APPENDIX II 
80
that word, and wiping his blade he
 kissed it and went 
on, knowing  
that his luck should now be ill.  And ill it was, for a tem ple was set up in 
his way , and there he saw the grisly
 Goat enthroned.  But he knew 
 
better than to judge a goat from a goat’s head and hoofs.  And the first 
week he s acrificed to that goat 1 a crown every day.  The second a p hallus.  
The third a silver vase of blood.  The 
fourth a roy al sceptre.  The fifth  
a sword.  The sixth a heart.  The seventh a garland of flowers.  The eighth 
a grass-snake.  The ninth a sickle.  And the tenth week did he daily offer 
up his own body
.  Said the goat: 
“Though I be not an ox,  
yet am I a sword.”  “ Masked, O God !” cried the Adept.  “
Verily, an  
thou hadst not sacrificed—”  There was silence.  And under the Goat’s 
throne was a rainbow 2 of seven colours: our Father fitted himself as an 
arrow to the string (and the string was waxed well, dipped in a leaden pot 
wherein boiled amber and wine) and s hot through stormy  heavens.  And 
they that saw him saw a woman wondrous fair
3 robed in flames of hair, 
moon-sandalled, sun-belted, with torch and vase of fire and water.  And 
he trailed comet-clouds of glory upward. 
Thus came our Father (Blessed be his name!) to Death,
4 who stood, 
scythe in hand, opposed.  And ever 
and anon he swept round, and men  
fell before him.  “Look,” said Death, “my sickle hath a cross-handle.  See 
how they  grow like flowers !”  “Give me salt !” quoth 
our Father.   
And with sulphur (that the 
Goat had given him) and with salt did he 
bestrew the ground.  “I see we shall 
have ado together,” say s Death.  
“Aye!” and with that 
he lops off Death’s cross-handle.  Now Death 
 
was wroth indeed, for he saw that our  Father had wit of his designs (and 
they were right foul !), but he bade him pass forthwith through his dominion.  
And our Father could not at that tim e stay him: though for himself had he 
cut off the grip, y et for others —well, let each m
an take his  s word!   
The way went through a forest.  Now between two trees hung a man by  
one heel (Love was  that tree).5  Crossed  were his legs, and his arms 
behind his head, that hung ever downw
ards, the fingers locked. “Who  
art thou ?” quoth our Father.  “He that came before thee.”  “Who 
 
am I ?”  “ He that com eth after m e.”  W ith that wors hipped our F ather, 
and took a present of a great jewel fro
m him, and went his way s.  And  
he was bitterly  a-cold, for that was th e great W ater he had passed.   But 
our Father’s paps glittered with cold, black light, and likewise his navel.  
Wherefore he was comforted.  Now cam e the sudden twittering of heart 
lest the firm ament beneath him  were not stable, and lo! he danceth up  
and down as a very
 cork on waters 
of wailing.  “Woman,” he bade 
 
sternly, “ be still.  Cleave that with thy
 sword: or that m
ust I well  
work?”  But she cleft the cords, bitter-faced, smiling goddess as she was; 
 
1 The sacrifices are the ten Sephiroth. 
2 See Table. 
3 Ancient form of the Key of s. 
4 Considered as the agent of resurrection. 
5 In the true key of m the tree is shap ed like the letter d = Venus or  love.  The 
figure of the man forms a cr oss above a tr iangle, with apex upwar ds, the sign of 
redemption. 
 
 
Adest Rosa 
Secreta Eros. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hermaphrodi- 
tus. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mors Janua 
Vitae. 
 
 
 
 
 
Adeptus. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Terrae Ultor 
Anima Terrae.