could believe all thou sayest! ... but alas!--I cannot. We have
progressed too far in knowledge, my friend, for faith. ... yet..."
He hesitated a moment, then with a touch of caressing entreaty in
his tone went on. ... "Thinkest thou in very truth that I shall
live again? For I confess to thee, it seems beyond all things
strange and terrible to feel that this genius of mine,--this
spirit of melody which inhabits my frame, should perish utterly
without further scope for its abilities. There have been moments
when my soul, ravished by inspiration, has, as it were, seized
Earth like a full goblet of wine, and quaffed its beauties, its
pleasures, its loves, its glories all in one burning draught of
song! ... when I have stood in thought on the shadowy peaks of
time, waiting for other worlds to string like beads on my thread
of poesy,--when wondrous creatures habited in light and wreathed
with stars have floated round and round me in rosy circles of
fire,--and once, methought ... 'twas long ago now--I heard a Voice
distinct and sweet that called me upward, onward and away, I know
not where,--save that a hidden Love awaited me!" He broke off with
a rapt almost angelic expression in his eyes, then sighing a
little he resumed: "All dreams of course! ... vague phantoms,--
creations of my own imaginative brain,--yet fair enough to fill my
heart with speechless longings for ethereal raptures unseen,
unknown! Thou hast, methinks, a certain faith in the unsolved
mysteries,--but I have none,--for sweet as the promise of a future
life may seem, there is no proof that it shall ever be. If one
died and rose again from the dead, then might we all believe and
hope.. but otherwise ..."

Oh, miserable Theos!--What would he not have given to utter aloud
the burning knowledge that ate into his mind like slow-devouring