The Equinox (Volume I, Number VI)

THE EQUINOX Thereat I was silent. But gazingeagerly thereon, I beheld one appointed, and I understood that the oak-leafwas sent from the House. Then I took counsel of him who is to this end appointed, and with his own hand he brought to me a champak-blossom, a mustard—seed, and again an oak-leaf. And these I treasured in my bosom, though I hardly knew wherefore. Nor could I understandwhat purpose they should serve, save darkly. And seeing this, the dove came to me again bearingan olive-branch; and with this I was so mightily pleased that for awhile I forgot all else, and swam lustily in the stream for my pleasure. But now came a current of ice-cold water and enwrapped me; and when I looked, it bore spots of blood upon it. Then I went hastily into the ark that was ever near by; and, climb- ing to the roof by the ladder that I had before made, looked through. And all the sky was a hurricane, a madness of storm. Now in my eagerness I had approached closely to the roof, so that the storm whirled me away into itself. One might say that I was the storm. And when I came to myself I was floating upon the bosom of the river, borne by that very bark that once I had built myself in the lighthouse. And in the storm I had lost my hair and beard; for the wind had torn all out by the root. So that I heard a voice saying, “ It is a babe upon the waters.” And looking at the bark, I found it refashioned by him that is appointed to refashion. For it had planks of my old shallop, and planks also of the ark, and it was shaped like a cradle rather than like a boat. And I heard the voice of one appointed to speak saying: “ Behold thou me ! " 62