’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