ike a beaming light； and threw such abright radiance upon the pages of the Book of Truth that every wordwas illuminated which spoke of the life beyond the grave。 But thesister had no dream of going out into the wide world； it never enteredher mind。 Her world was her father's house。
〃I shall ride forth into the wide world；〃 said the eldest brother。〃I must try what life is like there； as I mix with men。 I willpractise only the good and true； with these I will protect thebeautiful。 Much shall be changed for the better while I am there。〃
Now these thoughts were great and daring； as our thoughtsgenerally are at home； before we have gone out into the world； andencountered its storms and tempests； its thorns and its thistles。 Inhim； and in all his brothers； the five senses were highlycultivated； inwardly and outwardly； but each of them had one sensewhich in keenness and development surpassed the other four。 In thecase of the eldest； this pre…eminent sense was sight； which he hopedwould be of special service。 He had eyes for all times and all people；eyes that could discover in the depths of the earth hiddentreasures； and look into the hearts of men； as through a pane ofglass； he could read more than is often seen on the cheek that blushesor grows pale； in the eye that droops or smiles。 Stags and antelopesacpanied him to the western boundary of his home； and there hefound the wild swans。 These he followed； and found himself far away inthe north； far from the land of his father； which extended eastward tothe ends of the earth。 How he opened his eyes with astonishment！ Howmany things were to be seen here！ and so different to the mererepresentation of pictures such as those in his father's house。 Atfirst he nearly lost his eyes in astonishment at the rubbish andmockery brought forward to represent the beautiful； but he kept hiseyes； and soon found full employment for them。 He wished to gothoroughly and honestly to work in his endeavor to understand thetrue； the beautiful； and the good。 But how were they represented inthe world？ He observed that the wreath which rightly belonged to thebeautiful was often given the hideous； that the good was oftenpassed by unnoticed； while mediocrity was applauded； when it shouldhave been hissed。 People look at the dress； not at the wearer； thoughtmore of a name than of doing their duty； and trusted more toreputation than to real service。 It was everywhere the same。
〃I see I must make a regular attack on these things；〃 said he； andhe accordingly did not spare them。 But while looking for the truth；came the evil one； the father of lies； to intercept him。 Gladlywould the fiend have plucked out the eyes of this Seer； but that wouldhave been a too straightforward path for him； he works more cunningly。He allowed the young man to seek for； and discover； the beautifuland the good； but while he was contemplating them； the evil spiritblew one mote after another into each of his eyes； and such aproceeding would injure the strongest sight。 Then he blew upon themotes； and they became beams； so that the clearness of his sight wasgone； and the Seer was like a blind man in the world； and had nolonger any faith in it。 He had lost his good opinion of the world；as well as of himself； and when a man gives up the world； andhimself too； it is all over with him。
〃All over；〃 said the wild swan； who flew across the sea to theeast。
〃All over；〃 twittered the swallows； who were also flyingeastward towards the Tree of the Sun。 It was no good news which theycarried home。
〃I think the Seer has been badly served；〃 said the second brother；〃but the Hearer may be more successful。〃
This one possessed the sense of hearing to a very high degree：so acute was this sense； that it was said he could hear the grassgrow。 He took a fond leave of all at home； and rode away； providedwith good abilities and good intentions。 The swallows escorted him；and he followed the swans till he found himself out in the world；and far away from home。 But he soon discovered that one may have toomuch of a good thing。 His hearing was too fine。 He not only heardthe grass grow； but could hear every man's heart beat； whether insorrow or in joy。 The whole world was to him like a clockmaker's greatworkshop； in which all the clocks were going 〃tick； tick；〃 and all theturret clocks striking 〃ding； dong。〃 It was unbearable。 For a longtime his ears endured it； but at last all the noise and tumultbecame too much for one man to bear。
There were rascally boys of sixty years old… for years do notalone make a man… who raised a tumult； which might have made theHearer laugh； but for the applause which followed； echoing throughevery street and house； and was even heard in country roads。 Falsehoodthrust itself forward and played the hypocrite； the bells on thefool's cap jingled； and declared they were church…bells； and the noisebecame so bad for the Hearer that he thrust his fingers into his ears。Still； he could hear false notes and bad singing； gossip and idlewords； scandal and slander； groaning and moaning； without andwithin。 〃Heaven help us！〃 He thrust his fingers farther and fartherinto his ears； till at last the drums burst。 And now he could hearnothing more of the true； the beautiful； and the good； for his hearingwas to have been the means by which he hoped to acquire his knowledge。He became silent and suspicious； and at last trusted no one； noteven himself； and no longer hoping to find and bring home the costlyjewel； he gave it up； and gave himself up too； which was worse thanall。
The birds in their flight towards the east； carried the tidings；and the news reached the castle in the Tree of the Sun。
〃I will try now；〃 said the third brother； 〃I have a keen nose。〃Now that was not a very elegant expression； but it was his way； and wemust take him as he was。 He had a cheerful temper； and was； besides； areal poet； he could make many things appear poetical； by the way inwhich he spoke of them； and ideas struck him long before they occurredto the minds of others。 〃I can smell；〃 he would say； and he attributedto the sense of smelling； which he possessed in a high degree； a greatpower in the region of the beautiful。 〃I can smell；〃 he would say；〃and many places are fragrant or beautiful according to the taste ofthe frequenters。 One man feels at home in the atmosphere of thetavern； among the flaring tallow candles； and when the smell ofspirits mingles with the fumes of bad tobacco。 Another prefers sittingamidst the overpowering scent of jasmine； or perfuming himself withscented olive oil。 This man seeks the fresh sea breeze； while that oneclimbs the lofty mountain…top； to look down upon the busy life inminiature beneath him。〃
As he spoke in this way； it seemed as if he had already been outin the world； as if he had already known and associated with man。But this experience was intuitive… it was the poetry within him； agift from Heaven bestowed on him in his cradle。 He bade farewell tohis parental roof in the Tree of the Sun； and departed on foot； fromthe pleasant scenes that surrounded his home。 Arrived at its confines；he mounted on the back of an ostrich； which runs faster than ahorse； and afterwards； when he fell in with the wild swans； he swunghimself on the stron