Whatasightitwas——nowtheone,nowtheotheruppermost,bothtoointentforanynoisebeyondalowgrowl,awhimperedcry,orasnarlofhate——followedbyaquickerscramblingofclaws,aseach,worryingandpushinganddragging,struggledforfootholdonthepavement！
Thespottedleopardesswaslargerthanthewhite,andIwasanxiousformyfriend;butIsoonsawthat,thoughneitherstrongernormoreactive,thewhiteleopardesshadthegreaterendurance。Notoncedidsheloseherholdontheneckoftheother。Fromthespottedthroatatlengthissuedahowlofagony,changing,byswift—crowdedgradations,intothelong—drawnCRESCENDOofawoman\'suttermostwail。Thewhiteonerelaxedherjaws;thespottedonedrewherselfaway,androseonherhindlegs。Erectinthemoonlightstoodtheprincess,aconfusedrushofshadowscareeringoverherwhiteness——thespotsoftheleopardcrowding,hurrying,fleeingtotherefugeofhereyes,wheremergingtheyvanished。
Thelastfew,outspedandbelated,mingledwiththecloudofherstreamyhair,leavingherradiantasthemoonwhenalegionoflittlevapourshasflown,wind—hunted,offhersilverydisc——savethat,adownthewhitecolumnofherthroat,athreadofbloodstilltrickledfromeverywoundofheradversary\'sterribleteeth。Sheturnedaway,tookafewstepswiththegaitofaHecate,fell,coveredafreshwithherspots,andfledatalong,stretchinggallop。
Thewhiteleopardessturnedalso,spranguponme,pulledmyarmsasunder,caughtthebabyasitfell,andflewwithitalongthestreettowardthegateCHAPTERXXVII
THESILENTFOUNTAIN
Iturnedandfollowedthespottedleopardess,catchingbutoneglimpseofherasshetoreupthebrowofthehilltothegateofthepalace。WhenIreachedtheentrance—hall,theprincesswasjustthrowingtherobearoundherwhichshehadleftonthefloor。
Thebloodhadceasedtoflowfromherwounds,andhaddriedinthewindofherflight。
Whenshesawme,aflashofangercrossedherface,andsheturnedherheadaside。Then,withanattemptedsmile,shelookedatme,andsaid,\"Ihavemetwithasmallaccident！Happeningtohearthatthecat—womanwasagaininthecity,Iwentdowntosendheraway。Butshehadoneofherhorridcreatureswithher:itspranguponme,andhaditsclawsinmyneckbeforeIcouldstrikeit！\"
Shegaveashiver,andIcouldnothelppityingher,althoughI
knewshelied,forherwoundswerereal,andherfaceremindedmeofhowshelookedinthecave。MyheartbegantoreproachmethatIhadletherfightunaided,andIsupposeIlookedthecompassionIfelt。
\"Childoffolly！\"shesaid,withanotherattemptedsmile,\"——notcrying,surely！——Waitformehere;Iamgoingintotheblackhallforamoment。Iwantyoutogetmesomethingformyscratches。\"
ButIfollowedherclose。OutofmysightIfearedher。
Theinstanttheprincessentered,Iheardabuzzingsoundasofmanylowvoices,and,oneportionafteranother,theassemblybegantobeshiftinglyilluminated,asbyaraythatwenttravellingfromspottospot。Groupaftergroupwouldshineoutforaspace,thensinkbackintothegeneralvagueness,whileanotherpartofthevastcompanywouldgrowmomentlybright。
Someoftheactionsgoingonwhenthusilluminated,werenotunknowntome;Ihadbeeninthem,orhadlookedonthem,andsohadtheprincess:presentwitheveryoneofthemInowsawher。Theskull—headeddancersfootedthegrassintheforest—hall:therewastheprincesslookinginatthedoor！ThefightwentonintheEvilWood:therewastheprincessurgingit！YetIwasclosebehindherallthetime,shestandingmotionless,herheadsunkonherbosom。
