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diff --git a/old/1432-h/1432-h.htm b/old/1432-h/1432-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c0764ed --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1432-h/1432-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6364 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Seraphita, by Honore de Balzac + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Seraphita, by Honore de Balzac + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Seraphita + +Author: Honore de Balzac + +Translator: Katharine Prescott Wormeley + +Release Date: February 24, 2010 [EBook #1432] +Last Updated: November 23, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SERAPHITA *** + + + + +Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + SERAPHITA + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Honore De Balzac + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + Translated by Katharine Prescott Wormeley + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + DEDICATION + + To Madame Eveline de Hanska, nee Comtesse Rzewuska. + + Madame,—Here is the work which you asked of me. I am happy, in + thus dedicating it, to offer you a proof of the respectful + affection you allow me to bear you. If I am reproached for + impotence in this attempt to draw from the depths of mysticism a + book which seeks to give, in the lucid transparency of our + beautiful language, the luminous poesy of the Orient, to you the + blame! Did you not command this struggle (resembling that of + Jacob) by telling me that the most imperfect sketch of this + Figure, dreamed of by you, as it has been by me since childhood, + would still be something to you? + + Here, then, it is,—that something. Would that this book could + belong exclusively to noble spirits, preserved like yours from + worldly pettiness by solitude! THEY would know how to give to it + the melodious rhythm that it lacks, which might have made it, in + the hands of a poet, the glorious epic that France still awaits. + But from me they must accept it as one of those sculptured + balustrades, carved by a hand of faith, on which the pilgrims + lean, in the choir of some glorious church, to think upon the end + of man. + + I am, madame, with respect, + Your devoted servant, + De Balzac. +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <h3> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> SERAPHITA </a> + </h3> + <h3> + </h3> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </td> + <td> + SERAPHITUS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> + </td> + <td> + SERAPHITA + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. </a> + </td> + <td> + SERAPHITA-SERAPHITUS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE CLOUDS OF THE SANCTUARY + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> + </td> + <td> + FAREWELL + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE PATH TO HEAVEN + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE ASSUMPTION + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h1> + SERAPHITA + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. SERAPHITUS + </h2> + <p> + As the eye glances over a map of the coasts of Norway, can the imagination + fail to marvel at their fantastic indentations and serrated edges, like a + granite lace, against which the surges of the North Sea roar incessantly? + Who has not dreamed of the majestic sights to be seen on those beachless + shores, of that multitude of creeks and inlets and little bays, no two of + them alike, yet all trackless abysses? We may almost fancy that Nature + took pleasure in recording by ineffaceable hieroglyphics the symbol of + Norwegian life, bestowing on these coasts the conformation of a fish’s + spine, fishery being the staple commerce of the country, and well-nigh the + only means of living of the hardy men who cling like tufts of lichen to + the arid cliffs. Here, through fourteen degrees of longitude, barely seven + hundred thousand souls maintain existence. Thanks to perils devoid of + glory, to year-long snows which clothe the Norway peaks and guard them + from profaning foot of traveller, these sublime beauties are virgin still; + they will be seen to harmonize with human phenomena, also virgin—at + least to poetry—which here took place, the history of which it is + our purpose to relate. + </p> + <p> + If one of these inlets, mere fissures to the eyes of the eider-ducks, is + wide enough for the sea not to freeze between the prison-walls of rock + against which it surges, the country-people call the little bay a “fiord,”—a + word which geographers of every nation have adopted into their respective + languages. Though a certain resemblance exists among all these fiords, + each has its own characteristics. The sea has everywhere forced its way as + through a breach, yet the rocks about each fissure are diversely rent, and + their tumultuous precipices defy the rules of geometric law. Here the + scarp is dentelled like a saw; there the narrow ledges barely allow the + snow to lodge or the noble crests of the Northern pines to spread + themselves; farther on, some convulsion of Nature may have rounded a + coquettish curve into a lovely valley flanked in rising terraces with + black-plumed pines. Truly we are tempted to call this land the Switzerland + of Ocean. + </p> + <p> + Midway between Trondhjem and Christiansand lies an inlet called the + Strom-fiord. If the Strom-fiord is not the loveliest of these rocky + landscapes, it has the merit of displaying the terrestrial grandeurs of + Norway, and of enshrining the scenes of a history that is indeed + celestial. + </p> + <p> + The general outline of the Strom-fiord seems at first sight to be that of + a funnel washed out by the sea. The passage which the waves have forced + present to the eye an image of the eternal struggle between old Ocean and + the granite rock,—two creations of equal power, one through inertia, + the other by ceaseless motion. Reefs of fantastic shape run out on either + side, and bar the way of ships and forbid their entrance. The intrepid + sons of Norway cross these reefs on foot, springing from rock to rock, + undismayed at the abyss—a hundred fathoms deep and only six feet + wide—which yawns beneath them. Here a tottering block of gneiss + falling athwart two rocks gives an uncertain footway; there the hunters or + the fishermen, carrying their loads, have flung the stems of fir-trees in + guise of bridges, to join the projecting reefs, around and beneath which + the surges roar incessantly. This dangerous entrance to the little bay + bears obliquely to the right with a serpentine movement, and there + encounters a mountain rising some twenty-five hundred feet above + sea-level, the base of which is a vertical palisade of solid rock more + than a mile and a half long, the inflexible granite nowhere yielding to + clefts or undulations until it reaches a height of two hundred feet above + the water. Rushing violently in, the sea is driven back with equal + violence by the inert force of the mountain to the opposite shore, gently + curved by the spent force of the retreating waves. + </p> + <p> + The fiord is closed at the upper end by a vast gneiss formation crowned + with forests, down which a river plunges in cascades, becomes a torrent + when the snows are melting, spreads into a sheet of waters, and then falls + with a roar into the bay,—vomiting as it does so the hoary pines and + the aged larches washed down from the forests and scarce seen amid the + foam. These trees plunge headlong into the fiord and reappear after a time + on the surface, clinging together and forming islets which float ashore on + the beaches, where the inhabitants of a village on the left bank of the + Strom-fiord gather them up, split, broken (though sometimes whole), and + always stripped of bark and branches. The mountain which receives at its + base the assaults of Ocean, and at its summit the buffeting of the wild + North wind, is called the Falberg. Its crest, wrapped at all seasons in a + mantle of snow and ice, is the sharpest peak of Norway; its proximity to + the pole produces, at the height of eighteen hundred feet, a degree of + cold equal to that of the highest mountains of the globe. The summit of + this rocky mass, rising sheer from the fiord on one side, slopes gradually + downward to the east, where it joins the declivities of the Sieg and forms + a series of terraced valleys, the chilly temperature of which allows no + growth but that of shrubs and stunted trees. + </p> + <p> + The upper end of the fiord, where the waters enter it as they come down + from the forest, is called the Siegdahlen,—a word which may be held + to mean “the shedding of the Sieg,”—the river itself receiving that + name. The curving shore opposite to the face of the Falberg is the valley + of Jarvis,—a smiling scene overlooked by hills clothed with firs, + birch-trees, and larches, mingled with a few oaks and beeches, the richest + coloring of all the varied tapestries which Nature in these northern + regions spreads upon the surface of her rugged rocks. The eye can readily + mark the line where the soil, warmed by the rays of the sun, bears + cultivation and shows the native growth of the Norwegian flora. Here the + expanse of the fiord is broad enough to allow the sea, dashed back by the + Falberg, to spend its expiring force in gentle murmurs upon the lower + slope of these hills,—a shore bordered with finest sand, strewn with + mica and sparkling pebbles, porphyry, and marbles of a thousand tints, + brought from Sweden by the river floods, together with ocean waifs, + shells, and flowers of the sea driven in by tempests, whether of the Pole + or Tropics. + </p> + <p> + At the foot of the hills of Jarvis lies a village of some two hundred + wooden houses, where an isolated population lives like a swarm of bees in + a forest, without increasing or diminishing; vegetating happily, while + wringing their means of living from the breast of a stern Nature. The + almost unknown existence of the little hamlet is readily accounted for. + Few of its inhabitants were bold enough to risk their lives among the + reefs to reach the deep-sea fishing,—the staple industry of + Norwegians on the least dangerous portions of their coast. The fish of the + fiord were numerous enough to suffice, in part at least, for the + sustenance of the inhabitants; the valley pastures provided milk and + butter; a certain amount of fruitful, well-tilled soil yielded rye and + hemp and vegetables, which necessity taught the people to protect against + the severity of the cold and the fleeting but terrible heat of the sun + with the shrewd ability which Norwegians display in the two-fold struggle. + The difficulty of communication with the outer world, either by land where + the roads are impassable, or by sea where none but tiny boats can thread + their way through the maritime defiles that guard the entrance to the bay, + hinder these people from growing rich by the sale of their timber. It + would cost enormous sums to either blast a channel out to sea or construct + a way to the interior. The roads from Christiana to Trondhjem all turn + toward the Strom-fiord, and cross the Sieg by a bridge some score of miles + above its fall into the bay. The country to the north, between Jarvis and + Trondhjem, is covered with impenetrable forests, while to the south the + Falberg is nearly as much separated from Christiana by inaccessible + precipices. The village of Jarvis might perhaps have communicated with the + interior of Norway and Sweden by the river Sieg; but to do this and to be + thus brought into contact with civilization, the Strom-fiord needed the + presence of a man of genius. Such a man did actually appear there,—a + poet, a Swede of great religious fervor, who died admiring, even + reverencing this region as one of the noblest works of the Creator. + </p> + <p> + Minds endowed by study with an inward sight, and whose quick perceptions + bring before the soul, as though painted on a canvas, the contrasting + scenery of this universe, will now apprehend the general features of the + Strom-fiord. They alone, perhaps, can thread their way through the + tortuous channels of the reef, or flee with the battling waves to the + everlasting rebuff of the Falberg whose white peaks mingle with the + vaporous clouds of the pearl-gray sky, or watch with delight the curving + sheet of waters, or hear the rushing of the Sieg as it hangs for an + instant in long fillets and then falls over a picturesque abatis of noble + trees toppled confusedly together, sometimes upright, sometimes + half-sunken beneath the rocks. It may be that such minds alone can dwell + upon the smiling scenes nestling among the lower hills of Jarvis; where + the luscious Northern vegetables spring up in families, in myriads, where + the white birches bend, graceful as maidens, where colonnades of beeches + rear their boles mossy with the growth of centuries, where shades of green + contrast, and white clouds float amid the blackness of the distant pines, + and tracts of many-tinted crimson and purple shrubs are shaded endlessly; + in short, where blend all colors, all perfumes of a flora whose wonders + are still ignored. Widen the boundaries of this limited ampitheatre, + spring upward to the clouds, lose yourself among the rocks where the seals + are lying and even then your thought cannot compass the wealth of beauty + nor the poetry of this Norwegian coast. Can your thought be as vast as the + ocean that bounds it? as weird as the fantastic forms drawn by these + forests, these clouds, these shadows, these changeful lights? + </p> + <p> + Do you see above the meadows on that lowest slope which undulates around + the higher hills of Jarvis two or three hundred houses roofed with + “noever,” a sort of thatch made of birch-bark,—frail houses, long + and low, looking like silk-worms on a mulberry-leaf tossed hither by the + winds? Above these humble, peaceful dwellings stands the church, built + with a simplicity in keeping with the poverty of the villagers. A + graveyard surrounds the chancel, and a little farther on you see the + parsonage. Higher up, on a projection of the mountain is a dwelling-house, + the only one of stone; for which reason the inhabitants of the village + call it “the Swedish Castle.” In fact, a wealthy Swede settled in Jarvis + about thirty years before this history begins, and did his best to + ameliorate its condition. This little house, certainly not a castle, built + with the intention of leading the inhabitants to build others like it, was + noticeable for its solidity and for the wall that inclosed it, a rare + thing in Norway where, notwithstanding the abundance of stone, wood alone + is used for all fences, even those of fields. This Swedish house, thus + protected against the climate, stood on rising ground in the centre of an + immense courtyard. The windows were sheltered by those projecting + pent-house roofs supported by squared trunks of trees which give so + patriarchal an air to Northern dwellings. From beneath them the eye could + see the savage nudity of the Falberg, or compare the infinitude of the + open sea with the tiny drop of water in the foaming fiord; the ear could + hear the flowing of the Sieg, whose white sheet far away looked motionless + as it fell into its granite cup edged for miles around with glaciers,—in + short, from this vantage ground the whole landscape whereon our simple yet + superhuman drama was about to be enacted could be seen and noted. + </p> + <p> + The winter of 1799-1800 was one of the most severe ever known to + Europeans. The Norwegian sea was frozen in all the fiords, where, as a + usual thing, the violence of the surf kept the ice from forming. A wind, + whose effects were like those of the Spanish levanter, swept the ice of + the Strom-fiord, driving the snow to the upper end of the gulf. Seldom + indeed could the people of Jarvis see the mirror of frozen waters + reflecting the colors of the sky; a wondrous site in the bosom of these + mountains when all other aspects of nature are levelled beneath successive + sheets of snow, and crests and valleys are alike mere folds of the vast + mantle flung by winter across a landscape at once so mournfully dazzling + and so monotonous. The falling volume of the Sieg, suddenly frozen, formed + an immense arcade beneath which the inhabitants might have crossed under + shelter from the blast had any dared to risk themselves inland. But the + dangers of every step away from their own surroundings kept even the + boldest hunters in their homes, afraid lest the narrow paths along the + precipices, the clefts and fissures among the rocks, might be + unrecognizable beneath the snow. + </p> + <p> + Thus it was that no human creature gave life to the white desert where + Boreas reigned, his voice alone resounding at distant intervals. The sky, + nearly always gray, gave tones of polished steel to the ice of the fiord. + Perchance some ancient eider-duck crossed the expanse, trusting to the + warm down beneath which dream, in other lands, the luxurious rich, little + knowing of the dangers through which their luxury has come to them. Like + the Bedouin of the desert who darts alone across the sands of Africa, the + bird is neither seen nor heard; the torpid atmosphere, deprived of its + electrical conditions, echoes neither the whirr of its wings nor its + joyous notes. Besides, what human eye was strong enough to bear the + glitter of those pinnacles adorned with sparkling crystals, or the sharp + reflections of the snow, iridescent on the summits in the rays of a pallid + sun which infrequently appeared, like a dying man seeking to make known + that he still lives. Often, when the flocks of gray clouds, driven in + squadrons athwart the mountains and among the tree-tops, hid the sky with + their triple veils Earth, lacking the celestial lights, lit herself by + herself. + </p> + <p> + Here, then, we meet the majesty of Cold, seated eternally at the pole in + that regal silence which is the attribute of all absolute monarchy. Every + extreme principle carries with it an appearance of negation and the + symptoms of death; for is not life the struggle of two forces? Here in + this Northern nature nothing lived. One sole power—the unproductive + power of ice—reigned unchallenged. The roar of the open sea no + longer reached the deaf, dumb inlet, where during one short season of the + year Nature made haste to produce the slender harvests necessary for the + food of the patient people. A few tall pine-trees lifted their black + pyramids garlanded with snow, and the form of their long branches and + depending shoots completed the mourning garments of those solemn heights. + </p> + <p> + Each household gathered in its chimney-corner, in houses carefully closed + from the outer air, and well supplied with biscuit, melted butter, dried + fish, and other provisions laid in for the seven-months winter. The very + smoke of these dwellings was hardly seen, half-hidden as they were beneath + the snow, against the weight of which they were protected by long planks + reaching from the roof and fastened at some distance to solid blocks on + the ground, forming a covered way around each building. + </p> + <p> + During these terrible winter months the women spun and dyed the woollen + stuffs and the linen fabrics with which they clothed their families, while + the men read, or fell into those endless meditations which have given + birth to so many profound theories, to the mystic dreams of the North, to + its beliefs, to its studies (so full and so complete in one science, at + least, sounded as with a plummet), to its manners and its morals, + half-monastic, which force the soul to react and feed upon itself and make + the Norwegian peasant a being apart among the peoples of Europe. + </p> + <p> + Such was the condition of the Strom-fiord in the first year of the + nineteenth century and about the middle of the month of May. + </p> + <p> + On a morning when the sun burst forth upon this landscape, lighting the + fires of the ephemeral diamonds produced by crystallizations of the snow + and ice, two beings crossed the fiord and flew along the base of the + Falberg, rising thence from ledge to ledge toward the summit. What were + they? human creatures, or two arrows? They might have been taken for + eider-ducks sailing in consort before the wind. Not the boldest hunter nor + the most superstitious fisherman would have attributed to human beings the + power to move safely along the slender lines traced beneath the snow by + the granite ledges, where yet this couple glided with the terrifying + dexterity of somnambulists who, forgetting their own weight and the + dangers of the slightest deviation, hurry along a ridge-pole and keep + their equilibrium by the power of some mysterious force. + </p> + <p> + “Stop me, Seraphitus,” said a pale young girl, “and let me breathe. I look + at you, you only, while scaling these walls of the gulf; otherwise, what + would become of me? I am such a feeble creature. Do I tire you?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the being on whose arm she leaned. “But let us go on, Minna; + the place where we are is not firm enough to stand on.” + </p> + <p> + Once more the snow creaked sharply beneath the long boards fastened to + their feet, and soon they reached the upper terrace of the first ledge, + clearly defined upon the flank of the precipice. The person whom Minna had + addressed as Seraphitus threw his weight upon his right heel, arresting + the plank—six and a half feet long and narrow as the foot of a child—which + was fastened to his boot by a double thong of leather. This plank, two + inches thick, was covered with reindeer skin, which bristled against the + snow when the foot was raised, and served to stop the wearer. Seraphitus + drew in his left foot, furnished with another “skee,” which was only two + feet long, turned swiftly where he stood, caught his timid companion in + his arms, lifted her in spite of the long boards on her feet, and placed + her on a projecting rock from which he brushed the snow with his pelisse. + </p> + <p> + “You are safe there, Minna; you can tremble at your ease.” + </p> + <p> + “We are a third of the way up the Ice-Cap,” she said, looking at the peak + to which she gave the popular name by which it is known in Norway; “I can + hardly believe it.” + </p> + <p> + Too much out of breath to say more, she smiled at Seraphitus, who, without + answering, laid his hand upon her heart and listened to its sounding + throbs, rapid as those of a frightened bird. + </p> + <p> + “It often beats as fast when I run,” she said. + </p> + <p> + Seraphitus inclined his head with a gesture that was neither coldness nor + indifference, and yet, despite the grace which made the movement almost + tender, it none the less bespoke a certain negation, which in a woman + would have seemed an exquisite coquetry. Seraphitus clasped the young girl + in his arms. Minna accepted the caress as an answer to her words, + continuing to gaze at him. As he raised his head, and threw back with + impatient gesture the golden masses of his hair to free his brow, he saw + an expression of joy in the eyes of his companion. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Minna,” he said in a voice whose paternal accents were charming from + the lips of a being who was still adolescent, “Keep your eyes on me; do + not look below you.” + </p> + <p> + “Why not?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “You wish to know why? then look!” + </p> + <p> + Minna glanced quickly at her feet and cried out suddenly like a child who + sees a tiger. The awful sensation of abysses seized her; one glance + sufficed to communicate its contagion. The fiord, eager for food, + bewildered her with its loud voice ringing in her ears, interposing + between herself and life as though to devour her more surely. From the + crown of her head to her feet and along her spine an icy shudder ran; then + suddenly intolerable heat suffused her nerves, beat in her veins and + overpowered her extremities with electric shocks like those of the + torpedo. Too feeble to resist, she felt herself drawn by a mysterious + power to the depths below, wherein she fancied that she saw some monster + belching its venom, a monster whose magnetic eyes were charming her, whose + open jaws appeared to craunch their prey before they seized it. + </p> + <p> + “I die, my Seraphitus, loving none but thee,” she said, making a + mechanical movement to fling herself into the abyss. + </p> + <p> + Seraphitus breathed softly on her forehead and eyes. Suddenly, like a + traveller relaxed after a bath, Minna forgot these keen emotions, already + dissipated by that caressing breath which penetrated her body and filled + it with balsamic essences as quickly as the breath itself had crossed the + air. + </p> + <p> + “Who art thou?” she said, with a feeling of gentle terror. “Ah, but I + know! thou art my life. How canst thou look into that gulf and not die?” + she added presently. + </p> + <p> + Seraphitus left her clinging to the granite rock and placed himself at the + edge of the narrow platform on which they stood, whence his eyes plunged + to the depths of the fiord, defying its dazzling invitation. His body did + not tremble, his brow was white and calm as that of a marble statue,—an + abyss facing an abyss. + </p> + <p> + “Seraphitus! dost thou not love me? come back!” she cried. “Thy danger + renews my terror. Who art thou to have such superhuman power at thy age?” + she asked as she felt his arms inclosing her once more. + </p> + <p> + “But, Minna,” answered Seraphitus, “you look fearlessly at greater spaces + far than that.” + </p> + <p> + Then with raised finger, this strange being pointed upward to the blue + dome, which parting clouds left clear above their heads, where stars could + be seen in open day by virtue of atmospheric laws as yet unstudied. + </p> + <p> + “But what a difference!” she answered smiling. + </p> + <p> + “You are right,” he said; “we are born to stretch upward to the skies. Our + native land, like the face of a mother, cannot terrify her children.” + </p> + <p> + His voice vibrated through the being of his companion, who made no reply. + </p> + <p> + “Come! let us go on,” he said. + </p> + <p> + The pair darted forward along the narrow paths traced back and forth upon + the mountain, skimming from terrace to terrace, from line to line, with + the rapidity of a barb, that bird of the desert. Presently they reached an + open space, carpeted with turf and moss and flowers, where no foot had + ever trod. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, the pretty saeter!” cried Minna, giving to the upland meadow its + Norwegian name. “But how comes it here, at such a height?” + </p> + <p> + “Vegetation ceases here, it is true,” said Seraphitus. “These few plants + and flowers are due to that sheltering rock which protects the meadow from + the polar winds. Put that tuft in your bosom, Minna,” he added, gathering + a flower,—“that balmy creation which no eye has ever seen; keep the + solitary matchless flower in memory of this one matchless morning of your + life. You will find no other guide to lead you again to this saeter.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, he gave her the hybrid plant his falcon eye had seen amid the + tufts of gentian acaulis and saxifrages,—a marvel, brought to bloom + by the breath of angels. With girlish eagerness Minna seized the tufted + plant of transparent green, vivid as emerald, which was formed of little + leaves rolled trumpet-wise, brown at the smaller end but changing tint by + tint to their delicately notched edges, which were green. These leaves + were so tightly pressed together that they seemed to blend and form a mat + or cluster of rosettes. Here and there from this green ground rose pure + white stars edged with a line of gold, and from their throats came crimson + anthers but no pistils. A fragrance, blended of roses and of orange + blossoms, yet ethereal and fugitive, gave something as it were celestial + to that mysterious flower, which Seraphitus sadly contemplated, as though + it uttered plaintive thoughts which he alone could understand. But to + Minna this mysterious phenomenon seemed a mere caprice of nature giving to + stone the freshness, softness, and perfume of plants. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you call it matchless? can it not reproduce itself?” she asked, + looking at Seraphitus, who colored and turned away. + </p> + <p> + “Let us sit down,” he said presently; “look below you, Minna. See! At this + height you will have no fear. The abyss is so far beneath us that we no + longer have a sense of its depths; it acquires the perspective uniformity + of ocean, the vagueness of clouds, the soft coloring of the sky. See, the + ice of the fiord is a turquoise, the dark pine forests are mere threads of + brown; for us all abysses should be thus adorned.” + </p> + <p> + Seraphitus said the words with that fervor of tone and gesture seen and + known only by those who have ascended the highest mountains of the globe,—a + fervor so involuntarily acquired that the haughtiest of men is forced to + regard his guide as a brother, forgetting his own superior station till he + descends to the valleys and the abodes of his kind. Seraphitus unfastened + the skees from Minna’s feet, kneeling before her. The girl did not notice + him, so absorbed was she in the marvellous view now offered of her native + land, whose rocky outlines could here be seen at a glance. She felt, with + deep emotion, the solemn permanence of those frozen summits, to which + words could give no adequate utterance. + </p> + <p> + “We have not come here by human power alone,” she said, clasping her + hands. “But perhaps I dream.” + </p> + <p> + “You think that facts the causes of which you cannot perceive are + supernatural,” replied her companion. + </p> + <p> + “Your replies,” she said, “always bear the stamp of some deep thought. + When I am near you I understand all things without an effort. Ah, I am + free!” + </p> + <p> + “If so, you will not need your skees,” he answered. + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” she said; “I who would fain unfasten yours and kiss your feet!” + </p> + <p> + “Keep such words for Wilfrid,” said Seraphitus, gently. + </p> + <p> + “Wilfrid!” cried Minna angrily; then, softening as she glanced at her + companion’s face and trying, but in vain, to take his hand, she added, + “You are never angry, never; you are so hopelessly perfect in all things.” + </p> + <p> + “From which you conclude that I am unfeeling.” + </p> + <p> + Minna was startled at this lucid interpretation of her thought. + </p> + <p> + “You prove to me, at any rate, that we understand each other,” she said, + with the grace of a loving woman. + </p> + <p> + Seraphitus softly shook his head and looked sadly and gently at her. + </p> + <p> + “You, who know all things,” said Minna, “tell me why it is that the + timidity I felt below is over now that I have mounted higher. Why do I + dare to look at you for the first time face to face, while lower down I + scarcely dared to give a furtive glance?” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps because we are withdrawn from the pettiness of earth,” he + answered, unfastening his pelisse. + </p> + <p> + “Never, never have I seen you so beautiful!” cried Minna, sitting down on + a mossy rock and losing herself in contemplation of the being who had now + guided her to a part of the peak hitherto supposed to be inaccessible. + </p> + <p> + Never, in truth, had Seraphitus shone with so bright a radiance,—the + only word which can render the illumination of his face and the aspect of + his whole person. Was this splendor due to the lustre which the pure air + of mountains and the reflections of the snow give to the complexion? Was + it produced by the inward impulse which excites the body at the instant + when exertion is arrested? Did it come from the sudden contrast between + the glory of the sun and the darkness of the clouds, from whose shadow the + charming couple had just emerged? Perhaps to all these causes we may add + the effect of a phenomenon, one of the noblest which human nature has to + offer. If some able physiologist had studied this being (who, judging by + the pride on his brow and the lightning in his eyes seemed a youth of + about seventeen years of age), and if the student had sought for the + springs of that beaming life beneath the whitest skin that ever the North + bestowed upon her offspring, he would undoubtedly have believed either in + some phosphoric fluid of the nerves shining beneath the cuticle, or in the + constant presence of an inward luminary, whose rays issued through the + being of Seraphitus like a light through an alabaster vase. Soft and + slender as were his hands, ungloved to remove his companion’s snow-boots, + they seemed possessed of a strength equal to that which the Creator gave + to the diaphanous tentacles of the crab. The fire darting from his vivid + glance seemed to struggle with the beams of the sun, not to take but to + give them light. His body, slim and delicate as that of a woman, gave + evidence of one of those natures which are feeble apparently, but whose + strength equals their will, rendering them at times powerful. Of medium + height, Seraphitus appeared to grow in stature as he turned fully round + and seemed about to spring upward. His hair, curled by a fairy’s hand and + waving to the breeze, increased the illusion produced by this aerial + attitude; yet his bearing, wholly without conscious effort, was the result + far more of a moral phenomenon than of a corporal habit. + </p> + <p> + Minna’s imagination seconded this illusion, under the dominion of which + all persons would assuredly have fallen,—an illusion which gave to + Seraphitus the appearance of a vision dreamed of in happy sleep. No known + type conveys an image of that form so majestically made to Minna, but + which to the eyes of a man would have eclipsed in womanly grace the + fairest of Raphael’s creations. That painter of heaven has ever put a + tranquil joy, a loving sweetness, into the lines of his angelic + conceptions; but what soul, unless it contemplated Seraphitus himself, + could have conceived the ineffable emotions imprinted on his face? Who + would have divined, even in the dreams of artists, where all things become + possible, the shadow cast by some mysterious awe upon that brow, shining + with intellect, which seemed to question Heaven and to pity Earth? The + head hovered awhile disdainfully, as some majestic bird whose cries + reverberate on the atmosphere, then bowed itself resignedly, like the + turtledove uttering soft notes of tenderness in the depths of the silent + woods. His complexion was of marvellous whiteness, which brought out + vividly the coral lips, the brown eyebrows, and the silken lashes, the + only colors that trenched upon the paleness of that face, whose perfect + regularity did not detract from the grandeur of the sentiments expressed + in it; nay, thought and emotion were reflected there, without hindrance or + violence, with the majestic and natural gravity which we delight in + attributing to superior beings. That face of purest marble expressed in + all things strength and peace. + </p> + <p> + Minna rose to take the hand of Seraphitus, hoping thus to draw him to her, + and to lay on that seductive brow a kiss given more from admiration than + from love; but a glance at the young man’s eyes, which pierced her as a + ray of sunlight penetrates a prism, paralyzed the young girl. She felt, + but without comprehending, a gulf between them; then she turned away her + head and wept. Suddenly a strong hand seized her by the waist, and a soft + voice said to her: “Come!” She obeyed, resting her head, suddenly revived, + upon the heart of her companion, who, regulating his step to hers with + gentle and attentive conformity, led her to a spot whence they could see + the radiant glories of the polar Nature. + </p> + <p> + “Before I look, before I listen to you, tell me, Seraphitus, why you + repulse me. Have I displeased you? and how? tell me! I want nothing for + myself; I would that all my earthly goods were yours, for the riches of my + heart are yours already. I would that light came to my eyes only though + your eyes just as my thought is born of your thought. I should not then + fear to offend you, for I should give you back the echoes of your soul, + the words of your heart, day by day,—as we render to God the + meditations with which his spirit nourishes our minds. I would be thine + alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Minna, a constant desire is that which shapes our future. Hope on! But if + you would be pure in heart mingle the idea of the All-Powerful with your + affections here below; then you will love all creatures, and your heart + will rise to heights indeed.” + </p> + <p> + “I will do all you tell me,” she answered, lifting her eyes to his with a + timid movement. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot be your companion,” said Seraphitus sadly. + </p> + <p> + He seemed to repress some thoughts, then stretched his arms towards + Christiana, just visible like a speck on the horizon and said:— + </p> + <p> + “Look!” + </p> + <p> + “We are very small,” she said. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but we become great through feeling and through intellect,” answered + Seraphitus. “With us, and us alone, Minna, begins the knowledge of things; + the little that we learn of the laws of the visible world enables us to + apprehend the immensity of the worlds invisible. I know not if the time + has come to speak thus to you, but I would, ah, I would communicate to you + the flame of my hopes! Perhaps we may one day be together in the world + where Love never dies.” + </p> + <p> + “Why not here and now?” she said, murmuring. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing is stable here,” he said, disdainfully. “The passing joys of + earthly love are gleams which reveal to certain souls the coming of joys + more durable; just as the discovery of a single law of nature leads + certain privileged beings to a conception of the system of the universe. + Our fleeting happiness here below is the forerunning proof of another and + a perfect happiness, just as the earth, a fragment of the world, attests + the universe. We cannot measure the vast orbit of the Divine thought of + which we are but an atom as small as God is great; but we can feel its + vastness, we can kneel, adore, and wait. Men ever mislead themselves in + science by not perceiving that all things on their globe are related and + co-ordinated to the general evolution, to a constant movement and + production which bring with them, necessarily, both advancement and an + End. Man himself is not a finished creation; if he were, God would not + Be.” + </p> + <p> + “How is it that in thy short life thou hast found the time to learn so + many things?” said the young girl. + </p> + <p> + “I remember,” he replied. + </p> + <p> + “Thou art nobler than all else I see.” + </p> + <p> + “We are the noblest of God’s greatest works. Has He not given us the + faculty of reflecting on Nature; of gathering it within us by thought; of + making it a footstool and stepping-stone from and by which to rise to Him? + We love according to the greater or the lesser portion of heaven our souls + contain. But do not be unjust, Minna; behold the magnificence spread + before you. Ocean expands at your feet like a carpet; the mountains + resemble ampitheatres; heaven’s ether is above them like the arching folds + of a stage curtain. Here we may breathe the thoughts of God, as it were + like a perfume. See! the angry billows which engulf the ships laden with + men seem to us, where we are, mere bubbles; and if we raise our eyes and + look above, all there is blue. Behold that diadem of stars! Here the tints + of earthly impressions disappear; standing on this nature rarefied by + space do you not feel within you something deeper far than mind, grander + than enthusiasm, of greater energy than will? Are you not conscious of + emotions whose interpretation is no longer in us? Do you not feel your + pinions? Let us pray.” + </p> + <p> + Seraphitus knelt down and crossed his hands upon his breast, while Minna + fell, weeping, on her knees. Thus they remained for a time, while the + azure dome above their heads grew larger and strong rays of light + enveloped them without their knowledge. + </p> + <p> + “Why dost thou not weep when I weep?” said Minna, in a broken voice. + </p> + <p> + “They who are all spirit do not weep,” replied Seraphitus rising; “Why + should I weep? I see no longer human wretchedness. Here, Good appears in + all its majesty. There, beneath us, I hear the supplications and the + wailings of that harp of sorrows which vibrates in the hands of captive + souls. Here, I listen to the choir of harps harmonious. There, below, is + hope, the glorious inception of faith; but here is faith—it reigns, + hope realized!” + </p> + <p> + “You will never love me; I am too imperfect; you disdain me,” said the + young girl. + </p> + <p> + “Minna, the violet hidden at the feet of the oak whispers to itself: ‘The + sun does not love me; he comes not.’ The sun says: ‘If my rays shine upon + her she will perish, poor flower.’ Friend of the flower, he sends his + beams through the oak leaves, he veils, he tempers them, and thus they + color the petals of his beloved. I have not veils enough, I fear lest you + see me too closely; you would tremble if you knew me better. Listen: I + have no taste for earthly fruits. Your joys, I know them all too well, + and, like the sated emperors of pagan Rome, I have reached disgust of all + things; I have received the gift of vision. Leave me! abandon me!” he + murmured, sorrowfully. + </p> + <p> + Seraphitus turned and seated himself on a projecting rock, dropping his + head upon his breast. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you drive me to despair?” said Minna. + </p> + <p> + “Go, go!” cried Seraphitus, “I have nothing that you want of me. Your love + is too earthly for my love. Why do you not love Wilfrid? Wilfrid is a man, + tested by passions; he would clasp you in his vigorous arms and make you + feel a hand both broad and strong. His hair is black, his eyes are full of + human thoughts, his heart pours lava in every word he utters; he could + kill you with caresses. Let him be your beloved, your husband! Yes, thine + be Wilfrid!” + </p> + <p> + Minna wept aloud. + </p> + <p> + “Dare you say that you do not love him?” he went on, in a voice which + pierced her like a dagger. + </p> + <p> + “Have mercy, have mercy, my Seraphitus!” + </p> + <p> + “Love him, poor child of Earth to which thy destiny has indissolubly bound + thee,” said the strange being, beckoning Minna by a gesture, and forcing + her to the edge of the saeter, whence he pointed downward to a scene that + might well inspire a young girl full of enthusiasm with the fancy that she + stood above this earth. + </p> + <p> + “I longed for a companion to the kingdom of Light; I wished to show you + that morsel of mud, I find you bound to it. Farewell. Remain on earth; + enjoy through the senses; obey your nature; turn pale with pallid men; + blush with women; sport with children; pray with the guilty; raise your + eyes to heaven when sorrows overtake you; tremble, hope, throb in all your + pulses; you will have a companion; you can laugh and weep, and give and + receive. I,—I am an exile, far from heaven; a monster, far from + earth. I live of myself and by myself. I feel by the spirit; I breathe + through my brow; I see by thought; I die of impatience and of longing. No + one here below can fulfil my desires or calm my griefs. I have forgotten + how to weep. I am alone. I resign myself, and I wait.” + </p> + <p> + Seraphitus looked at the flowery mound on which he had seated Minna; then + he turned and faced the frowning heights, whose pinnacles were wrapped in + clouds; to them he cast, unspoken, the remainder of his thoughts. + </p> + <p> + “Minna, do you hear those delightful strains?” he said after a pause, with + the voice of a dove, for the eagle’s cry was hushed; “it is like the music + of those Eolian harps your poets hang in forests and on the mountains. Do + you see the shadowy figures passing among the clouds, the winged feet of + those who are making ready the gifts of heaven? They bring refreshment to + the soul; the skies are about to open and shed the flowers of spring upon + the earth. See, a gleam is darting from the pole. Let us fly, let us fly! + It is time we go!” + </p> + <p> + In a moment their skees were refastened, and the pair descended the + Falberg by the steep slopes which join the mountain to the valleys of the + Sieg. Miraculous perception guided their course, or, to speak more + properly, their flight. When fissures covered with snow intercepted them, + Seraphitus caught Minna in his arms and darted with rapid motion, lightly + as a bird, over the crumbling causeways of the abyss. Sometimes, while + propelling his companion, he deviated to the right or left to avoid a + precipice, a tree, a projecting rock, which he seemed to see beneath the + snow, as an old sailor, familiar with the ocean, discerns the hidden reefs + by the color, the trend, or the eddying of the water. When they reached + the paths of the Siegdahlen, where they could fearlessly follow a straight + line to regain the ice of the fiord, Seraphitus stopped Minna. + </p> + <p> + “You have nothing to say to me?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “I thought you would rather think alone,” she answered respectfully. + </p> + <p> + “Let us hasten, Minette; it is almost night,” he said. + </p> + <p> + Minna quivered as she heard the voice, now so changed, of her guide,—a + pure voice, like that of a young girl, which dissolved the fantastic dream + through which she had been passing. Seraphitus seemed to be laying aside + his male force and the too keen intellect that flames from his eyes. + Presently the charming pair glided across the fiord and reached the + snow-field which divides the shore from the first range of houses; then, + hurrying forward as daylight faded, they sprang up the hill toward the + parsonage, as though they were mounting the steps of a great staircase. + </p> + <p> + “My father must be anxious,” said Minna. + </p> + <p> + “No,” answered Seraphitus. + </p> + <p> + As he spoke the couple reached the porch of the humble dwelling where + Monsieur Becker, the pastor of Jarvis, sat reading while awaiting his + daughter for the evening meal. + </p> + <p> + “Dear Monsieur Becker,” said Seraphitus, “I have brought Minna back to you + safe and sound.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, mademoiselle,” said the old man, laying his spectacles on his + book; “you must be very tired.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no,” said Minna, and as she spoke she felt the soft breath of her + companion on her brow. + </p> + <p> + “Dear heart, will you come day after to-morrow evening and take tea with + me?” + </p> + <p> + “Gladly, dear.” + </p> + <p> + “Monsieur Becker, you will bring her, will you not?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, mademoiselle.” + </p> + <p> + Seraphitus inclined his head with a pretty gesture, and bowed to the old + pastor as he left the house. A few moments later he reached the great + courtyard of the Swedish villa. An old servant, over eighty years of age, + appeared in the portico bearing a lantern. Seraphitus slipped off his + snow-shoes with the graceful dexterity of a woman, then darting into the + salon he fell exhausted and motionless on a wide divan covered with furs. + </p> + <p> + “What will you take?” asked the old man, lighting the immensely tall + wax-candles that are used in Norway. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing, David, I am too weary.” + </p> + <p> + Seraphitus unfastened his pelisse lined with sable, threw it over him, and + fell asleep. The old servant stood for several minutes gazing with loving + eyes at the singular being before him, whose sex it would have been + difficult for any one at that moment to determine. Wrapped as he was in a + formless garment, which resembled equally a woman’s robe and a man’s + mantle, it was impossible not to fancy that the slender feet which hung at + the side of the couch were those of a woman, and equally impossible not to + note how the forehead and the outlines of the head gave evidence of power + brought to its highest pitch. + </p> + <p> + “She suffers, and she will not tell me,” thought the old man. “She is + dying, like a flower wilted by the burning sun.” + </p> + <p> + And the old man wept. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. SERAPHITA + </h2> + <p> + Later in the evening David re-entered the salon. + </p> + <p> + “I know who it is you have come to announce,” said Seraphita in a sleepy + voice. “Wilfrid may enter.” + </p> + <p> + Hearing these words a man suddenly presented himself, crossed the room and + sat down beside her. + </p> + <p> + “My dear Seraphita, are you ill?” he said. “You look paler than usual.” + </p> + <p> + She turned slowly towards him, tossing back her hair like a pretty woman + whose aching head leaves her no strength even for complaint. + </p> + <p> + “I was foolish enough to cross the fiord with Minna,” she said. “We + ascended the Falberg.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you mean to kill yourself?” he said with a lover’s terror. + </p> + <p> + “No, my good Wilfrid; I took the greatest care of your Minna.” + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid struck his hand violently on a table, rose hastily, and made + several steps towards the door with an exclamation full of pain; then he + returned and seemed about to remonstrate. + </p> + <p> + “Why this disturbance if you think me ill?” she said. + </p> + <p> + “Forgive me, have mercy!” he cried, kneeling beside her. “Speak to me + harshly if you will; exact all that the cruel fancies of a woman lead you + to imagine I least can bear; but oh, my beloved, do not doubt my love. You + take Minna like an axe to hew me down. Have mercy!” + </p> + <p> + “Why do you say these things, my friend, when you know that they are + useless?” she replied, with a look which grew in the end so soft that + Wilfrid ceased to behold her eyes, but saw in their place a fluid light, + the shimmer of which was like the last vibrations of an Italian song. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! no man dies of anguish!” he murmured. + </p> + <p> + “You are suffering?” she said in a voice whose intonations produced upon + his heart the same effect as that of her look. “Would I could help you!” + </p> + <p> + “Love me as I love you.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor Minna!” she replied. + </p> + <p> + “Why am I unarmed!” exclaimed Wilfrid, violently. + </p> + <p> + “You are out of temper,” said Seraphita, smiling. “Come, have I not spoken + to you like those Parisian women whose loves you tell of?” + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid sat down, crossed his arms, and looked gloomily at Seraphita. “I + forgive you,” he said; “for you know not what you do.” + </p> + <p> + “You mistake,” she replied; “every woman from the days of Eve does good + and evil knowingly.” + </p> + <p> + “I believe it,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “I am sure of it, Wilfrid. Our instinct is precisely that which makes us + perfect. What you men learn, we feel.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, do you not feel how much I love you?” + </p> + <p> + “Because you do not love me.” + </p> + <p> + “Good God!” + </p> + <p> + “If you did, would you complain of your own sufferings?” + </p> + <p> + “You are terrible to-night, Seraphita. You are a demon.” + </p> + <p> + “No, but I am gifted with the faculty of comprehending, and it is awful. + Wilfrid, sorrow is a lamp which illumines life.” + </p> + <p> + “Why did you ascend the Falberg?” + </p> + <p> + “Minna will tell you. I am too weary to talk. You must talk to me,—you + who know so much, who have learned all things and forgotten nothing; you + who have passed through every social test. Talk to me, amuse me, I am + listening.” + </p> + <p> + “What can I tell you that you do not know? Besides, the request is + ironical. You allow yourself no intercourse with social life; you trample + on its conventions, its laws, its customs, sentiments, and sciences; you + reduce them all to the proportions such things take when viewed by you + beyond this universe.” + </p> + <p> + “Therefore you see, my friend, that I am not a woman. You do wrong to love + me. What! am I to leave the ethereal regions of my pretended strength, + make myself humbly small, cringe like the hapless female of all species, + that you may lift me up? and then, when I, helpless and broken, ask you + for help, when I need your arm, you will repulse me! No, we can never come + to terms.” + </p> + <p> + “You are more maliciously unkind to-night than I have ever known you.” + </p> + <p> + “Unkind!” she said, with a look which seemed to blend all feelings into + one celestial emotion, “no, I am ill, I suffer, that is all. Leave me, my + friend; it is your manly right. We women should ever please you, entertain + you, be gay in your presence and have no whims save those that amuse you. + Come, what shall I do for you, friend? Shall I sing, shall I dance, though + weariness deprives me of the use of voice and limbs?—Ah! gentlemen, + be we on our deathbeds, we yet must smile to please you; you call that, + methinks, your right. Poor women! I pity them. Tell me, you who abandon + them when they grow old, is it because they have neither hearts nor souls? + Wilfrid, I am a hundred years old; leave me! leave me! go to Minna!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, my eternal love!” + </p> + <p> + “Do you know the meaning of eternity? Be silent, Wilfrid. You desire me, + but you do not love me. Tell me, do I not seem to you like those + coquettish Parisian women?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly I no longer find you the pure celestial maiden I first saw in + the church of Jarvis.” + </p> + <p> + At these words Seraphita passed her hands across her brow, and when she + removed them Wilfrid was amazed at the saintly expression that overspread + her face. + </p> + <p> + “You are right, my friend,” she said; “I do wrong whenever I set my feet + upon your earth.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Seraphita, be my star! stay where you can ever bless me with that + clear light!” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, he stretched forth his hand to take that of the young girl, + but she withdrew it, neither disdainfully nor in anger. Wilfrid rose + abruptly and walked to the window that she might not see the tears that + rose to his eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you weep?” she said. “You are not a child, Wilfrid. Come back to + me. I wish it. You are annoyed if I show just displeasure. You see that I + am fatigued and ill, yet you force me to think and speak, and listen to + persuasions and ideas that weary me. If you had any real perception of my + nature, you would have made some music, you would have lulled my feelings—but + no, you love me for yourself and not for myself.” + </p> + <p> + The storm which convulsed the young man’s heart calmed down at these + words. He slowly approached her, letting his eyes take in the seductive + creature who lay exhausted before him, her head resting in her hand and + her elbow on the couch. + </p> + <p> + “You think that I do not love you,” she resumed. “You are mistaken. Listen + to me, Wilfrid. You are beginning to know much; you have suffered much. + Let me explain your thoughts to you. You wished to take my hand just now”; + she rose to a sitting posture, and her graceful motions seemed to emit + light. “When a young girl allows her hand to be taken it is as though she + made a promise, is it not? and ought she not to fulfil it? You well know + that I cannot be yours. Two sentiments divide and inspire the love of all + the women of the earth. Either they devote themselves to suffering, + degraded, and criminal beings whom they desire to console, uplift, redeem; + or they give themselves to superior men, sublime and strong, whom they + adore and seek to comprehend, and by whom they are often annihilated. You + have been degraded, though now you are purified by the fires of + repentance, and to-day you are once more noble; but I know myself too + feeble to be your equal, and too religious to bow before any power but + that On High. I may refer thus to your life, my friend, for we are in the + North, among the clouds, where all things are abstractions.” + </p> + <p> + “You stab me, Seraphita, when you speak like this. It wounds me to hear + you apply the dreadful knowledge with which you strip from all things + human the properties that time and space and form have given them, and + consider them mathematically in the abstract, as geometry treats + substances from which it extracts solidity.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I will respect your wishes, Wilfrid. Let the subject drop. Tell me + what you think of this bearskin rug which my poor David has spread out.” + </p> + <p> + “It is very handsome.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you ever see me wear this ‘doucha greka’?” + </p> + <p> + She pointed to a pelisse made of cashmere and lined with the skin of the + black fox,—the name she gave it signifying “warm to the soul.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you believe that any sovereign has a fur that can equal it?” she + asked. + </p> + <p> + “It is worthy of her who wears it.” + </p> + <p> + “And whom you think beautiful?” + </p> + <p> + “Human words do not apply to her. Heart to heart is the only language I + can use.” + </p> + <p> + “Wilfrid, you are kind to soothe my griefs with such sweet words—which + you have said to others.” + </p> + <p> + “Farewell!” + </p> + <p> + “Stay. I love both you and Minna, believe me. To me you two are as one + being. United thus you can be my brother or, if you will, my sister. Marry + her; let me see you both happy before I leave this world of trial and of + pain. My God! the simplest of women obtain what they ask of a lover; they + whisper ‘Hush!’ and he is silent; ‘Die’ and he dies; ‘Love me afar’ and he + stays at a distance, like courtiers before a king! All I desire is to see + you happy, and you refuse me! Am I then powerless?—Wilfrid, listen, + come nearer to me. Yes, I should grieve to see you marry Minna but—when + I am here no longer, then—promise me to marry her; heaven destined + you for each other.” + </p> + <p> + “I listen to you with fascination, Seraphita. Your words are + incomprehensible, but they charm me. What is it you mean to say?” + </p> + <p> + “You are right; I forget to be foolish,—to be the poor creature + whose weaknesses gratify you. I torment you, Wilfrid. You came to these + Northern lands for rest, you, worn-out by the impetuous struggle of genius + unrecognized, you, weary with the patient toils of science, you, who + well-nigh dyed your hands in crime and wore the fetters of human justice—” + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid dropped speechless on the carpet. Seraphita breathed softly on his + forehead, and in a moment he fell asleep at her feet. + </p> + <p> + “Sleep! rest!” she said, rising. + </p> + <p> + She passed her hands over Wilfrid’s brow; then the following sentences + escaped her lips, one by one,—all different in tone and accent, but + all melodious, full of a Goodness that seemed to emanate from her head in + vaporous waves, like the gleams the goddess chastely lays upon Endymion + sleeping. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot show myself such as I am to thee, dear Wilfrid,—to thee + who art strong. + </p> + <p> + “The hour is come; the hour when the effulgent lights of the future cast + their reflections backward on the soul; the hour when the soul awakes into + freedom. + </p> + <p> + “Now am I permitted to tell thee how I love thee. Dost thou not see the + nature of my love, a love without self-interest; a sentiment full of thee, + thee only; a love which follows thee into the future to light that future + for thee—for it is the one True Light. Canst thou now conceive with + what ardor I would have thee leave this life which weighs thee down, and + behold thee nearer than thou art to that world where Love is + never-failing? Can it be aught but suffering to love for one life only? + Hast thou not felt a thirst for the eternal love? Dost thou not feel the + bliss to which a creature rises when, with twin-soul, it loves the Being + who betrays not love, Him before whom we kneel in adoration? + </p> + <p> + “Would I had wings to cover thee, Wilfrid; power to give thee strength to + enter now into that world where all the purest joys of purest earthly + attachments are but shadows in the Light that shines, unceasing, to + illumine and rejoice all hearts. + </p> + <p> + “Forgive a friendly soul for showing thee the picture of thy sins, in the + charitable hope of soothing the sharp pangs of thy remorse. Listen to the + pardoning choir; refresh thy soul in the dawn now rising for thee beyond + the night of death. Yes, thy life, thy true life is there! + </p> + <p> + “May my words now reach thee clothed in the glorious forms of dreams; may + they deck themselves with images glowing and radiant as they hover round + you. Rise, rise, to the height where men can see themselves distinctly, + pressed together though they be like grains of sand upon a sea-shore. + Humanity rolls out like a many-colored ribbon. See the diverse shades of + that flower of the celestial gardens. Behold the beings who lack + intelligence, those who begin to receive it, those who have passed through + trials, those who love, those who follow wisdom and aspire to the regions + of Light! + </p> + <p> + “Canst thou comprehend, through this thought made visible, the destiny of + humanity?—whence it came, whither to goeth? Continue steadfast in + the Path. Reaching the end of thy journey thou shalt hear the clarions of + omnipotence sounding the cries of victory in chords of which a single one + would shake the earth, but which are lost in the spaces of a world that + hath neither east nor west. + </p> + <p> + “Canst thou comprehend, my poor beloved Tried-one, that unless the torpor + and the veils of sleep had wrapped thee, such sights would rend and bear + away thy mind as the whirlwinds rend and carry into space the feeble + sails, depriving thee forever of thy reason? Dost thou understand that the + Soul itself, raised to its utmost power can scarcely endure in dreams the + burning communications of the Spirit? + </p> + <p> + “Speed thy way through the luminous spheres; behold, admire, hasten! + Flying thus thou canst pause or advance without weariness. Like other men, + thou wouldst fain be plunged forever in these spheres of light and perfume + where now thou art, free of thy swooning body, and where thy thought alone + has utterance. Fly! enjoy for a fleeting moment the wings thou shalt + surely win when Love has grown so perfect in thee that thou hast no senses + left; when thy whole being is all mind, all love. The higher thy flight + the less canst thou see the abysses. There are none in heaven. Look at the + friend who speaks to thee; she who holds thee above this earth in which + are all abysses. Look, behold, contemplate me yet a moment longer, for + never again wilt thou see me, save imperfectly as the pale twilight of + this world may show me to thee.” + </p> + <p> + Seraphita stood erect, her head with floating hair inclining gently + forward, in that aerial attitude which great painters give to messengers + from heaven; the folds of her raiment fell with the same unspeakable grace + which holds an artist—the man who translates all things into + sentiment—before the exquisite well-known lines of Polyhymnia’s + veil. Then she stretched forth her hand. Wilfrid rose. When he looked at + Seraphita she was lying on the bear’s-skin, her head resting on her hand, + her face calm, her eyes brilliant. Wilfrid gazed at her silently; but his + face betrayed a deferential fear in its almost timid expression. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, dear,” he said at last, as though he were answering some question; + “we are separated by worlds. I resign myself; I can only adore you. But + what will become of me, poor and alone!” + </p> + <p> + “Wilfrid, you have Minna.” + </p> + <p> + He shook his head. + </p> + <p> + “Do not be so disdainful; woman understands all things through love; what + she does not understand she feels; what she does not feel she sees; when + she neither sees, nor feels, nor understands, this angel of earth divines + to protect you, and hides her protection beneath the grace of love.” + </p> + <p> + “Seraphita, am I worthy to belong to a woman?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, now,” she said, smiling, “you are suddenly very modest; is it a + snare? A woman is always so touched to see her weakness glorified. Well, + come and take tea with me the day after to-morrow evening; good Monsieur + Becker will be here, and Minna, the purest and most artless creature I + have known on earth. Leave me now, my friend; I need to make long prayers + and expiate my sins.” + </p> + <p> + “You, can you commit sin?” + </p> + <p> + “Poor friend! if we abuse our power, is not that the sin of pride? I have + been very proud to-day. Now leave me, till to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “Till to-morrow,” said Wilfrid faintly, casting a long glance at the being + of whom he desired to carry with him an ineffaceable memory. + </p> + <p> + Though he wished to go far away, he was held, as it were, outside the + house for some moments, watching the light which shone from all the + windows of the Swedish dwelling. + </p> + <p> + “What is the matter with me?” he asked himself. “No, she is not a mere + creature, but a whole creation. Of her world, even through veils and + clouds, I have caught echoes like the memory of sufferings healed, like + the dazzling vertigo of dreams in which we hear the plaints of generations + mingling with the harmonies of some higher sphere where all is Light and + all is Love. Am I awake? Do I still sleep? Are these the eyes before which + the luminous space retreated further and further indefinitely while the + eyes followed it? The night is cold, yet my head is on fire. I will go to + the parsonage. With the pastor and his daughter I shall recover the + balance of my mind.” + </p> + <p> + But still he did not leave the spot whence his eyes could plunge into + Seraphita’s salon. The mysterious creature seemed to him the radiating + centre of a luminous circle which formed an atmosphere about her wider + than that of other beings; whoever entered it felt the compelling + influence of, as it were, a vortex of dazzling light and all consuming + thoughts. Forced to struggle against this inexplicable power, Wilfrid only + prevailed after strong efforts; but when he reached and passed the + inclosing wall of the courtyard, he regained his freedom of will, walked + rapidly towards the parsonage, and was soon beneath the high wooden arch + which formed a sort of peristyle to Monsieur Becker’s dwelling. He opened + the first door, against which the wind had driven the snow, and knocked on + the inner one, saying:— + </p> + <p> + “Will you let me spend the evening with you, Monsieur Becker?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” cried two voices, mingling their intonations. + </p> + <p> + Entering the parlor, Wilfrid returned by degrees to real life. He bowed + affectionately to Minna, shook hands with Monsieur Becker, and looked + about at the picture of a home which calmed the convulsions of his + physical nature, in which a phenomenon was taking place analogous to that + which sometimes seizes upon men who have given themselves up to protracted + contemplations. If some strong thought bears upward on phantasmal wing a + man of learning or a poet, isolates him from the external circumstances + which environ him here below, and leads him forward through illimitable + regions where vast arrays of facts become abstractions, where the greatest + works of Nature are but images, then woe betide him if a sudden noise + strikes sharply on his senses and calls his errant soul back to its + prison-house of flesh and bones. The shock of the reunion of these two + powers, body and mind,—one of which partakes of the unseen qualities + of a thunderbolt, while the other shares with sentient nature that soft + resistant force which deifies destruction,—this shock, this + struggle, or, rather let us say, this painful meeting and co-mingling, + gives rise to frightful sufferings. The body receives back the flame that + consumes it; the flame has once more grasped its prey. This fusion, + however, does not take place without convulsions, explosions, tortures; + analogous and visible signs of which may be seen in chemistry, when two + antagonistic substances which science has united separate. + </p> + <p> + For the last few days whenever Wilfrid entered Seraphita’s presence his + body seemed to fall away from him into nothingness. With a single glance + this strange being led him in spirit through the spheres where meditation + leads the learned man, prayer the pious heart, where vision transports the + artist, and sleep the souls of men,—each and all have their own path + to the Height, their own guide to reach it, their own individual + sufferings in the dire return. In that sphere alone all veils are rent + away, and the revelation, the awful flaming certainty of an unknown world, + of which the soul brings back mere fragments to this lower sphere, stands + revealed. To Wilfrid one hour passed with Seraphita was like the + sought-for dreams of Theriakis, in which each knot of nerves becomes the + centre of a radiating delight. But he left her bruised and wearied as some + young girl endeavoring to keep step with a giant. + </p> + <p> + The cold air, with its stinging flagellations, had begun to still the + nervous tremors which followed the reunion of his two natures, so + powerfully disunited for a time; he was drawn towards the parsonage, then + towards Minna, by the sight of the every-day home life for which he + thirsted as the wandering European thirsts for his native land when + nostalgia seizes him amid the fairy scenes of Orient that have seduced his + senses. More weary than he had ever yet been, Wilfrid dropped into a chair + and looked about him for a time, like a man who awakens from sleep. + Monsieur Becker and his daughter accustomed, perhaps, to the apparent + eccentricity of their guest, continued the employments in which they were + engaged. + </p> + <p> + The parlor was ornamented with a collection of the shells and insects of + Norway. These curiosities, admirably arranged on a background of the + yellow pine which panelled the room, formed, as it were, a rich tapestry + to which the fumes of tobacco had imparted a mellow tone. At the further + end of the room, opposite to the door, was an immense wrought-iron stove, + carefully polished by the serving-woman till it shone like burnished + steel. Seated in a large tapestried armchair near the stove, before a + table, with his feet in a species of muff, Monsieur Becker was reading a + folio volume which was propped against a pile of other books as on a desk. + At his left stood a jug of beer and a glass, at his right burned a smoky + lamp fed by some species of fish-oil. The pastor seemed about sixty years + of age. His face belonged to a type often painted by Rembrandt; the same + small bright eyes, set in wrinkles and surmounted by thick gray eyebrows; + the same white hair escaping in snowy flakes from a black velvet cap; the + same broad, bald brow, and a contour of face which the ample chin made + almost square; and lastly, the same calm tranquillity, which, to an + observer, denoted the possession of some inward power, be it the supremacy + bestowed by money, or the magisterial influence of the burgomaster, or the + consciousness of art, or the cubic force of blissful ignorance. This fine + old man, whose stout body proclaimed his vigorous health, was wrapped in a + dressing-gown of rough gray cloth plainly bound. Between his lips was a + meerschaum pipe, from which, at regular intervals, he blew the smoke, + following with abstracted vision its fantastic wreathings,—his mind + employed, no doubt, in assimilating through some meditative process the + thoughts of the author whose works he was studying. + </p> + <p> + On the other side of the stove and near a door which communicated with the + kitchen Minna was indistinctly visible in the haze of the good man’s + smoke, to which she was apparently accustomed. Beside her on a little + table were the implements of household work, a pile of napkins, and + another of socks waiting to be mended, also a lamp like that which shone + on the white page of the book in which the pastor was absorbed. Her fresh + young face, with its delicate outline, expressed an infinite purity which + harmonized with the candor of the white brow and the clear blue eyes. She + sat erect, turning slightly toward the lamp for better light, + unconsciously showing as she did so the beauty of her waist and bust. She + was already dressed for the night in a long robe of white cotton; a + cambric cap, without other ornament than a frill of the same, confined her + hair. Though evidently plunged in some inward meditation, she counted + without a mistake the threads of her napkins or the meshes of her socks. + Sitting thus, she presented the most complete image, the truest type, of + the woman destined for terrestrial labor, whose glance may piece the + clouds of the sanctuary while her thought, humble and charitable, keeps + her ever on the level of man. + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid had flung himself into a chair between the two tables and was + contemplating with a species of intoxication this picture full of harmony, + to which the clouds of smoke did no despite. The single window which + lighted the parlor during the fine weather was now carefully closed. An + old tapestry, used for a curtain and fastened to a stick, hung before it + in heavy folds. Nothing in the room was picturesque, nothing brilliant; + everything denoted rigorous simplicity, true heartiness, the ease of + unconventional nature, and the habits of a domestic life which knew + neither cares nor troubles. Many a dwelling is like a dream, the sparkle + of passing pleasure seems to hide some ruin beneath the cold smile of + luxury; but this parlor, sublime in reality, harmonious in tone, diffused + the patriarchal ideas of a full and self-contained existence. The silence + was unbroken save by the movements of the servant in the kitchen engaged + in preparing the supper, and by the sizzling of the dried fish which she + was frying in salt butter according to the custom of the country. + </p> + <p> + “Will you smoke a pipe?” said the pastor, seizing a moment when he thought + that Wilfrid might listen to him. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, no, dear Monsieur Becker,” replied the visitor. + </p> + <p> + “You seem to suffer more to-day than usual,” said Minna, struck by the + feeble tones of the stranger’s voice. + </p> + <p> + “I am always so when I leave the chateau.” + </p> + <p> + Minna quivered. + </p> + <p> + “A strange being lives there, Monsieur Becker,” he continued after a + pause. “For the six months that I have been in this village I have never + yet dared to question you about her, and even now I do violence to my + feelings in speaking of her. I began by keenly regretting that my journey + in this country was arrested by the winter weather and that I was forced + to remain here. But during the last two months chains have been forged and + riveted which bind me irrevocably to Jarvis, till now I fear to end my + days here. You know how I first met Seraphita, what impression her look + and voice made upon me, and how at last I was admitted to her home where + she receives no one. From the very first day I have longed to ask you the + history of this mysterious being. On that day began, for me, a series of + enchantments.” + </p> + <p> + “Enchantments!” cried the pastor shaking the ashes of his pipe into an + earthen-ware dish full of sand, “are there enchantments in these days?” + </p> + <p> + “You, who are carefully studying at this moment that volume of the + ‘Incantations’ of Jean Wier, will surely understand the explanation of my + sensations if I try to give it to you,” replied Wilfrid. “If we study + Nature attentively in its great evolutions as in its minutest works, we + cannot fail to recognize the possibility of enchantment—giving to + that word its exact significance. Man does not create forces; he employs + the only force that exists and which includes all others namely Motion, + the breath incomprehensible of the sovereign Maker of the universe. + Species are too distinctly separated for the human hand to mingle them. + The only miracle of which man is capable is done through the conjunction + of two antagonistic substances. Gunpowder for instance is germane to a + thunderbolt. As to calling forth a creation, and a sudden one, all + creation demands time, and time neither recedes nor advances at the word + of command. So, in the world without us, plastic nature obeys laws the + order and exercise of which cannot be interfered with by the hand of man. + But after fulfilling, as it were, the function of Matter, it would be + unreasonable not to recognize within us the existence of a gigantic power, + the effects of which are so incommensurable that the known generations of + men have never yet been able to classify them. I do not speak of man’s + faculty of abstraction, of constraining Nature to confine itself within + the Word,—a gigantic act on which the common mind reflects as little + as it does on the nature of Motion, but which, nevertheless, has led the + Indian theosophists to explain creation by a word to which they give an + inverse power. The smallest atom of their subsistence, namely, the grain + of rice, from which a creation issues and in which alternately creation + again is held, presented to their minds so perfect an image of the + creative word, and of the abstractive word, that to them it was easy to + apply the same system to the creation of worlds. The majority of men + content themselves with the grain of rice sown in the first chapter of all + the Geneses. Saint John, when he said the Word was God only complicated + the difficulty. But the fructification, germination, and efflorescence of + our ideas is of little consequence if we compare that property, shared by + many men, with the wholly individual faculty of communicating to that + property, by some mysterious concentration, forces that are more or less + active, of carrying it up to a third, a ninth, or a twenty-seventh power, + of making it thus fasten upon the masses and obtain magical results by + condensing the processes of nature. + </p> + <p> + “What I mean by enchantments,” continued Wilfrid after a moment’s pause, + “are those stupendous actions taking place between two membranes in the + tissue of the brain. We find in the unexplorable nature of the Spiritual + World certain beings armed with these wondrous faculties, comparable only + to the terrible power of certain gases in the physical world, beings who + combine with other beings, penetrate them as active agents, and produce + upon them witchcrafts, charms, against which these helpless slaves are + wholly defenceless; they are, in fact, enchanted, brought under + subjection, reduced to a condition of dreadful vassalage. Such mysterious + beings overpower others with the sceptre and the glory of a superior + nature,—acting upon them at times like the torpedo which electrifies + or paralyzes the fisherman, at other times like a dose of phosphorous + which stimulates life and accelerates its propulsion; or again, like + opium, which puts to sleep corporeal nature, disengages the spirit from + every bond, enables it to float above the world and shows this earth to + the spiritual eye as through a prism, extracting from it the food most + needed; or, yet again, like catalepsy, which deadens all faculties for the + sake of one only vision. Miracles, enchantments, incantations, + witchcrafts, spells, and charms, in short, all those acts improperly + termed supernatural, are only possible and can only be explained by the + despotism with which some spirit compels us to feel the effects of a + mysterious optic which increases, or diminishes, or exalts creation, moves + within us as it pleases, deforms or embellishes all things to our eyes, + tears us from heaven, or drags us to hell,—two terms by which men + agree to express the two extremes of joy and misery. + </p> + <p> + “These phenomena are within us, not without us,” Wilfrid went on. “The + being whom we call Seraphita seems to me one of those rare and terrible + spirits to whom power is given to bind men, to crush nature, to enter into + participation of the occult power of God. The course of her enchantments + over me began on that first day, when silence as to her was imposed upon + me against my will. Each time that I have wished to question you it seemed + as though I were about to reveal a secret of which I ought to be the + incorruptible guardian. Whenever I have tried to speak, a burning seal has + been laid upon my lips, and I myself have become the involuntary minister + of these mysteries. You see me here to-night, for the hundredth time, + bruised, defeated, broken, after leaving the hallucinating sphere which + surrounds that young girl, so gentle, so fragile to both of you, but to me + the cruellest of magicians! Yes, to me she is like a sorcerer holding in + her right hand the invisible wand that moves the globe, and in her left + the thunderbolt that rends asunder all things at her will. No longer can I + look upon her brow; the light of it is insupportable. I skirt the borders + of the abyss of madness too closely to be longer silent. I must speak. I + seize this moment, when courage comes to me, to resist the power which + drags me onward without inquiring whether or not I have the force to + follow. Who is she? Did you know her young? What of her birth? Had she + father and mother, or was she born of the conjunction of ice and sun? She + burns and yet she freeze; she shows herself and then withdraws; she + attracts me and repulses me; she brings me life, she gives me death; I + love her and yet I hate her! I cannot live thus; let me be wholly in + heaven or in hell!” + </p> + <p> + Holding his refilled pipe in one hand, and in the other the cover which he + forgot to replace, Monsieur Becker listened to Wilfrid with a mysterious + expression on his face, looking occasionally at his daughter, who seemed + to understand the man’s language as in harmony with the strange being who + inspired it. Wilfrid was splendid to behold at this moment,—like + Hamlet listening to the ghost of his father as it rises for him alone in + the midst of the living. + </p> + <p> + “This is certainly the language of a man in love,” said the good pastor, + innocently. + </p> + <p> + “In love!” cried Wilfrid, “yes, to common minds. But, dear Monsieur + Becker, no words can express the frenzy which draws me to the feet of that + unearthly being.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you do love her?” said Minna, in a tone of reproach. + </p> + <p> + “Mademoiselle, I feel such extraordinary agitation when I see her, and + such deep sadness when I see her no more, that in any other man what I + feel would be called love. But that sentiment draws those who feel it + ardently together, whereas between her and me a great gulf lies, whose icy + coldness penetrates my very being in her presence; though the feeling dies + away when I see her no longer. I leave her in despair; I return to her + with ardor,—like men of science who seek a secret from Nature only + to be baffled, or like the painter who would fain put life upon his canvas + and strives with all the resources of his art in the vain attempt.” + </p> + <p> + “Monsieur, all that you say is true,” replied the young girl, artlessly. + </p> + <p> + “How can you know, Minna?” asked the old pastor. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! my father, had you been with us this morning on the summit of the + Falberg, had you seen him praying, you would not ask me that question. You + would say, like Monsieur Wilfrid, that he saw his Seraphita for the first + time in our temple, ‘It is the Spirit of Prayer.’” + </p> + <p> + These words were followed by a moment’s silence. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, truly!” said Wilfrid, “she has nothing in common with the creatures + who grovel upon this earth.” + </p> + <p> + “On the Falberg!” said the old pastor, “how could you get there?” + </p> + <p> + “I do not know,” replied Minna; “the way is like a dream to me, of which + no more than a memory remains. Perhaps I should hardly believe that I had + been there were it not for this tangible proof.” + </p> + <p> + She drew the flower from her bosom and showed it to them. All three gazed + at the pretty saxifrage, which was still fresh, and now shone in the light + of the two lamps like a third luminary. + </p> + <p> + “This is indeed supernatural,” said the old man, astounded at the sight of + a flower blooming in winter. + </p> + <p> + “A mystery!” cried Wilfrid, intoxicated with its perfume. + </p> + <p> + “The flower makes me giddy,” said Minna; “I fancy I still hear that voice,—the + music of thought; that I still see the light of that look, which is Love.” + </p> + <p> + “I implore you, my dear Monsieur Becker, tell me the history of Seraphita,—enigmatical + human flower,—whose image is before us in this mysterious bloom.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear friend,” said the old man, emitting a puff of smoke, “to explain + the birth of that being it is absolutely necessary that I disperse the + clouds which envelop the most obscure of Christian doctrines. It is not + easy to make myself clear when speaking of that incomprehensible + revelation,—the last effulgence of faith that has shone upon our + lump of mud. Do you know Swedenborg?” + </p> + <p> + “By name only,—of him, of his books, and his religion I know + nothing.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I must relate to you the whole chronicle of Swedenborg.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. SERAPHITA-SERAPHITUS + </h2> + <p> + After a pause, during which the pastor seemed to be gathering his + recollections, he continued in the following words:— + </p> + <p> + “Emanuel Swedenborg was born at Upsala in Sweden, in the month of January, + 1688, according to various authors,—in 1689, according to his + epitaph. His father was Bishop of Skara. Swedenborg lived eighty-five + years; his death occurred in London, March 29, 1772. I use that term to + convey the idea of a simple change of state. According to his disciples, + Swedenborg was seen at Jarvis and in Paris after that date. Allow me, my + dear Monsieur Wilfrid,” said Monsieur Becker, making a gesture to prevent + all interruption, “I relate these facts without either affirming or + denying them. Listen; afterwards you can think and say what you like. I + will inform you when I judge, criticise, and discuss these doctrines, so + as to keep clearly in view my own intellectual neutrality between HIM and + Reason. + </p> + <p> + “The life of Swedenborg was divided into two parts,” continued the pastor. + “From 1688 to 1745 Baron Emanuel Swedenborg appeared in the world as a man + of vast learning, esteemed and cherished for his virtues, always + irreproachable and constantly useful. While fulfilling high public + functions in Sweden, he published, between 1709 and 1740, several + important works on mineralogy, physics, mathematics, and astronomy, which + enlightened the world of learning. He originated a method of building + docks suitable for the reception of large vessels, and he wrote many + treatises on various important questions, such as the rise of tides, the + theory of the magnet and its qualities, the motion and position of the + earth and planets, and while Assessor in the Royal College of Mines, on + the proper system of working salt mines. He discovered means to construct + canal-locks or sluices; and he also discovered and applied the simplest + methods of extracting ore and of working metals. In fact he studied no + science without advancing it. In youth he learned Hebrew, Greek, and + Latin, also the oriental languages, with which he became so familiar that + many distinguished scholars consulted him, and he was able to decipher the + vestiges of the oldest known books of Scripture, namely: ‘The Wars of + Jehovah’ and ‘The Enunciations,’ spoken of by Moses (Numbers xxi. 14, 15, + 27-30), also by Joshua, Jeremiah, and Samuel,—‘The Wars of Jehovah’ + being the historical part and ‘The Enunciations’ the prophetical part of + the Mosaical Books anterior to Genesis. Swedenborg even affirms that ‘the + Book of Jasher,’ the Book of the Righteous, mentioned by Joshua, was in + existence in Eastern Tartary, together with the doctrine of + Correspondences. A Frenchman has lately, so they tell me, justified these + statements of Swedenborg, by the discovery at Bagdad of several portions + of the Bible hitherto unknown to Europe. During the widespread discussion + on animal magnetism which took its rise in Paris, and in which most men of + Western science took an active part about the year 1785, Monsieur le + Marquis de Thome vindicated the memory of Swedenborg by calling attention + to certain assertions made by the Commission appointed by the King of + France to investigate the subject. These gentlemen declared that no theory + of magnetism existed, whereas Swedenborg had studied and promulgated it + ever since the year 1720. Monsieur de Thome seizes this opportunity to + show the reason why so many men of science relegated Swedenborg to + oblivion while they delved into his treasure-house and took his facts to + aid their work. ‘Some of the most illustrious of these men,’ said Monsieur + de Thome, alluding to the ‘Theory of the Earth’ by Buffon, ‘have had the + meanness to wear the plumage of the noble bird and refuse him all + acknowledgment’; and he proved, by masterly quotations drawn from the + encyclopaedic works of Swedenborg, that the great prophet had anticipated + by over a century the slow march of human science. It suffices to read his + philosophical and mineralogical works to be convinced of this. In one + passage he is seen as the precursor of modern chemistry by the + announcement that the productions of organized nature are decomposable and + resolve into two simple principles; also that water, air, and fire are <i>not + elements</i>. In another, he goes in a few words to the heart of magnetic + mysteries and deprives Mesmer of the honors of a first knowledge of them. + </p> + <p> + “There,” said Monsieur Becker, pointing to a long shelf against the wall + between the stove and the window on which were ranged books of all sizes, + “behold him! here are seventeen works from his pen, of which one, his + ‘Philosophical and Mineralogical Works,’ published in 1734, is in three + folio volumes. These productions, which prove the incontestable knowledge + of Swedenborg, were given to me by Monsieur Seraphitus, his cousin and the + father of Seraphita. + </p> + <p> + “In 1740,” continued Monsieur Becker, after a slight pause, “Swedenborg + fell into a state of absolute silence, from which he emerged to bid + farewell to all his earthly occupations; after which his thoughts turned + exclusively to the Spiritual Life. He received the first commands of + heaven in 1745, and he thus relates the nature of the vocation to which he + was called: One evening, in London, after dining with a great appetite, a + thick white mist seemed to fill his room. When the vapor dispersed a + creature in human form rose from one corner of the apartment, and said in + a stern tone, ‘Do not eat so much.’ He refrained. The next night the same + man returned, radiant in light, and said to him, ‘I am sent of God, who + has chosen you to explain to men the meaning of his Word and his Creation. + I will tell you what to write.’ The vision lasted but a few moments. The + <i>angel</i> was clothed in purple. During that night the eyes of his <i>inner + man</i> were opened, and he was forced to look into the heavens, into the + world of spirits, and into hell,—three separate spheres; where he + encountered persons of his acquaintance who had departed from their human + form, some long since, others lately. Thenceforth Swedenborg lived wholly + in the spiritual life, remaining in this world only as the messenger of + God. His mission was ridiculed by the incredulous, but his conduct was + plainly that of a being superior to humanity. In the first place, though + limited in means to the bare necessaries of life, he gave away enormous + sums, and publicly, in several cities, restored the fortunes of great + commercial houses when they were on the brink of failure. No one ever + appealed to his generosity who was not immediately satisfied. A sceptical + Englishman, determined to know the truth, followed him to Paris, and + relates that there his doors stood always open. One day a servant + complained of this apparent negligence, which laid him open to suspicion + of thefts that might be committed by others. ‘He need feel no anxiety,’ + said Swedenborg, smiling. ‘But I do not wonder at his fear; he cannot see + the guardian who protects my door.’ In fact, no matter in what country he + made his abode he never closed his doors, and nothing was ever stolen from + him. At Gottenburg—a town situated some sixty miles from Stockholm—he + announced, eight days before the news arrived by courier, the + conflagration which ravaged Stockholm, and the exact time at which it took + place. The Queen of Sweden wrote to her brother, the King, at Berlin, that + one of her ladies-in-waiting, who was ordered by the courts to pay a sum + of money which she was certain her husband had paid before his death, went + to Swedenborg and begged him to ask her husband where she could find proof + of the payment. The following day Swedenborg, having done as the lady + requested, pointed out the place where the receipt would be found. He also + begged the deceased to appear to his wife, and the latter saw her husband + in a dream, wrapped in a dressing-gown which he wore just before his + death; and he showed her the paper in the place indicated by Swedenborg, + where it had been securely put away. At another time, embarking from + London in a vessel commanded by Captain Dixon, he overheard a lady asking + if there were plenty of provisions on board. ‘We do not want a great + quantity,’ he said; ‘in eight days and two hours we shall reach + Stockholm,’—which actually happened. This peculiar state of vision + as to the things of the earth—into which Swedenborg could put + himself at will, and which astonished those about him—was, + nevertheless, but a feeble representative of his faculty of looking into + heaven. + </p> + <p> + “Not the least remarkable of his published visions is that in which he + relates his journeys through the Astral Regions; his descriptions cannot + fail to astonish the reader, partly through the crudity of their details. + A man whose scientific eminence is incontestable, and who united in his + own person powers of conception, will, and imagination, would surely have + invented better if he had invented at all. The fantastic literature of the + East offers nothing that can give an idea of this astounding work, full of + the essence of poetry, if it is permissible to compare a work of faith + with one of oriental fancy. The transportation of Swedenborg by the Angel + who served as guide to this first journey is told with a sublimity which + exceeds, by the distance which God has placed betwixt the earth and the + sun, the great epics of Klopstock, Milton, Tasso, and Dante. This + description, which serves in fact as an introduction to his work on the + Astral Regions, has never been published; it is among the oral traditions + left by Swedenborg to the three disciples who were nearest to his heart. + Monsieur Silverichm has written them down. Monsieur Seraphitus endeavored + more than once to talk to me about them; but the recollection of his + cousin’s words was so burning a memory that he always stopped short at the + first sentence and became lost in a revery from which I could not rouse + him.” + </p> + <p> + The old pastor sighed as he continued: “The baron told me that the + argument by which the Angel proved to Swedenborg that these bodies are not + made to wander through space puts all human science out of sight beneath + the grandeur of a divine logic. According to the Seer, the inhabitants of + Jupiter will not cultivate the sciences, which they call darkness; those + of Mercury abhor the expression of ideas by speech, which seems to them + too material,—their language is ocular; those of Saturn are + continually tempted by evil spirits; those of the Moon are as small as + six-year-old children, their voices issue from the abdomen, on which they + crawl; those of Venus are gigantic in height, but stupid, and live by + robbery,—although a part of this latter planet is inhabited by + beings of great sweetness, who live in the love of Good. In short, he + describes the customs and morals of all the peoples attached to the + different globes, and explains the general meaning of their existence as + related to the universe in terms so precise, giving explanations which + agree so well with their visible evolutions in the system of the world, + that some day, perhaps, scientific men will come to drink of these living + waters. + </p> + <p> + “Here,” said Monsieur Becker, taking down a book and opening it at a mark, + “here are the words with which he ended this work:— + </p> + <p> + “‘If any man doubts that I was transported through a vast number of Astral + Regions, let him recall my observation of the distances in that other + life, namely, that they exist only in relation to the external state of + man; now, being transformed within like unto the Angelic Spirits of those + Astral Spheres, I was able to understand them.’ + </p> + <p> + “The circumstances to which we of this canton owe the presence among us of + Baron Seraphitus, the beloved cousin of Swedenborg, enabled me to know all + the events of the extraordinary life of that prophet. He has lately been + accused of imposture in certain quarters of Europe, and the public prints + reported the following fact based on a letter written by the Chevalier + Baylon. Swedenborg, they said, informed by certain senators of a secret + correspondence of the late Queen of Sweden with her brother, the Prince of + Prussia, revealed his knowledge of the secrets contained in that + correspondence to the Queen, making her believe he had obtained this + knowledge by supernatural means. A man worthy of all confidence, Monsieur + Charles-Leonhard de Stahlhammer, captain in the Royal guard and knight of + the Sword, answered the calumny with a convincing letter.” + </p> + <p> + The pastor opened a drawer of his table and looked through a number of + papers until he found a gazette which he held out to Wilfrid, asking him + to read aloud the following letter:— + </p> + <p> + Stockholm, May 18, 1788. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + I have read with amazement a letter which purports to relate the + interview of the famous Swedenborg with Queen Louisa-Ulrika. The + circumstances therein stated are wholly false; and I hope the + writer will excuse me for showing him by the following faithful + narration, which can be proved by the testimony of many + distinguished persons then present and still living, how + completely he has been deceived. + + In 1758, shortly after the death of the Prince of Prussia + Swedenborg came to court, where he was in the habit of attending + regularly. He had scarcely entered the queen’s presence before she + said to him: “Well, Mr. Assessor, have you seen my brother?” + Swedenborg answered no, and the queen rejoined: “If you do see + him, greet him for me.” In saying this she meant no more than a + pleasant jest, and had no thought whatever of asking him for + information about her brother. Eight days later (not twenty-four + as stated, nor was the audience a private one), Swedenborg again + came to court, but so early that the queen had not left her + apartment called the White Room, where she was conversing with her + maids-of-honor and other ladies attached to the court. Swedenborg + did not wait until she came forth, but entered the said room and + whispered something in her ear. The queen, overcome with + amazement, was taken ill, and it was some time before she + recovered herself. When she did so she said to those about her: + “Only God and my brother knew the thing that he has just spoken + of.” She admitted that it related to her last correspondence with + the prince on a subject which was known to them alone. I cannot + explain how Swedenborg came to know the contents of that letter, + but I can affirm on my honor, that neither Count H—— (as the + writer of the article states) nor any other person intercepted, or + read, the queen’s letters. The senate allowed her to write to her + brother in perfect security, considering the correspondence as of + no interest to the State. It is evident that the author of the + said article is ignorant of the character of Count H——. This + honored gentleman, who has done many important services to his + country, unites the qualities of a noble heart to gifts of mind, + and his great age has not yet weakened these precious possessions. + During his whole administration he added the weight of scrupulous + integrity to his enlightened policy and openly declared himself + the enemy of all secret intrigues and underhand dealings, which he + regarded as unworthy means to attain an end. Neither did the + writer of that article understand the Assessor Swedenborg. The + only weakness of that essentially honest man was a belief in the + apparition of spirits; but I knew him for many years, and I can + affirm that he was as fully convinced that he met and talked with + spirits as I am that I am writing at this moment. As a citizen and + as a friend his integrity was absolute; he abhorred deception and + led the most exemplary of lives. The version which the Chevalier + Baylon gave of these facts is, therefore, entirely without + justification; the visit stated to have been made to Swedenborg in + the night-time by Count H—— and Count T—— is hereby + contradicted. In conclusion, the writer of the letter may rest + assured that I am not a follower of Swedenborg. The love of truth + alone impels me to give this faithful account of a fact which has + been so often stated with details that are entirely false. I + certify to the truth of what I have written by adding my + signature. + + Charles-Leonhard de Stahlhammer. +</pre> + <p> + “The proofs which Swedenborg gave of his mission to the royal families of + Sweden and Prussia were no doubt the foundation of the belief in his + doctrines which is prevalent at the two courts,” said Monsieur Becker, + putting the gazette into the drawer. “However,” he continued, “I shall not + tell you all the facts of his visible and material life; indeed his habits + prevented them from being fully known. He lived a hidden life; not seeking + either riches or fame. He was even noted for a sort of repugnance to + making proselytes; he opened his mind to few persons, and never showed his + external powers of second-sight to any who were not eminent in faith, + wisdom, and love. He could recognize at a glance the state of the soul of + every person who approached him, and those whom he desired to reach with + his inward language he converted into Seers. After the year 1745, his + disciples never saw him do a single thing from any human motive. One man + alone, a Swedish priest, named Mathesius, set afloat a story that he went + mad in London in 1744. But a eulogium on Swedenborg prepared with minute + care as to all the known events of his life, was pronounced after his + death in 1772 on behalf of the Royal Academy of Sciences in the Hall of + the Nobles at Stockholm, by Monsieur Sandels, counsellor of the Board of + Mines. A declaration made before the Lord Mayor of London gives the + details of his last illness and death, in which he received the + ministrations of Monsieur Ferelius a Swedish priest of the highest + standing, and pastor of the Swedish Church in London, Mathesius being his + assistant. All persons present attested that so far from denying the value + of his writings Swedenborg firmly asserted their truth. ‘In one hundred + years,’ Monsieur Ferelius quotes him as saying, ‘my doctrine will guide + the <i>Church</i>.’ He predicted the day and hour of his death. On that + day, Sunday, March 29, 1772, hearing the clock strike, he asked what time + it was. ‘Five o’clock’ was the answer. ‘It is well,’ he answered; ‘thank + you, God bless you.’ Ten minutes later he tranquilly departed, breathing a + gentle sigh. Simplicity, moderation, and solitude were the features of his + life. When he had finished writing any of his books he sailed either for + London or for Holland, where he published them, and never spoke of them + again. He published in this way twenty-seven different treatises, all + written, he said, from the dictation of Angels. Be it true or false, few + men have been strong enough to endure the flames of oral illumination. + </p> + <p> + “There they all are,” said Monsieur Becker, pointing to a second shelf on + which were some sixty volumes. “The treatises on which the Divine Spirit + casts its most vivid gleams are seven in number, namely: ‘Heaven and + Hell’; ‘Angelic Wisdom concerning the Divine Love and the Divine Wisdom’; + ‘Angelic Wisdom concerning the Divine Providence’; ‘The Apocalypse + Revealed’; ‘Conjugial Love and its Chaste Delights’; ‘The True Christian + Religion’; and ‘An Exposition of the Internal Sense.’ Swedenborg’s + explanation of the Apocalypse begins with these words,” said Monsieur + Becker, taking down and opening the volume nearest to him: “‘Herein I have + written nothing of mine own; I speak as I am bidden by the Lord, who said, + through the same angel, to John: “Thou shalt not seal the sayings of this + Prophecy.”’ (Revelation xxii. 10.) + </p> + <p> + “My dear Monsieur Wilfrid,” said the old man, looking at his guest, “I + often tremble in every limb as I read, during the long winter evenings the + awe-inspiring works in which this man declares with perfect artlessness + the wonders that are revealed to him. ‘I have seen,’ he says, ‘Heaven and + the Angels. The spiritual man sees his spiritual fellows far better than + the terrestrial man sees the men of earth. In describing the wonders of + heaven and beneath the heavens I obey the Lord’s command. Others have the + right to believe me or not as they choose. I cannot put them into the + state in which God has put me; it is not in my power to enable them to + converse with Angels, nor to work miracles within their understanding; + they alone can be the instrument of their rise to angelic intercourse. It + is now twenty-eight years since I have lived in the Spiritual world with + angels, and on earth with men; for it pleased God to open the eyes of my + spirit as he did that of Paul, and of Daniel and Elisha.’ + </p> + <p> + “And yet,” continued the pastor, thoughtfully, “certain persons have had + visions of the spiritual world through the complete detachment which + somnambulism produces between their external form and their inner being. + ‘In this state,’ says Swedenborg in his treatise on Angelic Wisdom (No. + 257) ‘Man may rise into the region of celestial light because, his + corporeal senses being abolished, the influence of heaven acts without + hindrance on his inner man.’ Many persons who do not doubt that Swedenborg + received celestial revelations think that his writings are not all the + result of divine inspiration. Others insist on absolute adherence to him; + while admitting his many obscurities, they believe that the imperfection + of earthly language prevented the prophet from clearly revealing those + spiritual visions whose clouds disperse to the eyes of those whom faith + regenerates; for, to use the words of his greatest disciple, ‘Flesh is but + an external propagation.’ To poets and to writers his presentation of the + marvellous is amazing; to Seers it is simply reality. To some Christians + his descriptions have seemed scandalous. Certain critics have ridiculed + the celestial substance of his temples, his golden palaces, his splendid + cities where angels disport themselves; they laugh at his groves of + miraculous trees, his gardens where the flowers speak and the air is + white, and the mystical stones, the sard, carbuncle, chrysolite, + chrysoprase, jacinth, chalcedony, beryl, the Urim and Thummim, are endowed + with motion, express celestial truths, and reply by variations of light to + questions put to them (‘True Christian Religion,’ 219). Many noble souls + will not admit his spiritual worlds where colors are heard in delightful + concert, where language flames and flashes, where the Word is writ in + pointed spiral letters (‘True Christian Religion,’ 278). Even in the North + some writers have laughed at the gates of pearl, and the diamonds which + stud the floors and walls of his New Jerusalem, where the most ordinary + utensils are made of the rarest substances of the globe. ‘But,’ say his + disciples, ‘because such things are sparsely scattered on this earth does + it follow that they are not abundant in other worlds? On earth they are + terrestrial substances, whereas in heaven they assume celestial forms and + are in keeping with angels.’ In this connection Swedenborg has used the + very words of Jesus Christ, who said, ‘If I have told you earthly things + and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly + things?’ + </p> + <p> + “Monsieur,” continued the pastor, with an emphatic gesture, “I have read + the whole of Swedenborg’s works; and I say it with pride, because I have + done it and yet retained my reason. In reading him men either miss his + meaning or become Seers like him. Though I have evaded both extremes, I + have often experienced unheard-of delights, deep emotions, inward joys, + which alone can reveal to us the plenitude of truth,—the evidence of + celestial Light. All things here below seem small indeed when the soul is + lost in the perusal of these Treatises. It is impossible not to be amazed + when we think that in the short space of thirty years this man wrote and + published, on the truths of the Spiritual World, twenty-five quarto + volumes, composed in Latin, of which the shortest has five hundred pages, + all of them printed in small type. He left, they say, twenty others in + London, bequeathed to his nephew, Monsieur Silverichm, formerly almoner to + the King of Sweden. Certainly a man who, between the ages of twenty and + sixty, had already exhausted himself in publishing a series of + encyclopaedical works, must have received supernatural assistance in + composing these later stupendous treatises, at an age, too, when human + vigor is on the wane. You will find in these writings thousands of + propositions, all numbered, none of which have been refuted. Throughout we + see method and precision; the presence of the spirit issuing and flowing + down from a single fact,—the existence of angels. His ‘True + Christian Religion,’ which sums up his whole doctrine and is vigorous with + light, was conceived and written at the age of eighty-three. In fact, his + amazing vigor and omniscience are not denied by any of his critics, not + even by his enemies. + </p> + <p> + “Nevertheless,” said Monsieur Becker, slowly, “though I have drunk deep in + this torrent of divine light, God has not opened the eyes of my inner + being, and I judge these writings by the reason of an unregenerated man. I + have often felt that the <i>inspired</i> Swedenborg must have + misunderstood the Angels. I have laughed over certain visions which, + according to his disciples, I ought to have believed with veneration. I + have failed to imagine the spiral writing of the Angels or their golden + belts, on which the gold is of great or lesser thickness. If, for example, + this statement, ‘Some angels are solitary,’ affected me powerfully for a + time, I was, on reflection, unable to reconcile this solitude with their + marriages. I have not understood why the Virgin Mary should continue to + wear blue satin garments in heaven. I have even dared to ask myself why + those gigantic demons, Enakim and Hephilim, came so frequently to fight + the cherubim on the apocalyptic plains of Armageddon; and I cannot explain + to my own mind how Satans can argue with Angels. Monsieur le Baron + Seraphitus assured me that those details concerned only the angels who + live on earth in human form. The visions of the prophet are often blurred + with grotesque figures. One of his spiritual tales, or ‘Memorable + relations,’ as he called them, begins thus: ‘I see the spirits assembling, + they have hats upon their heads.’ In another of these Memorabilia he + receives from heaven a bit of paper, on which he saw, he says, the + hieroglyphics of the primitive peoples, which were composed of curved + lines traced from the finger-rings that are worn in heaven. However, + perhaps I am wrong; possibly the material absurdities with which his works + are strewn have spiritual significations. Otherwise, how shall we account + for the growing influence of his religion? His church numbers to-day more + than seven hundred thousand believers,—as many in the United States + of America as in England, where there are seven thousand Swedenborgians in + the city of Manchester alone. Many men of high rank in knowledge and in + social position in Germany, in Prussia, and in the Northern kingdoms have + publicly adopted the beliefs of Swedenborg; which, I may remark, are more + comforting than those of all other Christian communions. I wish I had the + power to explain to you clearly in succinct language the leading points of + the doctrine on which Swedenborg founded his church; but I fear such a + summary, made from recollection, would be necessarily defective. I shall, + therefore, allow myself to speak only of those ‘Arcana’ which concern the + birth of Seraphita.” + </p> + <p> + Here Monsieur Becker paused, as though composing his mind to gather up his + ideas. Presently he continued, as follows:— + </p> + <p> + “After establishing mathematically that man lives eternally in spheres of + either a lower or a higher grade, Swedenborg applies the term ‘Spiritual + Angels’ to beings who in this world are prepared for heaven, where they + become angels. According to him, God has not created angels; none exist + who have not been men upon the earth. The earth is the nursery-ground of + heaven. The Angels are therefore not Angels as such (‘Angelic Wisdom,’ + 57), they are transformed through their close conjunction with God; which + conjunction God never refuses, because the essence of God is not negative, + but essentially active. The spiritual angels pass through three natures of + love, because man is only regenerated through successive stages (‘True + Religion’). First, the <i>love of self</i>: the supreme expression of this + love is human genius, whose works are worshipped. Next, <i>love of life</i>: + this love produces prophets,—great men whom the world accepts as + guides and proclaims to be divine. Lastly, <i>love of heaven</i>, and this + creates the Spiritual Angel. These angels are, so to speak, the flowers of + humanity, which culminates in them and works for that culmination. They + must possess either the love of heaven or the wisdom of heaven, but always + Love before Wisdom. + </p> + <p> + “Thus the transformation of the natural man is into Love. To reach this + first degree, his previous existences must have passed through Hope and + Charity, which prepare him for Faith and Prayer. The ideas acquired by the + exercise of these virtues are transmitted to each of the human envelopes + within which are hidden the metamorphoses of the <i>inner being</i>; for + nothing is separate, each existence is necessary to the other existences. + Hope cannot advance without Charity, nor Faith without Prayer; they are + the four fronts of a solid square. ‘One virtue missing,’ he said, ‘and the + Spiritual Angel is like a broken pearl.’ Each of these existences is + therefore a circle in which revolves the celestial riches of the inner + being. The perfection of the Spiritual Angels comes from this mysterious + progression in which nothing is lost of the high qualities that are + successfully acquired to attain each glorious incarnation; for at each + transformation they cast away unconsciously the flesh and its errors. When + the man lives in Love he has shed all evil passions: Hope, Charity, Faith, + and Prayer have, in the words of Isaiah, purged the dross of his inner + being, which can never more be polluted by earthly affections. Hence the + grand saying of Christ quoted by Saint Matthew, ‘Lay up for yourselves + treasures in Heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,’ and those + still grander words: ‘If ye were of this world the world would love you, + but I have chosen you out of the world; be ye therefore perfect as your + Father in heaven is perfect.’ + </p> + <p> + “The second transformation of man is to Wisdom. Wisdom is the + understanding of celestial things to which the Spirit is brought by Love. + The Spirit of Love has acquired strength, the result of all vanquished + terrestrial passions; it loves God blindly. But the Spirit of Wisdom has + risen to understanding and knows why it loves. The wings of the one are + spread and bear the spirit to God; the wings of the other are held down by + the awe that comes of understanding: the spirit knows God. The one longs + incessantly to see God and to fly to Him; the other attains to Him and + trembles. The union effected between the Spirit of Love and the Spirit of + Wisdom carries the human being into a Divine state during which time his + soul is <i>woman</i> and his body <i>man</i>, the last human manifestation + in which the Spirit conquers Form, or Form still struggles against the + Spirit,—for Form, that is, the flesh, is ignorant, rebels, and + desires to continue gross. This supreme trial creates untold sufferings + seen by Heaven alone,—the agony of Christ in the Garden of Olives. + </p> + <p> + “After death the first heaven opens to this dual and purified human + nature. Therefore it is that man dies in despair while the Spirit dies in + ecstasy. Thus, the <i>natural</i>, the state of beings not yet + regenerated; the <i>spiritual</i>, the state of those who have become + Angelic Spirits, and the <i>divine</i>, the state in which the Angel + exists before he breaks from his covering of flesh, are the three degrees + of existence through which man enters heaven. One of Swedenborg’s thoughts + expressed in his own words will explain to you with wonderful clearness + the difference between the <i>natural</i> and the <i>spiritual</i>. ‘To + the minds of men,’ he says, ‘the Natural passes into the Spiritual; they + regard the world under its visible aspects, they perceive it only as it + can be realized by their senses. But to the apprehension of Angelic + Spirits, the Spiritual passes into the Natural; they regard the world in + its inward essence and not in its form.’ Thus human sciences are but + analyses of form. The man of science as the world goes is purely external + like his knowledge; his inner being is only used to preserve his aptitude + for the perception of external truths. The Angelic Spirit goes far beyond + that; his knowledge is the thought of which human science is but the + utterance; he derives that knowledge from the Logos, and learns the law of + <i>correspondences</i> by which the world is placed in unison with heaven. + The <i>word of God</i> was wholly written by pure Correspondences, and + covers an esoteric or spiritual meaning, which according to the science of + Correspondences, cannot be understood. ‘There exist,’ says Swedenborg + (‘Celestial Doctrine’ 26), ‘innumerable Arcana within the hidden meaning + of the Correspondences. Thus the men who scoff at the books of the + Prophets where the Word is enshrined are as densely ignorant as those + other men who know nothing of a science and yet ridicule its truths. To + know the Correspondences which exist between the things visible and + ponderable in the terrestrial world and the things invisible and + imponderable in the spiritual world, is to hold heaven within our + comprehension. All the objects of the manifold creations having emanated + from God necessarily enfold a hidden meaning; according, indeed, to the + grand thought of Isaiah, ‘The earth is a garment.’ + </p> + <p> + “This mysterious link between Heaven and the smallest atoms of created + matter constitutes what Swedenborg calls a Celestial Arcanum, and his + treatise on the ‘Celestial Arcana’ in which he explains the + correspondences or significances of the Natural with, and to, the + Spiritual, giving, to use the words of Jacob Boehm, the sign and seal of + all things, occupies not less than sixteen volumes containing thirty + thousand propositions. ‘This marvellous knowledge of Correspondences which + the goodness of God granted to Swedenborg,’ says one of his disciples, ‘is + the secret of the interest which draws men to his works. According to him, + all things are derived from heaven, all things lead back to heaven. His + writings are sublime and clear; he speaks in heaven, and earth hears him. + Take one of his sentences by itself and a volume could be made of it’; and + the disciple quotes the following passages taken from a thousand others + that would answer the same purpose. + </p> + <p> + “‘The kingdom of heaven,’ says Swedenborg (‘Celestial Arcana’), ‘is the + kingdom of motives. <i>Action</i> is born in heaven, thence into the + world, and, by degrees, to the infinitely remote parts of earth. + Terrestrial effects being thus linked to celestial causes, all things are + <i>correspondent</i> and <i>significant</i>. Man is the means of union + between the Natural and the Spiritual.’ + </p> + <p> + “The Angelic Spirits therefore know the very nature of the Correspondences + which link to heaven all earthly things; they know, too, the inner meaning + of the prophetic words which foretell their evolutions. Thus to these + Spirits everything here below has its significance; the tiniest flower is + a thought,—a life which corresponds to certain lineaments of the + Great Whole, of which they have a constant intuition. To them Adultery and + the excesses spoken of in Scripture and by the Prophets, often garbled by + self-styled scholars, mean the state of those souls which in this world + persist in tainting themselves with earthly affections, thus compelling + their divorce from Heaven. Clouds signify the veil of the Most High. + Torches, shew-bread, horses and horsemen, harlots, precious stones, in + short, everything named in Scripture, has to them a clear-cut meaning, and + reveals the future of terrestrial facts in their relation to Heaven. They + penetrate the truths contained in the Revelation of Saint John the divine, + which human science has subsequently demonstrated and proved materially; + such, for instance, as the following (‘big,’ said Swedenborg, ‘with many + human sciences’): ‘I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first + heaven and the first earth were passed away’ (Revelation xxi. 1). These + Spirits know the supper at which the flesh of kings and the flesh of all + men, free and bond, is eaten, to which an Angel standing in the sun has + bidden them. They see the winged woman, clothed with the sun, and the + mailed man. ‘The horse of the Apocalypse,’ says Swedenborg, ‘is the + visible image of human intellect ridden by Death, for it bears within + itself the elements of its own destruction.’ Moreover, they can + distinguish beings concealed under forms which to ignorant eyes would seem + fantastic. When a man is disposed to receive the prophetic afflation of + Correspondences, it rouses within him a perception of the Word; he + comprehends that the creations are transformations only; his intellect is + sharpened, a burning thirst takes possession of him which only Heaven can + quench. He conceives, according to the greater or lesser perfection of his + inner being, the power of the Angelic Spirits; and he advances, led by + Desire (the least imperfect state of unregenerated man) towards Hope, the + gateway to the world of Spirits, whence he reaches Prayer, which gives him + the Key of Heaven. + </p> + <p> + “What being here below would not desire to render himself worthy of + entrance into the sphere of those who live in secret by Love and Wisdom? + Here on earth, during their lifetime, such spirits remain pure; they + neither see, nor think, nor speak like other men. There are two ways by + which perception comes,—one internal, the other external. Man is + wholly external, the Angelic Spirit wholly internal. The Spirit goes to + the depth of Numbers, possesses a full sense of them, knows their + significances. It controls Motion, and by reason of its ubiquity it shares + in all things. ‘An Angel,’ says Swedenborg, ‘is ever present to a man when + desired’ (‘Angelic Wisdom’); for the Angel has the gift of detaching + himself from his body, and he sees into heaven as the prophets and as + Swedenborg himself saw into it. ‘In this state,’ writes Swedenborg (‘True + Religion,’ 136), ‘the spirit of a man may move from one place to another, + his body remaining where it is,—a condition in which I lived for + over twenty-six years.’ It is thus that we should interpret all Biblical + statements which begin, ‘The Spirit led me.’ Angelic Wisdom is to human + wisdom what the innumerable forces of nature are to its action, which is + one. All things live again, and move and have their being in the Spirit, + which is in God. Saint Paul expresses this truth when he says, ‘In Deo + sumus, movemur, et vivimus,’—we live, we act, we are in God. + </p> + <p> + “Earth offers no hindrance to the Angelic Spirit, just as the Word offers + him no obscurity. His approaching divinity enables him to see the thought + of God veiled in the Logos, just as, living by his inner being, the Spirit + is in communion with the hidden meaning of all things on this earth. + Science is the language of the Temporal world, Love is that of the + Spiritual world. Thus man takes note of more than he is able to explain, + while the Angelic Spirit sees and comprehends. Science depresses man; Love + exalts the Angel. Science is still seeking, Love has found. Man judges + Nature according to his own relations to her; the Angelic Spirit judges it + in its relation to Heaven. In short, all things have a voice for the + Spirit. Spirits are in the secret of the harmony of all creations with + each other; they comprehend the spirit of sound, the spirit of color, the + spirit of vegetable life; they can question the mineral, and the mineral + makes answer to their thoughts. What to them are sciences and the + treasures of the earth when they grasp all things by the eye at all + moments, when the worlds which absorb the minds of so many men are to them + but the last step from which they spring to God? Love of heaven, or the + Wisdom of heaven, is made manifest to them by a circle of light which + surrounds them, and is visible to the Elect. Their innocence, of which + that of children is a symbol, possesses, nevertheless, a knowledge which + children have not; they are both innocent and learned. ‘And,’ says + Swedenborg, ‘the innocence of Heaven makes such an impression upon the + soul that those whom it affects keep a rapturous memory of it which lasts + them all their lives, as I myself have experienced. It is perhaps + sufficient,’ he goes on, ‘to have only a minimum perception of it to be + forever changed, to long to enter Heaven and the sphere of Hope.’ + </p> + <p> + “His doctrine of Marriage can be reduced to the following words: ‘The Lord + has taken the beauty and the grace of the life of man and bestowed them + upon woman. When man is not reunited to this beauty and this grace of his + life, he is harsh, sad, and sullen; when he is reunited to them he is + joyful and complete.’ The Angels are ever at the perfect point of beauty. + Marriages are celebrated by wondrous ceremonies. In these unions, which + produce no children, man contributes the <i>understanding</i>, woman the + <i>will</i>; they become one being, one Flesh here below, and pass to + heaven clothed in the celestial form. On this earth, the natural + attraction of the sexes towards enjoyment is an Effect which allures, + fatigues and disgusts; but in the form celestial the pair, now <i>one</i> + in Spirit find within theirself a ceaseless source of joy. Swedenborg was + led to see these nuptials of the Spirits, which in the words of Saint Luke + (xx. 35) are neither marrying nor giving in marriage, and which inspire + none but spiritual pleasures. An Angel offered to make him witness of such + a marriage and bore him thither on his wings (the wings are a symbol and + not a reality). The Angel clothed him in a wedding garment and when + Swedenborg, finding himself thus robed in light, asked why, the answer + was: ‘For these events, our garments are illuminated; they shine; they are + made nuptial.’ (‘Conjugial Love,’ 19, 20, 21.) Then he saw the two Angels, + one coming from the South, the other from the East; the Angel of the South + was in a chariot drawn by two white horses, with reins of the color and + brilliance of the dawn; but lo, when they were near him in the sky, + chariot and horses vanished. The Angel of the East, clothed in crimson, + and the Angel of the South, in purple, drew together, like breaths, and + mingled: one was the Angel of Love, the other the Angel of Wisdom. + Swedenborg’s guide told him that the two Angels had been linked together + on earth by an inward friendship and ever united though separated in life + by great distances. Consent, the essence of all good marriage upon earth, + is the habitual state of Angels in Heaven. Love is the light of their + world. The eternal rapture of Angels comes from the faculty that God + communicates to them to render back to Him the joy they feel through Him. + This reciprocity of infinitude forms their life. They become infinite by + participating of the essence of God, who generates Himself by Himself. + </p> + <p> + “The immensity of the Heavens where the Angels dwell is such that if man + were endowed with sight as rapid as the darting of light from the sun to + the earth, and if he gazed throughout eternity, his eyes could not reach + the horizon, nor find an end. Light alone can give an idea of the joys of + heaven. ‘It is,’ says Swedenborg (‘Angelic Wisdom,’ 7, 25, 26, 27), ‘a + vapor of the virtue of God, a pure emanation of His splendor, beside which + our greatest brilliance is obscurity. It can compass all; it can renew + all, and is never absorbed: it environs the Angel and unites him to God by + infinite joys which multiply infinitely of themselves. This Light destroys + whosoever is not prepared to receive it. No one here below, nor yet in + Heaven can see God and live. This is the meaning of the saying (Exodus + xix. 12, 13, 21-23) “Take heed to yourselves that ye go not up into the + mount—lest ye break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many perish.” + And again (Exodus xxxiv. 29-35), “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai + with the two Tables of testimony in his hand, his face shone, so that he + put a veil upon it when he spake with the people, lest any of them die.” + The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ likewise revealed the light + surrounding the Messengers from on high and the ineffable joys of the + Angels who are forever imbued with it. “His face,” says Saint Matthew + (xvii. 1-5), “did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light—and + a bright cloud overshadowed them.”’ + </p> + <p> + “When a planet contains only those beings who reject the Lord, when his + word is ignored, then the Angelic Spirits are gathered together by the + four winds, and God sends forth an Exterminating Angel to change the face + of the refractory earth, which in the immensity of this universe is to Him + what an unfruitful seed is to Nature. Approaching the globe, this + Exterminating Angel, borne by a comet, causes the planet to turn upon its + axis, and the lands lately covered by the seas reappear, adorned in + freshness and obedient to the laws proclaimed in Genesis; the Word of God + is once more powerful on this new earth, which everywhere exhibits the + effects of terrestrial waters and celestial flames. The light brought by + the Angel from On High, causes the sun to pale. ‘Then,’ says Isaiah, (xix. + 20) ‘men will hide in the clefts of the rock and roll themselves in the + dust of the earth.’ ‘They will cry to the mountains’ (Revelation), ‘Fall + on us! and to the seas, Swallow us up! Hide us from the face of Him that + sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb!’ The Lamb is the + great figure and hope of the Angels misjudged and persecuted here below. + Christ himself has said, ‘Blessed are those who mourn! Blessed are the + simple-hearted! Blessed are they that love!’—All Swedenborg is + there! Suffer, Believe, Love. To love truly must we not suffer? must we + not believe? Love begets Strength, Strength bestows Wisdom, thence + Intelligence; for Strength and Wisdom demand Will. To be intelligent, is + not that to Know, to Wish, and to Will,—the three attributes of the + Angelic Spirit? ‘If the universe has a meaning,’ Monsieur Saint-Martin + said to me when I met him during a journey which he made in Sweden, + ‘surely this is the one most worthy of God.’ + </p> + <p> + “But, Monsieur,” continued the pastor after a thoughtful pause, “of what + avail to you are these shreds of thoughts taken here and there from the + vast extent of a work of which no true idea can be given except by + comparing it to a river of light, to billows of flame? When a man plunges + into it he is carried away as by an awful current. Dante’s poem seems but + a speck to the reader submerged in the almost Biblical verses with which + Swedenborg renders palpable the Celestial Worlds, as Beethoven built his + palaces of harmony with thousands of notes, as architects have reared + cathedrals with millions of stones. We roll in soundless depths, where our + minds will not always sustain us. Ah, surely a great and powerful + intellect is needed to bring us back, safe and sound, to our own social + beliefs. + </p> + <p> + “Swedenborg,” resumed the pastor, “was particularly attached to the Baron + de Seraphitz, whose name, according to an old Swedish custom, had taken + from time immemorial the Latin termination of ‘us.’ The baron was an + ardent disciple of the Swedish prophet, who had opened the eyes of his + Inner-Man and brought him to a life in conformity with the decrees from + On-High. He sought for an Angelic Spirit among women; Swedenborg found her + for him in a vision. His bride was the daughter of a London shoemaker, in + whom, said Swedenborg, the life of Heaven shone, she having passed through + all anterior trials. After the death, that is, the transformation of the + prophet, the baron came to Jarvis to accomplish his celestial nuptials + with the observances of Prayer. As for me, who am not a Seer, I have only + known the terrestrial works of this couple. Their lives were those of + saints whose virtues are the glory of the Roman Church. They ameliorated + the condition of our people; they supplied them all with means in return + for work,—little, perhaps, but enough for all their wants. Those who + lived with them in constant intercourse never saw them show a sign of + anger or impatience; they were constantly beneficent and gentle, full of + courtesy and loving-kindness; their marriage was the harmony of two souls + indissolubly united. Two eiders winging the same flight, the sound in the + echo, the thought in the word,—these, perhaps, are true images of + their union. Every one here in Jarvis loved them with an affection which I + can compare only to the love of a plant for the sun. The wife was simple + in her manners, beautiful in form, lovely in face, with a dignity of + bearing like that of august personages. In 1783, being then twenty-six + years old, she conceived a child; her pregnancy was to the pair a solemn + joy. They prepared to bid the earth farewell; for they told me they should + be transformed when their child had passed the state of infancy which + needed their fostering care until the strength to exist alone should be + given to her. + </p> + <p> + “Their child was born,—the Seraphita we are now concerned with. From + the moment of her conception father and mother lived a still more solitary + life than in the past, lifting themselves up to heaven by Prayer. They + hoped to see Swedenborg, and faith realized their hope. The day on which + Seraphita came into the world Swedenborg appeared in Jarvis, and filled + the room of the new-born child with light. I was told that he said, ‘The + work is accomplished; the Heavens rejoice!’ Sounds of unknown melodies + were heard throughout the house, seeming to come from the four points of + heaven on the wings of the wind. The spirit of Swedenborg led the father + forth to the shores of the fiord and there quitted him. Certain + inhabitants of Jarvis, having approached Monsieur Seraphitus as he stood + on the shore, heard him repeat those blissful words of Scripture: ‘How + beautiful on the mountains are the feet of Him who is sent of God!’ + </p> + <p> + “I had left the parsonage on my way to baptize the infant and name it, and + perform the other duties required by law, when I met the baron returning + to the house. ‘Your ministrations are superfluous,’ he said; ‘our child is + to be without name on this earth. You must not baptize in the waters of an + earthly Church one who has just been immersed in the fires of Heaven. This + child will remain a blossom, it will not grow old; you will see it pass + away. You exist, but our child has life; you have outward senses, the + child has none, its being is always inward.’ These words were uttered in + so strange and supernatural a voice that I was more affected by them than + by the shining of his face, from which light appeared to exude. His + appearance realized the phantasmal ideas which we form of inspired beings + as we read the prophesies of the Bible. But such effects are not rare + among our mountains, where the nitre of perpetual snows produces + extraordinary phenomena in the human organization. + </p> + <p> + “I asked him the cause of his emotion. ‘Swedenborg came to us; he has just + left me; I have breathed the air of heaven,’ he replied. ‘Under what form + did he appear?’ I said. ‘Under his earthly form; dressed as he was the + last time I saw him in London, at the house of Richard Shearsmith, + Coldbath-fields, in July, 1771. He wore his brown frieze coat with steel + buttons, his waistcoat buttoned to the throat, a white cravat, and the + same magisterial wig rolled and powdered at the sides and raised high in + front, showing his vast and luminous brow, in keeping with the noble + square face, where all is power and tranquillity. I recognized the large + nose with its fiery nostril, the mouth that ever smiled,—angelic + mouth from which these words, the pledge of my happiness, have just + issued, “We shall meet soon.”’ + </p> + <p> + “The conviction that shone on the baron’s face forbade all discussion; I + listened in silence. His voice had a contagious heat which made my bosom + burn within me; his fanaticism stirred my heart as the anger of another + makes our nerves vibrate. I followed him in silence to his house, where I + saw the nameless child lying mysteriously folded to its mother’s breast. + The babe heard my step and turned its head toward me; its eyes were not + those of an ordinary child. To give you an idea of the impression I + received, I must say that already they saw and thought. The childhood of + this predestined being was attended by circumstances quite extraordinary + in our climate. For nine years our winters were milder and our summers + longer than usual. This phenomenon gave rise to several discussions among + scientific men; but none of their explanations seemed sufficient to + academicians, and the baron smiled when I told him of them. The child was + never seen in its nudity as other children are; it was never touched by + man or woman, but lived a sacred thing upon the mother’s breast, and it + never cried. If you question old David he will confirm these facts about + his mistress, for whom he feels an adoration like that of Louis IX. for + the saint whose name he bore. + </p> + <p> + “At nine years of age the child began to pray; prayer is her life. You saw + her in the church at Christmas, the only day on which she comes there; she + is separated from the other worshippers by a visible space. If that space + does not exist between herself and men she suffers. That is why she passes + nearly all her time alone in the chateau. The events of her life are + unknown; she is seldom seen; her days are spent in the state of mystical + contemplation which was, so Catholic writers tell us, habitual with the + early Christian solitaries, in whom the oral tradition of Christ’s own + words still remained. Her mind, her soul, her body, all within her is + virgin as the snow on those mountains. At ten years of age she was just + what you see her now. When she was nine her father and mother expired + together, without pain or visible malady, after naming the day and hour at + which they would cease to be. Standing at their feet she looked at them + with a calm eye, not showing either sadness, or grief, or joy, or + curiosity. When we approached to remove the two bodies she said, ‘Carry + them away!’ ‘Seraphita,’ I said, for so we called her, ‘are you not + affected by the death of your father and your mother who loved you so + much?’ ‘Dead?’ she answered, ‘no, they live in me forever—That is + nothing,’ she pointed without emotion to the bodies they were bearing + away. I then saw her for the third time only since her birth. In church it + is difficult to distinguish her; she stands near a column which, seen from + the pulpit, is in shadow, so that I cannot observe her features. + </p> + <p> + “Of all the servants of the household there remained after the death of + the master and mistress only old David, who, in spite of his eighty-two + years, suffices to wait on his mistress. Some of our Jarvis people tell + wonderful tales about her. These have a certain weight in a land so + essentially conducive to mystery as ours; and I am now studying the + treatise on Incantations by Jean Wier and other works relating to + demonology, where pretended supernatural events are recorded, hoping to + find facts analogous to those which are attributed to her.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you do not believe in her?” said Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes, I do,” said the pastor, genially, “I think her a very capricious + girl; a little spoilt by her parents, who turned her head with the + religious ideas I have just revealed to you.” + </p> + <p> + Minna shook her head in a way that gently expressed contradiction. + </p> + <p> + “Poor girl!” continued the old man, “her parents bequeathed to her that + fatal exaltation of soul which misleads mystics and renders them all more + or less mad. She subjects herself to fasts which horrify poor David. The + good old man is like a sensitive plant which quivers at the slightest + breeze, and glows under the first sun-ray. His mistress, whose + incomprehensible language has become his, is the breeze and the sun-ray to + him; in his eyes her feet are diamonds and her brow is strewn with stars; + she walks environed with a white and luminous atmosphere; her voice is + accompanied by music; she has the gift of rendering herself invisible. If + you ask to see her, he will tell you she has gone to the <i>astral regions</i>. + It is difficult to believe such a story, is it not? You know all miracles + bear more or less resemblance to the story of the Golden Tooth. We have + our golden tooth in Jarvis, that is all. Duncker the fisherman asserts + that he has seen her plunge into the fiord and come up in the shape of an + eider-duck, at other times walking on the billows of a storm. Fergus, who + leads the flocks to the saeters, says that in rainy weather a circle of + clear sky can be seen over the Swedish castle; and that the heavens are + always blue above Seraphita’s head when she is on the mountain. Many women + hear the tones of a mighty organ when Seraphita enters the church, and ask + their neighbors earnestly if they too do not hear them. But my daughter, + for whom during the last two years Seraphita has shown much affection, has + never heard this music, and has never perceived the heavenly perfumes + which, they say, make the air fragrant about her when she moves. Minna, to + be sure, has often on returning from their walks together expressed to me + the delight of a young girl in the beauties of our spring-time, in the + spicy odors of budding larches and pines and the earliest flowers; but + after our long winters what can be more natural than such pleasure? The + companionship of this so-called spirit has nothing so very extraordinary + in it, has it, my child?” + </p> + <p> + “The secrets of that spirit are not mine,” said Minna. “Near it I know + all, away from it I know nothing; near that exquisite life I am no longer + myself, far from it I forget all. The time we pass together is a dream + which my memory scarcely retains. I may have heard yet not remember the + music which the women tell of; in that presence, I may have breathed + celestial perfumes, seen the glory of the heavens, and yet be unable to + recollect them here.” + </p> + <p> + “What astonishes me most,” resumed the pastor, addressing Wilfrid, “is to + notice that you suffer from being near her.” + </p> + <p> + “Near her!” exclaimed the stranger, “she has never so much as let me touch + her hand. When she saw me for the first time her glance intimidated me; + she said: ‘You are welcome here, for you were to come.’ I fancied that she + knew me. I trembled. It is fear that forces me to believe in her.” + </p> + <p> + “With me it is love,” said Minna, without a blush. + </p> + <p> + “Are you making fun of me?” said Monsieur Becker, laughing good-humoredly; + “you my daughter, in calling yourself a Spirit of Love, and you, Monsieur + Wilfrid, in pretending to be a Spirit of Wisdom?” + </p> + <p> + He drank a glass of beer and so did not see the singular look which + Wilfrid cast upon Minna. + </p> + <p> + “Jesting apart,” resumed the old gentleman, “I have been much astonished + to hear that these two mad-caps ascended to the summit of the Falberg; it + must be a girlish exaggeration; they probably went to the crest of a + ledge. It is impossible to reach the peaks of the Falberg.” + </p> + <p> + “If so, father,” said Minna, in an agitated voice, “I must have been under + the power of a spirit; for indeed we reached the summit of the Ice-Cap.” + </p> + <p> + “This is really serious,” said Monsieur Becker. “Minna is always + truthful.” + </p> + <p> + “Monsieur Becker,” said Wilfrid, “I swear to you that Seraphita exercises + such extraordinary power over me that I know no language in which I can + give you the least idea of it. She has revealed to me things known to + myself alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Somnambulism!” said the old man. “A great many such effects are related + by Jean Wier as phenomena easily explained and formerly observed in + Egypt.” + </p> + <p> + “Lend me Swedenborg’s theosophical works,” said Wilfrid, “and let me + plunge into those gulfs of light,—you have given me a thirst for + them.” + </p> + <p> + Monsieur Becker took down a volume and gave it to his guest, who instantly + began to read it. It was about nine o’clock in the evening. The + serving-woman brought in the supper. Minna made tea. The repast over, each + turned silently to his or her occupation; the pastor read the + Incantations; Wilfrid pursued the spirit of Swedenborg; and the young girl + continued to sew, her mind absorbed in recollections. It was a true + Norwegian evening—peaceful, studious, and domestic; full of + thoughts, flowers blooming beneath the snow. Wilfrid, as he devoured the + pages of the prophet, lived by his inner senses only; the pastor, looking + up at times from his book, called Minna’s attention to the absorption of + their guest with an air that was half-serious, half-jesting. To Minna’s + thoughts the face of Seraphitus smiled upon her as it hovered above the + clouds of smoke which enveloped them. The clock struck twelve. Suddenly + the outer door was opened violently. Heavy but hurried steps, the steps of + a terrified old man, were heard in the narrow vestibule between the two + doors; then David burst into the parlor. + </p> + <p> + “Danger, danger!” he cried. “Come! come, all! The evil spirits are + unchained! Fiery mitres are on their heads! Demons, Vertumni, Sirens! they + tempt her as Jesus was tempted on the mountain! Come, come! and drive them + away.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you not recognize the language of Swedenborg?” said the pastor, + laughing, to Wilfrid. “Here it is; pure from the source.” + </p> + <p> + But Wilfrid and Minna were gazing in terror at old David, who, with hair + erect, and eyes distraught, his legs trembling and covered with snow, for + he had come without snow-shoes, stood swaying from side to side, as if + some boisterous wind were shaking him. + </p> + <p> + “Is he harmed?” cried Minna. + </p> + <p> + “The devils hope and try to conquer her,” replied the old man. + </p> + <p> + The words made Wilfrid’s pulses throb. + </p> + <p> + “For the last five hours she has stood erect, her eyes raised to heaven + and her arms extended; she suffers, she cries to God. I cannot cross the + barrier; Hell has posted the Vertumni as sentinels. They have set up an + iron wall between her and her old David. She wants me, but what can I do? + Oh, help me! help me! Come and pray!” + </p> + <p> + The old man’s despair was terrible to see. + </p> + <p> + “The Light of God is defending her,” he went on, with infectious faith, + “but oh! she might yield to violence.” + </p> + <p> + “Silence, David! you are raving. This is a matter to be verified. We will + go with you,” said the pastor, “and you shall see that there are no + Vertumni, nor Satans, nor Sirens, in that house.” + </p> + <p> + “Your father is blind,” whispered David to Minna. + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid, on whom the reading of Swedenborg’s first treatise, which he had + rapidly gone through, had produced a powerful effect, was already in the + corridor putting on his skees; Minna was ready in a few moments, and both + left the old men far behind as they darted forward to the Swedish castle. + </p> + <p> + “Do you hear that cracking sound?” said Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “The ice of the fiord stirs,” answered Minna; “the spring is coming.” + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid was silent. When the two reached the courtyard they were conscious + that they had neither the faculty nor the strength to enter the house. + </p> + <p> + “What think you of her?” asked Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “See that radiance!” cried Minna, going towards the window of the salon. + “He is there! How beautiful! O my Seraphitus, take me!” + </p> + <p> + The exclamation was uttered inwardly. She saw Seraphitus standing erect, + lightly swathed in an opal-tinted mist that disappeared at a little + distance from the body, which seemed almost phosphorescent. + </p> + <p> + “How beautiful she is!” cried Wilfrid, mentally. + </p> + <p> + Just then Monsieur Becker arrived, followed by David; he saw his daughter + and guest standing before the window; going up to them, he looked into the + salon and said quietly, “Well, my good David, she is only saying her + prayers.