Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel
Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel
Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel
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— 105 —<br />
Sometimes, our pa<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> is very deep and real, and we stand before<br />
her very silent, because <strong>the</strong>re is no language for our pa<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly a moan. Night’s heart is full of pity for us: she cannot ease<br />
our ach<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g; she takes our hand <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> hers, and <strong>the</strong> little world<br />
grows very small and very far away beneath us, and, borne <strong>on</strong><br />
her dark w<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>gs, we pass for a moment <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to a mightier Presence<br />
than her own, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> w<strong>on</strong>drous light of that great Presence,<br />
all human life lies like a book before us, and we know that Pa<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
and Sorrow are but <strong>the</strong> angels of God.<br />
Only those who have worn <strong>the</strong> crown of suffer<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g can look<br />
up<strong>on</strong> that w<strong>on</strong>drous light; and <strong>the</strong>y, when <strong>the</strong>y return, may not<br />
speak of it, or tell <strong>the</strong> mystery <strong>the</strong>y know.<br />
Once up<strong>on</strong> a time, through a strange country, <strong>the</strong>re rode<br />
some goodly knights, and <strong>the</strong>ir path lay by a deep wood, where<br />
tangled briars grew very thick and str<strong>on</strong>g, and tore <strong>the</strong> flesh<br />
of <strong>the</strong>m that lost <strong>the</strong>ir way <strong>the</strong>re<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>. And <strong>the</strong> leaves of <strong>the</strong> trees<br />
that grew <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> wood were very dark and thick, so that no ray<br />
of light came through <strong>the</strong> branches to lighten <strong>the</strong> gloom and<br />
sadness.<br />
And, as <strong>the</strong>y passed by that dark wood, <strong>on</strong>e knight of those<br />
that rode, miss<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g his comrades, wandered far away, and returned<br />
to <strong>the</strong>m no more; and <strong>the</strong>y, sorely griev<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g, rode <strong>on</strong><br />
without him, mourn<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g him as <strong>on</strong>e dead.<br />
Now, when <strong>the</strong>y reached <strong>the</strong> fair castle towards which <strong>the</strong>y<br />
had been journey<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g, <strong>the</strong>y stayed <strong>the</strong>re many days, and made<br />
merry; and <strong>on</strong>e night, as <strong>the</strong>y sat <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> cheerful ease around <strong>the</strong><br />
logs that burned <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> great hall, and drank a lov<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g measure,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re came <strong>the</strong> comrade <strong>the</strong>y had lost, and greeted <strong>the</strong>m. His<br />
clo<strong>the</strong>s were ragged, like a beggar’s, and many sad wounds<br />
were <strong>on</strong> his sweet flesh, but up<strong>on</strong> his face <strong>the</strong>re sh<strong>on</strong>e a great<br />
radiance of deep joy.<br />
And <strong>the</strong>y questi<strong>on</strong>ed him, ask<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g him what had befallen<br />
him: and he told <strong>the</strong>m how <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> dark wood he had lost his<br />
way, and had wandered many days and nights, till, torn and<br />
bleed<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g, he had la<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> him down to die.<br />
Then, when he was nigh unto death, lo! through <strong>the</strong> savage