下载辰思小说免费APP
Wecametothefearfulhollowwhereoncehadwallowedthemonstersoftheearth:itwasindeed,asIhadbehelditinmydream,alovelylake。Igazedintoitspelluciddepths。Awhirlpoolhadsweptoutthesoilinwhichtheabortionsburrowed,andatthebottomlayvisiblethewholehorridbrood:adimgreenishlightpervadedthecrystallinewater,andrevealedeveryhideousformbeneathit。Coiledinspires,foldedinlayers,knottedonthemselves,or"extendedlongandlarge,"theywelteredinmotionlessheaps——shapesmorefantasticinghoulish,blastingdismay,thaneverwine—soddenbrainofexhaustedpoetfeveredintomisbeing。HewhodivedintheswirlingMaelstromsawnonetocomparewiththeminhorror:tentacularconvolutions,tumidbulges,glaringorbsofsepiandeformity,wouldhavelookedtohiminnocencebesidesuchincarnationsofhatefulness——everyheadthewickedflowerthat,burstingfromanabominablestalk,perfecteditsevilsignificance。
Notoneofthemmovedaswepassed。Buttheywerenotdead。Solongasexistmenandwomenofunwholesomemind,thatlakewillstillbepeopledwithloathsomenesses。
Butharktheheraldofthesun,theauroralwind,softlytrumpetinghisapproach！Themaster—ministerofthehumantabernacleisathand！Heapingbeforehisprowahugeripple—frettedwaveofcrimsonandgold,herushesaloft,asifnewlaunchedfromtheurginghandofhismakerintotheuppersea——pauses,andlooksdownontheworld。White—ravingstormofmoltenmetals,heisbutacoalfromthealtaroftheFather\'snever—endingsacrificetohischildren。
Seeeverylittleflowerstraightenitsstalk,liftupitsneck,andwithoutstretchedheadstandexpectant:somethingmorethanthesun,greaterthanthelight,iscoming,iscoming——nonethelesssurelycomingthatitislongupontheroad！Whatmattersto—day,orto—morrow,ortenthousandyearstoLifehimself,toLovehimself！
Heiscoming,iscoming,andthenecksofallhumanityarestretchedouttoseehimcome！Everymorningwilltheythusoutstretchthemselves,everyeveningwilltheydroopandwait——untilhecomes。
——Isthisbutanair—drawnvision？Whenhecomes,willheindeedfindthemwatchingthus？
Itwasagloriousresurrection—morning。Thenighthadbeenspentinpreparingit！
Thechildrenwentgambolingbefore,andthebeastscameafterus。
Flutteringbutterflies,dartingdragon—flieshoveredorshothitherandthitheraboutourheads,acloudofcoloursandflashes,nowdescendinguponuslikeasnow—stormofrainbowflakes,nowrisingintothehumidairlikearollingvapourofembodiedodours。Itwasasummer—daymorelikeitself,thatis,moreideal,thanevermanthathadnotdiedfoundsummer—dayinanyworld。Iwalkedonthenewearth,underthenewheaven,andfoundthemthesameastheold,savethatnowtheyopenedtheirmindstome,andIsawintothem。
Now,thesoulofeverythingImetcameouttogreetmeandmakefriendswithme,tellingmewecamefromthesame,andmeantthesame。Iwasgoingtohim,theysaid,withwhomtheyalwayswere,andwhomtheyalwaysmeant;theywere,theysaid,lightningsthattookshapeastheyflashedfromhimtohis。Thedarkrocksdranklikespongestheraysthatshowereduponthem;thegreatworldsoakedupthelight,andsentouttheliving。Twojoy—fireswereLonaandI。Earthbreathedheavenwardhersweet—savouredsmoke;webreathedhomewardourlongingdesires。Forthanksgiving,ourveryconsciousnesswasthat。
Wecametothechannels,oncesodryandwearyful:theyranandflashedandfoamedwithlivingwaterthatshoutedinitsgladness！
Farastheeyecouldsee,allwasarushing,roaring,dashingriverofwatermadevocalbyitsrocks。
Wedidnotcrossit,but"walkedingloryandinjoy"upitsrightbank,untilwereachedthegreatcataractatthefootofthesandydesert,where,roaringandswirlinganddroppingsheer,theriverdividedintoitstwobranches。Thereweclimbedtheheight——andfoundnodesert:throughgrassyplains,betweengrassybanks,flowedthedeep,wide,silentriverfulltothebrim。ThenfirsttotheLittleOneswasrevealedthegloryofGodinthelimpidflowofwater。Instinctivelytheyplungedandswam,andthebeastsfollowedthem。
Thedesertrejoicedandblossomedastherose。Wideforestshadsprungup,theirwholeundergrowthfloweringshrubspeopledwithsong—birds。Everythicketgavebirthtoarivulet,andeveryrivulettoitswater—song。
Theplaceoftheburiedhandgavenosign。Beyondandstillbeyond,therivercameinfullvolumefromafar。Upandupwewent,nowalonggrassymargin,andnowthroughforestofgracioustrees。Thegrassgrewsweeteranditsflowersmorelovelyandvariousaswewent;thetreesgrewlarger,andthewindfullerofmessages。
Wecameatlengthtoaforestwhosetreesweregreater,grander,andmorebeautifulthananywehadyetseen。Theirlivepillarsupheavedathickembowedroof,betwixtwhoseleavesandblossomshardlyasunbeamfiltered。Intotheraftersofthisaerialvaultthechildrenclimbed,andthroughthemwentscramblingandleapinginalandofbloom,shoutingtotheunseenelephantsbelow,andhearingthemtrumpettheirreplies。TheconversationsbetweenthemLonaunderstoodwhileIbutguessedatthemblunderingly。TheLittleOneschasedthesquirrels,andthesquirrels,frolicking,drewthemon——alwaysatlengthallowingthemselvestobecaughtandpetted。
Oftenwouldsomebird,lovelyinplumageandform,lightupononeofthem,singasongofwhatwascoming,andflyaway。Notonemonkeyofanysortcouldtheysee。
CHAPTERXLVI
THECITY
LonaandI,whowalkedbelow,heardatlastagreatshoutoverhead,andinamomentortwotheLittleOnesbegantocomedroppingdownfromthefoliagewiththenewsthat,climbingtothetopofatreeyettallerthantherest,theyhaddescried,faracrosstheplain,acurioussomethingonthesideofasolitarymountain——whichmountain,theysaid,roseandrose,untiltheskygatheredthicktokeepitdown,andknockeditstopoff。
"Itmaybeacity,"theysaid,"butitisnotatalllikeBulika。"
Iwentuptolook,andsawagreatcity,ascendingintoblueclouds,whereIcouldnotdistinguishmountainfromskyandcloud,orrocksfromdwellings。Cloudandmountainandsky,palaceandprecipicemingledinaseemingchaosofbrokenshadowandshine。
Idescended,theLittleOnescamewithme,andtogetherwespedonfaster。Theygrewyetmerrierastheywent,leadingtheway,andneverlookingbehindthem。Therivergrewlovelierandlovelier,untilIknewthatneverbeforehadIseenrealwater。NothinginthisworldismorethanLIKEit。
Byandbywecouldfromtheplainseethecityamongtheblueclouds。
Butothercloudsweregatheringaroundaloftytower——orwasitarock？——thatstoodabovethecity,nearerthecrestofthemountain。
Gray,anddarkgray,andpurple,theywrithedinconfused,contrariantmotions,andtossedupavaporousfoam,whilespotsinthemgyratedlikewhirlpools。Atlengthissuedadazzlingflash,whichseemedforamomenttoplayabouttheLittleOnesinfrontofus。Blindingdarknessfollowed,butthroughitweheardtheirvoices,lowwithdelight。
"Didyousee？"
"Isaw。"
"Whatdidyousee？"
"Thebeautifullestman。"
"Iheardhimspeak！"
"Ididn\'t:whatdidhesay？"
Hereansweredthesmallestandmostchildishofthevoices——thatofLuva:——
"Hesaid,`\'Ou\'sallmine\'s,\'ickleones:comealong！\'"
Ihadseenthelightning,butheardnowords;Lonasawandheardwiththechildren。Asecondflashcame,andmyeyes,thoughnotmyears,wereopened。Thegreatquiveringlightwascompactofangel—faces。Theylampedthemselvesvisible,andvanished。
Athirdflashcame;itssubstanceandradiancewerehuman。
"Iseemymother！"Icried。
"Iseelotso\'mothers！"saidLuva。