Theconfusedmurmurcontinued,theconfusedcommotionofcoloursandshapes;andstilltheraywentshiftingandshowing。Itsettledatlastonthehollowintheheath,andtherewastheprincess,walkingupanddown,andtryinginvaintowrapthevapouraroundher！ThenfirstIwasstartledatwhatIsaw:theoldlibrarianwalkeduptoher,andstoodforamomentregardingher;shefell;
herlimbsforsookherandfled;herbodyvanished。
Awildshriekrangthroughtheechoingplace,andwiththefallofhereidolon,theprincessherself,tillthenstandinglikeastatueinfrontofme,fellheavily,andlaystill。Iturnedatonceandwentout:notagainwouldIseektorestoreher！AsIstoodtremblingbesidethecage,IknewthatintheblackellipsoidIhadbeeninthebrainoftheprincess！——Isawthetailoftheleopardessquiveronce。
Whilestillendeavouringtocomposemyself,Iheardthevoiceoftheprincessbesideme。
\"Comenow,\"shesaid;\"IwillshowyouwhatIwantyoutodoforme。\"
Sheledthewayintothecourt。Ifollowedindazedcompliance。
Themoonwasnearthezenith,andherpresentsilverseemedbrighterthanthegoldoftheabsentsun。Shebroughtmethroughthetreestothetallestofthem,theoneinthecentre。Itwasnotquiteliketherest,foritsbranches,drawingtheirendstogetheratthetop,madeaclumpthatlookedfrombeneathlikeafir—cone。Theprincessstoodcloseunderit,gazingup,andsaid,asiftalkingtoherself,\"Onthesummitofthattreegrowsatinyblossomwhichwouldatoncehealmyscratches！Imightbeadoveforamomentandfetchit,butIseealittlesnakeintheleaveswhosebitewouldbeworsetoadovethanthebiteofatigertome！——HowIhatethatcat—woman！\"
Sheturnedtomequickly,sayingwithoneofhersweetestsmiles,\"Canyouclimb？\"
Thesmilevanishedwiththebriefquestion,andherfacechangedtoalookofsadnessandsuffering。Ioughttohavelefthertosuffer,butthewaysheputherhandtoherwoundedneckwenttomyheart。
Iconsideredthetree。Allthewayuptothebranches,wereprojectionsonthestemliketheremnantsonapalmofitsfallenleaves。
\"Icanclimbthattree,\"Ianswered。
\"Notwithbarefeet！\"shereturned。
Inmyhastetofollowtheleopardessdisappearing,Ihadleftmysandalsinmyroom。
\"Itisnomatter,\"Isaid;\"Ihavelonggonebarefoot！\"
AgainIlookedatthetree,andmyeyeswentwanderingupthestemuntilmysightlostitselfinthebranches。Themoonshonelikesilveryfoamhereandthereontheruggedbole,andalittlerushofwindwentthroughthetopwithamurmuroussoundasofwaterfallingsoftlyintowater。Iapproachedthetreetobeginmyascentofit。Theprincessstoppedme。
\"Icannotletyouattemptitwithyourfeetbare！\"sheinsisted。
\"Afallfromthetopwouldkillyou！\"
\"Sowouldabitefromthesnake！\"Ianswered——notbelieving,I
confess,thattherewasanysnake。
\"ItwouldnothurtYOU！\"shereplied。\"——Waitamoment。\"
Shetorefromhergarmentthetwowidebordersthatmetinfront,andkneelingononeknee,mademeputfirstmyleftfoot,thenmyrightontheother,andboundthemaboutwiththethickembroideredstrips。
\"Youhavelefttheendshanging,princess！\"Isaid。
\"Ihavenothingtocutthemoffwith;buttheyarenotlongenoughtogetentangled,\"shereplied。
Iturnedtothetree,andbegantoclimb。
