BRIDGE FOR HUMANITY
Amid this solemnity (as described in the last post) this happiness and rapture, no one had observed that it was now broad day and all at once, on looking through the open portal, a crowd of altogether unexpected objects met the eye.
A large space surrounded with pillars formed the fore-court, at the end of which was seen a broad and stately Bridge stretching with many arches across the River.
It was furnished on both sides, with commodious and magnificent colonnades for foot-travellers, many thousands of whom were already there, busily passing this way or that. The broad pavement in the centre was thronged with herds and mules, with horsemen and carriages, flowing like two streams on their several sides and neither interrupting the other.
All admired the splendour and convenience of the structure and the new King and his spouse were delighted with the motion and activity of this great people, as they were already happy in their own mutual love.
The Man with the Lamp said: "Remember the Snake with honour. Thou owest her thy life; thy people owe her the Bridge, by which these neighbouring banks are now animated and combined into one land. Those swimming and shining jewels, the remains of her sacrificed body are the piers of this royal bridge; upon these she has built and will maintain herself."
The party were about to ask some explanation of this strange mystery, when there entered four lovely maidens at the portal of the Temple. By the Harp. the Parasol and the Folding-stool, it was not difficult to recognise the waiting-maids of the Lily; but the fourth, more beautiful than any of the rest, was an unknown fair one and in sisterly sportfulness she hastened with them through the Temple and mounted the steps of the Altar.
The Man with the Lamp said to the fair one: "Wilt thou have better trust in me another time, good wife?"
The fair one, his wife, replied: "Well for thee and every living thing that bathes this morning in the River!"
The renewed and beautified old Woman, of whose former shape no trace remained, embraced with young eager arms the Man with the Lamp, who kindly received her caresses.
"If I am too old for thee," said he, smiling, "thou mayest choose another husband today; from this hour no marriage is of force, which is not contracted anew."
"Dost thou not know, then," answered she, "that thou too art grown younger?" - "It delights me if to thy young eyes I seem a handsome youth: I take thy hand anew, and am well content to live with thee another thousand years."
The Queen welcomed her new friend and went down with her into the interior of the Altar while the King stood between his two men, looking towards the Bridge and attentively contemplating the busy tumult of the people.
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One final instalment remains entitled Heavenly Splendour. It will be Posted next month.
