AndIsaid，"How？"
　　Godsaid，"Theytouchitwiththeirlips，whentheyhavemadeatinywoundinitwiththeirfore—teeththeysetinitthatwhichisundertheirtongues:theycloseitwiththeirlip——thatnomanmayseetheplace，andpasson。"
　　IsaidtoGod，"Whydotheydoit？"
　　Godsaid，"Thatanothermaynoteat。"
　　IsaidtoGod，"Butiftheypoisonallthennonedareeat;whatdotheygain？"
　　Godsaid，"Nothing。"
　　Isaid，"Aretheynotafraidtheythemselvesmaybitewhereanotherhasbitten？"
　　Godsaid，"Theyareafraid。InHellallmenfear。"
　　Hecalledmefurther。Andthewaterofthelakeseemedlessblue。
　　Then，totherightamongthetreesweremenworking。AndIsaidtoGod，"I
　　shouldliketogoandworkwiththem。Hellmustbeaveryfruitfulplace，thegrassissogreen。"
　　Godsaid，"Nothinggrowsinthegardentheyaremaking。"
　　Westoodlooking;andIsawthemworkingamongthebushes，diggingholes，butinthemtheysetnothing;andwhentheyhadcoveredthemwithsticksandeartheachwentawayoffandsatbehindthebusheswatching;andI
　　noticedthataseachwalkedhesethisfootdowncarefullylookingwherehetrod。IsaidtoGod，"Whataretheydoing？"
　　Godsaid，"Makingpitfallsintowhichtheirfellowsmaysink。"
　　IsaidtoGod，"Whydotheydoit？"
　　Godsaid，"Becauseeachthinksthatwhenhisbrotherfallshewillrise。"
　　IsaidtoGod，"Howwillherise？"
　　Godsaid，"Hewillnotrise。"
　　AndIsawtheireyesgleamfrombehindthebushes。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Arethesemensane？"
　　Godsaid，"Theyarenotsane;thereisnosanemaninHell。"
　　Andhetoldmetocomefurther。
　　AndIlookedwhereItrod。
　　AndwecamewhereHellopenedintoaplain，andagreathousestoodthere。
　　Marblepillarsupheldtheroof，andwhitemarblestepsletuptoit。Thewindofheavenblewthroughit。Onlyatthebackhungathickcurtain。
　　Fairmenandwomentherefeastedatlongtables。Theydanced，andIsawtherobesofwomenflutterintheairandheardthelaughofstrongmen。
　　Whattheyfeastedwithwaswine;theydrewitfromlargejarswhichstoodsomewhatinthebackground，andIsawthewinesparkleastheydrewit。
　　AndIsaidtoGod，"Ishouldliketogoupanddrink。"AndGodsaid，"Wait。"AndIsawmencomingintotheBanquetHouse;theycameinfromthebackandliftedthecornerofthecurtainatthesidesandcreptinquickly;andtheyletthecurtainfallbehindthem;theyboregreatjarstheycouldhardlycarry。Andthemenandwomencrowdedroundthem，andthenew—comersopenedtheirjarsandgavethemofthewinetodrink;andIsawthatthewomendrankevenmoregreedilythanthemen。Andwhenothershadwelldrunkentheysetthejarsamongtheoldonesbesidethewall，andtooktheirplacesatthetable。AndIsawthatsomeofthejarswereveryoldandmildewedanddusty，butothershadstilldropsofnewmustonthemandshonefromthefurnace。
　　AndIsaidtoGod，"Whatisthat？"Foramidthesoundofthesinging，andoverthedancingoffeet，andoverthelaughingacrossthewine—cupsI
　　heardacry。
　　AndGodsaid，"Standawayoff。"
　　AndhetookmewhereIsawbothsidesofthecurtain。Behindthehousewasthewine—presswherethewinewasmade。Isawthegrapescrushed，andI
　　heardthemcry。Isaid，"Donottheyontheothersidehearit？"
　　Godsaid，"Thecurtainisthick;theyarefeasting。"
　　AndIsaid，"Butthemenwhocameinlast。Theysaw？"
　　Godsaid，"Theyletthecurtainfallbehindthem——andtheyforget！"
　　Isaid，"Howcametheybytheirjarsofwine？"
