that　Was　and　Is　and　Shall　Be。　Harmachis；　Child　of　Earth！〃
  〃Throw　back　the　Gates　and　open　wide　the　Doors！〃　pealed　the　awful
  Voice。　〃Throw　back　the　Gates　and　open　wide　the　Doors；　seal　up　his　lips
  in　silence；　lest　his　voice　jar　upon　the　harmonies　of　Heaven；　take　away
  his　sight　lest　he　see　that　which　may　not　be　seen；　and　let　Harmachis；
  who　hath　been　summoned；　pass　down　the　path　that　leads　to　the　place　of
  the　Unchanging。　Pass　on；　Child　of　Earth；　but　before　thou　goest；　look
  up　that　thou　mayest　learn　how　far　thou　art　removed　from　Earth。〃
  I　looked　up。　Beyond　the　glory　that　shone　about　the　city　was　black
  night；　and　high　on　its　bosom　twinkled　one　tiny　star。
  〃Behold　the　world　that　thou　hast　left；〃　said　the　Voice；　〃behold　and
  tremble。〃
  Then　my　lips　and　eyes　were　sealed　with　silence　and　with　darkness；　so
  that　I　was　dumb　and　blind。　The　Gates　rolled　back；　the　Doors　swung
  wide；　and　I　was　swept　into　the　city　that　is　in　the　Place　of　Death。　I
  was　swept　swiftly　I　know　not　whither；　till　at　length　I　stood　upon　my
  feet。　Again　the　great　Voice　pealed：
  〃Draw　the　veil　of　blackness　from　his　eyes；　unseal　the　silence　on　his
  lips；　that　Harmachis；　Child　of　Earth；　may　see；　hear；　and　understand；
  and　make　adoration　at　the　Shrine　of　Her　that　Was　and　Is　and　Shall　Be。〃
  And　my　lips　and　eyes　were　touched　once　more；　so　that　my　sight　and
  speech　came　back。
  Behold！　I　stood　within　a　hall　of　blackest　marble；　so　lofty　that　even
  in　the　rosy　light　scarce　could　my　vision　reach　the　great　groins　of　the
  roof。　Music　wailed　about　its　spaces；　and　all　adown　its　length　stood
  winged　Spirits　fashioned　in　living　fire；　and　such　was　the　brightness
  of　their　forms　that　I　could　not　look　on　them。　In　its　centre　was　an
  altar；　small　and　square；　and　I　stood　before　the　empty　altar。　Then
  again　the　Voice　cried：
  〃O　Thou　that　hast　been；　art；　and　shalt　be；　Thou　who；　having　many
  names；　art　yet　without　a　name；　Measurer　of　Time；　Messenger　of　God；
  Guardian　of　the　Worlds　and　the　Races　that　dwell　thereon；　Universal
  Mother　born　of　Nothingness；　Creatix　uncreated；　Living　Splendour
  without　Form；　Living　Form　without　Substance；　Servant　of　the　Invisible；
  Child　of　Law；　Holder　of　the　Scales　and　Sword　of　Fate；　Vessel　of　Life；
  through　whom　all　Life　flows；　to　whom　it　again　is　gathered；　Recorder　of
  Things　Done；　Executrix　of　Decrees/Hear！/
  〃Harmachis　the　Egyptian；　who　by　Thy　will　hath　been　summoned　from　the
  earth；　waits　before　Thine　Altar；　with　ears　unstopped；　with　eyes
  unsealed；　and　with　an　open　heart。　Hear　and　descend！　Descend；　O　Many…
  shaped！　Descend　in　Flame！　Descend　in　Sound！　Descend　in　Spirit！　Hear
  and　descend！〃
  The　Voice　ceased　and　there　was　silence。　Then　through　the　silence　came
  a　sound　like　the　booming　of　the　sea。　It　passed　and　presently；　moved
  thereto　by　I　know　not　what；　I　raised　my　eyes　from　my　hands　with　which
  I　had　covered　them；　and　saw　a　small　dark　cloud　hanging　over　the　Altar
  in　and　out　of　which　a　fiery　Serpent　climbed。
  Then　all　the　Spirits　clad　in　light　fell　upon　the　marble　floor；　and
