Icamehereonewinter’sdaywhenthemiddaysunshonehotonthebricksoftheRomanroad。Iwasweary，andthewayseemedsteep。Iwalkedintothechapeltothebrokenwindow，andlookedoutacrossthebay。Faroff，acrosstheblue，bluewater，weretownsandvillages，hangingwhiteandreddots，uponthemountain—sides，andthebluemountainsroseupintothesky，andnowstoodoutfromitandnowmeltedbackagain。
　　Themountainsseemedcallingtome，butIknewtherewouldneverbeabridgebuiltfromthemtome;never，never，never！Ishadedmyeyeswithmyhandandturnedaway。Icouldnotbeartolookatthem。
　　IwalkedthroughtheruinedChapel，andlookedattheChristinredcarryinghiscross，andtheBlessedrubbed—outBambino，andtheRomansoldiers，andthefoldedhands，andthereed;andIwentandsatdownintheopenporchuponastone。Atmyfeetwasthesmallbay，withitswhiterowofhousesburiedamongtheolivetrees;thewaterbrokeinalong，thin，whitelineoffoamalongtheshore;andIleanedmyelbowsonmyknees。Iwastired，verytired;tiredwithatirednessthatseemedolderthantheheatofthedayandtheshiningofthesunonthebricksoftheRomanroad;andIlaymyheaduponmyknees;Iheardthebreakingofthewaterontherocksthreehundredfeetbelow，andtherustlingofthewindamongtheolivetreesandtheruinedarches，andthenIfellasleepthere。
　　Ihadadream。
　　AmancrieduptoGod，andGodsentdownanangeltohelphim;andtheangelcamebackandsaid，"Icannothelpthatman。"
　　Godsaid，"Howisitwithhim？"
　　Andtheangelsaid，"Hecriesoutcontinuallythatonehasinjuredhim;andhewouldforgivehimandhecannot。"
　　Godsaid，"Whathaveyoudoneforhim？"
　　Theangelsaid，"All——。Itookhimbythehand，andIsaid，’See，whenothermenspeakillofthatmandoyouspeakwellofhim;secretly，inwaysheshallnotknow，servehim;ifyouhaveanythingyouvalueshareitwithhim，so，servinghim，youwillatlastcometofeelpossessioninhim，andyouwillforgive。’Andhesaid，’Iwilldoit。’Afterwards，asIpassedbyinthedarkofnight，Iheardonecryingout，’Ihavedoneall。Ithelpsnothing！Myspeakingwellofhimhelpsmenothing！IfIsharemyheart’sbloodwithhim，istheburningwithinmeless？Icannotforgive;I
　　cannotforgive！Oh，God，Icannotforgive！’
　　"Isaidtohim，’Seehere，lookbackonallyourpast。Seefromyourchildhoodallsmallness，allindirectnessthathasbeenyours;lookwellatit，andinitslightdoyounotseeeverymanyourbrother？Areyousosinlessyouhaverighttohate？’
　　"Helooked，andsaid，’Yes，youareright;Itoohavefailed，andIforgivemyfellow。Go，Iamsatisfied;Ihaveforgiven;’andhelaidhimdownpeacefullyandfoldedhishandsonhisbreast，andIthoughtitwaswellwithhim。ButscarcelyhadmywingsrustledandIturnedtocomeuphere，whenIheardonecryingoutonearthagain，’Icannotforgive！Icannotforgive！Oh，God，God，Icannotforgive！Itisbettertodiethantohate！Icannotforgive！Icannotforgive！’AndIwentandstoodoutsidehisdoorinthedark，andIheardhimcry，’Ihavenotsinnedso，notso！
　　IfIhavetornmyfellows’flesheversolittle，Ihavekneeleddownandkissedthewoundwithmymouthtillitwashealed。Ihavenotwilledthatanysoulshallbelostthroughhateofme。IftheyhavebutfanciedthatI
　　wrongedthemIhavelaindownonthegroundbeforethemthattheymighttreadonme，andso，seeingmyhumiliation，forgiveandnotbelostthroughhatingme;theyhavenotcaredthatmysoulshouldbelost;theyhavenotwilledtosaveme;theyhavenottriedthatIshouldforgivethem！’
　　"Isaidtohim，’Seehere，bethoucontent;donotforgive:forgetthissoulanditsinjury;goonyourway。Inthenextworldperhaps——’
