III.

Again the Talisman, now set in gold,Was worn by woman as in days of old.She asked herself, “Doth mystery lurk herein?Can we from this some hidden knowledge win?Perhaps for us there is a task to do,Of bygone times some link to find anew.Cold stone! if dowered thou by magic deep,What then—if silence thou must ever keep?Jadeite grey-green, by ancients called divine,Till Earth grow cold this talisman may shine;As it hath seen long eons in the past,So may it yet man’s memory outlast.”’Twas thus the dreamer meditating thought,Till by her strong desire some rays were caught.A mystic clue this stone of magic, yea,To scenes of long ago—but find the way.Like other million forms, stone hath a soul,A spark divine of God the Perfect Whole.Then heard the woman toying with the stone:“With power was this endowed for thee alone.”What voice thus spake from mind to mind? No soundThe silence broke, wherein her thought was bound.“’Tis I, among Earth’s men thy friend of old;In times long past this page I thee foretold;For thou hast been in this,hispresent life,His sister one brief year; thou art his wife.Attachments deep and strong are ties that bind;We ever take the skein again to windOurselves about with bonds that draw us back,And which none other than ourselves can slack.He came to give the ancient Maya raceIts right—on history’s page a noble place.He would to light restore what’s hid away,And throw upon the past a clearer ray.”“When we outgrow desire for mundane things—Which are but means—our spirit finds its wings.When universal love and light are allWe crave, no power of earth can us inthrall.Peace comes alone through matter, which is strife;Right effort lifts the soul to purer life.To dohisbest is all man knows of right—Observing this, he finds the spirit’s might.To dread the Great Unknown is bondage vileFor man; this fear’s a sin that doth defileThe thought and deed of multitudes. In spaceNo depth is found where evil can effaceLove’s holy, constant, all-pervading ray;Go where soul will, it need feel no dismay.Peace dwells in Heart of Heaven, eternal Ku;But in the rugged paths that lead theretoWith turmoil finite being makes its way—Tho’ none knowwhyorwhither, all obey.”The clasping hand let fall the talismanPlaced centuries agone, by child of Can,To serve as link with mortal heart in urn.“Save me from self! I would no more return.”The woman breathed. Then at her side appearedA radiant form:—“As nothing should be fearedIn all the vast infinity of Good,The good is here; and if all mortals wouldAspire to truth and from ill thought refrain,Each could his share of happiness attain.No more for safety from thyself appeal,Thine higher self doth now itself reveal;Its voice obey, for thus thou wilt be freeTo seek and find the joys awaiting thee.The road thro’ many lives each one must tread,And by experience be onward led.Man’s creed saves not, but effort for the right;Each his own savior is, thro’ valiant fight:Endeavor, not success, makes his account.Condole we may, but not reproach; all mountThe heights; tho’ some may tarry long behind;The law of being, each to all doth bind.”“Our blundering steps oft bring upon us woe;To fail to strive entails a keener throe.The hounded, luckless inmate of the jailMay greater effort make, without avail,Than judge who sits upon the bench to giveDecree—if prisoner may or may not live.For one, the right may be an easy way;In vain the other struggles to obeyHimself, the spark divine that seeks to guideThro’ matter’s maze, and with him e’er will ’bideGo where he may, in crime, in paths of pain;Till step by step, the summit he shall gain.”“The woes we feel; the failures we deplore;Are only means to reach a fairer shore.When body falls to dust and soul escapes,The thoughts that grieved fade too, like phantom shapes.No judge is there to measure out our doom,Or thrust us into everlasting gloom.Ourselves we may condemn if we have failedTo do ourbest. But man has oft bewailedAs sin some harmless deed, and cast no blameOn other acts that should bear stamp of shame.”“This truth thou may’st enshrine within thy heart:Of Life and Love Eternal we are part;The Will Supreme is One, and lives in all;This God, our holy self, can never fall.WILL is the law; then will the right, for aye!Right will is all that mortal need obey.”Art bound to flesh?—thy spirit thus decreed;This thou shalt realize again when freed.Would’st thou repose? Resume the active way?Thus shall it be: none may thy will gainsay.Ourwill divine ordains we doOURbest;If we do this, the future must attestThat where we passed we made love’s tendrils twineAnd hope’s soft beam from many an eye to shine.Love may for some mean but a fond caress;But tenderly to serve is to expressDevotion, love’s best gift, whence doth ascendA fragrant incense which to earth can lendA sweeter air, a rosier light, and makeGrand harmonies on mortal ear to break.Eternal Love upholds thee, knows thy need;Thou art in bounteous life, accept its meed;Respond with all the love thou hast. ReceiveCelestial Light and, if thy heart must grieve,Be strong of soul; nor turn away thine earFrom that soul’s song, inspired by vision clear:ForAllis well! Give to despair no heed;Reject it; ’tis a dank, pernicious weed.The darkest hour, the murkiest place of woe,The direst crime, most agonizing throe,Shall yet give way before the Light DivineWhich dwells in all that is, and forth will shine.List to the melodies the soul doth sing,Vibrating chords that unto heart shall bringA joyous symphony whose voices giveRich harmonies that evermore will live.Rejoice in life; rejoice yet more when Death,Whose holy kiss absorbs our fleeting breath,Draws nigh, a friend who lets us out to playIn broader fields of universal day.Rejoice for all that lives, and all that dies;The piteous cry, the sunny smile, both rise;For these are prayers that will The Good attain,Where all shall blend in one triumphant strain.