NowinBulikathecoldaftersundownwasnotsogreatasincertainotherpartsofthecountry——especiallyaboutthesexton\'scottage;
yetwhenIhadclimbedalittleway,Ibegantofeelverycold,grewstillcolderasIascended,andbecamecoldestofallwhenIgotamongthebranches。ThenIshivered,andseemedtohavelostmyhandsandfeet。
Therewashardlyanywind,andthebranchesdidnotswayintheleast,yet,asIapproachedthesummit,Ibecameawareofapeculiarunsteadiness:everybranchonwhichIplacedfootorlaidhold,seemedonthepointofgivingway。Whenmyheadroseabovethebranchesnearthetop,andintheopenmoonlightIbegantolookaboutfortheblossom,thatinstantIfoundmyselfdrenchedfromheadtofoot。Thenext,asifplungedinastormywater,Iwasflungaboutwildly,andfeltmyselfsinking。Tossedupanddown,tossedthiswayandtossedthatway,rolledoverandover,checked,rolledtheotherwayandtossedupagain,Iwassinkinglowerandlower。Gaspingandgurglingandchoking,Ifellatlastuponasolidbottom。
\"Itoldyouso！\"croakedavoiceinmyear。
CHAPTERXXVIII
IAMSILENCED
Irubbedthewateroutofmyeyes,andsawtheravenontheedgeofahugestonebasin。Withthecoldlightofthedawnreflectedfromhisglossyplumage,hestoodcalmlylookingdownuponme。Ilayonmybackinwater,abovewhich,leaningonmyelbows,Ijustliftedmyface。Iwasinthebasinofthelargefountainconstructedbymyfatherinthemiddleofthelawn。Highovermeglimmeredthethick,steel—shinystalk,shooting,withatorrentuprush,ahundredfeetintotheair,tospreadinablossomoffoam。
Nettledatthecoolnessoftheraven\'sremark,\"Youtoldmenothing！\"Isaid。
\"Itoldyoutodonothinganyoneyoudistrustedaskedyou！\"
\"Tut！howwasmortaltorememberthat？\"
\"Youwillnotforgettheconsequencesofhavingforgottenit！\"
repliedMr。Raven,whostoodleaningoverthemarginofthebasin,andstretchedhishandacrosstome。
Itookit,andwasimmediatelybesidehimonthelawn,drippingandstreaming。
\"Youmustchangeyourclothesatonce！\"hesaid。\"Awettingdoesnotsignifywhereyoucomefrom——thoughatpresentsuchanaccidentisunusual;hereithasitsinconveniences！\"
Hewasagainaraven,walking,withsomethingstatelyinhisstep,towardthehouse,thedoorofwhichstoodopen。
\"Ihavenotmuchtochange！\"Ilaughed;forIhadflungasidemyrobetoclimbthetree。
\"ItisalongtimesinceImoultedafeather！\"saidtheraven。
Inthehousenooneseemedawake。Iwenttomyroom,foundadressing—gown,anddescendedtothelibrary。
AsIentered,thelibrariancamefromthecloset。Ithrewmyselfonacouch。Mr。Ravendrewachairtomysideandsatdown。Foraminuteortwoneitherspoke。Iwasthefirsttobreakthesilence。
\"Whatdoesitallmean？\"Isaid。
\"Agoodquestion！\"herejoined:\"nobodyknowswhatanythingis;amancanlearnonlywhatathingmeans！Whetherhedo,dependsontheuseheismakingofit。\"
\"Ihavemadenouseofanythingyet！\"
\"Notmuch;butyouknowthefact,andthatissomething！Mostpeopletakemorethanalifetimetolearnthattheyhavelearnednothing,anddoneless！Atleastyouhavenotbeenwithoutthedesiretobeofuse！\"
\"Ididwanttodosomethingforthechildren——thepreciousLittleOnes,Imean。\"
\"Iknowyoudid——andstartedthewrongway！\"
\"Ididnotknowtherightway。\"
\"Thatistruealso——butyouaretoblamethatyoudidnot。\"
\"Iamreadytobelievewhateveryoutellme——assoonasIunderstandwhatitmeans。\"
