Thenthetruthcameuponme。Noharpmore——nosongmore!outbroke——
17。”Ihavegonethewholeroundofcreation:IsawandIspoke;
I,aworkofGod’shandforthatpurpose,receivedinmybrain[240]
Andpronouncedontherestofhishandwork——returnedhimagainHiscreation’sapprovalorcensure:IspokeasIsaw。
Ireport,asamanmayofGod’swork——all’slove,yetall’slaw。
NowIlaydownthejudgeshiphelentme。EachfacultytaskedToperceivehim,hasgainedanabyss,whereadewdropwasasked。
HaveIknowledge?confoundeditshrivelsatWisdomlaidbare。
HaveIforethought?howpurblind,howblank,totheInfiniteCare!
DoItaskanyfacultyhighest,toimagesuccess?
Ibutopenmyeyes,——andperfection,nomoreandnoless,InthekindIimagined,full-frontsme,andGodisseenGod[250]
Inthestar,inthestone,intheflesh,inthesoulandtheclod。
Andthuslookingwithinandaroundme,IeverrenewWiththatstoopofthesoulwhichinbendingupraisesittoo
Thesubmissionofman’snothing-perfecttoGod’sall-complete,Asbyeachnewobeisanceinspirit,Iclimbtohisfeet。
Yetwithallthisaboundingexperience,thisdeityknown,Ishalldaretodiscoversomeprovince,somegiftofmyown。
There’safacultypleasanttoexercise,hardtohoodwink,IamfaintokeepstillinabeyanceIlaughasIthink,Lest,insistingtoclaimandparadeinit,wotye,Iworst[260]
E’entheGiverinonegift——Behold,IcouldloveifIdurst!
ButIsinkthepretensionasfearingamanmayo’ertakeGod’sownspeedintheonewayoflove:Iabstainforlove’ssake——
What,mysoul?seethusfarandnofarther?whendoorsgreatandsmall,Nine-and-ninetyflewopeatourtouch,shouldthehundredthappal?
Intheleastthingshavefaith,yetdistrustinthegreatestofall?
DoIfindlovesofullinmynature,God’sultimategift,ThatIdoubthisownlovecancompetewithit?Herethepartsshift?
Here,thecreaturesurpassthecreator,——theend,whatbegan?
WouldIfaininmyimpotentyearningdoallforthisman,[270]
Anddaredoubthealoneshallnothelphim,whoyetalonecan?
Woulditeverhaveenteredmymind,thebarewill,muchlesspower,TobestowonthisSaulwhatIsangof,themarvellousdowerOfthelifehewasgiftedandfilledwith?tomakesuchasoul,Suchabody,andthensuchanearthforinspheringthewhole?
Anddothitnotentermymindasmywarmtearsattest
Thesegoodthingsbeinggiven,togoon,andgiveonemore,thebest?
Ay,tosaveandredeemandrestorehim,maintainattheheightThisperfection,——succeed,withlife’sdayspring,death’sminuteofnight?
Interposeatthedifficultminute,snatchSaul,themistake,[280]
Saul,thefailure,theruinheseemsnow,——andbidhimawakeFromthedream,theprobation,theprelude,tofindhimselfsetClearandsafeinnewlightandnewlife,——anewharmonyyetToberunandcontinued,andended——whoknows?——orendure!
Themantaughtenoughbylife’sdream,oftheresttomakesure;
Bythepain-throb,triumphantlywinningintensifiedbliss,Andthenextworld’srewardandrepose,bythestrugglesinthis。
18。”Ibelieveit!’Tisthou,God,thatgivest,’tisIwhoreceive:
Inthefirstisthelast,inthywillismypowertobelieve。
All’sonegift:thoucanstgrantitmoreover,asprompttomyprayer,[290]
AsIbreatheoutthisbreath,asIopenthesearmstotheair。
Fromthywill,streamtheworlds,lifeandnature,thydreadSabaoth:
Iwill?——themereatomsdespiseme!WhyamInotlothTolookthat,eventhatinthefacetoo?WhyisitIdareThinkbutlightlyofsuchimpuissance?Whatstopsmydespair?