Again the Talisman, now set in gold,

Was worn by woman as in days of old.

She asked herself, “Doth mystery lurk herein?

Can we from this some hidden knowledge win?

Perhaps for us there is a task to do,

Of bygone times some link to find anew.

Cold stone! if dowered thou by magic deep,

What then—if silence thou must ever keep?

Jadeite grey-green, by ancients called divine,

Till Earth grow cold this talisman may shine;

As it hath seen long eons in the past,

So may it yet man’s memory outlast.”

’Twas thus the dreamer meditating thought,Till by her strong desire some rays were caught.

’Twas thus the dreamer meditating thought,

Till by her strong desire some rays were caught.

A mystic clue this stone of magic, yea,To scenes of long ago—but find the way.Like other million forms, stone hath a soul,A spark divine of God the Perfect Whole.Then heard the woman toying with the stone:“With power was this endowed for thee alone.”

A mystic clue this stone of magic, yea,

To scenes of long ago—but find the way.

Like other million forms, stone hath a soul,

A spark divine of God the Perfect Whole.

Then heard the woman toying with the stone:

“With power was this endowed for thee alone.”

What voice thus spake from mind to mind? No soundThe silence broke, wherein her thought was bound.

What voice thus spake from mind to mind? No sound

The silence broke, wherein her thought was bound.

“’Tis I, among Earth’s men thy friend of old;In times long past this page I thee foretold;For thou hast been in this,hispresent life,His sister one brief year; thou art his wife.Attachments deep and strong are ties that bind;We ever take the skein again to windOurselves about with bonds that draw us back,And which none other than ourselves can slack.He came to give the ancient Maya raceIts right—on history’s page a noble place.He would to light restore what’s hid away,And throw upon the past a clearer ray.”

“’Tis I, among Earth’s men thy friend of old;

In times long past this page I thee foretold;

For thou hast been in this,hispresent life,

His sister one brief year; thou art his wife.

Attachments deep and strong are ties that bind;

We ever take the skein again to wind

Ourselves about with bonds that draw us back,

And which none other than ourselves can slack.

He came to give the ancient Maya race

Its right—on history’s page a noble place.

He would to light restore what’s hid away,

And throw upon the past a clearer ray.”

“When we outgrow desire for mundane things—Which are but means—our spirit finds its wings.When universal love and light are allWe crave, no power of earth can us inthrall.Peace comes alone through matter, which is strife;Right effort lifts the soul to purer life.

“When we outgrow desire for mundane things—

Which are but means—our spirit finds its wings.

When universal love and light are all

We crave, no power of earth can us inthrall.

Peace comes alone through matter, which is strife;

Right effort lifts the soul to purer life.

To dohisbest is all man knows of right—Observing this, he finds the spirit’s might.To dread the Great Unknown is bondage vileFor man; this fear’s a sin that doth defileThe thought and deed of multitudes. In spaceNo depth is found where evil can effaceLove’s holy, constant, all-pervading ray;Go where soul will, it need feel no dismay.Peace dwells in Heart of Heaven, eternal Ku;But in the rugged paths that lead theretoWith turmoil finite being makes its way—Tho’ none knowwhyorwhither, all obey.”

