The Equinox (Volume I, Number I)

THE EQUINOX “ Suppliants.” As a matter of fact they were asking me for some favour. At the sight of real tears rolling down the faces of these two most lovable creatures, so handsome and graceful, so perfect in all their proportions, my pity was set in motion ; and soon love was to follow, thought I. Though of a slightly dark complexion, they were none the less remarkably pretty, and very near the finest type of white womanhood. Alas! their beauty was a trap, their sweet voices were meant to delude me; the sirens had been sent by those who could not but mean persecution against me. I found this out as soon as I understood them. They wanted my flowers. With a supple and harmonious gesture, they suggested that I should let them have the mystical roses. As soon as I perceived their intentions I felt the most intense impulse to murder them. We talked for a long time without being able to gather much of each other’s thoughts. At last I turned to the books in the coffin, and in the book containing “ Advice to Mankind for a better use of their faculties” I saw, traced by an invisible hand, the following advice : “ Be careful of womanly traps.” “Let the roses be planted; they are meant for that purpose.” “ A cover cannot fall in love except with boards and planks. Beware of the fallacies of sense.” As any one may understand, my mind was a pandemonium, but still I could not refuse to submit to so clear an order, and I handed the roses to the maidens. I had not to repent the 378