yes,thisworldwasadream,andthedreamlastsforhours,andmayreturnforhours;butconventlifeisalifeofyears-longyears,andmanyyears.

fromwithincomesmuchthatrendersmensinfulandimpure.hefullyrealizedthetruthofthis.whatflamesaroseupinhimattimes!whatasourceofevil,ofthatwhichwewouldnot,welledupcontinually!hemortifiedhisbody,buttheevilcamefromwithin.

oneday,afterthelapseofmanyyears,hemetangelo,whorecognizedhim.

"man!"exclaimedangelo."yes,itisthou!artthouhappynow?thouhastsinnedagainstgod,andcastawayhisboonfromthee-hastneglectedthymissioninthisworld!readtheparableoftheintrustedtalent!themaster,whospokethatparable,spokethetruth!whathastthougained?whathastthoufound?dostthounotfashionforthyselfareligionandadreamylifeafterthineownidea,asalmostalldo?supposeallthisisadream,afairdelusion!"

"gettheeawayfromme,satan!"saidthemonk;andhequittedangelo.

"thereisadevil,apersonaldevil!thisdayihaveseenhim!"saidthemonktohimself."onceiextendedafingertohim,andhetookmywholehand.butnow,"hesighed,"theeviliswithinme,anditisinyonderman;butitdoesnotbowhimdown;hegoesabroadwithheaderect,andenjoyshiscomfort;andigraspedatcomfortintheconsolationsofreligion.ifitwerenothingbutaconsolation?supposingeverythingherewere,liketheworldihavequitted,onlyabeautifulfancy,adelusionlikethebeautyoftheeveningclouds,likethemistyblueofthedistanthills!-whenyouapproachthem,theyareverydifferent!oeternity!thouactestlikethegreatcalmocean,thatbeckonsus,andfillsuswithexpectation-andwhenweembarkuponthee,wesink,disappear,andceasetobe.delusion!awaywithit!begone!"

andtearless,butsunkinbitterreflection,hesatuponhishardcouch,andthenkneltdown-beforewhom?beforethestonecrossfastenedtothewall?no,itwasonlyhabitthatmadehimtakethisposition.

themoredeeplyhelookedintohisownheart,theblackerdidthedarknessseem.-"nothingwithin,nothingwithout-thislifesquanderiedandcastaway!"andthisthoughtrolledandgrewlikeasnowball,untilitseemedtocrushhim.

"icanconfidemygriefstonone.imayspeaktononeofthegnawingwormwithin.mysecretismyprisoner;ifiletthecaptiveescape,ishallbehis!"

andthegodlikepowerthatdweltwithinhimsufferedandstrove.

"olord,mylord!"hecried,inhisdespair,"bemercifulandgrantmefaith.ithrewawaythegiftthouhadstvouchsafedtome,ileftmymissionunfulfilled.ilackedstrength,andstrengththoudidstnotgiveme.immortality-thepsycheinmybreast-awaywithit!-itshallbeburiedlikethatpsyche,thebestgleamofmylife;neverwillitariseoutofitsgrave!"

thestarglowedintheroseateair,thestarthatshallsurelybeextinguishedandpassawaywhilethesoulstillliveson;itstremblingbeamfelluponthewhitewall,butitwrotenothingthereuponbeingmadeperfectingod,nothingofthehopeofmercy,oftherelianceonthedivinelovethatthrillsthroughtheheartofthebeliever.

"thepsychewithincanneverdie.shallitliveinconsciousness?cantheincomprehensiblehappen?yes,yes.mybeingisincomprehensible.thouartunfathomable,olord.thywholeworldisincomprehensible-awonder-workofpower,ofgloryandoflove."

hiseyesgleamed,andthenclosedindeath.thetollingofthechurchbellwasthelastsoundthatechoedabovehim,abovethedeadman;andtheyburiedhim,coveringhimwithearththathadbeenbroughtfromjerusalem,andinwhichwasmingledthedustofmanyofthepiousdead.

whenyearshadgonebyhisskeletonwasdugup,astheskeletonsofthemonkswhohaddiedbeforehimhadbeen;itwascladinabrownfrock,arosarywasputintothebonyhand,andtheformwasplacedamongtheranksofotherskeletonsinthecloistersoftheconvent.andthesunshonewithout,whilewithinthecenserswerewavedandthemasswascelebrated.

andyearsrolledby.

thebonesfellasunderandbecamemingledwithothers.skullswerepileduptilltheyformedanouterwallaroundthechurch;andtherelayalsohisheadintheburningsun,formanydeadwerethere,andnooneknewtheirnames,andhisnamewasforgottenalso.andsee,somethingwasmovinginthesunshine,inthesightlesscavernouseyes!