To dohisbest is all man knows of right—

Observing this, he finds the spirit’s might.

To dread the Great Unknown is bondage vile

For man; this fear’s a sin that doth defile

The thought and deed of multitudes. In space

No depth is found where evil can efface

Love’s holy, constant, all-pervading ray;

Go where soul will, it need feel no dismay.

Peace dwells in Heart of Heaven, eternal Ku;

But in the rugged paths that lead thereto

With turmoil finite being makes its way—

Tho’ none knowwhyorwhither, all obey.”

The clasping hand let fall the talismanPlaced centuries agone, by child of Can,To serve as link with mortal heart in urn.“Save me from self! I would no more return.”The woman breathed. Then at her side appearedA radiant form:—“As nothing should be fearedIn all the vast infinity of Good,The good is here; and if all mortals wouldAspire to truth and from ill thought refrain,Each could his share of happiness attain.No more for safety from thyself appeal,Thine higher self doth now itself reveal;Its voice obey, for thus thou wilt be freeTo seek and find the joys awaiting thee.

The clasping hand let fall the talisman

Placed centuries agone, by child of Can,

To serve as link with mortal heart in urn.

“Save me from self! I would no more return.”

The woman breathed. Then at her side appeared

A radiant form:—“As nothing should be feared

In all the vast infinity of Good,

The good is here; and if all mortals would

Aspire to truth and from ill thought refrain,

Each could his share of happiness attain.

No more for safety from thyself appeal,

Thine higher self doth now itself reveal;

Its voice obey, for thus thou wilt be free

To seek and find the joys awaiting thee.

The road thro’ many lives each one must tread,And by experience be onward led.Man’s creed saves not, but effort for the right;Each his own savior is, thro’ valiant fight:Endeavor, not success, makes his account.Condole we may, but not reproach; all mountThe heights; tho’ some may tarry long behind;The law of being, each to all doth bind.”

The road thro’ many lives each one must tread,

And by experience be onward led.

Man’s creed saves not, but effort for the right;

Each his own savior is, thro’ valiant fight:

Endeavor, not success, makes his account.

Condole we may, but not reproach; all mount

The heights; tho’ some may tarry long behind;

The law of being, each to all doth bind.”

“Our blundering steps oft bring upon us woe;To fail to strive entails a keener throe.The hounded, luckless inmate of the jailMay greater effort make, without avail,Than judge who sits upon the bench to giveDecree—if prisoner may or may not live.For one, the right may be an easy way;In vain the other struggles to obeyHimself, the spark divine that seeks to guideThro’ matter’s maze, and with him e’er will ’bideGo where he may, in crime, in paths of pain;Till step by step, the summit he shall gain.”

“Our blundering steps oft bring upon us woe;

To fail to strive entails a keener throe.

The hounded, luckless inmate of the jail

May greater effort make, without avail,

Than judge who sits upon the bench to give

Decree—if prisoner may or may not live.

For one, the right may be an easy way;

In vain the other struggles to obey

Himself, the spark divine that seeks to guide

Thro’ matter’s maze, and with him e’er will ’bide

Go where he may, in crime, in paths of pain;

Till step by step, the summit he shall gain.”

“The woes we feel; the failures we deplore;Are only means to reach a fairer shore.When body falls to dust and soul escapes,The thoughts that grieved fade too, like phantom shapes.No judge is there to measure out our doom,Or thrust us into everlasting gloom.Ourselves we may condemn if we have failedTo do ourbest. But man has oft bewailedAs sin some harmless deed, and cast no blameOn other acts that should bear stamp of shame.”

“The woes we feel; the failures we deplore;

Are only means to reach a fairer shore.

When body falls to dust and soul escapes,

The thoughts that grieved fade too, like phantom shapes.

No judge is there to measure out our doom,

Or thrust us into everlasting gloom.

Ourselves we may condemn if we have failed

To do ourbest. But man has oft bewailed

As sin some harmless deed, and cast no blame

On other acts that should bear stamp of shame.”

“This truth thou may’st enshrine within thy heart:Of Life and Love Eternal we are part;The Will Supreme is One, and lives in all;This God, our holy self, can never fall.WILL is the law; then will the right, for aye!Right will is all that mortal need obey.”Art bound to flesh?—thy spirit thus decreed;This thou shalt realize again when freed.Would’st thou repose? Resume the active way?Thus shall it be: none may thy will gainsay.