\"Hadyouacceptedourinvitation,youwouldhaveknowntherightway。Whenamanwillnotactwhereheis,hemustgofartofindhiswork。\"
\"IndeedIhavegonefar,andgotnowhere,forIhavenotfoundmywork！Ileftthechildrentolearnhowtoservethem,andhaveonlylearnedthedangertheyarein。\"
\"Whenyouwerewiththem,youwerewhereyoucouldhelpthem:youleftyourworktolookforit！Ittakesawisemantoknowwhentogoaway;afoolmaylearntogobackatonce！\"
\"Doyoumean,sir,IcouldhavedonesomethingfortheLittleOnesbystayingwiththem？\"
\"Couldyouteachthemanythingbyleavingthem？\"
\"No;buthowcouldIteachthem？Ididnotknowhowtobegin。
Besides,theywerefaraheadofme！\"
\"Thatistrue。Butyouwerenotarodtomeasurethemwith！
Certainly,iftheyknewwhatyouknow,nottosaywhatyoumighthaveknown,theywouldbeaheadofyou——outofsightahead！butyousawtheywerenotgrowing——orgrowingsoslowlythattheyhadnotyetdevelopedtheideaofgrowing！theywereevenafraidofgrowing！——Youhadneverseenchildrenremainchildren！\"
\"ButsurelyIhadnopowertomakethemgrow！\"
\"Youmighthaveremovedsomeofthehindrancestotheirgrowing！\"
\"Whatarethey？Idonotknowthem。Ididthinkperhapsitwasthewantofwater！\"
\"Ofcourseitis！theyhavenonetocrywith！\"
\"Iwouldgladlyhavekeptthemfromrequiringanyforthatpurpose！\"
\"Nodoubtyouwould——theaimofallstupidphilanthropists！Why,Mr。Vane,butfortheweepinginit,yourworldwouldneverhavebecomeworthsaving！Youconfessyouthoughtitmightbewatertheywanted:whydidnotyoudigthemawellortwo？\"
\"Thatneverenteredmymind！\"
\"Notwhenthesoundsofthewatersundertheearthenteredyourears？\"
\"Ibelieveitdidonce。ButIwasafraidofthegiantsforthem。
Thatwaswhatmademebearsomuchfromthebrutesmyself！\"
\"IndeedyoualmosttaughtthenoblelittlecreaturestobeafraidofthestupidBags！Whiletheyfedandcomfortedandworshippedyou,allthetimeyousubmittedtobetheslaveofbestialmen！
Yougavethedarlingsaseemingcowardfortheirhero！Aworsewrongyoucouldhardlyhavedonethem。Theygaveyoutheirhearts;
youowedthemyoursoul！——YoumightbythistimehavemadetheBagshewersofwoodanddrawersofwatertotheLittleOnes！\"
\"Ifearwhatyousayistrue,Mr。Raven！ButindeedIwasafraidthatmoreknowledgemightproveaninjurytothem——renderthemlessinnocent,lesslovely。\"
\"Theyhadgivenyounoreasontoharboursuchafear！\"
\"Isnotalittleknowledgeadangerousthing？\"
\"Thatisoneofthepetfalsehoodsofyourworld！Isman\'sgreatestknowledgemorethanalittle？orisitthereforedangerous？Thefancythatknowledgeisinitselfagreatthing,wouldmakeanydegreeofknowledgemoredangerousthananyamountofignorance。
Toknowallthingswouldnotbegreatness。\"
\"Atleastitwasforloveofthem,notfromcowardicethatIservedthegiants！\"
\"Granted。ButyououghttohaveservedtheLittleOnes,notthegiants！YououghttohavegiventheLittleOneswater;thentheywouldsoonhavetaughtthegiantstheirtrueposition。Inthemeantimeyoucouldyourselfhavemadethegiantscutdowntwo—thirdsoftheircoarsefruit—treestogiveroomtothelittledelicateones！YoulostyourchancewiththeLovers,Mr。Vane！Youspeculatedabouttheminsteadofhelpingthem！\"
CHAPTERXXIX
THEPERSIANCAT
Isatinsilenceandshame。Whathesaidwastrue:IhadnotbeenawiseneighbourtotheLittleOnes！
Mr。Ravenresumed:
\"Youwrongedatthesametimethestupidcreaturesthemselves。Forthemslaverywouldhavebeenprogress。Tothemafewsuchlessonsasyoucouldhavegiventhemwithastickfromoneoftheirowntrees,wouldhavebeeninvaluable。\"
\"Ididnotknowtheywerecowards！\"
\"Whatdifferencedoesthatmake？Themanwhogroundshisactiononanother\'scowardice,isessentiallyacowardhimself。——Ifearworsewillcomeofit！BythistimetheLittleOnesmighthavebeenabletoprotectthemselvesfromtheprincess,nottosaythegiants——theywerealwaysfitenoughforthat;asitwastheylaughedatthem！
butnow,throughyourrelationswithher,————\"
\"Ihateher！\"Icried。
\"Didyouletherknowyouhatedher？\"
AgainIwassilent。
\"Noteventoherhaveyoubeenfaithful！——Buthush！wewerefollowedfromthefountain,Ifear！\"
\"NolivingcreaturedidIsee！——exceptadisreputable—lookingcatthatboltedintotheshrubbery。\"
\"ItwasamagnificentPersian——sowetanddraggled,though,astolookwhatshewas——worsethandisreputable！\"
\"Whatdoyoumean,Mr。Raven？\"Icried,afreshhorrortakingmebythethroat。\"——TherewasabeautifulbluePersianaboutthehouse,butshefledattheverysoundofwater！——Couldshehavebeenafterthegoldfish？\"
\"Weshallsee！\"returnedthelibrarian。\"Iknowalittleaboutcatsofseveralsorts,andthereisthatintheroomwhichwillunmaskthisone,orIammistakeninher。\"
Herose,wenttothedoorofthecloset,broughtfromitthemutilatedvolume,andsatdownagainbesideme。Istaredatthebookinhishand:itwasawholebook,entireandsound！
\"Wherewastheotherhalfofit？\"Igasped。
\"Stickingthroughintomylibrary,\"heanswered。
Iheldmypeace。Asinglequestionmorewouldhavebeenaplungeintoabottomlesssea,andtheremightbenotime！
\"Listen,\"hesaid:\"Iamgoingtoreadastanzaortwo。Thereisonepresentwho,Iimagine,willhardlyenjoythereading！\"
Heopenedthevellumcover,andturnedaleafortwo。Theparchmentwasdiscolouredwithage,andoneleafshowedadarkstainovertwo—thirdsofit。Heslowlyturnedthisalso,andseemedlookingforacertainpassageinwhatappearedacontinuouspoem。Somewhereaboutthemiddleofthebookhebegantoread。
Butwhatfollowsrepresents——notwhatheread,onlytheimpressionitmadeuponme。ThepoemseemedinalanguageIhadneverbeforeheard,whichyetIunderstoodperfectly,althoughIcouldnotwritethewords,orgivetheirmeaningsaveinpoorapproximation。Thesefragments,then,aretheshapeswhichthosehereadhavefinallytakeninpassingagainthroughmybrain:——
\"ButifIfoundamanthatcouldbelieveInwhathesawnot,feltnot,andyetknew,FromhimIshouldtakesubstance,andreceiveFirmnessandformrelatetotouchandview;
ThenshouldIclothemeinthelikenesstrueOfthatideawherehissouldidcleave！\"
Heturnedaleafandreadagain:——
\"Inmewaseverywoman。IhadpowerOverthesoulofeverylivingman,Suchasnowomaneverhadindower——
Couldwhatnowomanevercould,orcan;
Allwomen,I,thewoman,stilloutran,Outsoared,outsank,outreigned,inhallorbower。
\"ForI,thoughmeheneithersawnorheard,Norwithhishandcouldtouchfingerofmine,AlthoughnotoncemybreathhadeverstirredAhairofhim,couldtrammelbrainandspineWithrootedbondswhichDeathcouldnotuntwine——
Orlife,thoughhopewereevermoredeferred。\"
Againhepaused,againturnedaleaf,andagainbegan:——
\"ForbyhissideIlay,abodilessthing;
