第5章

AndIsaid，\"How？\" Godsaid，\"Theytouchitwiththeirlips，whentheyhavemadeatinywoundinitwiththeirfore—teeththeysetinitthatwhichisundertheirtongues:theycloseitwiththeirlip——thatnomanmayseetheplace，andpasson。\" IsaidtoGod，\"Whydotheydoit？\" Godsaid，\"Thatanothermaynoteat。\" IsaidtoGod，\"Butiftheypoisonallthennonedareeat;whatdotheygain？\" Godsaid，\"Nothing。\" Isaid，\"Aretheynotafraidtheythemselvesmaybitewhereanotherhasbitten？\" Godsaid，\"Theyareafraid。InHellallmenfear。\" Hecalledmefurther。Andthewaterofthelakeseemedlessblue。 Then，totherightamongthetreesweremenworking。AndIsaidtoGod，\"I shouldliketogoandworkwiththem。Hellmustbeaveryfruitfulplace，thegrassissogreen。\" Godsaid，\"Nothinggrowsinthegardentheyaremaking。\" Westoodlooking;andIsawthemworkingamongthebushes，diggingholes，butinthemtheysetnothing;andwhentheyhadcoveredthemwithsticksandeartheachwentawayoffandsatbehindthebusheswatching;andI noticedthataseachwalkedhesethisfootdowncarefullylookingwherehetrod。IsaidtoGod，\"Whataretheydoing？\" Godsaid，\"Makingpitfallsintowhichtheirfellowsmaysink。\" IsaidtoGod，\"Whydotheydoit？\" Godsaid，\"Becauseeachthinksthatwhenhisbrotherfallshewillrise。\" IsaidtoGod，\"Howwillherise？\" Godsaid，\"Hewillnotrise。\" AndIsawtheireyesgleamfrombehindthebushes。 IsaidtoGod，\"Arethesemensane？\" Godsaid，\"Theyarenotsane;thereisnosanemaninHell。\" Andhetoldmetocomefurther。 AndIlookedwhereItrod。 AndwecamewhereHellopenedintoaplain，andagreathousestoodthere。 Marblepillarsupheldtheroof，andwhitemarblestepsletuptoit。Thewindofheavenblewthroughit。Onlyatthebackhungathickcurtain。 Fairmenandwomentherefeastedatlongtables。Theydanced，andIsawtherobesofwomenflutterintheairandheardthelaughofstrongmen。 Whattheyfeastedwithwaswine;theydrewitfromlargejarswhichstoodsomewhatinthebackground，andIsawthewinesparkleastheydrewit。 AndIsaidtoGod，\"Ishouldliketogoupanddrink。\"AndGodsaid，\"Wait。\"AndIsawmencomingintotheBanquetHouse;theycameinfromthebackandliftedthecornerofthecurtainatthesidesandcreptinquickly;andtheyletthecurtainfallbehindthem;theyboregreatjarstheycouldhardlycarry。Andthemenandwomencrowdedroundthem，andthenew—comersopenedtheirjarsandgavethemofthewinetodrink;andIsawthatthewomendrankevenmoregreedilythanthemen。Andwhenothershadwelldrunkentheysetthejarsamongtheoldonesbesidethewall，andtooktheirplacesatthetable。AndIsawthatsomeofthejarswereveryoldandmildewedanddusty，butothershadstilldropsofnewmustonthemandshonefromthefurnace。 AndIsaidtoGod，\"Whatisthat？\"Foramidthesoundofthesinging，andoverthedancingoffeet，andoverthelaughingacrossthewine—cupsI heardacry。 AndGodsaid，\"Standawayoff。\" AndhetookmewhereIsawbothsidesofthecurtain。Behindthehousewasthewine—presswherethewinewasmade。Isawthegrapescrushed，andI heardthemcry。Isaid，\"Donottheyontheothersidehearit？\" Godsaid，\"Thecurtainisthick;theyarefeasting。\" AndIsaid，\"Butthemenwhocameinlast。Theysaw？\" Godsaid，\"Theyletthecurtainfallbehindthem——andtheyforget！