The Equinox (Volume I, Number IV)

THE EQUINOX high noon. His cloak was of pure amethyst, flowing behind him like a mighty river; his armour was of living gold, burnished with lightning even to the greaves and the armed feet of him; he radiated an intolerable splendour of gold and he bore the Sword and balance of Justice. Mighty and golden were his wide-flashing wings! Terrible in his might, he bowed low before the Great White Spirit, and proceeded to carry out the order. For five and twenty years he toiled at the so easy task; then, flinging down his weapons in a rage, he returned before the face of his Master and, trembling with passion, cast him- self down in wrath and despair. “Pah!” said the Great White Spirit with a smile; “I might have known better than to employ a low material creature like yourself. Send Graphiel to Me!” The angry Bartzabel, foaming with horrid rage, went off, and Graphiel appeared. All glorious was the moon-like crown of the great Intelli- gence Graphiel. His face was like the Sun as it appears beyond the veil of this earthly firmament. His warrior body was like a tower of steel, virginal strong. Scarlet were his kingly robes, and his limbs were swathed in young leaves of lotus; for those limbs were stronger than any armour ever forged in heaven or hell. Winged was he with the wings of gold that are the Wind itself; his sword of green fire flamed in his right hand, and in his left he held the blue feather of Justice, unstirred by the wind of his flight, or the upheaval of the universe. But after fiveand sixty centuries of toil, though illumined with intelligence almost divine, he had to confess himself defeated. 204