THE EQUINOX
The tenth Aethyr is the world of adjectives, and there is
no substance therein.
(Now returned the beautiful woman who had _ before
tempted the Scribe. She prevailed not.)
I am afraid of sunset, for Tum is more terrible than Ra,
and Khephra the Beetle is greater than the Lion Mau.
I am a-cold.
(Here Choronzon wanted to leave the triangle to obtain
wherewith to cover his nakedness. The Scribe refused the
request, threatening the demon. After a while the latter
continued:)
Iam commanded, why I know not, by him that speaketh.
Were it thou, thou little fool, I would tear thee limb from
limb. I would bite off thine ears and nose before I began
with thee. I would take thy guts for fiddle-strings at the
Black Sabbath.
Thou didst make a great fight there in the circle; thou art
a goodly warrior!
(Then did the demon laugh loudly. The Scribe said: Thou
canst not harm one hair of my head.)
I will pull out every hair of thy head, every hair of thy
body, every hair of thy soul, one by one.
(Then said the Scribe: Thou hast no power.)
Yea, verily I have power over thee, for thou hast taken the
Oath, and art bound unto the White Brothers, and therefore
have I the power to torture thee so long as thou shalt be.
(Then said the Scribe unto him: Thou liest.)
Ask of thy brother P. .. ., and he shall tell thee if I lie!
(This the Scribe refused to do, saying that it was no
concern of the demon’s.)
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