第13章

’Alas！’beganApaecides，whenhecaughtthegazeofthecuriousloiterers，inquisitivetoknowwhatcouldpossiblybethethemeofconversationbetweenareputedNazareneandapriestofIsis。Hestoppedshort，andthenaddedinalowtone：’Wecannotconversehere，Iwillfollowtheetothebanksoftheriver；thereisawalkwhichatthistimeisusuallydesertedandsolitary。’

Olinthusbowedassent。Hepassedthroughthestreetswithahastystep，butaquickandobservanteye。Everynowandthenheexchangedasignificantglance，aslightsign，withsomepassenger，whosegarbusuallybetokenedthewearertobelongtothehumblerclasses；forChristianitywasinthisthetypeofallotherandlessmightyrevolutions——thegrainofmustard—seedwasintheheartofthelowly。Amidstthehutsofpovertyandlabor，thevaststreamwhichafterwardspoureditsbroadwatersbesidethecitiesandpalacesofearthtookitsneglectedsource。

ChapterII

THENOONDAYEXCURSIONONTHECAMPANIANSEAS。

’BUTtellme，Glaucus，’saidIone，astheyglideddowntheripplingSarnusintheirboatofpleasure，’howcamestthouwithApaecidestomyrescuefromthatbadman？’

’AskNydiayonder，’answeredtheAthenian，pointingtotheblindgirl，whosatatalittledistancefromthem，leaningpensivelyoverherlyre；’shemusthavethythanks，notwe。Itseemsthatshecametomyhouse，and，findingmefromhome，soughtthybrotherinhistemple；heaccompaniedhertoArbaces；ontheirwaytheyencounteredme，withacompanyoffriends，whomthykindletterhadgivenmeaspiritcheerfulenoughtojoin。Nydia’squickeardetectedmyvoice——afewwordssufficedtomakemethecompanionofApaecides；ItoldnotmyassociateswhyIleftthem——couldItrustthynametotheirlighttonguesandgossipingopinion？——Nydialedustothegardengate，bywhichweafterwardsborethee——weentered，andwereabouttoplungeintothemysteriesofthatevilhouse，whenweheardthycryinanotherdirection。Thouknowesttherest。’

Ioneblusheddeeply。ShethenraisedhereyestothoseofGlaucus，andhefeltallthethanksshecouldnotutter。’Comehither，myNydia，’saidshe，tenderly，totheThessalian。

’DidInottelltheethatthoushouldstbemysisterandfriend？Hastthounotalreadybeenmore？——myguardian，mypreserver！’

’Itisnothing，’answeredNydiacoldly，andwithoutstirring。

’Ah！Iforgot，’continuedIone，’Ishouldcometothee’；andshemovedalongthebenchestillshereachedtheplacewhereNydiasat，andflingingherarmscaressinglyroundher，coveredhercheekswithkisses。

Nydiawasthatmorningpalerthanherwont，andhercountenancegrewevenmorewanandcolorlessasshesubmittedtotheembraceofthebeautifulNeapolitan。’Buthowcamestthou，Nydia，’whisperedIone，’tosurmisesofaithfullythedangerIwasexposedto？DidstthouknowaughtoftheEgyptian？’

’Yes，Iknewofhisvices。’

’Andhow？’

’NobleIone，Ihavebeenaslavetothevicious——thosewhomIservedwerehisminions。’

’Andthouhastenteredhishousesincethouknewestsowellthatprivateentrance？’

’IhaveplayedonmylyretoArbaces，’answeredtheThessalian，withembarrassment。

’AndthouhastescapedthecontagionfromwhichthouhastsavedIone？’

returnedtheNeapolitan，inavoicetoolowfortheearofGlaucus。

’NobleIone，Ihaveneitherbeautynorstation；Iamachild，andaslave，andblind。Thedespicableareeversafe。’

Itwaswithapained，andproud，andindignanttonethatNydiamadethishumblereply；andIonefeltthatsheonlywoundedNydiabypursuingthesubject。Sheremainedsilent，andthebarknowfloatedintothesea。

’ConfessthatIwasright，Ione，’saidGlaucus，’inprevailingontheenottowastethisbeautifulnooninthychamber——confessthatIwasright。’

’Thouwertright，Glaucus，’saidNydia，abruptly。

’Thedearchildspeaksforthee，’returnedtheAthenian。’Butpermitmetomoveoppositetothee，orourlightboatwillbeover—balanced。’

Sosaying，hetookhisseatexactlyoppositetoIone，andleaningforward，hefanciedthatitwasherbreath，andnotthewindsofsummer，thatflungfragranceoverthesea。

’Thouwerttotellme，’saidGlaucus，’whyforsomanydaysthydoorwasclosedtome？’

’Oh，thinkofitnomore！’answeredIone，quickly；’IgavemyeartowhatI

nowknowwasthemaliceofslander。’

’AndmyslandererwastheEgyptian？’

Ione’ssilenceassentedtothequestion。

’Hismotivesaresufficientlyobvious。’

’Talknotofhim，’saidIone，coveringherfacewithherhands，asiftoshutouthisverythought。

’PerhapshemaybealreadybythebanksoftheslowStyx，’resumedGlaucus；

’yetinthatcaseweshouldprobablyhaveheardofhisdeath。Thybrother，methinks，hathfeltthedarkinfluenceofhisgloomysoul。Whenwearrivedlastnightatthyhouseheleftmeabruptly。Willheevervouchsafetobemyfriend？’

’Heisconsumedwithsomesecretcare，’answeredIone，tearfully。’Wouldthatwecouldlurehimfromhimself！Letusjoininthattenderoffice。’

’Heshallbemybrother，’returnedtheGreek。

’Howcalmly，’saidIone，rousingherselffromthegloomintowhichherthoughtsofApaecideshadplungedher——’howcalmlythecloudsseemtoreposeinheaven；andyetyoutellme，forIknewitnotmyself，thattheearthshookbeneathuslastnight。’

’Itdid，andmoreviolently，theysay，thanithasdonesincethegreatconvulsionsixteenyearsago：thelandweliveinyetnursesmysteriousterror；andthereignofPluto，whichspreadsbeneathourburningfields，seemsrentwithunseencommotion。Didstthounotfeeltheearthquake，Nydia，wherethouwertseatedlastnight？andwasitnotthefearthatitoccasionedtheethatmadetheeweep？’

’Ifeltthesoilcreepandheavebeneathme，likesomemonstrousserpent，’

answeredNydia；’butasIsawnothing，Ididnotfear：IimaginedtheconvulsiontobeaspelloftheEgyptian’s。Theysayhehaspowerovertheelements。’

’ThouartaThessalian，myNydia，’repliedGlaucus，’andhastanationalrighttobelieveinmagic。

’Magic！——whodoubtsit？’answeredNydia，simply：’dostthou？’

’Untillastnight（whenanecromanticprodigydidindeedappalme），methinksIwasnotcredulousinanyothermagicsavethatoflove！’saidGlaucus，inatremulousvoice，andfixinghiseyesonIone。

’Ah！’saidNydia，withasortofshiver，andsheawokemechanicallyafewpleasingnotesfromherlyre；thesoundsuitedwellthetranquilityofthewaters，andthesunnystillnessofthenoon。

’Playtous，dearNydia，saidGlaucus——’playandgiveusoneofthineoldThessaliansongs：whetheritbeofmagicornot，asthouwilt——letit，atleast，beoflove！’

’Oflove！’repeatedNydia，raisingherlarge，wanderingeyes，thateverthrilledthosewhosawthemwithamingledfearandpity；youcouldneverfamiliarizeyourselftotheiraspect：sostrangediditseemthatthosedarkwildorbswereignorantoftheday，andeithersofixedwastheirdeepmysteriousgaze，orsorestlessandperturbedtheirglance，thatyoufelt，whenyouencounteredthem，thatsamevague，andchilling，andhalf—preternaturalimpression，whichcomesoveryouinthepresenceoftheinsane——ofthosewho，havingalifeoutwardlylikeyourown，havealifewithinlife——dissimilar——unsearchable——unguessed！

’WillyouthatIshouldsingoflove？’saidshe，fixingthoseeyesuponGlaucus。

’Yes，’repliedhe，lookingdown。

ShemovedalittlewayfromthearmofIone，stillcastroundher，asifthatsoftembraceembarrassed；andplacingherlightandgracefulinstrumentonherknee，afterashortprelude，shesangthefollowingstrain：

NYDIA’SLOVE—SONG

I

TheWindandtheBeamlovedtheRose，AndtheRoselovedone；

Forwhorecksthewindwhereitblows？

Orlovesnotthesun？

II

NoneknewwhencethehumbleWindstole，Poorsportoftheskies——

NonedreamtthattheWindhadasoul，Initsmournfulsighs！

III

Oh，happyBeam！howcanstthouproveThatbrightloveofthine？

Inthylightistheproofofthylove。

Thouhastbut——toshine！

IV

HowitslovecantheWindreveal？

Unwelcomeitssigh；

Mute——mutetoitsRoseletitsteal——

Itsproofis——todie！

’Thousingestbutsadly，sweetgirl，’saidGlaucus；’thyyouthonlyfeelsasyetthedarkshadowofLove；farotherinspirationdothhewake，whenhehimselfburstsandbrightensuponus。

’IsingasIwastaught，’repliedNydia，sighing。

’Thymasterwaslove—crossed，then——trythyhandatagayerair。Nay，girl，givetheinstrumenttome。’AsNydiaobeyed，herhandtouchedhis，and，withthatslighttouch，herbreastheaved——hercheekflushed。IoneandGlaucus，occupiedwitheachother，perceivednotthosesignsofstrangeandprematureemotions，whichpreyeduponaheartthat，nourishedbyimagination，dispensedwithhope。

Andnow，broad，blue，bright，beforethem，spreadthathalcyonsea，fairasatthismoment，seventeencenturiesfromthatdate，Ibeholditripplingonthesamedivinestshores。ClimethatyetenervateswithasoftandCirceanspell——thatmouldsusinsensibly，mysteriously，intoharmonywiththyself，banishingthethoughtofaustererlabor，thevoicesofwildambition，thecontestsandtheroaroflife；fillinguswithgentleandsubduingdreams，makingnecessarytoournaturethatwhichisitsleastearthlyportion，sothattheveryairinspiresuswiththeyearningandthirstoflove。Whoevervisitstheeseemstoleaveearthanditsharshcaresbehind——toenterbytheIvorygateintotheLandofDreams。TheyoungandlaughingHoursofthePRESENT——theHours，thosechildrenofSaturn，whichhehungersevertodevour，seemsnatchedfromhisgrasp。Thepast——thefuture——areforgotten；

weenjoybutthebreathingtime。Floweroftheworld’sgarden——FountainofDelight——ItalyofItaly——beautiful，benignCampania！——vainwere，indeed，theTitans，ifonthisspottheyyetstruggledforanotherheaven！Here，ifGodmeantthisworking—daylifeforaperpetualholiday，whowouldnotsightodwellforever——askingnothing，hopingnothing，fearingnothing，whilethyskiesshineoverhim——whilethyseassparkleathisfeet——whilethineairbroughthimsweetmessagesfromthevioletandtheorange——andwhiletheheart，resignedto——beatingwith——butoneemotion，couldfindthelipsandtheeyes，whichflatterit（vanityofvanities！）thatlovecandefycustom，andbeeternal？

Itwastheninthisclime——onthoseseas，thattheAtheniangazeduponafacethatmighthavesuitedthenymph，thespiritoftheplace：feedinghiseyesonthechangefulrosesofthatsoftestcheek，happybeyondthehappinessofcommonlife，loving，andknowinghimselfbeloved。

Inthetaleofhumanpassion，inpastages，thereissomethingofinterestevenintheremotenessofthetime。Welovetofeelwithinusthebondwhichunitesthemostdistantera——men，nations，customsperish；THE

AFFECTIONSAREIMMORTAL！——theyarethesympathieswhichunitetheceaselessgenerations。Thepastlivesagain，whenwelookuponitsemotions——itlivesinourown！Thatwhichwas，everis！Themagician’sgift，thatrevivesthedead——thatanimatesthedustofforgottengraves，isnotintheauthor’sskill——itisintheheartofthereader！

StillvainlyseekingtheeyesofIone，as，halfdowncast，halfaverted，theyshunnedhisown，theAthenian，inalowandsoftvoice，thusexpressedthefeelingsinspiredbyhappierthoughtsthanthosewhichhadcoloredthesongofNydia。

THESONGOFGLAUCUS

I

Asthebarkfloatethono’erthesummer—litsea，Floatsmyhearto’erthedeepsofitspassionforthee；

Alllostinthespace，withoutterroritglides，Forbrightwiththysoulisthefaceofthetides。

Nowheaving，nowhush’d，isthatpassionateocean，Asitcatchesthysmileorthysighs；

Andthetwin—starsthatshineonthewanderer’sdevotionItsguideanditsgod——arethineeyes！

II

Thebarkmaygodown，shouldthecloudsweepabove，Foritsbeingisboundtothelightofthylove。

Asthyfaithandthysmileareitslifeanditsjoy，Sothyfrownorthychangearethestormsthatdestroy。

Ah！sweetertosinkwhiletheskyisserene，Iftimehathachangeforthyheart！

Iftolivebetoweepoverwhatthouhastbeen，LetmediewhileIknowwhatthouart！

Asthelastwordsofthesongtrembledoverthesea，Ioneraisedherlooks——theymetthoseofherlover。HappyNydia！——happyinthyaffliction，thatthoucouldstnotseethatfascinatedandcharmedgaze，thatsaidsomuch——thatmadetheeyethevoiceofthesoul——thatpromisedtheimpossibilityofchange！

But，thoughtheThessaliancouldnotdetectthatgaze，shedivineditsmeaningbytheirsilence——bytheirsighs。Shepressedherhandslightlyacrossherbreast，asiftokeepdownitsbitterandjealousthoughts；andthenshehastenedtospeak——forthatsilencewasintolerabletoher。

’Afterall，OGlaucus！’saidshe，’thereisnothingverymirthfulinyourstrain！’

’YetImeantittobeso，whenItookupthylyre，prettyone。Perhapshappinesswillnotpermitustobemirthful。’

’Howstrangeisit，’saidIone，changingaconversationwhichoppressedherwhileitcharmed——’thatforthelastseveraldaysyondercloudhashungmotionlessoverVesuvius！Yetnotindeedmotionless，forsometimesitchangesitsform；andnowmethinksitlookslikesomevastgiant，withanarmoutstretchedoverthecity。Dostthouseethelikeness——orisitonlytomyfancy？’

’FairIone！Iseeitalso。Itisastonishinglydistinct。Thegiantseemsseatedonthebrowofthemountain，thedifferentshadesofthecloudappeartoformawhiterobethatsweepsoveritsvastbreastandlimbs；itseemstogazewithasteadyfaceuponthecitybelow，topointwithonehand，asthousayest，overitsglitteringstreets，andtoraisetheother（dostthounoteit？）towardsthehigherheaven。ItisliketheghostofsomehugeTitanbroodingoverthebeautifulworldhelost；sorrowfulforthepast——yetwithsomethingofmenaceforthefuture。’

’Couldthatmountainhaveanyconnectionwiththelastnight’searthquake？

Theysaythat，agesago，almostintheearliesteraoftradition，itgaveforthfiresasAEtnastill。Perhapstheflamesyetlurkanddartbeneath。’

’Itispossible，’saidGlaucus，musingly。

’Thousayestthouartslowtobelieveinmagic，’saidNydia，suddenly。’I

haveheardthatapotentwitchdwellsamongstthescorchedcavernsofthemountain，andyoncloudmaybethedimshadowofthedemonsheconferswith。’

’ThouartfulloftheromanceofthynativeThessaly，’saidGlaucus；’andastrangemixtureofsenseandallconflictingsuperstitions。’

’Weareeversuperstitiousinthedark，’repliedNydia。’Tellme，’sheadded，afteraslightpause，’tellme，OGlaucus！doallthatarebeautifulresembleeachother？Theysayyouarebeautiful，andIonealso。Areyourfacesthenthesame？Ifancynot，yetitoughttobeso。’

