The Last Ritual

seen of the seeing. Also I have a secret glory for them that love me. But to love me is better than all things : if under the night stars in the desert thou presently burnest mine incense before me, invoking me with a pure heart, and the Serpent flame therein, thou shalt come a little to lie in my bosom. For one kiss wilt thou then be willing to give all ; but whoso gives one particle of dust shall lose all in that hour. Behold ! the rituals of the old time are black. Let the evil ones be cast away ; let the good ones be purged by the prophet ! Then shall this knowledge go aright. I am the flame that burns in every heart of man, and in the core of every star. I am Life, and the giver of Life, yet therefore is the knowledge of me the knowledge of death. I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. Remember all ye that existence is pure joy : that all the sorrows are but as shadows ; they pass and are done ; but there is that which remains. Beauty and strength, leaping laughter and delicious langour, force and fire, are of us. Beware lest any force another, King against King ! Love one another with burning hearts ; on the low men trample in the fierce lust of your pride, in the day of your wrath. A feast for the Supreme Ritual, and a feast for the Equinox of the Gods. A feast for fire and a feast for water ; a feast for life and a greater feast for death ! A feast every day in your hearts in the joy of my rapture ! Aye ! feast ! rejoice ! there is no dread hereafter. Dost thou fail ? Art thou sorry ? Is fear in thine heart ? Where I am these are not. Write, and find ecstasy in writing ! Work, and be our bed in working ! Thrill with the joy of life and death ! Ah ! thy