第6章

neverthelessthelightisallone。\" AndIsawoverthebridgenearestme，whichwaswiderthantheother，countlessfootmarksgo。IaskedGodwhysomanywentoverit。 Godsaid，\"Itslopeslessdeeply，andleadstothefirstheaven。\" AndIsawthatsomeofthefootmarkswereoffeetreturning。IaskedGodhowitwas。 Hesaid，\"NomanwhohasonceenteredHeaveneverleavesit;butsome，whentheyhavegonehalfway，turnback，becausetheyareafraidthereisnolandbeyond。\" Isaid，\"Hasnoneeverreturned？\" Godsaid，\"No;onceinHeavenalwaysinHeaven。\" AndGodtookmeover。Andwhenwecametooneofthegreatdoors——forHeavenhasmoredoorsthanone，andtheyareallopen——thepostsroseupsohighoneithersideIcouldnotseethetop，norindeediftherewereany。 AnditseemedtomesowidethatallHellcouldgointhroughit。 IsaidtoGod，\"Whichisthelarger，HeavenorHell？\" Godsaid，\"Hellisaswide，butHeavenisdeeper。AllHellcouldbeengulfedinHeaven，butallHeavencouldnotbeengulfedinHell。\" Andweentered。Itwasastillgreatland。Themountainsroseoneveryhand，andtherewasapaleclearlight;andIsawitcamefromtherocksandstones。IaskedGodhowitwas。 ButGoddidnotanswerme。 Ilookedandwondered，forIhadthoughtHeavenwouldbeotherwise。Andafterawhileitbegantogrowbrighter，asifthedaywerebreaking，andI askedGodifthesunwerenotgoingtorise。 Godsaid，\"No;wearecomingtowherethepeopleare。\" Andaswewentonitgrewbrighterandbrightertillitwasburningday; andontherockwereflowersblooming，andtreesblossomedattheroadside; andstreamsofwaterraneverywhere，andIheardthebirdssinging;IaskedGodwheretheywere。 Godsaid，\"Itisthepeoplecallingtooneanother。\" AndwhenwecamenearerIsawthemwalking，andtheyshoneastheywalked。 IaskedGodhowitwastheyworenocovering。 Godsaid，\"Becausealltheirbodygivesthelight;theydarenotcoveranypart。\" AndIaskedGodwhattheyweredoing。 Godsaid，\"Shiningontheplantsthattheymaygrow。\" AndIsawthatsomewereworkingincompanies，andsomealone，butmostwereintwos，sometimestwomenandsometimestwowomen;butgenerallytherewasonemanandonewoman;andIaskedGodhowitwas。 Godsaid，\"Whenonemanandonewomanshinetogether，itmakesthemostperfectlight。Manyplantsneedthatfortheirgrowing。Nevertheless，therearemorekindsofplantsinHeaventhanone，andtheyneedmanykindsoflight。\" Andonefromamongthepeoplecamerunningtowardsme;andwhenhecamenearitseemedtomethatheandIhadplayedtogetherwhenwewerelittlechildren，andthatwehadbeenbornonthesameday。AndItoldGodwhatI felt;Godsaid，\"AllmenfeelsoinHeavenwhenanothercomestowardsthem。\" Andhewhorantowardsmeheldmyhand，andledmethroughthebrightlights。Andwhenwecameamongthetreeshesangaloud，andhiscompanionanswered，anditwasawoman，andheshowedmetoher。Shesaid，\"Hemusthavewater\";andshetooksomeinherhands，andfedme（IhadbeenafraidtodrinkofthewaterinHell），andtheygatheredfruitforme，andgaveitmetoeat。Theysaid，\"Weshonelongtomakeitripen，\"andtheylaughedtogetherastheysawmeeatit。 Themansaid，\"Heisveryweary;hemustsleep\"（forIhadnotdaredtosleepinHell），andhelaidmyheadonhiscompanion’skneeandspreadherhairoutoverme。Islept，andallthewhileinmysleepIthoughtIheardthebirdscallingacrossme。AndwhenIwokeitwaslikeearlymorning，withthedewoneverything。 Andthemantookmyhandandledmetoahiddenspotamongtherocks。Thegroundwasveryhard，butoutofitweresproutingtinyplants，andtherewasalittlestreamrunning。Hesaid，\"Thisisagardenwearemaking，nooneelseknowsofit。Weshinehereeveryday;see，thegroundhascrackedwithourshining，andthislittlestreamisburstingout。See，theflowersaregrowing。\" Andheclimbedontherocksandpickedfromabovetwolittleflowerswithdewonthem，andgavethemtome。AndItookoneineachhand;myhandsshoneasIheldthem。