This;——’tisnotwhatmanDoeswhichexaltshim,butwhatmanWoulddo!
SeetheKing——Iwouldhelphim,butcannot,thewishesfallthrough。
CouldIwrestletoraisehimfromsorrow,growpoortoenrich,Tofilluphislife,starvemyownout,Iwould——knowingwhich,Iknowthatmyserviceisperfect。Oh,speakthroughmenow![300]
WouldIsufferforhimthatIlove?Sowouldstthou——sowiltthou!
Soshallcrowntheethetopmost,ineffablest,uttermostcrown——
Andthylovefillinfinitudewholly,norleaveupnordownOnespotforthecreaturetostandin!Itisbynobreath,Turnofeye,waveofhand,thatsalvationjoinsissuewithdeath!
Asthyloveisdiscoveredalmighty,almightybeprovedThypower,thatexistswithandforit,ofbeingbeloved!
Hewhodidmost,shallbearmost;thestrongestshallstandthemostweak。
’Tistheweaknessinstrength,thatIcryfor!myflesh,thatIseekIntheGodhead!IseekandIfindit。OSaul,itshallbe[310]
AFacelikemyfacethatreceivesthee;aManliketome,Thoushaltloveandbelovedby,forever:aHandlikethishandShallthrowopenthegatesofnewlifetothee!SeetheChriststand!”
19。
IknownottoowellhowIfoundmywayhomeinthenight。
Therewerewitnesses,cohortsaboutme,toleftandtoright,Angels,powers,theunuttered,unseen,thealive,theaware:
Irepressed,Igotthroughthemashardly,asstrugglinglythere,Asarunnerbesetbythepopulacefamishedfornews——
Lifeordeath。Thewholeearthwasawakened,hellloosedwithhercrews;
Andthestarsofnightbeatwithemotion,andtingledandshot[320]
Outinfirethestrongpainofpentknowledge:butIfaintednot,FortheHandstillimpelledmeatonceandsupported,suppressedAllthetumult,andquencheditwithquiet,andholybehest,Tilltherapturewasshutinitself,andtheearthsanktorest。
Anonatthedawn,allthattroublehadwitheredfromearth——
Notsomuch,butIsawitdieoutintheday’stenderbirth;
Inthegatheredintensitybroughttothegrayofthehills;
Intheshudderingforests’heldbreath;inthesuddenwind-thrills;
Inthestartledwildbeaststhatboreoft,eachwitheyesidlingstillThoughavertedwithwonderanddread;inthebirdsstiffandchill[330]
ThatroseheavilyasIapproachedthem,madestupidwithawe:
E’entheserpentthatslidawaysilent——hefeltthenewlaw。
Thesamestaredinthewhitehumidfacesupturnedbytheflowers;
Thesameworkedintheheartofthecedarandmovedthevine-bowers:
Andthelittlebrookswitnessingmurmured,persistentandlow,Withtheirobstinate,allbuthushedvoices——”E’enso,itisso!”——
320etseq。:seenotetoSt。37,38,of`BytheFireside’。
ADeathintheDesert。
[SupposedofPamphylaxtheAntiochene:
Itisaparchment,ofmyrollsthefifth,Haththreeskinsgluedtogether,isallGreekAndgoethfromEpsilondowntoMu:
LiessecondinthesurnamedChosenChest,[5]
Stainedandconservedwithjuiceofterebinth,Coveredwithclothofhair,andletteredXi,FromXanthus,mywife’suncle,nowatpeace:
MuandEpsilonstandformyownname。
Imaynotwriteit,butImakeacross[10]
ToshowIwaitHiscoming,withtherest,Andleaveoffhere:beginnethPamphylax。]——
1-12。Thebracketedprefatorylines,explanatoryoftheparchmentonwhicharerecordedthelasthoursandlasttalkofSt。Johnwithhisdevotedattendants,purporttohavebeenwrittenbyonewhowasatthetimetheowneroftheparchment。Itappearstohavecomeintohispossessionthroughhiswife,anieceoftheXanthuswho,withPamphylaxofAntioch,thesupposedauthorofthenarrativehehavingtolditontheeveofhismartyrdomtoacertainPhoebas,v。653,andtwoothers,isrepresentedthereinaswaitingonthedyingapostle,andwhoafterwards”escapedtoRome,wasburned,andcouldnotwritethechronicle。”vv。56,57。
