"Who holdeth back the pa.s.sing soul?"
And the voice of the dark bird replied:
"Her anger, for she hath not submitted to her trials, but held herself rebellious; therefore do I draw her down."
And the voice from high paradise called out, saying:
"Is there none to come to her succor, lest she be brought to her destruction?"
And a bee humming on the hillside, hearing the voice, flew upward and stung the evil bird so it fell away into the darkness and was seen no more.
And the voice from the heavens cried again, saying:
"Who hath let the little soul go free?"
And the bee answered:
"Her gentleness, for she loveth all things, great and small, and hath fed the honey-bee when the earth refused him its sweets."
Now, as the spirit of the little bride flew upward, freed from the grasp of the evil bird, there came upon her again the cruel claws of one of those two others that circled round her, holding her back upon her way.
"Now," quoth she, "I shall never see the kingdom of heaven, and cannot reach the doors of paradise," and bitter exceedingly was her crying.
But again a voice came from the dark night, saying:
"Who holdeth back the coming soul from her place in heaven?"
And the black, evil bird answered:
"Her despair, for she hath not held her head high above her sorrows, nor hath borne in patience her griefs, but hath mourned the afflictions that were put upon her till her heart hath broken under her grief. Therefore do I draw her down."
And the voice from high paradise called out, saying:
"Is there none, then, to save her from eternal destruction?"
And a wild bramble upon the mountain, hearing the voice, lifted itself upward, and, throwing a long spray about the evil bird, tore it so with its thorns that it loosed its claws from the wrist of the young bride and flew into the gloom.
And the voice from the heavens cried again, saying:
"Who hath let the soul go free?"
And the bramble answered, wafting the perfume of her flowers upward:
"Her sweetness, for her mind is beautiful as the song of the linnet, and she turneth her foot aside to spare the lowly blossoms."
Now, when once more the spirit of the little bride flew upward, the last and greatest of the evil birds fell upon her, and so strong was he and so evil that she had no strength to go farther.
"Now," quoth she, "I am lost forever, and shall see not the fair place in paradise that was prepared for me." And she gave a loud and despairing cry. But a voice came again from the night, and saith:
"What evil thing keepeth the flying soul upon its way?"
And the dark bird answered:
"Her jealousy, for bitter was her heart against one whom Black Roderick had loved ere she became his bride; and for this do I drag her down to her destruction."
And the voice from the high heavens spoke, saying:
"Is there none, then, to save her?"
And there looked up from the hillside the bright eyes of the red weasel, but he crouched in the gra.s.ses without reply. And the grasp of the evil bird became stronger on the quivering soul that could no longer fly upon its way to heaven. And from the great wings of the bird black feathers, wrenched out in the struggle, flew down upon the earth, spreading evil where they fell.
And the voice from heaven cried out again in sorrow exceedingly:
"Is there none, then, to save this soul from destruction?"
And the bee and the bramble, seeing the red weasel was loath to stir from the gra.s.ses where he sat watching the desperate battle, fell upon him in their fury and forced him to rise.
"Never," quoth they, "shalt thou have rest, nor thy children"s children peace, while there"s a bee in the air or a flower upon the thorn, if thou goest not to the succor of her we love so well."
Then the red weasel sprang into the air and seized the evil bird by the throat; so he let go his hold on the spirit of the young bride and flew away into the darkness.
And the voice from heaven cried out, saying:
"Who hath let the frail ghost free to enter the gates of paradise?"
And the red weasel answered:
"Her strength, for she hath conquered her own evil thoughts, and put them away forever."
So the spirit of the young bride reached the gates of paradise spent and wounded, and there upon the threshold stood an angel holding his hand to draw her in.
When his holy touch fell upon her, she rose whole and beautiful, and her breast was full of joy for the moment.
Now, the spirit of the young bride had been but a brief day in the golden place of paradise, when she heard a far voice call upon her name in anguish; three times did it call upon her, and at each cry a sharp sorrow struck her heart, as though a knife had entered therein.
Now went she to the golden bar of heaven, and, leaning forth, looked down upon the earth, and she turned her north, and naught did she see save the cold face of the night with its millions of worlds whirling in the dark.
And she looked south, and naught could she see but the gray of clouds heavy with storm; and she turned her east, and naught did she see save the shimmering blue of a summer sky. But when she turned her westward, she saw the green earth, and of all upon it she sought none save Black Roderick, who had used her so ill. And there upon his bed he lay in danger of death, and as he turned in his anguish he called ever upon her name, so her heart knew no longer the peace of paradise, and she became as one of the lost.
Therefore did she rise up and approach the throne where the saints and angels knelt in continual devotion. But she could not see the golden seat, nor HIM who sat thereon. For around and above, and circling ever with rainbow wings, went the seraphim and cherubim in eternal worship, so it was as though a great wheel of light turned continually.
Now, when the spirit of the little bride saw this wonder, she was full of fear and dared not approach, but turned away weeping; and there, as she wept, she saw before her the seat of Mary, the Queen of Heaven, and ran towards it with unfaltering feet.
"For," quoth she, "she, too, had but one love, and, being woman, will understand."
So she knelt at the feet of Mary, and cried to her: "Pray for me, Mother of Christ." And the Virgin turned to her in wonder at her tears.
"Art thou not happy," said she, "in heaven?"
And the spirit of the little bride said: "Nay, for the cries of my beloved come upward from the earth and call to me in his anguish, so I fear he is in danger of death."