第11章

Whatasightitwas——nowtheone,nowtheotheruppermost,bothtoointentforanynoisebeyondalowgrowl,awhimperedcry,orasnarlofhate——followedbyaquickerscramblingofclaws,aseach,worryingandpushinganddragging,struggledforfootholdonthepavement！

Thespottedleopardesswaslargerthanthewhite,andIwasanxiousformyfriend;butIsoonsawthat,thoughneitherstrongernormoreactive,thewhiteleopardesshadthegreaterendurance。Notoncedidsheloseherholdontheneckoftheother。Fromthespottedthroatatlengthissuedahowlofagony,changing,byswift—crowdedgradations,intothelong—drawnCRESCENDOofawoman\'suttermostwail。Thewhiteonerelaxedherjaws;thespottedonedrewherselfaway,androseonherhindlegs。Erectinthemoonlightstoodtheprincess,aconfusedrushofshadowscareeringoverherwhiteness——thespotsoftheleopardcrowding,hurrying,fleeingtotherefugeofhereyes,wheremergingtheyvanished。

Thelastfew,outspedandbelated,mingledwiththecloudofherstreamyhair,leavingherradiantasthemoonwhenalegionoflittlevapourshasflown,wind—hunted,offhersilverydisc——savethat,adownthewhitecolumnofherthroat,athreadofbloodstilltrickledfromeverywoundofheradversary\'sterribleteeth。Sheturnedaway,tookafewstepswiththegaitofaHecate,fell,coveredafreshwithherspots,andfledatalong,stretchinggallop。

Thewhiteleopardessturnedalso,spranguponme,pulledmyarmsasunder,caughtthebabyasitfell,andflewwithitalongthestreettowardthegateCHAPTERXXVII

THESILENTFOUNTAIN

Iturnedandfollowedthespottedleopardess,catchingbutoneglimpseofherasshetoreupthebrowofthehilltothegateofthepalace。WhenIreachedtheentrance—hall,theprincesswasjustthrowingtherobearoundherwhichshehadleftonthefloor。

Thebloodhadceasedtoflowfromherwounds,andhaddriedinthewindofherflight。

Whenshesawme,aflashofangercrossedherface,andsheturnedherheadaside。Then,withanattemptedsmile,shelookedatme,andsaid,"Ihavemetwithasmallaccident！Happeningtohearthatthecat—womanwasagaininthecity,Iwentdowntosendheraway。Butshehadoneofherhorridcreatureswithher:itspranguponme,andhaditsclawsinmyneckbeforeIcouldstrikeit！"

Shegaveashiver,andIcouldnothelppityingher,althoughI

knewshelied,forherwoundswerereal,andherfaceremindedmeofhowshelookedinthecave。MyheartbegantoreproachmethatIhadletherfightunaided,andIsupposeIlookedthecompassionIfelt。

"Childoffolly！"shesaid,withanotherattemptedsmile,"——notcrying,surely！——Waitformehere;Iamgoingintotheblackhallforamoment。Iwantyoutogetmesomethingformyscratches。"

ButIfollowedherclose。OutofmysightIfearedher。

Theinstanttheprincessentered,Iheardabuzzingsoundasofmanylowvoices,and,oneportionafteranother,theassemblybegantobeshiftinglyilluminated,asbyaraythatwenttravellingfromspottospot。Groupaftergroupwouldshineoutforaspace,thensinkbackintothegeneralvagueness,whileanotherpartofthevastcompanywouldgrowmomentlybright。

Someoftheactionsgoingonwhenthusilluminated,werenotunknowntome;Ihadbeeninthem,orhadlookedonthem,andsohadtheprincess:presentwitheveryoneofthemInowsawher。Theskull—headeddancersfootedthegrassintheforest—hall:therewastheprincesslookinginatthedoor！ThefightwentonintheEvilWood:therewastheprincessurgingit！YetIwasclosebehindherallthetime,shestandingmotionless,herheadsunkonherbosom。

