We entered the house and sat down to supper in a low room open to the
night. Reverie recounted our evening's talk. "I wish," he said,
turning to his friend, "you would accompany Mr. Brocken and me one
night to the 'World's End' to hear these fellows talk. Such arrogance,
such assurance, such bigotry and blindness and foxiness!--yet, on my
word, a kind of gravity with it all, as if the scarecrows had some
real interest in the devil's tares they guard. Come now, let it be a
bargain between us, and leave this endless search awhile."
But the solitary knight shook his head. "They would jeer me out of
knowledge," he said. "Why, Reverie, the children cease their play
when I pass, and draw their tops and marbles out of the dust, and gaze
till I am hid from sight."
"It is fancy, only fancy," replied Reverie; "children stare at all
things new to them in the world. How else could they recognise and
learn again--how else forget? But as for this rabble's mockery, there
is a she-bear left called Oblivion which is their mistress, and will
some day silence every jeer."
The solitary knight shook his head again, eyeing me solemnly as if in
hope to discern in my face the sorcery that held himself in thrall.
Pages:
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125