wider。 〃Tell me；〃 whispered the old man； 〃tell me quickly； for I
must go。〃
The voice sank into a dull rattle。 The fingers closed
once more； and relaxed。 The light behind the eyes went out。
Hermas； the master of the House of the Golden Pillars； was
keeping watch by the dead。
IV
The break with the old life was as clean as if it had been cut
with a knife。 Some faint image of a hermit's cell； a bare
lodging in a back street of Antioch； a class…room full of
earnest students； remained in Hermas' memory。 Some dull echo
of the voice of John the Presbyter； and the measured sound of
chanting； and the murmur of great congregations； still
lingered in his ears； but it was like something that had
happened to another person； something that he had read long
ago； but of which he had lost the meaning。
His new life was full and smooth and richtoo rich for
any sense of loss to make itself felt。 There were a hundred
affairs to busy him； and the days ran swiftly by as if they were
shod with winged sandals。
Nothing needed to be considered； prepared for； begun。
Everything was ready and waiting for him。 All that he had to
do was to go on。
The estate of Demetrius was even greater than the world
had supposed。 There were fertile lands in Syria which the
emperor had given him； marble…quarries in Phrygia； and forests
of valuable timber in Cilicia； the vaults of the villa
contained chests of gold and silver； the secret cabinets in
the master's room were full of precious stones。 The stewards
were diligent and faithful。 The servants of the household
rejoiced at the young master's return。 His table was spread；
the rose…garland of pleasure was woven for his head； his cup
was overflowing with the spicy wine of power。
The period of mourning for his father came at a fortunate
moment to seclude and safeguard him from the storm of
political troubles and persecutions that fell upon Antioch
after the insults offered by the people to the imperial
statues in the year 387。 The friends of Demetrius； prudent and
conservative persons； gathered around Hermas and made him welcome
to their circle。 Chief among them was Libanius； the sophist； his
nearest neighbour； whose daughter Athenais had been the playmate
of Hermas in the old days。
He had left her a child。 He found her a beautiful woman。
What transformation is so magical； so charming； as this？ To
see the uncertain lines of youth rounded into firmness and
symmetry； to discover the half…ripe； merry； changing face of
the girl matured into perfect loveliness； and looking at you
with calm； clear； serious eyes； not forgetting the past； but
fully conscious of the changed presentthis is to behold a
miracle in the flesh。
〃Where have you been； these two years？〃 said Athenais； as
they walked together through the garden of lilies where they
had so often played。
〃In a land of tiresome dreams；〃 answered Hermas； 〃but you
have wakened me； and I am never going back again。〃
It was not to be supposed that the sudden disappearance of
Hermas from among his former associates could long remain
unnoticed。 At first it was a mystery。 There was a fear； for two
or three days； that he might be lost。 Some of his more intimate
companions maintained that his devotion had led him out into the
desert to join the anchorites。 But the news of his return to the
House of the Golden Pillars； and of his new life as its
master； filtered quickly through the gossip of the city。
Then the church was filled with dismay and grief and
reproach。 Messengers and letters were sent to Hermas。 They
disturbed him a little； but they took no hold upon him。 It
seemed to him as if the messengers spoke in a strange
language。 As he read the letters there were words blotted out
of the writing which made the full sense unintelligible。
His old companions came to reprove him for leaving them；
to warn him of the peril of apostasy； to entreat him to
return。 It all sounded vague and futile。 They spoke as if he
had betrayed or offended some one； but when they came to name
the object of his fearthe one whom he had displeased； and to
whom he should returnhe heard nothing； there was a blur of
silence in their speech。 The clock pointed to the hour； but the
bell did not strike。 At last Hermas refused to see them any
more。
One day John the Presbyter stood in the atrium。 Hermas
was entertaining Libanius and Athenais in the banquet…hall。
When the visit of the Presbyter was announced； the young
master loosed a collar of gold and jewels from his neck； and
gave it to his scribe。
〃Take this to John of Antioch； and tell him it is a gift
from his former pupilas a token of remembrance； or to spend
for the poor of the city。 I will always send him what he
wants； but it is idle for us to talk together any more。 I do
not understand what he says。 I have not gone to the temple；
nor offered sacrifice； nor denied his teaching。 I have simply
forgotten。 I do not think about those things any longer。 I
am only living。 A happy man wishes him all happiness and
farewell。〃
But John let the golden collar fall on the marble floor。
