Chapter 10

Julian.

And what has driven you in such haste from Greece?

Basil.

My mother is a widow, Julian!

Gregory.

My father is feeble, both in body and mind; he needs my support.

Julian.

Oh, at least remain at the hostelry; only until to-morrow——!

Gregory.

Impossible; our travelling companions start at daybreak.

Julian.

At daybreak? Before midnight the day might dawn for you.

Basil.

Julian, let me not set forth in too great sorrow of soul. Tell me,—when Maximus has interpreted all riddles for you,—what then?

Julian.

Do you remember that river whereof Strabo writes—that river which rises in the Lybian mountains? It grows, and grows in its course; but when it is at its greatest, it oozes into the desert sands, and buries itself in the entrails of the earth, whence it arose.

Basil.

Say not that you long for death, Julian!

Julian.

What you slavishly hope for after death, ’tis the aim of the great mystery to win for all the initiated, here in our earthly life. ’Tis regeneration that Maximus and his disciples seek,—’tis our lost likeness to the godhead. Wherefore so full of doubt, my brothers? Why do you stand there as though before something insurmountable? I know what I know. In each successive generation there has been one soul wherein the pure Adam has been born again; he was strong in Moses the lawgiver; in the Macedonian Alexander he had power to subdue the world; he was well-nigh perfect in Jesus of Nazareth. But see, Basil—[He grasps him by the arm]—all of them lacked what is promised tome—the pure woman!

Basil.

[Freeing himself.] Julian, Julian!

Gregory.

Blasphemer—to this has your pride of heart brought you!

Basil.

Oh, Gregory, he is sick and beside himself!

Julian.

Why all this scornful doubt? Is it my small stature that witnesses against me? Ha, ha; I tell you this gross and fleshly generation shall pass away. That which is to come shall be conceived rather in the soul than in the body. In the firstAdam, soul and body were equally balanced, as in those statues of the god Apollo. Since then the balance has been lost. Was not Moses tongue-tied? Had not his arms to be supported when he held them up in imprecation, there by the Red Sea? Did not the Macedonian need ever to be fired by strong drinks and other artificial aids? And Jesus of Nazareth, too? Was he not feeble in body? Did he not fall asleep in the ship, whilst the others kept awake? Did he not faint under the cross, that cross which the Jew Simon carried with ease? The two thieves did not faint.—You call yourselves believers, and yet have so little faith in miraculous revelation. Wait, wait—you shall see; the Bride shall surely be given me; and then—hand in hand will we go forth to the east, where some say that Helios is born,—we will hide ourselves in the solitudes, as the godhead hides itself, seek out the grove on the banks of Euphrates, find it, and there—oh glory of glories!—thence shall a new race, perfect in beauty and in balance, go forth over the earth; there, ye book-worshipping doubters, there shall the empire of the spirit be founded!

Basil.

Oh, well may I wring my hands in sorrow for your sake. Are you the same Julian who, three years ago, came out of Constantinople?

Julian.

Then I was blind, as you are now; I knew only the way that stops short at doctrine.

Gregory.

Know you where your present way ends?

Julian.

Where the path and the goal are one.—For the last time, Gregory, Basil—I implore you to stay with me. The vision I had last night,—that and many other things, point to a mysterious bond between us. To you, my Basil, I had so much to say. You are the head of your house; and who knows whether all the blessings that are promised me—may not come through you and yours——

Basil.

Never! No one with my good will shall ever be led away by your frenzies and your wild dreams.

Julian.

Ah, why talk of will? I see a hand writing on the wall; soon I shall interpret the writing.

Gregory.

Come, Basil.

Julian.

[With outstretched arms.] Oh, my friends, my friends!

Gregory.

Between us there is a gulf from this day forward.

[He dragsBasilwith him; both go out to the right.

Julian.

[Looking after them.] Ay, go! Go, go!—What do you two learned men know? What bring you from the city of wisdom? You, my strong, masterful Gregory,—and you, Basil, more girl than man—you know only two streets in Athens,the street to the schools, and the street to the church; of the third street toward Eleusis and further, you know naught; and still less——. Ah!

The curtain on the right is drawn aside. Two servants in eastern costume bring in a tall, veiled object, which they place in the corner, behind the table. Shortly after,Maximus the Mysticenters by the same door. He is a lean man of middle height, with a bronzed, hawk-like face; his hair and beard are much grizzled, but his thick eyebrows and moustache still retain their pitch-black colour. He wears a pointed cap and a long black robe; in his hand he carries a white wand.

Maximusgoes, without heedingJulian, up to the veiled object, stops, and makes a sign to the servants; they retire noiselessly.

Julian.

