh。"

Godsaid，"Becausetheairispure？"

Andmyheadgrewdizzy，andasIclimbedthebloodburstfrommyfinger—

tips。

Thenwecameoutuponalonelymountain—top。

Nolivingbeingmovedthere;butfaroffonasolitarypeakIsawalonelyfigurestanding。WhetheritweremanorwomanIcouldnottell;forpartlyitseemedthefigureofawoman，butitslimbswerethemightylimbsofaman。IaskedGodwhetheritwasmanorwoman。

Godsaid，"IntheleastHeavensexreignssupreme;inthehigheritisnotnoticed;butinthehighestitdoesnotexist。"

AndIsawthefigurebendoveritswork，andlabourmightily，butwhatitlabouredatIcouldnotsee。

IsaidtoGod，"Howcameithere？"

Godsaid，"Byabloodystair。StepbystepitmountedfromthelowestHell，anddaybydayasHellgrewfartherandHeavennonearer，ithungalonebetweentwoworlds。Hourbyhourinthatbitterstruggleitslimbsgrewlarger，tilltherefellfromitragbyragthegarmentswhichitstartedwith。Dropsfellfromitseyesasitstrainedthem;eachstepitclimbedwaswetwithblood。Thenitcameouthere。"

AndIthoughtofthegardenwheremensangwiththeirarmsaroundoneanother;andthemountain—sidewheretheyworkedincompany。AndI

shuddered。

AndIsaid，"Isitnotterriblyalonehere？"

Godsaid，"Itisneveralone！"

Isaid，"Whathasitforallitslabour？Iseenothingreturntoit。"

ThenGodtouchedmyeyes，andIsawstretchedoutbeneathustheplainsofHeavenandHell，andallthatwaswithinthem。

Godsaid，"Fromthatloneheightonwhichhestands，allthingsareopen。

Tohimiscleartheshininginthegarden，heseestheflowerbreakforthandthestreamssparkle;noshoutisraiseduponthemountain—sidebuthisearmayhearit。Heseesthecrowngrowandthelightshootfromit。AllHellisopentohim。Heseesthepathsmountupwards。Tohim，HellistheseedgroundfromwhichHeavensprings。Heseesthesapascending。"

AndIsawthefigurebendoveritswork，andthelightfromitsfacefelluponit。

AndIsaidtoGod，"Whatisitmaking？"

AndGodsaid，"Music！"

Andhetouchedmyears，andIheardit。

AndafteralongwhileIwhisperedtoGod，"ThisisHeaven。"

AndGodaskedmewhyIwascrying。ButIcouldnotanswerforjoy。

Andthefaceturnedfromitswork，andthelightfelluponme。ThenitgrewsobrightIcouldnotseethingsseparately;andwhichwereGod，ortheman，orI，Icouldnottell;wewereallblended。IcriedtoGod，"Whereareyou？"buttherewasnoanswer，onlymusicandlight。

Afterwards，whenithadgrownsodarkagainthatIcouldseethingsseparately，IfoundthatIwasstandingtherewrappedtightinmylittleold，brown，earthlycloak，andGodandthemanwereseparatedfromeachother，andfromme。

IdidnotdaresayIwouldgoandmakemusicbesidetheman。IknewI

couldnotreacheventohisknee，normovetheinstrumentheplayed。ButI

thoughtIwouldstandthereonmylittlepeakandsinganaccompanimenttothatgreatmusic。AndItried;butmyvoicefailed。Itpipedandquavered。Icouldnotsingthattune。Iwassilent。

ThenGodpointedtome，thatIshouldgooutofHeaven。

AndIcriedtoGod，"Oh，letmestayhere！Ifindeeditbe，asIknowitis，thatIamnotgreatenoughtosinguponthemountain，norstrongenoughtolabouronitsside，norbrightenoughtoshineandlovewithinthegarden，atleastletmegodowntothegreatgateway;humblyIwillkneeltheresweeping;and，asthesavedpassin，Iwillseethelightupontheirfaces。Ishallhearthesinginginthegarden，andtheshoutuponthehillside——"

Godsaid，"Itmaynotbe;"hepointed。

AndIcried，"IfImaynotstayinHeaven，thenletmegodowntoHell，andIwillgraspthehandsofmenandwomenthere;andslowly，holdingoneanother’shands，wewillworkourwayupwards。"

StillGodpointed。

AndIthrewmyselfupontheearthandcried，"Earthissosmall，somean！

ItisnotmeetasoulshouldseeHeavenandbecastoutagain！"

AndGodlaidhishandonme，andsaid，"Gobacktoearth:thatwhichyouseekisthere。"

Iawoke:itwasmorning。Thesilenceanddarknessofthenightweregone。

ThroughmynarrowatticwindowIsawthelightofanotherday。Iclosedmyeyesandturnedtowardsthewall:Icouldnotlookuponthedullgreyworld。

Inthestreetsbelow，menandwomenstreamedpastbyhundreds;Iheardthebeatoftheirfeetonthepavement。Menontheirwaytobusiness;servantsonerrands;boyshurryingtoschool;wearyprofessorspacingslowlytheoldstreet;prostitutes，menandwomen，draggingtheirfeetwearilyafterlastnight’sdebauch;artistswithquick，impatientfootsteps;tradesmenfororders;childrentoseekforbread。Iheardthestreambeatby。Andatthealley’smouth，atthestreetcorner，abrokenbarrel—organwasplaying;

sometimesitquaveredandalmoststopped，thenwentonagain，likeabrokenhumanvoice。

Ilistened:myheartscarcelymoved;itwasascoldaslead。Icouldnotbearthelongdaybeforeme;andItriedtosleepagain;yetstillIheardthefeetuponthepavement。AndsuddenlyIheardthemcryloudastheybeat，"Weareseeking！——weareseeking！——weareseeking！"andthebrokenbarrel—organatthestreetcornersobbed，"TheBeautiful！——theBeautiful！——

theBeautiful！"Andmyheart，whichhadbeendead，criedoutwitheverythrob，"Love！——Truth！——theBeautiful！——theBeautiful！"ItwasthemusicI

hadheardinHeaventhatIcouldnotsingthere。

AndfullyIawoke。

Uponthefadedquilt，acrossmybedalongyellowstreakofpaleLondonsunlightwaslying。Itfellthroughmynarrowatticwindow。

Ilaughed。Irose。

Iwasgladthelongdaywasbeforeme。

ParisandLondon。