Theconfusedmurmurcontinued,theconfusedcommotionofcoloursandshapes;andstilltheraywentshiftingandshowing。Itsettledatlastonthehollowintheheath,andtherewastheprincess,walkingupanddown,andtryinginvaintowrapthevapouraroundher！ThenfirstIwasstartledatwhatIsaw:theoldlibrarianwalkeduptoher,andstoodforamomentregardingher;shefell;

herlimbsforsookherandfled;herbodyvanished。

Awildshriekrangthroughtheechoingplace,andwiththefallofhereidolon,theprincessherself,tillthenstandinglikeastatueinfrontofme,fellheavily,andlaystill。Iturnedatonceandwentout:notagainwouldIseektorestoreher！AsIstoodtremblingbesidethecage,IknewthatintheblackellipsoidIhadbeeninthebrainoftheprincess！——Isawthetailoftheleopardessquiveronce。

Whilestillendeavouringtocomposemyself,Iheardthevoiceoftheprincessbesideme。

"Comenow,"shesaid;"IwillshowyouwhatIwantyoutodoforme。"

Sheledthewayintothecourt。Ifollowedindazedcompliance。

Themoonwasnearthezenith,andherpresentsilverseemedbrighterthanthegoldoftheabsentsun。Shebroughtmethroughthetreestothetallestofthem,theoneinthecentre。Itwasnotquiteliketherest,foritsbranches,drawingtheirendstogetheratthetop,madeaclumpthatlookedfrombeneathlikeafir—cone。Theprincessstoodcloseunderit,gazingup,andsaid,asiftalkingtoherself,"Onthesummitofthattreegrowsatinyblossomwhichwouldatoncehealmyscratches！Imightbeadoveforamomentandfetchit,butIseealittlesnakeintheleaveswhosebitewouldbeworsetoadovethanthebiteofatigertome！——HowIhatethatcat—woman！"

Sheturnedtomequickly,sayingwithoneofhersweetestsmiles,"Canyouclimb？"

Thesmilevanishedwiththebriefquestion,andherfacechangedtoalookofsadnessandsuffering。Ioughttohavelefthertosuffer,butthewaysheputherhandtoherwoundedneckwenttomyheart。

Iconsideredthetree。Allthewayuptothebranches,wereprojectionsonthestemliketheremnantsonapalmofitsfallenleaves。

"Icanclimbthattree,"Ianswered。

"Notwithbarefeet！"shereturned。

Inmyhastetofollowtheleopardessdisappearing,Ihadleftmysandalsinmyroom。

"Itisnomatter,"Isaid;"Ihavelonggonebarefoot！"

AgainIlookedatthetree,andmyeyeswentwanderingupthestemuntilmysightlostitselfinthebranches。Themoonshonelikesilveryfoamhereandthereontheruggedbole,andalittlerushofwindwentthroughthetopwithamurmuroussoundasofwaterfallingsoftlyintowater。Iapproachedthetreetobeginmyascentofit。Theprincessstoppedme。

"Icannotletyouattemptitwithyourfeetbare！"sheinsisted。

"Afallfromthetopwouldkillyou！"

"Sowouldabitefromthesnake！"Ianswered——notbelieving,I

confess,thattherewasanysnake。

"ItwouldnothurtYOU！"shereplied。"——Waitamoment。"

Shetorefromhergarmentthetwowidebordersthatmetinfront,andkneelingononeknee,mademeputfirstmyleftfoot,thenmyrightontheother,andboundthemaboutwiththethickembroideredstrips。

"Youhavelefttheendshanging,princess！"Isaid。

"Ihavenothingtocutthemoffwith;buttheyarenotlongenoughtogetentangled,"shereplied。

Iturnedtothetree,andbegantoclimb。

NowinBulikathecoldaftersundownwasnotsogreatasincertainotherpartsofthecountry——especiallyaboutthesexton\'scottage;

yetwhenIhadclimbedalittleway,Ibegantofeelverycold,grewstillcolderasIascended,andbecamecoldestofallwhenIgotamongthebranches。ThenIshivered,andseemedtohavelostmyhandsandfeet。