〃Tell your master that we shall talk together again； in due
time；〃 said he； as he passed sadly out of
the hall。
The love of Athenais and Hermas was like a tiny rivulet
that sinks out of sight in a cavern； but emerges again a
bright and brimming stream。 The careless comradery of
childhood was mysteriously changed into a complete
companionship。
When Athenais entered the House of the Golden Pillars as
a bride； all the music of life came with her。 Hermas called
the feast of her welcome 〃the banquet of the full chord。〃 Day
after day； night after night； week after week； month after
month； the bliss of the home unfolded like a rose of a
thousand leaves。 When a child came to them； a strong；
beautiful boy； worthy to be the heir of such a house； the
heart of the rose was filled with overflowing fragrance。
Happiness was heaped upon happiness。 Every wish brought its
own accomplishment。 Wealth； honour； beauty； peace； loveit
was an abundance of felicity so great that the soul of Hermas
could hardly contain it。
Strangely enough； it began to press upon him； to trouble
him with the very excess of joy。 He felt as if there were
something yet needed to complete and secure it all。 There was an
urgency within him； a longing to find some outlet for his
feelings； he knew not howsome expression and culmination of his
happiness； he knew not what。
Under his joyous demeanour a secret fire of restlessness
began to burnan expectancy of something yet to come which
should put the touch of perfection on his life。 He spoke of
it to Athenais； as they sat together； one summer evening； in
a bower of jasmine； with their boy playing at their feet。
There had been music in the garden； but now the singers and
lute…players had withdrawn； leaving the master and mistress
alone in the lingering twilight； tremulous with inarticulate
melody of unseen birds。 There was a secret voice in the hour
seeking vainly for utterance a word waiting to be spoken。
〃How deep is our happiness； my beloved！〃 said Hermas；
〃deeper than the sea that slumbers yonder； below the city。
And yet it is not quite full and perfect。 There is a depth of
joy that we have not yet knowna repose of happiness that is
still beyond us。 What is it？ I have no superstitions； like the
king who cast his signet…ring into the sea because he dreaded
that some secret vengeance would fall on his unbroken good
fortune。 That was an idle terror。 But there is something
that oppresses me like an invisible burden。 There is
something still undone； unspoken； unfeltsomething that we
need to complete everything。 Have you not felt it； too？ Can
you not lead me to it？〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered； lifting her eyes to his face； 〃I；
too； have felt it； Hermas； this burden； this need； this
unsatisfied longing。 I think I know what it means。 It is
gratitudethe language of the heart； the music of happiness。
There is no perfect joy without gratitude。 But we have never
learned it； and the want of it troubles us。 It is like being
dumb with a heart full of love。 We must find the word for it；
and say it together。 Then we shall be perfectly joined in
perfect joy。 Come； my dear lord； let us take the boy with us；
and give thanks。〃
Hermas lifted the child in his arms； and turned with
Athenais into the depth of the garden。 There was a dismantled
shrine of some forgotten fashion of worship half…hidden among the
luxuriant flowers。 A fallen image lay beside it； face downward
in the grass。 They stood there； hand in hand； the boy drowsily
resting on his father's shoulder。
Silently the roseate light caressed the tall spires of the
cypress…trees； silently the shadows gathered at their feet；
silently the tranquil stars looked out from the deepening arch
of heaven。 The very breath of being paused。 It was the hour
of culmination； the supreme moment of felicity waiting for its
crown。 The tones of Hermas were clear and low as he began；
half…speaking and half…chanting； in the rhythm of an ancient
song：
〃Fair is the world； the sea； the sky； the double kingdom
of day and night； in the glow of morning； in the shadow of
evening； and under the dripping light of stars。
〃Fairer still is life in our breasts； with its manifold
music and meaning； with its wonder of seeing and hearing and
feeling and knowing and being。
〃Fairer and still more fair is love； that draws us together；
mingles our lives in its flow； and bears them along like a river；
strong and clear and swift； reflecting the stars in its bosom。
〃Wide is our world； we are rich； we have all things。 Life
is abundant within usa measureless deep。 Deepest of all is
our love； and it longs to speak。
〃Come； thou final word； Come； thou crown of speech！ Come；
thou charm of peace！ Open the gates of our hearts。 Lift the
weight of our joy and bear it upward。
〃For all good gifts； for all perfect gifts； for love； for
life； for the world； we praise； we bless； we thank〃
As a soaring bird； struck by an arrow； falls headlong from
the sky； so the song of Hermas fell。 At the end of his flight
of gratitude there