4。AndgoethfromEpsilondowntoMu:thereferenceistosomenumberingontheparchment。
6。terebinth:theturpentinetree——
Isaid,”Ifoneshouldwethislipswithwine,Andslipthebroadestplantain-leafwefind,Orelsethelappetofalinenrobe,[15]
Intothewater-vessel,layitright,Andcoolhisforeheadjustabovetheeyes,Thewhileabrother,kneelingeitherside,Shouldchafeeachhandandtrytomakeitwarm,——
Heisnotsofargonebuthemightspeak。”[20]
Thisdidnothappenintheoutercave,Norinthesecretchamberoftherock,Where,sixtydayssincethedecreewasout,Wehadhim,beddedonacamel-skin,Andwaitedforhisdyingallthewhile;[25]
Butinthemidmostgrotto:sincenoon’slightReachedtherealittle,andwewouldnotloseThelastofwhatmighthappenonhisface——
23。thedecree:ofpersecutionoftheChristians,perhapsthatunderDomitian。Thepoetprobablydidnotthinkofanyparticularpersecution——
Iatthehead,andXanthusatthefeet,WithValensandtheBoy,hadliftedhim,[30]
Andbroughthimfromthechamberinthedepths,Andlaidhiminthelightwherewemightsee:
Forcertainsmilesbeganabouthismouth,Andhislidsmoved,presagefuloftheend。
Beyond,andhalfwayupthemoutho’thecave,[35]
TheBactrianconvert,havinghisdesire,Keptwatch,andmadepretencetograzeagoatThatgaveusmilk,onragsofvariousherb,Plantainandquitch,therocks’shadekeepsalive:
Sothatifanythieforsoldierpassed[40]
Becausethepersecutionwasaware,Yieldingthegoatuppromptlywithhislife,Suchmanmightpasson,joyfulataprize,Norcaretopryintothecoolo’thecave。
Outsidewasallnoonandtheburningblue。[45]——
36。theBactrianconvert:invv。649,650,heisspokenofas”butawildchildishman,andcouldnotwritenorspeak,butonlyloved。”BactriawasakingdominCentralAsia;
themodernnameisBalkh{adistrictinnorthernAfghanistanasof1995}。
havinghisdesire:asanewconvert,thesimplemanwaseagertoserve,evenuntodeath。
41。aware:onthelookout;exercisingastrictespionage——”Hereiswine”,answeredXanthus,——droppedadrop;
Istoopedandplacedthelapofclotharight,Thenchafedhisrighthand,andtheBoyhisleft:
ButValenshadbethoughthim,andproducedAndbrokeaballofnard,andmadeperfume。[50]
Only,hedid——notsomuchwake,as——turnAndsmilealittle,asasleeperdoesIfanydearonecallhim,touchhisface——
Andsmilesandloves,butwillnotbedisturbed。
ThenXanthussaidaprayer,butstillheslept:[55]
ItistheXanthusthatescapedtoRome,Wasburned,andcouldnotwritethechronicle。
ThentheBoysprangupfromhisknees,andran,Stungbythesplendorofasuddenthought,Andfetchedtheseventhplateofgravenlead[60]
Outofthesecretchamber,foundaplace,Pressingwithfingeronthedeeperdints,Andspoke,as’twerehismouthproclaimingfirst,”IamtheResurrectionandtheLife。”——
60。theseventhplateofgravenlead:oneoftheplatesonwhichJohn’sGospelwasgraven。Itcontained,itappears,the11thchapter,inwhichJesussaystoMartha,25thverse,”IamtheResurrectionandtheLife。”TheBoyutteredthewordswithsuchexpressionas’twereHISmouthfirstproclaimingthem——
Whereatheopenedhiseyeswideatonce,[65]
