itpointstoawayofholinesswherethefoolshallnoterr，andthesagemayfindtherealisationofhisfar-seeking；andyet，despiteitsinclusiveness，itisabeliefwhichcannotsavethebirdsfromdestruction，thesilentmountainsfromadvertisement，orthestreamfrompollution，inanavowedlyChristianland。JohnRuskinscoldedandfoughtanddidyeomanservice，somewhathinderedbyhisover-goodconceitofhimself；butitisnottheworshipofbeautyweneedsomuchasthebeautyofholiness。Littlebylittlethebarriergrowsand\'religion\'becomesaRULEoflife，notlifeitself，althoughtheBridestandsreadytointerpret，likenedinherlovelinesstothechieftreasuresofherhandmaid-Earth。Thereismoretruthinthebelievingcry，\"Comefromthywhitecliffs，O
Pan！\"thaninthereligionthatmeasuresaman\'slifebytheletteroftheTenCommandments，anderectsitselfasjudgeandruleroverhim，insteadofthrowingopenthegateofthegardenwhereGodwalkswithmanfrommorninguntilmorning。
AsIwritethesunissetting；inthepaleradianceoftheskyabovehisglorytheredawnstheeveningstar；andearthlikeatiredchildturnsherfacetothebosomofthenight。
CHAPTERIII
ONCEagainIhavepaidararevisittomytreetofindmanythingschangedsincemylastsojournthere。Thebeesaresilent，forthehoney-ladenflowersofthesycamorearegoneandintheirplacehangdaintytwo-foldkeys。Thepoplarhaslostitsmetallicshimmer，thechestnutitstallwhitecandles；andthesoundofthewindinthefully-leavedbranchesislikethesighingofthesea。
Themartins\'nestsarefinished，andoneisoccupiedbyashrill-
voicedbrood；butforthemostpartthebirds\'parentalcaresareover，andthenestlingsinboldflightnolongerflutteroninefficientwingsacrossthelawnwithclamorous，openbill。Therobinsshowpromiseoftheirruddyvests，theslimyoungthrushisdiligentlypractisingmaturernotes，andsoonMaidJunewillhavefled。
ItissuchawonderfulworldthatIcannotfinditinmyhearttosighforfreshbeautyamidthesegloriesoftheLordonwhichI
look，seeingmenastreeswalking，inmymaterialimpotencewhichawaitsthefinalanointing。Themarigoldswiththeirorangesuns，thelilies\'whiteflame，thecorncockle\'sbluecrownofmanyflowers，thehoneysuckle\'shornoffragrance-Icanparaphrasethem，name，class，dissectthem；andthen，saveforthepurposesofhumanintercourse，IstandwhereIstoodbefore，myworldboundedbymycapacity，thesecretofcolourandfragrancestillkept。Itisdifficulttobelievethatthesecondlessonwillnotbethesequenceofthefirst，anddeathprovea\"feastofopeningeyes\"toallthesewonders，insteadoftheheavy-liddedslumbertowhichwesooftenlikenit。\"Earthtoearth？\"Yes，\"dustthouart，anduntodustthoushaltreturn，\"butwhatoftherest？Whatofthefoldedgraveclothes，andtheFortyDays？Ifthenextstatebe，asitwellmight，spaceoffourdimensions，andthefirstveilwhichwillliftformebethematerialone，thenthe\"other\"worldwhichishiddenfromourgrossermaterialorganismwilllieopen，anddeclarestillfurthertomywideningeyesandunstoppedearsthegloryandpurposeofthemanifoldgarmentofGod。KnowledgewillgiveplacetounderstandinginthatsecondchamberoftheHouseofWisdomandLove。Revelationisalwaysmeasuredbycapacity:\"Openthymouthwide，\"anditshallbefilledwithasatisfactionthatinitselfisdesire。
