Alchemical Allegories

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delight in his company and began to prattle. Ginnistan fussed about him. She looked exceedingly charming and
alluring, and drew him to her with the eagerness of a bride. With a whispered word she led him to the chamber door,
but Sophia motioned urgently and pointed to the snake. And then his Mother entered and he ran to her at once with
scalding tears of welcome. The Scribe had left in a fury.
The Father came in, and when he saw mother and son in their silent embrace he passed behind them toward the
seductive Ginnistan and caressed her. Sophia climbed the stair. Little Fable took up the Scribe's pen and began to
write. Mother and son were deep in whispered conversation, and the Father stole away to a chamber with Ginnistan,
to restore himself in her arms after the day's labour. At length Sophia returned, and the Scribe entered. The Father
left the chamber and went back to his work. Ginnistan came in with flushed cheeks. In a torrent of abuse the Scribe
drove little Fable from the stool, and found that it took some time to put his effects in order. He handed the leaves
that Fable had written to Sophia, thinking to get them back quite clean, but flared at once into high dudgeon when
Sophia retrieved the pages from the bowl and laid them before him shining and unscathed. Fable held close to her
Mother, who comforted her and then swept out the room, opened the windows, let in fresh air and began to prepare
an appetising meal.
Through the windows one could contemplate the finest of views, and a clear sky stretching over the earth. In the
courtyard the Father worked busily. Whenever he tired he looked up to the casement where Ginnistan stood
throwing all manner of sweetmeats down to him. The Mother and son assisted everywhere, making their
preparations for the plan they had conceived. The Scribe scratched away with his pen, grimacing sourly if ever he
needed recourse to Ginnistan, whose memory was exceptional and retained all that had happened.
Presently Eros arrived, clad in superb armour, with the gaily coloured shawl tied round it like a sash, and asked for
Sophia's advice concerning how and when he should embark upon his journey. The Scribe interposed at once and
hurriedly offered a detailed itinerary, but his proposals were ignored.
"You may start your journey immediately, with Ginnistan for a companion," said Sophia. "She is acquainted with
the road and well-known everywhere. She will assume the semblance of your Mother, in order to keep you from
temptation. If you find the King, think of me and I will come to help you."
Ginnistan and the Mother exchanged forms, thus giving, it seemed, great pleasure to the Father. The Scribe was
happy that the pair were leaving, especially as Ginnistan made him a farewell gift of her pocket-book in which the
history of the house was recorded in detail. Only little Fable remained as a thorn in his flesh; for the sake of peace
and quiet he could have wished for nothing better than to number her among those departing. Sophia spoke a
blessing as they knelt before her and gave them a vessel filled with water from the bowl to carry on their journey.
The Mother was extremely anxious. Little Fable wished to go as well; but the Father, too involved outside the house,
took little interest in the leave-taking. It was night, and the moon was overhead, when they left on their travels.
"Dear Eros," said Ginnistan, "we must hurry to reach my father; it is a long time since he saw me last, and he has
searched for me tirelessly across the face of the earth. Do you see his pale face lined with grief? Your testimony will
make me known to him in this unfamiliar body."
Eros took the paths of night
By the pallid Moon espied:
All in rarest gem bedight
The realm of Shadow opened wide.
Covered with a mist of blue
Hemmed with a golden seam,
He followed Fancy as she drew
Him over land and stream.
Courage filled the panting breast;
The youthful heart, desire:
Future joy upon him pressed
And fed his growing fire.
Yearning wept, all unaware
That Love came on apace:
Lines of tearfulness and care
Deepened on her face.
The little snake was true and firm
And pointed to the North.
They followed, with no fear of harm,
The guide that led them forth.
Through desert and the clouds' demesne
The cheerless path of Eros ran,
'Til he before the Moon was seen,
Hand in hand with Ginnistan.
The Moon sat on his silver throne,
Torn by grief, and set apart:
But when his daughter's voice was known
He drew her to his heart.
Eros stood by, deeply touched at their affectionate embraces. The old man, profoundly shaken, finally recollected
himself and welcomed his guest. He seized a great horn and blew upon it with all his might, sounding a tremendous
call throughout the primeval castle. The pointed towers, with their glistening gargoyles and steep black roofs,
trembled. The castle came to rest; for it had passed over to the mountains beyond the sea. Servants swept in from
every side. Their strange appearance and attire did not unnerve brave Eros, and to Ginnistan they were a source of
great delight. She greeted her old acquaintances and they assembled before her with fresh heart, each, in accord with
its nature, exulting.
The boisterous spirit of High Tide followed on gentle Ebb. Ancient Hurricanes lay down on the throbbing breasts of
fiery, passionate Earthquakes. Showers of fine Rain searched for the many-coloured Rainbow who stood there
paling, away from the Sun which holds a greater attraction for him. Berating the foolishness of young Lightnings,
Thunder growled from behind innumerable Clouds which hovered in thousand fold charm and urged on the fiery
youngsters. The two lovely sisters, Morning and Eve, took especial joy in the arrival of the two visitors and wept
quietly as they embraced them. Words could not convey the spectacle of this strange retinue. The old king did not
tire of gazing on his daughter. She felt a tenfold happiness in her father's castle, and never wearied of watching the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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