The Equinox (Volume I, Number IV)

THE EQUINOX this dying dawn to the mystic land where stood the Great Tree upon the topmost branches of which hung the Golden Fleece. Long was he destined to travel, past Lemnos and Samo- thrace, and through Colchis and the city of Aiea. There, as a second Jason, in the Temple of Hecate, in the grove of Diana, under the cold rays of the Moon, was he to seal that fearful pact, that pledge of fidelity to Medea, Mistress of Enchant- ments. There was he to tame the two Bulls, whose feet were of brass, whose horns were as crescent moons in the night, and whose nostrils belched forth mingling columns of flame and of smoke. There was he to harness them to that plough which is made of one great adamantine stone; and with it was he determined to plough the two acres of ground which had never before been tilled by the hand of man, and sow the white dragons’ teeth, and slay the armed multitude, that black army of unbalanced forces which obscures the light of the sun. And then, finally, was he destined to slay with the Sword of Flaming Light that ever watchful Serpent which writhes in silent Wisdom about the trunk of that Tree upon which the Christ hangs crucified. All these great deeds did he do, as we shall see. He tamed the bulls with ease,—the White and the Black. He ploughed the double field,—the East and the West. He sowed the dragons’ teeth,—the Armies of Doubt; and among them did he cast the stone of Zoroaster given to him by Medea, Queen of Enchantments, so that immediately they turned their weapons one against the other, and perished. And then lastly, on the mystic cup of Iacchus he lulled to sleep the Dragon of the illusions of life, and taking down the Golden Fleece accomplished the Great Work. Then once again did he set 44