Thereisachildhere，ahappyquietlittlecreatureholdinggentlytoitstwomonthsoflife。Sometimestheylayitbesideme，Ithemorehelplessofthetwo-perhapsthemoreignorant-andequallydependentforthesupplyofmysmallestneed。IfeelindecentlylargeasIsurveyitsminuteperfectionsandthetinyballedfistlyinginmygreatpalm。Thelittlecreaturefixesmewiththewisewidestareofasoulinadvanceofitsmediumofexpression；andI，gazingbackatthemysteryinthoseeyes，feelthethrillofcontactbetweenmywornandsustainedselfandtheinnocenceofalittlewhitechild。Itiswonderfultowatchawoman\'srapturousfamiliaritywiththesenewcomers。Aman\'slovehasfarmoreaweinit，andthepassionateanimalinstinctofdefenceiswantinginhim。\"Awomanshallbesavedthroughthechild-bearing，\"saidStPaul；notnecessarilyherown，butbyparticipationinthegreatactofmotherhoodwhichisthecrownandgloryofhersex。Sheisthe\"prisoneroflove，\"caughtinanetofherownweaving；heldfastbylittlehandswhichrulebyimpotence，pursuedbyfeettheswifterfortheirfaltering。
Itseemsincrediblethatthisiswhatawomanwillbarterfortherightto\"liveherownlife\"-surelythemostemptyofdesires。
Man-VIR，woman-FEMINA，gotomakeupTHEman-HOMO。Therecanbenocomparison，norivalrybetweenthem；theyarethecomplementofeachother，andalittlechildshallleadthem。ItiseasytounderstandthatdesiretoshelterunderthedearmantleofmotherhoodwhichhasledtooneoftheabusesofmodernRomanism。
ImetanoldpeasantcoupleatBornhofenwhohadtrampedmanywearymilestothefamousshrineofOurLadytopleadfortheironlyson。
Theyhadafewpencesavedforacandle，andafterwardswhentheytoldmetheirtaletheoldwomanheavedasighofrelief，\"Eswirdbaldgutgehen:Dieda，Sieversteht，\"andIsawherlaterpayingafarewellvisittothegreatunderstandingMotherwhomshecouldtrust。Superstitiousmisapprehensionifyouwill，butalsotherecognitionofadivineprinciple。
ItwasBehmen，Ibelieve，whocriedwiththebreathofinspiration，\"OnlywhenIknowGodshallIknowmyself\"；andsomanremainsthelastofalltheriddles，tobesolveditmaybeonlyinHeaven\'sperfectionandthelightoftheBeatificVision。\"Knowthyself\"isavainlegend，themoresowhenemphasisedbyaskull；andsoI
companywithafriendandastranger，andlookingacrossatthewhitegateIwonderconcerningthequietpasturesandstillwatersthatliebeyond，evenasBrotherAmbrosewonderedlongyearsagointhemonasterybytheforest。
TheBrotherAmbrosewaseverasaintlymanapprovedofGodandbelovedbytheBrethren。Tohimonenight，ashelayabedinthedormitory，camethewordoftheLord，saying，\"Come，andIwillshowtheetheBride，theLamb\'swife。\"AndBrotherAmbrosearoseandwascarriedtoagreatandhighmountain，evenasintheVisionofBlessedJohn。\'Twasastillnightofmanystars，andBrotherAmbrose，lookingup，sawaradiantpathintheheavens；andlo！thestarsgatheredthemselvestogetheroneithersideuntiltheystoodaswallsoflight，andthefourwindslappedhimaboutasinamantleandborehimtowardsthewondrousgleamingroadway。ThenbetweenthestarscametheHolyCitywithroofandpinnacleaflame，andwallsaglowwithsuchcoloursasnoearthlylimnerdreamsof，andmuchgold。BrotherAmbrosebeheldtheGatesofPearl，andbyeverygateanangelwithwingsofsnowandfire，andafacenomandarelookonbecauseofitsexceedingradiance。
