itpointstoawayofholinesswherethefoolshallnoterr，andthesagemayfindtherealisationofhisfar-seeking；andyet，despiteitsinclusiveness，itisabeliefwhichcannotsavethebirdsfromdestruction，thesilentmountainsfromadvertisement，orthestreamfrompollution，inanavowedlyChristianland。JohnRuskinscoldedandfoughtanddidyeomanservice，somewhathinderedbyhisover-goodconceitofhimself；butitisnottheworshipofbeautyweneedsomuchasthebeautyofholiness。Littlebylittlethebarriergrowsand'religion'becomesaRULEoflife，notlifeitself，althoughtheBridestandsreadytointerpret，likenedinherlovelinesstothechieftreasuresofherhandmaid-Earth。Thereismoretruthinthebelievingcry，"Comefromthywhitecliffs，O
　　Pan！"thaninthereligionthatmeasuresaman'slifebytheletteroftheTenCommandments，anderectsitselfasjudgeandruleroverhim，insteadofthrowingopenthegateofthegardenwhereGodwalkswithmanfrommorninguntilmorning。
　　AsIwritethesunissetting；inthepaleradianceoftheskyabovehisglorytheredawnstheeveningstar；andearthlikeatiredchildturnsherfacetothebosomofthenight。
　　CHAPTERIII
　　ONCEagainIhavepaidararevisittomytreetofindmanythingschangedsincemylastsojournthere。Thebeesaresilent，forthehoney-ladenflowersofthesycamorearegoneandintheirplacehangdaintytwo-foldkeys。Thepoplarhaslostitsmetallicshimmer，thechestnutitstallwhitecandles；andthesoundofthewindinthefully-leavedbranchesislikethesighingofthesea。
　　Themartins'nestsarefinished，andoneisoccupiedbyashrill-
　　voicedbrood；butforthemostpartthebirds'parentalcaresareover，andthenestlingsinboldflightnolongerflutteroninefficientwingsacrossthelawnwithclamorous，openbill。Therobinsshowpromiseoftheirruddyvests，theslimyoungthrushisdiligentlypractisingmaturernotes，andsoonMaidJunewillhavefled。
　　ItissuchawonderfulworldthatIcannotfinditinmyhearttosighforfreshbeautyamidthesegloriesoftheLordonwhichI
　　look，seeingmenastreeswalking，inmymaterialimpotencewhichawaitsthefinalanointing。Themarigoldswiththeirorangesuns，thelilies'whiteflame，thecorncockle'sbluecrownofmanyflowers，thehoneysuckle'shornoffragrance-Icanparaphrasethem，name，class，dissectthem；andthen，saveforthepurposesofhumanintercourse，IstandwhereIstoodbefore，myworldboundedbymycapacity，thesecretofcolourandfragrancestillkept。Itisdifficulttobelievethatthesecondlessonwillnotbethesequenceofthefirst，anddeathprovea"feastofopeningeyes"toallthesewonders，insteadoftheheavy-liddedslumbertowhichwesooftenlikenit。"Earthtoearth？"Yes，"dustthouart，anduntodustthoushaltreturn，"butwhatoftherest？Whatofthefoldedgraveclothes，andtheFortyDays？Ifthenextstatebe，asitwellmight，spaceoffourdimensions，andthefirstveilwhichwillliftformebethematerialone，thenthe"other"worldwhichishiddenfromourgrossermaterialorganismwilllieopen，anddeclarestillfurthertomywideningeyesandunstoppedearsthegloryandpurposeofthemanifoldgarmentofGod。KnowledgewillgiveplacetounderstandinginthatsecondchamberoftheHouseofWisdomandLove。Revelationisalwaysmeasuredbycapacity:"Openthymouthwide，"anditshallbefilledwithasatisfactionthatinitselfisdesire。