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, but try to enter, Monsieur.” + </p> + <p> + “Why disturb those who pray?” answered the pastor. + </p> + <p> + At this instant the moon, rising above the Falberg, cast its rays upon the + window. All three turned round, attracted by this natural effect which + made them quiver; when they turned back to again look at Seraphita she had + disappeared. + </p> + <p> + “How strange!” exclaimed Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “I hear delightful sounds,” said Minna. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said the pastor, “it is all plain enough; she is going to bed.” + </p> + <p> + David had entered the house. The others took their way back in silence; + none of them interpreted the vision in the same manner,—Monsieur + Becker doubted, Minna adored, Wilfrid longed. + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid was a man about thirty-six years of age. His figure, though + broadly developed, was not wanting in symmetry. Like most men who + distinguish themselves above their fellows, he was of medium height; his + chest and shoulders were broad, and his neck short,—a characteristic + of those whose hearts are near their heads; his hair was black, thick, and + fine; his eyes, of a yellow brown, had, as it were, a solar brilliancy, + which proclaimed with what avidity his nature aspired to Light. Though + these strong and virile features were defective through the absence of an + inward peace,—granted only to a life without storms or conflicts,—they + plainly showed the inexhaustible resources of impetuous senses and the + appetites of instinct; just as every motion revealed the perfection of the + man’s physical apparatus, the flexibility of his senses, and their + fidelity when brought into play. This man might contend with savages, and + hear, as they do, the tread of enemies in distant forests; he could follow + a scent in the air, a trail on the ground, or see on the horizon the + signal of a friend. His sleep was light, like that of all creatures who + will not allow themselves to be surprised. His body came quickly into + harmony with the climate of any country where his tempestuous life + conducted him. Art and science would have admired his organization in the + light of a human model. Everything about him was symmetrical and + well-balanced,—action and heart, intelligence and will. At first + sight he might be classed among purely instinctive beings, who give + themselves blindly up to the material wants of life; but in the very + morning of his days he had flung himself into a higher social world, with + which his feelings harmonized; study had widened his mind, reflection had + sharpened his power of thought, and the sciences had enlarged his + understanding. He had studied human laws,—the working of + self-interests brought into conflict by the passions, and he seemed to + have early familiarized himself with the abstractions on which societies + rest. He had pored over books,—those deeds of dead humanity; he had + spent whole nights of pleasure in every European capital; he had slept on + fields of battle the night before the combat and the night that followed + victory. His stormy youth may have flung him on the deck of some corsair + and sent him among the contrasting regions of the globe; thus it was that + he knew the actions of a living humanity. He knew the present and the + past,—a double history; that of to-day, that of other days. Many men + have been, like Wilfrid, equally powerful by the Hand, by the Heart, by + the Head; like him, the majority have abused their triple power. But + though this man still held by certain outward liens to the slimy side of + humanity, he belonged also and positively to the sphere where force is + intelligent. In spite of the many veils which enveloped his soul, there + were certain ineffable symptoms of this fact which were visible to pure + spirits, to the eyes of the child whose innocence has known no breath of + evil passions, to the eyes of the old man who has lived to regain his + purity. + </p> + <p> + These signs revealed a Cain for whom there was still hope,—one who + seemed as though he were seeking absolution from the ends of the earth. + Minna suspected the galley-slave of glory in the man; Seraphita recognized + him. Both admired and both pitied him. Whence came their prescience? + Nothing could be more simple nor yet more extraordinary. As soon as we + seek to penetrate the secrets of Nature, where nothing is secret, and + where it is only necessary to have the eyes to see, we perceive that the + simple produces the marvellous. + </p> + <p> + “Seraphitus,” said Minna one evening a few days after Wilfrid’s arrival in + Jarvis, “you read the soul of this stranger while I have only vague + impressions of it. He chills me or else he excites me; but you seem to + know the cause of this cold and of this heat; tell me what it means, for + you know all about him.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I have seen the causes,” said Seraphitus, lowing his large eyelids. + </p> + <p> + “By what power?” asked the curious Minna. + </p> + <p> + “I have the gift of Specialism,” he answered. “Specialism is an inward + sight which can penetrate all things; you will only understand its full + meaning through a comparison. In the great cities of Europe where works + are produced by which the human Hand seeks to represent the effects of the + moral nature was well as those of the physical nature, there are glorious + men who express ideas in marble. The sculptor acts on the stone; he + fashions it; he puts a realm of ideas into it. There are statues which the + hand of man has endowed with the faculty of representing the noble side of + humanity, or the whole evil side; most men see in such marbles a human + figure and nothing more; a few other men, a little higher in the scale of + being, perceive a fraction of the thoughts expressed in the statue; but + the Initiates in the secrets of art are of the same intellect as the + sculptor; they see in his work the whole universe of his thought. Such + persons are in themselves the principles of art; they bear within them a + mirror which reflects nature in her slightest manifestations. Well! so it + is with me; I have within me a mirror before which the moral nature, with + its causes and effects, appears and is reflected. Entering thus into the + consciousness of others I am able to divine both the future and the past. + How? do you still ask how? Imagine that the marble statue is the body of a + man, a piece of statuary in which we see the emotion, sentiment, passion, + vice or crime, virtue or repentance which the creating hand has put into + it, and you will then comprehend how it is that I read the soul of this + foreigner—though what I have said does not explain the gift of + Specialism; for to conceive the nature of that gift we must possess it.” + </p> + <p> + Though Wilfrid belonged to the two first divisions of humanity, the men of + force and the men of thought, yet his excesses, his tumultuous life, and + his misdeeds had often turned him towards Faith; for doubt has two sides; + a side to the light and a side to the darkness. Wilfrid had too closely + clasped the world under its forms of Matter and of Mind not to have + acquired that thirst for the unknown, that longing to <i>go beyond</i> + which lay their grasp upon the men who know, and wish, and will. But + neither his knowledge, nor his actions, nor his will, had found direction. + He had fled from social life from necessity; as a great criminal seeks the + cloister. Remorse, that virtue of weak beings, did not touch him. Remorse + is impotence, impotence which sins again. Repentance alone is powerful; it + ends all. But in traversing the world, which he made his cloister, Wilfrid + had found no balm for his wounds; he saw nothing in nature to which he + could attach himself. In him, despair had dried the sources of desire. He + was one of those beings who, having gone through all passions and come out + victorious, have nothing more to raise in their hot-beds, and who, lacking + opportunity to put themselves at the head of their fellow-men to trample + under iron heel entire populations, buy, at the price of a horrible + martyrdom, the faculty of ruining themselves in some belief,—rocks + sublime, which await the touch of a wand that comes not to bring the + waters gushing from their far-off spring. + </p> + <p> + Led by a scheme of his restless, inquiring life to the shores of Norway, + the sudden arrival of winter had detained the wanderer at Jarvis. The day + on which, for the first time, he saw Seraphita, the whole past of his life + faded from his mind. The young girl excited emotions which he had thought + could never be revived. The ashes gave forth a lingering flame at the + first murmurings of that voice. Who has ever felt himself return to youth + and purity after growing cold and numb with age and soiled with impurity? + Suddenly, Wilfrid loved as he had never loved; he loved secretly, with + faith, with fear, with inward madness. His life was stirred to the very + source of his being at the mere thought of seeing Seraphita. As he + listened to her he was transported into unknown worlds; he was mute before + her, she magnetized him. There, beneath the snows, among the glaciers, + bloomed the celestial flower to which his hopes, so long betrayed, + aspired; the sight of which awakened ideas of freshness, purity, and faith + which grouped about his soul and lifted it to higher regions,—as + Angels bear to heaven the Elect in those symbolic pictures inspired by the + guardian spirit of a great master. Celestial perfumes softened the granite + hardness of the rocky scene; light endowed with speech shed its divine + melodies on the path of him who looked to heaven. After emptying the cup + of terrestrial love which his teeth had bitten as he drank it, he saw + before him the chalice of salvation where the limpid waters sparkled, + making thirsty for ineffable delights whoever dare apply his lips burning + with a faith so strong that the crystal shall not be shattered. + </p> + <p> + But Wilfrid now encountered the wall of brass for which he had been + seeking up and down the earth. He went impetuously to Seraphita, meaning + to express the whole force and bearing of a passion under which he bounded + like the fabled horse beneath the iron horseman, firm in his saddle, whom + nothing moves while the efforts of the fiery animal only made the rider + heavier and more solid. He sought her to relate his life,—to prove + the grandeur of his soul by the grandeur of his faults, to show the ruins + of his desert. But no sooner had he crossed her threshold, and found + himself within the zone of those eyes of scintillating azure, that met no + limits forward and left none behind, than he grew calm and submissive, as + a lion, springing on his prey in the plains of Africa, receives from the + wings of the wind a message of love, and stops his bound. A gulf opened + before him, into which his frenzied words fell and disappeared, and from + which uprose a voice which changed his being; he became as a child, a + child of sixteen, timid and frightened before this maiden with serene + brow, this white figure whose inalterable calm was like the cruel + impassibility of human justice. The combat between them had never ceased + until this evening, when with a glance she brought him down, as a falcon + making his dizzy spirals in the air around his prey causes it to fall + stupefied to earth, before carrying it to his eyrie. + </p> + <p> + We may note within ourselves many a long struggle the end of which is one + of our own actions,—struggles which are, as it were, the reverse + side of humanity. This reverse side belongs to God; the obverse side to + men. More than once Seraphita had proved to Wilfrid that she knew this + hidden and ever varied side, which is to the majority of men a second + being. Often she said to him in her dove-like voice: “Why all this + vehemence?” when on his way to her he had sworn she should be his. Wilfrid + was, however, strong enough to raise the cry of revolt to which he had + given utterance in Monsieur Becker’s study. The narrative of the old + pastor had calmed him. Sceptical and derisive as he was, he saw belief + like a sidereal brilliance dawning on his life. He asked himself if + Seraphita were not an exile from the higher spheres seeking the homeward + way. The fanciful deifications of all ordinary lovers he could not give to + this lily of Norway in whose divinity he believed. Why lived she here + beside this fiord? What did she? Questions that received no answer filled + his mind. Above all, what was about to happen between them? What fate had + brought him there? To him, Seraphita was the motionless marble, light + nevertheless as a vapor, which Minna had seen that day poised above the + precipices of the Falberg. Could she thus stand on the edge of all gulfs + without danger, without a tremor of the arching eyebrows, or a quiver of + the light of the eye? If his love was to be without hope, it was not + without curiosity. + </p> + <p> + From the moment when Wilfrid suspected the ethereal nature of the + enchantress who had told him the secrets of his life in melodious + utterance, he had longed to try to subject her, to keep her to himself, to + tear her from the heaven where, perhaps, she was awaited. Earth and + Humanity seized their prey; he would imitate them. His pride, the only + sentiment through which man can long be exalted, would make him happy in + this triumph for the rest of his life. The idea sent the blood boiling + through his veins, and his heart swelled. If he did not succeed, he would + destroy her,—it is so natural to destroy that which we cannot + possess, to deny what we cannot comprehend, to insult that which we envy. + </p> + <p> + On the morrow, Wilfrid, laden with ideas which the extraordinary events of + the previous night naturally awakened in his mind, resolved to question + David, and went to find him on the pretext of asking after Seraphita’s + health. Though Monsieur Becker spoke of the old servant as falling into + dotage, Wilfrid relied on his own perspicacity to discover scraps of truth + in the torrent of the old man’s rambling talk. + </p> + <p> + David had the immovable, undecided, physiognomy of an octogenarian. Under + his white hair lay a forehead lined with wrinkles like the stone courses + of a ruined wall; and his face was furrowed like the bed of a dried-up + torrent. His life seemed to have retreated wholly to the eyes, where light + still shone, though its gleams were obscured by a mistiness which seemed + to indicate either an active mental alienation or the stupid stare of + drunkenness. His slow and heavy movements betrayed the glacial weight of + age, and communicated an icy influence to whoever allowed themselves to + look long at him,—for he possessed the magnetic force of torpor. His + limited intelligence was only roused by the sight, the hearing, or the + recollection of his mistress. She was the soul of this wholly material + fragment of an existence. Any one seeing David alone by himself would have + thought him a corpse; let Seraphita enter, let her voice be heard, or a + mention of her be made, and the dead came forth from his grave and + recovered speech and motion. The dry bones were not more truly awakened by + the divine breath in the valley of Jehoshaphat, and never was that + apocalyptic vision better realized than in this Lazarus issuing from the + sepulchre into life at the voice of a young girl. His language, which was + always figurative and often incomprehensible, prevented the inhabitants of + the village from talking with him; but they respected a mind that deviated + so utterly from common ways,—a thing which the masses instinctively + admire. + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid found him in the antechamber, apparently asleep beside the stove. + Like a dog who recognizes a friend of the family, the old man raised his + eyes, saw the foreigner, and did not stir. + </p> + <p> + “Where is she?” inquired Wilfrid, sitting down beside him. + </p> + <p> + David fluttered his fingers in the air as if to express the flight of a + bird. + </p> + <p> + “Does she still suffer?” asked Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “Beings vowed to Heaven are able so to suffer that suffering does not + lessen their love; this is the mark of the true faith,” answered the old + man, solemnly, like an instrument which, on being touched, gives forth an + accidental note. + </p> + <p> + “Who taught you those words?” + </p> + <p> + “The Spirit.” + </p> + <p> + “What happened to her last night? Did you force your way past the Vertumni + standing sentinel? did you evade the Mammons?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes”; answered David, as though awaking from a dream. + </p> + <p> + The misty gleam of his eyes melted into a ray that came direct from the + soul and made it by degrees brilliant as that of an eagle, as intelligent + as that of a poet. + </p> + <p> + “What did you see?” asked Wilfrid, astonished at this sudden change. + </p> + <p> + “I saw Species and Shapes; I heard the Spirit of all things; I beheld the + revolt of the Evil Ones; I listened to the words of the Good. Seven devils + came, and seven archangels descended from on high. The archangels stood + apart and looked on through veils. The devils were close by; they shone, + they acted. Mammon came on his pearly shell in the shape of a beautiful + naked woman; her snowy body dazzled the eye, no human form ever equalled + it; and he said, ‘I am Pleasure; thou shalt possess me!’ Lucifer, prince + of serpents, was there in sovereign robes; his Manhood was glorious as the + beauty of an angel, and he said, ‘Humanity shall be at thy feet!’ The + Queen of misers,—she who gives back naught that she has ever + received,—the Sea, came wrapped in her virent mantle; she opened her + bosom, she showed her gems, she brought forth her treasures and offered + them; waves of sapphire and of emerald came at her bidding; her hidden + wonders stirred, they rose to the surface of her breast, they spoke; the + rarest pearl of Ocean spread its iridescent wings and gave voice to its + marine melodies, saying, ‘Twin daughter of suffering, we are sisters! + await me; let us go together; all I need is to become a Woman.’ The Bird + with the wings of an eagle and the paws of a lion, the head of a woman and + the body of a horse, the Animal, fell down before her and licked her feet, + and promised seven hundred years of plenty to her best-beloved daughter. + Then came the most formidable of all, the Child, weeping at her knees, and + saying, ‘Wilt thou leave me, feeble and suffering as I am? oh, my mother, + stay!’ and he played with her, and shed languor on the air, and the + Heavens themselves had pity for his wail. The Virgin of pure song brought + forth her choirs to relax the soul. The Kings of the East came with their + slaves, their armies, and their women; the Wounded asked her for succor, + the Sorrowful stretched forth their hands: ‘Do not leave us! do not leave + us!’ they cried. I, too, I cried, ‘Do not leave us! we adore thee! stay!’ + Flowers, bursting from the seed, bathed her in their fragrance which + uttered, ‘Stay!’ The giant Enakim came forth from Jupiter, leading Gold + and its friends and all the Spirits of the Astral Regions which are joined + with him, and they said, ‘We are thine for seven hundred years.’ At last + came Death on his pale horse, crying, ‘I will obey thee!’ One and all fell + prostrate before her. Could you but have seen them! They covered as it + were a vast plain, and they cried aloud to her, ‘We have nurtured thee, + thou art our child; do not abandon us!’ At length Life issued from her + Ruby Waters, and said, ‘I will not leave thee!’ then, finding Seraphita + silent, she flamed upon her as the sun, crying out, ‘I am light!’ ‘<i>The + light</i> is there!’ cried Seraphita, pointing to the clouds where stood + the archangels; but she was wearied out; Desire had wrung her nerves, she + could only cry, ‘My God! my God!’ Ah! many an Angelic Spirit, scaling the + mountain and nigh to the summit, has set his foot upon a rolling stone + which plunged him back into the abyss! All these lost Spirits adored her + constancy; they stood around her,—a choir without a song,—weeping + and whispering, ‘Courage!’ At last she conquered; Desire—let loose + upon her in every Shape and every Species—was vanquished. She stood + in prayer, and when at last her eyes were lifted she saw the feet of + Angels circling in the Heavens.” + </p> + <p> + “She saw the feet of Angels?” repeated Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said the old man. + </p> + <p> + “Was it a dream that she told you?” asked Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “A dream as real as your life,” answered David; “I was there.” + </p> + <p> + The calm assurance of the old servant affected Wilfrid powerfully. He went + away asking himself whether these visions were any less extraordinary than + those he had read of in Swedenborg the night before. + </p> + <p> + “If Spirits exist, they must act,” he was saying to himself as he entered + the parsonage, where he found Monsieur Becker alone. + </p> + <p> + “Dear pastor,” he said, “Seraphita is connected with us in form only, and + even that form is inexplicable. Do not think me a madman or a lover; a + profound conviction cannot be argued with. Convert my belief into + scientific theories, and let us try to enlighten each other. To-morrow + evening we shall both be with her.” + </p> + <p> + “What then?” said Monsieur Becker. + </p> + <p> + “If her eye ignores space,” replied Wilfrid, “if her thought is an + intelligent sight which enables her to perceive all things in their + essence, and to connect them with the general evolution of the universe, + if, in a word, she sees and knows all, let us seat the Pythoness on her + tripod, let us force this pitiless eagle by threats to spread its wings! + Help me! I breathe a fire which burns my vitals; I must quench it or it + will consume me. I have found a prey at last, and it shall be mine!” + </p> + <p> + “The conquest will be difficult,” said the pastor, “because this girl is—” + </p> + <p> + “Is what?” cried Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “Mad,” said the old man. + </p> + <p> + “I will not dispute her madness, but neither must you dispute her + wonderful powers. Dear Monsieur Becker, she has often confounded me with + her learning. Has she travelled?” + </p> + <p> + “From her house to the fiord, no further.” + </p> + <p> + “Never left this place!” exclaimed Wilfrid. “Then she must have read + immensely.” + </p> + <p> + “Not a page, not one iota! I am the only person who possesses any books in + Jarvis. The works of Swedenborg—the only books that were in the + chateau—you see before you. She has never looked into a single one + of them.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you tried to talk with her?” + </p> + <p> + “What good would that do?” + </p> + <p> + “Does no one live with her in that house?” + </p> + <p> + “She has no friends but you and Minna, nor any servant except old David.” + </p> + <p> + “It cannot be that she knows nothing of science nor of art.” + </p> + <p> + “Who should teach her?” said the pastor. + </p> + <p> + “But if she can discuss such matters pertinently, as she has often done + with me, what do you make of it?” + </p> + <p> + “The girl may have acquired through years of silence the faculties enjoyed + by Apollonius of Tyana and other pretended sorcerers burned by the + Inquisition, which did not choose to admit the fact of second-sight.” + </p> + <p> + “If she can speak Arabic, what would you say to that?” + </p> + <p> + “The history of medical science gives many authentic instances of girls + who have spoken languages entirely unknown to them.” + </p> + <p> + “What can I do?” exclaimed Wilfrid. “She knows of secrets in my past life + known only to me.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall be curious if she can tell me thoughts that I have confided to no + living person,” said Monsieur Becker. + </p> + <p> + Minna entered the room. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my daughter, and how is your familiar spirit?” + </p> + <p> + “He suffers, father,” she answered, bowing to Wilfrid. “Human passions, + clothed in their false riches, surrounded him all night, and showed him + all the glories of the world. But you think these things mere tales.” + </p> + <p> + “Tales as beautiful to those who read them in their brains as the ‘Arabian + Nights’ to common minds,” said the pastor, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Did not Satan carry our Savior to the pinnacle of the Temple, and show + him all the kingdoms of the world?” she said. + </p> + <p> + “The Evangelists,” replied her father, “did not correct their copies very + carefully, and several versions are in existence.” + </p> + <p> + “You believe in the reality of these visions?” said Wilfrid to Minna. + </p> + <p> + “Who can doubt when he relates them.” + </p> + <p> + “He?” demanded Wilfrid. “Who?” + </p> + <p> + “He who is there,” replied Minna, motioning towards the chateau. + </p> + <p> + “Are you speaking of Seraphita?” he said. + </p> + <p> + The young girl bent her head, and looked at him with an expression of + gentle mischief. + </p> + <p> + “You too!” exclaimed Wilfrid, “you take pleasure in confounding me. Who + and what is she? What do you think of her?” + </p> + <p> + “What I feel is inexplicable,” said Minna, blushing. + </p> + <p> + “You are all crazy!” cried the pastor. + </p> + <p> + “Farewell, until to-morrow evening,” said Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. THE CLOUDS OF THE SANCTUARY + </h2> + <p> + There are pageants in which all the material splendors that man arrays + co-operate. Nations of slaves and divers have searched the sands of ocean + and the bowels of earth for the pearls and diamonds which adorn the + spectators. Transmitted as heirlooms from generation to generation, these + treasures have shone on consecrated brows and could be the most faithful + of historians had they speech. They know the joys and sorrows of the great + and those of the small. Everywhere do they go; they are worn with pride at + festivals, carried in despair to usurers, borne off in triumph amid blood + and pillage, enshrined in masterpieces conceived by art for their + protection. None, except the pearl of Cleopatra, has been lost. The Great + and the Fortunate assemble to witness the coronation of some king, whose + trappings are the work of men’s hands, but the purple of whose raiment is + less glorious than that of the flowers of the field. These festivals, + splendid in light, bathed in music which the hand of man creates, aye, all + the triumphs of that hand are subdued by a thought, crushed by a + sentiment. The Mind can illumine in a man and round a man a light more + vivid, can open his ear to more melodious harmonies, can seat him on + clouds of shining constellations and teach him to question them. The Heart + can do still greater things. Man may come into the presence of one sole + being and find in a single word, a single look, an influence so weighty to + bear, of so luminous a light, so penetrating a sound, that he succumbs and + kneels before it. The most real of all splendors are not in outward + things, they are within us. A single secret of science is a realm of + wonders to the man of learning. Do the trumpets of Power, the jewels of + Wealth, the music of Joy, or a vast concourse of people attend his mental + festival? No, he finds his glory in some dim retreat where, perchance, a + pallid suffering man whispers a single word into his ear; that word, like + a torch lighted in a mine, reveals to him a Science. All human ideas, + arrayed in every attractive form which Mystery can invent surrounded a + blind man seated in a wayside ditch. Three worlds, the Natural, the + Spiritual, the Divine, with all their spheres, opened their portals to a + Florentine exile; he walked attended by the Happy and the Unhappy; by + those who prayed and those who moaned; by angels and by souls in hell. + When the Sent of God, who knew and could accomplish all things, appeared + to three of his disciples it was at eventide, at the common table of the + humblest of inns; and then and there the Light broke forth, shattering + Material Forms, illuminating the Spiritual Faculties, so that they saw him + in his glory, and the earth lay at their feet like a cast-off sandal. + </p> + <p> + Monsieur Becker, Wilfrid, and Minna were all under the influence of fear + as they took their way to meet the extraordinary being whom each desired + to question. To them, in their several ways, the Swedish castle had grown + to mean some gigantic representation, some spectacle like those whose + colors and masses are skilfully and harmoniously marshalled by the poets, + and whose personages, imaginary actors to men, are real to those who begin + to penetrate the Spiritual World. On the tiers of this Coliseum Monsieur + Becker seated the gray legions of Doubt, the stern ideas, the specious + formulas of Dispute. He convoked the various antagonistic worlds of + philosophy and religion, and they all appeared, in the guise of a + fleshless shape, like that in which art embodies Time,—an old man + bearing in one hand a scythe, in the other a broken globe, the human + universe. + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid had bidden to the scene his earliest illusions and his latest + hopes, human destiny and its conflicts, religion and its conquering + powers. + </p> + <p> + Minna saw heaven confusedly by glimpses; love raised a curtain wrought + with mysterious images, and the melodious sounds which met her ear + redoubled her curiosity. + </p> + <p> + To all three, therefore, this evening was to be what that other evening + had been for the pilgrims to Emmaus, what a vision was to Dante, an + inspiration to Homer,—to them, three aspects of the world revealed, + veils rent away, doubts dissipated, darkness illumined. Humanity in all + its moods expecting light could not be better represented than here by + this young girl, this man in the vigor of his age, and these old men, of + whom one was learned enough to doubt, the other ignorant enough to + believe. Never was any scene more simple in appearance, nor more + portentous in reality. + </p> + <p> + When they entered the room, ushered in by old David, they found Seraphita + standing by a table on which were served the various dishes which compose + a “tea”; a form of collation which in the North takes the place of wine + and its pleasures,—reserved more exclusively for Southern climes. + Certainly nothing proclaimed in her, or in him, a being with the strange + power of appearing under two distinct forms; nothing about her betrayed + the manifold powers which she wielded. Like a careful housewife attending + to the comfort of her guests, she ordered David to put more wood into the + stove. + </p> + <p> + “Good evening, my neighbors,” she said. “Dear Monsieur Becker, you do + right to come; you see me living for the last time, perhaps. This winter + has killed me. Will you sit there?” she said to Wilfrid. “And you, Minna, + here?” pointing to a chair beside her. “I see you have brought your + embroidery. Did you invent that stitch? the design is very pretty. For + whom is it,—your father, or monsieur?” she added, turning to + Wilfrid. “Surely we ought to give him, before we part, a remembrance of + the daughters of Norway.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you suffer much yesterday?” asked Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “It was nothing,” she answered; “the suffering gladdened me; it was + necessary, to enable me to leave this life.” + </p> + <p> + “Then death does not alarm you?” said Monsieur Becker, smiling, for he did + not think her ill. + </p> + <p> + “No, dear pastor; there are two ways of dying: to some, death is victory, + to others, defeat.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you think that you have conquered?” asked Minna. + </p> + <p> + “I do not know,” she said, “perhaps I have only taken a step in the path.” + </p> + <p> + The lustrous splendor of her brow grew dim, her eyes were veiled beneath + slow-dropping lids; a simple movement which affected the prying guests and + kept them silent. Monsieur Becker was the first to recover courage. + </p> + <p> + “Dear child,” he said, “you are truth itself, and you are ever kind. I + would ask of you to-night something other than the dainties of your + tea-table. If we may believe certain persons, you know amazing things; if + this be true, would it not be charitable in you to solve a few of our + doubts?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” she said smiling, “I walk on the clouds. I visit the depths of the + fiord; the sea is my steed and I bridle it; I know where the singing + flower grows, and the talking light descends, and fragrant colors shine! I + wear the seal of Solomon; I am a fairy; I cast my orders to the wind + which, like an abject slave, fulfils them; my eyes can pierce the earth + and behold its treasures; for lo! am I not the virgin to whom the pearls + dart from their ocean depths and—” + </p> + <p> + “—who led me safely to the summit of the Falberg?” said Minna, + interrupting her. + </p> + <p> + “Thou! thou too!” exclaimed the strange being, with a luminous glance at + the young girl which filled her soul with trouble. “Had I not the faculty + of reading through your foreheads the desires which have brought you here, + should I be what you think I am?” she said, encircling all three with her + controlling glance, to David’s great satisfaction. The old man rubbed his + hands with pleasure as he left the room. + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” she resumed after a pause, “you have come, all of you, with the + curiosity of children. You, my poor Monsieur Becker, have asked yourself + how it was possible that a girl of seventeen should know even a single one + of those secrets which men of science seek with their noses to the earth,—instead + of raising their eyes to heaven. Were I to tell you how and at what point + the plant merges into the animal you would begin to doubt your doubts. You + have plotted to question me; you will admit that?