Therewashardlyanywind,andthebranchesdidnotswayintheleast,yet,asIapproachedthesummit,Ibecameawareofapeculiarunsteadiness:everybranchonwhichIplacedfootorlaidhold,seemedonthepointofgivingway。Whenmyheadroseabovethebranchesnearthetop,andintheopenmoonlightIbegantolookaboutfortheblossom,thatinstantIfoundmyselfdrenchedfromheadtofoot。Thenext,asifplungedinastormywater,Iwasflungaboutwildly,andfeltmyselfsinking。Tossedupanddown,tossedthiswayandtossedthatway,rolledoverandover,checked,rolledtheotherwayandtossedupagain,Iwassinkinglowerandlower。Gaspingandgurglingandchoking,Ifellatlastuponasolidbottom。

"Itoldyouso！"croakedavoiceinmyear。

CHAPTERXXVIII

IAMSILENCED

Irubbedthewateroutofmyeyes,andsawtheravenontheedgeofahugestonebasin。Withthecoldlightofthedawnreflectedfromhisglossyplumage,hestoodcalmlylookingdownuponme。Ilayonmybackinwater,abovewhich,leaningonmyelbows,Ijustliftedmyface。Iwasinthebasinofthelargefountainconstructedbymyfatherinthemiddleofthelawn。Highovermeglimmeredthethick,steel—shinystalk,shooting,withatorrentuprush,ahundredfeetintotheair,tospreadinablossomoffoam。

Nettledatthecoolnessoftheraven\'sremark,"Youtoldmenothing！"Isaid。

"Itoldyoutodonothinganyoneyoudistrustedaskedyou！"

"Tut！howwasmortaltorememberthat？"

"Youwillnotforgettheconsequencesofhavingforgottenit！"

repliedMr。Raven,whostoodleaningoverthemarginofthebasin,andstretchedhishandacrosstome。

Itookit,andwasimmediatelybesidehimonthelawn,drippingandstreaming。

"Youmustchangeyourclothesatonce！"hesaid。"Awettingdoesnotsignifywhereyoucomefrom——thoughatpresentsuchanaccidentisunusual;hereithasitsinconveniences！"

Hewasagainaraven,walking,withsomethingstatelyinhisstep,towardthehouse,thedoorofwhichstoodopen。

"Ihavenotmuchtochange！"Ilaughed;forIhadflungasidemyrobetoclimbthetree。

"ItisalongtimesinceImoultedafeather！"saidtheraven。

Inthehousenooneseemedawake。Iwenttomyroom,foundadressing—gown,anddescendedtothelibrary。

AsIentered,thelibrariancamefromthecloset。Ithrewmyselfonacouch。Mr。Ravendrewachairtomysideandsatdown。Foraminuteortwoneitherspoke。Iwasthefirsttobreakthesilence。

"Whatdoesitallmean？"Isaid。

"Agoodquestion！"herejoined:"nobodyknowswhatanythingis;amancanlearnonlywhatathingmeans！Whetherhedo,dependsontheuseheismakingofit。"

"Ihavemadenouseofanythingyet！"

"Notmuch;butyouknowthefact,andthatissomething！Mostpeopletakemorethanalifetimetolearnthattheyhavelearnednothing,anddoneless！Atleastyouhavenotbeenwithoutthedesiretobeofuse！"

"Ididwanttodosomethingforthechildren——thepreciousLittleOnes,Imean。"

"Iknowyoudid——andstartedthewrongway！"

"Ididnotknowtherightway。"

"Thatistruealso——butyouaretoblamethatyoudidnot。"

"Iamreadytobelievewhateveryoutellme——assoonasIunderstandwhatitmeans。"

"Hadyouacceptedourinvitation,youwouldhaveknowntherightway。Whenamanwillnotactwhereheis,hemustgofartofindhiswork。"

