第49章
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  Thenthetruthcameuponme。Noharpmore——nosongmore!outbroke——

  17。”Ihavegonethewholeroundofcreation:IsawandIspoke;

  I,aworkofGod’shandforthatpurpose,receivedinmybrain[240]

  Andpronouncedontherestofhishandwork——returnedhimagainHiscreation’sapprovalorcensure:IspokeasIsaw。

  Ireport,asamanmayofGod’swork——all’slove,yetall’slaw。

  NowIlaydownthejudgeshiphelentme。EachfacultytaskedToperceivehim,hasgainedanabyss,whereadewdropwasasked。

  HaveIknowledge?confoundeditshrivelsatWisdomlaidbare。

  HaveIforethought?howpurblind,howblank,totheInfiniteCare!

  DoItaskanyfacultyhighest,toimagesuccess?

  Ibutopenmyeyes,——andperfection,nomoreandnoless,InthekindIimagined,full-frontsme,andGodisseenGod[250]

  Inthestar,inthestone,intheflesh,inthesoulandtheclod。

  Andthuslookingwithinandaroundme,IeverrenewWiththatstoopofthesoulwhichinbendingupraisesittoo

  Thesubmissionofman’snothing-perfecttoGod’sall-complete,Asbyeachnewobeisanceinspirit,Iclimbtohisfeet。

  Yetwithallthisaboundingexperience,thisdeityknown,Ishalldaretodiscoversomeprovince,somegiftofmyown。

  There’safacultypleasanttoexercise,hardtohoodwink,IamfaintokeepstillinabeyanceIlaughasIthink,Lest,insistingtoclaimandparadeinit,wotye,Iworst[260]

  E’entheGiverinonegift——Behold,IcouldloveifIdurst!

  ButIsinkthepretensionasfearingamanmayo’ertakeGod’sownspeedintheonewayoflove:Iabstainforlove’ssake——

  What,mysoul?seethusfarandnofarther?whendoorsgreatandsmall,Nine-and-ninetyflewopeatourtouch,shouldthehundredthappal?

  Intheleastthingshavefaith,yetdistrustinthegreatestofall?

  DoIfindlovesofullinmynature,God’sultimategift,ThatIdoubthisownlovecancompetewithit?Herethepartsshift?

  Here,thecreaturesurpassthecreator,——theend,whatbegan?

  WouldIfaininmyimpotentyearningdoallforthisman,[270]

  Anddaredoubthealoneshallnothelphim,whoyetalonecan?

  Woulditeverhaveenteredmymind,thebarewill,muchlesspower,TobestowonthisSaulwhatIsangof,themarvellousdowerOfthelifehewasgiftedandfilledwith?tomakesuchasoul,Suchabody,andthensuchanearthforinspheringthewhole?

  Anddothitnotentermymindasmywarmtearsattest

  Thesegoodthingsbeinggiven,togoon,andgiveonemore,thebest?

  Ay,tosaveandredeemandrestorehim,maintainattheheightThisperfection,——succeed,withlife’sdayspring,death’sminuteofnight?

  Interposeatthedifficultminute,snatchSaul,themistake,[280]

  Saul,thefailure,theruinheseemsnow,——andbidhimawakeFromthedream,theprobation,theprelude,tofindhimselfsetClearandsafeinnewlightandnewlife,——anewharmonyyetToberunandcontinued,andended——whoknows?——orendure!

  Themantaughtenoughbylife’sdream,oftheresttomakesure;

  Bythepain-throb,triumphantlywinningintensifiedbliss,Andthenextworld’srewardandrepose,bythestrugglesinthis。

  18。”Ibelieveit!’Tisthou,God,thatgivest,’tisIwhoreceive:

  Inthefirstisthelast,inthywillismypowertobelieve。

  All’sonegift:thoucanstgrantitmoreover,asprompttomyprayer,[290]

  AsIbreatheoutthisbreath,asIopenthesearmstotheair。

  Fromthywill,streamtheworlds,lifeandnature,thydreadSabaoth:

  Iwill?——themereatomsdespiseme!WhyamInotlothTolookthat,eventhatinthefacetoo?WhyisitIdareThinkbutlightlyofsuchimpuissance?Whatstopsmydespair?

