A year passed.  The consciousness of being had grown hourly more indistinct, and that of mere locality had, in great measure, usurped its position.  The idea of entity was becoming merged in that of place.  The narrow space immediately surrounding what had been the body, was now growing to be the body itself.  At length, as often happens to the sleeper (by sleep and its world alone is Death imaged) - at length, as sometimes happened on Earth to the deep slumberer, when some flitting light half startled him into awaking, yet left him half enveloped in dreams — so to me, in the strict embrace of the Shadow came that light which alone might have had power to startle — the light of enduring Love.  Men toiled at the grave in which I lay darkling.  They upthrew the damp earth.  Upon my mouldering bones there descended the coffin of Una.

And now again all was void.  That nebulous light had been extinguished.  That feeble thrill had vibrated itself into quiescence.  Many lustra had supervened.  Dust had returned to dust.  The worm had food no more.  The sense of being had at length utterly departed, and there reigned in its stead — instead of all things — dominant and perpetual — the autocrats Place and Time.  For that which was not — for that which had no form — for that which had no thought — for that which had no sentience — for that which was soulless, yet of which matter formed no portion — for all this nothingness, yet for all this immortality, the grave was still a home, and the corrosive hours, co-mates.

~~~ End of Text ~~~

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THE

CONVERSATION OF EIROS AND CHARMION

ALD F@J BD@F@JFT

I will bring fire to thee.

Euripides — Androm:

EIROS.

    WHY do you call me Eiros?

CHARMION

So henceforward will you always be called.  You must forget too, my earthly name, and speak to me as Charmion.

EIROS.

    This is indeed no dream!

CHARMION.

Dreams are with us no more; — but of these mysteries anon.  I rejoice to see you looking life-like and rational.  The film of the shadow has already passed from off your eyes.  Be of heart and fear nothing.  Your allotted days of stupor have expired and, to-morrow, I will myself induct you into the full joys and wonders of your novel existence.

EIROS.

True — I feel no stupor — none at all.  The wild sickness and the terrible darkness have left me, and I hear no longer that mad, rushing, horrible sound, like the “voice of many waters.”  Yet my senses are bewildered, Charmion, with the keenness of their perception of the new.

CHARMION.

A few days will remove all this; — but I fully understand you, and feel for you.  It is now ten earthly years since I underwent what you undergo — yet the remembrance of it hangs by me still.  You have now suffered all of pain, however, which you will suffer in Aidenn.