Oncemorethecloudflashed——allkindsofcreatures——horsesandelephants,lionsanddogs——oh,suchbeasts！Andsuchbirds！——greatbirdswhosewingsgleamedsinglyeverycolourgatheredinsunsetorrainbow！littlebirdswhosefeatherssparkledaswithallthepreciousstonesofthehoardingearth！——silverycranes;redflamingoes;opalpigeons;peacocksgorgeousingoldandgreenandblue;jewellyhummingbirds！——great—wingedbutterflies;lithe—volumedcreepingthings——allinoneheavenlyflash！
"Iseethatserpentsgrowbirdshere,ascaterpillarsusedtogrowbutterflies！"remarkedLona。
"Isawmywhitepony,thatdiedwhenIwasachild。——Ineedn\'thavebeensosorry;Ishouldjusthavewaited！"Isaid。
Thunder,claporroll,therehadbeennone。Andnowcameasweetrain,fillingtheatmospherewithacaressingcoolness。Webreatheddeep,andsteppedoutwithstrongerstrides。Thefallingdropsflashedthecoloursofallthewakedupgemsoftheearth,andamightyrainbowspannedthecity。
Thebluecloudsgatheredthicker;therainfellintorrents;thechildrenexultedandran;itwasallwecoulddotokeeptheminsight。
Withsilent,radiantroll,theriversweptonward,fillingtothemarginitssmooth,soft,yieldingchannel。For,insteadofrockorshingleorsand,itflowedovergrassinwhichgrewprimrosesanddaisies,crocusesandnarcissi,pimpernelsandanemones,astarrymultitude,largeandbrightthroughthebrilliantwater。Theriverhadgatherednoturbidcloudinessfromtherain,notevenatingeofyelloworbrown;thedelicatemassshonewiththepaleberyllinegleamthatascendedfromitsdeep,daintybed。
Drawingnearertothemountain,wesawthattherivercamefromitsverypeak,andrushedinfullvolumethroughthemainstreetofthecity。Itdescendedtothegatebyastairofdeepandwidesteps,mingledofporphyryandserpentine,whichcontinuedtothefootofthemountain。Therearrivingwefoundshallowerstepsonbothbanks,leadinguptothegate,andalongtheascendingstreet。Withoutthebriefesthalt,theLittleOnesranstraightupthestairtothegate,whichstoodopen。
Outside,onthelanding,sattheportress,awoman—angelofdarkvisage,leaninghershadowedbrowonheridlehand。Thechildrenrusheduponher,coveringherwithcaresses,anderesheunderstood,theyhadtakenheavenbysurprise,andwerealreadyinthecity,stillmountingthestairbythesideofthedescendingtorrent。A
greatangel,attendedbyacompanyofshiningones,camedowntomeetandreceivethem,butmerrilyevadingthemall,upstilltheyran。Inmerrydance,however,agroupofwoman—angelsdescendeduponthem,andinamomenttheywerefetteredinheavenlyarms。Theradiantscarriedthemaway,andIsawthemnomore。
"Ah！"saidthemightyangel,continuinghisdescenttomeetuswhowerenowalmostatthegateandwithinhearingofhiswords,"thisiswell！thesearesoldierstotakeheavenitselfbystorm！——Ihearofahordeofblackbatsonthefrontiers:thesewillmakeshortworkwithsuch！"
Seeingthehorseandtheelephantsclamberingupbehindus——
"Takethoseanimalstotheroyalstables,"headded;"theretendthem;thenturnthemintotheking\'sforest。"
"Welcomehome！"hesaidtous,bendinglowwiththesweetestsmile。
Immediatelyheturnedandledthewayhigher。Thescalesofhisarmourflashedlikeflakesoflightning。
ThoughtcannotformitselftotellwhatIfelt,thusreceivedbytheofficersofheaven***。AllIwantedandknewnot,mustbeonitswaytome！
Westoodforamomentatthegatewhenceissuedroaringtheradiantriver。Iknownotwhencecamethestonesthatfashionedit,butamongthemIsawtheprototypesofallthegemsIhadlovedonearth——farmorebeautifulthanthey,forthesewerelivingstones——suchinwhichIsaw,nottheintentalone,buttheintendertoo;
nottheideaalone,buttheimbodierpresent,theoperantoutsender:
nothinginthiskingdomwasdead;nothingwasmere;nothingonlyathing。
Wewentupthroughthecityandpassedout。Therewasnowallontheupperside,butahugepileofbrokenrocks,upslopinglikethemoraineofaneternalglacier;andthroughtheopeningsbetweentherocks,therivercamebillowingout。OntheirtopIcoulddimlydiscernwhatseemedthreeorfourgreatstepsofastair,disappearinginacloudwhiteassnow;andabovethestepsIsaw,butwithmymind\'seyeonly,asitwereagrandoldchair,thethroneoftheAncientofDays。Overandunderandbetweenthosestepsissued,plenteously,unceasinglynew—born,theriverofthewateroflife。
