# XXXI: The Sexton’s Old Horse explained — Lilith

> Chapter companion for Lilith by George MacDonald.

## What happens

Mr. Vane, tempted by the magnificent horse offered by Mr. Raven, struggles between his promise to the raven and his desire to ride after the leopardess to save the Little Ones. Despite warnings from both Adam and the raven, Vane yields to the horse's power and rides off, only to witness the moon roll from the sky and plunge the world into darkness, causing the horse to collapse and die beneath him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Power and Corruption

Vane's infatuation with the horse's power leads him to break his promise, illustrating how the desire for power corrupts judgment.

### Redemption and Repentance

Vane's misguided attempt to redeem himself by riding to save the Little Ones results in failure, highlighting the need for true humility.

### Illusion and Reality

The horse's apparent strength and Vane's sense of power prove illusory when the moon falls and the horse collapses, revealing the deception of false confidence.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Vane

Vane is torn between his promise to Mr. Raven and his urgent desire to rescue the Little Ones, ultimately giving in to the temptation of the horse and riding into disaster.

### Mr. Raven

Mr. Raven offers Vane the horse, warns him against breaking his word, and expresses anger when Vane chooses to ride after the leopardess.

### Adam

Adam appears briefly to confront Vane, accusing him of refusing to die and urging him to return home.

### The Little Ones

The Little Ones are the stated reason for Vane's urgency, as he believes they are in peril due to his actions.

## Key lines

> I sat as on the ridge of a wave. I felt under me the play of each individual muscle: his joints were so elastic, and his every movement glided so into the next, that not once did he jar me.

Vane felt like he was riding a wave, so smooth and fluid were the horse's movements.

_Describes the exhilarating yet deceptive smoothness of the horse's gallop._

> Rejoicing in the power of my steed and in the pride of my life, I sat like a king and rode.

Vane felt triumphant and regal, exulting in the horse's strength and his own pride.

_Highlights Vane's hubris before his fall._

> The moon reached the keystone of her arch. Then came a wonder and a terror: she began to descend rolling like the nave of Fortune’s wheel bowled by the gods, and went faster and faster.

At the moon's zenith, it suddenly started rolling down the sky like a giant wheel, accelerating uncontrollably.

_A supernatural event signaling the collapse of Vane's venture._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lilith_se/chapters/xxxi-the-sexton-s-old-horse
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lilith_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lilith_se/chapters