\" Isaid，\"Howcametheybytheirjarsofwine？\" Godsaid，\"Inthetreadingofthepressthesearetheywhocametothetop; theyhaveclimbedoutovertheedge，andfilledtheirjarsfrombelow，andhavegoneintothehouse。\" AndIsaid，\"Andiftheyhadfallenastheyclimbed——？\" Godsaid，\"Theyhadbeenwine。\" Istoodawayoffwatchinginthesunshine，andIshivered。 Godlayinthesunshinewatchingtoo。 Thenthereroseoneamongthefeasters，whosaid，\"Mybrethren，letuspray！\" Andallthemenandwomenrose:andstrongmenbowedtheirheads，andmothersfoldedtheirlittlechildren’shandstogether，andturnedtheirfacesupwards，totheroof。Andhewhofirsthadrisenstoodatthetablehead，andstretchedoutbothhishands，andhisbeardwaslongandwhite，andhissleevesandhisbeardhadbeendippedinwine;andbecausethesleeveswerewideandfulltheyheldmuchwine，anditdroppeddownuponthefloor。 Andhecried，\"Mybrothersandmysisters，letuspray。\" Andallthemenandwomenanswered，\"Letuspray。\" Hecried，\"Forthisfairbanquet—housewethankthee，Lord。\" Andallthemenandwomensaid\"Wethankthee，Lord。\" \"Thineisthishouse，dearLord。\" \"Thineisthishouse。\" \"Forushastthoumadeit。\" \"Forus。\" \"Oh，fillourjarswithwine，dearLord。\" \"Ourjarswithwine。\" \"Givepeaceandplentyinourtime，dearLord。\" \"Peaceandplentyinourtime\"——IsaidtoGod，\"Whomisittheyaretalkingto？\"Godsaid，\"DoIknowwhomtheyspeakof？\"AndIsawtheywerelookingupattheroof;butoutinthesunshine，Godlay。 \"——dearLord！\" \"DearLord。\" \"Ourchildren’schildren，Lord，shallriseandcalltheeblessed。\" \"Ourchildren’schildren，Lord。\"——IsaidtoGod，\"Thegrapesarecrying！\" Godsaid，\"Still！Ihearthem\"——\"shallcalltheeblessed。\" \"Shallcalltheeblessed。\" \"Pourforthmorewineuponus，Lord。\" \"Morewine。\" \"Morewine。\" \"Morewine！\" \"Wine！！\" \"Wine！！\" \"Wine！！！\" \"DearLord！\" Thenmenandwomensatdownandthefeastwenton。Andmotherspouredoutwineandfedtheirlittlechildrenwithit，andmenheldupthecuptowomen’slipsandcried，\"Beloved！drink，\"andwomenfilledtheirlovers’ flagonsandheldthemup;andyetthefeastwenton。 AndafterawhileIlooked，andIsawthecurtainthathungbehindthehousemoving。 IsaidtoGod，\"Isitawind？\" Godsaid，\"Awind。\" Anditseemedtome，thatagainstthecurtainIsawpressedtheformsofmenandwomen。Andafterawhilethefeasterssawitmove，andtheywhispered，onetoanother。Thensomeroseandgatheredthemostworn—outcups，andintothemtheyputwhatwasleftatthebottomofothervessels。 Motherswhisperedtotheirchildren，\"Donotdrinkall，savealittledropwhenyouhavedrunk。\"Andwhentheyhadcollectedallthedregstheyslippedthecupsoutunderthebottomofthecurtainwithoutliftingit。 Afterawhilethecurtainleftoffmoving。 IsaidtoGod，\"Howisitsoquiet？\" Hesaid，\"Theyhavegoneawaytodrinkit。\" Isaid，\"Theydrinkit——theirown！\" Godsaid，\"Itcomesfromthissideofthecurtain，andtheyareverythirsty。\" Thenthefeastwenton，andafterawhileIsawasmall，whitehandslippedinbelowthecurtain’sedgealongthefloor;anditmotionedtowardsthewinejars。 AndIsaidtoGod，\"Whyisthathandsobloodless？\" AndGodsaid，\"Itisawine—pressedhand。