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e valley of roncesvalles the last trumpet of the bodys will and pleasure； and of hamlet； who saw them perishing away； and sighed； and of faust； who looked for them up and down the world and could not find them； and under the power of all those countless divinities who have taken upon themselves spiritual bodies in the minds of the modern poets and romance writers； and under the power of the old divinities； who since the renaissance have won everything of their ancient worship except the sacrifice of birds and fishes； the fragrance of garlands and the smoke of incense。
the many think humanity made these divinities； and that it can unmake them again； but we who have seen them pass in rattling harness； and in soft robes； and heard them speak with articulate voices while we lay in deathlike trance； know that they are always making and unmaking humanity； which is indeed but the trembling of their lips。
he had stood up and begun to walk to and fro； and had bee in my waking dream a shuttle weaving an immense purple web whose folds had begun to fill the room。 the room seemed to have bee inexplicably silent； as though all but the web and the weaving were at an end in the world。 they have e to us； they have e to us； the voice began again； all that have ever been in your reverie； all that you have met with in books。 there is lear； his head still wet with the thunder？storm； and he laughs because you thought yourself an existence who are but a shadow； and him a shadow who is an eternal god； and there is beatrice； with her lips half parted in a smile； as though all the stars were about to pass away in a sigh of love； and there is the mother of the god of humility who cast so great a spell over men that they have tried to unpeople their hearts that he might reign alone； but she holds in her hand the rose whose every petal is a god； and there； o swiftly she es！ is aphrodite under a twilight falling from the wings of numberless sparrows； and about her feet are the grey and white doves。 in the midst of my dream i saw him hold out his left arm and pass his right hand over it as though he stroked the wings of doves。 i made a violent effort which seemed almost to tear me in two； and said with forced determination： you would sweep me away into an indefinite world which fills me with terror； and yet a man is a great man just in so far as he can make his mind reflect everything with indifferent precision like a mirror。 i seemed to be perfectly master of myself； and went on； but more rapidly： i mand you to leave me at once； for your ideas and phantasies are but the illusions that creep like maggots into civilizations when they begin to decline； and into minds when they begin to decay。 i had grown suddenly angry； and seizing the alembic from the table； was about to rise and strike him with it； when the peacocks on the door behind him appeared to grow immense； and then the alembic fell from my fingers and i was drowned in a tide of green and blue and bronze feathers； and as i struggled hopelessly i heard a distant voice saying： our master avicenna has written that all life proceeds out of corruption。 the glittering feathers had now covered me pletely； and i knew that i had struggled for hundreds of years； and was conquered at last。 i was sinking into the depth when the green and blue and bronze that seemed to fill the world became a sea of flame and swept me away； and as i was swirled along i heard a voice over my head cry； the mirror is broken in two pieces； and another voice answer； the mirror is broken in four pieces； and a more distant voice cry with an exultant cry； the mirror is broken into numberless pieces； and then a multitude of pale hands were reaching towards me； and strange gentle faces bending above me； and half wailing and half caressing voices uttering words that were forgotten the moment they were spoken。 i was being lifted out of the tide of flame； and felt my memories； my hopes； my thoughts； my will； everything i held to be myself； melting away； then i seemed to rise through numberless panies of beings who were； i understood； in some way more certain than thought； each wrapped in his eternal moment； in the perfect lifting of an arm； in a little circlet of rhythmical words； in dreaming with dim eyes and half？closed eyelids。 and then i passed beyond these forms； which were so beautiful they had almost ceased to be； and； having endured strange moods； melancholy； as it seemed； with the weight of many worlds； i passed into that death which is beauty herself； and into that loneliness which all the multitudes desire without ceasing。 all things that had ever lived seemed to e and dwell in my heart； and i in theirs； and i had never again known mortality or tears； had i not suddenly fallen from the certainty of vision into the uncertainty of dream； and bee a drop of molten gold falling with immense rapidity； through a night elaborate with stars； and all about me a melancholy exultant wailing。 i fell and fell and fell； and then the wailing was but the wailing of the wind in the chimney； and i awoke to find myself leaning upon the table and supporting my head with my hands。 i saw the alembic swaying from side to side in the distant corner it had rolled to； and michael robartes watching me and waiting。 i will go wherever you will； i said； and do whatever you bid me； for i have been with eternal things。 i knew； he replied； you must need answer as you have answered； when i heard the storm begin。 you must e to a great distance； for we were manded to build our temple between the pure multitude by the waves and the impure multitude of men。
．co
Rosa AlchemicaIII
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i did not speak as we drove through the deserted streets； for my mind was curiously empty of familiar thoughts and experiences； it seemed to have been plucked out of the definite world and cast naked upon a shoreless sea。 there were moments when the vision appeared on the point of returning； and i would half？remember； with an ecstasy of joy or sorrow； crimes and heroisms； fortunes and misfortunes； or begin to contemplate； with a sudden leaping of the heart； hopes and terrors； desires and ambitions； alien to my orderly and careful life； and then i would awake shuddering at