　　Godsaid，"Inthetreadingofthepressthesearetheywhocametothetop;
　　theyhaveclimbedoutovertheedge，andfilledtheirjarsfrombelow，andhavegoneintothehouse。"
　　AndIsaid，"Andiftheyhadfallenastheyclimbed——？"
　　Godsaid，"Theyhadbeenwine。"
　　Istoodawayoffwatchinginthesunshine，andIshivered。
　　Godlayinthesunshinewatchingtoo。
　　Thenthereroseoneamongthefeasters，whosaid，"Mybrethren，letuspray！"
　　Andallthemenandwomenrose:andstrongmenbowedtheirheads，andmothersfoldedtheirlittlechildren’shandstogether，andturnedtheirfacesupwards，totheroof。Andhewhofirsthadrisenstoodatthetablehead，andstretchedoutbothhishands，andhisbeardwaslongandwhite，andhissleevesandhisbeardhadbeendippedinwine;andbecausethesleeveswerewideandfulltheyheldmuchwine，anditdroppeddownuponthefloor。
　　Andhecried，"Mybrothersandmysisters，letuspray。"
　　Andallthemenandwomenanswered，"Letuspray。"
　　Hecried，"Forthisfairbanquet—housewethankthee，Lord。"
　　Andallthemenandwomensaid"Wethankthee，Lord。"
　　"Thineisthishouse，dearLord。"
　　"Thineisthishouse。"
　　"Forushastthoumadeit。"
　　"Forus。"
　　"Oh，fillourjarswithwine，dearLord。"
　　"Ourjarswithwine。"
　　"Givepeaceandplentyinourtime，dearLord。"
　　"Peaceandplentyinourtime"——IsaidtoGod，"Whomisittheyaretalkingto？"Godsaid，"DoIknowwhomtheyspeakof？"AndIsawtheywerelookingupattheroof;butoutinthesunshine，Godlay。
　　"——dearLord！"
　　"DearLord。"
　　"Ourchildren’schildren，Lord，shallriseandcalltheeblessed。"
　　"Ourchildren’schildren，Lord。"——IsaidtoGod，"Thegrapesarecrying！"
　　Godsaid，"Still！Ihearthem"——"shallcalltheeblessed。"
　　"Shallcalltheeblessed。"
　　"Pourforthmorewineuponus，Lord。"
　　"Morewine。"
　　"Morewine。"
　　"Morewine！"
　　"Wine！！"
　　"Wine！！"
　　"Wine！！！"
　　"DearLord！"
　　Thenmenandwomensatdownandthefeastwenton。Andmotherspouredoutwineandfedtheirlittlechildrenwithit，andmenheldupthecuptowomen’slipsandcried，"Beloved！drink，"andwomenfilledtheirlovers’
　　flagonsandheldthemup;andyetthefeastwenton。
　　AndafterawhileIlooked，andIsawthecurtainthathungbehindthehousemoving。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Isitawind？"
　　Godsaid，"Awind。"
　　Anditseemedtome，thatagainstthecurtainIsawpressedtheformsofmenandwomen。Andafterawhilethefeasterssawitmove，andtheywhispered，onetoanother。Thensomeroseandgatheredthemostworn—outcups，andintothemtheyputwhatwasleftatthebottomofothervessels。
　　Motherswhisperedtotheirchildren，"Donotdrinkall，savealittledropwhenyouhavedrunk。"Andwhentheyhadcollectedallthedregstheyslippedthecupsoutunderthebottomofthecurtainwithoutliftingit。
　　Afterawhilethecurtainleftoffmoving。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Howisitsoquiet？"
　　Hesaid，"Theyhavegoneawaytodrinkit。"
　　Isaid，"Theydrinkit——theirown！"
　　Godsaid，"Itcomesfromthissideofthecurtain，andtheyareverythirsty。"
　　Thenthefeastwenton，andafterawhileIsawasmall，whitehandslippedinbelowthecurtain’sedgealongthefloor;anditmotionedtowardsthewinejars。
　　AndIsaidtoGod，"Whyisthathandsobloodless？"
　　AndGodsaid，"Itisawine—pressedhand。"