’FancynosuchgrievouswrongtoIone，’answeredGlaucus，laughing。’Butwedonot，alas！resembleeachother，asthehomelyandthebeautifulsometimesdo。Ione’shairisdark，minelight；Ione’seyesare——whatcolor，Ione？I

cannotsee，turnthemtome。Oh，aretheyblack？no，theyaretoosoft。

Aretheyblue？no，theyaretoodeep：theychangewitheveryrayofthesun——Iknownottheircolor：butmine，sweetNydia，aregrey，andbrightonlywhenIoneshinesonthem！Ione’scheekis……’

’Idonotunderstandonewordofthydescription，’interruptedNydia，peevishly。’Icomprehendonlythatyoudonotresembleeachother，andIamgladofit。’

’Why，Nydia？’saidIone。

Nydiacoloredslightly。’Because，’shereplied，coldly，’Ihavealwaysimaginedyouunderdifferentforms，andonelikestoknowoneisright。’

’AndwhathastthouimaginedGlaucustoresemble？’askedIone，softly。

’Music！’repliedNydia，lookingdown。

’Thouartright，’thoughtIone。

’AndwhatlikenesshastthouascribedtoIone？’

’Icannottellyet，’answeredtheblindgirl；’Ihavenotyetknownherlongenoughtofindashapeandsignformyguesses。’

’Iwilltellthee，then，’saidGlaucus，passionately；’sheislikethesunthatwarms——likethewavethatrefreshes。’

’Thesunsometimesscorches，andthewavesometimesdrowns，’answeredNydia。

’Takethentheseroses，’saidGlaucus；’lettheirfragrancesuggesttotheeIone。’

’Alas，theroseswillfade！’saidtheNeapolitan，archly。

Thusconversing，theyworeawaythehours；thelovers，consciousonlyofthebrightnessandsmilesoflove；theblindgirlfeelingonlyitsdarkness——itstortures——thefiercenessofjealousyanditswoe！

Andnow，astheydriftedon，Glaucusoncemoreresumedthelyre，andwokeitsstringswithacarelesshandtoastrain，sowildlyandgladlybeautiful，thatevenNydiawasarousedfromherreverie，andutteredacryofadmiration。

’Thouseest，mychild，’criedGlaucus，’thatIcanyetredeemthecharacteroflove’smusic，andthatIwaswronginsayinghappinesscouldnotbegay。

Listen，Nydia！listen，dearIone！andhear：

THEBIRTHOFLOVE

I

LikeaStarintheseasabove，LikeaDreamtothewavesofsleep——

Up——up——THEINCARNATELOVE——

Sherosefromthecharmeddeep！

AndovertheCyprianIsleTheskiesshedtheirsilentsmile；

AndtheForest’sgreenheartwasrifeWiththestirofthegushinglife——

Thelifethathadleap’dtobirth，Intheveinsofthehappyearth！

Hail！oh，hail！

Thedimmestsea—cavebelowthee，Thefarthestsky—archabove，Intheirinnermoststillnessknowthee：

AndheavewiththeBirthofLove！

Gale！softGale！

Thoucomestonthysilverwinglets，Fromthyhomeinthetenderwest，Nowfanninghergoldenringlets，Nowhush’donherheavingbreast。

Andafaronthemurmuringsand，TheSeasonswaithandinhandTowelcomethee，BirthDivine，Totheearthwhichishenceforththine。

II

Behold！howshekneelsintheshell，Brightpearlinitsfloatingcell！

Behold！howtheshell’srose—hues，Thecheekandthebreastofsnow，Andthedelicatelimbssuffuse，Likeablush，withabashfulglow。

Sailingon，slowlysailingO’erthewildwater；

Allhail！asthefondlightishailingHerdaughter，Allhail！

Wearethine，allthineevermore：

Notaleafonthelaughingshore，Notawaveontheheavingsea，NorasinglesighIntheboundlesssky，Butisvow’devermoretothee！

III

Andthou，mybelovedone——thou，AsIgazeonthysofteyesnow，MethinksfromtheirdepthsIviewTheHolyBirthbornanew；

