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art strong。
〃The hour is come； the hour when the effulgent lights of the future
cast their reflections backward on the soul； the hour when the soul
awakes into freedom。
〃Now am I permitted to tell thee how I love thee。 Dost thou not see
the nature of my love； a love without self…interest； a sentiment full
of thee； thee only； a love which follows thee into the future to light
that future for theefor it is the one True Light。 Canst thou now
conceive with what ardor I would have thee leave this life which
weighs thee down； and behold thee nearer than thou art to that world
where Love is never…failing？ Can it be aught but suffering to love for
one life only？ Hast thou not felt a thirst for the eternal love？ Dost
thou not feel the bliss to which a creature rises when； with twin…
soul； it loves the Being who betrays not love； Him before whom we
kneel in adoration？
〃Would I had wings to cover thee； Wilfrid； power to give thee strength
to enter now into that world where all the purest joys of purest
earthly attachments are but shadows in the Light that shines；
unceasing； to illumine and rejoice all hearts。
〃Forgive a friendly soul for showing thee the picture of thy sins； in
the charitable hope of soothing the sharp pangs of thy remorse。 Listen
to the pardoning choir； refresh thy soul in the dawn now rising for
thee beyond the night of death。 Yes； thy life； thy true life is there！
〃May my words now reach thee clothed in the glorious forms of dreams；
may they deck themselves with images glowing and radiant as they hover
round you。 Rise； rise； to the height where men can see themselves
distinctly； pressed together though they be like grains of sand upon a
sea…shore。 Humanity rolls out like a many…colored ribbon。 See the
diverse shades of that flower of the celestial gardens。 Behold the
beings who lack intelligence； those who begin to receive it； those who
have passed through trials； those who love； those who follow wisdom
and aspire to the regions of Light！
〃Canst thou comprehend； through this thought made visible； the destiny
of humanity？whence it came； whither to goeth？ Continue steadfast in
the Path。 Reaching the end of thy journey thou shalt hear the clarions
of omnipotence sounding the cries of victory in chords of which a
single one would shake the earth； but which are lost in the spaces of
a world that hath neither east nor west。
〃Canst thou comprehend； my poor beloved Tried…one； that unless the
torpor and the veils of sleep had wrapped thee； such sights would rend
and bear away thy mind as the whirlwinds rend and carry into space the
feeble sails； depriving thee forever of thy reason？ Dost thou
understand that the Soul itself； raised to its utmost power can
scarcely endure in dreams the burning communications of the Spirit？
〃Speed thy way through the luminous spheres； behold； admire； hasten！
Flying thus thou canst pause or advance without weariness。 Like other
men； thou wouldst fain be plunged forever in these spheres of light
and perfume where now thou art； free of thy swooning body； and where
thy thought alone has utterance。 Fly！ enjoy for a fleeting moment the
wings thou shalt surely win when Love has grown so perfect in thee
that thou hast no senses left； when thy whole being is all mind； all
love。 The higher thy flight the less canst thou see the abysses。 There
are none in heaven。 Look at the friend who speaks to thee； she who
holds thee above this earth in which are all abysses。 Look； behold；
contemplate me yet a moment longer； for never again wilt thou see me；
save imperfectly as the pale twilight of this world may show me to
thee。〃
Seraphita stood erect； her head with floating hair inclining gently
forward； in that aerial attitude which great painters give to
messengers from heaven； the folds of her raiment fell with the same
unspeakable grace which holds an artistthe man who translates all
things into sentimentbefore the exquisite well…known lines of
Polyhymnia's veil。 Then she stretched forth her hand。 Wilfrid rose。
When he looked at Seraphita she was lying on the bear's…skin； her head
resting on her hand； her face calm； her eyes brilliant。 Wilfrid gazed
at her silently； but his face betrayed a deferential fear in its
almost timid expression。
〃Yes； dear；〃 he said at last； as though he were answering some
question； 〃we are separated by worlds。 I resign myself； I can only
adore you。 But what will become of me； poor and alone！〃
〃Wilfrid； you have Minna。〃
He shook his head。
〃Do not be so disdainful； woman understands all things through love；
what she does not understand she feels； what she does not feel she
sees； when she neither sees； nor feels； nor understands； this angel of
earth divines to protect you； and hides her protection beneath the
grace of love。〃
〃Seraphita； am I worthy to belong to a woman？〃
〃Ah； now；〃 she said； smiling； 〃you are suddenly very modest； is it a
snare？ A woman is always so touched to see her weakness glorified。
Well； come and take tea with me the day after to…morrow evening； good
Monsieur Becker will be here； and Minna； the purest and most artless
creature I have known on earth。 Leave me now； my friend； I need to
make long prayers and expiate my sins。〃
〃You； can you commit sin？〃
〃Poor friend！ if we abuse our power； is not that the sin of pride？ I
have been very proud to…day。 Now leave me； till to…morrow。〃
〃Till to…morrow；〃 said Wilfrid faintly； casting a long glance at the
being of whom he desired to carry with him an ineffaceable memory。
Though he wished to go far away； he was held； as it were； outside the
house for some moments； watching the light which shone from all the
windows of the Swedish dwelling。
〃What is the matter with me？〃 he asked himself。 〃No； she is not a mere
creature； but a whole creation。 Of her world； even through veils and
clouds； I have caught echoes like the memory of sufferings healed；
like the dazzling vertigo of dreams in which we hear the plaints of
generations mingling with the harmonies of some higher sphere where
all is Light and all is Love。 Am I awake？ Do I still sleep？ Are these
the eyes before which the luminous space retreated further and further
indefinitely while the eyes followed it？ The night is cold； yet my
head is on fire。 I will go to the parsonage。 With the pastor and his
daughter I shall recover the balance of my mind。〃
But still he did not leave the spot whence his eyes could plunge into
Seraphita's salon。 The mysterious creature seemed to him the radiating
centre of a luminous circle which formed an atmosphere about her wider
than that of other beings； whoever entered it felt the compelling
influence of； as it were； a vortex of dazzling light and all consuming
thoughts。 Forced to struggle against this inexplicable power； Wilfrid
only prevailed after strong efforts； but when he reached and passed
the inclosing wall of the courtyard； he regained his fr