Anditwasnightinhisheartalso。
　　Thenfromthemarshestohisrightandleftcoldmistsaroseandclosedabouthim。Afine，imperceptiblerainfellinthedark，andgreatdropsgatheredonhishairandclothes。Hisheartbeatslowly，andanumbnesscreptthroughallhislimbs。Then，lookingup，twomerrywisplightscamedancing。Heliftedhisheadtolookatthem。Nearer，nearertheycame。
　　Sowarm，sobright，theydancedlikestarsoffire。Theystoodbeforehimatlast。Fromthecentreoftheradiatingflameinonelookedoutawoman’sface，laughing，dimpled，withstreamingyellowhair。Inthecentreoftheotherweremerrylaughingripples，likethebubblesonaglassofwine。Theydancedbeforehim。
　　"Whoareyou，"askedthehunter，"whoalonecometomeinmysolitudeanddarkness？"
　　"WearethetwinsSensuality，"theycried。"Ourfather’snameisHuman—
　　Nature，andourmother’snameisExcess。Weareasoldasthehillsandrivers，asoldasthefirstman;butweneverdie，"theylaughed。
　　"Oh，letmewrapmyarmsaboutyou！"criedthefirst;"theyaresoftandwarm。Yourheartisfrozennow，butIwillmakeitbeat。Oh，cometome！"
　　"Iwillpourmyhotlifeintoyou，"saidthesecond;"yourbrainisnumb，andyourlimbsaredeadnow;buttheyshalllivewithafiercefreelife。
　　Oh，letmepouritin！"
　　"Oh，followus，"theycried，"andlivewithus。Noblerheartsthanyourshavesathereinthisdarknesstowait，andtheyhavecometousandwetothem;andtheyhaveneverleftus，never。Allelseisadelusion，butwearereal，wearereal，wearereal。Truthisashadow;thevalleysofsuperstitionareafarce:theearthisofashes，thetreesallrotten;butwe——feelus——welive！Youcannotdoubtus。Feelushowwarmweare！Oh，cometous！Comewithus！"
　　Nearerandnearerroundhisheadtheyhovered，andthecolddropsmeltedonhisforehead。Thebrightlightshotintohiseyes，dazzlinghim，andthefrozenbloodbegantorun。Andhesaid:
　　"Yes，whyshouldIdiehereinthisawfuldarkness？Theyarewarm，theymeltmyfrozenblood！"andhestretchedouthishandstotakethem。
　　Theninamomenttherearosebeforehimtheimageofthethinghehadloved，andhishanddroppedtohisside。
　　"Oh，cometous！"theycried。
　　Butheburiedhisface。
　　"Youdazzlemyeyes，"hecried，"youmakemyheartwarm;butyoucannotgivemewhatIdesire。Iwillwaithere——waittillIdie。Go！"
　　Hecoveredhisfacewithhishandsandwouldnotlisten;andwhenhelookedupagaintheyweretwotwinklingstars，thatvanishedinthedistance。
　　Andthelong，longnightrolledon。
　　Allwholeavethevalleyofsuperstitionpassthroughthatdarkland;butsomegothroughitinafewdays，somelingerthereformonths，someforyears，andsomediethere。
　　Atlastforthehunterafaintlightplayedalongthehorizon，andherosetofollowit;andhereachedthatlightatlast，andsteppedintothebroadsunshine。ThenbeforehimrosethealmightymountainsofDry—factsandRealities。Theclearsunshineplayedonthem，andthetopswerelostintheclouds。Atthefootmanypathsranup。Anexultantcryburstfromthehunter。Hechosethestraightestandbegantoclimb;andtherocksandridgesresoundedwithhissong。Theyhadexaggerated;afterall，itwasnotsohigh，norwastheroadsosteep！Afewdays，afewweeks，afewmonthsatmost，andthenthetop！Notonefeatheronlywouldhepickup;
　　hewouldgatherallthatothermenhadfound——weavethenet——captureTruth—
　　—holdherfast——touchherwithhishands——claspher！
　　Helaughedinthemerrysunshine，andsangloud。Victorywasverynear。
　　Nevertheless，afterawhilethepathgrewsteeper。Heneededallhisbreathforclimbing，andthesingingdiedaway。Ontherightandleftrosehugerocks，devoidoflichenormoss，andinthelava—likeearthchasmsyawned。Hereandtherehesawasheenofwhitebones。Nowtoothepathbegantogrowlessandlessmarked;thenitbecameameretrace，withafootmarkhereandthere;thenitceasedaltogether。Hesangnomore，butstruckforthapathforhimself，untilitreachedamightywallofrock，smoothandwithoutbreak，stretchingasfarastheeyecouldsee。"Iwillrearastairagainstit;and，oncethiswallclimbed，Ishallbealmostthere，"hesaidbravely;andworked。Withhisshuttleofimaginationhedugoutstones;buthalfofthemwouldnotfit，andhalfamonth’sworkwouldrolldownbecausethosebelowwereillchosen。Butthehunterworkedon，sayingalwaystohimself，"Oncethiswallclimbed，Ishallbealmostthere。Thisgreatworkended！"
