to God, "Why do they do it?"

God said, "That another may not eat."

I said to God, "But if they poison all then none dare eat; what do they
gain?"

God said, "Nothing."

I said, "Are they not afraid they themselves may bite where another has
bitten?"

God said, "They are afraid. In Hell all men fear."

He called me further. And the water of the lake seemed less blue.

Then, to the right among the trees were men working. And I said to God,
"I should like to go and work with them. Hell must be a very fruitful
place, the grass is so green."

God said, "Nothing grows in the garden they are making."

We stood looking; and I saw them working among the bushes, digging
holes, but in them they set nothing; and when they had covered them with
sticks and earth each went a way off and sat behind the bushes watching;
and I noticed that as each walked he set his foot down carefully looking
where he trod. I said to God, "What are they doing?"

God said, "Making pitfalls into which their fellows may sink."

I said to God, "Why do they do it?"

God said, "Because each thinks that when his brother falls he will
rise."

I said to God, "How will he rise?"

God said, "He will not rise."

And I saw their eyes gleam from behind the bushes.

I said to God, "Are these men sane?"

God said, "They are not sane; there is no sane man in Hell."

And he told me to come further.

And I looked where I trod.

And we came where Hell opened into a plain, and a great house stood
there. Marble pillars upheld the roof, and white marble steps let up to
it. The wind of heaven blew through it. Only at the back hung a thick
curtain. Fair men and women there feasted at long tables. They danced,
and I saw the robes of women flutter in the air and heard the laugh of
strong men. What they feasted with was wine; they drew it from large
jars which stood somewhat in the background, and I saw the wine sparkle
as they drew it.

And I said to God, "I should like to go up and drink." And God said,
"Wait." And I saw men coming in to the Banquet House; they came in from
the back and lifted the corner of the curtain at the sides and crept in
quickly; and they let the curtain fall behind them; they bore great jars
they could hardly carry. And the men and women crowded round them, and
the new-comers opened their jars and gave them of the wine to drink;
and I saw that the women drank even more greedily than the men. And when
others had well drunken t