The Rocky Island | Page 7

thought
that in it I could see here and there heavenly forms moving up and
down, flying upon silver wings, or borne along upon the light breath of
the sunny air. But as I strained my eyes to pierce into it, it seemed to
dazzle and confound them by its great lustre. Then, again, I heard the
words of the two; and they spake of what was before them; of the
bright light, and the heavenly forms: and I found that they were only
travellers through this beautiful garden; that the King who had placed
them in it dwelt in that light, the brightness of which had so
confounded my gaze; that they were on their way to His presence, and
that when they reached it, they should be happy for ever; even as those
shining spirits were already, whose golden figures I had been just able
to discover.

Now, whilst I was pondering upon these things, and casting my eyes
round and round this beautiful garden, I heard all at once a most terrible
sound, as of thunder, such as man's ears had never heard. I looked up,
and the bright light at the end of the garden seemed to turn itself into
angry fire, and to flash red and threatening through thick black clouds,
which were forming themselves into terrible shapes all over the garden.
Then I looked for the two that I had seen before: I could just see them;
sorrow sat upon their faces, and fear made them deadly pale; a serpent
was gliding from them into the bushes; and their eyes were fixed upon
the air, as though voices, which I heard not, were speaking terrible
things to their inner ears. Then, as I looked, it grew darker and
darker--the thunder pealed all round me--cries came forth from every
hill, as of fierce and deadly beasts in wild dreadful fight. The flowers
round me were withering up, as if a burning blight had passed over
them; and soon it was all dark, and dreary, and desolate.
Then when my heart was very heavy within me, methought there stood
by me one of the forms of light whom I had seen at the garden's end;
and my knees smote together through fear of his glory; but he looked
upon me kindly, and spoke to me in a voice of pity, and he said,
"Wouldst thou see the end of this sight?" Then my heart gathered
courage, and I told him, that if it were lawful, I would indeed fain look
upon it.
With that he lifted me, and we flew through the air, and I knew not
where he had borne me; but in a while he set me on my feet, and bade
me look right down beneath me. Then I looked down at his word, but
could see nothing. My eyes seemed to rest upon the thick mantle of the
night, and they could not pierce through it. Now, while I was striving to
pierce through the darkness, strange noises rose from it to my ears. All
sounds that ever were, came up from it, so mingled together that I
could not say what they were. Whether it were a groan, or a cry, or a
roaring, or music, or shouting, or the voice of anger or of sorrow; for all
of these seemed joined together into one; but the groaning was louder
than the laughing, and the voice of crying well nigh drowned the music.
Then I asked my guide what was this strange noise; and he told me that
it was the voice of all THE WORLD, as it rose up to the ears of those

that were on high. Then I begged of him, if it might be, to let me see
those from whom it came. With that he touched my eyes; and now
methought, though the darkness remained, that I could see in the midst
of its thickness, even as in the brightness of the day.
It was a strange place into which I looked. Instead of the beautiful
garden I had seen before, and two glorious creatures passing through it;
now I saw a multitude of men, women, and children, passing on
through a waste and desolate wilderness. Here and there, indeed, there
were still flowery spots, but they were soon trodden down by the feet of
those who passed along. Strange too were their steps. Now, instead of
passing straight on, they moved round and round, for they were all in
the black darkness. The ground was full of pitfalls, in the low bottoms
of which I could see red fire burning fierce and hot, and one after
another fell over into these pitfalls, and I saw them no more. Evil beasts,
too, moved amongst them, slaying one, and