WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:05.160 Dimer by C. S. Lewis, nine Knights. I hung upon 2 00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:08.880 the tree, wounded with the spear, as an offering to 3 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:19.399 odin myself, sacrificed to myself, haavemal canto one, you stranger, 4 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:23.199 Long before your glance can light upon these words, time 5 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:26.440 will have washed away the moment when I first took 6 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:30.239 penn to write, with all my road before me. Yet 7 00:00:30.280 --> 00:00:34.359 to day here, if at all, we meet the unfashioned clay, 8 00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:38.719 ready to both our hands, both hushed to see that 9 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:44.000 which is nowhere. Yet, come forth and be this moment. 10 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:47.719 If you join me, we begin a partnership where both 11 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:50.880 must toil to hold the clew that I caught. First, 12 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:55.880 we lose or win together. If you read, you are enrolled. 13 00:00:56.759 --> 00:01:00.439 And first a marvel. Who could have foretold that in 14 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:03.960 the city which men called in Scorn the perfect city 15 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:09.040 Dimer could be born There? You'd have thought the gods 16 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:12.640 were smothered down forever, and the keys were turned on fate. 17 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:17.239 No hour was left unchartered in that town, and love 18 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:20.560 was in a schedule, and the state chose, for eugenic 19 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:24.719 reasons who should mate with whom, And when each idle 20 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:28.599 song and dance was fixed by law, and nothing left 21 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:33.280 to chance, For some of the last Platonists had founded 22 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:37.079 that city of old and mastery. They made an island 23 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:40.640 of what ought to be surrounded by this gross world 24 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:45.159 of easier light and shade. All answering to the master's dream. 25 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:50.079 They laid the strong foundations, torturing into stone each bubble 26 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:54.480 that the academy had blown. This people were so pure, 27 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:58.879 so law abiding, so logical, they made the heavens afraid. 28 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:03.599 They sent the very swallows into hiding by their appalling 29 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:09.240 chastity dismayed more soberly, the lambs in springtime played because 30 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:13.199 of them, and ghosts dissolved in shame before their common 31 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:19.439 sense till Dimer came. At Dimer's birth, no comet scared 32 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:23.080 the nation. The public creche engulfed him with the rest, 33 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:27.400 and twenty separate boards of education closed round him. He 34 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:34.599 was passed through every test, was vaccinated, numbered, washed and dressed, proctored, inspected, whipped, 35 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:39.639 examined weakly, and for some nineteen years he bore it meekly. 36 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:46.000 For nineteen years they worked upon his soul, refining, chipping, molding, 37 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:49.520 and adorning. Then came the moment that undid the whole. 38 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:53.360 The ripple of rude life. Without a warning. It came 39 00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:58.120 in lecture time one April morning. Alas for laws and locks, 40 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:03.199 reproach and praise who ever learned to censor the spring days. 41 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:08.360 A little breeze came, stirring to his cheek. He looked 42 00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:12.039 up to the window. A brown bird perched on the sill, 43 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:15.719 bent down to wet his beak with darting head. Poor 44 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:20.680 Damer watched and stirred uneasily. The lecturer's voice he heard, 45 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:25.319 still droning from the dais. The narrow room was drowsy, 46 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:32.159 over solemn, filled with gloom. He yawned, and a voluptuous 47 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:36.159 laziness tingled down all his spine and loosed his knees, 48 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:42.000 slow drawn like an invisible caress, he laughed. The lecturer 49 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:46.120 stopped like one that sees a ghost, then frowned and murmured, 50 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:51.199 silence please. That moment saw the soul of Damer hang 51 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:56.759 in the balance louder than his laughter rang. The whole 52 00:03:56.840 --> 00:04:00.879 room watched with unbelieving awe. He rose and staggered. Rising 53 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:04.840 from his lips broke yet again the idiot like guffaw. 