  This;——’tisnotwhatmanDoeswhichexaltshim,butwhatmanWoulddo!

  SeetheKing——Iwouldhelphim,butcannot,thewishesfallthrough。

  CouldIwrestletoraisehimfromsorrow,growpoortoenrich,Tofilluphislife,starvemyownout,Iwould——knowingwhich,Iknowthatmyserviceisperfect。Oh,speakthroughmenow![300]

  WouldIsufferforhimthatIlove?Sowouldstthou——sowiltthou!

  Soshallcrowntheethetopmost,ineffablest,uttermostcrown——

  Andthylovefillinfinitudewholly,norleaveupnordownOnespotforthecreaturetostandin!Itisbynobreath,Turnofeye,waveofhand,thatsalvationjoinsissuewithdeath!

  Asthyloveisdiscoveredalmighty,almightybeprovedThypower,thatexistswithandforit,ofbeingbeloved!

  Hewhodidmost,shallbearmost;thestrongestshallstandthemostweak。

  ’Tistheweaknessinstrength,thatIcryfor!myflesh,thatIseekIntheGodhead!IseekandIfindit。OSaul,itshallbe[310]

  AFacelikemyfacethatreceivesthee;aManliketome,Thoushaltloveandbelovedby,forever:aHandlikethishandShallthrowopenthegatesofnewlifetothee!SeetheChriststand!”

  19。

  IknownottoowellhowIfoundmywayhomeinthenight。

  Therewerewitnesses,cohortsaboutme,toleftandtoright,Angels,powers,theunuttered,unseen,thealive,theaware:

  Irepressed,Igotthroughthemashardly,asstrugglinglythere,Asarunnerbesetbythepopulacefamishedfornews——

  Lifeordeath。Thewholeearthwasawakened,hellloosedwithhercrews;

  Andthestarsofnightbeatwithemotion,andtingledandshot[320]

  Outinfirethestrongpainofpentknowledge:butIfaintednot,FortheHandstillimpelledmeatonceandsupported,suppressedAllthetumult,andquencheditwithquiet,andholybehest,Tilltherapturewasshutinitself,andtheearthsanktorest。

  Anonatthedawn,allthattroublehadwitheredfromearth——

  Notsomuch,butIsawitdieoutintheday’stenderbirth;

  Inthegatheredintensitybroughttothegrayofthehills;

  Intheshudderingforests’heldbreath;inthesuddenwind-thrills;

  Inthestartledwildbeaststhatboreoft,eachwitheyesidlingstillThoughavertedwithwonderanddread;inthebirdsstiffandchill[330]

  ThatroseheavilyasIapproachedthem,madestupidwithawe:

  E’entheserpentthatslidawaysilent——hefeltthenewlaw。

  Thesamestaredinthewhitehumidfacesupturnedbytheflowers;

  Thesameworkedintheheartofthecedarandmovedthevine-bowers:

  Andthelittlebrookswitnessingmurmured,persistentandlow,Withtheirobstinate,allbuthushedvoices——”E’enso,itisso!”——

  320etseq。:seenotetoSt。37,38,of`BytheFireside’。

  ADeathintheDesert。

  [SupposedofPamphylaxtheAntiochene:

  Itisaparchment,ofmyrollsthefifth,Haththreeskinsgluedtogether,isallGreekAndgoethfromEpsilondowntoMu:

  LiessecondinthesurnamedChosenChest,[5]

  Stainedandconservedwithjuiceofterebinth,Coveredwithclothofhair,andletteredXi,FromXanthus,mywife’suncle,nowatpeace:

  MuandEpsilonstandformyownname。

  Imaynotwriteit,butImakeacross[10]

  ToshowIwaitHiscoming,withtherest,Andleaveoffhere:beginnethPamphylax。]——

  1-12。Thebracketedprefatorylines,explanatoryoftheparchmentonwhicharerecordedthelasthoursandlasttalkofSt。Johnwithhisdevotedattendants,purporttohavebeenwrittenbyonewhowasatthetimetheowneroftheparchment。Itappearstohavecomeintohispossessionthroughhiswife,anieceoftheXanthuswho,withPamphylaxofAntioch,thesupposedauthorofthenarrativehehavingtolditontheeveofhismartyrdomtoacertainPhoebas,v。653,andtwoothers,isrepresentedthereinaswaitingonthedyingapostle,andwhoafterwards”escapedtoRome,wasburned,andcouldnotwritethechronicle。”vv。56,57。

  4。AndgoethfromEpsilondowntoMu:thereferenceistosomenumberingontheparchment。

  6。terebinth:theturpentinetree——

  Isaid,”Ifoneshouldwethislipswithwine,Andslipthebroadestplantain-leafwefind,Orelsethelappetofalinenrobe,[15]

  Intothewater-vessel,layitright,Andcoolhisforeheadjustabovetheeyes,Thewhileabrother,kneelingeitherside,Shouldchafeeachhandandtrytomakeitwarm,——

  Heisnotsofargonebuthemightspeak。”[20]

  Thisdidnothappenintheoutercave,Norinthesecretchamberoftherock,Where,sixtydayssincethedecreewasout,Wehadhim,beddedonacamel-skin,Andwaitedforhisdyingallthewhile;[25]

  Butinthemidmostgrotto:sincenoon’slightReachedtherealittle,andwewouldnotloseThelastofwhatmighthappenonhisface——

  23。thedecree:ofpersecutionoftheChristians,perhapsthatunderDomitian。Thepoetprobablydidnotthinkofanyparticularpersecution——

  Iatthehead,andXanthusatthefeet,WithValensandtheBoy,hadliftedhim,[30]

  Andbroughthimfromthechamberinthedepths,Andlaidhiminthelightwherewemightsee:

  Forcertainsmilesbeganabouthismouth,Andhislidsmoved,presagefuloftheend。

  Beyond,andhalfwayupthemoutho’thecave,[35]

  TheBactrianconvert,havinghisdesire,Keptwatch,andmadepretencetograzeagoatThatgaveusmilk,onragsofvariousherb,Plantainandquitch,therocks’shadekeepsalive:

  Sothatifanythieforsoldierpassed[40]

  Becausethepersecutionwasaware,Yieldingthegoatuppromptlywithhislife,Suchmanmightpasson,joyfulataprize,Norcaretopryintothecoolo’thecave。

  Outsidewasallnoonandtheburningblue。[45]——

  36。theBactrianconvert:invv。649,650,heisspokenofas”butawildchildishman,andcouldnotwritenorspeak,butonlyloved。”BactriawasakingdominCentralAsia;

  themodernnameisBalkh{adistrictinnorthernAfghanistanasof1995}。

  havinghisdesire:asanewconvert,thesimplemanwaseagertoserve,evenuntodeath。

  41。aware:onthelookout;exercisingastrictespionage——”Hereiswine”,answeredXanthus,——droppedadrop;

  Istoopedandplacedthelapofclotharight,Thenchafedhisrighthand,andtheBoyhisleft:

  ButValenshadbethoughthim,andproducedAndbrokeaballofnard,andmadeperfume。[50]

  Only,hedid——notsomuchwake,as——turnAndsmilealittle,asasleeperdoesIfanydearonecallhim,touchhisface——

  Andsmilesandloves,butwillnotbedisturbed。

  ThenXanthussaidaprayer,butstillheslept:[55]

  ItistheXanthusthatescapedtoRome,Wasburned,andcouldnotwritethechronicle。

  ThentheBoysprangupfromhisknees,andran,Stungbythesplendorofasuddenthought,Andfetchedtheseventhplateofgravenlead[60]

  Outofthesecretchamber,foundaplace,Pressingwithfingeronthedeeperdints,Andspoke,as’twerehismouthproclaimingfirst,”IamtheResurrectionandtheLife。”——

