Scio Domine, et vere scio . . . quia non sum dignus accedere ad
tantum mysterium propter nimia peccata mea et infinitas
negligentias meas. Sed scio . . . quia tu potes me facere dignum.



CHAPTER VI



"Anytus and Meletus can kill me, but they cannot hurt me," said
Socrates; and Governor Sancho, with all the itch of newly-acquired
authority, could not make the young weaver of steel-heads for
lances sleep in prison. In the Vision of Er the souls passed
straight forward under the throne of necessity, and out into the
plains of forgetfulness, where they must severally drink of the
river of unmindfulness whose waters cannot be held in any vessel.
The throne, the plain, and the river are still here, but in the
distance rise the great lone heavenward hills, and the wise among
us no longer ask of the gods Lethe, but rather remembrance.
Necessity can set me helpless on my back, but she cannot keep me
there; nor can four walls limit my vision. I pass out from under
her throne into the garden of God a free man, to my ultimate
beatitude or my exceeding shame. All day long this world lies open
to me; ay, and other worlds also, if I will but have it so; and
when night comes I pass into the kingdom and power of the dark.

I lie through the long hours and watch my bridge, which is set with