Ibreathednot,sawnot,feltnot,onlythought,Andmadehimloveme——withahungeringAfterheknewnotwhat——ifitwasaughtOrbutanamelesssomethingthatwaswroughtByhimoutofhimself;forIdidsing\"Asongthathadnosoundintohissoul;
Ilayaheartlessthingagainsthisheart,GivinghimnothingwherehegavehiswholeBeingtoclothemehuman,everypart:
ThatIatlastintohissensemightdart,ThusfirstintohislivingmindIstole。
\"Ah,whowaseverconqueringLovebutI！
Whoelsedideverthroneinheartofman！
Tovisiblebeing,withagladsomecryWaking,life\'stremorthroughmethrobbingran！\"
Astrange,repulsivefelinewailarosesomewhereintheroom。I
starteduponmyelbowandstaredaboutme,butcouldseenothing。
Mr。Raventurnedseveralleaves,andwenton:——
\"SuddenIwoke,norknewtheghastlyfearThatheldme——notlikeserpentcoiledabout,Butlikeavapourmoist,corrupt,anddrear,Fillingheart,soul,andbreastandbrainthroughout;
Mybeinglaymotionlessinsickeningdoubt,Nordaredtoaskhowcamethehorrorhere。
\"MypastentireIknew,butnotmynow;
IunderstoodnorwhatIwas,norwhere;
IknewwhatIhadbeen:stillonmybrowIfeltthetouchofwhatnomorewasthere！
Iwasafainting,dead,yetliveDespair;
Alifethatfloutedlifewithmopandmow！
\"ThatIwasaqueenIknewrightwell,AndsometimesworeasplendouronmyheadWhoseflashingevendeaddarknesscouldnotquell——
Thelikeonneckandarmsandgirdle—stead;
AndmendeclaredalightmyclosedeyesshedThatkilledthediamondinitssilvercell。\"
AgainIheardtheuglycryoffelinepain。AgainIlooked,butsawneithershapenormotion。Mr。Ravenseemedtolistenamoment,butagainturnedseveralpages,andresumed:——
\"Hideouslywet,myhairofgoldenhueFouledmyfairhands:tohaveitswiftlyshornIhadgivenmyrubies,allformedugnew——
Noeyeshadseen,andsuchnowaisthadworn！
Foradraughtofwaterfromadrinkinghorn,Foronebluebreath,Ihadgivenmysapphiresblue！
\"Nay,Ihadgivenmyopalsforasmock,Apeasant—maiden\'sgarment,coarseandclean:
Myshroudwasrotting！OnceIheardacockLustilycrowuponthehillockgreenOvermycoffin。Dulledbyspacebetween,Camebackananswerlikeaghostlymock。\"
Oncemorearosethebestialwail。
\"Ithoughtsomefoulthingwasintheroom！\"saidthelibrarian,castingaglancearoundhim;butinstantlyheturnedaleafortwo,andagainread:——
\"ForIhadbathedinmilkandhoney—dew,Inrainfromrosesshook,thatne\'ertouchedearth,Andointedmewithnardofamberhue;
Neverhadspotmespottedfrommybirth,Ormole,orscarofhurt,orfretofdearth;
Neveronehairsuperfluousonmegrew。
\"Fleeingcoldwhiteness,Iwouldsitalone——
Notinthesun——Ifearedhisbronzinglight,ButinhisradiancebackaroundmethrownByfulgentmirrorstemperinghismight;
Thusbathinginamoon—bathnottoobright,MyskinItintedslowtoivorytone。
\"Butnow,allroundwasdark,darkallwithin！
Myeyesnotevengaveoutaphantom—flash;
Myfingerssankinpulpthroughpulpyskin;
Mybodylaydeath—welteredinamashOfslimyhorrors————\"
Withafearsomeyell,herclammyfurstaringinclumps,hertailthickasacable,hereyesflashinggreenasachrysoprase,herdistendedclawsentanglingthemselvessothatsheflounderedacrossthecarpet,ahugewhitecatrushedfromsomewhere,andmadeforthechimney。Quickasthoughtthelibrarianthrewthemanuscriptbetweenherandthehearth。Shecrouchedinstantly,hereyesfixedonthebook。Buthisvoicewentonasifstillheread,andhiseyesseemedalsofixedonthebook:——