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, dear Seraphita,” answered Wilfrid; “but the desire is a natural one + to men, is it not?” + </p> + <p> + “You will bore this dear child with such topics,” she said, passing her + hand lightly over Minna’s hair with a caressing gesture. + </p> + <p> + The young girl raised her eyes and seemed as though she longed to lose + herself in him. + </p> + <p> + “Speech is the endowment of us all,” resumed the mysterious creature, + gravely. “Woe to him who keeps silence, even in a desert, believing that + no one hears him; all voices speak and all ears listen here below. Speech + moves the universe. Monsieur Becker, I desire to say nothing + unnecessarily. I know the difficulties that beset your mind; would you not + think it a miracle if I were now to lay bare the past history of your + consciousness? Well, the miracle shall be accomplished. You have never + admitted to yourself the full extent of your doubts. I alone, immovable in + my faith, I can show it to you; I can terrify you with yourself. + </p> + <p> + “You stand on the darkest side of Doubt. You do not believe in God,—although + you know it not,—and all things here below are secondary to him who + rejects the first principle of things. Let us leave aside the fruitless + discussions of false philosophy. The spiritualist generations made as many + and as vain efforts to deny Matter as the materialist generations have + made to deny Spirit. Why such discussions? Does not man himself offer + irrefragable proof of both systems? Do we not find in him material things + and spiritual things? None but a madman can refuse to see in the human + body a fragment of Matter; your natural sciences, when they decompose it, + find little difference between its elements and those of other animals. On + the other hand, the idea produced in man by the comparison of many objects + has never seemed to any one to belong to the domain of Matter. As to this, + I offer no opinion. I am now concerned with your doubts, not with my + certainties. To you, as to the majority of thinkers, the relations between + things, the reality of which is proved to you by your sensations and which + you possess the faculty to discover, do not seem Material. The Natural + universe of things and beings ends, in man, with the Spiritual universe of + similarities or differences which he perceives among the innumerable forms + of Nature,—relations so multiplied as to seem infinite; for if, up + to the present time, no one has been able to enumerate the separate + terrestrial creations, who can reckon their correlations? Is not the + fraction which you know, in relation to their totality, what a single + number is to infinity? Here, then, you fall into a perception of the + infinite which undoubtedly obliges you to conceive of a purely Spiritual + world. + </p> + <p> + “Thus man himself offers sufficient proof of the two orders,—Matter + and Spirit. In him culminates a visible finite universe; in him begins a + universe invisible and infinite,—two worlds unknown to each other. + Have the pebbles of the fiord a perception of their combined being? have + they a consciousness of the colors they present to the eye of man? do they + hear the music of the waves that lap them? Let us therefore spring over + and not attempt to sound the abysmal depths presented to our minds in the + union of a Material universe and a Spiritual universe,—a creation + visible, ponderable, tangible, terminating in a creation invisible, + imponderable, intangible; completely dissimilar, separated by the void, + yet united by indisputable bonds and meeting in a being who derives + equally from the one and from the other! Let us mingle in one world these + two worlds, absolutely irreconcilable to your philosophies, but conjoined + by fact. However abstract man may suppose the relation which binds two + things together, the line of junction is perceptible. How? Where? We are + not now in search of the vanishing point where Matter subtilizes. If such + were the question, I cannot see why He who has, by physical relations, + studded with stars at immeasurable distances the heavens which veil Him, + may not have created solid substances, nor why you deny Him the faculty of + giving a body to thought. + </p> + <p> + “Thus your invisible moral universe and your visible physical universe are + one and the same matter. We will not separate properties from substances, + nor objects from effects. All that exists, all that presses upon us and + overwhelms us from above or from below, before us or in us, all that which + our eyes and our minds perceive, all these named and unnamed things + compose—in order to fit the problem of Creation to the measure of + your logic—a block of finite Matter; but were it infinite, God would + still not be its master. Now, reasoning with your views, dear pastor, no + matter in what way God the infinite is concerned with this block of finite + Matter, He cannot exist and retain the attributes with which man invests + Him. Seek Him in facts, and He is not; spiritually and materially, you + have made God impossible. Listen to the Word of human Reason forced to its + ultimate conclusions. + </p> + <p> + “In bringing God face to face with the Great Whole, we see that only two + states are possible between them,—either God and Matter are + contemporaneous, or God existed alone before Matter. Were Reason—the + light that has guided the human race from the dawn of its existence—accumulated + in one brain, even that mighty brain could not invent a third mode of + being without suppressing both Matter and God. Let human philosophies pile + mountain upon mountain of words and of ideas, let religions accumulate + images and beliefs, revelations and mysteries, you must face at last this + terrible dilemma and choose between the two propositions which compose it; + you have no option, and one as much as the other leads human reason to + Doubt. + </p> + <p> + “The problem thus established, what signifies Spirit or Matter? Why + trouble about the march of the worlds in one direction or in another, + since the Being who guides them is shown to be an absurdity? Why continue + to ask whether man is approaching heaven or receding from it, whether + creation is rising towards Spirit or descending towards Matter, if the + questioned universe gives no reply? What signifies theogonies and their + armies, theologies and their dogmas, since whichever side of the problem + is man’s choice, his God exists not? Let us for a moment take up the first + proposition, and suppose God contemporaneous with Matter. Is subjection to + the action or the co-existence of an alien substance consistent with being + God at all? In such a system, would not God become a secondary agent + compelled to organize Matter? If so, who compelled Him? Between His + material gross companion and Himself, who was the arbiter? Who paid the + wages of the six days’ labor imputed to the great Designer? Has any + determining force been found which was neither God nor Matter? God being + regarded as the manufacturer of the machinery of the worlds, is it not as + ridiculous to call Him God as to call the slave who turns the grindstone a + Roman citizen? Besides, another difficulty, as insoluble to this supreme + human reason as it is to God, presents itself. + </p> + <p> + “If we carry the problem higher, shall we not be like the Hindus, who put + the world upon a tortoise, the tortoise on an elephant, and do not know on + what the feet of their elephant may rest? This supreme will, issuing from + the contest between God and Matter, this God, this more than God, can He + have existed throughout eternity without willing what He afterwards + willed,—admitting that Eternity can be divided into two eras. No + matter where God is, what becomes of His intuitive intelligence if He did + not know His ultimate thought? Which, then, is the true Eternity,—the + created Eternity or the uncreated? But if God throughout all time did will + the world such as it is, this new necessity, which harmonizes with the + idea of sovereign intelligence, implies the co-eternity of Matter. Whether + Matter be co-eternal by a divine will necessarily accordant with itself + from the beginning, or whether Matter be co-eternal of its own being, the + power of God, which must be absolute, perishes if His will is + circumscribed; for in that case God would find within Him a determining + force which would control Him. Can He be God if He can no more separate + Himself from His creation in a past eternity than in the coming eternity? + </p> + <p> + “This face of the problem is insoluble in its cause. Let us now inquire + into its effects. If a God compelled to have created the world from all + eternity seems inexplicable, He is quite as unintelligible in perpetual + cohesion with His work. God, constrained to live eternally united to His + creation is held down to His first position as workman. Can you conceive + of a God who shall be neither independent of nor dependent on His work? + Could He destroy that work without challenging Himself? Ask yourself, and + decide! Whether He destroys it some day, or whether He never destroys it, + either way is fatal to the attributes without which God cannot exist. Is + the world an experiment? is it a perishable form to which destruction must + come? If it is, is not God inconsistent and impotent? inconsistent, + because He ought to have seen the result before the attempt,—moreover + why should He delay to destroy that which He is to destroy?—impotent, + for how else could He have created an imperfect man? + </p> + <p> + “If an imperfect creation contradicts the faculties which man attributes + to God we are forced back upon the question, Is creation perfect? The idea + is in harmony with that of a God supremely intelligent who could make no + mistakes; but then, what means the degradation of His work, and its + regeneration? Moreover, a perfect world is, necessarily, indestructible; + its forms would not perish, it could neither advance nor recede, it would + revolve in the everlasting circumference from which it would never issue. + In that case God would be dependent on His work; it would be co-eternal + with Him; and so we fall back into one of the propositions most + antagonistic to God. If the world is imperfect, it can progress; if + perfect, it is stationary. On the other hand, if it be impossible to admit + of a progressive God ignorant through a past eternity of the results of + His creative work, can there be a stationary God? would not that imply the + triumph of Matter? would it not be the greatest of all negations? Under + the first hypothesis God perishes through weakness; under the second + through the Force of his inertia. + </p> + <p> + “Therefore, to all sincere minds the supposition that Matter, in the + conception and execution of the worlds, is contemporaneous with God, is to + deny God. Forced to choose, in order to govern the nations, between the + two alternatives of the problem, whole generations have preferred this + solution of it. Hence the doctrine of the two principles of Magianism, + brought from Asia and adopted in Europe under the form of Satan warring + with the Eternal Father. But this religious formula and the innumerable + aspects of divinity that have sprung from it are surely crimes against the + Majesty Divine. What other term can we apply to the belief which sets up + as a rival to God a personification of Evil, striving eternally against + the Omnipotent Mind without the possibility of ultimate triumph? Your + statics declare that two Forces thus pitted against each other are + reciprocally rendered null. + </p> + <p> + “Do you turn back, therefore, to the other side of the problem, and say + that God pre-existed, original, alone? + </p> + <p> + “I will not go over the preceding arguments (which here return in full + force) as to the severance of Eternity into two parts; nor the questions + raised by the progression or the immobility of the worlds; let us look + only at the difficulties inherent to this second theory. If God + pre-existed alone, the world must have emanated from Him; Matter was + therefore drawn from His essence; consequently Matter in itself is + non-existent; all forms are veils to cover the Divine Spirit. If this be + so, the World is Eternal, and also it must be God. Is not this proposition + even more fatal than the former to the attributes conferred on God by + human reason? How can the actual condition of Matter be explained if we + suppose it to issue from the bosom of God and to be ever united with Him? + Is it possible to believe that the All-Powerful, supremely good in His + essence and in His faculties, has engendered things dissimilar to Himself. + Must He not in all things and through all things be like unto Himself? Can + there be in God certain evil parts of which at some future day he may rid + Himself?—a conjecture less offensive and absurd than terrible, for + the reason that it drags back into Him the two principles which the + preceding theory proved to be inadmissible. God must be ONE; He cannot be + divided without renouncing the most important condition of His existence. + It is therefore impossible to admit of a fraction of God which yet is not + God. This hypothesis seemed so criminal to the Roman Church that she has + made the omnipresence of God in the least particles of the Eucharist an + article of faith. + </p> + <p> + “But how then can we imagine an omnipotent mind which does not triumph? + How associate it unless in triumph with Nature? But Nature is not + triumphant; she seeks, combines, remodels, dies, and is born again; she is + even more convulsed when creating than when all was fusion; Nature + suffers, groans, is ignorant, degenerates, does evil; deceives herself, + annihilates herself, disappears, and begins again. If God is associated + with Nature, how can we explain the inoperative indifference of the divine + principle? Wherefore death? How came it that Evil, king of the earth, was + born of a God supremely good in His essence and in His faculties, who can + produce nothing that is not made in His own image? + </p> + <p> + “But if, from this relentless conclusion which leads at once to absurdity, + we pass to details, what end are we to assign to the world? If all is God, + all is reciprocally cause and effect; all is <i>One</i> as God is <i>One</i>, + and we can perceive neither points of likeness nor points of difference. + Can the real end be a rotation of Matter which subtilizes and disappears? + In whatever sense it were done, would not this mechanical trick of Matter + issuing from God and returning to God seem a sort of child’s play? Why + should God make himself gross with Matter? Under which form is he most + God? Which has the ascendant, Matter or Spirit, when neither can in any + way do wrong? Who can comprehend the Deity engaged in this perpetual + business, by which he divides Himself into two Natures, one of which knows + nothing, while the other knows all? Can you conceive of God amusing + Himself in the form of man, laughing at His own efforts, dying Friday, to + be born again Sunday, and continuing this play from age to age, knowing + the end from all eternity, and telling nothing to Himself, the Creature, + of what He the Creator, does? The God of the preceding hypothesis, a God + so nugatory by the very power of His inertia, seems the more possible of + the two if we are compelled to choose between the impossibilities with + which this God, so dull a jester, fusillades Himself when two sections of + humanity argue face to face, weapons in hand. + </p> + <p> + “However absurd this outcome of the second problem may seem, it was + adopted by half the human race in the sunny lands where smiling + mythologies were created. Those amorous nations were consistent; with them + all was God, even Fear and its dastardy, even crime and its bacchanals. If + we accept pantheism,—the religion of many a great human genius,—who + shall say where the greater reason lies? Is it with the savage, free in + the desert, clothed in his nudity, listening to the sun, talking to the + sea, sublime and always true in his deeds whatever they may be; or shall + we find it in civilized man, who derives his chief enjoyments through + lies; who wrings Nature and all her resources to put a musket on his + shoulder; who employs his intellect to hasten the hour of his death and to + create diseases out of pleasures? When the rake of pestilence and the + ploughshare of war and the demon of desolation have passed over a corner + of the globe and obliterated all things, who will be found to have the + greater reason,—the Nubian savage or the patrician of Thebes? Your + doubts descend the scale, they go from heights to depths, they embrace + all, the end as well as the means. + </p> + <p> + “But if the physical world seems inexplicable, the moral world presents + still stronger arguments against God. Where, then, is progress? If all + things are indeed moving toward perfection why do we die young? why do not + nations perpetuate themselves? The world having issued from God and being + contained in God can it be stationary? Do we live once, or do we live + always? If we live once, hurried onward by the march of the Great-Whole, a + knowledge of which has not been given to us, let us act as we please. If + we are eternal, let things take their course. Is the created being guilty + if he exists at the instant of the transitions? If he sins at the moment + of a great transformation will he be punished for it after being its + victim? What becomes of the Divine goodness if we are not transferred to + the regions of the blest—should any such exist? What becomes of + God’s prescience if He is ignorant of the results of the trials to which + He subjects us? What is this alternative offered to man by all religions,—either + to boil in some eternal cauldron or to walk in white robes, a palm in his + hand and a halo round his head? Can it be that this pagan invention is the + final word of God? Where is the generous soul who does not feel that the + calculating virtue which seeks the eternity of pleasure offered by all + religions to whoever fulfils at stray moments certain fanciful and often + unnatural conditions, is unworthy of man and of God? Is it not a mockery + to give to man impetuous senses and forbid him to satisfy them? Besides, + what mean these ascetic objections if Good and Evil are equally abolished? + Does Evil exist? If substance in all its forms is God, then Evil is God. + The faculty of reasoning as well as the faculty of feeling having been + given to man to use, nothing can be more excusable in him than to seek to + know the meaning of human suffering and the prospects of the future. + </p> + <p> + “If these rigid and rigorous arguments lead to such conclusions confusion + must reign. The world would have no fixedness; nothing would advance, + nothing would pause, all would change, nothing would be destroyed, all + would reappear after self-renovation; for if your mind does not clearly + demonstrate to you an end, it is equally impossible to demonstrate the + destruction of the smallest particle of Matter; Matter can transform but + not annihilate itself. + </p> + <p> + “Though blind force may provide arguments for the atheist, intelligent + force is inexplicable; for if it emanates from God, why should it meet + with obstacles? ought not its triumph to be immediate? Where is God? If + the living cannot perceive Him, can the dead find Him? Crumble, ye + idolatries and ye religions! Fall, feeble keystones of all social arches, + powerless to retard the decay, the death, the oblivion that have overtaken + all nations however firmly founded! Fall, morality and justice! our crimes + are purely relative; they are divine effects whose causes we are not + allowed to know. All is God. Either we are God or God is not!—Child + of a century whose every year has laid upon your brow, old man, the ice of + its unbelief, here, here is the summing up of your lifetime of thought, of + your science and your reflections! Dear Monsieur Becker, you have laid + your head upon the pillow of Doubt, because it is the easiest of + solutions; acting in this respect with the majority of mankind, who say in + their hearts: ‘Let us think no more of these problems, since God has not + vouchsafed to grant us the algebraic demonstrations that could solve them, + while He has given us so many other ways to get from earth to heaven.’ + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, dear pastor, are not these your secret thoughts? Have I evaded + the point of any? nay, rather, have I not clearly stated all? First, in + the dogma of two principles,—an antagonism in which God perishes for + the reason that being All-Powerful He chose to combat. Secondly, in the + absurd pantheism where, all being God, God exists no longer. These two + sources, from which have flowed all the religions for whose triumph Earth + has toiled and prayed, are equally pernicious. Behold in them the + double-bladed axe with which you decapitate the white old man whom you + enthrone among your painted clouds! And now, to me the axe, I wield it!” + </p> + <p> + Monsieur Becker and Wilfrid gazed at the young girl with something like + terror. + </p> + <p> + “To believe,” continued Seraphita, in her Woman’s voice, for the Man had + finished speaking, “to believe is a gift. To believe is to feel. To + believe in God we must feel God. This feeling is a possession slowly + acquired by the human being, just as other astonishing powers which you + admire in great men, warriors, artists, scholars, those who know and those + who act, are acquired. Thought, that budget of the relations which you + perceive among created things, is an intellectual language which can be + learned, is it not? Belief, the budget of celestial truths, is also a + language as superior to thought as thought is to instinct. This language + also can be learned. The Believer answers with a single cry, a single + gesture; Faith puts within his hand a flaming sword with which he pierces + and illumines all. The Seer attains to heaven and descends not. But there + are beings who believe and see, who know and will, who love and pray and + wait. Submissive, yet aspiring to the kingdom of light, they have neither + the aloofness of the Believer nor the silence of the Seer; they listen and + reply. To them the doubt of the twilight ages is not a murderous weapon, + but a divining rod; they accept the contest under every form; they train + their tongues to every language; they are never angered, though they + groan; the acrimony of the aggressor is not in them, but rather the + softness and tenuity of light, which penetrates and warms and illumines. + To their eyes Doubt is neither an impiety, nor a blasphemy, nor a crime, + but a transition through which men return upon their steps in the + Darkness, or advance into the Light. This being so, dear pastor, let us + reason together. + </p> + <p> + “You do not believe in God? Why? God, to your thinking, is + incomprehensible, inexplicable. Agreed. I will not reply that to + comprehend God in His entirety would be to be God; nor will I tell you + that you deny what seems to you inexplicable so as to give me the right to + affirm that which to me is believable. There is, for you, one evident + fact, which lies within yourself. In you, Matter has ended in + intelligence; can you therefore think that human intelligence will end in + darkness, doubt, and nothingness? God may seem to you incomprehensible and + inexplicable, but you must admit Him to be, in all things purely physical, + a splendid and consistent workman. Why should His craft stop short at man, + His most finished creation? + </p> + <p> + “If that question is not convincing, at least it compels meditation. + Happily, although you deny God, you are obliged, in order to establish + your doubts, to admit those double-bladed facts, which kill your arguments + as much as your arguments kill God. We have also admitted that Matter and + Spirit are two creations which do not comprehend each other; that the + spiritual world is formed of infinite relations to which the finite + material world has given rise; that if no one on earth is able to identify + himself by the power of his spirit with the great-whole of terrestrial + creations, still less is he able to rise to the knowledge of the relations + which the spirit perceives between these creations. + </p> + <p> + “We might end the argument here in one word, by denying you the faculty of + comprehending God, just as you deny to the pebbles of the fiord the + faculties of counting and of seeing each other. How do you know that the + stones themselves do not deny the existence of man, though man makes use + of them to build his houses? There is one fact that appals you,—the + Infinite; if you feel it within, why will you not admit its consequences? + Can the finite have a perfect knowledge of the infinite? If you cannot + perceive those relations which, according to your own admission, are + infinite, how can you grasp a sense of the far-off end to which they are + converging? Order, the revelation of which is one of your needs, being + infinite, can your limited reason apprehend it? Do not ask why man does + not comprehend that which he is able to perceive, for he is equally able + to perceive that which he does not comprehend. If I prove to you that your + mind ignores that which lies within its compass, will you grant that it is + impossible for it to conceive whatever is beyond it? This being so, am I + not justified in saying to you: ‘One of the two propositions under which + God is annihilated before the tribunal of our reason must be true, the + other is false. Inasmuch as creation exists, you feel the necessity of an + end, and that end should be good, should it not? Now, if Matter terminates + in man by intelligence, why are you not satisfied to believe that the end + of human intelligence is the Light of the higher spheres, where alone an + intuition of that God who seems so insoluble a problem is obtained? The + species which are beneath you have no conception of the universe, and you + have; why should there not be other species above you more intelligent + than your own? Man ought to be better informed than he is about himself + before he spends his strength in measuring God. Before attacking the stars + that light us, and the higher certainties, ought he not to understand the + certainties which are actually about him?’ + </p> + <p> + “But no! to the negations of doubt I ought rather to reply by negations. + Therefore I ask you whether there is anything here below so evident that I + can put faith in it? I will show you in a moment that you believe firmly + in things which act, and yet are not beings; in things which engender + thought, and yet are not spirits; in living abstractions which the + understanding cannot grasp in any shape, which are in fact nowhere, but + which you perceive everywhere; which have, and can have, on name, but + which, nevertheless, you have named; and which, like the God of flesh upon + whom you figure to yourself, remain inexplicable, incomprehensible, and + absurd. I shall also ask you why, after admitting the existence of these + incomprehensible things, you reserve your doubts for God? + </p> + <p> + “You believe, for instance, in Number,—a base on which you have + built the edifice of sciences which you call ‘exact.’ Without Number, what + would become of mathematics? Well, what mysterious being endowed with the + faculty of living forever could utter, and what language would be compact + to word the Number which contains the infinite numbers whose existence is + revealed to you by thought? Ask it of the loftiest human genius; he might + ponder it for a thousand years and what would be his answer? You know + neither where Number begins, nor where it pauses, nor where it ends. Here + you call it Time, there you call it Space. Nothing exists except by + Number. Without it, all would be one and the same substance; for Number + alone differentiates and qualifies substance. Number is to your Spirit + what it is to Matter, an incomprehensible agent. Will you make a Deity of + it? Is it a being? Is it a breath emanating from God to organize the + material universe where nothing obtains form except by the Divinity which + is an effect of Number? The least as well as the greatest of creations are + distinguishable from each other by quantities, qualities, dimensions, + forces,—all attributes created by Number. The infinitude of Numbers + is a fact proved to your soul, but of which no material proof can be + given. The mathematician himself tells you that the infinite of numbers + exists, but cannot be proved. + </p> + <p> + “God, dear pastor, is a Number endowed with motion,—felt, but not + seen, the Believer will tell you. Like the Unit, He begins Number, with + which He has nothing in common. The existence of Number depends on the + Unit, which without being a number engenders Number. God, dear pastor is a + glorious Unit who has nothing in common with His creations but who, + nevertheless, engenders them. Will you not therefore agree with me that + you are just as ignorant of where Number begins and ends as you are of + where created Eternity begins and ends? + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, if you believe in Number, do you deny God? Is not Creation + interposed between the Infinite of unorganized substances and the Infinite + of the divine spheres, just as the Unit stands between the Cipher of the + fractions you have lately named Decimals, and the Infinite of Numbers + which you call Wholes? Man alone on earth comprehends Number, that first + step of the peristyle which leads to God, and yet his reason stumbles on + it! What! you can neither measure nor grasp the first abstraction which + God delivers to you, and yet you try to subject His ends to your own + tape-line! Suppose that I plunge you into the abyss of Motion, the force + that organizes Number. If I tell you that the Universe is naught else than + Number and Motion, you would see at once that we speak two different + languages. I understand them both; you understand neither. + </p> + <p> + “Suppose I add that Motion and Number are engendered by the Word, namely + the supreme Reason of Seers and Prophets who in the olden time heard the + Breath of God beneath which Saul fell to the earth. That Word, you scoff + at it, you men, although you well know that all visible works, societies, + monuments, deeds, passions, proceed from the breath of your own feeble + word, and that without that word you would resemble the African gorilla, + the nearest approach to man, the Negro. You believe firmly in Number and + in Motion, a force and a result both inexplicable, incomprehensible, to + the existence of which I may apply the logical dilemma which, as we have + seen, prevents you from believing in God. Powerful reasoner that you are, + you do not need that I should prove to you that the Infinite must + everywhere be like unto Itself, and that, necessarily, it is One. God + alone is Infinite, for surely there cannot be two Infinities, two Ones. + If, to make use of human terms, anything demonstrated to you here below + seems to you infinite, be sure that within it you will find some one + aspect of God. But to continue. + </p> + <p> + “You have appropriated to yourself a place in the Infinite of Number; you + have fitted it to your own proportions by creating (if indeed you did + create) arithmetic, the basis on which all things rest, even your + societies. Just as Number—the only thing in which your self-styled + atheists believe—organized physical creations, so arithmetic, in the + employ of Number, organized the moral world. This numeration must be + absolute, like all else that is true in itself; but it is purely relative, + it does not exist absolutely, and no proof can be given of its reality. In + the first place, though Numeration is able to take account of organized + substances, it is powerless in relation to unorganized forces, the ones + being finite and the others infinite. The man who can conceive the + Infinite by his intelligence cannot deal with it in its entirety; if he + could, he would be God. Your Numeration, applying to things finite and not + to the Infinite, is therefore true in relation to the details which you + are able to perceive, and false in relation to the Whole, which you are + unable to perceive. Though Nature is like unto herself in the organizing + force or in her principles which are infinite, she is not so in her finite + effects. Thus you will never find in Nature two objects identically alike. + In the Natural Order two and two never make four; to do so, four exactly + similar units must be had, and you know how impossible it is to find two + leaves alike on the same tree, or two trees alike of the same species. + This axiom of your numeration, false in visible nature, is equally false + in the invisible universe of your abstractions, where the same variance + takes place in your ideas, which are the things of the visible world + extended by means of their relations; so that the variations here are even + more marked than elsewhere. In fact, all being relative to the + temperament, strength, habits, and customs of individuals, who never + resemble each other, the smallest objects take the color of personal + feelings. For instance, man has been able to create units and to give an + equal weight and value to bits of gold. Well, take the ducat of the rich + man and the ducat of the poor man to a money-changer and they are rated + exactly equal, but to the mind of the thinker one is of greater importance + than the other; one represents a month of comfort, the other an ephemeral + caprice. Two and two, therefore, only make four through a false + conception. + </p> + <p> + “Again: fraction does not exist in Nature, where what you call a fragment + is a finished whole. Does it not often happen (have you not many proofs of + it?) that the hundredth part of a substance is stronger than what you term + the whole of it? If fraction does not exist in the Natural Order, still + less shall we find it in the Moral Order, where ideas and sentiments may + be as varied as the species of the Vegetable kingdom and yet be always + whole. The theory of fractions is therefore another signal instance of the + servility of your mind. + </p> + <p> + “Thus Number, with its infinite minuteness and its infinite expansion, is + a power whose weakest side is known to you, but whose real import escapes + your perception. You have built yourself a hut in the Infinite of numbers, + you have adorned it with hieroglyphics scientifically arranged and + painted, and you cry out, ‘All is here!’ + </p> + <p> + “Let us pass from pure, unmingled Number to corporate Number. Your + geometry establishes that a straight line is the shortest way from one + point to another, but your astronomy proves that God has proceeded by + curves. Here, then, we find two truths equally proved by the same science,—one + by the testimony of your senses reinforced by the telescope, the other by + the testimony of your mind; and yet the one contradicts the other. Man, + liable to err, affirms one, and the Maker of the worlds, whom, so far, you + have not detected in error, contradicts it. Who shall decide between + rectalinear and curvilinear geometry? between the theory of the straight + line and that of the curve? If, in His vast work, the mysterious + Artificer, who knows how to reach His ends miraculously fast, never + employs a straight line except to cut off an angle and so obtain a curve, + neither does man himself always rely upon it. The bullet which he aims + direct proceeds by a curve, and when you wish to strike a certain point in + space, you impel your bombshell along its cruel parabola. None of your men + of science have drawn from this fact the simple deduction that the Curve + is the law of the material worlds and the Straight line that of the + Spiritual worlds; one is the theory of finite creations, the other the + theory of the infinite. Man, who alone in the world has a knowledge of the + Infinite, can alone know the straight line; he alone has the sense of + verticality placed in a special organ. A fondness for the creations of the + curve would seem to be in certain men an indication of the impurity of + their nature still conjoined to the material substances which engender us; + and the love of great souls for the straight line seems to show in them an + intuition of heaven. Between these two lines there is a gulf fixed like + that between the finite and the infinite, between matter and spirit, + between man and the idea, between motion and the object moved, between the + creature and God. Ask Love the Divine to grant you his wings and you can + cross that gulf. Beyond it begins the revelation of the Word. + </p> + <p> + “No part of those things which you call material is without its own + meaning; lines are the boundaries of solid parts and imply a force of + action which you suppress in your formulas,—thus rendering those + formulas false in relation to substances taken as a whole. Hence the + constant destruction of the monuments of human labor, which you supply, + unknown to yourselves, with acting properties. Nature has substances; your + science combines only their appearances. At every step Nature gives the + lie to all your laws. Can you find a single one that is not disproved by a + fact? Your Static laws are at the mercy of a thousand accidents; a fluid + can overthrow a solid mountain and prove that the heaviest substances may + be lifted by one that is imponderable. + </p> + <p> + “Your laws on Acoustics and Optics are defied by the sounds which you hear + within yourselves in sleep, and by the light of an electric sun whose rays + often overcome you. You know no more how light makes itself seen within + you, than you know the simple and natural process which changes it on the + throats of tropic birds to rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and opals, or + keeps it gray and brown on the breasts of the same birds under the cloudy + skies of Europe, or whitens it here in the bosom of our polar Nature. You + know not how to decide whether color is a faculty with which all + substances are endowed, or an effect produced by an effluence of light. + You admit the saltness of the sea without being able to prove that the + water is salt at its greatest depth. You recognize the existence of + various substances which span what you think to be the void,—substances + which are not tangible under any of the forms assumed by Matter, although + they put themselves in harmony with Matter in spite of every obstacle. + </p> + <p> + “All this being so, you believe in the results of Chemistry, although that + science still knows no way of gauging the changes produced by the flux and + reflux of substances which come and go across your crystals and your + instruments on the impalpable filaments of heat or light conducted and + projected by the affinities of metal or vitrified flint. You obtain none + but dead substances, from which you have driven the unknown force that + holds in check the decomposition of all things here below, and of which + cohesion, attraction, vibration, and polarity are but phenomena. Life is + the thought of substances; bodies are only the means of fixing life and + holding it to its way. If bodies were beings living of themselves they + would be Cause itself, and could not die. + </p> + <p> + “When a man discovers the results of the general movement, which is shared + by all creations according to their faculty of absorption, you proclaim + him mighty in science, as though genius consisted in explaining a thing + that is! Genius ought to cast its eyes beyond effects. Your men of science + would laugh if you said to them: ‘There exist such positive relations + between two human beings, one of whom may be here, and the other in Java, + that they can at the same instant feel the same sensation, and be + conscious of so doing; they can question each other and reply without + mistake’; and yet there are mineral substances which exhibit sympathies as + far off from each other as those of which I speak. You believe in the + power of the electricity which you find in the magnet and you deny that + which emanates from the soul! According to you, the moon, whose influence + upon the tides you think fixed, has none whatever upon the winds, nor upon + navigation, nor upon men; she moves the sea, but she must not affect the + sick folk; she has undeniable relations with one half of humanity, and + nothing at all to do with the other half. These are your vaunted + certainties! + </p> + <p> + “Let us go a step further. You believe in physics. But your physics begin, + like the Catholic religion, with an <i>act of faith</i>. Do they not + pre-suppose some external force distinct from substance to which it + communicates motion? You see its effects, but what is it? where is it? + what is the essence of its nature, its life? has it any limits?