　　Atlasthecameoutuponthetop，andhelookedabouthim。Farbelowrolledthewhitemistoverthevalleysofsuperstition，andabovehimtoweredthemountains。Theyhadseemedlowbefore;theywereofanimmeasurableheightnow，fromcrowntofoundationsurroundedbywallsofrock，thatrosetierabovetierinmightycircles。Uponthemplayedtheeternalsunshine。Heutteredawildcry。Hebowedhimselfontotheearth，andwhenherosehisfacewaswhite。Inabsolutesilencehewalkedon。Hewasverysilentnow。Inthosehighregionstherarefiedairishardtobreathebythoseborninthevalleys;everybreathhedrewhurthim，andthebloodoozedoutfromthetipsofhisfingers。Beforethenextwallofrockhebegantowork。Theheightofthisseemedinfinite，andhesaidnothing。Thesoundofhistoolrangnightanddayupontheironrocksintowhichhecutsteps。Yearspassedoverhim，yetheworkedon;butthewalltoweredupalwaysabovehimtoheaven。Sometimesheprayedthatalittlemossorlichenmightspringuponthosebarewallstobeacompaniontohim;butitnevercame。
　　Andtheyearsrolledon;hecountedthembythestepshehadcut——afewforayear——onlyafew。Hesangnomore;hesaidnomore，"Iwilldothisorthat"——heonlyworked。Andatnight，whenthetwilightsettleddown，therelookedoutathimfromtheholesandcrevicesintherocksstrangewildfaces。
　　"Stopyourwork，youlonelyman，andspeaktous，"theycried。
　　"Mysalvationisinwork，ifIshouldstopbutforonemomentyouwouldcreepdownuponme，"hereplied。Andtheyputouttheirlongnecksfurther。
　　"Lookdownintothecreviceatyourfeet，"theysaid。"Seewhatliethere—
　　—whitebones！Asbraveandstrongamanasyouclimbedtotheserocks。"
　　Andhelookedup。Hesawtherewasnouseinstriving;hewouldneverholdTruth，neverseeher，neverfindher。Sohelaydownhere，forhewasverytired。Hewenttosleepforever。Heputhimselftosleep。Sleepisverytranquil。Youarenotlonelywhenyouareasleep，neitherdoyourhandsache，noryourheart。Andthehunterlaughedbetweenhisteeth。
　　"HaveItornfrommyheartallthatwasdearest;haveIwanderedaloneinthelandofnight;haveIresistedtemptation;haveIdweltwherethevoiceofmykindisneverheard，andlabouredalone，toliedownandbefoodforyou，yeharpies？"
　　Helaughedfiercely;andtheEchoesofDespairslunkaway，forthelaughofabrave，strongheartisasadeathblowtothem。
　　Neverthelesstheycreptoutagainandlookedathim。
　　"Doyouknowthatyourhairiswhite？"theysaid，"thatyourhandsbegintotremblelikeachild’s？Doyouseethatthepointofyourshuttleisgone？——itiscrackedalready。Ifyoushouldeverclimbthisstair，"theysaid，"itwillbeyourlast。Youwillneverclimbanother。"
　　Andheanswered，"Iknowit！"andworkedon。
　　Theold，thinhandscutthestonesillandjaggedly，forthefingerswerestiffandbent。Thebeautyandthestrengthofthemanwasgone。
　　Atlast，anold，wizened，shrunkenfacelookedoutabovetherocks。Itsawtheeternalmountainsrisewithwallstothewhiteclouds;butitsworkwasdone。
　　Theoldhunterfoldedhistiredhandsandlaydownbytheprecipicewherehehadworkedawayhislife。Itwasthesleepingtimeatlast。Belowhimoverthevalleysrolledthethickwhitemist。Onceitbroke;andthroughthegapthedyingeyeslookeddownonthetreesandfieldsoftheirchildhood。Fromafarseemedbornetohimthecryofhisownwildbirds，andheheardthenoiseofpeoplesingingastheydanced。Andhethoughtheheardamongthemthevoicesofhisoldcomrades;andhesawfaroffthesunlightshineonhisearlyhome。Andgreattearsgatheredinthehunter’seyes。
　　"Ah！theywhodietheredonotdiealone，"hecried。
　　Thenthemistsrolledtogetheragain;andheturnedhiseyesaway。
　　"Ihavesought，"hesaid，"forlongyearsIhavelaboured;butIhavenotfoundher。Ihavenotrested，Ihavenotrepined，andIhavenotseenher;
