До Адама

           Nevertheless,itwasinfearandtrembling,andwithmuchencouragementonhispart,thatIatlastapproachedthelion’scage.Ah,Iknewhimontheinstant.Thebeast!Theterribleone!Andonmyinnervisionflashedthememoriesofmydreams,—themiddaysunshiningontallgrass,thewildbullgrazingquietly,thesuddenpartingofthegrassbeforetheswiftrushofthetawnyone,hisleaptothebull’sback,thecrashingandthebellowing,andthecrunchcrunchofbones;oragain,thecoolquietofthewater-hole,thewildhorseuptohiskneesanddrinkingsoftly,andthenthetawnyone—alwaysthetawnyone!—theleap,thescreamingandthesplashingofthehorse,andthecrunchcrunchofbones;andyetagain,thesombretwilightandthesadsilenceoftheendofday,andthenthegreatfull-throatedroar,sudden,likeatrumpofdoom,andswiftuponittheinsaneshriekingandchatteringamongthetrees,andI,too,amtremblingwithfearandamoneofthemanyshriekingandchatteringamongthetrees.

           Atthesightofhim,helpless,withinthebarsofhiscage,Ibecameenraged.Igrittedmyteethathim,dancedupanddown,screaminganincoherentmockeryandmakinganticfaces.Heresponded,rushingagainstthebarsandroaringbackatmehisimpotentwrath.Ah,heknewme,too,andthesoundsImadewerethesoundsofoldtimeandintelligibletohim.

           Myparentswerefrightened.“Thechildisill,”saidmymother.“Heishysterical,”saidmyfather.Inevertoldthem,andtheyneverknew.