第86部分(第4/7 頁)

fallen　by　the　way。　They　whisper　that　his　error　lies　in　not　taking　what　he　may　have　while　there　is　still　time；　since　soon　he　must　go　empty　to　the　sleep　which　knows　no　waking。　Poor　fare；　perhaps；　they　say；　yet　better　than　feeding　upon　wind　and　bedewing　the　altar　of　a　heedless　or　non…existent　God　with　repentant　tears　because　of　half…imaginary　sins　begotten　by　a　nature　the　sinner　did　not　shape。

What　traveller　of　the　sort　is　there　who　has　not　been　thrown　back　upon　his　thorny　journey　by　such　thoughts　as　these？　Or　perhaps　some　hideous　and　cruel　loss　has　caused　him　to　doubt　whether；　after　all；　any　Power　does　exist　that　knows　the　name　of　pity　or　can　thrill　with　the　glow　of　love。　Or　the　shock　may　take　other　forms。　He　may　find　that　those　whom　he　thought　to　be　inspired　from　on　high　with　goodness　are　merely　stupid；　that　they　avoid　conspicuous　and　open　error　because　their　slow　natures　are　shut　to　temptations　of　the　larger　sort；　though　they　breed　a　growth　of　petty　mischiefs　not　textually　named　among　the　Ten　mandments　and　therefore；　say　they；　of　no　account。　Or　that　some　friend　whom　he　respects　and　has　leant　on；　perhaps　a　clergyman　of　standing；　after　all　believes　in　little；　and　though　he　practises　its　forms　has　reduced　Christianity　to　the　level　of　high　and　pure　philosophy　enunciated　by　an　unfortunate；　self…denying　young　Jew　of　genius　with　whom　the　established　Church　of　the　period　very　well　knew　how　to　deal。　Or　it　may　be　a　brilliant　but　materialistic　book　that　he　chances　on；　wherein　he　finds　all　the　points　upon　which　he　has　been　accustomed　to　rely　very　cleverly　attacked。　Or　some　great　doctor　may　disturb　him　by　showing　forth　the　origin　of　all　such　aspirations　as　those　of　faith　written　in　the　human　nerves　and　brain。　Or；　to　take　only　one　more　example；　he　may　after　all　find　it　impossi