\" Andmensawitandstartedtotheirfeet;andwomencried，andrantothegreatwinejars，andthrewtheirarmsaroundthem，andcried，\"Ours，ourown，ourbeloved！\"andtwinedtheirlonghairaboutthem。 IsaidtoGod，\"Whyaretheyfrightenedofthatonesmallhand？\" Godanswered，\"Becauseitissowhite。\" Andmenraninagreatcompanytowardsthecurtain，andstruggledthere。I heardthemstrikeuponthefloor。Andwhentheymovedawaythecurtainhungsmoothandstill;andtherewasasmallstainuponthefloor。 IsaidtoGod，\"Whydotheynotwashitout？\" Godsaid，\"Theycannot。\" Andtheytooksmallstonesandputthemdownalongtheedgeofthecurtaintokeepitdown。Thenthemenandwomensatdownagainatthetables。 AndIsaidtoGod，\"Willthosestoneskeepitdown？\" Godsaid，\"Whatthinkyou？\" Isaid，\"Ifthewindblew？\" Godsaid，\"Ifthewindblew？\" Andthefeastwenton。 AndsuddenlyIcriedtoGod，\"Ifoneshouldriseamongthem，evenofthemselves，andstartupfromthetableandshouldcastawayhiscup，andcry，’Mybrothersandmysisters，stay！whatisitthatwedrink？’——andwithhisswordshouldcutintwothecurtain，andholdingwidethefragments，cry，’Brothers，sisters，see！itisnotwine，notwine！notwine！Mybrothers，oh，mysisters！’andheshouldoverturnthe——\" Godsaid，\"Bestill！——，seethere。\" Ilooked:beforethebanquet—house，amongthegrass，Isawarowofmounds，flowerscoveredthem，andgildedmarblestoodattheirheads。I askedGodwhattheywere。 Heanswered，\"Theyarethegravesofthosewhoroseupatthefeastandcried。\" AndIaskedGodhowtheycamethere。 Hesaid，\"Themenofthebanquet—houseroseandcastthemdownbackwards。\" Isaid，\"Whoburiedthem？\" Godsaid，\"Themenwhocastthemdown。\" Isaid，\"Howcameitthattheythrewthemdown，andthensetmarbleoverthem？\" Godsaid，\"Becausethebonescriedout，theycoveredthem。\" AndamongthegrassandweedsIsawanunburiedbodylying;andIaskedGodwhyitwas。 Godsaid，\"Becauseitwasthrowndownonlyyesterday。Inalittlewhile，whenthefleshshallhavefallenfromitsbones，theywillburyitalso，andplantflowersoverit。\" Andstillthefeastwenton。 Menandwomensatatthetablesquaffinggreatbowls。Somerose，andthrewtheirarmsabouteachother，anddancedandsang。Theypledgedeachotherinthewine，andkissedeachother’sblood—redlips。 Higherandhighergrewtherevels。 Men，whentheyhaddrunktilltheycouldnolonger，threwwhatwasleftintheirglassesuptotheroof，andletitfallbackincascades。Womendyedtheirchildren’sgarmentsinthewine，andfedthemonittilltheirtinymouthswerered。Sometimes，asthedancerswhirled，theyoverturnedavessel，andtheirgarmentswerebespattered。Childrensatuponthefloorwithgreatbowlsofwine，andswamrose—leavesonit，forboats。Theyputtheirhandsinthewineandblewlargeredbubbles。 Andhigherandhighergrewtherevels，andwilderthedancing，andlouderandlouderthesinging。Buthereandthereamongtherevellerswerethosewhodidnotrevel。Isawthatatthetableshereandthereweremenwhosatwiththeirelbowsontheboardandhandsshadingtheireyes;theylookedintothewine—cupbeneaththem，anddidnotdrink。Andwhenonetouchedthemlightlyontheshoulder，biddingthemtoriseanddanceandsing，theystarted，andthenlookeddown，andsattherewatchingthewineinthecup，buttheydidnotmove。 