Thegreatangelcouldguideusnofarther:thoserockswemustascendalone！
Myheartbeatingwithhopeanddesire,IheldfasterthehandofmyLona,andwebegantoclimb;butsoonweleteachothergo,tousehandsaswellasfeetinthetoilsomeascentofthehugestones。
Atlengthwedrewnearthecloud,whichhungdownthestepslikethebordersofagarment,passedthroughthefringe,andenteredthedeepfolds。Ahand,warmandstrong,laidholdofmine,anddrewmetoalittledoorwithagoldenlock。Thedooropened;thehandletminego,andpushedmegentlythrough。Iturnedquickly,andsawtheboardofalargebookintheactofclosingbehindme。
Istoodaloneinmylibrary。
CHAPTERXLVII
THE"ENDLESSENDING"
AsyetIhavenotfoundLona,butMaraismuchwithme。Shehastaughtmemanythings,andisteachingmemore。
Canitbethatthatlastwakingalsowasinthedream？thatIamstillinthechamberofdeath,asleepanddreaming,notyetripeenoughtowake？OrcanitbethatIdidnotgotosleepoutrightandheartily,andsohavecomeawaketoosoon？Ifthatwakingwasitselfbutadream,surelyitwasadreamofabetterwakingyettocome,andIhavenotbeenthesportofafalsevision！Suchadreammusthaveyetloveliertruthattheheartofitsdreaming！
InmomentsofdoubtIcry,"CouldGodHimselfcreatesuchlovelythingsasIdreamed？"
"Whencethencamethydream？"answersHope。
"Outofmydarkself,intothelightofmyconsciousness。"
"Butwhencefirstintothydarkself？"rejoinsHope。
"Mybrainwasitsmother,andthefeverinmyblooditsfather。"
"Sayrather,"suggestsHope,"thybrainwastheviolinwhenceitissued,andthefeverinthybloodthebowthatdrewitforth。——Butwhomadetheviolin？andwhoguidedthebowacrossitsstrings？
Sayrather,again——whosetthesongbirdseachonitsboughinthetreeoflife,andstartledeachinitsorderfromitsperch？Whencecamethefantasia？andwhencethelifethatdancedthereto？DidstTHOUsay,inthedarkofthyownunconsciousself,`Letbeautybe;
lettruthseem！\'andstraightwaybeautywas,andtruthbutseemed？"
Mandreamsanddesires;Godbroodsandwillsandquickens。
Whenamandreamshisowndream,heisthesportofhisdream;whenAnothergivesithim,thatOtherisabletofulfilit。
Ihaveneveragainsoughtthemirror。Thehandsentmeback:I
willnotgooutagainbythatdoor！"AllthedaysofmyappointedtimewillIwaittillmychangecome。"
Nowandthen,whenIlookroundonmybooks,theyseemtowaverasifawindrippledtheirsolidmass,andanotherworldwereabouttobreakthrough。SometimeswhenIamabroad,alikethingtakesplace;
theheavensandtheearth,thetreesandthegrassappearforamomenttoshakeasifabouttopassaway;then,lo,theyhavesettledagainintotheoldfamiliarface！AttimesIseemtohearwhisperingsaroundme,asifsomethatlovedmeweretalkingofme;
butwhenIwoulddistinguishthewords,theycease,andallisverystill。Iknownotwhetherthesethingsriseinmybrain,orenteritfromwithout。Idonotseekthem;theycome,andIletthemgo。
Strangedimmemories,whichwillnotabideidentification,often,throughmistywindowsofthepast,lookoutuponmeinthebroaddaylight,butIneverdreamnow。Itmaybe,notwithstanding,that,whenmostawake,Iamonlydreamingthemore！ButwhenIwakeatlastintothatlifewhich,asamotherherchild,carriesthislifeinitsbosom,IshallknowthatIwake,andshalldoubtnomore。
Iwait;asleeporawake,Iwait。
Novalissays,"Ourlifeisnodream,butitshouldandwillperhapsbecomeone。"
*Chapter42:WilliamLaw。
**Chapter45:Tintinsonandocons？dolcenotaChe\'lbendispostospiritod\'amorturge。
DELPARADISO,x。142。
***Chapter46:Oma\'vedraidis？fattiuficiali。
DelPurgatorio,ii。30。