　　"Hecried，’Gofromme，youunderstandnothing！Whatisthenextworldtome！Iamlostnow，today。Icannotseethesunlightshine，thedustisinmythroat，thesandisinmyeyes！Gofromme，youknownothing！Oh，onceagainbeforeIdietoseethattheworldisbeautiful！Oh，God，God，I
　　cannotliveandnotlove。Icannotliveandhate。Oh，God，God，God！’SoIlefthimcryingoutandcamebackhere。"
　　Godsaid，"Thisman’ssoulmustbesaved。"
　　Andtheangelsaid"How？"
　　Godsaid，"Godownyou，andsaveit。"
　　Theangelsaid，"WhatmoreshallIdo？"
　　ThenGodbentdownandwhisperedintheangel’sear，andtheangelspreadoutitswingsandwentdowntoearth。
　　AndpartlyIwoke，sittingthereuponthebrokenstonewithmyheadonmyknee;butIwastoowearytorise。Iheardthewindroamthroughtheolivetreesandamongtheruinedarches，andthenIsleptagain。
　　Theangelwentdownandfoundthemanwiththebitterheartandtookhimbythehand，andledhimtoacertainspot。
　　Nowthemanwistnotwhereitwastheangelwouldtakehimnorwhathewouldshowhimthere。Andwhentheycametheangelshadedtheman’seyeswithhiswing，andwhenhemoveditthemansawsomewhatontheearthbeforethem。ForGodhadgivenittothatangeltounclotheahumansoul;
　　totakefromitallthoseoutwardattributesofform，andcolour，andage，andsex，wherebyonemanisknownfromamonghisfellowsandismarkedofffromtherest，andthesoullaybeforethem，bare，asamanturninghiseyeinwardsbeholdshimself。
　　Theysawitspast，itschildhood，thetinylifewiththedewuponit;theysawitsyouthwhenthedewwasmelting，andthecreatureraiseditsLilliputianmouthtodrinkfromacuptoolargeforit，andtheysawhowthewaterspilt;theysawitshopesthatwereneverrealized;theysawitshoursofintellectualblindness，mencallsin;theysawitshoursofall—
　　radiatinginsight，whichmencallrighteousness;theysawitshourofstrength，whenitleapedtoitsfeetcrying，"Iamomnipotent;"itshourofweakness，whenitfelltotheearthandgraspeddustonly;theysawwhatitmighthavebeen，butneverwouldbe。
　　Themanbentforward。
　　Andtheangelsaid，"Whatisit？"
　　Heanswered，"ItisI！itismyself！"Andhewentforwardasifhewouldhavelainhisheartagainstit;buttheangelheldhimbackandcoveredhiseyes。
　　NowGodhadgivenpowertotheangelfurthertounclothethatsoul，totakefromitallthoseoutwardattributesoftimeandplaceandcircumstancewherebytheindividuallifeismarkedofffromthelifeofthewhole。
　　Againtheangeluncoveredtheman’seyes，andhelooked。Hesawbeforehimthatwhichinitstinydropreflectsthewholeuniverse;hesawthatwhichmarkswithinitselfthestepofthefurtheststar，andtellshowthecrystalgrowsundergroundwherenoeyehasseenit;thatwhichiswherethegermintheeggstirs;whichmovestheoutstretchedfingersofthelittlenewbornbabe，andkeepstheleavesofthetreespointingupward;
　　whichmoveswherethejelly—fishsailaloneonthesunnyseas，andiswherethelichensformonthemountains’rocks。
　　Andthemanlooked。
　　Andtheangeltouchedhim。
　　Butthemanbowedhisheadandshuddered。Hewhispered——"ItisGod！"
　　Andtheangelre—coveredtheman’seyes。Andwhenheuncoveredthemtherewasonewalkingfromthemalittlewayoff;——fortheangelhadre—clothedthesoulinitsoutwardformandvesture——andthemanknewwhoitwas。
　　Andtheangelsaid，"Doyouknowhim？"
　　Andthemansaid，"Iknowhim，"andhelookedafterthefigure。
　　Andtheangelsaid，"Haveyouforgivenhim？"
　　Butthemansaid，"Howbeautifulmybrotheris！"
　　Andtheangellookedintotheman’seyes，andheshadedhisownfacewithhiswingfromthelight。HelaughedsoftlyandwentuptoGod。
　　Butthemenweretogetheronearth。
　　Iawoke。