“This truth thou may’st enshrine within thy heart:

Of Life and Love Eternal we are part;

The Will Supreme is One, and lives in all;

This God, our holy self, can never fall.

WILL is the law; then will the right, for aye!

Right will is all that mortal need obey.”

Art bound to flesh?—thy spirit thus decreed;

This thou shalt realize again when freed.

Would’st thou repose? Resume the active way?

Thus shall it be: none may thy will gainsay.

Ourwill divine ordains we doOURbest;If we do this, the future must attestThat where we passed we made love’s tendrils twineAnd hope’s soft beam from many an eye to shine.Love may for some mean but a fond caress;But tenderly to serve is to expressDevotion, love’s best gift, whence doth ascendA fragrant incense which to earth can lendA sweeter air, a rosier light, and makeGrand harmonies on mortal ear to break.

Ourwill divine ordains we doOURbest;

If we do this, the future must attest

That where we passed we made love’s tendrils twine

And hope’s soft beam from many an eye to shine.

Love may for some mean but a fond caress;

But tenderly to serve is to express

Devotion, love’s best gift, whence doth ascend

A fragrant incense which to earth can lend

A sweeter air, a rosier light, and make

Grand harmonies on mortal ear to break.

Eternal Love upholds thee, knows thy need;Thou art in bounteous life, accept its meed;Respond with all the love thou hast. ReceiveCelestial Light and, if thy heart must grieve,Be strong of soul; nor turn away thine earFrom that soul’s song, inspired by vision clear:ForAllis well! Give to despair no heed;Reject it; ’tis a dank, pernicious weed.

Eternal Love upholds thee, knows thy need;

Thou art in bounteous life, accept its meed;

Respond with all the love thou hast. Receive

Celestial Light and, if thy heart must grieve,

Be strong of soul; nor turn away thine ear

From that soul’s song, inspired by vision clear:

ForAllis well! Give to despair no heed;

Reject it; ’tis a dank, pernicious weed.

The darkest hour, the murkiest place of woe,The direst crime, most agonizing throe,Shall yet give way before the Light DivineWhich dwells in all that is, and forth will shine.List to the melodies the soul doth sing,Vibrating chords that unto heart shall bringA joyous symphony whose voices giveRich harmonies that evermore will live.

The darkest hour, the murkiest place of woe,

The direst crime, most agonizing throe,

Shall yet give way before the Light Divine

Which dwells in all that is, and forth will shine.

List to the melodies the soul doth sing,

Vibrating chords that unto heart shall bring

A joyous symphony whose voices give

Rich harmonies that evermore will live.

Rejoice in life; rejoice yet more when Death,Whose holy kiss absorbs our fleeting breath,Draws nigh, a friend who lets us out to playIn broader fields of universal day.Rejoice for all that lives, and all that dies;The piteous cry, the sunny smile, both rise;For these are prayers that will The Good attain,Where all shall blend in one triumphant strain.

Rejoice in life; rejoice yet more when Death,

Whose holy kiss absorbs our fleeting breath,

Draws nigh, a friend who lets us out to play

In broader fields of universal day.

Rejoice for all that lives, and all that dies;

The piteous cry, the sunny smile, both rise;

For these are prayers that will The Good attain,

Where all shall blend in one triumphant strain.

Plate XII

[Listen]Music available in html.

1. Ah! bird so gay Take not thy flight; With dulcet layMy heart delight! Stay by me here, For thou art dearTho’ one I love Is yet more dear!2. Ah! floweret fair, With breath of Morn Upon the airThy perfume’s borne; Thy life’s too fleet, For thou art sweetTho’ one I love Is yet more sweet.3. Ah! limpid dew, Fair pearl of Night That doth a-new To petal bright Give charm to lure Thou art sopure! Tho’ one I love Is just as pure.

1. Ah! bird so gay Take not thy flight; With dulcet layMy heart delight! Stay by me here, For thou art dearTho’ one I love Is yet more dear!

1. Ah! bird so gay Take not thy flight; With dulcet lay

My heart delight! Stay by me here, For thou art dear

Tho’ one I love Is yet more dear!

