THE EQUINOX
32. Further Adonai spake unto V.V.V.V.V. and said:
33. Let us take our delight in the multitude of men!
Let us shape unto ourselves a boat of mother-of-pearl
from them, that we may ride upon the river of Amrit!
34. Thou seest yon petal of amaranth, blown by the
wind from the low sweet brows of Hathor?
35. (The Magister saw it and rejoiced in the beauty of
it.) Listen!
36. (From a certain world came an infinite wail.)
That falling petal seemed to the little ones a wave to
engulph their continent.
37. So they will reproach thy servant, saying: Who
hath set thee to save us?
38. He will be sore distressed.
39. All they understand not that thou and I are fash-
ioning a boat of mother-of-pearl. We will sail down the
river of Amrit even to the yew-groves of Yama, where
we may rejoice exceedingly.
40. The joy of men shall be our silver gleam, their woe
our blue gleam—all in the mother-of-pearl.
41. (The scribe was wroth thereat. He spake:
O Adonai and my master, I have borne the inkhorn
and the pen without pay, in order that I might search
this river of Amrit, and sail thereon as one of ye. This
I demand for my fee, that I partake of the echo of your
kisses.)
42. (And immediately it was granted unto him.)
43. (Nay; but not therewith was he content. By an
infinite abasement unto shame did he strive. Then a voice: )
44. Thou strivest ever; even in thy yielding thou striv-
est to yield—and lo! thou yieldest not.
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