no,itwasallreal-arealityhehadneverbeforeexperienced.

inthepurpleairgleamedthebrightstar,anditsbeamsfelluponhimanduponthemarblepsyche.hetrembledashelookedatthatpictureofimmortality,andhisglanceseemedimpuretohim.hethrewtheclothoverthestatue,andthentoucheditoncemoretounveiltheform-buthewasnotabletolookagainathisownwork.

gloomy,quiet,absorbedinhisownthoughts,hesattherethroughthelongday;heheardnothingofwhatwasgoingonaroundhim,andnomanguessedwhatwaspassinginthishumansoul.

anddaysandweekswentby,butthenightspassedmoreslowlythanthedays.theflashingstarbeheldhimonemorningasherose,paleandtremblingwithfever,fromhissadcouch;thenhesteppedtowardsthestatue,threwbackthecovering,tookonelong,sorrowfulgazeathiswork,andthen,almostsinkingbeneaththeburden,hedraggedthestatueoutintothegarden.inthatplacewasanolddrywell,nownothingbutahole.intothishecastthepsyche,threwearthinaboveher,andcoveredupthespotwithtwigsandnettles.

"away!begone!"suchwastheshortepitaphhespoke.

thestarbeheldallthisfromthepinkmorningsky,anditsbeamtrembledupontwogreattearsuponthepalefeverishcheeksoftheyoungman;andsoonitwassaidthathewassickuntodeath,andhelaystretcheduponabedofpain.

theconventbrotherignatiusvisitedhimasaphysicianandafriend,andbroughthimwordsofcomfort,ofreligion,andspoketohimofthepeaceandhappinessofthechurch,ofthesinfulnessofman,ofrestandmercytobefoundinheaven.

andthewordsfelllikewarmsunbeamsuponateemingsoil.thesoilsmokedandsentupcloudsofmist,fantasticpictures,picturesinwhichtherewasreality;andfromthesefloatingislandshelookedacrossathumanlife.hefounditvanityanddelusion-andvanityanddelusionithadbeentohim.theytoldhimthatartwasasorcerer,betrayingustovanityandtoearthlylusts;thatwearefalsetoourselves,unfaithfultoourfriends,unfaithfultowardsheaven;andthattheserpentwasalwaysrepeatingwithinus,"eat,andthoushaltbecomeasgod."

anditappearedtohimasifnow,forthefirsttime,heknewhimself,andhadfoundthewaythatleadstotruthandtopeace.inthechurchwasthelightandthebrightnessofgod-inthemonk'scellheshouldfindtherestthroughwhichthetreeofhumanlifemightgrowonintoeternity.

brotherignatiusstrengthenedhislongings,andthedeterminationbecamefirmwithinhim.achildoftheworldbecameaservantofthechurch-theyoungartistrenouncedtheworld,andretiredintothecloister.

thebrotherscameforwardaffectionatelytowelcomehim,andhisinaugurationwasasasundayfeast.heavenseemedtohimtodwellinthesunshineofthechurch,andtobeamuponhimfromtheholypicturesandfromthecross.andwhen,intheevening,atthesunsethour,hestoodinhislittlecell,and,openingthewindow,lookedoutuponoldrome,uponthedesolatedtemples,andthegreatdeadcoliseum-whenhesawallthisinitsspringgarb,whentheacaciasbloomed,andtheivywasfresh,androsesburstfortheverywhere,andthecitronandorangewereintheheightoftheirbeauty,andthepalmtreeswavedtheirbranches-thenhefeltadeeperemotionthanhadeveryetthrilledthroughhim.thequietopencampagnaspreaditselfforthtowardsthebluesnow-coveredmountains,whichseemedtobepaintedintheair;alltheoutlinesmeltingintoeachother,breathingpeaceandbeauty,floating,dreaming-andallappearinglikeadream!