ThenasBrotherAmbrosestretchedouthisarmsbecauseofhisgreatlonging，alittlegreycloudcameoutofthenorthandhungbetweenthewallsoflight，sothathenolongerbeheldtheVision，butonlyheardasoundasofagreatmultitudecrying\'Alleluia\'；andsuddenlythewindscameabouthimagain，andlo！hefoundhimselfinhisbedinthedormitory，anditwasmidnight，forthebellwasringingtoMatins；andheroseandwentdownwiththerest。ButwhentheBrethrenleftthechoirBrotherAmbrosestayedfastinhisplace，hearingandseeingnothingbecauseoftheVisionofGod；andatLaudstheyfoundhimandtoldthePrior。
HequestionedBrotherAmbroseofthematter，andwhenheheardtheVisionbadehimlimntheHolyCityevenashehadseenit；andthePrecentorgavehimuterinevellumandmuchfinegoldandwhatcoloursheaskedforthework。ThenBrotherAmbroselimnedawondrousfaircityofgoldwithturretsandspires；andheinlaidblueforthesapphire，andgreenfortheemerald，andvermilionwherethecityseemedaflamewiththegloryofGod；buttheangelshecouldnotlimn，norcouldhesettherestofthecoloursashesawthem，northewallofstarsoneitherhand；andBrotherAmbrosefellsickbecauseoftheexceedinggreatlonginghehadtolimntheHolyCity，andwasverysad；butthePriorbadehimthankGod，andremembertheinfirmityoftheflesh，which，likethelittlegreycloud，veiledJerusalemtohissight。
AsIwritethemonasterybellhardbyringsoutacrossthelark\'ssong。Theystillhavetimeforvisionsbehindthoseguardingwalls，butformostofusitisnotso。Weletsliptheidealforwhatwecallthereal，andthegoldendreamsvanishwhileweclutchatphantoms:wespeedalonglife\'spathway，countingtothefullthesixtyminutesofeveryhour，yettheraceisnottotheswiftnorthebattletothestrong。Lyinghereinthisquietbackwateritishardtobelievethattheworldwithoutisturbulentwithstormandstressandtheebbandflowofuncertaintides。Thelittleyellowcatrollingonitsbackamongthedaisies，thestaidtortoisemakingastatelymealoffthebuttercupsnearme，thesearegreateventsinthishavenofpeace。Andyet，lookingbacktotheworkingdays，Iknowhowmuchgoodnessandlovingkindnessthereisunderthefrothandfoam。Ifwedonotknowourselveswemostcertainlydonotknowourbrethren:thatrevelationawaitsus，itmaybe，firstinHeaven。Tohavefaithistocreate；tohavehopeistocalldownblessing；tohaveloveistoworkmiracles。Aboveallletusseevisions，visionsofcolourandlight，ofgreenfieldsandbroadrivers，ofpalaceslaidwithfaircolours，andgardenswhereaplaceisfoundforrosemaryandrue。
Itisourprerogativetobedreamers，buttherewillalwaysbemenreadytoofferusdeathforourdreams。Andifitmustbesoletuschoosedeath；itisgain，notloss，andthegloomyportalwhenwereachitisbutawhitegate，thewhitegatemaybewehaveknownallourlivesbarredbythetendrilsofthewoodbine。
CHAPTERIV
RAIN，rain，rain:thelittleflaggedpathoutsidemywindowisastreamingway，wherethecomingraindropsmeetagainthegreycloudswhosestorehousetheyhavebutjustnowleft。ThegrassgrowsgreenerasIwatchit，theburntpatchesfade，athousandthirstybeadsareupliftedforthecoolingdraught。
Thegreatthrushthatrobstheraspberrycanesisbusy；yesterdayhehadlittlebutdustforhisguerdon，butnowfresh，juicyfruitrepayshimasheswingstoandfroonthepliantbranches。Theblackbirdsandstarlingsfindthewormsaneasyprey-poorbrotherwormeverreadyforsacrifice。Icanhearthesoftexpectantchatterofthefamilyofmartinsundertheroof；therewillbegoodhunting，andtheyknowit，forthefliesareoutwhentherainisover，andthereareclamorousmouthsawaiting。Mylittlebrownbrothers，thesparrows，remainmychiefdelight。Ofallthebirdsthesenestleclosesttomyheart，betheygrimylittlecockneysortheirtrimanddaintycountrycousins。Theycomedaybydayfortheirmeedofcrumbsspreadforthemoutsidemywindow，andatthisseasontheyeatleisurelyandwithgoodappetite，fortherearenohungrybabiespesteringtobefed。VeryearlyinthemorningI