"IndeedIhavegonefar,andgotnowhere,forIhavenotfoundmywork！Ileftthechildrentolearnhowtoservethem,andhaveonlylearnedthedangertheyarein。"

"Whenyouwerewiththem,youwerewhereyoucouldhelpthem:youleftyourworktolookforit！Ittakesawisemantoknowwhentogoaway;afoolmaylearntogobackatonce！"

"Doyoumean,sir,IcouldhavedonesomethingfortheLittleOnesbystayingwiththem？"

"Couldyouteachthemanythingbyleavingthem？"

"No;buthowcouldIteachthem？Ididnotknowhowtobegin。

Besides,theywerefaraheadofme！"

"Thatistrue。Butyouwerenotarodtomeasurethemwith！

Certainly,iftheyknewwhatyouknow,nottosaywhatyoumighthaveknown,theywouldbeaheadofyou——outofsightahead！butyousawtheywerenotgrowing——orgrowingsoslowlythattheyhadnotyetdevelopedtheideaofgrowing！theywereevenafraidofgrowing！——Youhadneverseenchildrenremainchildren！"

"ButsurelyIhadnopowertomakethemgrow！"

"Youmighthaveremovedsomeofthehindrancestotheirgrowing！"

"Whatarethey？Idonotknowthem。Ididthinkperhapsitwasthewantofwater！"

"Ofcourseitis！theyhavenonetocrywith！"

"Iwouldgladlyhavekeptthemfromrequiringanyforthatpurpose！"

"Nodoubtyouwould——theaimofallstupidphilanthropists！Why,Mr。Vane,butfortheweepinginit,yourworldwouldneverhavebecomeworthsaving！Youconfessyouthoughtitmightbewatertheywanted:whydidnotyoudigthemawellortwo？"

"Thatneverenteredmymind！"

"Notwhenthesoundsofthewatersundertheearthenteredyourears？"

"Ibelieveitdidonce。ButIwasafraidofthegiantsforthem。

Thatwaswhatmademebearsomuchfromthebrutesmyself！"

"IndeedyoualmosttaughtthenoblelittlecreaturestobeafraidofthestupidBags！Whiletheyfedandcomfortedandworshippedyou,allthetimeyousubmittedtobetheslaveofbestialmen！

Yougavethedarlingsaseemingcowardfortheirhero！Aworsewrongyoucouldhardlyhavedonethem。Theygaveyoutheirhearts;

youowedthemyoursoul！——YoumightbythistimehavemadetheBagshewersofwoodanddrawersofwatertotheLittleOnes！"

"Ifearwhatyousayistrue,Mr。Raven！ButindeedIwasafraidthatmoreknowledgemightproveaninjurytothem——renderthemlessinnocent,lesslovely。"

"Theyhadgivenyounoreasontoharboursuchafear！"

"Isnotalittleknowledgeadangerousthing？"

"Thatisoneofthepetfalsehoodsofyourworld！Isman\'sgreatestknowledgemorethanalittle？orisitthereforedangerous？Thefancythatknowledgeisinitselfagreatthing,wouldmakeanydegreeofknowledgemoredangerousthananyamountofignorance。

Toknowallthingswouldnotbegreatness。"

"Atleastitwasforloveofthem,notfromcowardicethatIservedthegiants！"

"Granted。ButyououghttohaveservedtheLittleOnes,notthegiants！YououghttohavegiventheLittleOneswater;thentheywouldsoonhavetaughtthegiantstheirtrueposition。Inthemeantimeyoucouldyourselfhavemadethegiantscutdowntwo—thirdsoftheircoarsefruit—treestogiveroomtothelittledelicateones！YoulostyourchancewiththeLovers,Mr。Vane！Youspeculatedabouttheminsteadofhelpingthem！"

CHAPTERXXIX

THEPERSIANCAT

Isatinsilenceandshame。Whathesaidwastrue:IhadnotbeenawiseneighbourtotheLittleOnes！

Mr。Ravenresumed:

"Youwrongedatthesametimethestupidcreaturesthemselves。Forthemslaverywouldhavebeenprogress。Tothemafewsuchlessonsasyoucouldhavegiventhemwithastickfromoneoftheirowntrees,wouldhavebeeninvaluable。"

"Ididnotknowtheywerecowards！"

"Whatdifferencedoesthatmake？Themanwhogroundshisactiononanother\'scowardice,isessentiallyacowardhimself。——Ifearworsewillcomeofit！BythistimetheLittleOnesmighthavebeenabletoprotectthemselvesfromtheprincess,nottosaythegiants——theywerealwaysfitenoughforthat;asitwastheylaughedatthem！

butnow,throughyourrelationswithher,————"

"Ihateher！"Icried。

"Didyouletherknowyouhatedher？"

AgainIwassilent。

"Noteventoherhaveyoubeenfaithful！——Buthush！wewerefollowedfromthefountain,Ifear！"

"NolivingcreaturedidIsee！——exceptadisreputable—lookingcatthatboltedintotheshrubbery。"

"ItwasamagnificentPersian——sowetanddraggled,though,astolookwhatshewas——worsethandisreputable！"

"Whatdoyoumean,Mr。Raven？"Icried,afreshhorrortakingmebythethroat。"——TherewasabeautifulbluePersianaboutthehouse,butshefledattheverysoundofwater！——Couldshehavebeenafterthegoldfish？"

"Weshallsee！"returnedthelibrarian。"Iknowalittleaboutcatsofseveralsorts,andthereisthatintheroomwhichwillunmaskthisone,orIammistakeninher。"

Herose,wenttothedoorofthecloset,broughtfromitthemutilatedvolume,andsatdownagainbesideme。Istaredatthebookinhishand:itwasawholebook,entireandsound！

"Wherewastheotherhalfofit？"Igasped。

"Stickingthroughintomylibrary,"heanswered。

Iheldmypeace。Asinglequestionmorewouldhavebeenaplungeintoabottomlesssea,andtheremightbenotime！

"Listen,"hesaid:"Iamgoingtoreadastanzaortwo。Thereisonepresentwho,Iimagine,willhardlyenjoythereading！"

Heopenedthevellumcover,andturnedaleafortwo。Theparchmentwasdiscolouredwithage,andoneleafshowedadarkstainovertwo—thirdsofit。Heslowlyturnedthisalso,andseemedlookingforacertainpassageinwhatappearedacontinuouspoem。Somewhereaboutthemiddleofthebookhebegantoread。

Butwhatfollowsrepresents——notwhatheread,onlytheimpressionitmadeuponme。ThepoemseemedinalanguageIhadneverbeforeheard,whichyetIunderstoodperfectly,althoughIcouldnotwritethewords,orgivetheirmeaningsaveinpoorapproximation。Thesefragments,then,aretheshapeswhichthosehereadhavefinallytakeninpassingagainthroughmybrain:——

"ButifIfoundamanthatcouldbelieveInwhathesawnot,feltnot,andyetknew,FromhimIshouldtakesubstance,andreceiveFirmnessandformrelatetotouchandview;

ThenshouldIclothemeinthelikenesstrueOfthatideawherehissouldidcleave！"

Heturnedaleafandreadagain:——

"Inmewaseverywoman。IhadpowerOverthesoulofeverylivingman,Suchasnowomaneverhadindower——

Couldwhatnowomanevercould,orcan;

Allwomen,I,thewoman,stilloutran,Outsoared,outsank,outreigned,inhallorbower。

"ForI,thoughmeheneithersawnorheard,Norwithhishandcouldtouchfingerofmine,AlthoughnotoncemybreathhadeverstirredAhairofhim,couldtrammelbrainandspineWithrootedbondswhichDeathcouldnotuntwine——

Orlife,thoughhopewereevermoredeferred。"

Againhepaused,againturnedaleaf,andagainbegan:——

"ForbyhissideIlay,abodilessthing;