　　Thereisachildhere，ahappyquietlittlecreatureholdinggentlytoitstwomonthsoflife。Sometimestheylayitbesideme，Ithemorehelplessofthetwo-perhapsthemoreignorant-andequallydependentforthesupplyofmysmallestneed。IfeelindecentlylargeasIsurveyitsminuteperfectionsandthetinyballedfistlyinginmygreatpalm。Thelittlecreaturefixesmewiththewisewidestareofasoulinadvanceofitsmediumofexpression；andI，gazingbackatthemysteryinthoseeyes，feelthethrillofcontactbetweenmywornandsustainedselfandtheinnocenceofalittlewhitechild。Itiswonderfultowatchawoman'srapturousfamiliaritywiththesenewcomers。Aman'slovehasfarmoreaweinit，andthepassionateanimalinstinctofdefenceiswantinginhim。"Awomanshallbesavedthroughthechild-bearing，"saidStPaul；notnecessarilyherown，butbyparticipationinthegreatactofmotherhoodwhichisthecrownandgloryofhersex。Sheisthe"prisoneroflove，"caughtinanetofherownweaving；heldfastbylittlehandswhichrulebyimpotence，pursuedbyfeettheswifterfortheirfaltering。
　　Itseemsincrediblethatthisiswhatawomanwillbarterfortherightto"liveherownlife"-surelythemostemptyofdesires。
　　Man-VIR，woman-FEMINA，gotomakeupTHEman-HOMO。Therecanbenocomparison，norivalrybetweenthem；theyarethecomplementofeachother，andalittlechildshallleadthem。ItiseasytounderstandthatdesiretoshelterunderthedearmantleofmotherhoodwhichhasledtooneoftheabusesofmodernRomanism。
　　ImetanoldpeasantcoupleatBornhofenwhohadtrampedmanywearymilestothefamousshrineofOurLadytopleadfortheironlyson。
　　Theyhadafewpencesavedforacandle，andafterwardswhentheytoldmetheirtaletheoldwomanheavedasighofrelief，"Eswirdbaldgutgehen:Dieda，Sieversteht，"andIsawherlaterpayingafarewellvisittothegreatunderstandingMotherwhomshecouldtrust。Superstitiousmisapprehensionifyouwill，butalsotherecognitionofadivineprinciple。
　　ItwasBehmen，Ibelieve，whocriedwiththebreathofinspiration，"OnlywhenIknowGodshallIknowmyself"；andsomanremainsthelastofalltheriddles，tobesolveditmaybeonlyinHeaven'sperfectionandthelightoftheBeatificVision。"Knowthyself"isavainlegend，themoresowhenemphasisedbyaskull；andsoI
　　companywithafriendandastranger，andlookingacrossatthewhitegateIwonderconcerningthequietpasturesandstillwatersthatliebeyond，evenasBrotherAmbrosewonderedlongyearsagointhemonasterybytheforest。
　　TheBrotherAmbrosewaseverasaintlymanapprovedofGodandbelovedbytheBrethren。Tohimonenight，ashelayabedinthedormitory，camethewordoftheLord，saying，"Come，andIwillshowtheetheBride，theLamb'swife。"AndBrotherAmbrosearoseandwascarriedtoagreatandhighmountain，evenasintheVisionofBlessedJohn。'Twasastillnightofmanystars，andBrotherAmbrose，lookingup，sawaradiantpathintheheavens；andlo！thestarsgatheredthemselvestogetheroneithersideuntiltheystoodaswallsoflight，andthefourwindslappedhimaboutasinamantleandborehimtowardsthewondrousgleamingroadway。ThenbetweenthestarscametheHolyCitywithroofandpinnacleaflame，andwallsaglowwithsuchcoloursasnoearthlylimnerdreamsof，andmuchgold。BrotherAmbrosebeheldtheGatesofPearl，andbyeverygateanangelwithwingsofsnowandfire，andafacenomandarelookonbecauseofitsexceedingradiance。
