“And what happened to me? Frightened as I was—I had to laugh. Never had my eyes seen anything so color-besprinkled!
“I laughed and laughed while my foot still trembled, and my heart too: 'Here is the home of all paint-pots!' said I.
“Painted over with fifty spots in face and limbs; so sat ye there, to my amazement, ye men of the present!...
“Written all over with the signs of the past, and also these signs painted over with new signs; so you have hidden yourself well from all sign-readers!...
“All Times and Principles look piebald out of your coverings; all Customs and Faiths speak piebald out of your features....
“How could ye believe, ye color-besprinkled!—who are pictures of everything that ever was believed!...
“Ah, whither shall I go now with my longing?”
“Who are pictures of everything that ever was believed! Who are pictures of everything that ever was believed!” I read that and I slapped my knees and I lay back and laughed like a very Falstaff. “Pictures of everything that ever was believed!” Ho, ho, ho!