  60。theseventhplateofgravenlead:oneoftheplatesonwhichJohn’sGospelwasgraven。Itcontained,itappears,the11thchapter,inwhichJesussaystoMartha,25thverse,”IamtheResurrectionandtheLife。”TheBoyutteredthewordswithsuchexpressionas’twereHISmouthfirstproclaimingthem——

  Whereatheopenedhiseyeswideatonce,[65]

  Andsatupofhimself,andlookedatus;

  Andthenceforthnobodypronouncedaword:

  Only,outside,theBactriancriedhiscryLikethelonedesert-birdthatwearstheruff,Assignalweweresafe,fromtimetotime。[70]——

  69。thelonedesert-bird:theruffmaypossiblybereferredto。

  SeeWebster,s。v——

  Firsthesaid,”Ifamandeclaredtome,ThismysonValens,thismyotherson,WereJamesandPeter,——nay,declaredaswellThisladwasveryJohn,——Icouldbelieve!——

  Could,foramoment,doubtlesslybelieve:[75]

  Soismyselfwithdrawnintomydepths,ThesoulretreatedfromtheperishedbrainWhenceitwaswonttofeelandusetheworldThroughthesedullmembers,donewithlongago。

  YetImyselfremain;Ifeelmyself:[80]

  Andthereisnothinglost。Letbe,awhile!”——

  76。withdrawnintomydepths:intothedepthsofhisabsolutebeing,ofthe”whatIs”;seethedoctrineofthetrinalunityofmanwhichfollows——

  [Thisisthedoctrinehewaswonttoteach,Howdiverspersonswitnessineachman,Threesoulswhichmakeuponesoul:first,towit,Asoulofeachandallthebodilyparts,[85]

  Seatedtherein,whichworks,andiswhatDoes,Andhastheuseofearth,andendsthemanDownward;but,tendingupwardforadvice,Growsinto,andagainisgrownintoBythenextsoul,which,seatedinthebrain,[90]

  Useththefirstwithitscollecteduse,Andfeeleth,thinketh,willeth,——iswhatKnows:

  Which,dulytendingupwardinitsturn,Growsinto,andagainisgrownintoBythelastsoul,thatusesboththefirst,[95]

  Subsistingwhethertheyassistorno,And,constitutingman’sself,iswhatIs###第50章

  Andleansupontheformer,makesitplay,Asthatplayedoffthefirst:and,tendingup,Holds,isupheldby,God,andendstheman[100]

  Upwardinthatdreadpointofintercourse,Norneedsaplace,foritreturnstoHim。

  WhatDoes,whatKnows,whatIs;threesouls,oneman。

  IgivetheglossaofTheotypas。]——

  82-104。Thesupposednarrator,Pamphylax,givesinthesebracketedverses,ontheauthorityofanimaginedTheotypas,adoctrineJohnwaswonttoteach,ofthetrinalunityofman——

  thethird”person”ofwhichunity,”whatIs”,beingman’sessential,absolutenature。ThedyingJohnisrepresentedashavingwonhiswaytotheKingdomofthe”whatIs”,theKingdomofeternaltruthwithinhimself。InLuke17:20-21,weread:”AndwhenhewasdemandedofthePharisees,whentheKingdomofGodshouldcome,heansweredthemandsaid,TheKingdomofGodcomethnotwithobservation:

  neithershalltheysay,Lohere!or,Lothere!for,behold,theKingdomofGodiswithinyou。”Inharmonywithwhich,Paracelsusismadetosay,inBrowning’spoem,”Truthiswithinourselves;……thereisaninmostcentreinusall,wheretruthabidesinfulness”;

  etc。Seepp。24and25ofthisvolume。{Inthisetext,seeChapterI,`TheSpiritualEbbandFlow,etc。’,oftheIntroduction。

