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divinities is altogether a spirit； and hides in passions not of his essence if he would mune with a mortal heart。 so that if a man love nobly he knows love through infinite pity； unspeakable trust； unending sympathy； and if ignobly through vehement jealousy； sudden hatred； and unappeasable desire； but unveiled love he never knows。 while i thought these things； a voice cried to me from the crimson figures： into the dance！ there is none that can be spared out of the dance； into the dance！ into the dance！ that the gods may make them bodies out of the substance of our hearts； and before i could answer； a mysterious wave of passion； that seemed like the soul of the dance moving within our souls； took alchemica。 hold of me； and i was swept； neither consenting nor refusing； into the midst。 i was dancing with an immortal august woman； who had black lilies in her hair； and her dreamy gesture seemed laden with a wisdom more profound than the darkness that is between star and star； and with a love like the love that breathed upon the waters； and as we danced on and on； the incense drifted over us and round us； covering us away as in the heart of the world； and ages seemed to pass； and tempests to awake and perish in the folds of our robes and in her heavy hair。
suddenly i remembered that her eyelids had never quivered； and that her lilies had not dropped a black petal； or shaken from their places； and understood with a great horror that i danced with one who was more or less than human； and who was drinking up my soul as an ox drinks up a wayside pool； and i fell； and darkness passed over me。
i awoke suddenly as though something had awakened me； and saw that i was lying on a roughly painted floor； and that on the ceiling； which was at no great distance； was a roughly painted rose； and about me on the walls half？finished paintings。 the pillars and the censers had gone； and near me a score of sleepers lay wrapped in disordered robes； their upturned faces looking to my imagination like hollow masks； and a chill dawn was shining down upon them from a long window i had not noticed before； and outside the sea roared。 i saw michael robartes lying at a little distance and beside him an overset bowl of wrought bronze which looked as though it had once held incense。 as i sat thus； i heard a sudden tumult of angry men and womens voices mix with the roaring of the sea； and leaping to my feet； i went quickly to michael robartes； and tried to shake him out of his sleep。 i then seized him by the shoulder and tried to lift him； but he fell backwards； and sighed faintly； and the voices became louder and angrier； and there was a sound of heavy blows upon the door； which opened on to the pier。 suddenly i heard a sound of rending wood； and i knew it had begun to give； and i ran to the door of the room。 i pushed it open and came out upon a passage whose bare boards clattered under my feet； and found in the passage another door which led into an empty kitchen； and as i passed through the door i heard two crashes in quick succession； and knew by the sudden noise of feet and the shouts that the door which opened on to the pier had fallen inwards。 i ran from the kitchen and out into a small yard； and from this down some steps which descended the seaward and sloping side of the pier； and from the steps clambered along the waters edge； with the angry voices ringing in my ears。 this part of the pier had been but lately refaced with blocks of granite； so that it was almost clear of seaweed； but when i came to the old part； i found it so slippery with green weed that i had to climb up on to the roadway。 i looked towards the temple of the alchemical rose； where the fishermen and the women were still shouting； but somewhat more faintly； and saw that there was no one about the door or upon the pier； but as i looked； a little crowd hurried out of the door and began gathering large stones from where they were heaped up in readiness for the next time a storm shattered the pier； when they would be laid under blocks of granite。 while i stood watching the crowd； an old man； who was； i think； the voteen； pointed to me； and screamed out something； and the crowd whitened； for all the faces had turned towards me。 i ran； and it was well for me that pullers of the oar are poorer men with their feet than with their arms and their bodies； and yet while i ran i scarcely heard the following feet or the angry voices； for many voices of exultation and lamentation； which were forgotten as a dream is forgotten the moment they were heard； seemed to be ringing in the air over my head。
there are moments even now when i seem to hear those voices of exultation and lamentation； and when the indefinite world； which has but half lost its mastery over my heart and my intellect； seems about to claim a perfect mastery； but i carry the rosary about my neck； and when i hear； or seem to hear them； i press it to my heart and say： he whose name is legion is at our doors deceiving our intellects with subtlety and flattering our hearts with beauty； and we have no trust but in thee； and then the war that rages within me at other times is still； and i am at peace。
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