MATTHEW

And he knew it, I knew it, we all knew it; O these flies are terrible. I can see your point, but what is this razor doing lying across the bed? He stood up for once. Meanness!

And the broken promise remains broken. His face was like a tiny sun, or a mirror (for his body was made of mirrors). This seems like a chamber of horrors to me (hooks and knives, hooks and knives). You’re under his spell now. Why must you set your life aside for a cult? We shall have to cure you of these silly notions.

O what does your heart say, sweet man? Still, you’ll have to hobble along on crutches for a while. And the pigs are just lovely in these parts, nice hams, nice ribs. We shall crack open an egg above your head; if it is bloody, this is a good omen, and you are a disciple. But you will still have to go through our initiation: blood sacrifice, ritual, candles and incense.

And he felt it very deeply: he had a large heart, and was prone to deep feeling. But why must we fly away on these great black wings? What are these crows but demons in the flesh? And why must that one follow me, constantly flying above my head? Nonetheless, he was made whole by devils and succubae; these were his sweet sisters.

O devils and succubae, sweet sisters, why do you stand over my bedside at night, breathing your awful substance into my mouth? Are you trying to lay eggs in my brain? Are you making me the stuff of devils, are you putting me through the trials, have I been tested and have I passed the test?

Sweet sister, my succubus, you are living like I’ve never seen life live before. You are a composite of a thousand living things, with a sow’s snout, a cow’s ears, a she-wolf’s teeth, a she-bear’s arms; you have insects for brains and worms for intestines. Sweet sister, you are alive! I’ve never seen life live like it lives in you.

And now his breath was green; and now his mind was feverish; and now his eyes burned, two candle flames hot like burning coal; and now his heart was made whole; he felt himself deeply (for he often feels deeply; he is one of those men). And she stood there taking in his great soul, knowing his decision; and he gave her a she-child, a little succubus to grow inside her demon-flesh; this was his deep feeling, and his trial.

The bridge collapsed. The waters rushed on and on throughout the village. The rains came, and the rains washed everything away with them, all the riches, all the wealth of the village was washed away with the rains.

The hour had come: he put on his belt, put away his sword, put on his boots (these were new boots with fresh leather), and went forth feeling deeply in his heart (he felt this man deeply within him, this mysterious man captured his heart and he was smitten). Taller! Finer! Freer! He went forth having been tested with fire, with the passion seated deeply within him, with the devil who sat by his bedside at night, a candle there burning like his burning blue eyes.