Ibreathednot,sawnot,feltnot,onlythought,Andmadehimloveme——withahungeringAfterheknewnotwhat——ifitwasaughtOrbutanamelesssomethingthatwaswroughtByhimoutofhimself;forIdidsing"Asongthathadnosoundintohissoul;

Ilayaheartlessthingagainsthisheart,GivinghimnothingwherehegavehiswholeBeingtoclothemehuman,everypart:

ThatIatlastintohissensemightdart,ThusfirstintohislivingmindIstole。

"Ah,whowaseverconqueringLovebutI！

Whoelsedideverthroneinheartofman！

Tovisiblebeing,withagladsomecryWaking,life\'stremorthroughmethrobbingran！"

Astrange,repulsivefelinewailarosesomewhereintheroom。I

starteduponmyelbowandstaredaboutme,butcouldseenothing。

Mr。Raventurnedseveralleaves,andwenton:——

"SuddenIwoke,norknewtheghastlyfearThatheldme——notlikeserpentcoiledabout,Butlikeavapourmoist,corrupt,anddrear,Fillingheart,soul,andbreastandbrainthroughout;

Mybeinglaymotionlessinsickeningdoubt,Nordaredtoaskhowcamethehorrorhere。

"MypastentireIknew,butnotmynow;

IunderstoodnorwhatIwas,norwhere;

IknewwhatIhadbeen:stillonmybrowIfeltthetouchofwhatnomorewasthere！

Iwasafainting,dead,yetliveDespair;

Alifethatfloutedlifewithmopandmow！

"ThatIwasaqueenIknewrightwell,AndsometimesworeasplendouronmyheadWhoseflashingevendeaddarknesscouldnotquell——

Thelikeonneckandarmsandgirdle—stead;

AndmendeclaredalightmyclosedeyesshedThatkilledthediamondinitssilvercell。"

AgainIheardtheuglycryoffelinepain。AgainIlooked,butsawneithershapenormotion。Mr。Ravenseemedtolistenamoment,butagainturnedseveralpages,andresumed:——

"Hideouslywet,myhairofgoldenhueFouledmyfairhands:tohaveitswiftlyshornIhadgivenmyrubies,allformedugnew——

Noeyeshadseen,andsuchnowaisthadworn！

Foradraughtofwaterfromadrinkinghorn,Foronebluebreath,Ihadgivenmysapphiresblue！

"Nay,Ihadgivenmyopalsforasmock,Apeasant—maiden\'sgarment,coarseandclean:

Myshroudwasrotting！OnceIheardacockLustilycrowuponthehillockgreenOvermycoffin。Dulledbyspacebetween,Camebackananswerlikeaghostlymock。"

Oncemorearosethebestialwail。

"Ithoughtsomefoulthingwasintheroom！"saidthelibrarian,castingaglancearoundhim;butinstantlyheturnedaleafortwo,andagainread:——

"ForIhadbathedinmilkandhoney—dew,Inrainfromrosesshook,thatne\'ertouchedearth,Andointedmewithnardofamberhue;

Neverhadspotmespottedfrommybirth,Ormole,orscarofhurt,orfretofdearth;

Neveronehairsuperfluousonmegrew。

"Fleeingcoldwhiteness,Iwouldsitalone——

Notinthesun——Ifearedhisbronzinglight,ButinhisradiancebackaroundmethrownByfulgentmirrorstemperinghismight;

Thusbathinginamoon—bathnottoobright,MyskinItintedslowtoivorytone。

"Butnow,allroundwasdark,darkallwithin！

Myeyesnotevengaveoutaphantom—flash;

Myfingerssankinpulpthroughpulpyskin;

Mybodylaydeath—welteredinamashOfslimyhorrors————"

Withafearsomeyell,herclammyfurstaringinclumps,hertailthickasacable,hereyesflashinggreenasachrysoprase,herdistendedclawsentanglingthemselvessothatsheflounderedacrossthecarpet,ahugewhitecatrushedfromsomewhere,andmadeforthechimney。Quickasthoughtthelibrarianthrewthemanuscriptbetweenherandthehearth。Shecrouchedinstantly,hereyesfixedonthebook。Buthisvoicewentonasifstillheread,andhiseyesseemedalsofixedonthebook:——