54 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:09.120 He felt the spirit in his finger tips, then swinging 55 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:13.599 his right arm a wide ellipse, yet lazily he struck 56 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:18.079 the lecturer's head. The old man tittered, lurched, and dropped 57 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:23.120 down dead, out of the silent room, out of the dark, 58 00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:27.879 into the sun stream. Dimer passed, and there the sudden breezes, 59 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:31.560 the high hanging lark, the milk white clouds sailing in 60 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:36.040 polished air, suddenly flashed about him like a blare of trumpets, 61 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:40.399 and no cry was raised. Behind him. His class sat dazed. 62 00:04:40.839 --> 00:04:45.560 They dared not go to find him. Yet wonderfully some 63 00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:50.319 rumor spread abroad, an inarticulate sense of life renewing in 64 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:54.199 each young heart. He whistled down the road. Men said, 65 00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:58.360 there's Dimer. Why what's Dimer doing? I don't know. Look 66 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:03.000 there's Dimer far per suing with troubled eyes. A long, 67 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:07.560 mysterious oh sighed from a hundred throats to see him 68 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:12.279 go down the white street and past the gate, and 69 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:16.720 forth beyond the wall. He came to grassy places. There 70 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:20.360 was a shifting wind to west and north, with clouds 71 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:24.759 and healing squadron running races. The shadows following on the 72 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:28.839 sunlight's traces, crossed the whole field, and each wild flower 73 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:35.160 within it with change of wavering glories every minute. There 74 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:38.720 was a river flushed with rains between the flat fields 75 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:42.800 and a forest's willowy edge, a sauntering pace. He shuffled 76 00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:46.720 on the green. He kicked his boots against the cracky sedge, 77 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:50.439 and tore his hands in many a furzy hedge. He 78 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:54.120 saw his feet and ankles gilded round with butter cups 79 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:58.879 that carpeted the ground. He looked back, then the line 80 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:01.480 of a low hill had hid the city's towers and 81 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:04.920 domes from sight. He stopped. He felt a break of 82 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:09.920 sunlight spill around him, sudden waves of searching light. Upon 83 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:13.560 the earth was green and gold and white, smothering his feet. 84 00:06:14.279 --> 00:06:18.120 He felt his city dress an insult to that april cheerfulness. 85 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:23.040 He said, I've worn this dust heap long enough. Here 86 00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:27.040 goes and forthwith in the open field. He stripped away 87 00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:31.680 that prison of sad stuff, socks, jacket, shirt, and breeches off. 88 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:35.199 He peeled and rose up, mother naked with no shield 89 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:39.279 against the sun, then stood awhile to play with bare toes, 90 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:45.240 dabbling in cold river clay, forward again, and sometimes leaping 91 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:49.439 high with arms outspread, as though he would embrace in 92 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:53.199 one act all the circle of the sky. Sometimes he 93 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:56.959 rested in a leafier place and crushed the wet, cool 94 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:01.560 flowers against his face. And once he cried aloud, O world, 95 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:05.600 O day, let let me, and then found no prayer 96 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:11.720 to say. Up furrows still unpierced with earliest crop, he 97 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:15.839 marched through woods. He strolled from flower to flower, and 98 00:07:15.959 --> 00:07:20.480 over hills, as ointment, drop by drop preciously meted out, 99 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:24.639 so hour by hour the day slipped through his hands, 100 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:28.079 and now the power failed in his feet from walking. 101 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:34.600 He was done, hungry and cold. That moment sank the sun. 102 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:38.720 He lingered. Looking up, he saw a head, the black 103 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:41.879 and bristling frontage of a wood, and over it the 104 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:46.759 large sky, swimming red, freckled with homeward crows. Surprised, he 105 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:51.759 stood to feel that wideness, quenching his hot mood. Then shouted, 106 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:56.279 trembling darkness, trembling green. What do you mean, wild wood? 107 00:07:56.439 --> 00:08:00.399 What do you mean? He shouted? But the solimn itude 108 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:04.879 received his noise into her noiselessness, his fire into her calm. 109 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:09.120 Perhaps he half believed some answer yet would come to 110 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:13.279 his desire. The hushed air quivered softly like a wire 111 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:18.040 upon his voice. It echoed. It was gone. The quiet, 112 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:23.079 and the quiet dark went on. He rushed into the wood. 113 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:26.560 He struck and stumbled on hidden roots. He groped and 114 00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:30.519 scratched his face. The little birds woke chattering where he fumbled. 