hearthewhirrandrustleofeagerwings，andthetap，tap，oflittlebeaksuponthestone。Thesoundcarriesmeback，foritwasthefirsttogreetmewhenIrosetodrawwaterandgatherkindlinginmyroadmenderdays；andifIslipbackanotherdecadetheysurveyme，reprovingmylaziness，fromthefootofthenarrowbedinmylittleatticoverseas。
Lookingalongtheroadwaythatwehavetravelledweseethelandmarks，greatandsmall，whichhavedeterminedthedirectionofourfeet。Forsomethoseofchildhoodstandoutabovealltherest；butIrememberfewnotableones，andthosefewtheemphaticchordoftheuniverse，ratherthananycommercewithmyfellows。
Therewasthenightofmygreatdisappointment，whenIwasbornefrommycomfortablebedtoseethewondersofthemoon\'seclipse。
Disappointmentwassogreatthatitsealedmylips；but，oncebackonmypillow，IsobbedforgriefthatIhadseenawondersofarbelowmyexpectation。ThentherewasanightatWhitby，whenthewindmadespeechimpossible，andtheseasrushedupandoverthegreatlighthouselikethehungryspiritsofthedeep。Ilikebettertorememberthescentofthefirstcowslipfieldunderthewarmsideofthehedge，whenIsangtomyselfforpurejoyoftheircolourandfragrance。Again，therewerethebluebellsinthedesertedquarrylikethebackwashofasouthernsea，andbelowthemtheminiatureforestofshelteringbrackenwithitsquaintconceits；and，crownedaboveall，thedayIstoodonWatcombeDown，andlookedacrossastretchofgoldengorseandnew-turnedblood-
redfield，thegreenoftheheadland，andbeyond，thesapphiresea。
Timesped，andtherecameadaywhenIfirstsetfootonGermansoilandfeltthethrobofitspaternity，thebeatofourcommonLife。Englandismymother，andmostdearlydoIloveherswellingbreastsandwind-swept，salt-strewnhair。Scotlandgavememyname，withitshauntingderivationhandeddownbybravemen；butGermanyhasalwaysbeentometheFatherlandPAREXCELLENCE。True，myloveislimitedtothesouthernprovinces，withtheirmedievalmemories；fortheprogressivegutturalnorthIhavelittlesympathy，buttheRhineclaimedmefromthefirst，calling，calling，withthatwonderfulvoicewhichspeaksofdeathandlife，ofchivalryandgreedofgold。Ifyouwouldhavetheriver\'scompanyyoushouldwander，ahappysolitary，alongitsbanks，watchingitsgleamingcurrentintheearlymorning，itsgoldengloryasitanswersthefarewellofpartingday。Then，inthesilenceofthenight，youcanhearthewashandeddycallingonetoanother，counttheheart-beatsofthegreatbearerofburdens，andwatchinthemoonlightthesistersofthemistastheylamentwithwringinghandsthedaysthataregone。
Theforests，too，arereadywithstoryhidinthefastnessoftheirsolitude，anditisajoytothinkthatthosegreatpines，pointingeverupwards，goforthemostparttocarrythesailsofgreatshipsseekingafarunderopensky。Theforestholdsotherwondersstill。ItseemsbutlastnightthatIwandereddowntheroadwhichledtothelittleunheededvillagewhereIhadmademytemporaryhome。Thewarm-scentedbreathofthepinesandthestillnessofthenightwrappedmeingreatcontent；thesummerlightningleaptinalambentarchacrosstheeast，andthestars，seendimlythroughthesombretreecrests，wereoutrivalledbytheglow-wormswhichshoneincountlesspointsoflightfrombankandhedge；eventwocharcoal-burners，whopassedwithfriendlygreeting，hadwreathedtheirhatswiththelivingflame。Thetinyshiftinglampswereeverywhere；paleyellow，purelywhite，orgreenastheundersideofanorthernwave。Bydaybutanugly，repellentworm；
butdarknesscomes，andlo，astaralight。Natureisfullforusofseeminginconsistenciesandgladsurprises。Theworld\'sasleep，sayyou；onyourearfallsthenightingale\'ssongandthestiroflivingcreaturesinbushandbrake。Themantleofnightfalls，andallunattendedthewindleapsupandscattersthecloudswhichveiltheconstantstars；orinthehourofthegreatdark，dawnpartsthecurtainwiththelongforegleamofthecomingday。Itishardtoturnone\'sbackonnightwithherkissofpeacefortiredeye-
lids，thekisswhichisnotsleepbutitsneglectedforerunner。I
mademywayatlastdowntothevine-girtbridgeasleepunderthestarsandupthewindingstairsoftheoldgreytower；andastone\'s-throwawaytheRhineslippedquietlypastinthemidsummermoonlight。Switzerlandcameinitsturn，unearthlyinitswhitelovelinessandgloryoflakeandsky。ButperhapsthelandmarkwhichstandsoutmostclearlyisthesolitarybluegentianwhichI
foundintheshortslipperygrassoftheRigi，gazingupattheskywhosebluecouldnothopetoexcelit。Itwasmyfirst；andwhatneedofanother，forfindingoneIhadgazedintothemysteryofall。ThissidethePass，snowandtheblueofheaven；laterI
enteredItalythroughfieldsofmany-huedlilies，herpastgloriesblazonedintheflowersofthefield。
NowitisastrangelyuneventfulroadthatleadstomyWhiteGate。
Eachdayquestionsmeasitpasses；eachdaymakesanswerforme\"notyet。\"Thereisnomaterialpreparationtobemadeforthisjourneyofmineintoafarcountry-asimplefactwhichaddstothe\'unknowableness\'oftheotherside。DoItravelalone，oramI
oneofagreatcompany，swiftyetunhurriedintheirpassage？ThevoicesofPenelope\'ssuitorsshrilledontheearsofUlysses，astheyjourneyedtothenether-world，likenocturnalbirdsandbatsintheinarticulatenessoftheirspeech。Theyhadabusedthegift，andfledself-condemned。Maybesilencecommendsitselfasmostsuitableforthewayfarerstowardsthesunrise-silencebecausetheyseektheWord-butforthosehasteningtowardstheconfusiontheyhavewroughttherefallsalreadythesharponcomingofthecurse。
Whilewearestillherethelanguageofworshipseemsfar，andyetliesverynigh；forwhatbetternotecanourfrailtongueslispthanthevoiceofwindandsea，riverandstream，thosegratefulservantsgivingallandaskingnothing，thesoftwhisperofsnowandraineagertoreplenish，orthethunderproclaimingamajestytoogreatforutterance？Here，too，standstheangelwiththecensergatheringupthefragranceofteemingearthandforest-tree，offlowerandfruit，andsweetlypungentherbdistilledbysunandrainforjoyfuluse。Here，too，comeacolyteslightingthedarkwithtapers-sun，moon，andstars-giftsoftheLordthatHissanctuarymaystandeverserved。
Itliesherereadytoourhand，thislifeofadorationwhichweneedsmustlivehandinhandwithearth，forhasshenotbornethecursewithus？Butbeyondthewhitegateandthetrailofwoodbinefallsthesilencegreaterthanspeech，darknessgreaterthanlight，apauseof\"alittlewhile\"；andthenthetouchofthathealinggarmentaswepasstotheKinginHisbeauty，inalandfromwhichthereisnoreturn。
AtthegatewaythenIcryyoufarewell。