Andsatupofhimself,andlookedatus;
Andthenceforthnobodypronouncedaword:
Only,outside,theBactriancriedhiscryLikethelonedesert-birdthatwearstheruff,Assignalweweresafe,fromtimetotime。[70]——
69。thelonedesert-bird:theruffmaypossiblybereferredto。
SeeWebster,s。v——
Firsthesaid,”Ifamandeclaredtome,ThismysonValens,thismyotherson,WereJamesandPeter,——nay,declaredaswellThisladwasveryJohn,——Icouldbelieve!——
Could,foramoment,doubtlesslybelieve:[75]
Soismyselfwithdrawnintomydepths,ThesoulretreatedfromtheperishedbrainWhenceitwaswonttofeelandusetheworldThroughthesedullmembers,donewithlongago。
YetImyselfremain;Ifeelmyself:[80]
Andthereisnothinglost。Letbe,awhile!”——
76。withdrawnintomydepths:intothedepthsofhisabsolutebeing,ofthe”whatIs”;seethedoctrineofthetrinalunityofmanwhichfollows——
[Thisisthedoctrinehewaswonttoteach,Howdiverspersonswitnessineachman,Threesoulswhichmakeuponesoul:first,towit,Asoulofeachandallthebodilyparts,[85]
Seatedtherein,whichworks,andiswhatDoes,Andhastheuseofearth,andendsthemanDownward;but,tendingupwardforadvice,Growsinto,andagainisgrownintoBythenextsoul,which,seatedinthebrain,[90]
Useththefirstwithitscollecteduse,Andfeeleth,thinketh,willeth,——iswhatKnows:
Which,dulytendingupwardinitsturn,Growsinto,andagainisgrownintoBythelastsoul,thatusesboththefirst,[95]
Subsistingwhethertheyassistorno,And,constitutingman’sself,iswhatIs###第50章
Andleansupontheformer,makesitplay,Asthatplayedoffthefirst:and,tendingup,Holds,isupheldby,God,andendstheman[100]
Upwardinthatdreadpointofintercourse,Norneedsaplace,foritreturnstoHim。
WhatDoes,whatKnows,whatIs;threesouls,oneman。
IgivetheglossaofTheotypas。]——
82-104。Thesupposednarrator,Pamphylax,givesinthesebracketedverses,ontheauthorityofanimaginedTheotypas,adoctrineJohnwaswonttoteach,ofthetrinalunityofman——
thethird”person”ofwhichunity,”whatIs”,beingman’sessential,absolutenature。ThedyingJohnisrepresentedashavingwonhiswaytotheKingdomofthe”whatIs”,theKingdomofeternaltruthwithinhimself。InLuke17:20-21,weread:”AndwhenhewasdemandedofthePharisees,whentheKingdomofGodshouldcome,heansweredthemandsaid,TheKingdomofGodcomethnotwithobservation:
neithershalltheysay,Lohere!or,Lothere!for,behold,theKingdomofGodiswithinyou。”Inharmonywithwhich,Paracelsusismadetosay,inBrowning’spoem,”Truthiswithinourselves;……thereisaninmostcentreinusall,wheretruthabidesinfulness”;
etc。Seepp。24and25ofthisvolume。{Inthisetext,seeChapterI,`TheSpiritualEbbandFlow,etc。’,oftheIntroduction。
Excerptisshortlybeforethepoem`Popularity’。}”Life,you’vegrantedme,developsfromwithin。ButINNERMOSTOFTHEINMOST,MOSTINTERIOROFTHEINTERNE,GODCLAIMSHISOWN,DIVINEHUMANITYRENEWINGNATURE”Mrs。Browning’s`AuroraLeigh’。
