eair.Wecametoaclearing,wherewasalittlepondIwateredthepoorbeast,and,throwingmyselfdown,drankdeeply.ThenItiedhimtoatreeandadvancedafewstepsalone.Icametoasortofterrace,andgoingforwardfoundmyselfattheedgeofthehill,lookingovertheplain.Behind,thetallfirtreesgavemeshadeandcoolnessIsatdown,lookingatthecountrybeforeme.Inthecloudlessskyitseemednowsingularlybeautiful.FarawayononesideIcouldseethewallsandtowersofsomecity,andtoitinbroadcurveswoundariverthemazeandcorn,vinesandolivetrees,coveredtheland,andinthedistanceIsawthesoftbluemountains.Whyshouldtheworldbesobeautiful,andIsomiserable?
'Itis,indeed,awonderfulscene.'
IlookedupandsawthemonkwhomIhadspokenwithattheinn.Heputdownhissackandsatbymyside.
'Youdonotthinkmeimportunate?'heasked.
'Ibegyourpardon,'Ireplied,'Iwasnotciviltoyouyoumustforgiveme.Iwasnotmyself.'
'Donottalkofit.Isawyouhere,andIcamedowntoyoutoofferyouourhospitality.'
Ilookedathimquestioninglyhepointedoverhisshoulder,andlooking,Isaw,perchedonthetopofthehill,piercingthroughthetrees,alittlemonastery.
'Howpeacefulitlooks!'Isaid.
'Itis,indeed.StFrancishimselfusedsometimestocometoenjoythequiet.'
Isighed.Oh,whycouldnotIhavedonewiththelifeIhated,andalsoenjoythequiet?Ifeltthemonkwaswatchingme,and,lookingup,Imethisglance.Hewasatall,thinman,withdeeply-sunkeneyesandhollowcheeks.Andhewaspaleandwornfromprayerandfasting.Buthisvoicewassweetandverygentle.
'Whydoyoulookatme?'Isaid.
'Iwasinthetavernwhenyoudisarmedthemanandgavehimhislife.'
'Itwasnotforcharityandmercy,'Isaidbitterly.
'Iknow,'heanswered,'itwasfromdespair.'
'Howdoyouknow?'
'IwatchedyouandattheendIsaid,'"Godpityhisunhappiness."'
Ilookedwithastonishmentatthestrangemanandthen,withagroan,Isaid,—
'Oh,youareright.Iamsounhappy.'
Hetookmyhandsinhis,andwiththegentlenessofthemotherofGodherselfreplied,—
'"ComeuntoMeallyethatarewearyandheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest."'
ThenIcouldsuffermywoenolonger.Iburiedmyfaceinhisbosom,andburstintotears.