Hesaid，\"Thisgardenisforallwhenitisfinished。\"Andhewentawaytohiscompanion，andIwentoutintothegreatpathway。 AndasIwalkedinthelightIheardaloudsoundofmuchsinging。AndwhenIcamenearerIsawonewithclosedeyes，singing，andhisfellowswerestandingroundhim;andthelightontheclosedeyeswasbrighterthananythingIhadseeninHeaven。Iaskedonewhoitwas。Andhesaid，\"Hush！Oursingingbird。\" AndIaskedwhytheeyesshoneso。 Andhesaid，\"Theycannotsee，andwehavekissedthemtilltheyshoneso。\" Andthepeoplegatheredcloserroundhim。 AndwhenIwentalittlefurtherIsawacrowdcrossingamongthetreesoflightwithgreatlaughter。WhentheycamecloseIsawtheycarriedonewithouthandsorfeet。AndalightcamefromthemaimedlimbssobrightthatIcouldnotlookatthem。 AndIsaidtoone，\"Whatisit？\" Heanswered，\"Thisisourbrotherwhooncefellandlosthishandsandfeet，andsincethenhecannothelphimself;butwehavetouchedthemaimedstumpssooftenthatnowtheyshinebrighterthananythinginHeaven。Wepasshimonthathemayshineonthingsthatneedmuchheat。Nooneisallowedtokeephimlong，hebelongstoall\";andtheywentonamongthetrees。 IsaidtoGod，\"Thisisastrangeland。Ihadthoughtblindnessandmaimednessweregreatevils。Heremenmakethemtoarejoicing。\" Godsaid，\"Didstthouthenthinkthatlovehadneedofeyesandhands！\" AndIwalkeddowntheshiningwaywithpalmsoneitherhand。IsaidtoGod，\"EversinceIwasalittlechildandsataloneandcried，Ihavedreamedofthisland，andnowIwillnotgoawayagain。Iwillstayhereandshine。\"AndIbegantotakeoffmygarments，thatImightshineasothersinthatland;butwhenIlookeddownIsawmybodygavenolight。I saidtoGod，\"Howisit？\" Godsaid，\"Istherenodarkbloodinyourheart;isitbitteragainstnone？\" AndIsaid，\"Yes——\";andIthought——\"NowisthetimewhenIwilltellGod，thatwhichIhavebeen，meaningtotellhimallalong，howbadlymyfellow— menhavetreatedme。Howtheyhavemisunderstoodme。HowIhaveintendedtobemagnanimousandgeneroustothem，andthey——。\"AndIbegantotellGod;butwhenIlookeddownalltheflowerswerewitheringundermybreath，andIwassilent。 AndGodcalledmetocomeuphigher，andIgatheredmymantleaboutmeandfollowedhim。 Andtherocksgrewhigherandsteeperoneveryside;andwecameatlasttoaplacewhereagreatmountainrose，whosetopwaslostintheclouds。AndonitssideIsawmenworking;andtheypickedattheearthwithhugepicks;andIsawthattheylabouredmightily。Andsomelabouredincompanies，butmostlabouredsingly。AndIsawthedropsofsweatfallfromtheirforeheads，andthemusclesoftheirarmsstandoutwithlabour。 AndIsaid，\"Ihadnotthoughtinheaventoseemenlabourso！\"AndI thoughtofthegardenwheremensangandloved，andIwonderedthatanyshouldchoosetolabouronthatbaremountain—side。AndIsawupontheforeheadsofthemenastheyworkedalight，andthedropswhichfellfromthemastheyworkedhadlight。 AndIaskedGodwhattheywereseekingfor。 AndGodtouchedmyeyes，andIsawthatwhattheyfoundweresmallstones，whichhadbeentoobrightformetoseebefore;andIsawthatthelightofthestonesandthelightonthemen’sforeheadswasthesame。AndIsawthatwhenonefoundastonehepasseditontohisfellow，andhetoanother，andhetoanother。Nomankeptthestonehefound。Andattimestheygatheredingreatcompanyaboutwhenalargestonewasfound，andraisedagreatshoutsothattheskyrang;thentheyworkedonagain。 AndIaskedGodwhattheydidwiththestonestheyfoundatlast。ThenGodtouchedmyeyesagaintomakethemstronger;andIlooked，andatmyveryfeetwasamightycrown。Thelightstreamedoutfromit。 Godsaid，\"Eachstoneastheyfinditissethere。\" Andthecrownwaswroughtaccordingtoamarvellouspattern;onepatternranthroughall，yeteachpartwasdifferent。 IsaidtoGod，\"Howdoeseachmanknowwheretosethisstone，sothatthepatternisworkedout？