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An
Allegory
As
I was wandering through one of those lovely eastern countries from which
the unclouded sun looks ever unchangeably bright, and on which he delights
to shower his choicest treasures, I paused on the brow of a mountain, at
whose foot gushed forth a gentle spring, whose clear and pellucid waters
looked invitingly to the thirsty lip. The modest moss, entwined with
emerald grass, gemmed it round, and within its clear and unfathomed depths
lay reflected the azure heavens, with all their shining glories. Not a
weed or a bush grew around, for the soil, rendered pure by the colourless
waters within its bosom, gave birth only to those things that were
emblematical of truth.
Overshadowing
this lovely fountain, grew a tree, whose lofty height pierced the clouds,
and whose wide-spread branches threw a pleasing shade over the fragrant
turf. Amongst its green leaves the fruit and flower budded forth
together—fruit wreathed with flowers, and flowers enclosing fruit within
their calices. Nor were the fruit or flowers all alike; for some would not
more than satisfy the first longings of childhood: these were on the end
of drooping branches, that bowed themselves at every zephyr’s breath so
low, that the tiny hand of infancy might seize them; others grew larger as
they neared the upper branches; whilst, high in air, far out of the reach
of those who might wish to gather without toil, grew those whose size
might satisfy the utmost cravings of manly appetite. All seemed ripe, all
of the same colour,—a gentle mingling of white and blushing red; and
yet, methought, the higher fruit exhibited a more ecstatic perfume, and
seemed encircled with a calmer and more lovely halo; like the light that
the full autumnal moon throws over some beautiful landscape.
The
roots of the tree seemed to have struck deep and firm; for at times, when
the winds howled and prostrated all before them, it shook not; neither did
the rain pierce through the impervious folds of its green drapery; but
ever and anon, through the midst of the roar of the tempest, a low and
gentle whisper was sent from leaf to leaf, telling of conscious strength
and lofty hopes. The fount seemed to give freshness to the tree, the tree
life and shelter to the fountain; for it secured it from the whirlwind’s
wrath, and prevented the clouds of dust that swept the heavens from
contaminating its crystal purity.
Near
by, just without the far-reaching shadow of the majestic tree, oozed forth
another spring: oh, how unlike the first! nstead of the modest moss and
emerald grass, ‘twas encircled by gay and gaudy-flowers of every shape
and hue! The bee-orchid, the lavender plant, vied with the rosy and golden
amaryllis in luxuriance; while fringed with the bulrush, the snapdragon,
and bugloss; the catch-fly, the fragrant basil, and snaky cactus, grew and
bloomed; whilst high, overtopping all, the haughty turnsol threw its broad
disk towards the sun. A thousand streamlets were formed from the waters
that overflowed the banks of the fountain, which curiously increased in
volurne, though joined by no other waters, the further they flowed from
the parent source. These too were bordered with flowers, that grew and
spread till the streams, whose fertility was the cause of their existence,
were lost to the view. The golden hellenium, the rose-coloured circaea,
the wreathed mezereon, the flowering clematis, and graceful columbine,
blended their perfume with the sweet musk and lovely tuberose. Every thing
that could please the fancy, whose judgment was enthralled, grew to a
gigantic size: earth here way triumphant, and no view of heaven sought the
tangled shades.
As I gazed upon the scene beneath me, I beheld a
great concourse of people, of both sexes, approaching—tottling infancy,
trustful childhood, blooming maturity, and decrepit age. Some seemed
overcome with fatigue, ahungry and athirst; others looked fresh and
blooming, as if their journey had been calm and pleasant. As they
approached, many were attracted by the gay flowers, which they plucked
with eagerness, and stooped to slake their thirst from the streamlets at
their feet; they then looked
around for something to appease their hunger; the grateful smell of the
fruit of the manchineel-tree drew many to taste, whilst the barberry,
quince, and bilberry, which grew in a cluster on the right, offered their
fruits to satisfy the longings of the rest. Having partaken to satiety,
they turned to gaze and jeer at the graver few who quenched their thirst
at the solitary fount. These last seemed to lose all sense of pails and
fatigue as they quaffed the crystal waters, and with brightened
countenances turned to partake of the fruit from the tree above there.
Pleased with the taste, they looked for others to share with them the
bounteous store. Indeed it was a pleasant sight to see:—here the
tottering infant would throw the exquisite flowers around its brow, and
then, with childish glee, look up to the fond parent for her rewarding
smile; there the young and tender maiden would seize the loaded branches,
as they waved and bent in their graceful undulations, whilst the manly
youth, in whose sparkling eyes beamed the fire of high thoughts joined to
virtuous perceptions, plucked the blushing fruit; here would old age call
infancy around them to partake of the stores they had gathered, and there
the timid youth would share with the blind and decrepit the fruit which he
had found to be so inspiring; whilst some few made their way up a steep
and difficult ascent, from whose top they could pluck the fruit that grew
upon the upper branches. Their toil seemed well repaid in the pleasure
they experienced in partaking of the refreshing fruit; with this they
revived the strength of those who had fainted on the way, besides bringing
back sufficient to supply the farther wants of their journey. All,
however, were not so provident; for some, whilst satisfying their own
wants, had suffered their children to stray and pluck the variegated
blossoms that grew near the other fountain; whence, seeking to reclaim
them, some stopped to taste the changing waters, which reflected every
flower that grew above them, when, seeming to forget their purpose, they
went not back; others succeeded in withdrawing their children from the gay
scene, but many returned thither again, and were hidden from their
parents’ view by its intricacies; whilst some few, who had first stopped
at the nearer spring, strolled to the other, seemingly through curiosity,
but once having tasted its waters, showed no disposition to forsake them.
Some there were who had as yet partaken of nothing, but resting from their
fatigues, thought there was time enough for refreshment; but now the
shades of night drew on apace, and each party (save this last few,)
supplied themselves with fruits and waters to last them during their
further journey. All set out, nor did their paths, at starting, diverge
much from each other. I noticed those who had neglected to refresh
themselves until it was too late, pursued their journey with difficulty;
the heat of the sun, though on the decline, seemed too mach for their
enfeebled strength, and gladly availing themselves of a by-way fringed
with the yew and cypress, they pursued their way, forced on by a power not
their own; but they had not proceeded far before they fell into various
pitfalls, that were hidden by the rotten branches and dry leaves that had
fallen from the trees above.
Those, who had plucked the fruit from the solitary
tree pressed on, right onward, turning not to the right nor to the left,
but surmounted every difficulty they found on their path, and whenever
overcome with fatigue, they drew fresh vigour from the fruits and waters
they had brought with them, which, though partaken largely of, diminished
not.
The
others turned into every by-path to shun each obstacle they met; though
they ate and drank freely, their hunger was not appeased, nor their thirst
abated: fatigued with their travel, they saw darkness advancing with rapid
strides, and with eager haste hurried on to the margin of a stream which
they must pass ere the light left them, as their haven lay beyond. Many of
the first had already plunged into the dark waters, nor did their burdens
retard their progress; but, buoyed up by the fruit of the tree that they
had brought with them, they quickly arrived at the farther shore. Of the
latter, many plunged headlong in;—down! down they sank! struggling with
their last gasp to retain the fruits they had gathered. Others, warned by
the fate of their comrades, sought help from those who floated so calmly
over the deep gulf; nor did they call in vain;—sharing with them their
choice stores, hand and hand they passed over the calm waters, to the
beautiful country beyond. But many, very many turned from the offered
glass in scorn, and relying upon the strength of their own arm, commenced
crossing; but the opposite shores receded from their gaze, and darkness
closed around them. In their despair they attempted to regain the shore
they had left; but, blinded by the storm that now commenced to rage, one
by one they sank to the bottom, and when the lightning flashed over the
scene, not a soul appeared above the tranquil and motionless waters.
As
I sat musing over the sad fate of those, who, but a moment since, were
revelling in all the pride of being, my revery was interrupted by the
approach of an old man, whose rapt and serene countenance gave tone to the
thoughts of my soul.
My
son, said he, grievest thou for the loss of those who have just passed
away from before thy vision? Rather rejoice that some were saved ere it
was too late. Listen and I will explain the scene to thee.—The tree,
whose roots pierce through the valley at our feet, and whose branches hide
themselves in the clouds above us, whose fruit had such virtuous power, is
the tree of the LAW, whose fruit is within the reach of all. The flowers
that thou seest around the fruit, are home ties and holy affections, as
the love towards mankind and each living creature, causes the fruit of the
law to mature till it fill the calyx (the heart) of all nature. The spring
at its foot contains the waters of faith, whose waters are capable of
purifying the desires of the heart, and satisfying the most burning thirst
of the intellect. Those whom thou sawest climbing the hill, were the
teachers of the law, thus bringing its most precious gifts within the
reach of all, so that no longing should remain unsatisfied. Thou hast seen
that the pure waters and the living fruit preserved their possessors from
every ill on the way, and bore them safely across that stream, whose
utmost boundary the darkness shut from thy view. The other spring that thou seest is called the fountain of error: from it flow the
thousand streams of pride, folly, and duplicity, which increase in volume
as they progress onward, without addition from sources without, as error
multiplies and engenders its manifold abortions, the farther it wanders
from the light of truth. Each one, as thou sawest, drew no refreshment
from its waters, nor vigour from the fruits that grew near; but,
intoxicated with the perfume arising from the flowers that bloomed around,
pursued the ever-flying phantom, happiness founded upon earthy desires,
and at every draught of the pernicious waters, became deeper involved
within the mazes of falsehood, whose weight at last sank them in the gulf
of eternity. The last few, who fell into the pitfalls by the way, were
those who constantly deferred the execution of their duties, and think
to-morrow they will follow the dictates of conscience; but time waits for
for their supineness, and they must prosecute the journey through life;
unprepared for its final catastrophe, till the inexorable present grasps
them in its irresistible embrace, and they sink, ere night, into the pits
of dissolution.
Be
wise then, my son, and profit by what thou hast this day see; and believe
that not a flower blows, not a leaf withers, but teachers, in the language
of Nature, lessons that incite to good, or that warn from evil: blame not
thou Providence, but thy perverseness, if thou extractest the gall instead
of the honey from the herb on the way-side of life; for thou needest but
to stretch forth thy hand, and the fruits that invigorate and heal are at
all times within thy grasp.
S.
Solis.
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