　　Andmensawitandstartedtotheirfeet;andwomencried，andrantothegreatwinejars，andthrewtheirarmsaroundthem，andcried，"Ours，ourown，ourbeloved！"andtwinedtheirlonghairaboutthem。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Whyaretheyfrightenedofthatonesmallhand？"
　　Godanswered，"Becauseitissowhite。"
　　Andmenraninagreatcompanytowardsthecurtain，andstruggledthere。I
　　heardthemstrikeuponthefloor。Andwhentheymovedawaythecurtainhungsmoothandstill;andtherewasasmallstainuponthefloor。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Whydotheynotwashitout？"
　　Godsaid，"Theycannot。"
　　Andtheytooksmallstonesandputthemdownalongtheedgeofthecurtaintokeepitdown。Thenthemenandwomensatdownagainatthetables。
　　AndIsaidtoGod，"Willthosestoneskeepitdown？"
　　Godsaid，"Whatthinkyou？"
　　Isaid，"Ifthewindblew？"
　　Godsaid，"Ifthewindblew？"
　　Andthefeastwenton。
　　AndsuddenlyIcriedtoGod，"Ifoneshouldriseamongthem，evenofthemselves，andstartupfromthetableandshouldcastawayhiscup，andcry，’Mybrothersandmysisters，stay！whatisitthatwedrink？’——andwithhisswordshouldcutintwothecurtain，andholdingwidethefragments，cry，’Brothers，sisters，see！itisnotwine，notwine！notwine！Mybrothers，oh，mysisters！’andheshouldoverturnthe——"
　　Godsaid，"Bestill！——，seethere。"
　　Ilooked:beforethebanquet—house，amongthegrass，Isawarowofmounds，flowerscoveredthem，andgildedmarblestoodattheirheads。I
　　askedGodwhattheywere。
　　Heanswered，"Theyarethegravesofthosewhoroseupatthefeastandcried。"
　　AndIaskedGodhowtheycamethere。
　　Hesaid，"Themenofthebanquet—houseroseandcastthemdownbackwards。"
　　Isaid，"Whoburiedthem？"
　　Godsaid，"Themenwhocastthemdown。"
　　Isaid，"Howcameitthattheythrewthemdown，andthensetmarbleoverthem？"
　　Godsaid，"Becausethebonescriedout，theycoveredthem。"
　　AndamongthegrassandweedsIsawanunburiedbodylying;andIaskedGodwhyitwas。
　　Godsaid，"Becauseitwasthrowndownonlyyesterday。Inalittlewhile，whenthefleshshallhavefallenfromitsbones，theywillburyitalso，andplantflowersoverit。"
　　Andstillthefeastwenton。
　　Menandwomensatatthetablesquaffinggreatbowls。Somerose，andthrewtheirarmsabouteachother，anddancedandsang。Theypledgedeachotherinthewine，andkissedeachother’sblood—redlips。
　　Higherandhighergrewtherevels。
　　Men，whentheyhaddrunktilltheycouldnolonger，threwwhatwasleftintheirglassesuptotheroof，andletitfallbackincascades。Womendyedtheirchildren’sgarmentsinthewine，andfedthemonittilltheirtinymouthswerered。Sometimes，asthedancerswhirled，theyoverturnedavessel，andtheirgarmentswerebespattered。Childrensatuponthefloorwithgreatbowlsofwine，andswamrose—leavesonit，forboats。Theyputtheirhandsinthewineandblewlargeredbubbles。
　　Andhigherandhighergrewtherevels，andwilderthedancing，andlouderandlouderthesinging。Buthereandthereamongtherevellerswerethosewhodidnotrevel。Isawthatatthetableshereandthereweremenwhosatwiththeirelbowsontheboardandhandsshadingtheireyes;theylookedintothewine—cupbeneaththem，anddidnotdrink。Andwhenonetouchedthemlightlyontheshoulder，biddingthemtoriseanddanceandsing，theystarted，andthenlookeddown，andsattherewatchingthewineinthecup，buttheydidnotmove。