2. Ah! floweret fair, With breath of Morn Upon the airThy perfume’s borne; Thy life’s too fleet, For thou art sweetTho’ one I love Is yet more sweet.

2. Ah! floweret fair, With breath of Morn Upon the air

Thy perfume’s borne; Thy life’s too fleet, For thou art sweet

Tho’ one I love Is yet more sweet.

3. Ah! limpid dew, Fair pearl of Night That doth a-new To petal bright Give charm to lure Thou art sopure! Tho’ one I love Is just as pure.

3. Ah! limpid dew, Fair pearl of Night That doth a-

new To petal bright Give charm to lure Thou art so

pure! Tho’ one I love Is just as pure.

Plate IX

[Listen]Music available in html.

Lord of day we are Thine; On our path deign to shineHoly Light! Mortals glory in Thy might; When Nightflees before Thy ray We our voices lift, and pray Great Light.

Lord of day we are Thine; On our path deign to shine

Holy Light! Mortals glory in Thy might; When Night

flees before Thy ray We our voices lift, and pray Great Light.

Plate X

[Listen]Music available in html.

HE.Hear life’s jingle, come along! All should mingle with the throng.Clasp my hand, dear, haste with me Say not nay, for I love thee!SHE.Quit thy non-sense or begone! I am not thus lightly won.HE.Lets go onward to the dance; Give me but one tender glance!SHE.Cease thy teasing, I’ll not go! ’Tis decided, thou must know.HE.Hear life’s jingle! join the throng; Youth and pleasure stay not long.

HE.Hear life’s jingle, come along! All should mingle with the throng.Clasp my hand, dear, haste with me Say not nay, for I love thee!

HE.Hear life’s jingle, come along! All should mingle with the throng.

Clasp my hand, dear, haste with me Say not nay, for I love thee!

SHE.Quit thy non-sense or begone! I am not thus lightly won.

HE.Lets go onward to the dance; Give me but one tender glance!

SHE.Cease thy teasing, I’ll not go! ’Tis decided, thou must know.

HE.Hear life’s jingle! join the throng; Youth and pleasure stay not long.

Plate XI

[Listen]Music available in html.

On our dress of spotless white We arewreathing garlands bright; And will sing, kiss, sip, Withlaughing, ruddy lip, Far away into the night.Days of gladness soon take flight; Love’s sweetnectar do not slight Let us sing, kiss, sip, And light-hearted gaily trip, While our vows we once more plight.

On our dress of spotless white We arewreathing garlands bright; And will sing, kiss, sip, Withlaughing, ruddy lip, Far away into the night.

On our dress of spotless white We are

wreathing garlands bright; And will sing, kiss, sip, With

laughing, ruddy lip, Far away into the night.

Days of gladness soon take flight; Love’s sweetnectar do not slight Let us sing, kiss, sip, And light-hearted gaily trip, While our vows we once more plight.

Days of gladness soon take flight; Love’s sweet

nectar do not slight Let us sing, kiss, sip, And light-

hearted gaily trip, While our vows we once more plight.

Plate XIII

[Listen]Music available in html.

Thro’ earth-life our footsteps lead; Guide usinto peace eternal; Till from all desirewe’re freed, And perceive Thy Light supernal.Speed thee now to realm of bliss; Cast fromthee all thought of strife; Tho each eye thy facewill miss; And we mourn thee all our life!

Thro’ earth-life our footsteps lead; Guide usinto peace eternal; Till from all desirewe’re freed, And perceive Thy Light supernal.

Thro’ earth-life our footsteps lead; Guide us

into peace eternal; Till from all desire

we’re freed, And perceive Thy Light supernal.

Speed thee now to realm of bliss; Cast fromthee all thought of strife; Tho each eye thy facewill miss; And we mourn thee all our life!

Speed thee now to realm of bliss; Cast from

thee all thought of strife; Tho each eye thy face

will miss; And we mourn thee all our life!

Transcriber’s notes

1. Silently corrected typographical errors and inconsistencies; retained non-standard spelling.

2. Illustrated drop caps have not been retained.

3. Plate IV was moved to page 43.

4. The caption of the plates have been moved under each plate.

5. The Lover's Song (100-101.png) - Bar 18, piano bass staff, lower note of chord corrected to F.

6. Mayan character [accented ä] has been replaced with ǟ.

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