115 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:35.080 The stray cat stood paw lifted in mid chase. There 116 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:38.639 is a windless calm in such a place, A sense 117 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:43.480 of being indoors, so crowded stand the living trees watching 118 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:47.919 on every hand, A sense of trespass, such as in 119 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.919 the hall of the wrong house one time, to me befell, 120 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:54.799 groping between the hat stand and the wall, A clear 121 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:58.000 voice from above me, like a bell, the sweet voice 122 00:08:58.039 --> 00:09:02.440 of a woman, asking, well, no more than this? And 123 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:06.039 as I fled, I wondered into whose aliens story I 124 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:11.120 had blundered. A like thing fell to dimer, bending low, 125 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:15.240 feeling his way, he went. The curtained air sighed into 126 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:19.240 sound above his head, as though stringed instruments and horns 127 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:23.840 were riding there. It passed, and at its passing stirred 128 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:27.559 his hair. He stood, intent to hear. He heard again, 129 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:31.279 and checked his breath, half drawn, as if with pain, 130 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:36.639 that music could have crumbled, proud belief, with doubt or 131 00:09:36.679 --> 00:09:39.440 in the bosom of the sage madden the heart that 132 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:43.279 had outmastered grief and fled with tears the eyes of 133 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:47.200 frozen age, and turned the young man's feet to pilgrimage. 134 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:50.799 So sharp it was, so sure a path it found 135 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:56.559 soulward with stabbing wounds of bitter sound. It died out 136 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:59.279 on the middle of a note, as though it failed 137 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:02.039 at the urge of it its own meaning. It left 138 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:06.360 him with life quivering at the throat, limbs shaken and wet, 139 00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:10.879 cheeks and body, leaning with strain towards the sound and senses, 140 00:10:10.919 --> 00:10:15.840 gleaning the last least ebbing ripple of the air, searching 141 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:22.120 the emptied darkness, muttering where then followed such a time 142 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:25.440 as is forgotten with morning light, but in the passing 143 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:29.759 seems unending. Where he grasped the branch was rotten. Where 144 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:33.039 he trod forth in haste, the forest streams laid weight 145 00:10:33.080 --> 00:10:37.039 for him, like men in fever dreams. Climbing an endless rope. 146 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:41.360 He labored much and gained no ground. He reached and 147 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:45.639 could not touch, and often out of darkness, like a 148 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:49.120 swell that grows up from no wind upon blue sea, 149 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:54.480 he heard the music unendurable in stealing sweetness wind from 150 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:58.200 tree to tree. Battered and bruised in body and soul 151 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:02.519 was he when first he saw a little lightness growing ahead, 152 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:07.879 and from that light the sound was flowing. The trees 153 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:11.559 were fewer now, and gladly nearing that light he saw 154 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:16.759 the stars, for sky was there, and smoother, grass, white flowered, 155 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:21.759 a forest clearing set in seven miles of forest, secreter 156 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:25.759 than valleys in the tops of clouds, more fair than 157 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:29.799 greenery under snow or desert water, or the white peace 158 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:35.399 descending after slaughter, as some who have been wounded beyond 159 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:39.720 healing wake or half wake once only and so bless 160 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:43.600 far off the lamp light traveling on the ceiling, a 161 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:47.679 disk of pale light, filled with peacefulness, and wonder if 162 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:50.879 this is the c C s or home or heaven 163 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:55.519 or dreams, then sighing when wise ignorant death before the 164 00:11:55.559 --> 00:12:00.360 panes begin, So dimer in the wood lawn blessed light, 165 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:05.600 a still light, rosy, clear, and filled with sound. Here 166 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:08.799 was some pile of building, which the night made larger. 167 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:13.559 Spiry shadows rose all round, but through the open door 168 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:18.360 appeared profound recesses of pure light, fire with no flame, 169 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:24.440 and out of that deep light. The music came tiptoes. 