ThylidsarethegentlecellWheretheyoungLoveblushinglies；

See！shebreaksfromthemysticshell，Shecomesfromthytendereyes！

Hail！allhail！

Shecomes，asshecamefromthesea，Tomysoulasitlooksonthee；

Shecomes，shecomes！

Shecomes，asshecamefromthesea，Tomysoulasitlooksonthee！

Hail！allhail！

ChapterIII

THECONGREGATION。

FOLLOWEDbyApaecides，theNazarenegainedthesideoftheSarnus——thatriver，whichnowhasshrunkintoapettystream，thenrushedgailyintothesea，coveredwithcountlessvessels，andreflectingonitswavesthegardens，thevines，thepalaces，andthetemplesofPompeii。Fromitsmorenoisyandfrequentedbanks，Olinthusdirectedhisstepstoapathwhichranamidstashadyvistaoftrees，atthedistanceofafewpacesfromtheriver。ThiswalkwasintheeveningafavoriteresortofthePompeians，butduringtheheatandbusinessofthedaywasseldomvisited，savebysomegroupsofplayfulchildren，somemeditativepoet，orsomedisputativephilosophers。Atthesidefarthestfromtheriver，frequentcopsesofboxinterspersedthemoredelicateandevanescentfoliage，andthesewerecutintoathousandquaintshapes，sometimesintotheformsoffaunsandsatyrs，sometimesintothemimicryofEgyptianpyramids，sometimesintothelettersthatcomposedthenameofapopularoreminentcitizen。Thusthefalsetasteisequallyancientasthepure；andtheretiredtradersofHackneyandPaddington，acenturyago，werelittleaware，perhaps，thatintheirtorturedyewsandsculpturedbox，theyfoundtheirmodelsinthemostpolishedperiodofRomanantiquity，inthegardensofPompeii，andthevillasofthefastidiousPliny。

Thiswalknow，asthenoondaysunshoneperpendicularlythroughthechequeredleaves，wasentirelydeserted；atleastnootherformsthanthoseofOlinthusandthepriestinfringeduponthesolitude。Theysatthemselvesononeofthebenches，placedatintervalsbetweenthetrees，andfacingthefaintbreezethatcamelanguidlyfromtheriver，whosewavesdancedandsparkledbeforethem——asingularandcontrastedpair；thebelieverinthelatest——thepriestofthemostancient——worshipoftheworld！

’Sincethouleftstmesoabruptly，’saidOlinthus，’hastthoubeenhappy？

hasthyheartfoundcontentmentunderthesepriestlyrobes？hastthou，stillyearningforthevoiceofGod，hearditwhispercomforttotheefromtheoraclesofIsis？Thatsigh，thatavertedcountenance，givemetheanswermysoulpredicted。’

’Alas！’answeredApaecides，sadly，’thouseestbeforetheeawretchedanddistractedman！FrommychildhoodupwardIhaveidolizedthedreamsofvirtue！Ihaveenviedtheholinessofmenwho，incavesandlonelytemples，havebeenadmittedtothecompanionshipofbeingsabovetheworld；mydayshavebeenconsumedwithfeverishandvaguedesires；mynightswithmockingbutsolemnvisions。Seducedbythemysticpropheciesofanimpostor，Ihaveinduedtheserobes；——mynature（Iconfessittotheefrankly）——mynaturehasrevoltedatwhatIhaveseenandbeendoomedtosharein！Searchingaftertruth，Ihavebecomebuttheministeroffalsehoods。Ontheeveninginwhichwelastmet，Iwasbuoyedbyhopescreatedbythatsameimpostor，whomI

oughtalreadytohavebetterknown。Ihave——nomatter——nomatter！sufficeit，Ihaveaddedperjuryandsintorashnessandtosorrow。Theveilisnowrentforeverfrommyeyes；IbeholdavillainwhereIobeyedademigod；theearthdarkensinmysight；Iaminthedeepestabyssofgloom；Iknownotiftherebegodsabove；ifwearethethingsofchance；ifbeyondtheboundedandmelancholypresentthereisannihilationoranhereafter——tellme，then，thyfaith；solvemethesedoubts，ifthouhastindeedthepower！’

’Idonotmarvel，’answeredtheNazarene，’thatthouhastthuserred，orthatthouartthussceptic。EightyyearsagotherewasnoassurancetomanofGod，orofacertainanddefinitefuturebeyondthegrave。Newlawsaredeclaredtohimwhohasears——aheaven，atrueOlympus，isrevealedtohimwhohaseyes——heedthen，andlisten。’