  with　a　loud　voice　adored；　but　what　they　said　I　could　not　understand。
  Behold！　the　dark　cloud　came　down　and　rested　on　the　Altar；　the　Serpent
  of　fire　stretched　itself　towards　me；　touched　me　on　the　forehead　with
  its　forky　tongue　and　was　gone。　From　within　the　cloud　a　Voice　sweet　and
  low　and　clear　spoke　in　heavenly　accents：
  〃Depart；　ye　Ministers；　leave　Me　with　my　son　whom　I　have　summoned。〃
  Then　like　arrows　rushing　from　a　bow　the　flame…clad　Spirits　leapt　from
  the　ground　and　sped　away。
  〃O　Harmachis；〃　said　the　Voice；　〃be　not　afraid；　I　am　She　whom　thou　dost
  know　as　Isis　of　the　Egyptians；　but　what　else　I　am　strive　not　thou　to
  learn；　it　is　beyond　thy　strength。　For　I　am　all　things；　Life　is　my
  spirit；　and　Nature　is　my　raiment。　I　am　the　laughter　of　the　babe；　I　am
  the　maiden's　love；　I　am　the　mother's　kiss。　I　am　the　Child　and　Servant
  of　the　Invisible　that　is　God；　that　is　Law；　that　is　Fatethough　myself
  I　be　not　God　and　Fate　and　Law。　When　winds　blow　and　oceans　roar　upon
  the　face　of　the　Earth　thou　hearest　my　voice；　when　thou　gazest　on　the
  starry　firmament　thou　seest　my　countenance；　when　the　spring　blooms　out
  in　flowers；　that　is　my　smile；　Harmachis。　For　I　am　Nature's　self；　and
  all　her　shapes　are　shapes　of　Me。　I　breathe　in　all　that　breathes。　I　wax
  and　wane　in　the　changeful　moon：　I　grow　and　gather　in　the　tides：　I　rise
  with　the　suns：　I　flash　with　the　lightning　and　thunder　in　the　storms。
  Nothing　is　too　great　for　the　measure　of　my　majesty；　nothing　is　so
  small　that　I　cannot　find　a　home　therein。　I　am　in　thee　and　thou　art　in
  Me；　O　Harmachis。　That　which　bade　thee　be　bade　Me　also　be。　Therefore；
  though　I　am　great　and　thou　art　little；　have　no　fear。　For　we　are　bound
  together　by　the　common　bond　of　lifethat　life　which　flows　through
  suns　and　stars　and　spaces；　through　Spirits　and　the　souls　of　men；
  welding　all　Nature　to　a　whole　that；　changing　ever；　is　yet　eternally
  the　same。〃
  I　bowed　my　headI　could　not　speak；　for　I　was　afraid。
  〃Faithfully　hast　thou　served　Me；　O　my　son；〃　went　on　the　low　sweet
  Voice；　〃greatly　thou　hast　longed　to　be　brought　face　to　face　with　Me
  here　in　Amenti；　and　greatly　hast　thou　dared　to　accomplish　thy　desire。
  For　it　is　no　small　thing　to　cast　off　the　tabernacle　of　the　Flesh　and
  before　the　appointed　time；　if　only　for　an　hour；　put　on　the　raiment　of
  the　Spirit。　And　greatly；　O　my　servant　and　my　son；　have　I；　too；　desired
  to　look　on　thee　there　where　I　am。　For　the　Gods　love　those　who　love
  them；　but　with　a　wider　and　deeper　love；　and　under　One　who　is　as　far
  from　Me　as　I　am　from　thee；　mortal；　I　am　a　God　of　Gods。　Therefore　I
  have　caused　thee　to　be　brought　hither；　Harmachis；　and　therefore　I
  speak　to　thee；　my　son；　and　bid　thee　commune　with　Me　now　face　to　face；
  as　thou　didst　commune　that　night　upon　the　temple　towers　of　Abouthis。
  For　I　was　there　with　thee；　Harmachis；　as　I　was　in　ten　thousand　other
  worlds。　It　was　I；　O　Harmachis；　who　laid　the　lotus　in　thy　hand；　giving
