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。