the more did my own small glimmering turn back upon myself, and
inwardly burn fiercely while all without was darker than ever. But
if any one who shone more brightly would have kindly given me of his
light, then did my inward flame burst forth to destroy him. But the
flame passed through the light and harmed it not; it shone only the
more brightly, while I was withered and exhausted. And once upon a
time I met a little smiling child, who played with a cross of palm
branches, and wore a beamy coronet around his golden locks. He took
me kindly by the hand and said, 'My friend, you are now very gloomy
and sad, but if you will become a child again, even as I am, you
will have a bright circlet such as I have.' When I heard that, I
was so angry with myself and with the child, that I was scorched by
my inward fire. Now would I fain fly up to the sun to fetch rays
from him, but the rays drove me back with these words:

'Return thither whence thou camest, thou dark fire of envy, for the
sun lightens only in love; the greedy earth, indeed, sometimes turns
his mild light into scorching fire. Fly back, then, for with thy
like alone must thou dwell.' I fell, and when I recovered myself I
was glimmering coldly above the stagnant waters."

While they were talking the Child had fallen asleep, for he knew
nothing of the world nor of men, and he could make nothing of their
stories. Weariness had spoken a more intelligible language to him--
THAT he understood, and he had fallen asleep.



CHAPTER XII.