  thee　the　sign　which　thou　didst　seek。　For　thou　art　of　the　kingly　blood
  of　my　children　who　served　Me　from　age　to　age。　And　if　thou　dost　not
  fail　thou　shalt　sit　upon　that　kingly　throne　and　restore　my　ancient
  worship　in　its　purity；　and　sweep　my　temples　from　their　defilements。
  But　if　thou　dost　fail；　then　shall　the　eternal　Spirit　Isis　become　but　a
  memory　in　Egypt。〃
  The　Voice　paused；　and；　gathering　up　my　strength；　at　length　I　spoke
  aloud：
  〃Tell　me；　O　Holy；〃　I　said；　〃shall　I　then　fail？〃
  〃Ask　Me　not；〃　answered　the　Voice；　〃that　which　it　is　not　lawful　that　I
  should　answer　thee。　Perchance　I　can　read　that　which　shall　befall　thee；
  perchance　it　doth　not　please　Me　so　to　read。　What　can　it　profit　the
  Divine；　that　hath　all　time　wherein　to　await　the　issues；　to　be　eager　to
  look　upon　the　blossom　that　is　not　blown；　but　which；　lying　a　seed　in
  the　bosom　of　the　earth；　shall　blow　in　its　season？　Know；　Harmachis；
  that　I　do　not　shape　the　Future；　the　Future　is　to　thee　and　not　to　Me；
  for　it　is　born　of　Law　and　of　the　rule　ordained　of　the　Invisible。　Yet
  thou　art　free　to　act　therein；　and　thou　shalt　win　or　thou　shalt　fail
  according　to　thy　strength　and　the　measure　of　thy　heart's　purity。　Thine
  be　the　burden；　Harmachis；　as　thine　in　the　event　shall　be　the　glory　or
  the　shame。　Little　do　I　reck　of　the　issue；　I　who　am　but　the　Minister　of
  what　is　written。　Now　hear　me：　I　will　always　be　with　thee；　my　son；　for
  my　love　once　given　can　never　be　taken　away；　though　by　sin　it　may　seem
  lost　to　thee。　Remember　then　this：　if　thou　dost　triumph；　thy　guerdon
  shall　be　great；　if　thou　dost　fail；　heavy　indeed　shall　be　thy
  punishment　both　in　the　flesh　and　in　the　land　that　thou　callest　Amenti。
  Yet　this　for　thy　comfort：　shame　and　agony　shall　not　be　eternal。　For
  however　deep　the　fall　from　righteousness；　if　but　repentance　holds　the
  heart；　there　is　a　patha　stony　and　a　cruel　pathwhereby　the　height
  may　be　climbed　again。　Let　it　not　be　thy　lot　to　follow　it；　Harmachis！
  〃And　now；　because　thou　hast　loved　Me；　my　son；　and；　wandering　through
  the　maze　of　fable；　wherein　men　lose　themselves　upon　the　earth；
  mistaking　the　substance　for　the　Spirit；　and　the　Altar　for　the　God；
  hast　yet　grasped　a　clue　of　Truth　the　Many…faced；　and　because　I　love
  thee　and　look　on　to　the　day　that；　perchance；　shall　come　when　thou
  shalt　dwell　blessed　in　my　light　and　in　the　doing　of　my　tasks：　because
  of　this；　I　say；　it　shall　be　given　to　thee；　O　Harmachis；　to　hear　the
  Word　whereby　I　may　be　summoned　from　the　Uttermost；　by　one　who　hath
  communed　with　Me；　and　to　look　upon　the　face　of　Isiseven　into　the
  eyes　of　the　Messenger；　and　not　die　the　death。
  〃/Behold！/〃
  The　sweet　Voice　ceased；　the　dark　cloud　upon　the　altar　changed　and
  changedit　grew　white；　it　shone；　and　seemed　at　length　to　take　the
  shrouded　shape　of　a　woman。　Then　the　golden　Snake　crept　from　its　heart
  once　more；　and；　like　a　living　diadem；　twined　itself　about　the　cloudy
  brows。
  Now　suddenly　a　Voice　called　aloud　the　awful　Word；　then　the　vapours
  burst　and　melted；　and　wi