"Ah,thetwoworlds！sostrangelyaretheyone,Andyetsomeasurelesslywideapart！

Oh,hadIlivedthebodilessaloneAndfromdefilingsenseheldsafemyheart,ThenhadIscapedthecankerandthesmart,Scapedlife—in—death,scapedmisery\'sendlessmoan！"

Atthesewordssuchahowling,suchaprolongedyellofagonyburstfromthecat,thatwebothstoppedourears。Whenitceased,Mr。Ravenwalkedtothefire—place,tookupthebook,and,standingbetweenthecreatureandthechimney,pointedhisfingeratherforamoment。Shelayperfectlystill。Hetookahalf—burntstickfromthehearth,drewwithitsomesignonthefloor,putthemanuscriptbackinitsplace,withalookthatseemedtosay,"Nowwehaveher,Ithink！"and,returningtothecat,stoodoverherandsaid,inastill,solemnvoice:——

"Lilith,whenyoucamehereonthewaytoyourevilwill,youlittlethoughtintowhosehandsyouweredeliveringyourself！——

Mr。Vane,whenGodcreatedme,——notoutofNothing,assaytheunwise,butoutofHisownendlessglory——Hebroughtmeanangelicsplendourtobemywife:thereshelies！ForherfirstthoughtwasPOWER;shecounteditslaverytobeonewithme,andbearchildrenforHimwhogaveherbeing。Onechild,indeed,shebore;

then,puffedwiththefancythatshehadcreatedher,wouldhavemefalldownandworshipher！Finding,however,thatIwouldbutloveandhonour,neverobeyandworshipher,shepouredoutherbloodtoescapeme,fledtothearmyofthealiens,andsoonhadsoensnaredtheheartofthegreatShadow,thathebecameherslave,wroughtherwill,andmadeherqueenofHell。Howitiswithhernow,shebestknows,butIknowalso。Theonechildofherbodyshefearsandhates,andwouldkill,assertingaright,whichisalie,overwhatGodsentthroughherintoHisnewworld。Ofcreating,sheknowsnomorethanthecrystalthattakesitsallottedshape,orthewormthatmakestwowormswhenitisclovenasunder。VilestofGod\'screatures,shelivesbythebloodandlivesandsoulsofmen。Sheconsumesandslays,butispowerlesstodestroyastocreate。"

Theanimallaymotionless,itsberyleyesfixedflamingontheman:

hiseyesonhersheldthemfixedthattheycouldnotmovefromhis。

"ThenGodgavemeanotherwife——notanangelbutawoman——whoistothisaslightistodarkness。"

Thecatgaveahorriblescreech,andbegantogrowbigger。Shewentongrowingandgrowing。Atlastthespottedleopardessutteredaroarthatmadethehousetremble。Isprangtomyfeet。IdonotthinkMr。Ravenstartedevenwithhiseyelids。

"Itisbutherjealousythatspeaks,"hesaid,"jealousyself—kindled,foiledandfruitless;forhereIam,hermasternowwhomshe,wouldnothaveforherhusband！whilemybeautifulEveyetlives,hopingimmortally！Herhateddaughterlivesalso,butbeyondherevilken,onedaytobewhatshecountsherdestruction——forevenLilithshallbesavedbyherchildbearing。Meanwhilesheexultsthatmyhumanwifeplungedherselfandmeindespair,andhasbornemeacountlessraceofmiserables;butmyEverepented,andisnowbeautifulasneverwaswomanorangel,whilehergroaning,travailingworldisthenurseryofourFather\'schildren。Itoohaverepented,andamblessed。——Thou,Lilith,hastnotyetrepented;butthoumust。——Tellme,isthegreatShadowbeautiful？Knowestthouhowlongthouwiltthyselfremainbeautiful？——Answerme,ifthouknowest。"