"Flee, flee!" groaned indistinct voices. "The gates of Hell are opening; it is He, He, the Conqueror!"
The wind hissed in Julian's ears; legions upon legions seemed passing over him; suddenly there fell a dead calm; a heavenly breath filled the vast cavern and a voice murmured--
It seemed to Julian that he had heard that voice before, in some far time of childhood. Gently it came again--
And the sound faded away into the distance, so that there came at last but an imperceptible whisper: "Why, why, persecutest thou me?"
When Julian awoke and raised his prostrate face he saw one of the initiating priests lighting a lamp. He felt giddy, but remembered exactly everything that had taken place. His eyes were blindfolded and, strengthened with spiced wine, he was enabled to climb the staircase, his hand gripped this time by the strong hand of Maximus. He felt as if an invisible force was lifting him on wings. The teacher of rites said to the lad--
"No. But when one chord of the lyre vibrates, another chord responds. Opposite answers opposite."
"Why is there such potency in His words if His words are only lies?"
"What do you mean? Then it is the Titan and the Angel who lied?"
"Not I, but the wholeness of the truth. If you are afraid, be silent."
"I am afraid of nothing. Say on; tell all! Are the Galileans right?"
"There is, beside theirs, another truth."
"But in what is one to believe? Where is the God whom I seek?"
"Both here and yonder. Serve Ahriman,--serve Ormuzd, whichever pleases you! But forget not that both are equal,--the kingdom of Lucifer and the kingdom of God."
"Choose one of the two roads, and halt no more!"
"If you believe in Him, take up the cross. Follow Him according to His command; be humble, chaste. Be the lamb that was dumb between the hands of the shearers. Flee into the desert for salvation; give Him body, soul, and reason! Believe!... that is one way. And the Galilean martyrs attain the same liberty that Prometheus and Lucifer have attained."
"Choose then the other path. Be puissant as your ancestors of old, the heroes--proud, pitiless, and haughty. No compassion! No love! No pardon! Arise and conquer all things! Let your body become hard as marble out of which the demigods are hewn! Take and give not! Taste of the forbidden fruit and repent not! Believe not, doubt not, and the world shall be thine! Thou shalt be the Titan--an angel revolted against God."