Collected Works (Vol. II)

AMBROSIT MAGI HORTUS ROSARUM pearls, big and round like the breasts of a sea-nymph; and they gleamed round her like moons. She held in leash the four Beasts, but,he strode boldly to her, and kissed her full on her full lips. Wherefore she sighed and fell back a space, and he pressed on. Now at the end of the darkness a fire glowed: she would have hindered him: clung she to his neck and wept. But the fire grew and the light dazzled her; so that with a shriek she fell. But the beasts flung themselves against the burning gateway of iron, and it gave way. Our Father passed into the fire. Some say that it consumed him utterly and that he died; howbeit, it is certain that he rose from a sarcophagus, and in the skies stood an angel with a trumpet, and on that trumpet he blew so mighty a blast that the dead rose all from their tombs, and our Father among them. ‘‘ Now away!” he cried. ‘‘I would look upon the sun!” And with that the fire hissed like a myriad of serpents and went out suddenly. It was a green sward golden with buttercups; and in his way lay a high wall. Before it were two children, and with obscene gestures they embraced, and laughed aloud, with filthy words and acts unspeakable. Over all of which stood the sun calm and radiant, and was glad to be. Now, think ye well, was our lather perplexed; and he knew not what he would do. For the children left their foulness and came soliciling with shameless words his acquiescence in their sport ; and he, knowing the law of courtesy and of pity, rebuked them not. But master ever of himself he abode alone, about and above. So saw he his virginity deflowered, and his thoughts were otherwhere. Now loosed they his body; he bade it leap the wall. The giant flower of ocean bloomed above him! He had fallen headlong into the great deep. As the green and crimson gloom disparted somewhat before his eyes, he was aware of a Beetle that steadily and earnestly moved across the floor of that Sea unutterable. Elim he followed; ‘‘for I wit well,” thought the Adept, “that he goeth not back to the gruss sun of earth. And if the sun hath become a beetle, may the beetle transform into a bird.” Wherewith he came to land. Night shone by lamp of waning moon upon a misty land- scape. Two paths led him to two towers; and jackals howled on either. Now the jackal he knew; and the tower he knew not yet. Not two would he conquer—-that were easy: to victory over one did he aspire. Made he therefore toward the moon. Rough was the hillside and the shadows deep and treacherous; as he advanced the towers seemed to approach one another closer and closer yet. He drew his sword: with a crash they came together; and he fell with wrath upon a single fortress. Three windows had the tower; and against it ten cannons thundered. Eleven bricks had fallen dislodged by lightnings: it was no house wherein our Father might abide. But there he must abide. ‘‘ To destroy it I am come,” he said. And though he passed out therewithal, yet ’twas his home until he had attained. So he came to a river, and sailing to its source he found a fair woman all naked, and she filled the river from two vessels of pure water. ‘‘She-devil,” he cried, ‘‘have I gone back one step?” For the Star Venus burned above. And with his sword he clave her from the head to the feet, that she fell clean asunder. Cried the echo: ‘Ah! thou hast slain hope now!” Our Father gladdened at Intellectus. Deus. Het S. V. A. Luna, Quid Umbra- tur In Mari. Deo Duce Comite Ferro. Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum.