Заборонений ліс
IV. The Faithful Servant
Thebircheswerestillonlyapalevapour,buttherewerebudsonthesaughsandthehazels.Remnantsofolddriftslaybehindthedykes,andontheLammerlawtherewasagreatfieldofsnow,butthebreezeblewsoftandthecryingofcurlewsandploverstoldofthespring.UponWindywaysandatthebackofReiverslawtheheatherwasburning,andspiralsofbluesmokerosetothepaleskies.
ThesightwasarevelationtoamantowhomspringhadcomehithertointhenarrowstreetsofEdinburgh.Hehadafancythatlifewasbeatingfuriouslyunderthebrownearth,andthathewasinthepresenceofamiracle.Hisyouth,longfrostedbywinter,seemedtoreturntohimandhiswholebeingtothaw.Almostshamefacedlyheacknowledgedanupliftofspirit.Thesmokefromthemoorburnwaslikethesmokeofsacrificeonancientaltars--innocentsacrificefromkindlyaltars.
ThatnightinhisstudyhefoundthathecouldnotbringhismindtohiscommentaryontheprophetIsaiah.Histhoughtsrangedonotherthings,andhewouldfainhaveopenedhisVirgil.But,sincetheseeveninghourswerededicatetotheology,hecompromisedwithClementofAlexandria,andreadagainthepassagewherethatfatheroftheChurchbecomesapoetandstrivestomingletheclassicandtheChristian.--"ThisistheMountainbelovedofGod,notaplaceoftragedieslikeCithæron,butconsecratetothedramasoftruth,amountoftemperanceshadedwiththegrovesofpurity
