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couch of sea…purple one whose hair was crowned with red roses and
whose lips were red with wine。
And He went behind him and touched him on the shoulder and said to
him； 'Why do you live like this？'
And the young man turned round and recognised Him； and made answer
and said； 'But I was a leper once； and you healed me。 How else
should I live？'
And He passed out of the house and went again into the street。
And after a little while He saw one whose face and raiment were
painted and whose feet were shod with pearls。 And behind her came；
slowly as a hunter； a young man who wore a cloak of two colours。
Now the face of the woman was as the fair face of an idol； and the
eyes of the young man were bright with lust。
And He followed swiftly and touched the hand of the young man and
said to him； 'Why do you look at this woman and in such wise？'
And the young man turned round and recognised Him and said； 'But I
was blind once； and you gave me sight。 At what else should I look？'
And He ran forward and touched the painted raiment of the woman and
said to her； 'Is there no other way in which to walk save the way of
sin？'
And the woman turned round and recognised Him； and laughed and said；
'But you forgave me my sins； and the way is a pleasant way。'
And He passed out of the city。
And when He had passed out of the city He saw seated by the roadside
a young man who was weeping。
And He went towards him and touched the long locks of his hair and
said to him； 'Why are you weeping？'
And the young man looked up and recognised Him and made answer； 'But
I was dead once； and you raised me from the dead。 What else should
I do but weep？'Poems in Prose
THE DISCIPLE
When Narcissus died the pool of his pleasure changed from a cup of
sweet waters into a cup of salt tears； and the Oreads came weeping
through the woodland that they might sing to the pool and give it
comfort。
And when they saw that the pool had changed from a cup of sweet
waters into a cup of salt tears； they loosened the green tresses of
their hair and cried to the pool and said； 'We do not wonder that
you should mourn in this manner for Narcissus； so beautiful was he。'
'But was Narcissus beautiful？' said the pool。
'Who should know that better than you？' answered the Oreads。 'Us
did he ever pass by； but you he sought for； and would lie on your
banks and look down at you； and in the mirror of your waters he
would mirror his own beauty。'
And the pool answered； 'But I loved Narcissus because； as he lay on
my banks and looked down at me； in the mirror of his eyes I saw ever
my own beauty mirrored。'Poems in Prose
THE MASTER
Now when the darkness came over the earth Joseph of Arimathea；
having lighted a torch of pinewood； passed down from the hill into
the valley。 For he had business in his own home。
And kneeling on the flint stones of the Valley of Desolation he saw
a young man who was naked and weeping。 His hair was the colour of
honey； and his body was as a white flower； but he had wounded his
body with thorns and on his hair had he set ashes as a crown。
And he who had great possessions said to the young man who was naked
and weeping； 'I do not wonder that your sorrow is so great； for
surely He was a just man。'
And the young man answered； 'It is not for Him that I am weeping；
but for myself。 I too have changed water into wine； and I have
healed the leper and given sight to the blind。 I have walked upon
the waters； and from the dwellers in the tombs I have cast out
devils。 I have fed the hungry in the desert where there was no
food； and I have raised the dead from their narrow houses； and at my
bidding； and before a great multitude； of people； a barren fig…tree
withered away。 All things that this man has done I have done also。
And yet they have not crucified me。'Poems in Prose
THE HOUSE OF JUDGMENT
And there was silence in the House of Judgment； and the Man came
naked before God。
And God opened the Book of the Life of the Man。
And God said to the Man； 'Thy life hath been evil； and thou hast
shown cruelty to those who were in need of succour； and to those who
lacked help thou hast been bitter and hard of heart。 The poor
called to thee and thou didst not hearken； and thine ears were
closed to the cry of My afflicted。 The inheritance of the
fatherless thou didst take unto thyself； and thou didst send the
foxes into the vineyard of thy neighbour's field。 Thou didst take
the bread of the children and give it to the dogs to eat； and My
lepers who lived in the marshes； and were at peace and praised Me；
thou didst drive forth on to the highways； and on Mine earth out of
which I made thee thou didst spill innocent blood。'
And the Man made answer and said； 'Even so did I。'
And again God opened the Book of the Life of the Man。
And God said to the Man； 'Thy life hath been evil； and the Beauty I
have shown thou hast sought for； and the Good I have hidden thou
didst pass by。 The walls of thy chamber were painted with images；
and from the bed of thine abominations thou didst rise up to the
sound of flutes。 Thou didst build seven altars to the sins I have
suffered； and didst eat of the thing that may not be eaten； and the
purple of thy raiment was broidered with the three signs of shame。
Thine idols were neither of gold nor of silver that endure； but of
flesh that dieth。 Thou didst stain their hair with perfumes and put
pomegranates in their hands。 Thou didst stain their feet with
saffron and spread carpets before them。 With antimony thou didst
stain their eyelids and their bodies thou didst smear with myrrh。
Thou didst bow thyself to the ground before them； and the thrones of
thine idols were set in the sun。 Thou didst show to the sun thy
shame and to the moon thy madness。'
And the Man made answer and said； 'Even so did I。'
And a third time God opened the Book of the Life of the Man。
And God said to the Man； 'Evil hath been thy life； and with evil
didst thou requite good； and with wrongdoing kindness。 The hands
that fed thee thou didst wound； and the breasts that gave thee suck
thou didst despise。 He who came to thee with water went away
thirsting； and the outlawed men who hid thee in their tents at night
thou didst betray before dawn。 Thine enemy who spared thee thou
didst snare in an ambush； and the friend who walked with thee thou
didst sell for a price； and to those who brought thee Love thou
didst ever give Lust in thy turn。'
And the Man made answer and said； 'Even so did I。'
And God closed the Book of the Life of the Man； and said； 'Surely I
will send thee into Hell。 Even into Hell will I send thee。'
And the Man cried out； 'Thou canst not。'
And God said to the Man； 'Wherefore can I not send thee to Hell； and
for what reason？'
'Because in Hell have I