Mrs。M。G。Glazebrook,inherpaperon`ADeathintheDesert’,readatthe48thmeetingoftheBrowningSociety,Feb。25th,1887,paraphrasestheselines:”Thefirstandlowest[soul]isthatwhichhastodowithearthandcorporealthings,theanimalsoul,whichreceivesprimarysensationsandistheimmediatecauseofaction——`whatDoes’。Thesecondistheintellect,andhasitsseatinthebrain:itissuperiortothefirst,butdependentonit,sinceitreceivesasmaterialtheactualexperiencewhichtheanimalsoulsupplies;itisthefeeling,thinking,willingsoul——`whatKnows’。Thethird,andhighest,isthespiritofman,theveryprincipleoflife,thedivineelementinmanlinkinghimtoGod,whichisself-subsistentandthereforeindependentofsensationandknowledge,butneverthelessmakesuseofthem,andgivesthemexistenceandenergy——`whatIs’。”——
Andthen,”Astick,oncefirefromendtoend;[105]
Now,ashessavethetipthatholdsaspark!
Yet,blowthespark,itrunsback,spreadsitselfAlittlewherethefirewas:thusIurgeThesoulthatservedme,tillittaskoncemoreWhatashesofmybrainhavekepttheirshape,[110]
Andthesemakeeffortonthelasto’theflesh,Tryingtotasteagainthetruthofthings”——
Hesmiled——”theirverysuperficialtruth;
Asthatyearemysons,thatitislongSinceJamesandPeterhadreleasebydeath,[115]
AndIamonlyhe,yourbrotherJohn,Whosawandheard,andcouldrememberall。
Rememberall!Itisnotmuchtosay。
WhatifthetruthbrokeonmefromaboveAsonceandoft-times?Suchmighthapagain:[120]
DoubtlesslyHemightstandinpresencehere,Withheadwool-white,eyes,flame,andfeetlikebrass,Theswordandthesevenstars,asIhaveseen——
Iwhonowshudderonlyandsurmise`Howdidyourbrotherbearthatsightandlive?’[125]——
113。superficialtruth:phenomenal,relativetruth;
thatwhichisarrivedatthroughthesenses,andbelongstothedomainofthe”whatKnows”。Essential,absolutetruthcanbeknownonlythrougharesponsetheretooftheessential,theabsolute,the”whatIs”,inman’snature。Johnhasattainedtoameasureofabsolutetruth,andsmilesonrevertingtotheverysuperficialtruthofthings。
121-123。SeeTheRevelationofSt。John,chap。1。
125。yourbrother:hemeanshimself,ofcourse——”IfIliveyet,itisforgood,moreloveThroughmetomen:benaughtbutasheshereThatkeepawhilemysemblance,whowasJohn,——
Still,whentheyscatter,thereisleftonearthNoonealivewhoknewconsiderthis![130]——
SawwithhiseyesandhandledwithhishandsThatwhichwasfromthefirst,theWordofLife。
Howwillitbewhennonemoresaith`Isaw’?”Sucheverwaslove’sway:torise,itstoops。
SinceI,whomChrist’smouthtaught,wasbiddenteach,[135]
Iwent,formanyyears,abouttheworld,Saying,`Itwasso;soIheardandsaw’,Speakingasthecaseasked:andmenbelieved。
AfterwardcamethemessagetomyselfInPatmosisle;Iwasnotbiddenteach。[140]
Butsimplylisten,takeabookandwrite,Norsetdownotherthanthegivenword。
WithnothinglefttomyarbitramentTochooseorchange:Iwrote,andmenbelieved。
Then,formytimegrewbrief,nomessagemore,[145]
Nocalltowriteagain,Ifoundaway,And,reasoningfrommyknowledge,merelytaughtMenshould,forlove’ssake,inlove’sstrength,believe;
OrIwouldpenalettertoafriend,Andurgethesameasfriend,norlessnormore:[150]
FriendssaidIreasonedrightly,andbelieved。
Butatthelast,why,IseemedleftaliveLikeasea-jellyweakonPatmosstrand,Totelldrysea-beachgazershowIfaredWhentherewasmid-sea,andthemightythings;[155]
Lefttorepeat,`Isaw,Iheard,Iknew’,Andgoallovertheoldgroundagain,WithAntichristalreadyintheworld,AndmanyAntichrists,whoansweredprompt`AmInotJasperasthyselfartJohn?[160]
Nay,young,whereasthroughagethoumayestforget:
Wherefore,explain,orhowshallwebelieve?’