　　AndhereandthereIsawawomansitapart。Theothersdancedandsangandfedtheirchildren，butshesatsilentwithherheadasideasthoughshelistened。Herlittlechildrenpluckedhergown;shedidnotseethem;shewaslisteningtosomesound，butshedidnotstir。
　　Therevelsgrewhigher。Mendranktilltheycoulddrinknolonger，andlaytheirheadsuponthetablesleepingheavily。Womenwhocoulddancenomoreleanedbackonthebencheswiththeirheadsagainsttheirlovers’
　　shoulders。Littlechildren，sickwithwine，laydownupontheedgesoftheirmothers’robes。Sometimes，amanrosesuddenly，andashestaggeredstruckthetablesandoverthrewthebenches;someleaneduponthebalustradessickuntodeath。Hereandthereonerosewhostaggeredtothewinejarsandlaydownbesidethem。Heturnedthewinetap，butsleepovercamehimashelaythere，andthewineranout。
　　Slowlythethin，redstreamranacrossthewhitemarbledfloor;itreachedthestonesteps;slowly，slowly，slowlyittrickleddown，fromsteptostep，fromsteptostep:thenitsankintotheearth。Athinwhitesmokeroseupfromit。
　　Iwassilent;Icouldnotbreathe;butGodcalledmetocomefurther。
　　AndafterIhadtravelledforawhileIcamewhereonsevenhillslaytheruinsofamightybanquet—houselargerandstrongerthantheonewhichI
　　hadseenstanding。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Whatdidthemenwhobuiltithere？"
　　Godsaid，"Theyfeasted。"
　　Isaid，"Onwhat？"
　　Godsaid，"Onwine。"
　　AndIlooked;anditseemedtomethatbehindtheruinslaystillalargecircularhollowwithintheearthwhereafootofthewine—presshadstood。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Howcameitthatthislargehousefell？"
　　Godsaid，"Becausetheearthwassodden。"
　　Hecalledmetocomefurther。
　　Andatlastwecameuponahillwherebluewatersplayed，andwhitemarblelayupontheearth。IsaidtoGod，"Whatwashereonce？"
　　Godsaid，"Apleasurehouse。"
　　Ilooked，andatmyfeetgreatpillarslay。IcriedaloudforjoytoGod，"Themarbleblossoms！"
　　Godsaid，"Ay，’twasafairyhouse。Therehasnotbeenoneliketoit，norevershallbe。Thepillarsandtheporticoesblossomed;andthewinecupswereasgatheredflowers:onthissideallthecurtainwasbroideredwithfairdesigns，thestitchingwasofgold。"
　　IsaidtoGod，"Howcameitthatitfell？"
　　Godsaid，"Onthesideofthewine—pressitwasdark。"
　　Andaswetravelled，wecamewherelayamightyridgeofsand，andadarkriverranthere;andthererosetwovastmounds。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Theyareverymighty。"
　　Godsaid，"Ay，exceedinggreat。"
　　AndIlistened。
　　GodaskedmewhatIwaslisteningto。
　　AndIsaid，"Asoundofweeping，andIhearthesoundofstrokes，butI
　　cannottellwhenceitcomes。"
　　Godsaid，"Itistheechoofthewine—presslingeringstillamongthecoping—stonesuponthemounds。Abanquet—housestoodhere。"
　　Andhecalledmetocomefurther。
　　Uponabarrenhill—side，wherethesoilwasarid，Godcalledmetostandstill。AndIlookedaround。
　　Godsaid，"Therewasafeasting—househereonceuponatime。"
　　IsaidtoGod，"Iseenomarkofany！"
　　Godsaid，"Therewasnotleftonestoneuponanotherthathasnotbeenthrowndown。"AndIlookedround;andonthehill—sidewasalonelygrave。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Whatliesthere？"
　　Hesaid，"Avinetruss，bruisedinthewine—press！"
　　Andattheheadofthegravestoodacross，andonitsfootlayacrownofthorns。