　　Theblue，blueskywasovermyhead，andthewaveswerebreakingbelowontheshore。Iwalkedthroughthelittlechapel，andIsawtheMadonnainblueandred，andtheChristcarryinghiscross，andtheRomansoldierswiththerod，andtheBlessedBambinowithitsbrokenface;andthenI
　　walkeddowntheslopingrocktothebrickpathway。Theolivetreesstooduponeithersideoftheroad，theirblackberriesandpale—greenleavesstoodoutagainstthesky;andthelittleice—plantshungfromthecrevicesinthestonewall。ItseemedtomeasifitmusthaverainedwhileIwasasleep。IthoughtIhadneverseentheheavensandtheearthlooksobeautifulbefore。Iwalkeddowntheroad。Theold，old，oldtirednesswasgone。
　　Presentlytherecameapeasantboydownthepathleadinghisass;shehadtwolargepanniersfastenedtohersides;andtheywentdowntheroadbeforeme。
　　Ihadneverseenhimbefore;butIshouldhavelikedtowalkbyhimandtohaveheldhishand——only，hewouldnothaveknownwhy。
　　Alassio，Italy。
　　VIII。LIFE’SGIFTS。
　　Isawawomansleeping。InhersleepshedreamtLifestoodbeforeher，andheldineachhandagift——intheoneLove，intheotherFreedom。Andshesaidtothewoman，"Choose！"
　　Andthewomanwaitedlong:andshesaid，"Freedom！"
　　AndLifesaid，"Thouhastwellchosen。Ifthouhadstsaid，’Love，’Iwouldhavegiventheethatthoudidstaskfor;andIwouldhavegonefromthee，andreturnedtotheenomore。Now，thedaywillcomewhenIshallreturn。
　　InthatdayIshallbearbothgiftsinonehand。"
　　Iheardthewomanlaughinhersleep。
　　London。
　　IX。THEARTIST’SSECRET。
　　Therewasanartistonce，andhepaintedapicture。Otherartistshadcoloursricherandrarer，andpaintedmorenotablepictures。Hepaintedhiswithonecolour，therewasawonderfulredglowonit;andthepeoplewentupanddown，saying，"Welikethepicture，weliketheglow。"
　　Theotherartistscameandsaid，"Wheredoeshegethiscolourfrom？"Theyaskedhim;andhesmiledandsaid，"Icannottellyou";andworkedonwithhisheadbentlow。
　　AndonewenttothefarEastandboughtcostlypigments，andmadeararecolourandpainted，butafteratimethepicturefaded。Anotherreadintheoldbooks，andmadeacolourrichandrare，butwhenhehadputitonthepictureitwasdead。
　　Buttheartistpaintedon。Alwaystheworkgotredderandredder，andtheartistgrewwhiterandwhiter。Atlastonedaytheyfoundhimdeadbeforehispicture，andtheytookhimuptoburyhim。Theothermenlookedaboutinallthepotsandcrucibles，buttheyfoundnothingtheyhadnot。
　　Andwhentheyundressedhimtoputhisgrave—clothesonhim，theyfoundabovehisleftbreastthemarkofawound——itwasanold，oldwound，thatmusthavebeenthereallhislife，fortheedgeswereoldandhardened;butDeath，whosealsallthings，haddrawntheedgestogether，andcloseditup。
　　Andtheyburiedhim。Andstillthepeoplewentaboutsaying，"Wheredidhefindhiscolourfrom？"
　　Anditcametopassthatafterawhiletheartistwasforgotten——buttheworklived。
　　St。Leonards—on—Sea。
　　X。"ITHOUGHTISTOOD。"
　　IthoughtIstoodinHeavenbeforeGod’sthrone，andGodaskedmewhatI
　　hadcomefor。IsaidIhadcometoarraignmybrother，Man。
　　Godsaid，"Whathashedone？"
　　Isaid，"Hehastakenmysister，Woman，andhasstrickenher，andwoundedher，andthrustheroutintothestreets;sheliesthereprostrate。Hishandsareredwithblood。Iamheretoarraignhim;thatthekingdombetakenfromhim，becauseheisnotworthy，andgivenuntome。Myhandsarepure。"
　　Ishowedthem。
　　Godsaid，"Thyhandsarepure。——Liftupthyrobe。"
　　Iraisedit;myfeetwerered，blood—red，asifIhadtroddeninwine。
　　Godsaid，"Howisthis？"
　　Isaid，"DearLord，thestreetsoneartharefullofmire。IfIshouldwalkstraightoninthemmyouterrobemightbebespotted，youseehowwhiteitis！ThereforeIpickmyway。"
