Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/250

238 the passage, yet so dim it was that they could not see whether it was rock or forms of beasts.

"And, as I wondered, the Spirit said: 'These are they who have been silent when they should have spoken, who shrank from all responsibility, who helped not one another, who witnessed neither for good nor evil, who accused not the wicked nor held up the oppressed, who would be neither hot nor cold. These are they who heed not, neither give, saying, "Perchance this man deserveth it not"; who say to the one who asketh for advice and comfort: "I cannot tell; see thou to that." Of these is Pontius Pilate, and hither will he come; but only for a season, for he will suffer much on earth at the hands of his own country. All these will through eternity continue in this twilight. There will be no night in which to rest, and no day in which to see what is around them, for they would not see the straight path, they would not guide the helpless, nor oppose the evil; so now they know not what lieth close, whether it be danger, friend or foe, wild beast or falling rock; and they sit motionless for fear of what they know not, daring not to go forth and face what is before them, as in life they lacked courage to stand by the righteous and the oppressed. The more part of these are of noble blood, who feared to bring reproach to their name or to soil their garments; who would not sit at meat with sinners, yet who did shut their eyes if their own familiar friend did sin, and reproached him not. These are great sinners, but, seeing that they have not judged others, nor harmed any, but by silence, they go not into the nethermost hell,'