_But one of the brethren, feeling himself suddenly inspired, takes his place before the column, where a basket has already been placed, filled with fennel and aristolochia. On the top of the basket is placed a loaf._)
(_unrolling a placard covered with designs representing cylinders blending with and fitting into one another, commences to pray_:)
"The ray of the Word descended upon the darknesses; and there arose a mighty cry, like unto the voice of Light."
ALL (_swaying their bodies in unison, respond_):
THE INSPIRED BROTHER. "Then was Man created by the infamous God of Israel, aided by those who are these (_pointing to the medallions_)--Astophaios, Oraios, Sabaoth, Adonai, Eloi, Iao!
"And Man, hideous, feeble, formless and thoughtless, lay upon the slime of the earth."
THE INSPIRED BROTHER. "But Sophia, compassionating him, vivified him with a spark of her own soul.
"Then God, beholding Man so beautiful, waxed wroth; and imprisoned him within His own kingdom, forbidding him to touch the Tree of Knowledge.
"Again did the other succor him. She sent to him the Serpent, who, by many long subterfuges, made him disobey that law of hate.
"And Man, having tasted knowledge, understood celestial things."
THE INSPIRED BROTHER. "But Iabdalaoth through vengeance cast down man into the world of matter, and the Serpent with him."
(_Then all hold their peace, and there is silence._
_The odors of the port mingle with the smoke of the lamps in the warm air. The lamp-wicks crepitate; their flames are about to go out, long mosquitoes flit in rapid circlings about them. And Anthony groans in an agony of anguish, as with the feeling that a monstrosity is floating about him, as with the fear of a crime that is about to be accomplished._
THE INSPIRED BROTHER (_stamping his heel upon the floor, snapping his fingers, tossing his head wildly, suddenly chants to a furious rhythm, with accompaniment of cymbals and a shrill flute_:--)
"Come! come! come!--issue from thy cavern!
"O swift one, who runneth without feet, captor who seizeth without hand!
"Sinuous as the rivers, orbicular as the sun, black, with spots of gold, like the firmament star-besprinkled! Like unto the intertwinings of the vine, and the circumvolutions of entrails!