seraphita-第24章

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now　sprang　towards　her；　fair　and　glowing　and　lovely　as　the　flowers　she

held　in　her　hand。



〃Child！〃　said　Seraphitus；　advancing　to　meet　her。



Wilfrid　remained　where　she　left　him；　motionless　as　the　rock　on　which

he　stood；　lost　in　thought；　longing　to　let　himself　go　into　the　torrent

of　the　Sieg；　like　the　fallen　trees　which　hurried　past　his　eyes　and

disappeared　in　the　bosom　of　the　gulf。



〃I　gathered　them　for　you；〃　said　Minna；　offering　the　bunch　of

saxifrages　to　the　being　she　adored。　〃One　of　them；　see；　this　one；〃　she

added；　selecting　a　flower；　〃is　like　that　you　found　on　the　Falberg。〃



Seraphitus　looked　alternately　at　the　flower　and　at　Minna。



〃Why　question　me？　Dost　thou　doubt　me？〃



〃No；〃　said　the　young　girl；　〃my　trust　in　you　is　infinite。　You　are　more

beautiful　to　look　upon　than　this　glorious　nature；　but　your　mind

surpasses　in　intellect　that　of　all　humanity。　When　I　have　been　with　you

I　seem　to　have　prayed　to　God。　I　long〃



〃For　what？〃　said　Seraphitus；　with　a　glance　that　revealed　to　the　young

girl　the　vast　distance　which　separated　them。



〃To　suffer　in　your　stead。〃



〃Ah；　dangerous　being！〃　cried　Seraphitus　in　his　heart。　〃Is　it　wrong；　oh

my　God！　to　desire　to　offer　her　to　Thee？　Dost　thou　remember；　Minna；

what　I　said　to　thee　up　there？〃　he　added；　pointing　to　the　summit　of　the

Ice…Cap。



〃He　is　terrible　again；〃　thought　Minna；　trembling　with　fear。



The　voice　of　the　Sieg　accompanied　the　thoughts　of　the　three　beings

united　on　this　platform　of　projecting　rock；　but　separated　in　soul　by

the　abysses　of　the　Spiritual　World。



〃Seraphitus！　teach　me；〃　said　Minna　in　a　silvery　voice；　soft　as　the

motion　of　a　sensitive　plant；　〃teach　me　how　to　cease　to　love　you。　Who

could　fail　to　admire　you；　love　is　an　admiration　that　never　wearies。〃



〃Poor　child！〃　said　Seraphitus；　turning　pale；　〃there　is　but　one　whom

thou　canst　love　in　that　way。〃



〃Who？〃　asked　Minna。



〃Thou　shalt　know　hereafter；〃　he　said；　in　the　feeble　voice　of　a　man　who

lies　down　to　die。



〃Help；　help！　he　is　dying！〃　cried　Minna。



Wilfrid　ran　towards　them。　Seeing　Seraphita　as　she　lay　on　a　fragment　of

gneiss；　where　time　had　cast　its　velvet　mantle　of　lustrous　lichen　and

tawny　mosses　now　burnished　in　the　sunlight；　he　whispered　softly；　〃How

beautiful　she　is！〃



〃One　other　look！　the　last　that　I　shall　ever　cast　upon　this　nature　in

travail；〃　said　Seraphitus；　rallying　her　strength　and　rising　to　her

feet。



She　advanced　to　the　edge　of　the　rocky　platform；　whence　her　eyes　took

in　the　scenery　of　that　grand　and　glorious　landscape；　so　verdant；

flowery；　and　animated；　yet　so　lately　buried　in　its　winding…sheet　of

snow。



〃Farewell；〃　she　said；　〃farewell；　home　of　Earth；　warmed　by　the　fires　of

Love；　where　all　things　press　with　ardent　force　from　the　centre　to　the

extremities；　where　the　extremities　are　gathered　up；　like　a　woman's

hair；　to　weave　the　mysterious　braid　which　binds　us　in　that　invisible

ether　to　the　Thought　Divine！



〃Behold　the　man　bending　above　that　furrow　moistened　with　his　tears；

who　lifts　his　head　for　an　instant　to　question　Heaven；　behold　the　woman

gathering　her　children　that　she　may　feed　them　with　her　milk；　see　him

who　lashes　the　ropes　in　the　height　of　the　gale；　see　her　who　sits　in

the　hollow　of　the　rocks；　awaiting　the　father！　Behold　all　they　who

stretch　their　hands　in　want　after　a　lifetime　spent　in　thankless　toil。

To　all　peace　and　courage；　and　to　all　farewell！



〃Hear　you　the　cry　of　the　soldier；　dying　nameless　and　unknown？　the　wail

of　the　man　deceived　who　weeps　in　the　desert？　To　them　peace　and

courage；　to　all　farewell！



〃Farewell；　you　who　die　for　the　kings　of　the　earth！　Farewell；　ye　people

without　a　country　and　ye　countries　without　a　people；　each；　with　a

mutual　want。　Above　all；　farewell　to　Thee　who　knew　not　where　to　lay　Thy

head；　Exile　divine！　Farewell；　mothers　beside　your　dying　sons！

Farewell；　ye　Little　Ones；　ye　Feeble；　ye　Suffering；　you　whose　sorrows　I

