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Just　as　much　splendor；　but　of　another　kind；　appeared　below；　in　thewide　halls　of　the　castle。　Here；　on　the　walls；　were　reflectedpictures　of　the　world；　which　represented　numerous　and　varied　scenes　ofeverything　that　took　place　daily；　so　that　it　was　useless　to　read　thenewspapers；　and　indeed　there　were　none　to　be　obtained　in　this　spot。All　was　to　be　seen　in　living　pictures　by　those　who　wished　it；　butall　would　have　been　too　much　for　even　the　wisest　man；　and　this　mandwelt　here。　His　name　is　very　difficult；　you　would　not　be　able　topronounce　it；　so　it　may　be　omitted。　He　knew　everything　that　a　man　onearth　can　know　or　imagine。　Every　invention　already　in　existence　or　yetto　be；　was　known　to　him；　and　much　more；　still　everything　on　earthhas　a　limit。　The　wise　king　Solomon　was　not　half　so　wise　as　this　man。He　could　govern　the　powers　of　nature　and　held　sway　over　potentspirits；　even　Death　itself　was　obliged　to　give　him　every　morning　alist　of　those　who　were　to　die　during　the　day。　And　King　Solomon　himselfhad　to　die　at　last；　and　this　fact　it　was　which　so　often　occupied　thethoughts　of　this　great　man　in　the　castle　on　the　Tree　of　the　Sun。　Heknew　that　he　also；　however　high　he　might　tower　above　other　men　inwisdom；　must　one　day　die。　He　knew　that　his　children　would　fade　awaylike　the　leaves　of　the　forest　and　bee　dust。　He　saw　the　human　racewither　and　fall　like　leaves　from　the　tree；　he　saw　new　men　e　to　filltheir　places；　but　the　leaves　that　fell　off　never　sprouted　forth　again；they　crumbled　to　dust　or　were　absorbed　into　other　plants。

〃What　happens　to　man；〃　asked　the　wise　man　of　himself；　〃whentouched　by　the　angel　of　death？　What　can　death　be？　The　body　decays；　andthe　soul。　Yes；　what　is　the　soul；　and　whither　does　it　go？〃

〃To　eternal　life；〃　says　the　forting　voice　of　religion。

〃But　what　is　this　change？　Where　and　how　shall　we　exist？〃

〃Above；　in　heaven；〃　answers　the　pious　man；　〃it　is　there　we　hope　togo。〃

〃Above！〃　repeated　the　wise　man；　fixing　his　eyes　upon　the　moonand　stars　above　him。　He　saw　that　to　this　earthly　sphere　above　andbelow　were　constantly　changing　places；　and　that　the　position　variedaccording　to　the　spot　on　which　a　man　found　himself。　He　knew；　also；that　even　if　he　ascended　to　the　top　of　the　highest　mountain　whichrears　its　lofty　summit　on　this　earth；　the　air；　which　to　us　seems　clearand　transparent；　would　there　be　dark　and　cloudy；　the　sun　would　havea　coppery　glow　and　send　forth　no　rays；　and　our　earth　would　lie　beneathhim　wrapped　in　an　orange…colored　mist。　How　narrow　are　the　limits　whichconfine　the　bodily　sight；　and　how　little　can　be　seen　by　the　eye　of　thesoul。　How　little　do　the　wisest　among　us　know　of　that　which　is　soimportant　to　us　all。

In　the　most　secret　chamber　of　the　castle　lay　the　greatest　treasureon　earth…　the　Book　of　Truth。　The　wise　man　had　read　it　through　pageafter　page。　Every　man　may　read　in　this　book；　but　only　in　fragments。　Tomany　eyes　the　characters　seem　so　mixed　in　confusion　that　the　wordscannot　be　distinguished。　On　certain　pages　the　writing　often　appears　sopale　or　so　blurred　that　the　page　bees　a　blank。　The　wiser　a　manbees；　the　more　he　will　read；　and　those　who　are　wisest　read　most。