\"Ah,thetwoworlds！sostrangelyaretheyone,Andyetsomeasurelesslywideapart！
Oh,hadIlivedthebodilessaloneAndfromdefilingsenseheldsafemyheart,ThenhadIscapedthecankerandthesmart,Scapedlife—in—death,scapedmisery\'sendlessmoan！\"
Atthesewordssuchahowling,suchaprolongedyellofagonyburstfromthecat,thatwebothstoppedourears。Whenitceased,Mr。Ravenwalkedtothefire—place,tookupthebook,and,standingbetweenthecreatureandthechimney,pointedhisfingeratherforamoment。Shelayperfectlystill。Hetookahalf—burntstickfromthehearth,drewwithitsomesignonthefloor,putthemanuscriptbackinitsplace,withalookthatseemedtosay,\"Nowwehaveher,Ithink！\"and,returningtothecat,stoodoverherandsaid,inastill,solemnvoice:——
\"Lilith,whenyoucamehereonthewaytoyourevilwill,youlittlethoughtintowhosehandsyouweredeliveringyourself！——
Mr。Vane,whenGodcreatedme,——notoutofNothing,assaytheunwise,butoutofHisownendlessglory——Hebroughtmeanangelicsplendourtobemywife:thereshelies！ForherfirstthoughtwasPOWER;shecounteditslaverytobeonewithme,andbearchildrenforHimwhogaveherbeing。Onechild,indeed,shebore;
then,puffedwiththefancythatshehadcreatedher,wouldhavemefalldownandworshipher！Finding,however,thatIwouldbutloveandhonour,neverobeyandworshipher,shepouredoutherbloodtoescapeme,fledtothearmyofthealiens,andsoonhadsoensnaredtheheartofthegreatShadow,thathebecameherslave,wroughtherwill,andmadeherqueenofHell。Howitiswithhernow,shebestknows,butIknowalso。Theonechildofherbodyshefearsandhates,andwouldkill,assertingaright,whichisalie,overwhatGodsentthroughherintoHisnewworld。Ofcreating,sheknowsnomorethanthecrystalthattakesitsallottedshape,orthewormthatmakestwowormswhenitisclovenasunder。VilestofGod\'screatures,shelivesbythebloodandlivesandsoulsofmen。Sheconsumesandslays,butispowerlesstodestroyastocreate。\"
Theanimallaymotionless,itsberyleyesfixedflamingontheman:
hiseyesonhersheldthemfixedthattheycouldnotmovefromhis。
\"ThenGodgavemeanotherwife——notanangelbutawoman——whoistothisaslightistodarkness。\"
Thecatgaveahorriblescreech,andbegantogrowbigger。Shewentongrowingandgrowing。Atlastthespottedleopardessutteredaroarthatmadethehousetremble。Isprangtomyfeet。IdonotthinkMr。Ravenstartedevenwithhiseyelids。
\"Itisbutherjealousythatspeaks,\"hesaid,\"jealousyself—kindled,foiledandfruitless;forhereIam,hermasternowwhomshe,wouldnothaveforherhusband！whilemybeautifulEveyetlives,hopingimmortally！Herhateddaughterlivesalso,butbeyondherevilken,onedaytobewhatshecountsherdestruction——forevenLilithshallbesavedbyherchildbearing。Meanwhilesheexultsthatmyhumanwifeplungedherselfandmeindespair,andhasbornemeacountlessraceofmiserables;butmyEverepented,andisnowbeautifulasneverwaswomanorangel,whilehergroaning,travailingworldisthenurseryofourFather\'schildren。Itoohaverepented,andamblessed。——Thou,Lilith,hastnotyetrepented;butthoumust。——Tellme,isthegreatShadowbeautiful？Knowestthouhowlongthouwiltthyselfremainbeautiful？——Answerme,ifthouknowest。\"