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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