No More Learning

"He is the idealist," said my soul, "Surely he must not see our
nudity. "

And on we walked. Suddenly we heard a voice crying, "This is the
sea. This is the deep sea. This is the vast and mighty sea. "
And when we reached the voice it was a man whose back was turned
to the sea, and at his ear he held a shell, listening to its murmur.

And my soul said, "Let us pass on. He is the realist, who turns
his back on the whole he cannot grasp, and busies himself with a
fragment. "

So we passed on. And in a weedy place among the rocks was a man
with his head buried in the sand. And I said to my soul, "We can
bath here, for he cannot see us. "

"Nay," said my soul, "For he is the most deadly of them all. He
is the puritan. "

Then a great sadness came over the face of my soul, and into her
voice.

"Let us go hence," she said, "For there is no lonely, hidden place
where we can bathe.
I would not have this wind lift my golden hair,
or bare my white bosom in this air, or let the light disclose my
sacred nakedness. "

Then we left that sea to seek the Greater Sea.





Crucified




I cried to men, "I would be crucified! "

And they said, "Why should your blood be upon our heads? "

And I answered, "How else shall you be exalted except by crucifying
madmen? "

And they heeded and I was crucified. And the crucifixion appeased
me.

And when I was hanged between earth and heaven they lifted up their
heads to see me. And they were exalted, for their heads had never
before been lifted.

But as they stood looking up at me one called out, "For what art
thou seeking to atone? "

And another cried, "In what cause dost thou sacrifice thyself? "

And a third said, "Thinkest thou with this price to buy world
glory? "

Then said a fourth, "Behold, how he smiles! Can such pain be
forgiven? "

And I answered them all, and said:

"Remember only that I smiled. I do not atone--nor sacrifice--nor
wish for glory; and I have nothing to forgive.