f mine and find all Earth’s desire。 Drink! Drink of the Mysteries from the cup of this rich heart of mine and learn what Life can be。 Sleep! Sleep and dream of naught but me on this kind breast of mine which shall breathe for you alone until the Night forgets her stars。’”
“Touch not; taste not; handle not;” answers the cold stern Law。 “Pass on; she is not thine。”
Often enough it is Nature that prevails and; having eaten of the apple that She; our Mother; gives us; we desire no other fruit。 But always the end is the same: its sweetness turns to gravel in our mouth。 Shame es; sorrow es; e death and separations。 And; greater than all of these; remorse rises in the after years and stands over us at night; since; when our eyes are no longer clouded with the mists of passion; we see and bewail our wickedness。
For sin has this quality。 Like some bare; black peak in a plain of flowers it dominates all our landscape。 However far we wander never can we escape the sight of it。 Our virtues; such as they may be; are dwarfed and lost in the dark shadows thrown up by our towering crime。 True and honest love of wife and child; unceasing thought for others; vicarious sufferings on behalf of others; often sharp enough to sadden; whatever kind deeds and charities may lie within our power; the utter and heartfelt forgiveness of all who have wronged us; the struggles that we made as the snare closed round us; the memories of those keen temptations from which we have escap