The Campaner Thal, and Other Writings

by Jean Paul

"Upon the cedar island dwell men who, like me, have died for the earth; but in earthly faces shall it be revealed to thee how the Infinite Father rewards those who have shed their blood for their country. The youths who are looking down into the waves have a nearer view of their old earth moving in the waters, as the island moves with it. They see only happy countries, and their friends who rejoice in their deeds, and posterity which praises them. And every flower which sprang from their blood is shown to them of God.

"Those who are gazing up to heaven, and praying, see an altar upon every sun,--and greater brethren who make higher sacrifices to the Highest; and they are entreating the Father to summon them also to still higher sacrifices. And when he thunders, he calls them.

"Those who are slumbering in tears of joy are seeing their brother soldiers dying bravely, and are comforting them in death, and welcoming them in tearful recognition as they pass from the earth to the island."

And now white flowers floated up from the earth to the surface of the sea, and all the sleepers awoke. The flowers were the souls of their mothers, who in death were following their sons fallen upon the battle-field; and the flowers became angels and flew towards the youths. It was an endless dying of endless joy. The soft murmurs of love from those who thus again found one another stirred the lilies and the roses to sounds as of harps. But as the mothers breathed the vibrating air and their hearts beat tremulously in harmony with the sound, they died away and exhaled into a flower-cloud. And the cloud arose and floated along the heavens to the distant islands where dwell the good mothers and the happy brides, longing still for the time when all the islands of the blessed were one fixed land of promise.

"Ye sons of men, joy is an eternity older than pain, and ever will be so,--for that has scarcely existed. Sacrifice ye, then, time to eternity."

A noble old man with the martyr's crown on his head looked up to the green cloud and prayed to the voice near me. Then saw I mirrored in the old man's eyes the form of the being near me. And my heart was humbled before the greatest man of earth as he repeated to me again the words, "Sacrifice time to eternity."

And now there came up from the sea near the cedar island a smoke as of a volcano, but throwing out only crowns of oak-leaves and palm-branches and streams of light. And at length a vast altar covered with young men and old, sleeping, rose from the waves. But when the light of heaven touched the sleepers they awoke suddenly, and, rushing upon the island, fell upon the breasts of their old comrades in arms. And the stars of heaven shone over them in glad, undying token of their union. The oak-forests rustled and the lions roared and the eagles, circling in the air, bathed themselves for joy in the fire and the lightning which shot from the stars. And the storm spread itself over the universe, and scattered balls of fire like suns, and thundered as with the noise of many worlds, and mingled its hot tears of joy with those of the heroes. And from below the sea came a dull echo from the earth. Then the cloud sank upon the island, and with a rushing sound received up into itself the heroes who had prayed to the Father to permit them to sacrifice in higher worlds.

When the storm had disappeared with them behind the stars, the vastness of creation appeared. All being rejoiced in eternity. The worlds lay along the heavens like an Alpine chain; the suns encircled the primal source of light; and covering all was the Throne of God.

"Pray before thou wakest, for the earth, too, will disappear," said the voice near me. And my whole heart was filled with prayer by the very nearness of this higher being. But the green cloud now moved more rapidly with me eastward toward the approaching earth; and the cedar island floated with its happy multitudes towards the other islands. The sea glowed in the east as with the colors of the dawn; and deeper and deeper sank the green cloud into the aurora of earth.

Suddenly, then, the halo of glory round the head of the invisible being became as a great rainbow, and was absorbed in an infinite radiance which filled the heavens.