小说园

第53部分（第3页）

birth　at　Christmas　for　death　at　Good　Friday。　On　Easter　Sunday

the　life…drama　was　as　good　as　finished。　For　the　Resurrection　was

shadowy　and　overe　by　the　shadow　of　death；　the　Ascension　was

scarce　noticed；　a　mere　confirmation　of　death。

What　was　the　hope　and　the　fulfilment？　Nay；　was　it　all　only　a

useless　after…death；　a　wan；　bodiless　after…death？　Alas；　and　alas

for　the　passion　of　the　human　heart；　that　must　die　so　long　before

the　body　was　dead。

For　from　the　grave；　after　the　passion　and　the　trial　of

anguish；　the　body　rose　torn　and　chill　and　colourless。　Did　not

Christ　say；　〃Mary！〃　and　when　she　turned　with　outstretched　hands

to　him；　did　he　not　hasten　to　add；　〃Touch　me　not；　for　I　am　not

yet　ascended　to　my　father。〃

Then　how　could　the　hands　rejoice；　or　the　heart　be　glad；

seeing　themselves　repulsed。　Alas；　for　the　resurrection　of　the

dead　body！　Alas；　for　the　wavering；　glimmering　appearance　of　the

risen　Christ。　Alas；　for　the　Ascension　into　heaven；　which　is　a

shadow　within　death；　a　plete　passing　away。

Alas；　that　so　soon　the　drama　is　over；　that　life　is　ended　at

thirty…three；　that　the　half　of　the　year　of　the　soul　is　cold　and

historiless！　Alas；　that　a　risen　Christ　has　no　place　with　us！

Alas；　that　the　memory　of　the　passion　of　Sorrow　and　Death　and　the

Grave　holds　triumph　over　the　pale　fact　of　Resurrection！

But　why？　Why　shall　I　not　rise　with　my　body　whole　and　perfect；

shining　with　strong　life？　Why；　when　Mary　says：　Rabboni；　shall　I

not　take　her　in　my　arms　and　kiss　her　and　hold　her　to　my　breast？

Why　is　the　risen　body　deadly；　and　abhorrent　with　wounds？

The　Resurrection　is　to　life；　not　to　death。　Shall　I　not　see

those　who　have　risen　again　walk　here　among　men　perfect　in　body

and　spirit；　whole　and　glad　in　the　flesh；　living　in　the　flesh；

loving　in　the　flesh；　begetting　children　in　the　flesh；　arrived　at

last　to　wholeness；　perfect　without　scar　or　blemish；　healthy

without　fear　of　ill　health？　Is　this　not　the　period　of　manhood

and　of　joy　and　fulfilment；　after　the　Resurrection？　Who　shall　be

shadowed　by　Death　and　the　Cross；　being　risen；　and　who　shall　fear

the　mystic；　perfect　flesh　that　belongs　to　heaven？

Can　I　not；　then；　walk　this　earth　in　gladness；　being　risen

from　sorrow？　Can　I　not　eat　with　my　brother　happily；　and　with　joy

kiss　my　beloved；　after　my　resurrection；　celebrate　my　marriage　in

the　flesh　with　feastings；　go　about　my　business　eagerly；　in　the