THE EQUINOX
“ Before us glared a human face above a human body with
arms and feet; but behind it, it was as the body of a lion.
“Sappho then gave me the 0°=o° sign, which I returned,
whereupon the great figure rose and blessed us, and we
embraced. Then I knelt before Sappho and said:
“You have given me of your strength and brought me
into this place of blessing; I will now give you of mine.’
“For answer she held my hands in hers, and wonderful
tinglings of glory and passion flowed into me like live fire.
I raised my head to her bosom, and kissed her passionately,
and then I noticed that I too was a woman!
“ An angel approached me and advised restraint, and so with
a great calmness I passed within her body, and at once felt all
her passion and longings. A mighty joy and glory encom-
passed me, and we became a great brown bird taking part in
a mystic ceremony, the priest being the great man-lion ; then
again we rose and re-assumed human shape, but larger than
before.
“ Now we saw standing before us a venerable, beautiful and
kingly figure (Tiphereth), holding a flaming sword of dazzling
whiteness. This he extended to us, whilst his attendants,
who were angelic figures, sang a low, melodious tune. Then
he placed it in our mouth, when at once there rushed from our
lips an infinite and intolerable song, which presently ceased,
when the sword was returned to the king.
“ Then I noticed that the sun was burning below us, so once
again assuming the form of the brown bird, we flitted round
the sun, bathing in its fiery flames and molten substance.
“Presently I wished to return; but could not separate
myself from her, for I was absorbed in Sappho. Becoming
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