　　ThenasBrotherAmbrosestretchedouthisarmsbecauseofhisgreatlonging，alittlegreycloudcameoutofthenorthandhungbetweenthewallsoflight，sothathenolongerbeheldtheVision，butonlyheardasoundasofagreatmultitudecrying'Alleluia'；andsuddenlythewindscameabouthimagain，andlo！hefoundhimselfinhisbedinthedormitory，anditwasmidnight，forthebellwasringingtoMatins；andheroseandwentdownwiththerest。ButwhentheBrethrenleftthechoirBrotherAmbrosestayedfastinhisplace，hearingandseeingnothingbecauseoftheVisionofGod；andatLaudstheyfoundhimandtoldthePrior。
　　HequestionedBrotherAmbroseofthematter，andwhenheheardtheVisionbadehimlimntheHolyCityevenashehadseenit；andthePrecentorgavehimuterinevellumandmuchfinegoldandwhatcoloursheaskedforthework。ThenBrotherAmbroselimnedawondrousfaircityofgoldwithturretsandspires；andheinlaidblueforthesapphire，andgreenfortheemerald，andvermilionwherethecityseemedaflamewiththegloryofGod；buttheangelshecouldnotlimn，norcouldhesettherestofthecoloursashesawthem，northewallofstarsoneitherhand；andBrotherAmbrosefellsickbecauseoftheexceedinggreatlonginghehadtolimntheHolyCity，andwasverysad；butthePriorbadehimthankGod，andremembertheinfirmityoftheflesh，which，likethelittlegreycloud，veiledJerusalemtohissight。
　　AsIwritethemonasterybellhardbyringsoutacrossthelark'ssong。Theystillhavetimeforvisionsbehindthoseguardingwalls，butformostofusitisnotso。Weletsliptheidealforwhatwecallthereal，andthegoldendreamsvanishwhileweclutchatphantoms:wespeedalonglife'spathway，countingtothefullthesixtyminutesofeveryhour，yettheraceisnottotheswiftnorthebattletothestrong。Lyinghereinthisquietbackwateritishardtobelievethattheworldwithoutisturbulentwithstormandstressandtheebbandflowofuncertaintides。Thelittleyellowcatrollingonitsbackamongthedaisies，thestaidtortoisemakingastatelymealoffthebuttercupsnearme，thesearegreateventsinthishavenofpeace。Andyet，lookingbacktotheworkingdays，Iknowhowmuchgoodnessandlovingkindnessthereisunderthefrothandfoam。Ifwedonotknowourselveswemostcertainlydonotknowourbrethren:thatrevelationawaitsus，itmaybe，firstinHeaven。Tohavefaithistocreate；tohavehopeistocalldownblessing；tohaveloveistoworkmiracles。Aboveallletusseevisions，visionsofcolourandlight，ofgreenfieldsandbroadrivers，ofpalaceslaidwithfaircolours，andgardenswhereaplaceisfoundforrosemaryandrue。
　　Itisourprerogativetobedreamers，buttherewillalwaysbemenreadytoofferusdeathforourdreams。Andifitmustbesoletuschoosedeath；itisgain，notloss，andthegloomyportalwhenwereachitisbutawhitegate，thewhitegatemaybewehaveknownallourlivesbarredbythetendrilsofthewoodbine。
　　CHAPTERIV
　　RAIN，rain，rain:thelittleflaggedpathoutsidemywindowisastreamingway，wherethecomingraindropsmeetagainthegreycloudswhosestorehousetheyhavebutjustnowleft。ThegrassgrowsgreenerasIwatchit，theburntpatchesfade，athousandthirstybeadsareupliftedforthecoolingdraught。
　　Thegreatthrushthatrobstheraspberrycanesisbusy；yesterdayhehadlittlebutdustforhisguerdon，butnowfresh，juicyfruitrepayshimasheswingstoandfroonthepliantbranches。Theblackbirdsandstarlingsfindthewormsaneasyprey-poorbrotherwormeverreadyforsacrifice。Icanhearthesoftexpectantchatterofthefamilyofmartinsundertheroof；therewillbegoodhunting，andtheyknowit，forthefliesareoutwhentherainisover，andthereareclamorousmouthsawaiting。Mylittlebrownbrothers，thesparrows，remainmychiefdelight。Ofallthebirdsthesenestleclosesttomyheart，betheygrimylittlecockneysortheirtrimanddaintycountrycousins。Theycomedaybydayfortheirmeedofcrumbsspreadforthemoutsidemywindow，andatthisseasontheyeatleisurelyandwithgoodappetite，fortherearenohungrybabiespesteringtobefed。VeryearlyinthemorningI
