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for what reason？'
'Because in Hell have I always lived；' answered the Man。
And there was silence in the House of Judgment。
And after a space God spake； and said to the Man； 'Seeing that I may
not send thee into Hell； surely I will send thee unto Heaven。 Even
unto Heaven will I send thee。'
And the Man cried out； 'Thou canst not。'
And God said to the Man； 'Wherefore can I not send thee unto Heaven；
and for what reason？'
'Because never； and in no place； have I been able to imagine it；'
answered the Man。
And there was silence in the House of Judgment。Poems in Prose
THE TEACHER OF WISDOM
From his childhood he had been as one filled with the perfect
knowledge of God； and even while he was yet but a lad many of the
saints； as well as certain holy women who dwelt in the free city of
his birth； had been stirred to much wonder by the grave wisdom of
his answers。
And when his parents had given him the robe and the ring of manhood
he kissed them； and left them and went out into the world； that he
might speak to the world about God。 For there were at that time
many in the world who either knew not God at all； or had but an
incomplete knowledge of Him； or worshipped the false gods who dwell
in groves and have no care of their worshippers。
And he set his face to the sun and journeyed； walking without
sandals； as he had seen the saints walk； and carrying at his girdle
a leathern wallet and a little water…bottle of burnt clay。
And as he walked along the highway he was full of the joy that comes
from the perfect knowledge of God； and he sang praises unto God
without ceasing； and after a time he reached a strange land in which
there were many cities。
And he passed through eleven cities。 And some of these cities were
in valleys； and others were by the banks of great rivers； and others
were set on hills。 And in each city he found a disciple who loved
him and followed him； and a great multitude also of people followed
him from each city； and the knowledge of God spread in the whole
land； and many of the rulers were converted； and the priests of the
temples in which there were idols found that half of their gain was
gone； and when they beat upon their drums at noon none； or but a
few； came with peacocks and with offerings of flesh as had been the
custom of the land before his coming。
Yet the more the people followed him； and the greater the number of
his disciples； the greater became his sorrow。 And he knew not why
his sorrow was so great。 For he spake ever about God； and out of
the fulness of that perfect knowledge of God which God had Himself
given to him。
And one evening he passed out of the eleventh city； which was a city
of Armenia； and his disciples and a great crowd of people followed
after him； and he went up on to a mountain and sat down on a rock
that was on the mountain； and his disciples stood round him； and the
multitude knelt in the valley。
And he bowed his head on his hands and wept； and said to his Soul；
'Why is it that I am full of sorrow and fear； and that each of my
disciples is an enemy that walks in the noonday？' And his Soul
answered him and said； 'God filled thee with the perfect knowledge
of Himself； and thou hast given this knowledge away to others。 The
pearl of great price thou hast divided； and the vesture without seam
thou hast parted asunder。 He who giveth away wisdom robbeth
himself。 He is as one who giveth his treasure to a robber。 Is not
God wiser than thou art？ Who art thou to give away the secret that
God hath told thee？ I was rich once； and thou hast made me poor。
Once I saw God； and now thou hast hidden Him from me。'
And he wept again； for he knew that his Soul spake truth to him； and
that he had given to others the perfect knowledge of God； and that
he was as one clinging to the skirts of God； and that his faith was
leaving him by reason of the number of those who believed in him。
And he said to himself； 'I will talk no more about God。 He who
giveth away wisdom robbeth himself。'
And after the space of some hours his disciples came near him and
bowed themselves to the ground and said； 'Master； talk to us about
God； for thou hast the perfect knowledge of God； and no man save
thee hath this knowledge。'
And he answered them and said； 'I will talk to you about all other
things that are in heaven and on earth； but about God I will not
talk to you。 Neither now； nor at any time； will I talk to you about
God。'
And they were wroth with him and said to him； 'Thou hast led us into
the desert that we might hearken to thee。 Wilt thou send us away
hungry； and the great multitude that thou hast made to follow thee？'
And he answered them and said； 'I will not talk to you about God。'
And the multitude murmured against him and said to him； 'Thou hast
led us into the desert； and hast given us no food to eat。 Talk to
us about God and it will suffice us。'
But he answered them not a word。 For he knew that if he spake to
them about God he would give away his treasure。
And his disciples went away sadly； and the multitude of people
returned to their own homes。 And many died on the way。
And when he was alone he rose up and set his face to the moon； and
journeyed for seven moons； speaking to no man nor making any answer。
And when the seventh moon had waned he reached that desert which is
the desert of the Great River。 And having found a cavern in which a
Centaur had once dwelt； he took it for his place of dwelling； and
made himself a mat of reeds on which to lie； and became a hermit。
And every hour the Hermit praised God that He had suffered him to
keep some knowledge of Him and of His wonderful greatness。
Now； one evening； as the Hermit was seated before the cavern in
which he had made his place of dwelling； he beheld a young man of
evil and beautiful face who passed by in mean apparel and with empty
hands。 Every evening with empty hands the young man passed by； and
every morning he returned with his hands full of purple and pearls。
For he was a Robber and robbed the caravans of the merchants。
And the Hermit looked at him and pitied him。 But he spake not a
word。 For he knew that he who speaks a word loses his faith。
And one morning； as the young man returned with his hands full of
purple and pearls； he stopped and frowned and stamped his foot upon
the sand； and said to the Hermit： 'Why do you look at me ever in
this manner as I pass by？ What is it that I see in your eyes？ For
no man has looked at me before in this manner。 And the thing is a
thorn and a trouble to me。'
And the Hermit answered him and said； 'What you see in my eyes is
pity。 Pity is what looks out at you from my eyes。'
And the young man laughed with scorn； and cried to the Hermit in a
bitter voice； and said to him； 'I have purple and pearls in my
hands； and you have but a mat of r