Lilith
Lilith Lilith
"We have been to the top of the hill to hear the waters on their way," he said. "They will be in the den of the monsters to−night.−− But why did you not await our return?" "My child could not sleep," I answered. "She is fast asleep!" he rejoined. "Yes, now!" I said; "but she was awake when I laid her down." "She was asleep all the time!" he insisted. "She was perhaps dreaming about you−−and came to you?" "She did." "And did you not see that her eyes were closed?" "Now I think of it, I did." "If you had looked ere you laid her down, you would have seen her asleep on the couch." "That would have been terrible!" "You would only have found that she was no longer in your arms." "That would have been worse!" "It is, perhaps, to think of; but to see it would not have troubled you." "Dear father," I said, "how is it that I am not sleepy? I thought I should go to sleep like the Little Ones the moment I laid my head down!" "Your hour is not quite come. You must have food ere you sleep." "Ah, I ought not to have lain down without your leave, for I cannot sleep without your help! I will get up at once!" But I found my own weight more than I could move. "There is no need: we will serve you here," he answered. "−−You do not feel cold, do you?" "Not too cold to lie still, but perhaps too cold to eat!" Lilith He came to the side of my couch, bent over me, and breathed on my heart. At once I was warm. As he left me, I heard a voice, and knew it was the Mother's. She was singing, and her song was sweet and soft and low, and I thought she sat by my bed in the dark; but ere it ceased, her song soared aloft, and seemed to come from the throat of a woman−angel, high above all the region of larks, higher than man had ever yet lifted up his heart. I heard every word she sang, but could keep only this:−− "Many a wrong, and its curing song; Many a road, and many an inn; Room to roam, but only one home For all the world to win!" Lilith 146
and I thought I had heard the song before. Then the three came to my couch together, bringing me bread and wine, and I sat up to partake of it. Adam stood on one side of me, Eve and Mara on the other. "You are good indeed, father Adam, mother Eve, sister Mara," I said, "to receive me! In my soul I am ashamed and sorry!" "We knew you would come again!" answered Eve. "How could you know it?" I returned. "Because here was I, born to look after my brothers and sisters!" answered Mara with a smile. "Every creature must one night yield himself and lie down," answered Adam: "he was made for liberty, and must not be left a slave!" "It will be late, I fear, ere all have lain down!" I said. "There is no early or late here," he rejoined. "For him the true time then first begins who lays himself down. Men are not coming home fast; women are coming faster. A desert, wide and dreary, parts him who lies down to die from him who lies down to live. The former may well make haste, but here is no haste." "To our eyes," said Eve, "you were coming all the time: we knew Mara would find you, and you must come!" "How long is it since my father lay down?" I asked. "I have told you that years are of no consequence in this house," answered Adam; "we do not heed them. Your father will wake when his morning comes. Your mother, next to whom you are lying,−−−−" "Ah, then, it IS my mother!" I exclaimed. "Yes−−she with the wounded hand," he assented; "−−she will be up and away long ere your morning is ripe." "I am sorry." "Rather be glad." "It must be a sight for God Himself to see such a woman come awake!" "It is indeed a sight for God, a sight that makes her Maker glad! He sees of the travail of His soul, and is satisfied!−−Look at her once more, and sleep." He let the rays of his candle fall on her beautiful face. "She looks much younger!" I said. "She IS much younger," he replied. "Even Lilith already begins to look younger!" I lay down, blissfully drowsy. Lilith Lilith 147
- Page 97 and 98: Then at last I understood that Mr.
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- Page 119 and 120: CHAPTER XXXVII. THE SHADOW A murmur
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and I thought I had heard the song before.<br />
Then the three came to my couch together, bringing me bread and wine, and I sat up to partake of it. Adam<br />
stood on one side of me, Eve and Mara on the other.<br />
"You are good indeed, father Adam, mother Eve, sister Mara," I said, "to receive me! In my soul I am<br />
ashamed and sorry!"<br />
"We knew you would come again!" answered Eve.<br />
"How could you know it?" I returned.<br />
"Because here was I, born to look after my brothers and sisters!" answered Mara with a smile.<br />
"Every creature must one night yield himself and lie down," answered Adam: "he was made for liberty, and<br />
must not be left a slave!"<br />
"It will be late, I fear, ere all have lain down!" I said.<br />
"There is no early or late here," he rejoined. "For him the true time then first begins who lays himself down.<br />
Men are not coming home fast; women are coming faster. A desert, wide and dreary, parts him who lies<br />
down to die from him who lies down to live. The former may well make haste, but here is no haste."<br />
"To our eyes," said Eve, "you were coming all the time: we knew Mara would find you, and you must come!"<br />
"How long is it since my father lay down?" I asked.<br />
"I have told you that years are of no consequence in this house," answered Adam; "we do not heed them.<br />
Your father will wake when his morning comes. Your mother, next to whom you are lying,−−−−"<br />
"Ah, then, it IS my mother!" I exclaimed.<br />
"Yes−−she with the wounded hand," he assented; "−−she will be up and away long ere your morning is ripe."<br />
"I am sorry."<br />
"Rather be glad."<br />
"It must be a sight for God Himself to see such a woman come awake!"<br />
"It is indeed a sight for God, a sight that makes her Maker glad! He sees of the travail of His soul, and is<br />
satisfied!−−Look at her once more, and sleep."<br />
He let the rays of his candle fall on her beautiful face.<br />
"She looks much younger!" I said.<br />
"She IS much younger," he replied. "Even <strong>Lilith</strong> already begins to look younger!"<br />
I lay down, blissfully drowsy.<br />
<strong>Lilith</strong><br />
<strong>Lilith</strong> 147
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