　　hearthewhirrandrustleofeagerwings，andthetap，tap，oflittlebeaksuponthestone。Thesoundcarriesmeback，foritwasthefirsttogreetmewhenIrosetodrawwaterandgatherkindlinginmyroadmenderdays；andifIslipbackanotherdecadetheysurveyme，reprovingmylaziness，fromthefootofthenarrowbedinmylittleatticoverseas。
　　Lookingalongtheroadwaythatwehavetravelledweseethelandmarks，greatandsmall，whichhavedeterminedthedirectionofourfeet。Forsomethoseofchildhoodstandoutabovealltherest；butIrememberfewnotableones，andthosefewtheemphaticchordoftheuniverse，ratherthananycommercewithmyfellows。
　　Therewasthenightofmygreatdisappointment，whenIwasbornefrommycomfortablebedtoseethewondersofthemoon'seclipse。
　　Disappointmentwassogreatthatitsealedmylips；but，oncebackonmypillow，IsobbedforgriefthatIhadseenawondersofarbelowmyexpectation。ThentherewasanightatWhitby，whenthewindmadespeechimpossible，andtheseasrushedupandoverthegreatlighthouselikethehungryspiritsofthedeep。Ilikebettertorememberthescentofthefirstcowslipfieldunderthewarmsideofthehedge，whenIsangtomyselfforpurejoyoftheircolourandfragrance。Again，therewerethebluebellsinthedesertedquarrylikethebackwashofasouthernsea，andbelowthemtheminiatureforestofshelteringbrackenwithitsquaintconceits；and，crownedaboveall，thedayIstoodonWatcombeDown，andlookedacrossastretchofgoldengorseandnew-turnedblood-
　　redfield，thegreenoftheheadland，andbeyond，thesapphiresea。
　　Timesped，andtherecameadaywhenIfirstsetfootonGermansoilandfeltthethrobofitspaternity，thebeatofourcommonLife。Englandismymother，andmostdearlydoIloveherswellingbreastsandwind-swept，salt-strewnhair。Scotlandgavememyname，withitshauntingderivationhandeddownbybravemen；butGermanyhasalwaysbeentometheFatherlandPAREXCELLENCE。True，myloveislimitedtothesouthernprovinces，withtheirmedievalmemories；fortheprogressivegutturalnorthIhavelittlesympathy，buttheRhineclaimedmefromthefirst，calling，calling，withthatwonderfulvoicewhichspeaksofdeathandlife，ofchivalryandgreedofgold。Ifyouwouldhavetheriver'scompanyyoushouldwander，ahappysolitary，alongitsbanks，watchingitsgleamingcurrentintheearlymorning，itsgoldengloryasitanswersthefarewellofpartingday。Then，inthesilenceofthenight，youcanhearthewashandeddycallingonetoanother，counttheheart-beatsofthegreatbearerofburdens，andwatchinthemoonlightthesistersofthemistastheylamentwithwringinghandsthedaysthataregone。
　　Theforests，too，arereadywithstoryhidinthefastnessoftheirsolitude，anditisajoytothinkthatthosegreatpines，pointingeverupwards，goforthemostparttocarrythesailsofgreatshipsseekingafarunderopensky。Theforestholdsotherwondersstill。ItseemsbutlastnightthatIwandereddowntheroadwhichledtothelittleunheededvillagewhereIhadmademytemporaryhome。Thewarm-scentedbreathofthepinesandthestillnessofthenightwrappedmeingreatcontent；thesummerlightningleaptinalambentarchacrosstheeast，andthestars，seendimlythroughthesombretreecrests，wereoutrivalledbytheglow-wormswhichshoneincountlesspointsoflightfrombankandhedge；eventwocharcoal-burners，whopassedwithfriendlygreeting，hadwreathedtheirhatswiththelivingflame。Thetinyshiftinglampswereeverywhere；paleyellow，purelywhite，orgreenastheundersideofanorthernwave。Bydaybutanugly，repellentworm；