The　wise　man　knew　how　to　unite　the　sunlight　and　the　moonlight　withthe　light　of　reason　and　the　hidden　powers　of　nature；　and　throughthis　stronger　light；　many　things　in　the　pages　were　made　clear　tohim。　But　in　the　portion　of　the　book　entitled　〃Life　after　Death〃　nota　single　point　could　he　see　distinctly。　This　pained　him。　Should　henever　be　able　here　on　earth　to　obtain　a　light　by　which　everythingwritten　in　the　Book　of　Truth　should　bee　clear　to　him？　Like　the　wiseKing　Solomon；　he　understood　the　language　of　animals；　and　couldinterpret　their　talk　into　song；　but　that　made　him　none　the　wiser。　Hefound　out　the　nature　of　plants　and　metals；　and　their　power　in　curingdiseases　and　arresting　death；　but　none　to　destroy　death　itself。　In　allcreated　things　within　his　reach　he　sought　the　light　that　shouldshine　upon　the　certainty　of　an　eternal　life；　but　he　found　it　not。The　Book　of　Truth　lay　open　before　him；　but；　its　pages　were　to　him　asblank　paper。　Christianity　placed　before　him　in　the　Bible　a　promiseof　eternal　life；　but　he　wanted　to　read　it　in　his　book；　in　whichnothing　on　the　subject　appeared　to　be　written。

He　had　five　children；　four　sons；　educated　as　the　children　ofsuch　a　wise　father　should　be；　and　a　daughter；　fair；　gentle；　andintelligent；　but　she　was　blind；　yet　this　deprivation　appeared　asnothing　to　her；　her　father　and　brothers　were　outward　eyes　to　her；and　a　vivid　imagination　made　everything　clear　to　her　mental　sight。　Thesons　had　never　gone　farther　from　the　castle　than　the　branches　of　thetrees　extended；　and　the　sister　had　scarcely　ever　left　home。　Theywere　happy　children　in　that　home　of　their　childhood；　the　beautiful　andfragrant　Tree　of　the　Sun。　Like　all　children；　they　loved　to　hearstories　related　to　them；　and　their　father　told　them　many　thingswhich　other　children　would　not　have　understood；　but　these　were　asclever　as　most　grownup　people　are　among　us。　He　explained　to　themwhat　they　saw　in　the　pictures　of　life　on　the　castle　walls…　thedoings　of　man；　and　the　progress　of　events　in　all　the　lands　of　theearth；　and　the　sons　often　expressed　a　wish　that　they　could　be　present；and　take　a　part　in　these　great　deeds。　Then　their　father　told　them　thatin　the　world　there　was　nothing　but　toil　and　difficulty：　that　it　wasnot　quite　what　it　appeared　to　them；　as　they　looked　upon　it　in　theirbeautiful　home。　He　spoke　to　them　of　the　true；　the　beautiful；　and　thegood；　and　told　them　that　these　three　held　together　in　the　world；　andby　that　union　they　became　crystallized　into　a　precious　jewel；clearer　than　a　diamond　of　the　first　water…　a　jewel；　whose　splendor　hada　value　even　in　the　sight　of　God；　in　whose　brightness　all　things　aredim。　This　jewel　was　called　the　philosopher's　stone。　He　told　them　that；by　searching；　man　could　attain　to　a　knowledge　of　the　existence　of　God；and　that　it　was　in　the　power　of　every　man　to　discover　the　certaintythat　such　a　jewel　as　the　philosopher's　stone　really　existed。　Thisinformation　would　have　been　beyond　the　perception　of　other　children；but　these　children　understood；　and　others　will　learn　to　prehend　itsmeaning　after　a　time。　They　questioned　their　father　about　the　true；　thebeautiful；　and　the　good；　and　he　explained　it　to　them　in　many　ways。He　told　them　that　God；　when　He　made　man　out　of　the　dust　of　theearth；　touched　His　work　five　times；　leaving　five　intense　feelings；which　we　call　the　five　senses。　Through　these；　the　true；　the　beautiful；and　the　good　are　seen；　understood；　and　perceived；　and　through　thesethey　are　valued；　protected；　and　encouraged。　Five　senses　have　beengiven　mentally　and　corporeally；　inwardly　and　outwardly；　to　body　andsoul。