170 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:27.639 He slunk towards it, where the grass was twinkling in 171 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:31.120 a lane of light. Before the archway there was neither 172 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:34.919 fence to pass, nor word of challenge given, nor bolted door. 173 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:40.200 But where it's open, open evermore, no knocker and no porter, 174 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:44.960 and no guard. For very strangeness entering in grows hard, 175 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:52.440 breathe not speak, not walk gently. Someone's here? Why have 176 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:55.759 they left their house? With the door so wide? There 177 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:59.919 must be someone? Dimer hung in fear upon the threat, 178 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:05.200 longing and big eyed. At last he squared his shoulders, 179 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:08.799 smote his side, and called, I'm here. Now let the 180 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:12.960 feast begin. I'm coming now, I'm Dimer, and went in 181 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:21.519 end of Canto one, Canto two. More light, another step, 182 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:26.639 and still more light. Opening ahead, it swilled with soft excess, 183 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:29.759 his eyes yet quivering from the dregs of night. And 184 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:33.159 it was nowhere more and nowhere less in it, no 185 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:38.320 shadows were he could not guess its fountain. Wandering round around, 186 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:42.200 he turned still on each side. The level glory burned 187 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:46.440 far in the dome, to where his gaze was lost. 188 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:50.759 The deepening roof shone clear as stones, that lie in shore, 189 00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:55.279 beneath pure seas, the aisles that crossed like forests of 190 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:59.320 white stone, their arms on high pasted pillar after pillar 191 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:04.159 dragged his eye in unobscured perspective, till the sight was weary, 192 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:09.360 And there also was the light. Look with my eyes, 193 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:13.600 conceive yourself above and hanging in the dome, and thence 194 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:17.759 through space, looked down, see dimer dwarfed and naked move 195 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:21.039 a white blot on the floor at such a pace 196 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:24.960 as boats that hardly seemed to have changed place once 197 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:27.879 in an hour, when from the cliffs we spy the 198 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:33.480 same ship, always smoking towards the sky. The shouting mood 199 00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:37.279 had withered from his heart. The oppression of huge places 200 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:41.759 wrapped him round. A great misgiving sent its fluttering dart 201 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:45.960 deep into him. Some fear of being found, some hope 202 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:49.320 to find, he knew not what. The sound of music, 203 00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:54.000 never ceasing, took the roll of silence, and like silence 204 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:58.879 numbed his soul till as he turned a corner his 205 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:03.039 deep awe broke with a sudden start, for straight ahead, 206 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:06.879 far off a wild eyed, naked man he saw that 207 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:10.639 came to meet him, and beyond was spread yet further 208 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:14.799 depth of light. With quickening tread, he leaped towards the shape, 209 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:19.240 then stopped and smiled before a mirror, wondering like a child. 210 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:24.639 Beside the glass, unguarded for the claiming. Like a great 211 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:28.639 patch of flowers upon the wall, hung every kind of clothes, 212 00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:33.759 silk feathers, flaming leopard skin, furry mantles, like the fall 213 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:38.440 of deep midwinter snows. Upon them, all hung the faint 214 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:41.960 smell of cedar, and the dyes were bright as blood 215 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:46.759 and clear as morning skies. He turned from the white 216 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:50.279 specter in the glass and looked at these. Remember he 217 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:54.320 had worn through winter slush, through summer flowers and grass, 218 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:58.200 one kind of solemn stuff, since he was born with 219 00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:02.480 badge of year and rank. He laughed in scorn and cried, 220 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:06.000 here is no law nor I to see, nor leave 221 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:10.399 of entry given. Why should there be have done with that? 222 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:14.360 You threw it all behind. Henceforth I ask no license 223 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:18.279 where I need. It's on on on, though I go 224 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:22.000 mad and blind, though knees ache and lung's labor and 225 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:26.039 feet bleed, or else, it's home again to sleep and feed, 226 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:30.159 and work, and hate them always, and obey and loathe 227 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:35.320 the punctual rise of each new day. He made mad 228 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:38.399 work among them as he dressed, with motley, choice and 229 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.360 