Ineverthoughttocalldownfireonsuch,Or,asinwonderfulandearlydays,Pickupthescorpion,treadtheserpentdumb;[165]
ButpatientstatedmuchoftheLord’slifeForgottenormisdelivered,andletitwork:
Sincemuchthatatthefirst,indeedandword,Laysimplyandsufficientlyexposed,Hadgrownorelsemysoulwasgrowntomatch,[170]
Fedthroughsuchyears,familiarwithsuchlight,Guardedandguidedstilltoseeandspeak
Ofnewsignificanceandfreshresult;
Whatfirstwereguessedaspoints,Inowknewstars,AndnamedthemintheGospelIhavewrit。[175]
Formensaid,`Itisgettinglongago:
WhereisthepromiseofHiscoming?’——askedTheseyoungonesintheirstrength,aslothtowait,Ofmewho,whentheirsireswereborn,wasold。
I,forIlovedthem,answered,joyfully,[180]
SinceIwasthere,andhelpfulinmyage;
And,inthemain,Ithinksuchmenbelieved。
Finally,thusendeavoring,Ifellsick。
Yebroughtmehere,andIsupposedtheend,Andwenttosleepwithonethoughtthat,atleast,[185]
Thoughthewholeearthshouldlieinwickedness,Wehadthetruth,mightleavetheresttoGod。
YetnowIwakeinsuchdecrepitudeAsIhadsliddendownandfallenafar,Pasteventhepresenceofmyformerself,[190]
Graspingthewhileforstayatfactswhichsnap,TillIamfoundawayfrommyownworld,Feelingforfoot-holdthroughablankprofound,Alongwithunbornpeopleinstrangelands,Whosay——Ihearsaidorconceivetheysay——[195]
`WasJohnatall,anddidhesayhesaw?
Assureus,ereweaskwhathemightsee!’——
156。Isaw,Iheard,Iknew:expressionswhichoccurthroughoutJohn’sRevelation。
188-197。Thepoetprovides,intheselines,forthepropheticcharacterofJohn’sdiscourse,itssolutionofthedifficultiesdestinedtobesetChristianityinthefuture,andespeciallyofthosewhichhavebeenraisedinourowntimes。ThehistoricalbulwarkswhichtheStraussesandtheRenanshaveendeavoredtodestroy,Christianity,initsessential,absolutecharacter,itsadaptivenesstospiritualvitality,andthewantsofthesoul,candowithout。
Indeed,therewillbemuchgainedwhenthehistoricalcharacterofChristianityisgenerallydisregarded。Itsimpregnablefortress,namely,thePersonality,JesusChrist,willremain,andmankindwillforeverseekandfindrefugeinit。ArthurSymons,inhis`IntroductiontotheStudyofBrowning’,remarks:……”itisasapieceofratiocination——suffused,indeed,withimagination——
thatthepoemseemstohaveitsraisond’etre。Thebearingofthisargumentoncontemporarytheories,maytosomeappearamerit,toothersablemish。TomakethedyingJohnrefuteStraussorRenan,handlingtheirpropositionswithadmirabledialecticalskill,iscertainly,onthefaceofit,somewhathazardous。ButIcanseenorealincongruityinimputingtotheseerofPatmosapropheticinsightintothefuture——norealinconsequenceinimaginingtheopponentofCerinthusspendinghislastbreathinthedefenceofChristiantruthagainstaforeseenscepticism。”——”AndhowshallIassurethem?Cantheyshare——They,whohaveflesh,aveilofyouthandstrengthAbouteachspirit,thatneedsmustbideitstime,[200]
LivingandlearningstillasyearsassistWhichwearthethicknessthin,andletmansee——
Withmewhohardlyamwithheldatall,Butshudderingly,scarceashredbetween,Liebaretotheuniversalprickoflight?[205]
Isitfornothingwegrowoldandweak,WewhomGodloves?Whenpainends,gainendstoo。
Tome,thatstory——ay,thatLifeandDeathOfwhichIwrote`itwas’——tome,itis;——
Is,hereandnow:Iapprehendnaughtelse。[210]
IsnotGodnowi’theworldHispowerfirstmade?
