THE VISION AND THE VOICE
She comes and kisses me on the mouth, and says: Blessed
art thou who hast beheld Sebek my Lord in his glory. Many
are the champions of life, but all are unhorsed by the lance of
death. Many are the children of the light, but their eyes
shall all be put out by the Mother Darkness. Many are the
servants of love, but love (that is not quenched by aught but
love) shall be put out, as the child taketh the wick of a
taper between his thumb and finger, by the god that sitteth
alone.
And on her mouth, like a chrysanthemum of radiant light,
is a kiss, and on it is the monogram I.H.S. The letters
I.H.S. mean In Homini Salus and Instar Hominis Summus,
and Imago Hominis deuS. And there are many, many other
meanings, but they all imply this one thing; that nothing is
of any importance but man; there is no hope or help but
in man.
And she says: Sweet are my kisses, O wayfarer that wan-
derest from star to star. Sweet are my kisses, O householder
that weariest within four walls. Thou art pent within thy
brain, and my shaft pierceth it, and thou art free. Thine ima-
gination eateth up the universe as the dragon that eateth up
the moon. And in my shaft is it concentrated and bound up.
See how all around thee gather my warriors, strong knights
in goodly armour ready for war. Look upon my crown; it is
above the stars. Behold the glow and the blush thereof! Upon
thy cheek is the breeze that stirs those plumes of truth. For
though I am the Angel of the fourteenth key, Iam also the
Angel of the eighth key. And from the love of these two
have I come, who am the warden of Popé and the servant of
them that dwell therein. Though all crowns fall, mine shall
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