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comfort。
And when they saw that the pool had changed from a cup of sweet
waters into a cup of salt tears； they loosened the green tresses of
their hair and cried to the pool and said； 'We do not wonder that
you should mourn in this manner for Narcissus； so beautiful was he。'
'But was Narcissus beautiful？' said the pool。
'Who should know that better than you？' answered the Oreads。 'Us
did he ever pass by； but you he sought for； and would lie on your
banks and look down at you； and in the mirror of your waters he
would mirror his own beauty。'
And the pool answered； 'But I loved Narcissus because； as he lay on
my banks and looked down at me； in the mirror of his eyes I saw ever
my own beauty mirrored。'Poems in Prose
THE MASTER
Now when the darkness came over the earth Joseph of Arimathea；
having lighted a torch of pinewood； passed down from the hill into
the valley。 For he had business in his own home。
And kneeling on the flint stones of the Valley of Desolation he saw
a young man who was naked and weeping。 His hair was the colour of
honey； and his body was as a white flower； but he had wounded his
body with thorns and on his hair had he set ashes as a crown。
And he who had great possessions said to the young man who was naked
and weeping； 'I do not wonder that your sorrow is so great； for
surely He was a just man。'
And the young man answered； 'It is not for Him that I am weeping；
but for myself。 I too have changed water into wine； and I have
healed the leper and given sight to the blind。 I have walked upon
the waters； and from the dwellers in the tombs I have cast out
devils。 I have fed the hungry in the desert where there was no
food； and I have raised the dead from their narrow houses； and at my
bidding； and before a great multitude； of people； a barren fig…tree
withered away。 All things that this man has done I have done also。
And yet they have not crucified me。'Poems in Prose
THE HOUSE OF JUDGMENT
And there was silence in the House of Judgment； and the Man came
naked before God。
And God opened the Book of the Life of the Man。
And God said to the Man； 'Thy life hath been evil； and thou hast
shown cruelty to those who were in need of succour； and to those who
lacked help thou hast been bitter and hard of heart。 The poor
called to thee and thou didst not hearken； and thine ears were
closed to the cry of My afflicted。 The inheritance of the
fatherless thou didst take unto thyself； and thou didst send the
foxes into the vineyard of thy neighbour's field。 Thou didst take
the bread of the children and give it to the dogs to eat； and My
lepers who lived in the marshes； and were at peace and praised Me；
thou didst drive forth on to the highways； and on Mine earth out of
which I made thee thou didst spill innocent blood。'
And the Man made answer and said； 'Even so did I。'
And again God opened the Book of the Life of the Man。
And God said to the Man； 'Thy life hath been evil； and the Beauty I
have shown thou hast sought for； and the Good I have hidden thou
didst pass by。 The walls of thy chamber were painted with images；
and from the bed of thine abominations thou didst rise up to the
sound of flutes。 Thou didst build seven altars to the sins I have
suffered； and didst eat of the thing that may not be eaten； and the
purple of thy raiment was broidered with the three signs of shame。
Thine idols were neither of gold nor of silver that endure； but of
flesh that dieth。 Thou didst stain their hair with perfumes and put
pomegranates in their hands。 Thou didst stain their feet with
saffron and spread carpets before them。 With antimony thou didst
stain their eyelids and their bodies thou didst smear with myrrh。
Thou didst bow thyself to the ground before them； and the thrones of
thine idols were set in the sun。 Thou didst show to the sun thy
shame and to the moon thy madness。'
And the Man made answer and said； 'Even so did I。'
And a third time God opened the Book of the Life of the Man。
And God said to the Man； 'Evil hath been thy life； and with evil
didst thou requite good； and with wrongdoing kindness。 The hands
that fed thee thou didst wound； and the breasts that gave thee suck
thou didst despise。 He who came to thee with water went away
thirsting； and the outlawed men who hid thee in their tents at night
thou didst betray before dawn。 Thine enemy who spared thee thou
didst snare in an ambush； and the friend who walked with thee thou
didst sell for a price； and to those who brought thee Love thou
didst ever give Lust in thy turn。'
And the Man made answer and said； 'Even so did I。'
And God closed the Book of the Life of the Man； and said； 'Surely I
will send thee into Hell。 Even into Hell will I send thee。'
And the Man cried out； 'Thou canst not。'
And God said to the Man； 'Wherefore can I not send thee to Hell； and
for what reason？'
'Because in Hell have I always lived；' answered the Man。
And there was silence in the House of Judgment。
And after a space God spake； and said to the Man； 'Seeing that I may
not send thee into Hell； surely I will send thee unto Heaven。 Even
unto Heaven will I send thee。'
And the Man cried out； 'Thou canst not。'
And God said to the Man； 'Wherefore can I not send thee unto Heaven；
and for what reason？'
'Because never； and in no place； have I been able to imagine it；'
answered the Man。
And there was silence in the House of Judgment。Poems in Prose
THE TEACHER OF WISDOM
From his childhood he had been as one filled with the perfect
knowledge of God； and even while he was yet but a lad many of the
saints； as well as certain holy women who dwelt in the free city of
his birth； had been stirred to much wonder by the grave wisdom of
his answers。
And when his parents had given him the robe and the ring of manhood
he kissed them； and left them and went out into the world； that he
might speak to the world about God。 For there were at that time
many in the world who either knew not God at all； or had but an
incomplete knowledge of Him； or worshipped the false gods who dwell
in groves and have no care of their worshippers。
And he set his face to the sun and journeyed； walking without
sandals； as he had seen the saints walk； and carrying at his girdle
a leathern wallet and a little water…bottle of burnt clay。
And as he walked along the highway he was full of the joy that comes
from the perfect knowledge of God； and he sang praises unto God
without ceasing； and after a time he reached a strange land in which
there were many cities。
And he passed through eleven cities。 And some of these cities were
in valleys； and others were by the banks of great rivers； and others
were set on hills。 And in each city he found a disciple who loved
him and followed him； and a great multitude also of people followed
him from each city； and the knowledge of God spread in the whole
land； and many of the rulers were converted； and the priests of the
temples in which there were idols found that half of their gain was
gone； and when they beat upon their drums at noon none； or but a
few； came with peacocks and with offerings of flesh as had been the
custom of the land before his coming。
Yet the more the people followed him； and the greater the number of
his disciples； the greater became his sorrow。 And he knew not why
his sorrow was so great。 For he spake ever about God； and out of
the fulness of that perfect knowledge of God which God had Himself
given to him。
And one evening he passed out of the eleventh city； which was a city
of Armenia； and his disciples and a great crowd of people followed
after him； and he went up on to a mountain and sat down on a rock
that was on the mountain； and his disciples stood round him； and the
multitude knelt in the valley。
And he bowed his head on his hands and wept； and said to his Soul；
'Why is it that I am full of sorrow and fear； and that each of my
disciples is an enemy that walks in the noonday？' And his Soul
answered him and said； 'God filled thee with the perfect knowledge
of Himself； and thou hast given this knowledge away to others。 The
pearl of great price thou hast divided； and the vesture without seam
thou hast parted asunder。 He who giveth away wisdom robbeth
himself。 He is as one who giveth his treasure to a robber。 Is not
God wiser than thou art？ Who art thou to give away the secret that
God hath told thee？ I was rich once； and thou hast made me poor。
Once I saw God； and now thou hast hidden Him from me。'
And he wept again； for he knew that his Soul spake truth to him； and
that he had given to others the perfect knowledge of God； and that
he was as one clinging to the skirts of God； and that his faith was
leaving him by reason of the number of those