As to a Veil They Broke

So it was that Jurgen came into Cocaigne, is the of Time. And Time, they report, came in with Jurgen, since Jurgen was mortal: and Time, they say, in this from the slow of by stone, and with his by the work of in wrinkles, into his bedchamber, and asleep just after on this in late June: so that the weather and changeless, with no sun anywhere, and with one large star alone in clear daylight. This was the star of Venus Mechanitis, and Jurgen later from how this star was about the of by a beetle, named Khepre. And the trees their fresh foliage, and the were about their songs, all Jurgen's in Cocaigne, for Time had gone to sleep at the hour of the year's most season. So tells the tale.

And Jurgen's also in with Jurgen, but in Cocaigne as in Glathion, nobody save Jurgen to notice this which now Jurgen everywhere.

In Cocaigne Queen Anaïtis had a palace, where and with a soft above the top of an old forest, the was that which is by ordinary earth. There was to be in these woods, for instance, a of which Jurgen shudder. So Anaïtis and Jurgen came through narrow paths, like green caverns, into a and with yellow marble, was nothing save the of a god with ten and thirty-four arms: he was as very much by a woman, and with his hands was yet other women.

"It is Jigsbyed," said Anaïtis.

Said Jurgen: "I do not criticize. Nevertheless, I think this Jigsbyed is to extremes."

Then they passed the of Tangaro Loloquong, and the of Legba. Jurgen his chin, and his color heightened. "Now certainly, Queen Anaïtis," he said, "you have taste in sculpture."

Thence Jurgen came with Anaïtis into a white room, with copper upon the walls, and there four girls were water in a tripod. They Jurgen, him meanwhile--with the tongue, the hair, the finger-nails, and the of the breasts,--and they him with four oils, then him again in his shirt. Of Caliburn, said Anaïtis, there was no present need: so Jurgen's was upon the wall.

These girls mixed with honey, and they and eggs and barleycorn, and red-colored loaves, they sweet-smelling little with gestures. Then Anaïtis and Jurgen their fast, together while the four girls them.

"And now," says Jurgen, "and now, my dear, I would that we enter into the of those of which you were telling me."

"I am very willing," Anaïtis, "since there is no one of these but is purchased by some of man's nature. Yet first, as I need you, there is a to be observed."

"And what, pray, is this ceremonial?"

"Why, we call it the Breaking of the Veil." And Queen Anaïtis what they must do.

"Well," says Jurgen, "I am to taste any drink once."

So Anaïtis Jurgen into a of chapel, with very paintings. There were four shrines, to St. Cosmo, to St. Damianus, to St. Guignole of Brest, and to St. Foutin de Varailles. In this were a man, in long that were with white and yellow, and two children, girls. One of the children a censer: the other in one hand a with water, and in her left hand a of salt.

First of all, the man Jurgen ready. "Behold the lance," said the man, "which must you in this adventure."

"I accept the adventure," Jurgen replied, "because I the to be trustworthy."

Said the man: "So be it! but as you are, so once was I."

Meanwhile Duke Jurgen the erect, it with his right hand. This was large, and the of it was red with blood.

"Behold," said Jurgen, "I am a man of a woman incomprehensibly. Now I, who am miraculous, am to perform a miracle, and to create that which I may not comprehend."

Anaïtis took salt and water from the child, and these. "Let the salt of earth the thin to assume the of the sea!"

Then, kneeling, she touched the lance, and to it lovingly. To Jurgen she said: "Now may you be of and body! May the Serpent be your crown, and the of the sun your strength!"

Said the man, again: "So be it!" His voice was high and bleating, of that which had been done to him.

"That therefore which we cannot we also invoke," said Jurgen. "By the power of the lance"--and now with his left hand he took the hand of Anaïtis,--"I, being a man of a woman incomprehensibly, now upon that which alone I with my whole being. I lead you toward the east. I you above the earth and all the of earth."

Then Jurgen Queen Anaïtis so that she sat upon the altar, and that which was there to the ground. Anaïtis together the of her thumbs and of her fingers, so that her hands an open triangle; and waited thus. Upon her was a network of red coral, with downward: her had twenty-two openings, so as to admit all caresses, and was of two colors, being with black and mingled: her dark and her came fast.

Now the man and the two girls performed their in the ceremonial, which part it is not to record. But Jurgen was by it.

None the less, Jurgen said: "O that the of the stars! O cup which all time, all color, and all thought! O of space! not any image of do we unless image in what we are about to do. Therefore by every plant which its and by the warm garden which and it, by the of with pleasure, by the that with and shudderings, and by the which death,--by all these do we thee. O thou, one, will these children attend, and I now in this fair-colored and soft woman's body, it is I honor, not any woman, in doing what good to me: and it is who art about to speak, and not she."

Then Anaïtis said: "Yea, for I speak with the of every woman, and I in the of every woman, when the is lifted. To me is than all else. When you me with a is the flame, if but for a moment, you will the of my garden, what therein, and how is the which all of a man. To me you will then be to else is in your life: and other you will take with your left hand, not of them entirely: for I am the which all of a man, and so nothing. And I accept you, I toward you, I who am and more than to the Sun. I who am all pleasure, all ruin, and a of the sense, you."

Now Jurgen his Anaïtis. "O of all things, in the being of all which lives, now that the is I do not thee: for art in me, and I am thou. I am the that in every and in the of the star. I too am life and the of life, and in me too is death. Wherein art than I? I am alone: my will is justice: and there comes no other god where I am."

Said the man Jurgen: "So be it! but as you are, so once was I."

The two children one at each of Anaïtis, and waited there trembling. These girls, as Jurgen learned, were Alecto and Tisiphonê, two of the Eumenidês. And now Jurgen the red point of the lance, so that it rested in the open triangle by the of Anaïtis.

"I am life and the of life," Jurgen. "Thou that art one, that use of all! I who am a man of woman, I in my station in this which all of a man. Make open therefore the way of creation, the which is in our hearts, and us in that flame's perpetuation! For is not that law?"

Anaïtis answered: "There is no law in Cocaigne save, Do that which good to you."

Then said the children: "Perhaps it is the law, but it is not justice. Yet we are little and helpless. So presently we must be as you are for now you two are no longer two, and your is not with each other. For your our flesh, and your our sins: and we have no choice."

Jurgen Anaïtis from the altar, and they into the and for the adytum. There to be no doors in the chancel: but presently Jurgen an opening screened by a pink veil. Jurgen with his and this veil. He the of one cry: it was by soft laughter. So Jurgen came into the adytum.

Black were in this place, and too was there, a cross, of which the top was a circle, and was a toad. And other Jurgen noticed.

He laughed, and to Anaïtis: now that the were him, she was in his shadow. "Well, well! but you are a little old-fashioned, with all these mummeries. And I did not know that any longer to a from god-baiting. Still, must be humored, them! and at last, I take it, we have the to the of pleasures."

Queen Anaïtis was very beautiful, under his shadow. Triumphant too was the proud that network, and yet this woman's was sad.

"Dear fool," she said, "it was not wise, when you sang of the Léshy, to put an upon Monday. But you have that. And now you laugh that which we have done you do not understand: and that which I am you do not understand."

"No what you may be, my dear, I am sure that you will presently tell me all about it. For I assume that you to with me."

"I shall do that which me, Duke Jurgen--"

"That is it, my dear, precisely! You to be true to yourself, happens. The you honor, and I shall try to help you. Now I have noticed that every woman is most herself," says Jurgen, oracularly, "in the dark."

Then Jurgen looked at her for a moment, with eyes: then Anaïtis, in his shadow, with eyes: then Jurgen out those black candles: and then it was dark.