[Softly.] At last!

[Maximusdraws the veil away, revealing a bronze lamp on a high tripod; then he takes out a little silver pitcher, and pours oil into the lamp-bowl. The lamp lights of itself, and burns with a strong reddish glare.

Julian.

[In eager expectancy.] Is the time come?

Maximus.

[Without looking at him.] Art thou pure in soul and body?

Julian.

I have fasted and anointed myself.

Maximus.

Then may the night’s high festival begin!

[He gives a sign; dancing-girls and flute-players appear in the outer court. Music and dancing continue during what follows.

Julian.

Maximus,—what is this?

Maximus.

Roses in the hair! Sparkling wine! See, see the lovely limbs at play!

Julian.

And amid this whirl of the senses you would——?

Maximus.

Sin lies only in thy sense of sinfulness.

Julian.

Roses in the hair! Sparkling wine! [He casts himself down on one of the couches beside the table, drains a full goblet, puts it hastily from him, and asks:] Ah! What was in the wine?

Maximus.

A spark of that fire which Prometheus stole.

[He reclines at the opposite side of the table.

Julian.

My senses exchange their functions; I hear brightness and I see music.

Maximus.

Wine is the soul of the grape. The freed and yet willing captive. Logos in Pan!

The Dancing-Girls.[Singing in the court]

The Dancing-Girls.

[Singing in the court]

Would’st thou know liberty?Drain Bacchus’ blood;—Rock on the rhythm-sea,Float with its flood!

Would’st thou know liberty?

Drain Bacchus’ blood;—

Rock on the rhythm-sea,

Float with its flood!

Julian.

[Drinking.] Yes, Yes; there is freedom in intoxication. Canst thou interpret this rapture?

Maximus.

This intoxication is thy marriage with the soul of nature.

Julian.

Sweet riddle; tempting, alluring——! What was that? Why didst thou laugh?

Maximus.

Julian.

There is whispering on my left hand! The silk cushions rustle—— [Springing half up with a pale face.] Maximus, we are not alone!

Maximus.

[Loudly.] We are five at table!

Julian.

Symposium with the spirits!

Maximus.

With the shades.

Julian.

Name my guests!

Maximus.

Not now. Hark, hark!

Julian.

What is that? There is a rushing, as of a storm, through the house——

Maximus.

[Shrieks.] Julian! Julian! Julian!

Julian.

Speak, speak! What is befalling us?

Maximus.

The hour of annunciation is upon thee!

Julian.

[Springing up and shrinking far back from the table.] Ah!

[The table lamps seem on the point of extinction; over the great bronze lamp rises a bluish circle of light.

Maximus.

[Casting himself wholly down.] Thine eye toward the light!

Julian.

Yonder?

Maximus.

Yes, yes!

The Girls’ Song.[Low, from the court.]

The Girls’ Song.

[Low, from the court.]

Night spreads her snares for thee,All-seeing night;Laughing-eyed LuxuryLures to delight.

Night spreads her snares for thee,

All-seeing night;

Laughing-eyed Luxury

Lures to delight.

Julian.

[Staring at the radiance.] Maximus! Maximus!

Maximus.

[Softly.] Seest thou aught?

Julian.

Yes.

Maximus.

What seest thou?

Julian.

I see a shining countenance in the light.

Maximus.

Man, or woman?

Julian.

I know not.

Maximus.

Speak to it.

Julian.

Dare I?

Maximus.

Speak! speak!

Julian.

[Advancing.] Why was I born?

A Voice in the Light.

To serve the spirit.

Maximus.

Does it answer?

Julian.

Yes, yes.

Maximus.

Ask further.

Julian.

What is my mission?

The Voice.

To establish the empire.

Julian.

What empire?

The Voice.

The empire.

Julian.

And by what way?

The Voice.

By the way of freedom.

Julian.

Speak clearly! What is the way of freedom?

The Voice.

The way of necessity.

Julian.

And by what power?

The Voice.

Bywilling.

Julian.

Whatshall I will?

The Voice.

What thoumust.

Julian.

It pales; it vanishes——! [Coming closer.] Speak, speak! What must I will?

The Voice.

[Wailing.] Julian!

[The circle of light passes away; the table lamps burn as before.

Maximus.

[Looking up.] Gone?

Julian.

Gone.

Maximus.

Dost thounowsee clearly?

Julian.

Now less than ever. I hang in the void over the yawning deep—midway between light and darkness. [He lies down again.] What is the empire?

Maximus.

There are three empires.

Julian.

Three?

Maximus.

First that empire which was founded on the tree of knowledge; then that which was founded on the tree of the cross——

Julian.

And the third?

Maximus.