  Excerptisshortlybeforethepoem`Popularity’。}”Life,you’vegrantedme,developsfromwithin。ButINNERMOSTOFTHEINMOST,MOSTINTERIOROFTHEINTERNE,GODCLAIMSHISOWN,DIVINEHUMANITYRENEWINGNATURE”Mrs。Browning’s`AuroraLeigh’。

  Mrs。M。G。Glazebrook,inherpaperon`ADeathintheDesert’,readatthe48thmeetingoftheBrowningSociety,Feb。25th,1887,paraphrasestheselines:”Thefirstandlowest[soul]isthatwhichhastodowithearthandcorporealthings,theanimalsoul,whichreceivesprimarysensationsandistheimmediatecauseofaction——`whatDoes’。Thesecondistheintellect,andhasitsseatinthebrain:itissuperiortothefirst,butdependentonit,sinceitreceivesasmaterialtheactualexperiencewhichtheanimalsoulsupplies;itisthefeeling,thinking,willingsoul——`whatKnows’。Thethird,andhighest,isthespiritofman,theveryprincipleoflife,thedivineelementinmanlinkinghimtoGod,whichisself-subsistentandthereforeindependentofsensationandknowledge,butneverthelessmakesuseofthem,andgivesthemexistenceandenergy——`whatIs’。”——

  Andthen,”Astick,oncefirefromendtoend;[105]

  Now,ashessavethetipthatholdsaspark!

  Yet,blowthespark,itrunsback,spreadsitselfAlittlewherethefirewas:thusIurgeThesoulthatservedme,tillittaskoncemoreWhatashesofmybrainhavekepttheirshape,[110]

  Andthesemakeeffortonthelasto’theflesh,Tryingtotasteagainthetruthofthings”——

  Hesmiled——”theirverysuperficialtruth;

  Asthatyearemysons,thatitislongSinceJamesandPeterhadreleasebydeath,[115]

  AndIamonlyhe,yourbrotherJohn,Whosawandheard,andcouldrememberall。

  Rememberall!Itisnotmuchtosay。

  WhatifthetruthbrokeonmefromaboveAsonceandoft-times?Suchmighthapagain:[120]

  DoubtlesslyHemightstandinpresencehere,Withheadwool-white,eyes,flame,andfeetlikebrass,Theswordandthesevenstars,asIhaveseen——

  Iwhonowshudderonlyandsurmise`Howdidyourbrotherbearthatsightandlive?’[125]——

  113。superficialtruth:phenomenal,relativetruth;

  thatwhichisarrivedatthroughthesenses,andbelongstothedomainofthe”whatKnows”。Essential,absolutetruthcanbeknownonlythrougharesponsetheretooftheessential,theabsolute,the”whatIs”,inman’snature。Johnhasattainedtoameasureofabsolutetruth,andsmilesonrevertingtotheverysuperficialtruthofthings。

  121-123。SeeTheRevelationofSt。John,chap。1。

  125。yourbrother:hemeanshimself,ofcourse——”IfIliveyet,itisforgood,moreloveThroughmetomen:benaughtbutasheshereThatkeepawhilemysemblance,whowasJohn,——

  Still,whentheyscatter,thereisleftonearthNoonealivewhoknewconsiderthis![130]——

  SawwithhiseyesandhandledwithhishandsThatwhichwasfromthefirst,theWordofLife。

  Howwillitbewhennonemoresaith`Isaw’?”Sucheverwaslove’sway:torise,itstoops。

  SinceI,whomChrist’smouthtaught,wasbiddenteach,[135]

  Iwent,formanyyears,abouttheworld,Saying,`Itwasso;soIheardandsaw’,Speakingasthecaseasked:andmenbelieved。

  AfterwardcamethemessagetomyselfInPatmosisle;Iwasnotbiddenteach。[140]

  Butsimplylisten,takeabookandwrite,Norsetdownotherthanthegivenword。

  WithnothinglefttomyarbitramentTochooseorchange:Iwrote,andmenbelieved。

  Then,formytimegrewbrief,nomessagemore,[145]

