按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
within her soul anything that is not his； does she love？ No； she loves
not。 To love feebly； is that to love at all？ The voice of her beloved
makes her joyful； it flows through her veins in a crimson tide more
glowing far than blood； his glance is the light that penetrates her；
her being melts into his being。 He is warm to her soul。 He is the
light that lightens； near to him there is neither cold nor darkness。
He is never absent； he is always with us； we think in him； to him； by
him！ Minna； that is how I love him。〃
〃Love whom？〃 said Minna； tortured with sudden jealousy。
〃God；〃 replied Seraphitus； his voice glowing in their souls like fires
of liberty from peak to peak upon the mountains；〃God； who does not
betray us！ God； who will never abandon us！ who crowns our wishes； who
satisfies His creatures with joyjoy unalloyed and infinite！ God； who
never wearies but ever smiles！ God； who pours into the soul fresh
treasures day by day； who purifies and leaves no bitterness； who is
all harmony； all flame！ God； who has placed Himself within our hearts
to blossom there； who hearkens to our prayers； who does not stand
aloof when we are His； but gives His presence absolutely！ He who
revives us； magnifies us； and multiplies us in Himself； GOD！ Minna； I
love thee because thou mayst be His！ I love thee because if thou come
to Him thou wilt be mine。〃
〃Lead me to Him；〃 cried Minna； kneeling down； 〃take me by the hand； I
will not leave thee！〃
〃Lead us； Seraphita！〃 cried Wilfrid； coming to Minna's side with an
impetuous movement。 〃Yes； thou hast given me a thirst for Light； a
thirst for the Word。 I am parched with the Love thou hast put into my
heart； I desire to keep thy soul in mine； thy will is mine； I will do
whatsoever thou biddest me。 Since I cannot obtain thee； I will keep
thy will and all the thoughts that thou hast given me。 If I may not
unite myself with thee except by the power of my spirit； I will cling
to thee in soul as the flame to what it laps。 Speak！〃
〃Angel！〃 exclaimed the mysterious being； enfolding them both in one
glance； as it were with an azure mantle； 〃Heaven shall by thine
heritage！〃
Silence fell among them after these words； which sounded in the souls
of the man and of the woman like the first notes of some celestial
harmony。
〃If you would teach your feet to tread the Path to heaven； know that
the way is hard at first；〃 said the weary sufferer； 〃God wills that
you shall seek Him for Himself。 In that sense； He is jealous； He
demands your whole self。 But when you have given Him yourself； never；
never will He abandon you。 I leave with you the keys of the kingdom of
His Light； where evermore you shall dwell in the bosom of the Father；
in the heart of the Bridegroom。 No sentinels guard the approaches； you
may enter where you will； His palaces； His treasures； His sceptre； all
are free。 'Take them！' He says。 Butyou must WILL to go there。 Like
one preparing for a journey； a man must leave his home； renounce his
projects； bid farewell to friends； to father； mother； sister； even to
the helpless brother who cries after him；yes； farewell to them
eternally； you will no more return than did the martyrs on their way
to the stake。 You must strip yourself of every sentiment； of
everything to which man clings。 Unless you do this you are but half…
hearted in your enterprise。
〃Do for God what you do for your ambitious projects； what you do in
consecrating yourself to Art； what you have done when you loved a
human creature or sought some secret of human science。 Is not God the
whole of science； the all of love； the source of poetry？ Surely His
riches are worthy of being coveted！ His treasure is inexhaustible； His
poem infinite； His love immutable； His science sure and darkened by no
mysteries。 Be anxious for nothing； He will give you all。 Yes； in His
heart are treasures with which the petty joys you lose on earth are
not to be compared。 What I tell you is true； you shall possess His
power； you may use it as you would use the gifts of lover or mistress。
Alas！ men doubt； they lack faith； and will； and persistence。 If some
set their feet in the path； they look behind them and presently turn
back。 Few decide between the two extremes；to go or stay； heaven or
the mire。 All hesitate。 Weakness leads astray； passion allures into
dangerous paths； vice becomes habitual； man flounders in the mud and
makes no progress towards a better state。
