Responsibilities Part 13

Master, we have all learnt that truth is learnt When the intellect's deliberate and cold, As it were a polished mirror that reflects An unchanged world; and not when the steel melts, Bubbling and hissing, till there's naught but fume.

WISE MAN

When it is melted, when it all fumes up, They walk, as when beside those three in the furnace The form of the fourth.

FIRST PUPIL

Master, there's none among us That has not heard your mockery of these, Or thoughts like these, and we have not forgot.

WISE MAN

Something incredible has happened--some one has come Suddenly like a grey hawk out of the air, And all that I declared untrue is true.

FIRST PUPIL (_to other pupils_)

You'd think the way he says it, that he felt it.

There's not a mummer to compare with him.

He's something like a man.

SECOND PUPIL

Give us some proof.

WISE MAN

What proof have I to give, but that an angel An instant ago was standing on that spot.

[_The pupils rise._

THIRD PUPIL

You dreamed it.

WISE MAN

I was awake as I am now.

FIRST PUPIL (_to the others_)

I may be dreaming now for all I know.

He wants to show we have no certain proof Of anything in the world.

SECOND PUPIL

There is this proof That shows we are awake--we have all one world While every dreamer has a world of his own, And sees what no one else can.

THIRD PUPIL

Teigue sees angels.

So when the Master says he has seen an angel, He may have seen one.

FIRST PUPIL

Both may still be dreamers; Unless it's proved the angels were alike.

SECOND PUPIL

What sort are the angels, Teigue?

THIRD PUPIL

That will prove nothing, Unless we are sure prolonged obedience Has made one angel like another angel As they were eggs.

FIRST PUPIL

The Master's silent now: For he has found that to dispute with us-- Seeing that he has taught us what we know-- Is but to reason with himself. Let us away, And find if there is one believer left.

WISE MAN

Yes, yes. Find me but one that still believes The things that we were told when we were children.

THIRD PUPIL

He'll mock and maul him.

FOURTH PUPIL

From the first I knew He wanted somebody to argue with.

[_They go._

WISE MAN

I have no reason left. All dark, all dark!

[_Pupils return laughing. They push forward fourth pupil._

FIRST PUPIL

Here, Master, is the very man you want.

He said, when we were studying the book, That maybe after all the monks were right, And you mistaken, and if we but gave him time, He'd prove that it was so.

FOURTH PUPIL

I never said it.

WISE MAN

Dear friend, dear friend, do you believe in G.o.d?