\" Godsaid，\"Becauseinthelighthisforeheadshedseachmanseesfaintlyoutlinedthatfullcrown。\" AndIsaid，\"Buthowisitthateachstoneisjoinedalongitsedgestoitsfellows，sothatthereisnoseamanywhere？\" Godsaid，\"Thestonesarealive;theygrow。\" AndIsaid，\"Butwhatdoeseachmangainbyhisworking？\" Godsaid，\"Heseeshisoutlinefilled。\" Isaid，\"Butthosestoneswhicharelastsetcoverthosewhichwerefirst; andthosewillagainbecoveredbythosewhichcomelater。\" Godsaid，\"Theyarecovered，butnothid。Thelightisthelightofall。 Withoutthefirst，nolast。\" AndIsaidtoGod，\"Whenwillthiscrownbeended？\" AndGodsaid，\"Lookup！\" Ilookedup;andIsawthemountaintoweraboveme，butitssummitIcouldnotsee;itwaslostintheclouds。 Godsaidnomore。 AndIlookedatthecrown:thenalongingseizedme。Likethepassionofamotherforthechildwhomdeathhastaken;liketheyearningofafriendforthefriendwhomlifehasburied;likethehungerofdyingeyesforalifethatisslipping;likethethirstofasoulforloveatitsfirstspringwaking，so，butfiercerwasthelonginginme。 IcriedtoGod，\"Itoowillworkhere;Itoowillsetstonesinthewonderfulpattern;itshallgrowbeneathMYhand。Andifitbethat，labouringhereforyears，Ishouldnotfindonestone，atleastIwillbewiththementhatlabourhere。Ishallheartheirshoutofjoywheneachstoneisfound;Ishalljoinintheirtriumph，Ishallshoutamongthem;I shallseethecrowngrow。\"SogreatwasmylongingasIlookedatthecrown，Ithoughtafaintlightfellfrommyforeheadalso。 Godsaid，\"Doyounothearthesinginginthegardens？\" Isaid，\"No，Ihearnothing;Iseeonlythecrown。\"AndIwasdumbwithlonging;IforgotalltheflowersofthelowerHeavenandthesingingthere。AndIranforward，andthrewmymantleontheearthandbenttoseizeoneofthemightytoolswhichlaythere。Icouldnotliftitfromtheearth。 Godsaid，\"WherehastTHOUearnedthestrengthtoraiseit？Takeupthymantle。\" AndItookupmymantleandfollowedwhereGodcalledme;butIlookedback，andIsawthecrownburning，mycrownthatIhadloved。 Higherandhigherweclimbed，andtheairgrewthinner。Notatreeorplantwasonthebarerocks，andthestillnesswasunbroken。Mybreathcamehardandquick，andthebloodcreptwithinmyfinger—tips。IsaidtoGod，\"IsthisHeaven？\" Godsaid，\"Yes;itisthehighest。\" Andstillweclimbed。IsaidtoGod，\"Icannotbreathesohigh。\" Godsaid，\"Becausetheairispure？\" Andmyheadgrewdizzy，andasIclimbedthebloodburstfrommyfinger— tips。 Thenwecameoutuponalonelymountain—top。 Nolivingbeingmovedthere;butfaroffonasolitarypeakIsawalonelyfigurestanding。WhetheritweremanorwomanIcouldnottell;forpartlyitseemedthefigureofawoman，butitslimbswerethemightylimbsofaman。IaskedGodwhetheritwasmanorwoman。 Godsaid，\"IntheleastHeavensexreignssupreme;inthehigheritisnotnoticed;butinthehighestitdoesnotexist。\" AndIsawthefigurebendoveritswork，andlabourmightily，butwhatitlabouredatIcouldnotsee。 IsaidtoGod，\"Howcameithere？\" Godsaid，\"Byabloodystair。StepbystepitmountedfromthelowestHell，anddaybydayasHellgrewfartherandHeavennonearer，ithungalonebetweentwoworlds。Hourbyhourinthatbitterstruggleitslimbsgrewlarger，tilltherefellfromitragbyragthegarmentswhichitstartedwith。Dropsfellfromitseyesasitstrainedthem;eachstepitclimbedwaswetwithblood。Thenitcameouthere。\" AndIthoughtofthegardenwheremensangwiththeirarmsaroundoneanother;andthemountain—sidewheretheyworkedincompany。AndI shuddered。 AndIsaid，\"Isitnotterriblyalonehere？\" Godsaid，\"Itisneveralone！\" Isaid，\"Whathasitforallitslabour？Iseenothingreturntoit。\" ThenGodtouchedmyeyes，andIsawstretchedoutbeneathustheplainsofHeavenandHell，andallthatwaswithinthem。 Godsaid，\"Fromthatloneheightonwhichhestands，allthingsareopen。 