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veiled in flesh； her soul shone through that veil； which grew more and
more transparent day by day。 The progress of the Spirit； piercing the
last obstacle between itself and the Infinite； was called an illness；
the hour of Life went by the name of death。 David wept as he watched
her sufferings； unreasonable as a child； he would not listen to his
mistress's consolations。 Monsieur Becker wished Seraphita to try
remedies； but all were useless。
One morning she sent for the two beings whom she loved； telling them
that this would be the last of her bad days。 Wilfrid and Minna came in
terror； knowing well that they were about to lose her。 Seraphita
smiled to them as one departing to a better world； her head drooped
like a flower heavy with dew； which opens its calyx for the last time
to waft its fragrance on the breeze。 She looked at these friends with
a sadness that was for them； not for herself； she thought no longer of
herself； and they felt this with a grief mingled with gratitude which
they were unable to express。 Wilfrid stood silent and motionless； lost
in thoughts excited by events whose vast bearings enabled him to
conceive of some illimitable immensity。
Emboldened by the weakness of the being lately so powerful； or perhaps
by the fear of losing him forever； Minna bent down over the couch and
said； 〃Seraphitus； let me follow thee！〃
〃Can I forbid thee？〃
〃Why will thou not love me enough to stay with me？〃
〃I can love nothing here。〃
〃What canst thou love？〃
〃Heaven。〃
〃Is it worthy of heaven to despise the creatures of God？〃
〃Minna； can we love two beings at once？ Would our beloved be indeed
our beloved if he did not fill our hearts？ Must he not be the first；
the last； the only one？ She who is all love； must she not leave the
world for her beloved？ Human ties are but a memory； she has no ties
except to him！ Her soul is hers no longer； it is his。 If she keeps
within her soul anything that is not his； does she love？ No； she loves
not。 To love feebly； is that to love at all？ The voice of her beloved
makes her joyful； it flows through her veins in a crimson tide more
glowing far than blood； his glance is the light that penetrates her；
her being melts into his being。 He is warm to her soul。 He is the
light that lightens； near to him there is neither cold nor darkness。
He is never absent； he is always with us； we think in him； to him； by
him！ Minna； that is how I love him。〃
〃Love whom？〃 said Minna； tortured with sudden jealousy。
〃God；〃 replied Seraphitus； his voice glowing in their souls like fires
of liberty from peak to peak upon the mountains；〃God； who does not
betray us！ God； who will never abandon us！ who crowns our wishes； who
satisfies His creatures with joyjoy unalloyed and infinite！ God； who
never wearies but ever smiles！ God； who pours into the soul fresh
treasures day by day； who purifies and leaves no bitterness； who is
all harmony； all flame！ God； who has placed Himself within our hearts
to blossom there； who hearkens to our prayers； who does not stand
aloof when we are His； but gives His presence absolutely！ He who
revives us； magnifies us； and multiplies us in Himself； GOD！ Minna； I
love thee because thou mayst be His！ I love thee because if thou come
to Him thou wilt be mine。〃
〃Lead me to Him；〃 cried Minna； kneeling down； 〃take me by the hand； I
will not leave thee！〃
〃Lead us； Seraphita！〃 cried Wilfrid； coming to Minna's side with an
impetuous movement。 〃Yes； thou hast given me a thirst for Light； a
thirst for the Word。 I am parched with the Love thou hast put into my
heart； I desire to keep thy soul in mine； thy will is mine； I will do
whatsoever thou biddest me。 Since I cannot obtain thee； I will keep
thy will and all the thoughts that thou hast given me。 If I may not
unite myself with thee except by the power of my spirit； I will cling
to thee in soul as the flame to what it laps。 Speak！〃
〃Angel！〃 exclaimed the mysterious being； enfolding them both in one
glance； as it were with an azure mantle； 〃Heaven shall by thine
heritage！〃
Silence fell among them after these words； which sounded in the souls
of the man and of the woman like the first notes of some celestial
harmony。
〃If you would teach your feet to tread the Path to heaven； know that
the way is hard at first；〃 said the weary sufferer； 〃God wills that
you shall seek Him for Himself。 In that sense； He is jealous； He
demands your whole self。 But when you have given Him yourself； never；
never will He abandon you。 I leave with you the keys of the kingdom of
His Light； where evermore you shall dwell in the bosom of the Father；
in the heart of the Bridegroom。 No sentinels guard the approaches； you
may enter where you will； His palaces； His treasures； His sceptre； all
are free。 'Take them！' He says。 Butyou must WILL to go there。 Like
one preparing for a journey； a man must leave his home； renounce his
projects； bid farewell to friends； to father； mother； sister； even to
the helpless brother who cries after him；yes； farewell to them
eternally； you will no more return than did the martyrs on their way
to the stake。 You must strip yourself of every sentiment； of
everything to which man clings。 Unless you do this you are but half…
hearted in your enterprise。
〃Do for God what you do for your ambitious projects； what you do in
consecrating yourself to Art； what you have done when you loved a
human creature or sought some secret of human science。 Is not God the
whole of science； the all of love； the source of poetry？ Surely His
riches are worthy of being coveted！ His treasure is inexhaustible； His
poem infinite； His love immutable； His science sure and darkened by no
mysteries。 Be anxious for nothing； He will give you all。 Yes； in His
heart are treasures with which the petty joys you lose on earth are
not to be compared。 What I tell you is true； you shall possess His
power； you may use it as you would use the gifts of lover or mistress。
Alas！ men doubt； they lack faith； and will； and persistence。 If some
set their feet in the path； they look behind them and presently turn
back。 Few decide between the two extremes；to go or stay； heaven or
the mire。 All hesitate。 Weakness leads astray； passion allures into
dangerous paths； vice becomes habitual； man flounders in the mud and
makes no progress towards a better state。
〃All human beings go through a previous life in the sphere of
Instinct； where they are brought to see the worthlessness of earthly
treasures； to amass which they gave themselves such untold pains！ Who
can tell how many times the human being lives in the sphere of
Instinct before he is prepared to enter the sphere of Abstractions；
where thought expends itself on erring science； where mind wearies at
last of human language？ for； when Matter is exhausted； Spirit enters。
Who knows how many fleshly forms the heir of heaven occupies before he
can be brought to understand the value of