OF APOSTATES 26 I
wherever I lift a curtain, a little moth rusheth forth from it.
Did it squat there together with another little moth ? For everywhere I smell little hidden communions ; and wherever there are small rooms, there are new bigots and the odour of bigots.
They sit for long evenings together saying : ' Let us become again like the little children and say " dear God" ' ! with their mouth and stomach spoiled by the pious comfit-makers.
Or for long evenings they gaze at an artful, lurk- ing cross-spider, that preacheth prudence unto the spiders themselves and teacheth thus : ' Below crosses there is good spinning ' !
Or they sit all day with fishing rods at the swamps, and thereby believe themselves profound. But him who fisheth where there are no fish I call not even superficial !
Or they learn to play the harp piously and gaily from a hymn-writer, who would fain harp himself into the heart of young little women. For he hath wearied of old little women and their praises.
Or they learn how to shudder with a learned half- madman who waiteth in dark rooms for the spirits to come unto him and the spirit runneth wholly away !
And they listen unto an old juggler-piper and snarler who hath wandered about and learnt from dreary winds the affliction of tones. Now he whistleth after the wind and preacheth affliction in dreary tones.
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