litter on the floor, and each thing, as he found 230 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:44.480 it seemed the best. He wondered that he had not 231 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:48.279 known before how fare a man he was. I'll creep 232 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:51.960 no more, in secret, Dimer said, but I'll go back 233 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:56.120 and drive them all to freedom. On this track, he 234 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:59.799 turned towards the glass. The space looked smaller behind him. 235 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:04.359 Now himself, in royal guise, filled the whole frame, a 236 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:08.680 nobler shape and taller, till suddenly he started with surprise, 237 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:13.480 catching by chance his own familiar eyes, fevered yet still 238 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:18.519 the same, without their share of bravery, undeceived and watching there. 239 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:24.119 Yet as he turned he cried, the rest remain. If 240 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.720 they rebelled, if they should find me here, we'd pluck 241 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:31.359 the whole taut fabric from the strain, hew down the city. 242 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:35.559 Let live earth appear, old men and barren women, whom, 243 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:40.519 through fear we have suffered to be masters in our home. Hide, hide, 244 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:45.200 for we are angry, and we come thus feeding on 245 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:49.960 vain fancy, covering round his hunger, his great loneliness, arraying 246 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:53.960 in facile dreams, until the qualm was drowned. The boy 247 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:58.279 went on through endless arches, straying with casual tread. He 248 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:02.880 sauntered manly, playing at manhood. Lest more loss of faith 249 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:07.160 betide him till lo he saw a table set beside him. 250 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:11.759 When Dimer saw this sight, he leaped for mirth. He 251 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:15.000 clapped his hands, his eye lit like a lover's. He 252 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:18.039 had a hunger in him that was worth ten cities. 253 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:22.720 Here was silver glass and covers, cold peacock prawns and 254 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:26.880 aspec eggs of plovers, raised pies that stood like castles, 255 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:31.359 gleaming fishes, and bright fruit, with broad leaves around the dishes. 256 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:36.200 If ever you have passed a cathay door and lingered 257 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:39.279 in the dusk of a June day, fresh from the road, 258 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:42.920 sweat sodden and foot sore, and heard the plates clink 259 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:46.519 and the music play with laughter, with white tables far 260 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:51.279 away with many lights, conceive how Dimer ran to table, 261 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:57.079 looked once round him, and began That table seemed unending. 262 00:18:57.440 --> 00:19:01.359 Here and there were broken meats, bread, crept, umbled flowers, defaced, 263 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:05.000 a napkin with white petals on a chair, a glass 264 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:08.920 already tasted still to taste. It seemed that a great 265 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:12.039 host had fed in haste, and gone, yet left a 266 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:17.880 thousand places more untouched, wherein no guest had sat before. There, 267 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:21.359 in the lonely splendor, dimer ate as thieves eat ever 268 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:25.599 watching half in fear, he blamed his evil fortune. I 269 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:29.599 come late. Whose board was this? What company sat here? 270 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:34.319 What women with wise mouths? What comrades deer? Who would 271 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:36.960 have made me welcome as the one free born of 272 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:41.839 all my race? And cried, well done? Remember yet again 273 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:45.759 he had grown up on rations and on scientific food, 274 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:49.599 at common boards, with water in his cup, one mess 275 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:52.839 alike for every day and mood. But here at his 276 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:56.759 right hand a flagon stood. He raised it, paused before 277 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:00.640 he drank, and laughed, I'll drown their perfect city in 278 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:05.359 this draft. He fingered the cold neck. He saw within 279 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:09.839 like a strange sky, some liquor that foamed blue and murmured. 280 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:13.960 Standing now with pointed chin and head thrown back, he 281 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:19.000 tasted rapture flew through every Vein that moment Louder grew 282 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:22.920 the music and swelled forth a trumpet note. He ceased, 283 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:27.640 and put one hand up to his throat. Then heedlessly 284 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:30.799 he let the flagon sink in his right hand, his 285 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:34.039 staring eyes were caught in distance, as of one who 286 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:37.079 tries to think a thought that is still waiting to 287 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:40.200 be thought. There was a riot in his heart that 288 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:43.640 brought the loud blood to the temples. A great voice 289 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:48.880 sprang to his lips, unsummoned, with no choice. Ah, but 290 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:52.160 the eyes are open. The dream is broken to sack 291 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:56.759 the perfect city, A fool's deed for Dimer, folly of follies. 