The Madman | Page 5

have all died, (the shadow of God be upon their spirits)
the soothsayer still lives. And yesterday I met him near the gates of the
temple; and while we were talking together he said, "I have always
known you would become a great musician. Even in your infancy I
prophesied and foretold your future."
And I believed him--for now I too have forgotten the language of that
other world.
The Pomegranate
Once when I was living in the heart of a pomegranate, I heard a seed
saying, "Someday I shall become a tree, and the wind will sing in my
branches, and the sun will dance on my leaves, and I shall be strong
and beautiful through all the seasons."
Then another seed spoke and said, "When I was as young as you, I too
held such views; but now that I can weigh and measure things, I see
that my hopes were vain."
And a third seed spoke also, "I see in us nothing that promises so great
a future."
And a fourth said, "But what a mockery our life would be, without a
greater future!"
Said a fifth, "Why dispute what we shall be, when we know not even
what we are."
But a sixth replied, "Whatever we are, that we shall continue to be."

And a seventh said, "I have such a clear idea how everything will be,
but I cannot put it into words."
Then an eight spoke--and a ninth--and a tenth--and then many--until all
were speaking, and I could distinguish nothing for the many voices.
And so I moved that very day into the heart of a quince, where the
seeds are few and almost silent.
The Two Cages
In my father's garden there are two cages. In one is a lion, which my
father's slaves brought from the desert of Ninavah; in the other is a
songless sparrow.
Every day at dawn the sparrow calls to the lion, "Good morrow to thee,
brother prisoner."
The Three Ants
Three ants met on the nose of a man who was asleep in the sun. And
after they had saluted one another, each according to the custom of his
tribe, they stood there conversing.
The first ant said, "These hills and plains are the most barren I have
known. I have searched all day for a grain of some sort, and there is
none to be found."
Said the second ant, "I too have found nothing, though I have visited
every nook and glade. This is, I believe, what my people call the soft,
moving land where nothing grows."
Then the third ant raised his head and said, "My friends, we are
standing now on the nose of the Supreme Ant, the mighty and infinite
Ant, whose body is so great that we cannot see it, whose shadow is so
vast that we cannot trace it, whose voice is so loud that we cannot hear
it; and He is omnipresent."
When the third ant spoke thus the other ants looked at each other and

laughed.
At that moment the man moved and in his sleep raised his hand and
scratched his nose, and the three ants were crushed.
The Grave-Digger
Once, as I was burying one of my dead selves, the grave-digger came
by and said to me, "Of all those who come here to bury, you alone I
like."
Said I, "You please me exceedingly, but why do you like me?"
"Because," said he, "They come weeping and go weeping--you only
come laughing and go laughing."
On the Steps of the Temple
Yestereve, on the marble steps of the Temple, I saw a woman sitting
between two men. One side of her face was pale, the other was
blushing.
The Blessed City
In my youth I was told that in a certain city every one lived according
to the Scriptures.
And I said, "I will seek that city and the blessedness thereof." And it
was far. And I made great provision for my journey. And after forty
days I beheld the city and on the forty-first day I entered into it.
And lo! the whole company of the inhabitants had each but a single eye
and but one hand. And I was astonished and said to myself, "Shall they
of this so holy city have but one eye and one hand?"
then I saw that they too were astonished, for they were marveling
greatly at my two hands and my two eyes. And as they were speaking
together I inquired of them saying, "Is this indeed the Blessed City,
where each man lives according to the Scriptures?" And they said, "Yes,

this is that city."
"And what," said I, "hath befallen you, and where are your right eyes
and your right hands?"
And all the people were moved. And