　　butdarknesscomes，andlo，astaralight。Natureisfullforusofseeminginconsistenciesandgladsurprises。Theworld'sasleep，sayyou；onyourearfallsthenightingale'ssongandthestiroflivingcreaturesinbushandbrake。Themantleofnightfalls，andallunattendedthewindleapsupandscattersthecloudswhichveiltheconstantstars；orinthehourofthegreatdark，dawnpartsthecurtainwiththelongforegleamofthecomingday。Itishardtoturnone'sbackonnightwithherkissofpeacefortiredeye-
　　lids，thekisswhichisnotsleepbutitsneglectedforerunner。I
　　mademywayatlastdowntothevine-girtbridgeasleepunderthestarsandupthewindingstairsoftheoldgreytower；andastone's-throwawaytheRhineslippedquietlypastinthemidsummermoonlight。Switzerlandcameinitsturn，unearthlyinitswhitelovelinessandgloryoflakeandsky。ButperhapsthelandmarkwhichstandsoutmostclearlyisthesolitarybluegentianwhichI
　　foundintheshortslipperygrassoftheRigi，gazingupattheskywhosebluecouldnothopetoexcelit。Itwasmyfirst；andwhatneedofanother，forfindingoneIhadgazedintothemysteryofall。ThissidethePass，snowandtheblueofheaven；laterI
　　enteredItalythroughfieldsofmany-huedlilies，herpastgloriesblazonedintheflowersofthefield。
　　NowitisastrangelyuneventfulroadthatleadstomyWhiteGate。
　　Eachdayquestionsmeasitpasses；eachdaymakesanswerforme"notyet。"Thereisnomaterialpreparationtobemadeforthisjourneyofmineintoafarcountry-asimplefactwhichaddstothe'unknowableness'oftheotherside。DoItravelalone，oramI
　　oneofagreatcompany，swiftyetunhurriedintheirpassage？ThevoicesofPenelope'ssuitorsshrilledontheearsofUlysses，astheyjourneyedtothenether-world，likenocturnalbirdsandbatsintheinarticulatenessoftheirspeech。Theyhadabusedthegift，andfledself-condemned。Maybesilencecommendsitselfasmostsuitableforthewayfarerstowardsthesunrise-silencebecausetheyseektheWord-butforthosehasteningtowardstheconfusiontheyhavewroughttherefallsalreadythesharponcomingofthecurse。
　　Whilewearestillherethelanguageofworshipseemsfar，andyetliesverynigh；forwhatbetternotecanourfrailtongueslispthanthevoiceofwindandsea，riverandstream，thosegratefulservantsgivingallandaskingnothing，thesoftwhisperofsnowandraineagertoreplenish，orthethunderproclaimingamajestytoogreatforutterance？Here，too，standstheangelwiththecensergatheringupthefragranceofteemingearthandforest-tree，offlowerandfruit，andsweetlypungentherbdistilledbysunandrainforjoyfuluse。Here，too，comeacolyteslightingthedarkwithtapers-sun，moon，andstars-giftsoftheLordthatHissanctuarymaystandeverserved。
　　Itliesherereadytoourhand，thislifeofadorationwhichweneedsmustlivehandinhandwithearth，forhasshenotbornethecursewithus？Butbeyondthewhitegateandthetrailofwoodbinefallsthesilencegreaterthanspeech，darknessgreaterthanlight，apauseof"alittlewhile"；andthenthetouchofthathealinggarmentaswepasstotheKinginHisbeauty，inalandfromwhichthereisnoreturn。
　　AtthegatewaythenIcryyoufarewell。