按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
s book； in whichnothing on the subject appeared to be written。
He had five children； four sons； educated as the children ofsuch a wise father should be； and a daughter； fair； gentle； andintelligent； but she was blind； yet this deprivation appeared asnothing to her； her father and brothers were outward eyes to her；and a vivid imagination made everything clear to her mental sight。 Thesons had never gone farther from the castle than the branches of thetrees extended； and the sister had scarcely ever left home。 Theywere happy children in that home of their childhood； the beautiful andfragrant Tree of the Sun。 Like all children； they loved to hearstories related to them； and their father told them many thingswhich other children would not have understood； but these were asclever as most grownup people are among us。 He explained to themwhat they saw in the pictures of life on the castle walls… thedoings of man； and the progress of events in all the lands of theearth； and the sons often expressed a wish that they could be present；and take a part in these great deeds。 Then their father told them thatin the world there was nothing but toil and difficulty： that it wasnot quite what it appeared to them； as they looked upon it in theirbeautiful home。 He spoke to them of the true； the beautiful； and thegood； and told them that these three held together in the world； andby that union they became crystallized into a precious jewel；clearer than a diamond of the first water… a jewel； whose splendor hada value even in the sight of God； in whose brightness all things aredim。 This jewel was called the philosopher's stone。 He told them that；by searching； man could attain to a knowledge of the existence of God；and that it was in the power of every man to discover the certaintythat such a jewel as the philosopher's stone really existed。 Thisinformation would have been beyond the perception of other children；but these children understood； and others will learn to prehend itsmeaning after a time。 They questioned their father about the true； thebeautiful； and the good； and he explained it to them in many ways。He told them that God； when He made man out of the dust of theearth； touched His work five times； leaving five intense feelings；which we call the five senses。 Through these； the true； the beautiful；and the good are seen； understood； and perceived； and through thesethey are valued； protected； and encouraged。 Five senses have beengiven mentally and corporeally； inwardly and outwardly； to body andsoul。
The children thought deeply on all these things； and meditatedupon them day and night。 Then the eldest of the brothers dreamt asplendid dream。 Strange to say； not only the second brother but alsothe third and fourth brothers all dreamt exactly the same thing；namely； that each went out into the world to find the philosopher'sstone。 Each dreamt that he found it； and that； as he rode back onhis swift horse； in the morning dawn； over the velvety greenmeadows； to his home in the castle of his father； that the stonegleamed from his forehead like a beaming light； and threw such abright radiance upon the pages of the Book of Truth that every wordwas illuminated which spoke of the life beyond the grave。 But thesister had no dream of going out into the wide world； it never enteredher mind。 Her world was her father's house。
〃I shall ride forth into the wide world；〃 said the eldest brother。〃I must try what life is like there； as I mix with men。 I willpractise only the good and true； with these I will protect thebeautiful。 Much shall be changed for the better while I am there。〃
Now these thoughts were great and daring； as our thoughtsgenerally are at home； before we have gone out into the world； andencountered its storms and tempests； its thorns and its thistles。 Inhim； and in all his brothers； the five senses were highlycultivated； inwardly and outwardly； but each of them had one sensewhich in keenness and development surpassed the other four。 In thecase of the eldest； this pre…eminent sense was sight； which he hopedwould be of special service。 He had eyes for all times and all people；eyes that could discover in the depths of the earth hiddentreasures； and look into the hearts of men； as through a pane ofglass； he could read more than is often seen on the cheek that blushesor grows pale； in the eye that droops or smiles。 Stags and antelopesacpanied him to the western boundary of his home； and there hefound the wild swans。 These he followed； and found himself far away inthe north； far from the land of his father； which extended eastward tothe ends of the earth。 How he opened his eyes with astonishment！ Howmany things were to be seen here！ and so different to the mererepresentation of pictures such as those in his father's house。 Atfirst he nearly lost his eyes in astonishment at the rubbish andmockery brought forward to represent the beautiful； but he kept hiseyes； and soon found full employment for them。 He wished to gothoroughly and honestly to work in his endeavor to understand thetrue； the beautiful； and the good。 But how were they represented inthe world？ He observed that the wreath which rightly belonged to thebeautiful was often given the hideous； that the good was oftenpassed by unnoticed； while mediocrity was applauded； when it shouldhave been hissed。 People look at the dress； not at the wearer； thoughtmore of a name than of doing their duty； and trusted more toreputation than to real service。 It was everywhere the same。
〃I see I must make a regular attack on these things；〃 said he； andhe accordingly did not spare them。 But while looking for the truth；came the evil one； the father of lies； to intercept him。 Gladlywould the fiend have plucked out the eyes of this Seer； but that wouldhave been a too straightforward path for him； he works more cunningly。He allowed the young man to seek for； and discover； the beautifuland the good； but while he was contemplating them； the evil spiritblew one mote after another into each of his eyes； and such aproceeding would injure the strongest sight。 Then he blew upon themotes； and they became beams； so that the clearness of his sight wasgone； and the Seer was like a blind man in the world； and had nolonger any faith in it。 He had lost his good opinion of the world；as well as of himself； and when a man gives up the world； andhimself too； it is all over with him。
〃All over；〃 said the wild swan； who flew across the sea to theeast。
〃All over；〃 twittered the swallows； who were also flyingeastward towards the Tree of the Sun。 It was no good news which theycarried home。
〃I think the Seer has been badly served；〃 said the second brother；〃but the Hearer may be more successful。〃
This one possessed the sense of hearing to a very high degree：so acute was this sense； that it was said he could hear the grassgrow。 He took a fond leave of all at home； and rode away； providedwith good abilities and good intentions。 The swallows escorted him；and he followed the swans till he found himself out in the world；and far away from home。 But he soon discovered that one may have toomuch of a good thing。 His hearing was too fine。 He not only heardthe grass grow； but could hear every man's heart beat； whether insorrow or in joy。 The whole world was to him like a clockmaker's greatworkshop； in which all the clocks were going 〃tick； tick；〃 and all theturret clocks striking 〃ding； dong。〃 It was unbearable。 For a longtime his ears endured it； but at last all the noise and tumultbecame too much for one man to bear。
There were rascally boys of sixty years old… for years do notalone make a man… who raised a tumult； which might have made theHearer laugh； but for the applause which followed； echoing throughevery street and house； and was even heard in country roads。 Falsehoodthrust itself forward and played the hypocrite； the bells on thefool's cap jingled； and declared they were church…bells； and the noisebecame so bad for the Hearer that he thrust his fingers into his ears。Still； he could hear false notes and bad singing； gossip and idlewords； scandal and slander； groaning and moaning； without andwithin。 〃Heaven help us！〃 He thrust his fingers farther and fartherinto his ears； till at last the drums burst。 And now he could hearnothing mor