Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/316

Tales from Tolstoi

He next came to a large garden, and in this garden was a lofty pavilion with a golden roof, and at the gate stood his godfather with a smile on his face. He greeted the godson kindly, and led him through the gate into the garden. Not even in his dreams had the godson ever beheld such beautiful and such pleasant things as he now saw in the garden.

Then the godfather led his godson into the palace, and the palace was even better than the garden. The godfather led the youth through all the rooms; each one was better and more glorious than the one before it, and at last he led him to a sealed door.

"Dost see that door?" said he. "There is no lock upon it, but only a seal. 'Twere easy for thee to open it, but I do not bid thee do so. Dwell here, and take thy pastime where thou wilt and how thou wilt; all the delights of this garden and palace are thine; there is but one thing I forbid thee—enter not into that door. And if thou dost enter, remember what thou didst see in the wood."

Thus spake the godfather and departed. The godson remained alone to live his new life, and so joyful and happy was he that it seemed to him as if he had only lived there three hours, while he had been living there thirty years. And when the thirty years had passed, the godson went up to the sealed door, and he thought to himself, "Why, I wonder, did my godfather tell me not to enter this room? Nay, but I will go in, if only to see what is there." 266