"Are you Jesus?--are you G.o.d?" said Johannes.
"Do not speak those names!" said the figure. "They were holy and pure as priestly raiment, and precious as nourishing corn; but they are become as husks before swine, and as motley to clothe fools withal. Speak them not, for their meaning has become a delusion, and their sacredness is laughed to scorn. Those who desire to know me cast away the names and obey themselves."
"I know Thee! I know Thee!" cried Johannes.
"It was I who made you weep for men when as yet you knew not the meaning of your tears. It was I who made you love before you understood what love was. I was with you, and you saw me not; I moved your soul and you knew me not!"
"Why have I never seen Thee till now?"
"The eyes that shall see Me must be cleared by many tears. And you must weep not for yourself alone, but for Me also; then I shall appear to you, and you will recognise Me for an old friend."
"I know Thee! I recognised Thee. I will ever remain with Thee!"
Johannes stretched out his hand but the figure pointed to the gleaming barque which slowly drifted off up the fiery path.
"Look!" said he, "that is the way to all you have longed for. There is no other. Without those two you will never find it. Now, take your choice; there is the Great Light; there you would yourself be what you crave to know. There," and he pointed to the shadowy East, "where men are, and their misery, there lies my way. I shall guide you there, and not the false light which you have followed. Now you know--take your choice."
Then Johannes slowly took his eyes off Windekind"s vanishing form, and put up his hands to the grave Man. And led by Him, he turned and faced the cold night wind, and made his toilsome way to the great dismal town where men are, and their misery.
Perhaps I may some day tell you more about Little Johannes; but it will not be like a fairy tale.
THE END.