〃All human beings go through a previous life in the sphere of
Instinct； where they are brought to see the worthlessness of earthly
treasures； to amass which they gave themselves such untold pains！ Who
can tell how many times the human being lives in the sphere of
Instinct before he is prepared to enter the sphere of Abstractions；
where thought expends itself on erring science； where mind wearies at
last of human language？ for； when Matter is exhausted； Spirit enters。
Who knows how many fleshly forms the heir of heaven occupies before he
can be brought to understand the value of that silence and solitude
whose starry plains are but the vestibule of Spiritual Worlds？ He
feels his way amid the void； makes trial of nothingness； and then at
last his eyes revert upon the Path。 Then follow other existences；all
to be lived to reach the place where Light effulgent shines。 Death is
the post…house of the journey。 A lifetime may be needed merely to gain
the virtues which annul the errors of man's preceding life。 First
comes the life of suffering； whose tortures create a thirst for love。
Next the life of love and devotion to the creature； teaching devotion
to the Creator；a life where the virtues of love； its martyrdoms； its
joys followed by sorrows； its angelic hopes； its patience； its
resignation； excite an appetite for things divine。 Then follows the
life which seeks in silence the traces of the Word； in which the soul
grows humble and charitable。 Next the life of longing； and lastly； the
life of prayer。 In that is the noonday sun； there are the flowers；
there the harvest！
〃The virtues we acquire； which develop slowly within us； are the
invisible links that bind each one of our existences to the others；
existences which the spirit alone remembers； for Matter has no memory
for spiritual things。 Thought alone holds the tradition of the bygone
life。 The endless legacy of the past to the present is the secret
source of human genius。 Some receive the gift of form； some the gift
of numbers； others the gift of harmony。 All these gifts are steps of
progress in the Path of Light。 Yes； he who possesses a single one of
them touches at that point the Infinite。 Earth has divided the Word
of which I here reveal some syllablesinto particles； she has reduced
it to dust and has scattered it through her works； her dogmas； her
poems。 If some impalpable grain shines like a diamond in a human work；
men cry： 'How grand！ how true！ how glorious！' That fragment vibrates
in their souls and wakes a presentiment of heaven： to some； a melody
that weans from earth； to others； the solitude that draws to God。 To
all； whatsoever sends us back upon ourselves； whatsoever strikes us
down and crushes us； lifts or abases us；THAT is but a syllable of
the Divine Word。
〃When a human soul draws its first furrow straight； the rest will
follow surely。 One thought borne inward； one prayer uplifted； one
suffering endured； one echo of the Word within us； and our souls are
forever changed。 All ends in God； and many are the ways to find Him by
walking straight before us。 When the happy day arrives in which you
set your feet upon the Path and begin your pilgrimage； the world will
know nothing of it； earth no longer understands you； you no longer
understand each other。 Men who attain a knowledge of these things； who
lisp a few syllables of the Word； often have not where to lay their
head； hunted like beasts they perish on the scaffold； to the joy of
assembled peoples； while Angels open to them the gates of heaven。
Therefore； your destiny is a secret between yourself and God； just as
love is a secret between two hearts。 You may be the buried treasure；
trodden under the feet of men thirsting for gold yet all…unknowing
that you are there beneath them。
〃Henceforth your existence becomes a thing of ceaseless activity； each
act has a meaning which connects you with God； just as in love your
actions and your thoughts are filled with the loved one。 But love and
its joys； love and its pleasures limited by the senses； are but the
imperfect image of the love which unites you to your celestial Spouse。
All earthly joy is mixed with anguish； with discontent。 If love ought
not to pall then death should end it while its flame is high； so that
we see no ashes。 But in God our wretchedness becomes delight； joy
lives upon itself and multiplies； and grows； and has no limit。 In the
Earthly life our fleeting love is ended by tribulation； in the
Spiritual life the