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white foam； was claiming it as part of some indefinite and passionate life； which had begun to war upon our orderly and careful days； and was about to plunge the world into a night as obscure as that which followed the downfall of the classical world。 one part of my mind mocked this phantastic terror； but the other； the part that still lay half plunged in vision； listened to the clash of unknown armies； and shuddered at unimaginable fanaticisms； that hung in those grey leaping waves。
we had gone but a few paces along the pier when we came upon an old man； who was evidently a watchman； for he sat in an overset barrel； close to a place where masons had been lately working upon a break in the pier； and had in front of him a fire such as one sees slung under tinkers carts。 i saw that he was also a voteen； as the peasants say； for there was a rosary hanging from a nail on the rim of the barrel； and i saw i shuddered； and i did not know why i shuddered。 we had passed him a few yards when i heard him cry in gaelic； idolaters； idolaters； go down to hell with your witches and your devils； go down to hell that the herrings may e again into the bay； and for some moments i could hear him half screaming and half muttering behind us。 are you not afraid； i said； that these wild fishing people may do some desperate thing against you？
i and mine； he answered； are long past human hurt or help； being incorporate with immortal spirits； and when we die it shall be the consummation of the supreme work。 a time will e for these people also； and they will sacrifice a mullet to artemis； or some other fish to some new divinity； unless indeed their own divinities； the dagda； with his overflowing cauldron； lug； with his spear dipped in poppy？ juice lest it rush forth hot for battle。 aengus； with the three birds on his shoulder； bodb and his red swineherd； and all the heroic children of dana； set up once more their temples of grey stone。 their reign has never ceased； but only waned in power a little； for the sidhe still pass in every wind； and dance and play at hurley； and fight their sudden battles in every hollow and on every hill； but they cannot build their temples again till there have been martyrdoms and victories； and perhaps even that long？foretold battle in the valley of the black pig。
keeping close to the wall that went about the pier on the seaward side； to escape the driving foam and the wind； which threatened every moment to lift us off our feet； we made our way in silence to the door of the square building。 michael robartes opened it with a key； on which i saw the rust of many salt winds； and led me along a bare passage and up an uncarpeted stair to a little room surrounded with bookshelves。 a meal would be brought； but only of fruit； for i must submit to a tempered fast before the ceremony； he explained； and with it a book on the doctrine and method of the order； over which i was to spend what remained of the winter daylight。 he then left me； promising to return an hour before the ceremony。 i began searching among the bookshelves； and found one of the most exhaustive alchemical libraries i have ever seen。 there were the works of morienus； who hid his immortal body under a shirt of hair？cloth； of avicenna； who was a drunkard and yet controlled numberless legions of spirits； of alfarabi； who put so many spirits into his lute that he could make men laugh； or weep； or fall in deadly trance as he would； of lully； who transformed himself into the likeness of a red cock； of flamel； who with his wife parnella achieved the elixir many hundreds of years ago； and is fabled to live still in arabia among the dervishes； and of many of less fame。 there were very few mystics but alchemical mystics； and because； i had little doubt； of the devotion to one god of the greater number and of the limited sense of beauty； which robartes would hold an inevitable consequence； but i did notice a plete set of facsimiles of the prophetical writings of william blake； and probably because of the multitudes that thronged his illumination and were like the gay fishes on the wave when the moon sucks up the dew。 i noted also many poets and prose writers of every age； but only those who were a little weary of life； as indeed the greatest have been everywhere； and who cast their imagination to us； as a something they needed no longer now that they were going up in their fiery chariots。
presently i heard a tap at the door； and a woman came in and laid a little fruit upon the table。 i judged that she had once been handsome； but her cheeks were hollowed by what i would have held； had i seen her anywhere else； an excitement of the flesh and a thirst for pleasure； instead of which it doubtless was an excitement of the imagination and a thirst for beauty。 i asked her some question concerning the ceremony； but getting no answer except a shake of the head； saw that i must await initiation in silence。 when i had eaten； she came again； and having laid a curiously wrought bronze box on the table； lighted the candles； and took away the plates and the remnants。 so soon as i was alone； i turned to the box； and found that the peacocks of hera spread out their tails over the sides and lid； against a background； on which were wrought great stars； as though to affirm that the heavens were a part of their glory。 in the box was a book bound in vellum； and having upon the vellum and in very delicate colours； and in gold； the alchemical rose with many spears thrusting against it； but in vain； as was shown by the shattered points of those nearest to the petals。 the book was written upon vellum； and in beautiful clear letters； interspersed with symbolical pictures and illuminations； after the manner of the splendor soils。
the first chapter described how situdents； of celtic descent； gave themselves separately to the study of alchemy； and solved； one the mystery of the pelican； another the mystery of the green dragon； another the mystery of the eagle； another that of salt and mercury。 what seemed a succession of accidents； but was； the book declared； the contrivance of preternatural powers； brought them together in the garden of an inn in the south of france； and while they talked together the thought came to them that alchemy was the gradual distillation of the contents of the soul； until they were ready to put off the mortal and put on the immortal。 an owl passed； rustling among the vine？leaves overhead； and then an old woman came； leaning upon a stick； and； sitting close to them； took up the thought where they had dropped it。 having expounded the whole principle of spiritual alchemy； and bid them found the order of the alchemical rose； she passed from among them； and when they would have followed she was nowhere to be seen。 they formed themselves into an order； holding their goods and making their researches in mon； and； as they became perfect in the alchemical doctrine； apparitions came and went among them； and taught them more and more marvellous mysteries。 the book then went on to expound so much of these as the neophyte was permitted to know； dealing at the outset and at considerable length with the independent reality of our thoughts； which was； it declared； the doctrine from which