The　children　thought　deeply　on　all　these　things；　and　meditatedupon　them　day　and　night。　Then　the　eldest　of　the　brothers　dreamt　asplendid　dream。　Strange　to　say；　not　only　the　second　brother　but　alsothe　third　and　fourth　brothers　all　dreamt　exactly　the　same　thing；namely；　that　each　went　out　into　the　world　to　find　the　philosopher'sstone。　Each　dreamt　that　he　found　it；　and　that；　as　he　rode　back　onhis　swift　horse；　in　the　morning　dawn；　over　the　velvety　greenmeadows；　to　his　home　in　the　castle　of　his　father；　that　the　stonegleamed　from　his　forehead　like　a　beaming　light；　and　threw　such　abright　radiance　upon　the　pages　of　the　Book　of　Truth　that　every　wordwas　illuminated　which　spoke　of　the　life　beyond　the　grave。　But　thesister　had　no　dream　of　going　out　into　the　wide　world；　it　never　enteredher　mind。　Her　world　was　her　father's　house。

〃I　shall　ride　forth　into　the　wide　world；〃　said　the　eldest　brother。〃I　must　try　what　life　is　like　there；　as　I　mix　with　men。　I　willpractise　only　the　good　and　true；　with　these　I　will　protect　thebeautiful。　Much　shall　be　changed　for　the　better　while　I　am　there。〃

Now　these　thoughts　were　great　and　daring；　as　our　thoughtsgenerally　are　at　home；　before　we　have　gone　out　into　the　world；　andencountered　its　storms　and　tempests；　its　thorns　and　its　thistles。　Inhim；　and　in　all　his　brothers；　the　five　senses　were　highlycultivated；　inwardly　and　outwardly；　but　each　of　them　had　one　sensewhich　in　keenness　and　development　surpassed　the　other　four。　In　thecase　of　the　eldest；　this　pre…eminent　sense　was　sight；　which　he　hopedwould　be　of　special　service。　He　had　eyes　for　all　times　and　all　people；eyes　that　could　discover　in　the　depths　of　the　earth　hiddentreasures；　and　look　into　the　hearts　of　men；　as　through　a　pane　ofglass；　he　could　read　more　than　is　often　seen　on　the　cheek　that　blushesor　grows　pale；　in　the　eye　that　droops　or　smiles。　Stags　and　antelopesacpanied　him　to　the　western　boundary　of　his　home；　and　there　hefound　the　wild　swans。　These　he　followed；　and　found　himself　far　away　inthe　north；　far　from　the　land　of　his　father；　which　extended　eastward　tothe　ends　of　the　earth。　How　he　opened　his　eyes　with　astonishment！　Howmany　things　were　to　be　seen　here！　and　so　different　to　the　mererepresentation　of　pictures　such　as　those　in　his　father's　house。　Atfirst　he　nearly　lost　his　eyes　in　astonishment　at　the　rubbish　andmockery　brought　forward　to　represent　the　beautiful；　but　he　kept　hiseyes；　and　soon　found　full　employment　for　them。　He　wished　to　gothoroughly　and　honestly　to　work　in　his　endeavor　to　understand　thetrue；　the　beautiful；　and　the　good。　But　how　were　they　represented　inthe　world？　He　observed　that　the　wreath　which　rightly　belonged　to　thebeautiful　was　often　given　the　hideous；　that　the　good　was　oftenpassed　by　unnoticed；　while　mediocrity　was　applauded；　when　it　shouldhave　been　hissed。　People　look　at　the　dress；　not　at　the　wearer；　thoughtmore　of　a　name　than　of　doing　their　duty；　and　trusted　more　toreputation　than　to　real　service。　It　was　everywhere　the　same。

