s words for the
mere words' sake. And there were some who used them in disputations
about the way. And the words of help on the Chart they turned into
words of command. Each one took these commands not to himself alone,
but sought to enforce them upon others. "For it is our duty," they
said, "to see that no word of his shall be unheeded of any man." And
many rose in resistance. And the conflicts on the way were fierce and
strong; for with each different band there was diversity of
interpretation. Thus the words of kindness became the voice of hate.

And it came to pass that all along the way the green sward was red with
the blood of wayfarers. Everywhere the leaves of the forest were
trampled by struggling hosts. And "In his name" was the watchword of
each warring band. And each band called itself "his army." And
whosoever bore the sword that was reddest, they called the "Defender of
the Faith." They placed his name upon their battle-flags, and beneath
it they wrote these fearful words, "In this sign, conquer." And each
went forth to conquer his neighbor, and the wayfarer fled from the
sight of their banners as from a pestilence. But "Conquer, conquer,"
was no word of his. He spoke not of victory over others; only of
conquest of oneself. He had said, "Resist not, but overcome evil with
good." And till all men ceased to resist and ceased to conquer, no one
found himself in the right way. Then some one said: "By words alone
can no one truly follow him. His words without his faith and love are
like sounding brass or tinkling cymbal. Out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaketh. When the heart is empty the speech of the
mouth is idle as the crackling of thorns beneath a pot."

And there appeared other bands from the number of those who had passed
to the right of the first great rock; and seeing the tumult and
confusion of the others, they said to themselves: "These are they who
followed not us. We have chosen the better part. Our leader bears the
only perfect Chart. All other charts are the invention of men. In the
right Chart there can be nothing false; in the others there can be
nothing true. Those who have not the true Chart can never go right,
not even for a moment. For even good deeds done in the paths of evil
must partake of the nature of sin. Straight is the way and narrow is
the gate, but there is no safety except ye walk therein."

So they went on, stumbling ever along the rock