　　Godsaid，"Onwhat？"
　　Iwassilent，andIletmyrobefall。Iwrappedmymantleaboutmyhead。
　　Iwentoutsoftly。Iwasafraidthattheangelswouldseeme。
　　II。
　　OncemoreIstoodatthegateofHeaven，Iandanother。Weheldfastbyoneanother;wewereverytired。Welookedupatthegreatgates;theangelsopenedthem，andwewentin。Themudwasonourgarments。Wewalkedacrossthemarblefloor，anduptothegreatthrone。Thentheangelsdividedus。Her，theysetuponthetopstep，butme，uponthebottom;for，theysaid，"Lasttimethiswomancameheresheleftredfoot—
　　marksonthefloor;wehadtowashthemoutwithourtears。Lethernotgoup。"
　　Thenshe，withwhomIcame，lookedback，andstretchedoutherhandtome;
　　andIwentandstoodbesideher。Andtheangels，they，theshiningoneswhoneversinnedandneversuffered，walkedbyustoandfroandupanddown;Ithinkweshouldhavefeltalittlelonelythereifithadnotbeenforoneanother，theangelsweresobright。
　　GodaskedmewhatIhadcomefor;andIdrewmysisterforwardalittlethathemightseeher。
　　Godsaid，"Howisityouareheretogethertoday？"
　　Isaid，"Shewasuponthegroundinthestreet，andtheypassedoverher;I
　　laydownbyher，andsheputherarmsaroundmyneck，andsoIliftedher，andwetworosetogether。"
　　Godsaid，"Whomareyounowcometoaccusebeforeme？"
　　Isaid，"Wearecometoaccusenoman。"
　　AndGodbent，andsaid，"Mychildren——whatisitthatyeseek？"
　　AndshebesidemedrewmyhandthatIshouldspeakforboth。
　　Isaid，"WehavecometoaskthatthoushouldstspeaktoMan，ourbrother，andgiveusamessageforhimthathemightunderstand，andthathemight——"
　　Godsaid，"Go，takethemessagedowntohim！"
　　Isaid，"Butwhatisthemessage？"
　　Godsaid，"Uponyourheartsitiswritten;takeitdowntohim。"
　　Andweturnedtogo;theangelswentwithustothedoor。Theylookedatus。
　　Andonesaid——"Ai！buttheirdressesarebeautiful！"
　　Andtheothersaid，"Ithoughtitwasmirewhentheycamein，butsee，itisallgolden！"
　　Butanothersaid，"Hush，itisthelightfromtheirfaces！"
　　Andwewentdowntohim。
　　Alassio，Italy。
　　XI。THESUNLIGHTLAYACROSSMYBED。
　　InthedarkonenightIlayuponmybed。Iheardthepoliceman’sfeetbeatonthepavement;Iheardthewheelsofcarriagesrollhomefromhousesofentertainment;Iheardawoman’slaughbelowmywindow——andthenIfellasleep。AndinthedarkIdreamtadream。IdreamtGodtookmysoultoHell。
　　Hellwasafairplace;thewaterofthelakewasblue。
　　IsaidtoGod，"Ilikethisplace。"
　　Godsaid，"Ay，dostthou！"
　　Birdssang，turfcametothewater—edge，andtreesgrewfromit。AwayoffamongthetreesIsawbeautifulwomenwalking。Theirclotheswereofmanydelicatecoloursandclungtothem，andtheyweretallandgracefulandhadyellowhair。Theirrobestrailedoverthegrass。Theyglidedinandoutamongthetrees，andovertheirheadshungyellowfruitlikelargepearsofmeltedgold。
　　Isaid，"Itisveryfair;Iwouldgoupandtastethe——"
　　Godsaid，"Wait。"
　　AndafterawhileInoticedaveryfairwomanpass:shelookedthiswayandthat，anddrewdownabranch，anditseemedshekissedthefruituponitsoftly，andwentonherway，andherdressmadenorustleasshepassedoverthegrass。AndwhenIsawhernomore，fromamongthestemscameanotherwomanfairasshehadbeen，inadelicatetintedrobe;shelookedthiswayandthat。Whenshesawnoonethereshedrewdownthefruit，andwhenshehadlookedoverittofindaplace，sheputhermouthtoitsoftly，andwentaway。AndIsawotherandotherwomencome，makingnonoise，andtheyglidedawayalsooverthegrass。
　　AndIsaidtoGod，"Whataretheydoing？"
　　Godsaid，"Theyarepoisoning。"