292 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:01.200 I have spoken, I am the wanderer, new born, newly freed. 293 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:04.720 A thousand times. They have warned me of men's greed, 294 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:08.119 for joy, for the good that all desire. But never 295 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:11.640 till now I knew the wild heat of the endeavor. 296 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:15.359 Some day I will come back to break the city. 297 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:19.519 Not now, perhaps when age is white and bleak. Not 298 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:23.160 now I am in haste, Oh God, the pity of 299 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:26.480 all my life till this, groping and weak, the shadow 300 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:30.759 of itself. But now to seek that true, most ancient glory, 301 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:34.440 whose white glance was lost through the whole world by 302 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:40.359 evil chance. I was a dull, cowed thing from the beginning. Dimer, 303 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:44.160 the drudge, the black leg who obeyed desire, shall teach 304 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:47.160 me now if this be sinning good luck to it, 305 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:52.200 Oh splendor, long delayed, beautiful world of mine, O world 306 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:56.599 arrayed for bridal flower and forest, wave and field. I 307 00:21:56.720 --> 00:22:02.200 come to be your lover, loveliest yield world. I will 308 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:05.000 prove you, lest it should be said. There was a 309 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:07.880 man who loved the earth. His heart was nothing but 310 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:12.000 that love. With doting tread, he worshiped the loved grass, 311 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:15.720 and every start of every bird from cover the least 312 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:19.079 part of every flower he held in awe. Yet Earth 313 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:23.799 gave him no joy between his death and birth. I 314 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:26.839 know my good is hidden at your breast. There is 315 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:29.799 a sound of great good in my ear like wings. 316 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:33.759 And oh, this moment is the best. I shall not fail. 317 00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:37.559 I taste it. It comes near as men from a 318 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:41.720 dark dungeon. See the clear stars shining, and the filled streams. 319 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:47.559 Far away. I hear your promise booming and obey. This 320 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:51.759 forest lies a thousand miles, perhaps beyond where I am come, 321 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:56.119 And farther still the rivers wander seaward with smooth laps, 322 00:22:56.640 --> 00:23:00.680 and there is cliff and cottage, tower and hill somewhere 323 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:04.039 before the world's end. I shall fill my spirit at 324 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:08.279 Earth's pap for Earth must hold one rich thing sealed 325 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:13.319 as dimers from of old, one rich thing, Or it 326 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:16.359 may be more than this. Might I not reach the 327 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:19.160 borders of a land that ought to have been mine? 328 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:23.000 And there the bliss of free speech. There the eyes 329 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:26.880 that understand, the men free grown, not modeled by the 330 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:30.119 hand of masters, men that know, or men that seek, 331 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:35.039 They will not gape and murmur when I speak. Then, 332 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:38.119 as he ceased amid the farther wall, he saw a 333 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:43.039 curtained and low lintled door, dark curtains, sweepy fold night 334 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:46.680 purple pall. He thought he had not noticed it before. 335 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:51.319 Sudden desire for darkness overbore his will and drew him 336 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:56.160 towards it. All was blind Within he passed, the curtains 337 00:23:56.200 --> 00:24:01.599 closed behind. He entered in a void. Night scented flowers 338 00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:04.920 breathed there. But this was darker than the night that 339 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:09.160 is most black with beating thunder showers, a disembodied world 340 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:13.319 where depth and height and distance were unmade. No seam 341 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:16.720 of light showed through. It was a world not made 342 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:23.400 for seeing. One pure one undivided sense of being through darkness, 343 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:27.759 smooth as amber. Warily slowly he moved. The floor was 344 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:31.400 soft beneath his feet. A cool smell that was wholly 345 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:35.519 and unholy, sharp like the very spring, and roughly sweet, 346 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:39.359 blew towards him, and he felt his fingers neat broad 347 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:43.279 leaves and wiry stems that, at his will unclosed before 348 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:48.400 and closed behind him. Still with body intent, he felt 349 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:52.319 the foliage quiver on breast and thighs. With groping arms, 350 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:55.759 he made wide passes in the air, a sacred shiver 351 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:59.920 of joy from the heart center oddly strayed to every nerve, 352 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:05.880 deep sighing, much afraid, much wondering, he went on. Then, stooping, 353 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:09.599 found a knee depth of warm pillows on the ground, 354 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:14.880 and there it was sweet rapture to lie still, eyes 355 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:18.599 open on the dark. A flowing health bathed him from 356 00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:21.880 head to foot, and great good will rose springing in 357 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:26.079 his heart and poured its wealth outwards. Then came a hand, 358 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:29.039 as if by stealth, out of the dark, and touched 359 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:33.480 his hand, and after the beating silence, budded into laughter, 360 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:39.039 a low, grave laugh, and rounded like a pearl, mysterious, 361 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:43.319 filled with home. He opened wide his arms. The breathing 362 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:46.920 body of a girl slid into them from the world's 363 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:50.160 end with the stride of seven league boots came passion 364 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:56.240 to his side, then meeting mouths, soft falling hair, a cry, heart, 365 00:25:56.240 --> 00:26:02.279 shaken flank, sudden cool, folded thigh. The same night swelled 366 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:05.680 the mushroom in Earth's lap and silvered the wet fields. 367 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:08.720 It drew the bud from hiding, and led on the 368 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:12.920 rhythmic sap, and sent the young wolves thirsting after blood 369 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:17.000 and wheeling. The big seas made ebb and flood along 370 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:20.960 the shores of Earth, and held these two in dead 371 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:25.920 sleep till the time of morning dew end of Canto 372 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:31.720 two Canto three, he woke, and all at once before 373 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:35.200 his eyes the pale spires of the chestnut trees in 374 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:40.480 bloom rose waving, and beyond dove colored skies, But where 375 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:43.960 he lay was dark and out of gloom. He saw 376 00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:46.799 them through the doorway of a room full of strange 377 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:51.279 scents and softness, padded deep with growing leaves, heavy with 378 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:56.319 last night's sleep. He rubbed his eyes. He felt that 379 00:26:56.440 --> 00:27:01.160 chamber wreathing new sleepiness around him. At his side, he 380 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:05.720 was aware of warmth and quiet breathing. Twice he sank back, 381 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:09.880 loose limbed, and drowsy eyed. But the wind came even 382 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:14.319 there a sparrow cried, and the woods shone without then 383 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:18.119 dimer rose. Just for one glance, he said, and went 384 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:24.440 tiptoes out into crisp, gray air and drenching grass. The 385 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:28.240 whitened cobweb sparkling in its place, clung to his feet. 386 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:32.519 He saw the wagtail pass beside him and the thrush, 387 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:36.400 and from his face felt the thin scented winds divinely 388 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:40.200 chase the flush of sleep. Far off, he saw between 389 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:45.920 the trees long morning shadows of dark green. He stretched 390 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:49.640 his lazy arms to their full height, yawning and sighed, 391 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:54.279 and laughed and sighed anew, then wandered farther, watching with 392 00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:59.240 delight how his broad naked footprints stained the dew, pressing 393 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:02.400 his foot to feel the cold come through between the 394 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:06.720 spreading toes, then wheeling round each moment to some new 395 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:11.680 shrill forest sound. The wood, with its cold flowers, had 396 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:15.200 nothing there more beautiful than he new, waked from sleep, 397 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:19.640 new born from joy. His soul lay very bare that 398 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:23.880 moment to life's touch, and pondering deep Now. First he 399 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:27.559 knew that no desire could keep these hours for always, 400 00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:31.680 and that men do die. But oh, the present glory 401 00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:35.640