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Why do you look so black？ Love is alive yet。〃
Hermas shook off her hand； but not ungently。
〃I don't know what you mean；〃 he said。 〃You are mistaken
in me。 I am poorer than you are。〃
But as he passed on； he felt the warm touch of her fingers
through the cloth on his arm。 It seemed as if she had plucked
him by the heart。
He went out by the Western Gate； under the golden cherubim
that the Emperor Titus had stolen from the ruined Temple of
Jerusalem and fixed upon the arch of triumph。 He turned to
the left； and climbed the hill to the road that led to the
Grove of Daphne。
In all the world there was no other highway as beautiful。
It wound for five miles along the foot of the mountains； among
gardens and villas； plantations of myrtles and mulberries；
with wide outlooks over the valley of Orontes and the distant；
shimmering sea。
The richest of all the dwellings was the House
of the Golden Pillars； the mansion of Demetrius。 He had won
the favor of the apostate Emperor Julian； whose vain efforts
to restore the worship of the heathen gods； some twenty years
ago； had opened an easy way to wealth and power for all who
would mock and oppose Christianity。 Demetrius was not a
sincere fanatic like his royal master； but he was bitter
enough in his professed scorn of the new religion； to make him
a favourite at the court where the old religion was in
fashion。 He had reaped a rich reward of his policy； and a
strange sense of consistency made him more fiercely loyal to
it than if it had been a real faith。 He was proud of being
called 〃the friend of Julian〃； and when his son joined himself
to the Christians； and acknowledged the unseen God； it seemed
like an insult to his father's success。 He drove the boy from
his door and disinherited him。
The glittering portico of the serene； haughty house； the
repose of the well…ordered garden； still blooming with belated
flowers； seemed at once to deride and to invite the young
outcast plodding along the dusty road。 〃This is your
birthright；〃 whispered the clambering rose…trees by the gate； and
the closed portals of carven bronze said： 〃You have sold it for
a thoughta dream。〃'
II
Hermas found the Grove of Daphne quite deserted。 There was no
sound in the enchanted vale but the rustling of the light
winds chasing each other through the laurel thickets； and the
babble of innumerable streams。 Memories of the days and
nights of delicate pleasure that the grove had often seen
still haunted the bewildered paths and broken fountains。 At
the foot of a rocky eminence； crowned with the ruins of
Apollo's temple； which had been mysteriously destroyed by fire
just after Julian had restored and reconsecrated it； Hermas
sat down beside a gushing spring； and gave himself up to
sadness。
〃How beautiful the world would be； how joyful； how easy to
live in； without religion！ These questions about unseen
things； perhaps about unreal things； these restraints and
duties and sacrifices…if I were only free from them all； and
could only forget them all； then I could live my life as I
pleased； and be happy。〃
〃Why not？〃 said a quiet voice at his back。
He turned； and saw an old man with a long beard and a
threadbare cloak （the garb affected by the pagan philosophers）
standing behind him and smiling curiously。
〃How is it that you answer that which has not been
spoken？〃 said Hermas； 〃and who are you that honour me with
your company？〃
〃Forgive the intrusion；〃 answered the stranger； 〃it is not
ill meant。 A friendly interest is as good as an introduction。〃
〃But to what singular circumstance do I owe this interest？〃
〃To your face；〃 said the old man； with a courteous
inclination。 〃Perhaps also a little to the fact that I am the
oldest inhabitant here； and feel as if all visitors were my
guests； in a way。〃
〃Are you； then； one of the keepers of the grove？ And have
you given up your work with the trees to take a holiday as a
philosopher？
〃Not at all。 The robe of philosophy is a mere
affectation； I must confess。 I think little of it。 My
profession is the care of altars。 In fact； I am the solitary
priest of Apollo whom the Emperor Julian found here when he
came to revive the worship of the grove； some twenty years
ago。 You have heard of the incident？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Hermas； beginning to be interested； 〃the whole
city must have heard of it； for it is still talked of。 But
surely it was a strange sacrifice that you brought to
celebrate the restoration of Apollo's temple？〃
〃You mean the ancient goose？〃 said the old man laughing。