　　nowmystrengthisgone。WhereIliedownwornoutothermenwillstand，youngandfresh。BythestepsthatIhavecuttheywillclimb;bythestairsthatIhavebuilttheywillmount。Theywillneverknowthenameofthemanwhomadethem。Attheclumsyworktheywilllaugh;whenthestonesrolltheywillcurseme。Buttheywillmount，andonmywork;theywillclimb，andbymystair！Theywillfindher，andthroughme！Andnomanlivethtohimselfandnomandiethtohimself。"
　　Thetearsrolledfrombeneaththeshrivelledeyelids。IfTruthhadappearedabovehiminthecloudsnowhecouldnothaveseenher，themistofdeathwasinhiseyes。
　　"Mysoulhearstheirgladstepcoming，"hesaid;"andtheyshallmount！
　　theyshallmount！"Heraisedhisshrivelledhandtohiseyes。
　　Thenslowlyfromthewhiteskyabove，throughthestillair，camesomethingfalling，falling，falling。Softlyitfluttereddown，anddroppedontothebreastofthedyingman。Hefeltitwithhishands。Itwasafeather。Hediedholdingit。
　　III。THEGARDENSOFPLEASURE。
　　Shewalkeduponthebeds，andthesweetrichscentarose;andshegatheredherhandsfullofflowers。ThenDuty，withhiswhiteclearfeatures，cameandlookedather。Thensheceasedfromgathering，butshewalkedawayamongtheflowers，smiling，andwithherhandsfull。
　　ThenDuty，withhisstillwhiteface，cameagain，andlookedather;butshe，sheturnedherheadawayfromhim。Atlastshesawhisface，andshedroppedthefairestoftheflowersshehadheld，andwalkedsilentlyaway。
　　Thenagainhecametoher。Andshemoaned，andbentherheadlow，andturnedtothegate。Butasshewentoutshelookedbackatthesunlightonthefacesoftheflowers，andweptinanguish。Thenshewentout，anditshutbehindherforever;butstillinherhandsheheldofthebudsshehadgathered，andthescentwasverysweetinthelonelydesert。
　　Buthefollowedher。Oncemorehestoodbeforeherwithhisstill，white，death—likeface。Andsheknewwhathehadcomefor:sheunbentthefingers，andlettheflowersdropout，theflowersshehadlovedso，andwalkedonwithoutthem，withdry，achingeyes。Thenforthelasttimehecame。Andsheshowedhimheremptyhands，thehandsthatheldnothingnow。
　　Butstillhelooked。Thenatlengthsheopenedherbosomandtookoutofitonesmallflowershehadhiddenthere，andlaiditonthesand。Shehadnothingmoretogivenow，andshewanderedaway，andthegreysandwhirledabouther。
　　IV。INAFAR—OFFWORLD。
　　Thereisaworldinoneofthefar—offstars，andthingsdonothappenhereastheyhappenthere。
　　Inthatworldwereamanandwoman;theyhadonework，andtheywalkedtogethersidebysideonmanydays，andwerefriends——andthatisathingthathappensnowandtheninthisworldalso。
　　Buttherewassomethinginthatstar—worldthatthereisnothere。Therewasathickwood:wherethetreesgrewclosest，andthestemswereinterlocked，andthesummersunnevershone，therestoodashrine。Inthedayallwasquiet，butatnight，whenthestarsshoneorthemoonglintedonthetree—tops，andallwasquietbelow，ifonecreptherequitealoneandkneltonthestepsofthestonealtar，anduncoveringone’sbreast，sowoundeditthatthebloodfelldownonthealtarsteps，thenwhateverhewhoknelttherewishedforwasgrantedhim。Andallthishappens，asI
　　said，becauseitisafar—offworld，andthingsoftenhappenthereastheydonothappenhere。
　　Now，themanandwomanwalkedtogether;andthewomanwishedwelltotheman。Onenightwhenthemoonwasshiningsothattheleavesofallthetreesglinted，andthewavesoftheseaweresilvery，thewomanwalkedalonetotheforest。Itwasdarkthere;themoonlightfellonlyinlittleflecksonthedeadleavesunderherfeet，andthebrancheswereknottedtightoverhead。Fartherinitgotdarker，notevenafleckofmoonlightshone。Thenshecametotheshrine;shekneltdownbeforeitandprayed;
　　therecamenoanswer。Thensheuncoveredherbreast;withasharptwo—
　　edgedstonethatlaythereshewoundedit。Thedropsdrippedslowlydownontothestone，andavoicecried，"Whatdoyouseek？"
　　Sheanswered，"Thereisaman;Iholdhimnearerthananything。Iwouldgivehimthebestofallblessings。"
　　Thevoicesaid，"Whatisit？"