—and + yet, you deny God! + </p> + <p> + “Thus, the majority of your scientific axioms, true to their relation to + man, are false in relation to the Great Whole. Science is One, but you + have divided it. To know the real meaning of the laws of phenomena must we + not know the correlations which exist between phenomena and the law of the + Whole? There is, in all things, an appearance which strikes your senses; + under that appearance stirs a soul; a body is there and a faculty is + there. Where do you teach the study of the relations which bind things to + each other? Nowhere. Consequently you have nothing positive. Your + strongest certainties rest upon the analysis of material forms whose + essence you persistently ignore. + </p> + <p> + “There is a Higher Knowledge of which, too late, some men obtain a + glimpse, though they dare not avow it. Such men comprehend the necessity + of considering substances not merely in their mathematical properties but + also in their entirety, in their occult relations and affinities. The + greatest man among you divined, in his latter days, that all was + reciprocally cause and effect; that the visible worlds were co-ordinated + among themselves and subject to worlds invisible. He groaned at the + recollection of having tried to establish fixed precepts. Counting up his + worlds, like grape-seeds scattered through ether, he had explained their + coherence by the laws of planetary and molecular attraction. You bowed + before that man of science—well! I tell you that he died in despair. + By supposing that the centrifugal and centripetal forces, which he had + invented to explain to himself the universe, were equal, he stopped the + universe; yet he admitted motion in an indeterminate sense; but supposing + those forces unequal, then utter confusion of the planetary system ensued. + His laws therefore were not absolute; some higher problem existed than the + principle on which his false glory rested. The connection of the stars + with one another and the centripetal action of their internal motion did + not deter him from seeking the parent stalk on which his clusters hung. + Alas, poor man! the more he widened space the heavier his burden grew. He + told you how there came to be equilibrium among the parts, but whither + went the whole? His mind contemplated the vast extent, illimitable to + human eyes, filled with those groups of worlds a mere fraction of which is + all our telescopes can reach, but whose immensity is revealed by the + rapidity of light. This sublime contemplation enabled him to perceive + myriads of worlds, planted in space like flowers in a field, which are + born like infants, grow like men, die as the aged die, and live by + assimilating from their atmosphere the substances suitable for their + nourishment,—having a centre and a principal of life, guaranteeing + to each other their circuits, absorbed and absorbing like plants, and + forming a vast Whole endowed with life and possessing a destiny. + </p> + <p> + “At that sight your man of science trembled! He knew that life is produced + by the union of the thing and its principle, that death or inertia or + gravity is produced by a rupture between a thing and the movement which + appertains to it. Then it was that he foresaw the crumbling of the worlds + and their destruction if God should withdraw the Breath of His Word. He + searched the Apocalypse for the traces of that Word. You thought him mad. + Understand him better! He was seeking pardon for the work of his genius. + </p> + <p> + “Wilfrid, you have come here hoping to make me solve equations, or rise + upon a rain-cloud, or plunge into the fiord and reappear a swan. If + science or miracles were the end and object of humanity, Moses would have + bequeathed to you the law of fluxions; Jesus Christ would have lightened + the darkness of your sciences; his apostles would have told you whence + come those vast trains of gas and melted metals, attached to cores which + revolve and solidify as they dart through ether, or violently enter some + system and combine with a star, jostling and displacing it by the shock, + or destroying it by the infiltration of their deadly gases; Saint Paul, + instead of telling you to live in God, would have explained why food is + the secret bond among all creations and the evident tie between all living + Species. In these days the greatest miracle of all would be the discovery + of the squaring of the circle,—a problem which you hold to be + insoluble, but which is doubtless solved in the march of worlds by the + intersection of some mathematical lines whose course is visible to the eye + of spirits who have reached the higher spheres. Believe me, miracles are + in us, not without us. Here natural facts occur which men call + supernatural. God would have been strangely unjust had he confined the + testimony of his power to certain generations and peoples and denied them + to others. The brazen rod belongs to all. Neither Moses, nor Jacob, nor + Zoroaster, nor Paul, nor Pythagoras, nor Swedenborg, not the humblest + Messenger nor the loftiest Prophet of the Most High are greater than you + are capable of being. Only, there come to nations as to men certain + periods when Faith is theirs. + </p> + <p> + “If material sciences be the end and object of human effort, tell me, both + of you, would societies,—those great centres where men congregate,—would + they perpetually be dispersed? If civilization were the object of our + Species, would intelligence perish? would it continue purely individual? + The grandeur of all nations that were truly great was based on exceptions; + when the exception ceased their power died. If such were the End-all, + Prophets, Seers, and Messengers of God would have lent their hand to + Science rather than have given it to Belief. Surely they would have + quickened your brains sooner than have touched your hearts! But no; one + and all they came to lead the nations back to God; they proclaimed the + sacred Path in simple words that showed the way to heaven; all were + wrapped in love and faith, all were inspired by that <i>word</i> which + hovers above the inhabitants of earth, enfolding them, inspiriting them, + uplifting them; none were prompted by any human interest. Your great + geniuses, your poets, your kings, your learned men are engulfed with their + cities; while the names of these good pastors of humanity, ever blessed, + have survived all cataclysms. + </p> + <p> + “Alas! we cannot understand each other on any point. We are separated by + an abyss. You are on the side of darkness, while I—I live in the + light, the true Light! Is this the word that you ask of me? I say it with + joy; it may change you. Know this: there are sciences of matter and + sciences of spirit. There, where you see substances, I see forces that + stretch one toward another with generating power. To me, the character of + bodies is the indication of their principles and the sign of their + properties. Those principles beget affinities which escape your knowledge, + and which are linked to centres. The different species among which life is + distributed are unfailing streams which correspond unfailingly among + themselves. Each has his own vocation. Man is effect and cause. He is fed, + but he feeds in turn. When you call God a Creator, you dwarf Him. He did + not create, as you think He did, plants or animals or stars. Could He + proceed by a variety of means? Must He not act by unity of composition? + Moreover, He gave forth principles to be developed, according to His + universal law, at the will of the surroundings in which they were placed. + Hence a single substance and motion, a single plant, a single animal, but + correlations everywhere. In fact, all affinities are linked together by + contiguous similitudes; the life of the worlds is drawn toward the centres + by famished aspiration, as you are drawn by hunger to seek food. + </p> + <p> + “To give you an example of affinities linked to similitudes (a secondary + law on which the creations of your thought are based), music, that + celestial art, is the working out of this principle; for is it not a + complement of sounds harmonized by number? Is not sound a modification of + air, compressed, dilated, echoed? You know the composition of air,—oxygen, + nitrogen, and carbon. As you cannot obtain sound from the void, it is + plain that music and the human voice are the result of organized chemical + substances, which put themselves in unison with the same substances + prepared within you by your thought, co-ordinated by means of light, the + great nourisher of your globe. Have you ever meditated on the masses of + nitre deposited by the snow, have you ever observed a thunderstorm and + seen the plants breathing in from the air about them the metal it + contains, without concluding that the sun has fused and distributed the + subtle essence which nourishes all things here below? Swedenborg has said, + ‘The earth is a man.’ + </p> + <p> + “Your Science, which makes you great in your own eyes, is paltry indeed + beside the light which bathes a Seer. Cease, cease to question me; our + languages are different. For a moment I have used yours to cast, if it be + possible, a ray of faith into your soul; to give you, as it were, the hem + of my garment and draw you up into the regions of Prayer. Can God abase + Himself to you? Is it not for you to rise to Him? If human reason finds + the ladder of its own strength too weak to bring God down to it, is it not + evident that you must find some other path to reach Him? That Path is in + ourselves. The Seer and the Believer find eyes within their souls more + piercing far than eyes that probe the things of earth,—they see the + Dawn. Hear this truth: Your science, let it be never so exact, your + meditations, however bold, your noblest lights are Clouds. Above, above is + the Sanctuary whence the true Light flows.” + </p> + <p> + She sat down and remained silent; her calm face bore no sign of the + agitation which orators betray after their least fervid improvisations. + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid bent toward Monsieur Becker and said in a low voice, “Who taught + her that?” + </p> + <p> + “I do not know,” he answered. + </p> + <p> + “He was gentler on the Falberg,” Minna whispered to herself. + </p> + <p> + Seraphita passed her hand across her eyes and then she said, smiling:— + </p> + <p> + “You are very thoughtful to-night, gentlemen. You treat Minna and me as + though we were men to whom you must talk politics or commerce; whereas we + are young girls, and you ought to tell us tales while you drink your tea. + That is what we do, Monsieur Wilfrid, in our long Norwegian evenings. + Come, dear pastor, tell me some Saga that I have not heard,—that of + Frithiof, the chronicle that you believe and have so often promised me. + Tell us the story of the peasant lad who owned the ship that talked and + had a soul. Come! I dream of the frigate Ellida, the fairy with the sails + young girls should navigate!” + </p> + <p> + “Since we have returned to the regions of Jarvis,” said Wilfrid, whose + eyes were fastened on Seraphita as those of a robber, lurking in the + darkness, fasten on the spot where he knows the jewels lie, “tell me why + you do not marry?” + </p> + <p> + “You are all born widows and widowers,” she replied; “but my marriage was + arranged at my birth. I am betrothed.” + </p> + <p> + “To whom?” they cried. + </p> + <p> + “Ask not my secret,” she said; “I will promise, if our father permits it, + to invite you to these mysterious nuptials.” + </p> + <p> + “Will they be soon?” + </p> + <p> + “I think so.” + </p> + <p> + A long silence followed these words. + </p> + <p> + “The spring has come!” said Seraphita, suddenly. “The noise of the waters + and the breaking of the ice begins. Come, let us welcome the first spring + of the new century.” + </p> + <p> + She rose, followed by Wilfrid, and together they went to a window which + David had opened. After the long silence of winter, the waters stirred + beneath the ice and resounded through the fiord like music,—for + there are sounds which space refines, so that they reach the ear in waves + of light and freshness. + </p> + <p> + “Wilfrid, cease to nourish evil thoughts whose triumph would be hard to + bear. Your desires are easily read in the fire of your eyes. Be kind; take + one step forward in well-doing. Advance beyond the love of man and + sacrifice yourself completely to the happiness of her you love. Obey me; I + will lead you in a path where you shall obtain the distinctions which you + crave, and where Love is infinite indeed.” + </p> + <p> + She left him thoughtful. + </p> + <p> + “That soft creature!” he said within himself; “is she indeed the + prophetess whose eyes have just flashed lightnings, whose voice has rung + through worlds, whose hand has wielded the axe of doubt against our + sciences? Have we been dreaming? Am I awake?” + </p> + <p> + “Minna,” said Seraphita, returning to the young girl, “the eagle swoops + where the carrion lies, but the dove seeks the mountain spring beneath the + peaceful greenery of the glades. The eagle soars to heaven, the dove + descends from it. Cease to venture into regions where thou canst find no + spring of waters, no umbrageous shade. If on the Falberg thou couldst not + gaze into the abyss and live, keep all thy strength for him who will love + thee. Go, poor girl; thou knowest, I am betrothed.” + </p> + <p> + Minna rose and followed Seraphita to the window where Wilfrid stood. All + three listened to the Sieg bounding out the rush of the upper waters, + which brought down trees uprooted by the ice; the fiord had regained its + voice; all illusions were dispelled! They rejoiced in Nature as she burst + her bonds and seemed to answer with sublime accord to the Spirit whose + breath had wakened her. + </p> + <p> + When the three guests of this mysterious being left the house, they were + filled with the vague sensation which is neither sleep, nor torpor, nor + astonishment, but partakes of the nature of each,—a state that is + neither dusk nor dawn, but which creates a thirst for light. All three + were thinking. + </p> + <p> + “I begin to believe that she is indeed a Spirit hidden in human form,” + said Monsieur Becker. + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid, re-entering his own apartments, calm and convinced, was unable to + struggle against that influence so divinely majestic. + </p> + <p> + Minna said in her heart, “Why will he not let me love him!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. FAREWELL + </h2> + <p> + There is in man an almost hopeless phenomenon for thoughtful minds who + seek a meaning in the march of civilization, and who endeavor to give laws + of progression to the movement of intelligence. However portentous a fact + may be, or even supernatural,—if such facts exist,—however + solemnly a miracle may be done in sight of all, the lightning of that + fact, the thunderbolt of that miracle is quickly swallowed up in the ocean + of life, whose surface, scarcely stirred by the brief convulsion, returns + to the level of its habitual flow. + </p> + <p> + A Voice is heard from the jaws of an Animal; a Hand writes on the wall + before a feasting Court; an Eye gleams in the slumber of a king, and a + Prophet explains the dream; Death, evoked, rises on the confines of the + luminous sphere were faculties revive; Spirit annihilates Matter at the + foot of that mystic ladder of the Seven Spiritual Worlds, one resting upon + another in space and revealing themselves in shining waves that break in + light upon the steps of the celestial Tabernacle. But however solemn the + inward Revelation, however clear the visible outward Sign, be sure that on + the morrow Balaam doubts both himself and his ass, Belshazzar and Pharoah + call Moses and Daniel to qualify the Word. The Spirit, descending, bears + man above this earth, opens the seas and lets him see their depths, shows + him lost species, wakens dry bones whose dust is the soil of valleys; the + Apostle writes the Apocalypse, and twenty centuries later human science + ratifies his words and turns his visions into maxims. And what comes of it + all? Why this,—that the peoples live as they have ever lived, as + they lived in the first Olympiad, as they lived on the morrow of Creation, + and on the eve of the great cataclysm. The waves of Doubt have covered all + things. The same floods surge with the same measured motion on the human + granite which serves as a boundary to the ocean of intelligence. When man + has inquired of himself whether he has seen that which he has seen, + whether he has heard the words that entered his ears, whether the facts + were facts and the idea is indeed an idea, then he resumes his wonted + bearing, thinks of his worldly interests, obeys some envoy of death and of + oblivion whose dusky mantle covers like a pall an ancient Humanity of + which the moderns retain no memory. Man never pauses; he goes his round, + he vegetates until the appointed day when his Axe falls. If this wave + force, this pressure of bitter waters prevents all progress, no doubt it + also warns of death. Spirits prepared by faith among the higher souls of + earth can alone perceive the mystic ladder of Jacob. + </p> + <p> + After listening to Seraphita’s answer in which (being earnestly + questioned) she unrolled before their eyes a Divine Perspective,—as + an organ fills a church with sonorous sound and reveals a musical + universe, its solemn tones rising to the loftiest arches and playing, like + light, upon their foliated capitals,—Wilfrid returned to his own + room, awed by the sight of a world in ruins, and on those ruins the + brilliance of mysterious lights poured forth in torrents by the hand of a + young girl. On the morrow he still thought of these things, but his awe + was gone; he felt he was neither destroyed nor changed; his passions, his + ideas awoke in full force, fresh and vigorous. He went to breakfast with + Monsieur Becker and found the old man absorbed in the “Treatise on + Incantations,” which he had searched since early morning to convince his + guest that there was nothing unprecedented in all that they had seen and + heard at the Swedish castle. With the childlike trustfulness of a true + scholar he had folded down the pages in which Jean Wier related authentic + facts which proved the possibility of the events that had happened the + night before,—for to learned men an idea is a event, just as the + greatest events often present no idea at all to them. By the time they had + swallowed their fifth cup of tea, these philosophers had come to think the + mysterious scene of the preceding evening wholly natural. The celestial + truths to which they had listened were arguments susceptible of + examination; Seraphita was a girl, more or less eloquent; allowance must + be made for the charms of her voice, her seductive beauty, her fascinating + motions, in short, for all those oratorical arts by which an actor puts a + world of sentiment and thought into phrases which are often commonplace. + </p> + <p> + “Bah!” said the worthy pastor, making a philosophical grimace as he spread + a layer of salt butter on his slice of bread, “the final word of all these + fine enigmas is six feet under ground.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” said Wilfrid, sugaring his tea, “I cannot image how a young girl of + seventeen can know so much; what she said was certainly a compact + argument.” + </p> + <p> + “Read the account of that Italian woman,” said Monsieur Becker, “who at + the age of twelve spoke forty-two languages, ancient and modern; also the + history of that monk who could guess thought by smell. I can give you a + thousand such cases from Jean Wier and other writers.” + </p> + <p> + “I admit all that, dear pastor; but to my thinking, Seraphita would make a + perfect wife.” + </p> + <p> + “She is all mind,” said Monsieur Becker, dubiously. + </p> + <p> + Several days went by, during which the snow in the valleys melted + gradually away; the green of the forests and of the grass began to show; + Norwegian Nature made ready her wedding garments for her brief bridal of a + day. During this period, when the softened air invited every one to leave + the house, Seraphita remained at home in solitude. When at last she + admitted Minna the latter saw at once the ravages of inward fever; + Seraphita’s voice was hollow, her skin pallid; hitherto a poet might have + compared her lustre to that of diamonds,—now it was that of a topaz. + </p> + <p> + “Have you seen her?” asked Wilfrid, who had wandered around the Swedish + dwelling waiting for Minna’s return. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” answered the young girl, weeping; “We must lose him!” + </p> + <p> + “Mademoiselle,” cried Wilfrid, endeavoring to repress the loud tones of + his angry voice, “do not jest with me. You can love Seraphita only as one + young girl can love another, and not with the love which she inspires in + me. You do not know your danger if my jealousy were really aroused. Why + can I not go to her? Is it you who stand in my way?” + </p> + <p> + “I do not know by what right you probe my heart,” said Minna, calm in + appearance, but inwardly terrified. “Yes, I love him,” she said, + recovering the courage of her convictions, that she might, for once, + confess the religion of her heart. “But my jealousy, natural as it is in + love, fears no one here below. Alas! I am jealous of a secret feeling that + absorbs him. Between him and me there is a great gulf fixed which I cannot + cross. Would that I knew who loves him best, the stars or I! which of us + would sacrifice our being most eagerly for his happiness! Why should I not + be free to avow my love? In the presence of death we may declare our + feelings,—and Seraphitus is about to die.” + </p> + <p> + “Minna, you are mistaken; the siren I so love and long for, she, whom I + have seen, feeble and languid, on her couch of furs, is not a young man.” + </p> + <p> + “Monsieur,” answered Minna, distressfully, “the being whose powerful hand + guided me on the Falberg, who led me to the saeter sheltered beneath the + Ice-Cap, there—” she said, pointing to the peak, “is not a feeble + girl. Ah, had you but heard him prophesying! His poem was the music of + thought. A young girl never uttered those solemn tones of a voice which + stirred my soul.” + </p> + <p> + “What certainty have you?” said Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “None but that of the heart,” answered Minna. + </p> + <p> + “And I,” cried Wilfrid, casting on his companion the terrible glance of + the earthly desire that kills, “I, too, know how powerful is her empire + over me, and I will undeceive you.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment, while the words were rushing from Wilfrid’s lips as + rapidly as the thoughts surged in his brain, they saw Seraphita coming + towards them from the house, followed by David. The apparition calmed the + man’s excitement. + </p> + <p> + “Look,” he said, “could any but a woman move with that grace and langor?” + </p> + <p> + “He suffers; he comes forth for the last time,” said Minna. + </p> + <p> + David went back at a sign from his mistress, who advanced towards Wilfrid + and Minna. + </p> + <p> + “Let us go to the falls of the Sieg,” she said, expressing one of those + desires which suddenly possess the sick and which the well hasten to obey. + </p> + <p> + A thin white mist covered the valleys around the fiord and the sides of + the mountains, whose icy summits, sparkling like stars, pierced the vapor + and gave it the appearance of a moving milky way. The sun was visible + through the haze like a globe of red fire. Though winter still lingered, + puffs of warm air laden with the scent of the birch-trees, already adorned + with their rosy efflorescence, and of the larches, whose silken tassels + were beginning to appear,—breezes tempered by the incense and the + sighs of earth,—gave token of the glorious Northern spring, the + rapid, fleeting joy of that most melancholy of Natures. The wind was + beginning to lift the veil of mist which half-obscured the gulf. The birds + sang. The bark of the trees where the sun had not yet dried the clinging + hoar-frost shone gayly to the eye in its fantastic wreathings which + trickled away in murmuring rivulets as the warmth reached them. The three + friends walked in silence along the shore. Wilfrid and Minna alone noticed + the magic transformation that was taking place in the monotonous picture + of the winter landscape. Their companion walked in thought, as though a + voice were sounding to her ears in this concert of Nature. + </p> + <p> + Presently they reached the ledge of rocks through which the Sieg had + forced its way, after escaping from the long avenue cut by its waters in + an undulating line through the forest,—a fluvial pathway flanked by + aged firs and roofed with strong-ribbed arches like those of a cathedral. + Looking back from that vantage-ground, the whole extent of the fiord could + be seen at a glance, with the open sea sparkling on the horizon beyond it + like a burnished blade. + </p> + <p> + At this moment the mist, rolling away, left the sky blue and clear. Among + the valleys and around the trees flitted the shining fragments,—a + diamond dust swept by the freshening breeze. The torrent rolled on toward + them; along its length a vapor rose, tinted by the sun with every color of + his light; the decomposing rays flashing prismatic fires along the + many-tinted scarf of waters. The rugged ledge on which they stood was + carpeted by several kinds of lichen, forming a noble mat variegated by + moisture and lustrous like the sheen of a silken fabric. Shrubs, already + in bloom, crowned the rocks with garlands. Their waving foliage, eager for + the freshness of the water, drooped its tresses above the stream; the + larches shook their light fringes and played with the pines, stiff and + motionless as aged men. This luxuriant beauty was foiled by the solemn + colonnades of the forest-trees, rising in terraces upon the mountains, and + by the calm sheet of the fiord, lying below, where the torrent buried its + fury and was still. Beyond, the sea hemmed in this page of Nature, written + by the greatest of poets, Chance; to whom the wild luxuriance of creation + when apparently abandoned to itself is owing. + </p> + <p> + The village of Jarvis was a lost point in the landscape, in this immensity + of Nature, sublime at this moment like all things else of ephemeral life + which present a fleeting image of perfection; for, by a law fatal to no + eyes but our own, creations which appear complete—the love of our + heart and the desire of our eyes—have but one spring-tide here + below. Standing on this breast-work of rock these three persons might well + suppose themselves alone in the universe. + </p> + <p> + “What beauty!” cried Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “Nature sings hymns,” said Seraphita. “Is not her music exquisite? Tell + me, Wilfrid, could any of the women you once knew create such a glorious + retreat for herself as this? I am conscious here of a feeling seldom + inspired by the sight of cities, a longing to lie down amid this + quickening verdure. Here, with eyes to heaven and an open heart, lost in + the bosom of immensity, I could hear the sighings of the flower, scarce + budded, which longs for wings, or the cry of the eider grieving that it + can only fly, and remember the desires of man who, issuing from all, is + none the less ever longing. But that, Wilfrid, is only a woman’s thought. + You find seductive fancies in the wreathing mists, the light embroidered + veils which Nature dons like a coy maiden, in this atmosphere where she + perfumes for her spousals the greenery of her tresses. You seek the + naiad’s form amid the gauzy vapors, and to your thinking my ears should + listen only to the virile voice of the Torrent.” + </p> + <p> + “But Love is there, like the bee in the calyx of the flower,” replied + Wilfrid, perceiving for the first time a trace of earthly sentiment in her + words, and fancying the moment favorable for an expression of his + passionate tenderness. + </p> + <p> + “Always there?” said Seraphita, smiling. Minna had left them for a moment + to gather the blue saxifrages growing on a rock above. + </p> + <p> + “Always,” repeated Wilfrid. “Hear me,” he said, with a masterful glance + which was foiled as by a diamond breast-plate. “You know not what I am, + nor what I can be, nor what I will. Do not reject my last entreaty. Be + mine for the good of that world whose happiness you bear upon your heart. + Be mine that my conscience may be pure; that a voice divine may sound in + my ears and infuse Good into the great enterprise I have undertaken + prompted by my hatred to the nations, but which I swear to accomplish for + their benefit if you will walk beside me. What higher mission can you ask + for love? what nobler part can woman aspire to? I came to Norway to + meditate a grand design.” + </p> + <p> + “And you will sacrifice its grandeur,” she said, “to an innocent girl who + loves you, and who will lead you in the paths of peace.” + </p> + <p> + “What matters sacrifice,” he cried, “if I have you? Hear my secret. I have + gone from end to end of the North,—that great smithy from whose + anvils new races have spread over the earth, like human tides appointed to + refresh the wornout civilizations. I wished to begin my work at some + Northern point, to win the empire which force and intellect must ever give + over a primitive people; to form that people for battle, to drive them to + wars which should ravage Europe like a conflagration, crying liberty to + some, pillage to others, glory here, pleasure there!—I, myself, + remaining an image of Destiny, cruel, implacable, advancing like the + whirlwind, which sucks from the atmosphere the particles that make the + thunderbolt, and falls like a devouring scourge upon the nations. Europe + is at an epoch when she awaits the new Messiah who shall destroy society + and remake it. She can no longer believe except in him who crushes her + under foot. The day is at hand when poets and historians will justify me, + exalt me, and borrow my ideas, mine! And all the while my triumph will be + a jest, written in blood, the jest of my vengeance! But not here, + Seraphita; what I see in the North disgusts me. Hers is a mere blind + force; I thirst for the Indies! I would rather fight a selfish, cowardly, + mercantile government. Besides, it is easier to stir the imagination of + the peoples at the feet of the Caucasus than to argue with the intellect + of the icy lands which here surround me. Therefore am I tempted to cross + the Russian steps and pour my triumphant human tide through Asia to the + Ganges, and overthrow the British rule. Seven men have done this thing + before me in other epochs of the world. I will emulate them. I will spread + Art like the Saracens, hurled by Mohammed upon Europe. Mine shall be no + paltry sovereignty like those that govern to-day the ancient provinces of + the Roman empire, disputing with their subjects about a customs right! No, + nothing can bar my way! Like Genghis Khan, my feet shall tread a third of + the globe, my hand shall grasp the throat of Asia like Aurung-Zeb. Be my + companion! Let me seat thee, beautiful and noble being, on a throne! I do + not doubt success, but live within my heart and I am sure of it.” + </p> + <p> + “I have already reigned,” said Seraphita, coldly. + </p> + <p> + The words fell as the axe of a skilful woodman falls at the root of a + young tree and brings it down at a single blow. Men alone can comprehend + the rage that a woman excites in the soul of a man when, after showing her + his strength, his power, his wisdom, his superiority, the capricious + creature bends her head and says, “All that is nothing”; when, unmoved, + she smiles and says, “Such things are known to me,” as though his power + were nought. + </p> + <p> + “What!” cried Wilfrid, in despair, “can the riches of art, the riches of + worlds, the splendors of a court—” + </p> + <p> + She stopped him by a single inflexion of her lips, and said, “Beings more + powerful than you have offered me far more.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou hast no soul,” he cried,—“no soul, if thou art not persuaded + by the thought of comforting a great man, who is willing now to sacrifice + all things to live beside thee in a little house on the shores of a lake.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” she said, “I am loved with a boundless love.” + </p> + <p> + “By whom?” cried Wilfrid, approaching Seraphita with a frenzied movement, + as if to fling her into the foaming basin of the Sieg. + </p> + <p> + She looked at him and slowly extended her arm, pointing to Minna, who now + sprang towards her, fair and glowing and lovely as the flowers she held in + her hand. + </p> + <p> + “Child!” said Seraphitus, advancing to meet her. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + Seraphitus looked alternately at the flower and at Minna. + </p> + <p> + “Why question me? Dost thou doubt me?” + </p> + <p> + “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—” + </p> + <p> + “For what?” said Seraphitus, with a glance that revealed to the young girl + the vast distance which separated them. + </p> + <p> + “To suffer in your stead.” + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “He is terrible again,” thought Minna, trembling with fear. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor child!” said Seraphitus, turning pale; “there is but one whom thou + canst love in that way.” + </p> + <p> + “Who?” asked Minna. + </p> + <p> + “Thou shalt know hereafter,” he said, in the feeble voice of a man who + lies down to die. + </p> + <p> + “Help, help! he is dying!” cried Minna. + </p> + <p> + 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!” + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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! + </p> + <p> + “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! + </p> + <p> + “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! + </p> + <p> + “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! + </p> + <p> + “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! + </p> + <p> + “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! + </p> + <p> + “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!” + </p> + <p> + 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?” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. THE PATH TO HEAVEN + </h2> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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!” + </p> + <p> + “Can I forbid thee?” + </p> + <p> + “Why will thou not love me enough to stay with me?” + </p> + <p> + “I can love nothing here.” + </p> + <p> + “What canst thou love?” + </p> + <p> + “Heaven.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it worthy of heaven to despise the creatures of God?” + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + “Love whom?” said Minna, tortured with sudden jealousy. + </p> + <p> + “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 joy—joy 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; <i>God</i>! Minna, I love thee + because thou mayst be His! I love thee because if thou come to Him thou + wilt be mine.” + </p> + <p> + “Lead me to Him,” cried Minna, kneeling down; “take me by the hand; I will + not leave thee!” + </p> + <p> + “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!” + </p> + <p> + “Angel!” exclaimed the mysterious being, enfolding them both in one + glance, as it were with an azure mantle, “Heaven shall by thine heritage!