Tohimiscleartheshininginthegarden，heseestheflowerbreakforthandthestreamssparkle;noshoutisraiseduponthemountain—sidebuthisearmayhearit。Heseesthecrowngrowandthelightshootfromit。AllHellisopentohim。Heseesthepathsmountupwards。Tohim，HellistheseedgroundfromwhichHeavensprings。Heseesthesapascending。\" AndIsawthefigurebendoveritswork，andthelightfromitsfacefelluponit。 AndIsaidtoGod，\"Whatisitmaking？\" AndGodsaid，\"Music！\" Andhetouchedmyears，andIheardit。 AndafteralongwhileIwhisperedtoGod，\"ThisisHeaven。\" AndGodaskedmewhyIwascrying。ButIcouldnotanswerforjoy。 Andthefaceturnedfromitswork，andthelightfelluponme。ThenitgrewsobrightIcouldnotseethingsseparately;andwhichwereGod，ortheman，orI，Icouldnottell;wewereallblended。IcriedtoGod，\"Whereareyou？\"buttherewasnoanswer，onlymusicandlight。 Afterwards，whenithadgrownsodarkagainthatIcouldseethingsseparately，IfoundthatIwasstandingtherewrappedtightinmylittleold，brown，earthlycloak，andGodandthemanwereseparatedfromeachother，andfromme。 IdidnotdaresayIwouldgoandmakemusicbesidetheman。IknewI couldnotreacheventohisknee，normovetheinstrumentheplayed。ButI thoughtIwouldstandthereonmylittlepeakandsinganaccompanimenttothatgreatmusic。AndItried;butmyvoicefailed。Itpipedandquavered。Icouldnotsingthattune。Iwassilent。 ThenGodpointedtome，thatIshouldgooutofHeaven。 AndIcriedtoGod，\"Oh，letmestayhere！Ifindeeditbe，asIknowitis，thatIamnotgreatenoughtosinguponthemountain，norstrongenoughtolabouronitsside，norbrightenoughtoshineandlovewithinthegarden，atleastletmegodowntothegreatgateway;humblyIwillkneeltheresweeping;and，asthesavedpassin，Iwillseethelightupontheirfaces。Ishallhearthesinginginthegarden，andtheshoutuponthehillside——\" Godsaid，\"Itmaynotbe;\"hepointed。 AndIcried，\"IfImaynotstayinHeaven，thenletmegodowntoHell，andIwillgraspthehandsofmenandwomenthere;andslowly，holdingoneanother’shands，wewillworkourwayupwards。\" StillGodpointed。 AndIthrewmyselfupontheearthandcried，\"Earthissosmall，somean！ ItisnotmeetasoulshouldseeHeavenandbecastoutagain！\" AndGodlaidhishandonme，andsaid，\"Gobacktoearth:thatwhichyouseekisthere。\" Iawoke:itwasmorning。Thesilenceanddarknessofthenightweregone。 ThroughmynarrowatticwindowIsawthelightofanotherday。Iclosedmyeyesandturnedtowardsthewall:Icouldnotlookuponthedullgreyworld。 Inthestreetsbelow，menandwomenstreamedpastbyhundreds;Iheardthebeatoftheirfeetonthepavement。Menontheirwaytobusiness;servantsonerrands;boyshurryingtoschool;wearyprofessorspacingslowlytheoldstreet;prostitutes，menandwomen，draggingtheirfeetwearilyafterlastnight’sdebauch;artistswithquick，impatientfootsteps;tradesmenfororders;childrentoseekforbread。Iheardthestreambeatby。Andatthealley’smouth，atthestreetcorner，abrokenbarrel—organwasplaying; sometimesitquaveredandalmoststopped，thenwentonagain，likeabrokenhumanvoice。 Ilistened:myheartscarcelymoved;itwasascoldaslead。Icouldnotbearthelongdaybeforeme;andItriedtosleepagain;yetstillIheardthefeetuponthepavement。AndsuddenlyIheardthemcryloudastheybeat，\"Weareseeking！——weareseeking！——weareseeking！\"andthebrokenbarrel—organatthestreetcornersobbed，\"TheBeautiful！——theBeautiful！—— theBeautiful！\"Andmyheart，whichhadbeendead，criedoutwitheverythrob，\"Love！——Truth！——theBeautiful！——theBeautiful！\"ItwasthemusicI hadheardinHeaventhatIcouldnotsingthere。 AndfullyIawoke。 Uponthefadedquilt，acrossmybedalongyellowstreakofpaleLondonsunlightwaslying。Itfellthroughmynarrowatticwindow。 Ilaughed。Irose。 Iwasgladthelongdaywasbeforeme。 ParisandLondon。