　　Thegirlsaid，"Iknownot，butthatwhichismostgoodforhimIwishhimtohave。"
　　Thevoicesaid，"Yourprayerisanswered;heshallhaveit。"
　　Thenshestoodup。Shecoveredherbreastandheldthegarmenttightuponitwithherhand，andranoutoftheforest，andthedeadleavesflutteredunderherfeet。Outinthemoonlightthesoftairwasblowing，andthesandglitteredonthebeach。Sheranalongthesmoothshore，thensuddenlyshestoodstill。Outacrossthewatertherewassomethingmoving。Sheshadedhereyesandlooked。Itwasaboat;itwasslidingswiftlyoverthemoonlitwaterouttosea。Onestooduprightinit;thefacethemoonlightdidnotshow，butthefiguresheknew。Itwaspassingswiftly;itseemedasifnoonepropelledit;themoonlight’sshimmerdidnotletherseeclearly，andtheboatwasfarfromshore，butitseemedalmostasiftherewasanotherfiguresittinginthestern。Fasterandfasteritglidedoverthewateraway，away。Sheranalongtheshore;shecamenonearerit。Thegarmentshehadheldclosedflutteredopen;shestretchedoutherarms，andthemoonlightshoneonherlongloosehair。
　　Thenavoicebesideherwhispered，"Whatisit？"
　　Shecried，"WithmybloodIboughtthebestofallgiftsforhim。Ihavecometobringithim！Heisgoingfromme！"
　　Thevoicewhisperedsoftly，"Yourprayerwasanswered。Ithasbeengivenhim。"
　　Shecried，"Whatisit？"
　　Thevoiceanswered，"Itisthathemightleaveyou。"
　　Thegirlstoodstill。
　　Faroutatseatheboatwaslosttosightbeyondthemoonlightsheen。
　　Thevoicespokesoftly，"Artthoucontented？"
　　Shesaid，"Iamcontented。"
　　Atherfeetthewavesbrokeinlongripplessoftlyontheshore。
　　V。THREEDREAMSINADESERT。
　　UnderaMimosa—Tree。
　　AsItravelledacrossanAfricanplainthesunshonedownhotly。ThenI
　　drewmyhorseupunderamimosa—tree，andItookthesaddlefromhimandlefthimtofeedamongtheparchedbushes。Andalltorightandtoleftstretchedthebrownearth。AndIsatdownunderthetree，becausetheheatbeatfiercely，andallalongthehorizontheairthrobbed。Andafterawhileaheavydrowsinesscameoverme，andIlaidmyheaddownagainstmysaddle，andIfellasleepthere。And，inmysleep，Ihadacuriousdream。
　　IthoughtIstoodontheborderofagreatdesert，andthesandblewabouteverywhere。AndIthoughtIsawtwogreatfigureslikebeastsofburdenofthedesert，andonelayuponthesandwithitsneckstretchedout，andonestoodbyit。AndIlookedcuriouslyattheonethatlayupontheground，forithadagreatburdenonitsback，andthesandwasthickaboutit，sothatitseemedtohavepiledoveritforcenturies。
　　AndIlookedverycuriouslyatit。Andtherestoodonebesidemewatching。
　　AndIsaidtohim，"Whatisthishugecreaturewholieshereonthesand？"
　　Andhesaid，"Thisiswoman;shethatbearsmeninherbody。"
　　AndIsaid，"Whydoesshelieheremotionlesswiththesandpiledroundher？"
　　Andheanswered，"Listen，Iwilltellyou！Agesandageslongshehaslainhere，andthewindhasblownoverher。Theoldest，oldest，oldestmanlivinghasneverseenhermove:theoldest，oldestbookrecordsthatshelayherethen，assheliesherenow，withthesandabouther。Butlisten！
　　Olderthantheoldestbook，olderthantheoldestrecordedmemoryofman，ontheRocksofLanguage，onthehard—bakedclayofAncientCustoms，nowcrumblingtodecay，arefoundthemarksofherfootsteps！Sidebysidewithhiswhostandsbesideheryoumaytracethem;andyouknowthatshewhonowliesthereoncewanderedfreeovertherockswithhim。"
　　AndIsaid，"Whydoesshelietherenow？"
　　Andhesaid，"Itakeit，agesagotheAge—of—dominion—of—muscular—forcefoundher，andwhenshestoopedlowtogivesucktoheryoung，andherbackwasbroad，heputhisburdenofsubjectionontoit，andtieditonwiththebroadbandofInevitableNecessity。Thenshelookedattheearthandthesky，andknewtherewasnohopeforher;andshelaydownonthesandwiththeburdenshecouldnotloosen。Eversinceshehaslainhere。Andtheageshavecome，andtheageshavegone，butthebandofInevitableNecessityhasnotbeencut。"
　　AndIlookedandsawinhereyestheterriblepatienceofthecenturies;
　　thegroundwaswetwithhertears，andhernostrilsblewupthesand。