AndhereandthereIsawawomansitapart。Theothersdancedandsangandfedtheirchildren，butshesatsilentwithherheadasideasthoughshelistened。Herlittlechildrenpluckedhergown;shedidnotseethem;shewaslisteningtosomesound，butshedidnotstir。 Therevelsgrewhigher。Mendranktilltheycoulddrinknolonger，andlaytheirheadsuponthetablesleepingheavily。Womenwhocoulddancenomoreleanedbackonthebencheswiththeirheadsagainsttheirlovers’ shoulders。Littlechildren，sickwithwine，laydownupontheedgesoftheirmothers’robes。Sometimes，amanrosesuddenly，andashestaggeredstruckthetablesandoverthrewthebenches;someleaneduponthebalustradessickuntodeath。Hereandthereonerosewhostaggeredtothewinejarsandlaydownbesidethem。Heturnedthewinetap，butsleepovercamehimashelaythere，andthewineranout。 Slowlythethin，redstreamranacrossthewhitemarbledfloor;itreachedthestonesteps;slowly，slowly，slowlyittrickleddown，fromsteptostep，fromsteptostep:thenitsankintotheearth。Athinwhitesmokeroseupfromit。 Iwassilent;Icouldnotbreathe;butGodcalledmetocomefurther。 AndafterIhadtravelledforawhileIcamewhereonsevenhillslaytheruinsofamightybanquet—houselargerandstrongerthantheonewhichI hadseenstanding。 IsaidtoGod，\"Whatdidthemenwhobuiltithere？\" Godsaid，\"Theyfeasted。\" Isaid，\"Onwhat？\" Godsaid，\"Onwine。\" AndIlooked;anditseemedtomethatbehindtheruinslaystillalargecircularhollowwithintheearthwhereafootofthewine—presshadstood。 IsaidtoGod，\"Howcameitthatthislargehousefell？\" Godsaid，\"Becausetheearthwassodden。\" Hecalledmetocomefurther。 Andatlastwecameuponahillwherebluewatersplayed，andwhitemarblelayupontheearth。IsaidtoGod，\"Whatwashereonce？\" Godsaid，\"Apleasurehouse。\" Ilooked，andatmyfeetgreatpillarslay。IcriedaloudforjoytoGod，\"Themarbleblossoms！\" Godsaid，\"Ay，’twasafairyhouse。Therehasnotbeenoneliketoit，norevershallbe。Thepillarsandtheporticoesblossomed;andthewinecupswereasgatheredflowers:onthissideallthecurtainwasbroideredwithfairdesigns，thestitchingwasofgold。\" IsaidtoGod，\"Howcameitthatitfell？\" Godsaid，\"Onthesideofthewine—pressitwasdark。\" Andaswetravelled，wecamewherelayamightyridgeofsand，andadarkriverranthere;andthererosetwovastmounds。 IsaidtoGod，\"Theyareverymighty。\" Godsaid，\"Ay，exceedinggreat。\" AndIlistened。 GodaskedmewhatIwaslisteningto。 AndIsaid，\"Asoundofweeping，andIhearthesoundofstrokes，butI cannottellwhenceitcomes。\" Godsaid，\"Itistheechoofthewine—presslingeringstillamongthecoping—stonesuponthemounds。Abanquet—housestoodhere。\" Andhecalledmetocomefurther。 Uponabarrenhill—side，wherethesoilwasarid，Godcalledmetostandstill。AndIlookedaround。 Godsaid，\"Therewasafeasting—househereonceuponatime。\" IsaidtoGod，\"Iseenomarkofany！\" Godsaid，\"Therewasnotleftonestoneuponanotherthathasnotbeenthrowndown。\"AndIlookedround;andonthehill—sidewasalonelygrave。 IsaidtoGod，\"Whatliesthere？\" Hesaid，\"Avinetruss，bruisedinthewine—press！\" Andattheheadofthegravestoodacross，andonitsfootlayacrownofthorns。 