按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Like that old Sphinx of Egypt shalt thou sit aloft
from age to age； and ever shall they cry to thee to
solve the riddle of thy greatness that doth not pass
away； and ever shalt thou mock them with thy silence！
〃Behold！ once more I kiss thee； and by that kiss I
give to thee dominion over sea and earth； over the
peasant in his hovel； over the monarch in his palace
halls； and cities crowned with towers； and those who
breathe therein。 Whate'er the sun shakes out his
spears； and the lonesome waters mirror up the moon；
whate'er storms roll； and heaven's painted bows arch
in the skyfrom the pure North clad in snows； across
the middle spaces of the world； to where the amorous
South； lying like a bride upon her blue couch of seas；
breathes in sighs made sweet with the odor of myrtles…
…there shall thy power pass and thy dominion find a
home。 Nor sickness； nor icy…fingered fear； nor sorrow；
and pale waste of form and mind hovering ever o'er
humanity； shall so much as shadow thee with the shadow
of their wings。 As a god shalt thou be； holding good
and evil in the hollow of thy hand； and I； even I； I
humble myself before thee。 Such is the power of Love；
and such is the bridal gift I give unto thee；
Kallikrates； beloved of Ra； my Lord and Lord of All。
〃And now it is done； and； come storm； come shine； come
good； come evil； come life； come death； it never；
never can be undone。 For； of a truth； that which is；
is； and being done； is done for aye； and cannot be
altered。 I have saidLet us hence； that all things
may be accomplished in their order；〃 and； taking one
of the lamps； she advanced towards the end of the
chamber that was roofed in by the swaying stone； where
she halted。
We followed her； and perceived that in the wall of the
cone there was a stair； or； to be more accurate； that
some projecting knobs of rock had been so shaped as to
form a good imitation of a stair。 Down this Ayesha
began to climb； springing from step to step； like a
chamois； and after her we followed with less grace。
When we had descended some fifteen or sixteen steps we
found that they ended in a tremendous rocky slope；
running first outward and then inwardlike the slope
of an inverted cone； or tunnel。 The slope was very
steep； and often precipitous； but it was nowhere
impassable； and by the light of the lamps we went down
it with no great difficulty； though it was gloomy work
enough travelling on thus； no one of us knew whither；
into the dead heart of a volcano。 As we went； however；
I took the precaution of noting our route as well as I
could； and this was not difficult； owing to the
extraordinary and most fantastic shape of the rocks
that were strewn about； many of which； in that dim
light； looked more like the grim faces carven upon
mediaeval gargoyles than ordinary boulders。
For a long period we travelled on thus； half an hour I
should say； till； after we had descended for many
hundreds of feet； I perceived that we were reaching
the point of the inverted cone。 In another minute we
were there； and found that at the very apex of the
funnel was a passage； so low and narrow that we had to
stoop as we crept along it in Indian file。 After some
fifty yards of this creeping； the passage suddenly
widened into a cave； so huge that we could see neither
the roof nor the sides。 We only knew that it was a
cave by the echo of our tread and the perfect quiet of
the heavy air。 On we went for many minutes in absolute
awed silence； like lost souls in the depths of Hades；
Ayesha's white and ghostlike form flitting in front of
us； till once more the cavern ended in a passage which
opened into a second cavern much smaller than the
first。 Indeed； we could clearly make out the arch and
stony banks of this second cave； and； from their rent
and jagged appearance； discovered that； like the first
long passage down which we had passed through the
cliff before we reached the quivering spur； it had to
all appearance been torn in the bowels of the rock by
the terrific force of some explosive gas。 At length
this cave ended in a third passage； through which
gleamed a faint glow of light。
I heard Ayesha give a sigh of relief as this light
dawned upon us。
〃It is well；〃 she said； 〃prepare to enter the very
womb of the Earth； wherein she doth conceive the Life
that ye see brought forth in man and beastay； and in
every tree and flower。〃
Swiftly she sped along； and after her we stumbled as
best we might； our hearts filled like a cup with
mingled dread and curiosity。 What were we about to
see？ We passed down the tunnel； stronger and stronger
the light beamed； reaching us in great flashes like
the rays from a lighthouse； as one by one they are
thrown wide upon the darkness of the waters。 Nor was
this all； for with the flashes came a soul…shaking
sound like that of thunder and of crashing trees。 Now
we were through it； andoh； heavens！
We stood in a third cavern； some fifty feet in length
by perhaps as great a height； and thirty wide。 It was
carpeted with fine white sand； and its walls had been
worn smooth by the action of I know not what。 The
cavern was not dark like the others； it was filled
with a soft glow of rose…colored light； more beautiful
to look on than anything that can be conceived。 But at
first we saw no flashes； and heard no more of the
thunderous sound。 Presently； however； as we stood in
amaze； gazing at the wonderful sight； and wondering
whence the rosy radiance flowed； a dread and beautiful
thing happened。 Across the far end of the cavern； with
a grinding and crashing noisea noise so dreadful and
awe…inspiring that we all trembled； and Job actually
sank to his kneesthere flamed out an awful cloud or
pillar of fire； like a rainbow many…colored； and like
the lightning bright。 For a space； perhaps forty
seconds； it flamed and roared thus； turning slowly
round and round； and then by degrees the terrible
noise ceased； and with the fire it passed awayI know
not whereleaving behind it the same rosy glow that
we had first seen。
〃Draw near； draw near！〃 cried Ayesha； with a voice of
thrilling exultation。 〃Behold the very Fountain and
Heart of Life as it beats in the bosom of the great
world。 Behold the substance from which all things draw
their energy； the bright Spirit of the Globe； without
which it cannot live； but must grow cold and dead as
the dead moon。 Draw near； and wash you in the living
flames； and take their virtue into your poor frames in
all its virgin strengthnot as it now feebly glows
within your bosoms； filtered thereto through all the
fine strainers of a thousand intermediate lives； but
as it is here in the very fount and seat of earthly
Being。〃
We followed her through the rosy glow up to the head
of the cave； till at last we stood before the spot
where the great pulse beat and the great flame passed。
And as we went we became sensible of a wild and
splendid exhilaration； of a glorious sense of such a
fierce intensity of Life that the most buoyant moments
of our strength seemed flat and tame and feeble beside
it。 I