The Seven Selves

In the stillest hour of the night, as I lay half asleep, my sevenselves sat together and thus conversed in whisper:

First Self: Here, in this madman, I have dwelt all these years,with naught to do but renew his pain by day and recreate his sorrowby night. I can bear my fate no longer, and now I rebel.

Second Self: Yours is a better lot than mine, brother, for it isgiven to me to be this madman's joyous self. I laugh his laughterand sing his happy hours, and with thrice winged feet I dancehis brighter thoughts. It is I that would rebel against my wearyexistence.

Third Self: And what of me, the love-ridden self, the flaming brandof wild passion and fantastic desires? It is I the love-sick selfwho would rebel against this madman.

Fourth Self: I, amongst you all, am the most miserable, for naughtwas given me but odious hatred and destructive loathing. It isI, the tempest-like self, the one born in the black caves of Hell,who would protest against serving this madman.

Fifth Self: Nay, it is I, the thinking self, the fanciful self,the self of hunger and thirst, the one doomed to wander withoutrest in search of unknown things and things not yet created; it isI, not you, who would rebel.

Sixth Self: And I, the working self, the pitiful labourer, who,with patient hands, and longing eyes, fashion the days into imagesand give the formless elements new and eternal forms--it is I, thesolitary one, who would rebel against this restless madman.

Seventh Self: How strange that you all would rebel against thisman, because each and every one of you has a preordained fate tofulfill. Ah! could I but be like one of you, a self with a determinedlot! But I have none, I am the do-nothing self, the one who sitsin the dumb, empty nowhere and nowhen, while you are busy re-creatinglife. Is it you or I, neighbours, who should rebel?

When the seventh self thus spake the other six selves looked withpity upon him but said nothing more; and as the night grew deeperone after the other went to sleep enfolded with a new and happysubmission.

But the seventh self remained watching and gazing at nothingness,which is behind all things.