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！
And He saw afar…off the walls of a round city and went towards the
city。
And when He came near He heard within the city the tread of the
feet of joy； and the laughter of the mouth of gladness and the loud
noise of many lutes。 And He knocked at the gate and certain of the
gate…keepers opened to Him。
And He beheld a house that was of marble and had fair pillars of
marble before it。 The pillars were hung with garlands； and within
and without there were torches of cedar。 And He entered the house。
And when He had passed through the hall of chalcedony and the hall
of jasper； and reached the long hall of feasting； He saw lying on a
couch of sea…purple one whose hair was crowned with red roses and
whose lips were red with wine。
And He went behind him and touched him on the shoulder and said to
him； 'Why do you live like this？'
And the young man turned round and recognised Him； and made answer
and said； 'But I was a leper once； and you healed me。 How else
should I live？'
And He passed out of the house and went again into the street。
And after a little while He saw one whose face and raiment were
painted and whose feet were shod with pearls。 And behind her came；
slowly as a hunter； a young man who wore a cloak of two colours。
Now the face of the woman was as the fair face of an idol； and the
eyes of the young man were bright with lust。
And He followed swiftly and touched the hand of the young man and
said to him； 'Why do you look at this woman and in such wise？'
And the young man turned round and recognised Him and said； 'But I
was blind once； and you gave me sight。 At what else should I
look？'
And He ran forward and touched the painted raiment of the woman and
said to her； 'Is there no other way in which to walk save the way
of sin？'
And the woman turned round and recognised Him； and laughed and
said； 'But you forgave me my sins； and the way is a pleasant way。'
And He passed out of the city。
And when He had passed out of the city He saw seated by the
roadside a young man who was weeping。
And He went towards him and touched the long locks of his hair and
said to him； 'Why are you weeping？'
And the young man looked up and recognised Him and made answer；
'But I was dead once； and you raised me from the dead。 What else
should I do but weep？'
THE DISCIPLE
When Narcissus died the pool of his pleasure changed from a cup of
sweet waters into a cup of salt tears； and the Oreads came weeping
through the woodland that they might sing to the pool and give it
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。'
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。'
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。
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 carry