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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！〃
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。
〃This is certainly the language of a man in love；〃 said the good
pastor； innocently。
〃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。〃
〃Then you do love her？〃 said Minna； in a tone of reproach。
〃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。〃
〃Monsieur； all that you say is true；〃 replied the young girl；
artlessly。
〃How can you know； Minna？〃 asked the old pastor。
〃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。'〃
These words were followed by a moment's silence。
〃Ah； truly！〃 said Wilfrid； 〃she has nothing in common with the
creatures who grovel upon this earth。〃
〃On the Falberg！〃 said the old pastor； 〃how could you get there？〃
〃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。〃
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。
〃This is indeed supernatural；〃 said the old man； astounded at the
sight of a flower blooming in winter。
〃A mystery！〃 cried Wilfrid； intoxicated with its perfume。
〃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。〃
〃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。〃
〃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？〃
〃By name only；of him； of his books； and his religion I know
nothing。〃
〃Then I must relate to you the whole chronicle of Swedenborg。〃
CHAPTER III
SERAPHITA…SERAPHITUS
After a pause； during which the pastor seemed to be gathering his
recollections； he continued in the following words：
〃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。
〃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 i