IsnotHisloveatissuestillwithsin,Visiblywhenawrongisdoneonearth?
Love,wrong,andpain,whatseeIelsearound?
Yea,andtheResurrectionandUprise[215]
Totherighthandofthethrone——whatisitbeside,Whensuchtruth,breakingbounds,o’erfloodsmysoul,And,asIsawthesinanddeath,evensoSeeItheneedyettransiencyofboth,Thegoodandgloryconsummatedthence?[220]
IsawthePower;IseetheLove,onceweak,ResumethePower:andinthisword`Isee’,Lo,thereisrecognizedtheSpiritofbothThatmovingo’erthespiritofman,unblindsHiseyeandbidshimlook。Theseare,Isee;[225]
Butye,thechildren,Hisbelovedonestoo,Yeneed,——asIshoulduseanopticglassIwonderedaterewhile,somewherei’theworld,Ithadbeengivenacraftysmithtomake;
Atube,heturnedonobjectsbroughttooclose,[230]
LyingconfusedlyinsubordinateFortheunassistedeyetomasteronce:
Lookthroughhistube,atdistancenowtheylay,Becomesuccinct,distinct,sosmall,soclear!
Justthus,yeneedsmustapprehendwhattruth[235]
Isee,reducedtoplainhistoricfact,Diminishedintoclearness,provedapointAndfaraway:yewouldwithdrawyoursenseFromouteternity,strainitupontime,Thenstandbeforethatfact,thatLifeandDeath,[240]
Staythereatgaze,tillitdispart,dispread,Asthoughastarshouldopenout,allsides,Growtheworldonyou,asitismyworld——
202。”Oh,notalonewhenlifeflowsstilldotruthandpoweremerge,butalsowhenstrangechancerufflesitscurrent;inunusedconjuncture,whensicknessbreaksthebody——hunger,watching,excess,orlanguor——
oftenestdeath’sapproach——peril,deepjoy,orwoe。”——
Browning’s`Paracelsus’。”Thesoul’sdarkcottage,batteredanddecayed,LetsinnewlightthroughchinksthatTimehasmade。
Strongerbyweakness,wisermenbecome,Astheydrawneartotheireternalhome。
Leavingtheold,bothworldsatoncetheyview,Thatstanduponthethresholdofthenew。”——EdmundWaller。”Drawingnearherdeath,shesentmostpiousthoughtsasharbingerstoheaven;andhersoulsawaglimpseofhappinessthroughthechinksofhersickness-brokenbody。”Fuller’s`HolyandProfaneState’,BookI。,chap。2。
203。Withme:connectwith`share’,v。198。
208-209。Seep。62ofthisvolume。{Inthisetext,PartII,Section3intheIntroduction。Itisshortlybeforeanexcerptfrom`ChristmasEve’。}
221-225。Seestanzas9and10of`RabbiBenEzra’。
227。anopticglass:perhapsanachronistic。