have　so　often　borne！　Farewell；　all　ye　who　have　descended　into　the

sphere　of　Instinct　that　you　may　suffer　there　for　others！



〃Farewell；　ye　mariners　who　seek　the　Orient　through　the　thick　darkness

of　your　abstractions；　vast　as　principles！　Farewell；　martyrs　of

thought；　led　by　thought　into　the　presence　of　the　True　Light。　Farewell；

regions　of　study　where　mine　ears　can　hear　the　plaint　of　genius

neglected　and　insulted；　the　sigh　of　the　patient　scholar　to　whom

enlightenment　comes　too　late！



〃I　see　the　angelic　choir；　the　wafting　of　perfumes；　the　incense　of　the

heart　of　those　who　go　their　way　consoling；　praying；　imparting

celestial　balm　and　living　light　to　suffering　souls！　Courage；　ye　choir

of　Love！　you　to　whom　the　peoples　cry；　'Comfort　us；　comfort　us；　defend

us！'　To　you　courage！　and　farewell！



〃Farewell；　ye　granite　rocks　that　shall　bloom　a　flower；　farewell；

flower　that　becomes　a　dove；　farewell；　dove　that　shalt　be　woman；

farewell；　woman；　who　art　Suffering；　man；　who　art　Belief！　Farewell；　you

who　shall　be　all　love；　all　prayer！〃



Broken　with　fatigue；　this　inexplicable　being　leaned　for　the　first　time

on　Wilfrid　and　on　Minna　to　be　taken　home。　Wilfrid　and　Minna　felt　the

shock　of　a　mysterious　contact　in　and　through　the　being　who　thus

connected　them。　They　had　scarcely　advanced　a　few　steps　when　David　met

them；　weeping。　〃She　will　die；〃　he　said；　〃why　have　you　brought　her

hither？〃



The　old　man　raised　her　in　his　arms　with　the　vigor　of　youth　and　bore

her　to　the　gate　of　the　Swedish　castle　like　an　eagle　bearing　a　white

lamb　to　his　mountain　eyrie。







CHAPTER　VI



THE　PATH　TO　HEAVEN



The　day　succeeding　that　on　which　Seraphita　foresaw　her　death　and　bade

farewell　to　Earth；　as　a　prisoner　looks　round　his　dungeon　before

leaving　it　forever；　she　suffered　pains　which　obliged　her　to　remain　in

the　helpless　immobility　of　those　whose　pangs　are　great。　Wilfrid　and

Minna　went　to　see　her；　and　found　her　lying　on　her　couch　of　furs。　Still

veiled　in　flesh；　her　soul　shone　through　that　veil；　which　grew　more　and

more　transparent　day　by　day。　The　progress　of　the　Spirit；　piercing　the

last　obstacle　between　itself　and　the　Infinite；　was　called　an　illness；

the　hour　of　Life　went　by　the　name　of　death。　David　wept　as　he　watched

her　sufferings；　unreasonable　as　a　child；　he　would　not　listen　to　his

mistress's　consolations。　Monsieur　Becker　wished　Seraphita　to　try

remedies；　but　all　were　useless。



One　morning　she　sent　for　the　two　beings　whom　she　loved；　telling　them

that　this　would　be　the　last　of　her　bad　days。　Wilfrid　and　Minna　came　in

terror；　knowing　well　that　they　were　about　to　lose　her。　Seraphita

smiled　to　them　as　one　departing　to　a　better　world；　her　head　drooped

like　a　flower　heavy　with　dew；　which　opens　its　calyx　for　the　last　time

to　waft　its　fragrance　on　the　breeze。　She　looked　at　these　friends　with

a　sadness　that　was　for　them；　not　for　herself；　she　thought　no　longer　of

herself；　and　they　felt　this　with　a　grief　mingled　with　gratitude　which

they　were　unable　to　express。　Wilfrid　stood　silent　and　motionless；　lost

in　thoughts　excited　by　events　whose　vast　bearings　enabled　him　to

conceive　of　some　illimitable　immensity。



Emboldened　by　the　weakness　of　the　being　lately　so　powerful；　or　perhaps

by　the　fear　of　losing　him　forever；　Minna　bent　down　over　the　couch　and

said；　〃Seraphitus；　let　me　follow　thee！〃



〃Can　I　forbid　thee？〃



〃Why　will　thou　not　love　me　enough　to　stay　with　me？〃



〃I　can　love　nothing　here。〃



〃What　canst　thou　love？〃



〃Heaven。〃



〃Is　it　worthy　of　heaven　to　despise　the　creatures　of　God？〃



〃Minna；　can　we　love　two　beings　at　once？　Would　our　beloved　be　indeed

our　beloved　if　he　did　not　fill　our　hearts？　Must　he　not　be　the　first；

the　last；　the　only　one？　She　who　is　all　love；　must　she　not　leave　the

world　for　her　beloved？　Human　ties　are　but　a　memory；　she　has　no　ties

except　to　him！　Her　soul　is　hers　no　longer；　it　is　his。　If　she　keeps

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；　si