〃Well； perhaps it was not precisely what the emperor expected。
But it was all that I had； and it seemed to me not
inappropriate。 You will agree to that if you are a Christian；
as I guess from your dress。〃
〃You speak lightly for a priest of Apollo。〃
〃Oh； as for that； I am no bigot。 The priesthood is a
professional matter； and the name of Apollo is as good as any
other。 How many altars do you think there have been in this
grove？〃
〃I do not know。〃
〃Just four…and…twenty； including that of the martyr
Babylas； whose ruined chapel you see just beyond us。 I have
had something to do with most of them in my time。 They are
transitory。 They give employment to care…takers for a while。
But the thing that lasts； and the thing that interests me； is
the human life that plays around them。 The game has been
going on for centuries。 It still disports itself very
pleasantly on summer evenings through these shady walks。
Believe me； for I know。 Daphne and Apollo are shadows。 But
the flying maidens and the pursuing lovers； the music and the
dances； these are realities。 Life is a game； and the world
keeps it up merrily。 But you？ You are of a sad countenance
for one so young and so fair。 Are you a loser in the game？〃
The words and tone of the speaker fitted Hermas' mood as
a key fits the lock。 He opened his heart to the old man； and
told him the story of his life： his luxurious boyhood in his
father's house； the irresistible spell which compelled him to
forsake it when he heard John's preaching of the new religion；
his lonely year with the anchorites among the mountains； the
strict discipline in his teacher's house at Antioch； his
weariness of duty； his distaste for poverty； his discontent with
worship。
〃And to…day；〃 said he； 〃I have been thinking that I am a
fool。 My life is swept as bare as a hermit's cell。 There is
nothing in it but a dream； a thought of God； which does not
satisfy me。〃
The singular smile deepened on his companion's face。 〃You
are ready； then；〃 he suggested； 〃to renounce your new religion
and go back to that of your father？〃
〃No； I renounce nothing； I accept nothing。 I do not wish
to think about it。 I only wish to live。〃
〃A very reasonable wish； and I think you are about to see
its accomplishment。 Indeed； I may even say that I can put you
in the way of securing it。 Do you believe in magic？〃
〃I do not know whether I believe in anything。 This is not
a day on which I care to make professions of faith。 I believe
in what I see。 I want what will give me pleasure。〃
〃Well；〃 said the old man； soothingly； as he plucked a leaf
from the laurel…tree above them and dipped it in the spring； 〃let
us dismiss the riddles of belief。 I like them as little as you
do。 You know this is a Castalian fountain。 The Emperor Hadrian
once read his fortune here from a leaf dipped in the water。 Let
us see what this leaf tells us。 It is already turning yellow。
How do you read that？〃
〃Wealth；〃 said Hermas； laughing； as he looked at his mean
garments。
〃And here is a bud on the stem that seems to be swelling。
What is that？〃
〃Pleasure；〃 answered Hermas； bitterly。
〃And here is a tracing of wreaths upon the surface。 What
do you make of that？〃
〃What you will；〃 said Hermas； not even taking the trouble
to look。 〃Suppose we say success and fame？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the stranger； 〃it is all written here。 I
promise that you shall enjoy it all。 But you do not need to
believe in my promise。 I am not in the habit of requiring
faith of those whom I would serve。 No such hard conditions
for me！ There is only one thing that I ask。 This is the season
that you Christians call the Christmas； and you have taken up the
pagan custom of exchanging gifts。 Well； if I give to you； you
must give to me。 It is a small thing； and really the thing you
can best afford to part with： a single wordthe name of Him you
profess to worship。 Let me take that word and all that
belongs to it entirely out of your life； so that you shall
never hear it or speak it again。 You will be richer without
it。 I promise you everything； and this is all I ask in
return。 Do you consent？〃
〃Yes。 I consent；〃 said Hermas； mocking。 〃If you can take
your price； a word； you can keep your promise； a dream。〃
The stranger laid the long； cool； wet leaf softly across
the young man's eyes。 An icicle of pain darted through them；
every nerve in his body was drawn together there in a knot of
agony。
Then all the tangle of pain seemed to be lifted out of
him。 A cool languor of delight flowed back through every
vein； and he sank into a profound sl