And people took sides, some with this one and some with that, and they shouted so loud that they could neither see nor hear for the din. But far away, at the extreme end of the earth, sat a few and mourned because they thought that Truth had gone to pieces and would never be made whole again.
Now, as they sat there, a little girl came running up and said that she had found Truth. If they would just come with her ... it was not very far.... Truth was sitting in the midst of the world, in a green meadow.
Then there came a pause in the fighting, for the little girl looked so very sweet. First one went with her; then another; and ever more and more.... At last they were all in the meadow and there discovered a figure the like of which they had never seen before. There was no distinguishing whether it was a man or a woman, an adult or a child. Its forehead was pure as that of one who knows no sin; its eyes deep and serious as those of one who has read into the heart of the whole world. Its mouth opened with the brightest smile and then quivered with a sadness greater than any could describe. Its hand was soft as a mother’s and strong as the hand of a king; its foot trod the earth firmly, yet crushed not a flower. And then the figure had large, soft wings, like the birds that fly at night.
Now, as they stood there and stared, the figure drew itself erect and cried, in a voice that sounded like ringing bells:
“I am Truth!”
“It’s a Fairy-tale!” said Science.
“It’s a Fairy-tale!” cried Theology and Love and Gold and Wine.
Then the five wise men and their followers departed and they went on fighting till the earth was shaken to its centre.
But a few old and tired men and a few young men with ardent and eager souls and many women and thousands of children with great wide eyes: these remained in the meadow where the Fairy-tale was....