〃I　see　I　must　make　a　regular　attack　on　these　things；〃　said　he；　andhe　accordingly　did　not　spare　them。　But　while　looking　for　the　truth；came　the　evil　one；　the　father　of　lies；　to　intercept　him。　Gladlywould　the　fiend　have　plucked　out　the　eyes　of　this　Seer；　but　that　wouldhave　been　a　too　straightforward　path　for　him；　he　works　more　cunningly。He　allowed　the　young　man　to　seek　for；　and　discover；　the　beautifuland　the　good；　but　while　he　was　contemplating　them；　the　evil　spiritblew　one　mote　after　another　into　each　of　his　eyes；　and　such　aproceeding　would　injure　the　strongest　sight。　Then　he　blew　upon　themotes；　and　they　became　beams；　so　that　the　clearness　of　his　sight　wasgone；　and　the　Seer　was　like　a　blind　man　in　the　world；　and　had　nolonger　any　faith　in　it。　He　had　lost　his　good　opinion　of　the　world；as　well　as　of　himself；　and　when　a　man　gives　up　the　world；　andhimself　too；　it　is　all　over　with　him。

〃All　over；〃　said　the　wild　swan；　who　flew　across　the　sea　to　theeast。

〃All　over；〃　twittered　the　swallows；　who　were　also　flyingeastward　towards　the　Tree　of　the　Sun。　It　was　no　good　news　which　theycarried　home。

〃I　think　the　Seer　has　been　badly　served；〃　said　the　second　brother；〃but　the　Hearer　may　be　more　successful。〃

This　one　possessed　the　sense　of　hearing　to　a　very　high　degree：so　acute　was　this　sense；　that　it　was　said　he　could　hear　the　grassgrow。　He　took　a　fond　leave　of　all　at　home；　and　rode　away；　providedwith　good　abilities　and　good　intentions。　The　swallows　escorted　him；and　he　followed　the　swans　till　he　found　himself　out　in　the　world；and　far　away　from　home。　But　he　soon　discovered　that　one　may　have　toomuch　of　a　good　thing。　His　hearing　was　too　fine。　He　not　only　heardthe　grass　grow；　but　could　hear　every　man's　heart　beat；　whether　insorrow　or　in　joy。　The　whole　world　was　to　him　like　a　clockmaker's　greatworkshop；　in　which　all　the　clocks　were　going　〃tick；　tick；〃　and　all　theturret　clocks　striking　〃ding；　dong。〃　It　was　unbearable。　For　a　longtime　his　ears　endured　it；　but　at　last　all　the　noise　and　tumultbecame　too　much　for　one　man　to　bear。

There　were　rascally　boys　of　sixty　years　old…　for　years　do　notalone　make　a　man…　who　raised　a　tumult；　which　might　have　made　theHearer　laugh；　but　for　the　applause　which　followed；　echoing　throughevery　street　and　house；　and　was　even　heard　in　country　roads。　Falsehoodthrust　itself　forward　and　played　the　hypocrite；　the　bells　on　thefool's　cap　jingled；　and　declared　they　were　church…bells；　and　the　noisebecame　so　bad　for　the　Hearer　that　he　thrust　his　fingers　into　his　ears。Still；　he　could　hear　false　notes　and　bad　singing；　gossip　and　idlewords；　scandal　and　slander；　groaning　and　moaning；　without　andwithin。　〃Heaven　help　us！〃　He　thrust　his　fingers　farther　and　fartherinto　his　ears；　till　at　last　the　drums　burst。　And　now　he　could　hearnothing　more　of　the　true；　the　beautiful；　and　the　good；　for　his　hearingwas　to　have　been　the　means　by　which　he　hoped　to　acquire　his　knowledge。He　became　silent　and　suspicious；　and　at　last　trusted　no　one；　noteven　himself；　and　no　longer　hoping　to　find　and　bring　home　the　costlyjewel；　he　gave　it　up；　and　gave　himself　up　too；　which　was　worse　thanall。

