THE RITE OF MERCURY
A citadel ;
And the winged heels are fiery with enormous speed,
One spurning heaven ; the other trampling hell ;
And thon—recede !
Ο Hermes! Messenger of inmost thought!
Descend ! Abide
! Swift coursing in my veins
Shoot dazzling pains,
The Word of Selfhood integrate of Nought,
The Ineffable Amen! the Wonder wrought.
Bring death if life exceed!
Bid thy pale Hermit bleed,
Yet life exude;
And Wisdom and the Word of Him
Drench the mute mind grown dim
With quietude!
Fix thy sharp lightnings in my night!
My spirit free!
Mix with my breath and life and name thy mood
And self of Thee.
[SOR. GEMINI plays meow’z'nglyf
[A short fame.
FR. GEMINI. Master, be it thy pleasure to perform the In-
vocation of Mercury.
[All PROBATIONERS rise and/27in the four others m from
of the alta;/.]
MERCURY. [Lem/es
throne]
Majesty
of
the
Godhead,
Wisdom-crowned Thoth, Lord of the Gates of the Universe:
Thee, Thee we invoke!
0 Thou of the Ibis head: Thee, Thee we invoke!
Thou who wieldest the Wand of Double Power: Thee,
Thee we invoke
1
Thou who bearest in Thy left hand the Rose and Cross
of Light and Life: Thee, Thee we invoke!
0 Thou whose head is as an Emerald, and Thy Nemyss
* Sarabande: Bach.
101