8. VIII.
But the youth heeded not their doings, nor imagined
the feelings in their hearts. In his own a
sweet sadness prevailed, a shadow from his searching
thought, that moved over strangest places,
and wandered into worlds far beyond his arm.
His life strayed afar from the accustomed paths of
his boyhood; for the voice was ever in his ears,
— the voice whose tones were a perfect melody
which he might not resist, — and they led him
away from the crowded places, and they tempted
him to fields which had ever been forbid. In the
presence of his brethren he had little comfort, and
his mood found no fellowship among those who
had once given him most sweet society. With
sad eyes, but without complaint, did his grandsire
behold the shadow that was upon the youth, and
the friends of his boyhood, and his young sister
Damaina, the best beloved of all, reproached him
loudly for his desertion. But Ipsistos only sighed
to them in return; and he walked apart to hide
the tears which were in his eyes, though his heart
was softened only with a becoming joy.
“They chafe with me now,” he said to himself
in musing, “but will they chafe with me when I
bring them to a sight of her whom my soul loveth;
when they look upon the divine light of her eyes,
and feel the blessed tones of her voice sink like a
balm from heaven into their hearts.”
And a holy pride filled his bosom as he thought
that he should bring those who loved him to such
superior enjoyment. And he followed the voice;
and came to a mighty wood which was dusky with
gigantic forms, each having a double shadow.
And he wandered away among the shadows 'till
they grew like a bannered army around him, and
he laid himself down at their feet, and they hung
above him, and he thought unutterable things.
But the thoughts gave him pain at length, for they
came like pictures that pass rapidly in the uncertain
light before the eye. And he failed to know
them or perceive their offices. Vainly did he
strive to fix them with his revolving mind; but
they fled from him, looking behind them as they
fled, and showing him glimpses of their beguiling
features. Through the dim mazes of his mind
he struggled to trace their flight, but others came
between, and so he was confounded; and he prayed
for counsel and help from the voice, and even
as he prayed he slept.