　　AndasIturnedtogo，Ilookedbackward。Thewine—pressandthebanquet—
　　houseweregone;butthegraveyetstood。
　　AndwhenIcametotheedgeofalongridgethereopenedoutbeforemeawideplainofsand。AndwhenIlookeddownwardIsawgreatstoneslieshattered;andthedesertsandhadhalfcoveredthemover。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Thereiswritingonthem，butIcannotreadit。"
　　AndGodblewasidethedesertsand，andIreadthewriting:"Weighedinthebalance，andfound——"butthelastwordwaswanting。
　　AndIsaidtoGod，"Itwasabanquet—house？"
　　Godsaid，"Ay，abanquet—house。"
　　Isaid，"Therewasawine—presshere？"
　　Godsaid，"Therewasawine—press。"
　　Iaskednofurtherquestion。Iwasveryweary;Ishadedmyeyeswithmyhand，andlookedthroughthepinkeveninglight。
　　Faroff，acrossthesand，Isawtwofiguresstanding。Withwingsupfoldedhighabovetheirheads，andsternfacesset，neithermannorbeast，theylookedoutacrossthedesertsand，watching，watching，watching！IdidnotaskGodwhattheywere，forIknewwhattheanswerwouldbe。
　　And，furtherandyetfurther，intheeveninglight，Ilookedwithmyshadedeyes。
　　Faroff，wherethesandswerethickandheavy，Isawasolitarypillarstanding:thecrownhadfallen，andthesandhadburiedit。Onthebrokenpillarsatagreyowl—of—the—desert，withfoldedwings;andintheeveninglightIsawthedesertfoxcreeppastit，trailinghisbrushacrossthesand。
　　Further，yetfurther，asIlookedacrossthedesert，Isawthesandgatheredintoheapsasthoughitcoveredsomething。
　　IcriedtoGod，"Oh，Iamsoweary。"
　　Godsaid，"YouhaveseenonlyonehalfofHell。"
　　Isaid，"Icannotseemore，IamafraidofHell。InmyownnarrowlittlepathIdarenotwalkbecauseIthinkthatonehasdugapitfallforme;andifIputmyhandtotakeafruitIdrawitbackagainbecauseIthinkithasbeenkissedalready。IfIlookoutacrosstheplains，themoundsareburialheaps;andwhenIpassamongthestonesIhearthemcryingaloud。
　　WhenIseemendancingIhearthetimebeateninwithsobs;andtheirwineisliving！Oh，IcannotbearHell！"
　　Godsaid，"Wherewillyougo？"
　　Isaid"TotheearthfromwhichIcame;itwasbetterthere。"
　　AndGodlaughedatme;andIwonderedwhyhelaughed。
　　Godsaid，"Come，andIwillshowyouHeaven。"……
　　AndpartlyIawoke。Itwasstillanddark;thesoundofthecarriageshaddiedinthestreet;thewomanwholaughedwasgone;andthepoliceman’streadwasheardnomore。Inthedarkitseemedasifagreathandlayuponmyheart，andcrushedit。Itriedtobreatheandtossedfromsidetoside;
　　andthenagainIfellasleep，anddreamed。
　　Godtookmetotheedgeofthatworld。Itended。Ilookeddown。Thegulf，itseemedtome，wasfathomless，andthenIsawtwobridgescrossingitthatbothslopedupwards。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Istherenootherwaybywhichmencrossit？"
　　Godsaid，"One;itrisesfarfromhereandslopesstraightupwards。
　　IaskedGodwhatthebridges’nameswere。
　　Godsaid，"Whatmatterforthenames？CallthemtheGood，theTrue，theBeautiful，ifyouwill——youwillyetnotunderstandthem。"
　　IaskedGodhowitwasIcouldnotseethethird。
　　Godsaid，"Itisseenonlybythosewhoclimbit。"
　　Isaid，"Dotheyallleadtooneheaven？"
　　Godsaid，"AllHeavenisone:neverthelesssomepartsarehigherthanothers;thosewhoreachthehighermayalwaysgodowntorestinthelower;
　　butthoseinthelowermaynothavestrengthtoclimbtothehigher;