The　birds　in　their　flight　towards　the　east；　carried　the　tidings；and　the　news　reached　the　castle　in　the　Tree　of　the　Sun。

〃I　will　try　now；〃　said　the　third　brother；　〃I　have　a　keen　nose。〃Now　that　was　not　a　very　elegant　expression；　but　it　was　his　way；　and　wemust　take　him　as　he　was。　He　had　a　cheerful　temper；　and　was；　besides；　areal　poet；　he　could　make　many　things　appear　poetical；　by　the　way　inwhich　he　spoke　of　them；　and　ideas　struck　him　long　before　they　occurredto　the　minds　of　others。　〃I　can　smell；〃　he　would　say；　and　he　attributedto　the　sense　of　smelling；　which　he　possessed　in　a　high　degree；　a　greatpower　in　the　region　of　the　beautiful。　〃I　can　smell；〃　he　would　say；〃and　many　places　are　fragrant　or　beautiful　according　to　the　taste　ofthe　frequenters。　One　man　feels　at　home　in　the　atmosphere　of　thetavern；　among　the　flaring　tallow　candles；　and　when　the　smell　ofspirits　mingles　with　the　fumes　of　bad　tobacco。　Another　prefers　sittingamidst　the　overpowering　scent　of　jasmine；　or　perfuming　himself　withscented　olive　oil。　This　man　seeks　the　fresh　sea　breeze；　while　that　oneclimbs　the　lofty　mountain…top；　to　look　down　upon　the　busy　life　inminiature　beneath　him。〃

As　he　spoke　in　this　way；　it　seemed　as　if　he　had　already　been　outin　the　world；　as　if　he　had　already　known　and　associated　with　man。But　this　experience　was　intuitive…　it　was　the　poetry　within　him；　agift　from　Heaven　bestowed　on　him　in　his　cradle。　He　bade　farewell　tohis　parental　roof　in　the　Tree　of　the　Sun；　and　departed　on　foot；　fromthe　pleasant　scenes　that　surrounded　his　home。　Arrived　at　its　confines；he　mounted　on　the　back　of　an　ostrich；　which　runs　faster　than　ahorse；　and　afterwards；　when　he　fell　in　with　the　wild　swans；　he　swunghimself　on　the　strongest　of　them；　for　he　loved　change；　and　away　heflew　over　the　sea　to　distant　lands；　where　there　were　great　forests；deep　lakes；　lofty　mountains；　and　proud　cities。　Wherever　he　came　itseemed　as　if　sunshine　travelled　with　him　across　the　fields；　forevery　flower；　every　bush；　exhaled　a　renewed　fragrance；　as　if　consciousthat　a　friend　and　protector　was　near；　one　who　understood　them；　andknew　their　value。　The　stunted　rose…bush　shot　forth　twigs；　unfolded　itsleaves；　and　bore　the　most　beautiful　roses；　every　one　could　see　it；　andeven　the　black；　slimy　wood…snail　noticed　its　beauty。　〃I　will　give　myseal　to　the　flower；〃　said　the　snail；　〃I　have　trailed　my　slime　upon　it；I　can　do　no　more。

〃Thus　it　always　fares　with　the　beautiful　in　this　world；〃　saidthe　poet。　And　he　made　a　song　upon　it；　and　sung　it　after　his　ownfashion；　but　nobody　listened。　Then　he　gave　a　drummer　twopence　and　apeacock's　feather；　and　posed　a　song　for　the　drum；　and　the　drummerbeat　it　through