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answered Seraphitus。 〃With us； and us alone； Minna； begins the
knowledge of things； the little that we learn of the laws of the
visible world enables us to apprehend the immensity of the worlds
invisible。 I know not if the time has come to speak thus to you； but I
would； ah； I would communicate to you the flame of my hopes！ Perhaps
we may one day be together in the world where Love never dies。〃
〃Why not here and now？〃 she said； murmuring。
〃Nothing is stable here；〃 he said； disdainfully。 〃The passing joys of
earthly love are gleams which reveal to certain souls the coming of
joys more durable； just as the discovery of a single law of nature
leads certain privileged beings to a conception of the system of the
universe。 Our fleeting happiness here below is the forerunning proof
of another and a perfect happiness； just as the earth； a fragment of
the world； attests the universe。 We cannot measure the vast orbit of
the Divine thought of which we are but an atom as small as God is
great； but we can feel its vastness； we can kneel； adore； and wait。
Men ever mislead themselves in science by not perceiving that all
things on their globe are related and co…ordinated to the general
evolution； to a constant movement and production which bring with
them； necessarily； both advancement and an End。 Man himself is not a
finished creation； if he were； God would not Be。〃
〃How is it that in thy short life thou hast found the time to learn so
many things？〃 said the young girl。
〃I remember；〃 he replied。
〃Thou art nobler than all else I see。〃
〃We are the noblest of God's greatest works。 Has He not given us the
faculty of reflecting on Nature； of gathering it within us by thought；
of making it a footstool and stepping…stone from and by which to rise
to Him？ We love according to the greater or the lesser portion of
heaven our souls contain。 But do not be unjust； Minna； behold the
magnificence spread before you。 Ocean expands at your feet like a
carpet； the mountains resemble ampitheatres； heaven's ether is above
them like the arching folds of a stage curtain。 Here we may breathe
the thoughts of God； as it were like a perfume。 See！ the angry billows
which engulf the ships laden with men seem to us； where we are； mere
bubbles； and if we raise our eyes and look above； all there is blue。
Behold that diadem of stars！ Here the tints of earthly impressions
disappear； standing on this nature rarefied by space do you not feel
within you something deeper far than mind； grander than enthusiasm； of
greater energy than will？ Are you not conscious of emotions whose
interpretation is no longer in us？ Do you not feel your pinions？ Let
us pray。〃
Seraphitus knelt down and crossed his hands upon his breast； while
Minna fell； weeping； on her knees。 Thus they remained for a time；
while the azure dome above their heads grew larger and strong rays of
light enveloped them without their knowledge。
〃Why dost thou not weep when I weep？〃 said Minna； in a broken voice。
〃They who are all spirit do not weep；〃 replied Seraphitus rising； 〃Why
should I weep？ I see no longer human wretchedness。 Here； Good appears
in all its majesty。 There； beneath us； I hear the supplications and
the wailings of that harp of sorrows which vibrates in the hands of
captive souls。 Here； I listen to the choir of harps harmonious。 There；
below； is hope； the glorious inception of faith； but here is faithit
reigns； hope realized！〃
〃You will never love me； I am too imperfect； you disdain me；〃 said the
young girl。
〃Minna； the violet hidden at the feet of the oak whispers to itself：
'The sun does not love me； he comes not。' The sun says： 'If my rays
shine upon her she will perish； poor flower。' Friend of the flower； he
sends his beams through the oak leaves； he veils； he tempers them； and
thus they color the petals of his beloved。 I have not veils enough； I
fear lest you see me too closely； you would tremble if you knew me
better。 Listen： I have no taste for earthly fruits。 Your joys； I know
them all too well； and； like the sated emperors of pagan Rome； I have
reached disgust of all things； I have received the gift of vision。
Leave me！ abandon me！〃 he murmured； sorrowfully。
Seraphitus turned and seated himself on a projecting rock； dropping
his head upon his breast。
〃Why do you drive me to despair？〃 said Minna。
〃Go； go！〃 cried Seraphitus； 〃I have nothing that you want of me。 Your
love is too earthly for my love。 Why do you not love Wilfrid？ Wilfrid
is a man； tested by passions； he would clasp you in his vigorous arms
and make you feel a hand both broad and strong。 His hair is black； his
eyes are full of human thoughts； his heart pours lava in every word he
utters； he could kill you with caresses。 Let him be your beloved； your
husband！ Yes； thine be Wilfrid！〃
Minna wept aloud。
〃Dare you say that you do not love him？〃 he went on； in a voice which
pierced her like a dagger。
〃Have mercy； have mercy； my Seraphitus！〃
〃Love him； poor child of Earth to which thy destiny has indissolubly
bound thee；〃 said the strange being； beckoning Minna by a gesture； and
forcing her to the edge of the saeter； whence he pointed downward to a
scene that might well inspire a young girl full of enthusiasm with the
fancy that she stood above this earth。
〃I longed for a companion to the kingdom of Light； I wished to show
you that morsel of mud； I find you bound to it。 Farewell。 Remain on
earth； enjoy through the senses； obey your nature； turn pale with
pallid men； blush with women； sport with children； pray with the
guilty； raise your eyes to heaven when sorrows overtake you； tremble；
hope； throb in all your pulses； you will have a companion； you can
laugh and weep； and give and receive。 I；I am an exile； far from
heaven； a monster； far from earth。 I live of myself and by myself。 I
feel by the spirit； I breathe through my brow； I see by thought； I die
of impatience and of longing。 No one here below can fulfil my desires
or calm my griefs。 I have forgotten how to weep。 I am alone。 I resign
myself； and I wait。〃
Seraphitus looked at the flowery mound on which he had seated Minna；
then he turned and faced the frowning heights； whose pinnacles were
wrapped in clouds； to them he cast； unspoken； the remainder of his
thoughts。
〃Minna； do you hear those delightful strains？〃 he said after a pause；
with the voice of a dove； for the eagle's cry was hushed； 〃it is like
the music of those Eolian harps your poets hang in forests and on the
mountains。 Do you see the shadowy figures passing among the clouds；
the winged feet of those who are making ready the gifts of heaven？
They bring refreshment to the soul； the skies are about to open and
shed the flowers of spring upon the earth。 See； a gleam is darting
from the pole。 Let us fly； let us fly！ It is time we go！〃
In a moment their skees were refastened； and the pair descended the
Falberg by the steep