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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. But—you must <i>will</i> 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, sister, even to the helpless + brother who cries after him,—yes, farewell to them eternally; you + will no more return than did the martyrs on their way to the stake. You + must strip yourself of every sentiment, of everything to which man clings. + Unless you do this you are but half-hearted in your enterprise. + </p> + <p> + “Do for God what you do for your ambitious projects, what you do in + consecrating yourself to Art, what you have done when you loved a human + creature or sought some secret of human science. Is not God the whole of + science, the all of love, the source of poetry? Surely His riches are + worthy of being coveted! His treasure is inexhaustible, His poem infinite, + His love immutable, His science sure and darkened by no mysteries. Be + anxious for nothing, He will give you all. Yes, in His heart are treasures + with which the petty joys you lose on earth are not to be compared. What I + tell you is true; you shall possess His power; you may use it as you would + use the gifts of lover or mistress. Alas! men doubt, they lack faith, and + will, and persistence. If some set their feet in the path, they look + behind them and presently turn back. Few decide between the two extremes,—to + go or stay, heaven or the mire. All hesitate. Weakness leads astray, + passion allures into dangerous paths, vice becomes habitual, man flounders + in the mud and makes no progress towards a better state. + </p> + <p> + “All human beings go through a previous life in the sphere of Instinct, + where they are brought to see the worthlessness of earthly treasures, to + amass which they gave themselves such untold pains! Who can tell how many + times the human being lives in the sphere of Instinct before he is + prepared to enter the sphere of Abstractions, where thought expends itself + on erring science, where mind wearies at last of human language? for, when + Matter is exhausted, Spirit enters. Who knows how many fleshly forms the + heir of heaven occupies before he can be brought to understand the value + of that silence and solitude whose starry plains are but the vestibule of + Spiritual Worlds? He feels his way amid the void, makes trial of + nothingness, and then at last his eyes revert upon the Path. Then follow + other existences,—all to be lived to reach the place where Light + effulgent shines. Death is the post-house of the journey. A lifetime may + be needed merely to gain the virtues which annul the errors of man’s + preceding life. First comes the life of suffering, whose tortures create a + thirst for love. Next the life of love and devotion to the creature, + teaching devotion to the Creator,—a life where the virtues of love, + its martyrdoms, its joys followed by sorrows, its angelic hopes, its + patience, its resignation, excite an appetite for things divine. Then + follows the life which seeks in silence the traces of the Word; in which + the soul grows humble and charitable. Next the life of longing; and + lastly, the life of prayer. In that is the noonday sun; there are the + flowers, there the harvest! + </p> + <p> + “The virtues we acquire, which develop slowly within us, are the invisible + links that bind each one of our existences to the others,—existences + which the spirit alone remembers, for Matter has no memory for spiritual + things. Thought alone holds the tradition of the bygone life. The endless + legacy of the past to the present is the secret source of human genius. + Some receive the gift of form, some the gift of numbers, others the gift + of harmony. All these gifts are steps of progress in the Path of Light. + Yes, he who possesses a single one of them touches at that point the + Infinite. Earth has divided the Word—of which I here reveal some + syllables—into particles, she has reduced it to dust and has + scattered it through her works, her dogmas, her poems. If some impalpable + grain shines like a diamond in a human work, men cry: ‘How grand! how + true! how glorious!’ That fragment vibrates in their souls and wakes a + presentiment of heaven: to some, a melody that weans from earth; to + others, the solitude that draws to God. To all, whatsoever sends us back + upon ourselves, whatsoever strikes us down and crushes us, lifts or abases + us,—<i>that</i> is but a syllable of the Divine Word. + </p> + <p> + “When a human soul draws its first furrow straight, the rest will follow + surely. One thought borne inward, one prayer uplifted, one suffering + endured, one echo of the Word within us, and our souls are forever + changed. All ends in God; and many are the ways to find Him by walking + straight before us. When the happy day arrives in which you set your feet + upon the Path and begin your pilgrimage, the world will know nothing of + it; earth no longer understands you; you no longer understand each other. + Men who attain a knowledge of these things, who lisp a few syllables of + the Word, often have not where to lay their head; hunted like beasts they + perish on the scaffold, to the joy of assembled peoples, while Angels open + to them the gates of heaven. Therefore, your destiny is a secret between + yourself and God, just as love is a secret between two hearts. You may be + the buried treasure, trodden under the feet of men thirsting for gold yet + all-unknowing that you are there beneath them. + </p> + <p> + “Henceforth your existence becomes a thing of ceaseless activity; each act + has a meaning which connects you with God, just as in love your actions + and your thoughts are filled with the loved one. But love and its joys, + love and its pleasures limited by the senses, are but the imperfect image + of the love which unites you to your celestial Spouse. All earthly joy is + mixed with anguish, with discontent. If love ought not to pall then death + should end it while its flame is high, so that we see no ashes. But in God + our wretchedness becomes delight, joy lives upon itself and multiplies, + and grows, and has no limit. In the Earthly life our fleeting love is + ended by tribulation; in the Spiritual life the tribulations of a day end + in joys unending. The soul is ceaselessly joyful. We feel God with us, in + us; He gives a sacred savor to all things; He shines in the soul; He + imparts to us His sweetness; He stills our interest in the world viewed + for ourselves; He quickens our interest in it viewed for His sake, and + grants us the exercise of His power upon it. In His name we do the works + which He inspires, we act for Him, we have no self except in Him, we love + His creatures with undying love, we dry their tears and long to bring them + unto Him, as a loving woman longs to see the inhabitants of earth obey her + well-beloved. + </p> + <p> + “The final life, the fruition of all other lives, to which the powers of + the soul have tended, and whose merits open the Sacred Portals to + perfected man, is the life of Prayer. Who can make you comprehend the + grandeur, the majesty, the might of Prayer? May my voice, these words of + mine, ring in your hearts and change them. Be now, here, what you may be + after cruel trial! There are privileged beings, Prophets, Seers, + Messengers, and Martyrs, all those who suffer for the Word and who + proclaim it; such souls spring at a bound across the human sphere and rise + at once to Prayer. So, too, with those whose souls receive the fire of + Faith. Be one of those brave souls! God welcomes boldness. He loves to be + taken by violence; He will never reject those who force their way to Him. + Know this! desire, the torrent of your will, is so all-powerful that a + single emission of it, made with force, can obtain all; a single cry, + uttered under the pressure of Faith, suffices. Be one of such beings, full + of force, of will, of love! Be conquerors on the earth! Let the hunger and + thirst of God possess you. Fly to Him as the hart panting for the + water-brooks. Desire shall lend you its wings; tears, those blossoms of + repentance, shall be the celestial baptism from which your nature will + issue purified. Cast yourself on the breast of the stream in Prayer! + Silence and meditation are the means of following the Way. God reveals + Himself, unfailingly, to the solitary, thoughtful seeker. + </p> + <p> + “It is thus that the separation takes place between Matter, which so long + has wrapped its darkness round you, and Spirit, which was in you from the + beginning, the light which lighted you and now brings noon-day to your + soul. Yes, your broken heart shall receive the light; the light shall + bathe it. Then you will no longer feel convictions, they will have changed + to certainties. The Poet utters; the Thinker meditates; the Righteous + acts; but he who stands upon the borders of the Divine World prays; and + his prayer is word, thought, action, in one! Yes, prayer includes all, + contains all; it completes nature, for it reveals to you the mind within + it and its progression. White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark + of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion + partaking of the lion and of the lamb, Prayer! Prayer will give you the + key of heaven! Bold and pure as innocence, strong, like all that is single + and simple, this glorious, invincible Queen rests, nevertheless, on the + material world; she takes possession of it; like the sun, she clasps it in + a circle of light. The universe belongs to him who wills, who knows, who + prays; but he must will, he must know, he must pray; in a word, he must + possess force, wisdom, and faith. + </p> + <p> + “Therefore Prayer, issuing from so many trials, is the consummation of all + truths, all powers, all feelings. Fruit of the laborious, progressive, + continued development of natural properties and faculties vitalized anew + by the divine breath of the Word, Prayer has occult activity; it is the + final worship—not the material worship of images, nor the spiritual + worship of formulas, but the worship of the Divine World. We say no + prayers,—prayer forms within us; it is a faculty which acts of + itself; it has attained a way of action which lifts it outside of forms; + it links the soul to God, with whom we unite as the root of the tree + unites with the soil; our veins draw life from the principle of life, and + we live by the life of the universe. Prayer bestows external conviction by + making us penetrate the Material World through the cohesion of all our + faculties with the elementary substances; it bestows internal conviction + by developing our essence and mingling it with that of the Spiritual + Worlds. To be able to pray thus, you must attain to an utter abandonment + of flesh; you must acquire through the fires of the furnace the purity of + the diamond; for this complete communion with the Divine is obtained only + in absolute repose, where storms and conflicts are at rest. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Prayer—the aspiration of the soul freed absolutely from the + body—bears all forces within it, and applies them to the constant + and perseverant union of the Visible and the Invisible. When you possess + the faculty of praying without weariness, with love, with force, with + certainty, with intelligence, your spiritualized nature will presently be + invested with power. Like a rushing wind, like a thunderbolt, it cuts its + way through all things and shares the power of God. The quickness of the + Spirit becomes yours; in an instant you may pass from region to region; + like the Word itself, you are transported from the ends of the world to + other worlds. Harmony exists, and you are part of it! Light is there and + your eyes possess it! Melody is heard and you echo it! Under such + conditions, you feel your perceptions developing, widening; the eyes of + your mind reach to vast distances. There is, in truth, neither time nor + place to the Spirit; space and duration are proportions created for + Matter; spirit and matter have naught in common. + </p> + <p> + “Though these things take place in stillness, in silence, without + agitation, without external movement, yet Prayer is all action; but it is + spiritual action, stripped of substantiality, and reduced, like the motion + of the worlds, to an invisible pure force. It penetrates everywhere like + light; it gives vitality to souls that come beneath its rays, as Nature + beneath the sun. It resuscitates virtue, purifies and sanctifies all + actions, peoples solitude, and gives a foretaste of eternal joys. When you + have once felt the delights of the divine intoxication which comes of this + internal travail, then all is yours! once take the lute on which we sing + to God within your hands, and you will never part with it. Hence the + solitude in which Angelic Spirits live; hence their disdain of human joys. + They are withdrawn from those who must die to live; they hear the language + of such beings, but they no longer understand their ideas; they wonder at + their movements, at what the world terms policies, material laws, + societies. For them all mysteries are over; truth, and truth alone, is + theirs. They who have reached the point where their eyes discern the + Sacred Portals, who, not looking back, not uttering one regret, + contemplate worlds and comprehend their destinies, such as they keep + silence, wait, and bear their final struggles. The worst of all those + struggles is the last; at the zenith of all virtue is Resignation,—to + be an exile and not lament, no longer to delight in earthly things and yet + to smile, to belong to God and yet to stay with men! You hear the voice + that cries to you, ‘Advance!’ Often celestial visions of descending Angels + compass you about with songs of praise; then, tearless, uncomplaining, + must you watch them as they reascent the skies! To murmur is to forfeit + all. Resignation is a fruit that ripens at the gates of heaven. How + powerful, how glorious the calm smile, the pure brow of the resigned human + creature. Radiant is the light of that brow. They who live in its + atmosphere grow purer. That calm glance penetrates and softens. More + eloquent by silence than the prophet by speech, such beings triumph by + their simple presence. Their ears are quick to hear as a faithful dog + listening for his master. Brighter than hope, stronger than love, higher + than faith, that creature of resignation is the virgin standing on the + earth, who holds for a moment the conquered palm, then, rising heavenward, + leaves behind her the imprint of her white, pure feet. When she has passed + away men flock around and cry, ‘See! See!’ Sometimes God holds her still + in sight,—a figure to whose feet creep Forms and Species of + Animality to be shown their way. She wafts the light exhaling from her + hair, and they see; she speaks, and they hear. ‘A miracle!’ they cry. + Often she triumphs in the name of God; frightened men deny her and put her + to death; smiling, she lays down her sword and goes to the stake, having + saved the Peoples. How many a pardoned Angel has passed from martyrdom to + heaven! Sinai, Golgotha are not in this place nor in that; Angels are + crucified in every place, in every sphere. Sighs pierce to God from the + whole universe. This earth on which we live is but a single sheaf of the + great harvest; humanity is but a species in the vast garden where the + flowers of heaven are cultivated. Everywhere God is like unto Himself, and + everywhere, by prayer, it is easy to reach Him.” + </p> + <p> + With these words, which fell from the lips of another Hagar in the + wilderness, burning the souls of the hearers as the live coal of the word + inflamed Isaiah, this mysterious being paused as though to gather some + remaining strength. Wilfrid and Minna dared not speak. Suddenly HE lifted + himself up to die:— + </p> + <p> + “Soul of all things, oh my God, thou whom I love for Thyself! Thou, Judge + and Father, receive a love which has no limit. Give me of thine essence + and thy faculties that I be wholly thine! Take me, that I no longer be + myself! Am I not purified? then cast me back into the furnace! If I be not + yet proved in the fire, make me some nurturing ploughshare, or the Sword + of victory! Grant me a glorious martyrdom in which to proclaim thy Word! + Rejected, I will bless thy justice. But if excess of love may win in a + moment that which hard and patient labor cannot attain, then bear me + upward in thy chariot of fire! Grant me triumph, or further trial, still + will I bless thee! To suffer for thee, is not that to triumph? Take me, + seize me, bear me away! nay, if thou wilt, reject me! Thou art He who can + do no evil. Ah!” he cried, after a pause, “the bonds are breaking. + </p> + <p> + “Spirits of the pure, ye sacred flock, come forth from the hidden places, + come on the surface of the luminous waves! The hour now is; come, + assemble! Let us sing at the gates of the Sanctuary; our songs shall drive + away the final clouds. With one accord let us hail the Dawn of the Eternal + Day. Behold the rising of the one True Light! Ah, why may I not take with + me these my friends! Farewell, poor earth, Farewell!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. THE ASSUMPTION + </h2> + <p> + The last psalm was uttered neither by word, look, nor gesture, nor by any + of those signs which men employ to communicate their thoughts, but as the + soul speaks to itself; for at the moment when Seraphita revealed herself + in her true nature, her thoughts were no longer enslaved by human words. + The violence of that last prayer had burst her bonds. Her soul, like a + white dove, remained for an instant poised above the body whose exhausted + substances were about to be annihilated. + </p> + <p> + The aspiration of the Soul toward heaven was so contagious that Wilfrid + and Minna, beholding those radiant scintillations of Life, perceived not + Death. + </p> + <p> + They had fallen on their knees when <i>he</i> had turned toward his + Orient, and they shared his ecstasy. + </p> + <p> + The fear of the Lord, which creates man a second time, purging away his + dross, mastered their hearts. + </p> + <p> + Their eyes, veiled to the things of Earth, were opened to the Brightness + of Heaven. + </p> + <p> + Though, like the Seers of old called Prophets by men, they were filled + with the terror of the Most High, yet like them they continued firm when + they found themselves within the radiance where the Glory of the <i>Spirit</i> + shone. + </p> + <p> + The veil of flesh, which, until now, had hidden that glory from their + eyes, dissolved imperceptibly away, and left them free to behold the + Divine substance. + </p> + <p> + They stood in the twilight of the Coming Dawn, whose feeble rays prepared + them to look upon the True Light, to hear the Living Word, and yet not + die. + </p> + <p> + In this state they began to perceive the immeasurable differences which + separate the things of earth from the things of Heaven. + </p> + <p> + <i>Life</i>, on the borders of which they stood, leaning upon each other, + trembling and illuminated, like two children standing under shelter in + presence of a conflagration, That Life offered no lodgment to the senses. + </p> + <p> + The ideas they used to interpret their vision to themselves were to the + things seen what the visible senses of a man are to his soul, the material + covering of a divine essence. + </p> + <p> + The departing <i>spirit</i> was above them, shedding incense without odor, + melody without sound. About them, where they stood, were neither surfaces, + nor angles, nor atmosphere. + </p> + <p> + They dared neither question him nor contemplate him; they stood in the + shadow of that Presence as beneath the burning rays of a tropical sun, + fearing to raise their eyes lest the light should blast them. + </p> + <p> + They knew they were beside him, without being able to perceive how it was + that they stood, as in a dream, on the confines of the Visible and the + Invisible, nor how they had lost sight of the Visible and how they beheld + the Invisible. + </p> + <p> + To each other they said: “If he touches us, we can die!” But the <i>spirit</i> + was now within the Infinite, and they knew not that neither time, nor + space, nor death, existed there, and that a great gulf lay between them, + although they thought themselves beside him. + </p> + <p> + Their souls were not prepared to receive in its fulness a knowledge of the + faculties of that Life; they could have only faint and confused + perceptions of it, suited to their weakness. + </p> + <p> + Were it not so, the thunder of the <i>Living Word</i>, whose far-off tones + now reached their ears, and whose meaning entered their souls as life + unites with body,—one echo of that Word would have consumed their + being as a whirlwind of fire laps up a fragile straw. + </p> + <p> + Therefore they saw only that which their nature, sustained by the strength + of the <i>spirit</i>, permitted them to see; they heard that only which + they were able to hear. + </p> + <p> + And yet, though thus protected, they shuddered when the Voice of the + anguished soul broke forth above them—the prayer of the <i>Spirit</i> + awaiting Life and imploring it with a cry. + </p> + <p> + That cry froze them to the very marrow of their bones. + </p> + <p> + The <i>Spirit</i> knocked at the <i>sacred portal</i>. “What wilt thou?” + answered a <i>choir</i>, whose question echoed among the worlds. “To go to + God.” “Hast thou conquered?” “I have conquered the flesh through + abstinence, I have conquered false knowledge by humility, I have conquered + pride by charity, I have conquered the earth by love; I have paid my dues + by suffering, I am purified in the fires of faith, I have longed for Life + by prayer: I wait in adoration, and I am resigned.” + </p> + <p> + No answer came. + </p> + <p> + “God’s will be done!” answered the <i>Spirit</i>, believing that he was + about to be rejected. + </p> + <p> + His tears flowed and fell like dew upon the heads of the two kneeling + witnesses, who trembled before the justice of God. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the trumpets sounded,—the last trumpets of Victory won by + the <i>Angel</i> in this last trial. The reverberation passed through + space as sound through its echo, filling it, and shaking the universe + which Wilfrid and Minna felt like an atom beneath their feet. They + trembled under an anguish caused by the dread of the mystery about to be + accomplished. + </p> + <p> + A great movement took place, as though the Eternal Legions, putting + themselves in motion, were passing upward in spiral columns. The worlds + revolved like clouds driven by a furious wind. It was all rapid. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the veils were rent away. They saw on high as it were a star, + incomparably more lustrous than the most luminous of material stars, which + detached itself, and fell like a thunderbolt, dazzling as lightning. Its + passage paled the faces of the pair, who thought it to be <i>the Light</i> + Itself. + </p> + <p> + It was the Messenger of good tidings, the plume of whose helmet was a + flame of Life. + </p> + <p> + Behind him lay the swath of his way gleaming with a flood of the lights + through which he passed. + </p> + <p> + He bore a palm and a sword. He touched the <i>Spirit</i> with the palm, + and the <i>Spirit</i> was transfigured. Its white wings noiselessly + unfolded. + </p> + <p> + This communication of <i>the Light</i>, changing the <i>Spirit</i> into a + <i>Seraph</i> and clothing it with a glorious form, a celestial armor, + poured down such effulgent rays that the two Seers were paralyzed. + </p> + <p> + Like the three apostles to whom Jesus showed himself, they felt the dead + weight of their bodies which denied them a complete and cloudless + intuition of <i>the Word</i> and <i>the True Life</i>. + </p> + <p> + They comprehended the nakedness of their souls; they were able to measure + the poverty of their light by comparing it—a humbling task—with + the halo of the <i>Seraph</i>. + </p> + <p> + A passionate desire to plunge back into the mire of earth and suffer trial + took possession of them,—trial through which they might victoriously + utter at the <i>sacred gates</i> the words of that radiant <i>Seraph</i>. + </p> + <p> + The <i>Seraph</i> knelt before the <i>Sanctuary</i>, beholding it, at + last, face to face; and he said, raising his hands thitherward, “Grant + that these two may have further sight; they will love the Lord and + proclaim His word.” + </p> + <p> + At this prayer a veil fell. Whether it were that the hidden force which + held the Seers had momentarily annihilated their physical bodies, or that + it raised their spirits above those bodies, certain it is that they felt + within them a rending of the pure from the impure. + </p> + <p> + The tears of the <i>Seraph</i> rose about them like a vapor, which hid the + lower worlds from their knowledge, held them in its folds, bore them + upwards, gave them forgetfulness of earthly meanings and the power of + comprehending the meanings of things divine. + </p> + <p> + The True Light shone; it illumined the Creations, which seemed to them + barren when they saw the source from which all worlds—Terrestrial, + Spiritual, and Divine-derived their Motion. + </p> + <p> + Each world possessed a centre to which converged all points of its + circumference. These worlds were themselves the points which moved toward + the centre of their system. Each system had its centre in great celestial + regions which communicated with the flaming and quenchless <i>motor of all + that is</i>. + </p> + <p> + Thus, from the greatest to the smallest of the worlds, and from the + smallest of the worlds to the smallest portion of the beings who compose + it, all was individual, and all was, nevertheless, One and indivisible. + </p> + <p> + What was the design of the Being, fixed in His essence and in His + faculties, who transmitted that essence and those faculties without losing + them? who manifested them outside of Himself without separating them from + Himself? who rendered his creations outside of Himself fixed in their + essence and mutable in their form? The pair thus called to the celestial + festival could only see the order and arrangement of created beings and + admire the immediate result. The Angels alone see more. They know the + means; they comprehend the final end. + </p> + <p> + But what the two Elect were granted power to contemplate, what they were + able to bring back as a testimony which enlightened their minds forever + after, was the proof of the action of the Worlds and of Beings; the + consciousness of the effort with which they all converge to the Result. + </p> + <p> + They heard the divers parts of the Infinite forming one living melody; and + each time that the accord made itself felt like a mighty respiration, the + Worlds drawn by the concordant movement inclined themselves toward the + Supreme Being who, from His impenetrable centre, issued all things and + recalled all things to Himself. + </p> + <p> + This ceaseless alternation of voices and silence seemed the rhythm of the + sacred hymn which resounds and prolongs its sound from age to age. + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid and Minna were enabled to understand some of the mysterious + sayings of Him who had appeared on earth in the form which to each of them + had rendered him comprehensible,—to one Seraphitus, to the other + Seraphita,—for they saw that all was homogeneous in the sphere where + he now was. + </p> + <p> + Light gave birth to melody, melody gave birth to light; colors were light + and melody; motion was a Number endowed with Utterance; all things were at + once sonorous, diaphanous, and mobile; so that each interpenetrated the + other, the whole vast area was unobstructed and the Angels could survey it + from the depths of the Infinite. + </p> + <p> + They perceived the puerility of human sciences, of which he had spoken to + them. + </p> + <p> + The scene was to them a prospect without horizon, a boundless space into + which an all-consuming desire prompted them to plunge. But, fastened to + their miserable bodies, they had the desire without the power to fulfil + it. + </p> + <p> + The <i>Seraph</i>, preparing for his flight, no longer looked towards + them; he had nothing now in common with Earth. + </p> + <p> + Upward he rose; the shadow of his luminous presence covered the two Seers + like a merciful veil, enabling them to raise their eyes and see him, + rising in his glory to Heaven in company with the glad Archangel. + </p> + <p> + He rose as the sun from the bosom of the Eastern waves; but, more majestic + than the orb and vowed to higher destinies, he could not be enchained like + inferior creations in the spiral movement of the worlds; he followed the + line of the Infinite, pointing without deviation to the One Centre, there + to enter his eternal life,—to receive there, in his faculties and in + his essence, the power to enjoy through Love, and the gift of + comprehending through Wisdom. + </p> + <p> + The scene which suddenly unveiled itself to the eyes of the two Seers + crushed them with a sense of its vastness; they felt like atoms, whose + minuteness was not to be compared even to the smallest particle which the + infinite of divisibility enabled the mind of man to imagine, brought into + the presence of the infinite of Numbers, which God alone can comprehend as + He alone can comprehend Himself. + </p> + <p> + Strength and Love! what heights, what depths in those two entities, whom + the <i>Seraph’s</i> first prayer placed like two links, as it were, to + unite the immensities of the lower worlds with the immensity of the higher + universe! + </p> + <p> + They comprehended the invisible ties by which the material worlds are + bound to the spiritual worlds. Remembering the sublime efforts of human + genius, they were able to perceive the principle of all melody in the + songs of heaven which gave sensations of color, of perfume, of thought, + which recalled the innumerable details of all creations, as the songs of + earth revive the infinite memories of love. + </p> + <p> + Brought by the exaltation of their faculties to a point that cannot be + described in any language, they were able to cast their eyes for an + instant into the Divine World. There all was Rejoicing. + </p> + <p> + Myriads of angels were flocking together, without confusion; all alike yet + all dissimilar, simple as the flower of the fields, majestic as the + universe. + </p> + <p> + Wilfrid and Minna saw neither their coming nor their going; they appeared + suddenly in the Infinite and filled it with their presence, as the stars + shine in the invisible ether. + </p> + <p> + The scintillations of their united diadems illumined space like the fires + of the sky at dawn upon the mountains. Waves of light flowed from their + hair, and their movements created tremulous undulations in space like the + billows of a phosphorescent sea. + </p> + <p> + The two Seers beheld the <i>Seraph</i> dimly in the midst of the immortal + legions. Suddenly, as though all the arrows of a quiver had darted + together, the Spirits swept away with a breath the last vestiges of the + human form; as the <i>Seraph</i> rose he became yet purer; soon he seemed + to them but a faint outline of what he had been at the moment of his + transfiguration,—lines of fire without shadow. + </p> + <p> + Higher he rose, receiving from circle to circle some new gift, while the + sign of his election was transmitted to each sphere into which, more and + more purified, he entered. + </p> + <p> + No voice was silent; the hymn diffused and multiplied itself in all its + modulations:— + </p> + <p> + “Hail to him who enters living! Come, flower of the Worlds! diamond from + the fires of suffering! pearl without spot, desire without flesh, new link + of earth and heaven, be Light! Conquering spirit, Queen of the world, come + for thy crown! Victor of earth, receive thy diadem! Thou art of us!” + </p> + <p> + The virtues of the <i>Seraph</i> shone forth in all their beauty. + </p> + <p> + His earliest desire for heaven re-appeared, tender as childhood. The deeds + of his life, like constellations, adorned him with their brightness. His + acts of faith shone like the Jacinth of heaven, the color of sidereal + fires. The pearls of Charity were upon him,—a chaplet of garnered + tears! Love divine surrounded him with roses; and the whiteness of his + Resignation obliterated all earthly trace. + </p> + <p> + Soon, to the eyes of the Seers, he was but a point of flame, growing + brighter and brighter as its motion was lost in the melodious acclamations + which welcomed his entrance into heaven. + </p> + <p> + The celestial accents made the two exiles weep. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a silence as of death spread like a mourning veil from the first + to the highest sphere, throwing Wilfrid and Minna into a state of + intolerable expectation. + </p> + <p> + At this moment the <i>Seraph</i> was lost to sight within the <i>sanctuary</i>, + receiving there the gift of Life Eternal. + </p> + <p> + A movement of adoration made by the Host of heaven filled the two Seers + with ecstasy mingled with terror. They felt that all were prostrate before + the Throne, in all the spheres, in the Spheres Divine, in the Spiritual + Spheres, and in the Worlds of Darkness. + </p> + <p> + The Angels bent the knee to celebrate the <i>Seraph’s</i> glory; the + Spirits bent the knee in token of their impatience; others bent the knee + in the dark abysses, shuddering with awe. + </p> + <p> + A mighty cry of joy gushed forth, as the spring gushes forth to its + millions of flowering herbs sparkling with diamond dew-drops in the + sunlight; at that instant the <i>Seraph</i> reappeared, effulgent, crying, + “<i>Eternal! Eternal! Eternal</i>!” + </p> + <p> + The universe heard the cry and understood it; it penetrated the spheres as + God penetrates them; it took possession of the infinite; the Seven Divine + Worlds heard the Voice and answered. + </p> + <p> + A mighty movement was perceptible, as though whole planets, purified, were + rising in dazzling light to become Eternal. + </p> + <p> + Had the <i>Seraph</i> obtained, as a first mission, the work of calling to + God the creations permeated by His Word? + </p> + <p> + But already the sublime <i>hallelujah</i> was sounding in the ear of the + desolate ones as the distant undulations of an ended melody. Already the + celestial lights were fading like the gold and crimson tints of a setting + sun. Death and Impurity recovered their prey. + </p> + <p> + As the two mortals re-entered the prison of flesh, from which their spirit + had momentarily been delivered by some priceless sleep, they felt like + those who wake after a night of brilliant dreams, the memory of which + still lingers in their soul, though their body retains no consciousness of + them, and human language is unable to give utterance to them. + </p> + <p> + The deep darkness of the sphere that was now about them was that of the + sun of the visible worlds. + </p> + <p> + “Let us descend to those lower regions,” said Wilfrid. + </p> + <p> + “Let us do what he told us to do,” answered Minna. “We have seen the + worlds on their march to God; we know the Path. Our diadem of stars is + There.” + </p> + <p> + Floating downward through the abysses, they re-entered the dust of the + lesser worlds, and saw the Earth, like a subterranean cavern, suddenly + illuminated to their eyes by the light which their souls brought with + them, and which still environed them in a cloud of the paling harmonies of + heaven. The sight was that which of old struck the inner eyes of Seers and + Prophets. Ministers of all religions, Preachers of all pretended truths, + Kings consecrated by Force and Terror, Warriors and Mighty men + apportioning the Peoples among them, the Learned and the Rich standing + above the suffering, noisy crowd, and noisily grinding them beneath their + feet,—all were there, accompanied by their wives and servants; all + were robed in stuffs of gold and silver and azure studded with pearls and + gems torn from the bowels of Earth, stolen from the depths of Ocean, for + which Humanity had toiled throughout the centuries, sweating and + blaspheming. But these treasures, these splendors, constructed of blood, + seemed worn-out rags to the eyes of the two Exiles. “What do you there, in + motionless ranks?” cried Wilfrid. They answered not. “What do you there, + motionless?” They answered not. Wilfrid waved his hands over them, crying + in a loud voice, “What do you there, in motionless ranks?” All, with + unanimous action, opened their garments and gave to sight their withered + bodies, eaten with worms, putrefied, crumbling to dust, rotten with + horrible diseases. + </p> + <p> + “You lead the nations to Death,” Wilfrid said to them. “You have depraved + the earth, perverted the Word, prostituted justice. After devouring the + grass of the fields you have killed the lambs of the fold. Do you think + yourself justified because of your sores? I will warn my brethren who have + ears to hear the Voice, and they will come and drink of the spring of + Living Waters which you have hidden.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us save our strength for Prayer,” said Minna. “Wilfrid, thy mission + is not that of the Prophets or the Avenger or the Messenger; we are still + on the confines of the lowest sphere; let us endeavor to rise through + space on the wings of Prayer.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou shalt be all my love!” + </p> + <p> + “Thou shalt be all my strength!” + </p> + <p> + “We have seen the Mysteries; we are, each to the other, the only being + here below to whom Joy and Sadness are comprehensible; let us pray, + therefore: we know the Path, let us walk in it.” + </p> + <p> + “Give me thy hand,” said the Young Girl, “if we walk together, the way + will be to me less hard and long.” + </p> + <p> + “With thee, with thee alone,” replied the Man, “can I cross the awful + solitude without complaint.” + </p> + <p> + “Together we will go to Heaven,” she said. + </p> + <p> + The clouds gathered and formed a darksome dais. Suddenly the pair found + themselves kneeling beside a body which old David was guarding from + curious eyes, resolved to bury it himself. + </p> + <p> + Beyond those walls the first summer of the nineteenth century shone forth + in all its glory. The two lovers believed they heard a Voice in the + sun-rays. They breathed a celestial essence from the new-born flowers. + Holding each other by the hand, they said, “That illimitable ocean which + shines below us is but an image of what we saw above.” + </p> + <p> + “Where are you going?” asked Monsieur Becker. + </p> + <p> + “To God,” they answered. “Come with us, father.” + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Seraphita, by Honore de Balzac + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SERAPHITA *** + +***** This file should be named 1432-h.htm or 1432-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/3/1432/ + +Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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