  Nocalltowriteagain,Ifoundaway,And,reasoningfrommyknowledge,merelytaughtMenshould,forlove’ssake,inlove’sstrength,believe;

  OrIwouldpenalettertoafriend,Andurgethesameasfriend,norlessnormore:[150]

  FriendssaidIreasonedrightly,andbelieved。

  Butatthelast,why,IseemedleftaliveLikeasea-jellyweakonPatmosstrand,Totelldrysea-beachgazershowIfaredWhentherewasmid-sea,andthemightythings;[155]

  Lefttorepeat,`Isaw,Iheard,Iknew’,Andgoallovertheoldgroundagain,WithAntichristalreadyintheworld,AndmanyAntichrists,whoansweredprompt`AmInotJasperasthyselfartJohn?[160]

  Nay,young,whereasthroughagethoumayestforget:

  Wherefore,explain,orhowshallwebelieve?’

  Ineverthoughttocalldownfireonsuch,Or,asinwonderfulandearlydays,Pickupthescorpion,treadtheserpentdumb;[165]

  ButpatientstatedmuchoftheLord’slifeForgottenormisdelivered,andletitwork:

  Sincemuchthatatthefirst,indeedandword,Laysimplyandsufficientlyexposed,Hadgrownorelsemysoulwasgrowntomatch,[170]

  Fedthroughsuchyears,familiarwithsuchlight,Guardedandguidedstilltoseeandspeak

  Ofnewsignificanceandfreshresult;

  Whatfirstwereguessedaspoints,Inowknewstars,AndnamedthemintheGospelIhavewrit。[175]

  Formensaid,`Itisgettinglongago:

  WhereisthepromiseofHiscoming?’——askedTheseyoungonesintheirstrength,aslothtowait,Ofmewho,whentheirsireswereborn,wasold。

  I,forIlovedthem,answered,joyfully,[180]

  SinceIwasthere,andhelpfulinmyage;

  And,inthemain,Ithinksuchmenbelieved。

  Finally,thusendeavoring,Ifellsick。

  Yebroughtmehere,andIsupposedtheend,Andwenttosleepwithonethoughtthat,atleast,[185]

  Thoughthewholeearthshouldlieinwickedness,Wehadthetruth,mightleavetheresttoGod。

  YetnowIwakeinsuchdecrepitudeAsIhadsliddendownandfallenafar,Pasteventhepresenceofmyformerself,[190]

  Graspingthewhileforstayatfactswhichsnap,TillIamfoundawayfrommyownworld,Feelingforfoot-holdthroughablankprofound,Alongwithunbornpeopleinstrangelands,Whosay——Ihearsaidorconceivetheysay——[195]

  `WasJohnatall,anddidhesayhesaw?

  Assureus,ereweaskwhathemightsee!’——

  156。Isaw,Iheard,Iknew:expressionswhichoccurthroughoutJohn’sRevelation。

  188-197。Thepoetprovides,intheselines,forthepropheticcharacterofJohn’sdiscourse,itssolutionofthedifficultiesdestinedtobesetChristianityinthefuture,andespeciallyofthosewhichhavebeenraisedinourowntimes。ThehistoricalbulwarkswhichtheStraussesandtheRenanshaveendeavoredtodestroy,Christianity,initsessential,absolutecharacter,itsadaptivenesstospiritualvitality,andthewantsofthesoul,candowithout。

  Indeed,therewillbemuchgainedwhenthehistoricalcharacterofChristianityisgenerallydisregarded。Itsimpregnablefortress,namely,thePersonality,JesusChrist,willremain,andmankindwillforeverseekandfindrefugeinit。ArthurSymons,inhis`IntroductiontotheStudyofBrowning’,remarks:……”itisasapieceofratiocination——suffused,indeed,withimagination——

  thatthepoemseemstohaveitsraisond’etre。Thebearingofthisargumentoncontemporarytheories,maytosomeappearamerit,toothersablemish。TomakethedyingJohnrefuteStraussorRenan,handlingtheirpropositionswithadmirabledialecticalskill,iscertainly,onthefaceofit,somewhathazardous。ButIcanseenorealincongruityinimputingtotheseerofPatmosapropheticinsightintothefuture——norealinconsequenceinimaginingtheopponentofCerinthusspendinghislastbreathinthedefenceofChristiantruthagainstaforeseenscepticism。”——”AndhowshallIassurethem?Cantheyshare——They,whohaveflesh,aveilofyouthandstrengthAbouteachspirit,thatneedsmustbideitstime,[200]

