THE ELECTRIC SILENCE
And I could not.
Nevertheless I gazed earnestly, and paddled
in the direction of the sound.
While this was a-doing suddenly the river fell in a cataract.
And I looked for the olive—branch, and it was withered, and
sunk beneath the stream.
And I looked for the clove, and it
was wrapped round with a most hideous serpent.
And I was
helpless.
In the end he devoured that rose—winged companion
of my journey, and went seeking a new prey.
Now in this cataract I had most surely been wrecked but
that
I clung tightly to the boat.
This indeed floated as
serenely as if it had been upon the still waters of a lake; and
when I had a little plucked up courage, I saw sitting at the
helm him that is appointed to steer; I saw him face to face.
This then endured for a space; and with his aid I began
ship—building.
“ For” (said he) “there are many that swim,
and find no boats.
Be it thy task to aid them.”
Of my
journey to the House he spake nothing.
But in the ship-
building came the fair man my brother to my help ; and one
evening as we sate at meat he said: May it please you to
enter the House;
for there is prepared for you a goodly
bedchamber. But I would not at that time ; {or I was ashamed,
being unclothed; not understanding that in the House robes
are provided by him that is appointed to provide them.
Thus we laboured, and built many fair shallops upon the
model of that wherein we sailed.
In all these there was not
one splinter of wood too much, or too little ; and there was no
ornament
; and neither paint nor varnish covered the planks,
for they were planks of a tree that cometh neither from the
East nor from the West.
But the sails were of gold tissue,
very brave, with figures inwoven.
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