The Holy Books

6. Thou hast appeared unto me as a young and brilliant God, a god of music and beauty, - even as a young god in his strength, playing upon the lyre. 7. Thou hast appeared unto me as the white foam of Ocean gathered into limbs whiter than the foam, the limbs of a miracle of women, as a goddess of extreme love, bearing the girdle of gold. 8. Thou hast appeared to me as a young boy mischievous and lovely, with Thy winged globe and its serpents set upon a staff. 9. Thou hast appeared to me as an huntress among Thy dogs, as a goddess virginal chaste, as a moon among the faded oaks of the wood of years. IO. But I was deceived by none of these. All these I cast aside, crying: Begone! So that all these faded from my vision. I I. Also I welded together the Flaming Star and the Sixfold Star in the forge of my soul, and behold! a new star 418 that is above all these. 12. Yet even so was I not deceived ; for the crown hath twelve rays. 13. And these twelve rays are one. 52