  LivingandlearningstillasyearsassistWhichwearthethicknessthin,andletmansee——

  Withmewhohardlyamwithheldatall,Butshudderingly,scarceashredbetween,Liebaretotheuniversalprickoflight?[205]

  Isitfornothingwegrowoldandweak,WewhomGodloves?Whenpainends,gainendstoo。

  Tome,thatstory——ay,thatLifeandDeathOfwhichIwrote`itwas’——tome,itis;——

  Is,hereandnow:Iapprehendnaughtelse。[210]

  IsnotGodnowi’theworldHispowerfirstmade?

  IsnotHisloveatissuestillwithsin,Visiblywhenawrongisdoneonearth?

  Love,wrong,andpain,whatseeIelsearound?

  Yea,andtheResurrectionandUprise[215]

  Totherighthandofthethrone——whatisitbeside,Whensuchtruth,breakingbounds,o’erfloodsmysoul,And,asIsawthesinanddeath,evensoSeeItheneedyettransiencyofboth,Thegoodandgloryconsummatedthence?[220]

  IsawthePower;IseetheLove,onceweak,ResumethePower:andinthisword`Isee’,Lo,thereisrecognizedtheSpiritofbothThatmovingo’erthespiritofman,unblindsHiseyeandbidshimlook。Theseare,Isee;[225]

  Butye,thechildren,Hisbelovedonestoo,Yeneed,——asIshoulduseanopticglassIwonderedaterewhile,somewherei’theworld,Ithadbeengivenacraftysmithtomake;

  Atube,heturnedonobjectsbroughttooclose,[230]

  LyingconfusedlyinsubordinateFortheunassistedeyetomasteronce:

  Lookthroughhistube,atdistancenowtheylay,Becomesuccinct,distinct,sosmall,soclear!

  Justthus,yeneedsmustapprehendwhattruth[235]

  Isee,reducedtoplainhistoricfact,Diminishedintoclearness,provedapointAndfaraway:yewouldwithdrawyoursenseFromouteternity,strainitupontime,Thenstandbeforethatfact,thatLifeandDeath,[240]

  Staythereatgaze,tillitdispart,dispread,Asthoughastarshouldopenout,allsides,Growtheworldonyou,asitismyworld——

  202。”Oh,notalonewhenlifeflowsstilldotruthandpoweremerge,butalsowhenstrangechancerufflesitscurrent;inunusedconjuncture,whensicknessbreaksthebody——hunger,watching,excess,orlanguor——

  oftenestdeath’sapproach——peril,deepjoy,orwoe。”——

  Browning’s`Paracelsus’。”Thesoul’sdarkcottage,batteredanddecayed,LetsinnewlightthroughchinksthatTimehasmade。

  Strongerbyweakness,wisermenbecome,Astheydrawneartotheireternalhome。

  Leavingtheold,bothworldsatoncetheyview,Thatstanduponthethresholdofthenew。”——EdmundWaller。”Drawingnearherdeath,shesentmostpiousthoughtsasharbingerstoheaven;andhersoulsawaglimpseofhappinessthroughthechinksofhersickness-brokenbody。”Fuller’s`HolyandProfaneState’,BookI。,chap。2。

  203。Withme:connectwith`share’,v。198。

  208-209。Seep。62ofthisvolume。{Inthisetext,PartII,Section3intheIntroduction。Itisshortlybeforeanexcerptfrom`ChristmasEve’。}

  221-225。Seestanzas9and10of`RabbiBenEzra’。

  227。anopticglass:perhapsanachronistic。

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