# XII explained — The Crock of Gold > Chapter companion for The Crock of Gold by James Stephens. ## What happens Caitilin Ni Murrachu, alone in the cave behind Gort na Cloca Mora, reflects on the awakening of her body and mind, recognizing that the unnamed longing she felt was Happiness. Pan returns disheartened, and Angus Óg arrives, heralded by birdsong. A contest ensues between Pan and Angus Óg for Caitilin, with Angus Óg arguing for a union of Thought and Intuition. Caitilin ultimately withdraws from Pan's embrace, and Pan departs, embracing Angus Óg. Caitilin then follows Angus Óg, not from understanding but from love born of his need. ## Themes in this chapter ### Wisdom vs. Knowledge Caitilin's thought is contrasted with instinct; Angus Óg speaks of the union of Thought and Intuition to achieve Wisdom, which is the son of Thought and Intuition, also called Innocence, Adoration, and Happiness. ### Duality and Unity The chapter explores the duality of man and woman, thought and intuition, head and heart, and the need for their union to achieve true happiness and wisdom. ### Love and Liberation Angus Óg represents a liberating love that frees Caitilin from the fever and unrest of Pan's desire, leading her to follow him out of love and need. ## Character check-ins ### Caitilin Ni Murrachu Sits alone in the cave, reflecting on the awakening of her body and mind, and the nature of happiness. She is torn between Pan and Angus Óg, ultimately choosing to follow Angus Óg out of love. ### Pan Returns to the cave disheartened after piping. He claims to be Love and Joy, but is called Desire, Fever, Lust, and Death by Angus Óg. He releases Caitilin and departs, embracing Angus Óg. ### Angus Óg Enters the cave with a chorus of birds. He calls himself Infinite Joy and Love, and argues for the union of Thought and Intuition. He wins Caitilin from Pan and departs with her. ## Key lines > The desire of a man shall be Beauty, but he has fashioned a slave in his mind and called it Virtue. The desire of a woman shall be Wisdom, but she has formed a beast in her blood and called it Courage: but the real virtue is courage, and the real courage is liberty, and the real liberty is wisdom, and Wisdom is the son of Thought and Intuition; and his names also are Innocence and Adoration and Happiness. Men seek beauty but mistakenly call their mental construct 'virtue'; women seek wisdom but mistakenly call their instinct 'courage'. True virtue is courage, true courage is liberty, true liberty is wisdom, and wisdom is born from the union of thought and intuition, also known as innocence, adoration, and happiness. _Angus Óg explains the misdirection of human desires and the true path to wisdom through the union of thought and intuition._ > The blind shall look within and not without; the deaf shall hearken to the murmur of their own veins, and be enchanted with the wisdom of sweetness; the thoughtless shall think without effort as the lightning flashes, that the hand of Innocence may reach to the stars, that the feet of Adoration may dance to the Father of Joy, and the laugh of Happiness be answered by the Voice of Benediction. Those who are blind will turn their gaze inward; the deaf will listen to their own inner rhythms and find wisdom in sweetness; the thoughtless will think effortlessly, like lightning, so that innocence can reach the stars, adoration can dance to the source of joy, and happiness will be answered by a blessing. _Angus Óg sings of a transformation where inner perception replaces outer senses, leading to a state of divine joy and blessing._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/xii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters