Christian fiction; Wingfold, Thomas (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
begin, methinks, to see how the affair goeth. Yet are there some
things still whereupon I would gladly be resolved. And first of all,
how cometh it that men are moved to provide these and those goods for
the supply of the wants of their neighbours, when they are drawn thereto
by no want in themselves, and no advantage to themselves?--Thou reasonest,
said my guide, as one of thine own degree, who to the eyes of the
full-born ever look like chrysalids, closed round in a web of their
own weaving; and who shall blame thee until thou thyself shinest within
thyself? Understand that it is never advantage to himself that moveth
a man in this kingdom to undertake this or that. The thing that alone
advantageth a man here is the thing which he doth without thought unto
that advantage. To your world, this world goeth by contraries. The man
here that doeth most service, that aideth others the most to the
obtaining of their honest desires, is the man who standeth highest
with the Lord of the place, and his reward and honour is, to be enabled
to the spending of himself yet more for the good of his fellows. There
goeth a rumour amongst us even now that one shall ere long be ripe for
the carrying of a message from the King to the spirits that are in
prison. Thinkest thou it is a less potent stirring up of thought and
energy to desire and seek and find the things that will please the
eye, and cheer the brain, and gladden the heart of the people of
this great city, so that when one prayeth, 'Give me, friend, of thy
loaves,' a man may answer, 'Take of them, friend, as many as thou
needest'--is that, I say, an incentive to diligence less potent
than the desire to hoard or to excel? Is it not to share the bliss
of God who hoardeth nothing, but ever giveth liberally? The joy of a
man here is to enable another to lay hold upon that which is of his
own kind and be glad and grow thereby--doctrine strange and
unbelievable to the man in whom the well of life is yet sealed.
Never have they been many at a time in the old world who could thus
enter into the joy of their Lord. And yet, if thou bethink thee,
thou wilt perceive that such bliss is not unknown amongst thy
fellows. Knowest thou no musician who would find it joy enough for a
night, to scale the tower of a hundred bells, and send the great
meteors of music-light flying over the care-tortured city? Would
everyone even of thy half-created race reason with himself and say:
Truly it is in the night, and no one can see who it is that
ministereth; the sounds alone will go forth nor bear my image; I
shall reap no honour; I will not rise and go? Thou knowest, I say,
some in thy world who would not speak thus in their hearts, but
would willingly consent to be as nothing, so to give life to their
fellows. In this city so is it with all--in shop or workshop, in
study or theatre, all seek to spend and be spent for the lovely all.
--And I said, One thing tell me, sir--how much a man may have for
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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