Andwithalltheearnestnessofamanbelievingardentlyhimself，andzealoustoconvert，theNazarenepouredforthtoApaecidestheassurancesofScripturalpromise。HespokefirstofthesufferingsandmiraclesofChrist——heweptashespoke：heturnednexttothegloriesoftheSaviour’sAscension——totheclearpredictionsofRevelation。Hedescribedthatpureandunsensualheavendestinedtothevirtuous——thosefiresandtormentsthatwerethedoomofguilt。

Thedoubtswhichspringuptothemindoflaterreasoners，intheimmensityofthesacrificeofGodtoman，werenotsuchaswouldoccurtoanearlyheathen。Hehadbeenaccustomedtobelievethatthegodshadliveduponearth，andtakenuponthemselvestheformsofmen；hadsharedinhumanpassions，inhumanlabours，andinhumanmisfortunes。WhatwasthetravailofhisownAlcmena’sson，whosealtarsnowsmokedwiththeincenseofcountlesscities，butatoilforthehumanrace？HadnotthegreatDorianApolloexpiatedamysticsinbydescendingtothegrave？Thosewhowerethedeitiesofheavenhadbeenthelawgiversorbenefactorsonearth，andgratitudehadledtoworship。Itseemedtherefore，totheheathen，adoctrineneithernewnorstrange，thatChristhadbeensentfromheaven，thatanimmortalhadinduedmortality，andtastedthebitternessofdeath。

AndtheendforwhichHethustoiledandthussuffered——howfarmoregloriousdiditseemtoApaecidesthanthatforwhichthedeitiesofoldhadvisitedthenetherworld，andpassedthroughthegatesofdeath！WasitnotworthyofaGodto，descendtothesedimvalleys，inordertoclearupthecloudsgatheredoverthedarkmountbeyond——tosatisfythedoubtsofsages——toconvertspeculationintocertainty——byexampletopointouttherulesoflife——byrevelationtosolvetheenigmaofthegrave——andtoprovethatthesouldidnotyearninvainwhenitdreamedofanimmortality？Inthislastwasthegreatargumentofthoselowlymendestinedtoconverttheearth。Asnothingismoreflatteringtotheprideandthehopesofmanthanthebeliefinafuturestate，sonothingcouldbemorevagueandconfusedthanthenotionsoftheheathensagesuponthatmysticsubject。Apaecideshadalreadylearnedthatthefaithofthephilosopherswasnotthatoftheherd；thatiftheysecretlyprofessedacreedinsomedivinerpower，itwasnotthecreedwhichtheythoughtitwisetoimparttothecommunity。Hehadalreadylearned，thateventhepriestridiculedwhathepreachedtothepeople——thatthenotionsofthefewandthemanywereneverunited。But，inthisnewfaith，itseemedtohimthatphilosopher，priest，andpeople，theexpoundersofthereligionanditsfollowers，werealikeaccordant：theydidnotspeculateanddebateuponimmortality，theyspokeofasathingcertainandassured；themagnificenceofthepromisedazzledhim——itsconsolationssoothed。FortheChristianfaithmadeitsearlyconvertsamongsinners！

manyofitsfathersanditsmartyrswerethosewhohadfeltthebitternessofvice，andwhowerethereforenolongertemptedbyitsfalseaspectfromthepathsofanaustereanduncompromisingvirtue。Alltheassurancesofthishealingfaithinvitedtorepentance——theywerepeculiarlyadaptedtothebruisedandsoreofspirit！theveryremorsewhichApaecidesfeltforhislateexcesses，madehiminclinetoonewhofoundholinessinthatremorse，andwhowhisperedofthejoyinheavenoveronesinnerthatrepenteth。

’Come，’saidtheNazarene，asheperceivedtheeffecthehadproduced，’cometothehumblehallinwhichwemeet——aselectandachosenfew；listentheretoourprayers；notethesincerityofourrepentanttears；mingleinoursimplesacrifice——notofvictims，norofgarlands，butofferedbywhite—robedthoughtsuponthealtaroftheheart。Theflowersthatwelaythereare