perfection and the light of the Beatific Vision. "Know thyself" is
a vain legend, the more so when emphasised by a skull; and so I
company with a friend and a stranger, and looking across at the
white gate I wonder concerning the quiet pastures and still waters
that lie beyond, even as Brother Ambrose wondered long years ago in
the monastery by the forest.


The Brother Ambrose was ever a saintly man approved of God and
beloved by the Brethren. To him one night, as he lay abed in the
dormitory, came the word of the Lord, saying, "Come, and I will
show thee the Bride, the Lamb's wife." And Brother Ambrose arose
and was carried to a great and high mountain, even as in the Vision
of Blessed John. 'Twas a still night of many stars, and Brother
Ambrose, looking up, saw a radiant path in the heavens; and lo! the
stars gathered themselves together on either side until they stood
as walls of light, and the four winds lapped him about as in a
mantle and bore him towards the wondrous gleaming roadway. Then
between the stars came the Holy City with roof and pinnacle aflame,
and walls aglow with such colours as no earthly limner dreams of,
and much gold. Brother Ambrose beheld the Gates of Pearl, and by
every gate an angel with wings of snow and fire, and a face no man
dare look on because of its exceeding radiance.

Then as Brother Ambrose stretched out his arms because of his great
longing, a little grey cloud came out of the north and hung between
the walls of light, so that he no longer beheld the Vision, but
only heard a sound as of a great multitude crying 'Alleluia'; and
suddenly the winds came about him again, and lo! he found himself
in his bed in the dormitory, and it was midnight, for the bell was