AndasIturnedtogo，Ilookedbackward。Thewine—pressandthebanquet— houseweregone;butthegraveyetstood。 AndwhenIcametotheedgeofalongridgethereopenedoutbeforemeawideplainofsand。AndwhenIlookeddownwardIsawgreatstoneslieshattered;andthedesertsandhadhalfcoveredthemover。 IsaidtoGod，\"Thereiswritingonthem，butIcannotreadit。\" AndGodblewasidethedesertsand，andIreadthewriting:\"Weighedinthebalance，andfound——\"butthelastwordwaswanting。 AndIsaidtoGod，\"Itwasabanquet—house？\" Godsaid，\"Ay，abanquet—house。\" Isaid，\"Therewasawine—presshere？\" Godsaid，\"Therewasawine—press。\" Iaskednofurtherquestion。Iwasveryweary;Ishadedmyeyeswithmyhand，andlookedthroughthepinkeveninglight。 Faroff，acrossthesand，Isawtwofiguresstanding。Withwingsupfoldedhighabovetheirheads，andsternfacesset，neithermannorbeast，theylookedoutacrossthedesertsand，watching，watching，watching！IdidnotaskGodwhattheywere，forIknewwhattheanswerwouldbe。 And，furtherandyetfurther，intheeveninglight，Ilookedwithmyshadedeyes。 Faroff，wherethesandswerethickandheavy，Isawasolitarypillarstanding:thecrownhadfallen，andthesandhadburiedit。Onthebrokenpillarsatagreyowl—of—the—desert，withfoldedwings;andintheeveninglightIsawthedesertfoxcreeppastit，trailinghisbrushacrossthesand。 Further，yetfurther，asIlookedacrossthedesert，Isawthesandgatheredintoheapsasthoughitcoveredsomething。 IcriedtoGod，\"Oh，Iamsoweary。\" Godsaid，\"YouhaveseenonlyonehalfofHell。\" Isaid，\"Icannotseemore，IamafraidofHell。InmyownnarrowlittlepathIdarenotwalkbecauseIthinkthatonehasdugapitfallforme;andifIputmyhandtotakeafruitIdrawitbackagainbecauseIthinkithasbeenkissedalready。IfIlookoutacrosstheplains，themoundsareburialheaps;andwhenIpassamongthestonesIhearthemcryingaloud。 WhenIseemendancingIhearthetimebeateninwithsobs;andtheirwineisliving！Oh，IcannotbearHell！\" Godsaid，\"Wherewillyougo？\" Isaid\"TotheearthfromwhichIcame;itwasbetterthere。\" AndGodlaughedatme;andIwonderedwhyhelaughed。 Godsaid，\"Come，andIwillshowyouHeaven。\"…… AndpartlyIawoke。Itwasstillanddark;thesoundofthecarriageshaddiedinthestreet;thewomanwholaughedwasgone;andthepoliceman’streadwasheardnomore。Inthedarkitseemedasifagreathandlayuponmyheart，andcrushedit。Itriedtobreatheandtossedfromsidetoside; andthenagainIfellasleep，anddreamed。 Godtookmetotheedgeofthatworld。Itended。Ilookeddown。Thegulf，itseemedtome，wasfathomless，andthenIsawtwobridgescrossingitthatbothslopedupwards。 IsaidtoGod，\"Istherenootherwaybywhichmencrossit？\" Godsaid，\"One;itrisesfarfromhereandslopesstraightupwards。 IaskedGodwhatthebridges’nameswere。 Godsaid，\"Whatmatterforthenames？CallthemtheGood，theTrue，theBeautiful，ifyouwill——youwillyetnotunderstandthem。\" IaskedGodhowitwasIcouldnotseethethird。 Godsaid，\"Itisseenonlybythosewhoclimbit。\" Isaid，\"Dotheyallleadtooneheaven？\" Godsaid，\"AllHeavenisone:neverthelesssomepartsarehigherthanothers;thosewhoreachthehighermayalwaysgodowntorestinthelower; butthoseinthelowermaynothavestrengthtoclimbtothehigher;