The third is the empire of the great mystery; that empire which shall be founded on the tree of knowledge and the tree of the cross together, because it hates and loves them both, and because it has its living sources under Adam’s grove and under Golgotha.

Julian.

And this empire shall come——?

Maximus.

It stands on the threshold. I have counted and counted——

Julian.

[Breaking off sharply.] The whispering again! Who are my guests?

Maximus.

The three corner-stones under the wrath of necessity.

Julian.

Who, who?

Maximus.

The three great helpers in denial.

Julian.

Name them!

Maximus.

I cannot; I know them not;—but I could show them to thee——

Julian.

Then show me them! At once, Maximus——!

Maximus.

Beware——!

Julian.

At once; at once! I will see them; I will speak with them, one by one.

Maximus.

The guilt be on thy head.

[He waves his wand and calls.

Take shape and come to sight, thou first-elected lamb of sacrifice!

Julian.

Ah!

Maximus.

[With veiled face.] What seest thou?

Julian.

[In a low voice.] There he lies; just by the corner.—He is great as Hercules, and beautiful,—yet no, not——

[Hesitatingly.

Speak to me if thou canst!

A Voice.

What wouldst thou know?

Julian.

What was thy task in life?

The Voice.

My sin.

Julian.

Why didst thou sin?

The Voice.

Why was I not my brother?

Julian.

Palter not with me. Why didst thou sin?

The Voice.

Why was I myself?

Julian.

And what didst thouwill, being thyself?

The Voice.

What I must.

Julian.

And wherefore must thou?

The Voice.

I was myself.

Julian.

Thou art sparing of words.

Maximus.

[Without looking up.]In vino veritas.

Julian.

Thou hast hit it, Maximus?

[He pours forth a full goblet in front of the empty seat.

Bathe thee in the fumes of wine, my pallid guest! Refresh thee. Feel, feel—it mounts aloft like the smoke of sacrifice.

The Voice.

The smoke of sacrifice does not alwaysmount.

Julian.

Why does that scar redden on thy brow? Nay, nay,—draw not the hair over it; What is it?

The Voice.

The mark.

Julian.

H’m; no more of that. And what fruit has thy sin borne?

The Voice.

The most glorious.

Julian.

What callest thou the most glorious?

The Voice.

Life.

Julian.

And the ground of life?

The Voice.

Death.

Julian.

And of death?

The Voice.

[Losing itself as in a sigh.] Ah,thatis the riddle!

Julian.

Gone!

Maximus.

[Looking up.] Gone?

Julian.

Yes.

Maximus.

Didst thou know him?

Julian.

Yes.

Maximus.

Who was it?

Julian.

Cain.

Maximus.

Bythatway, then! Ask no more!

Julian.

[With an impatient gesture.] The second, Maximus!

Maximus.

No, no, no; I will not!

Julian.

The second, I say! Thou hast sworn that I should fathom the meaning of certain things. The second, Maximus. I will see him; I will know my guests!

Maximus.

Thou hast willed it, not I.

[He waves his wand.

Arise and come to light, thou willing slave, thou who didst help at the world’s next great turning-point.

Julian.

[Gazes for a moment into the empty space; suddenly he makes a gesture of repulsion towards the seat at its side, and says in a low voice:] No nearer!

Maximus.

[Who has turned his back.] Dost thou see him?

Julian.

Yes.

Maximus.

How dost thou see him?

Julian.

I see him as a red-bearded man. His garments are rent, and he has a rope round his neck——

Speak to him, Maximus!

Maximus.

’Tis thou must speak.

Julian.

What wast thou in life?

A Voice.

[Close beside him.] The twelfth wheel of the world chariot.

Julian.

The twelfth? The fifth is reckoned useless.

The Voice.

But for me, whither had the chariot rolled?

Julian.

Whither did it roll by means of thee?

The Voice

Into the glory of glories.

Julian.

Why didst thou help?

The Voice.

Because Iwilled.

Julian.

What didst thou will?

The Voice.

What Imust.

Julian.

Who chose thee?

The Voice.

The master.

Julian.

Did the master foreknow when he chose thee?

The Voice.

Ah,thatis the riddle!

[A short silence.

Maximus.

Thou art silent.

Julian.

He is no longer here.

Maximus.

[Looking up.] Didst thou know him?

Julian.

Yes.

Maximus.

How was he called in life?

Julian.

Judas Iscariot.

Maximus.

[Springing up.] The abyss blossoms; the night betrays itself!

Julian.

[Shrieks to him.] Forth with the third!

Maximus.

He shall come!

[He waves the wand.

Come forth, thou third corner-stone! Come forth, thou third great freed-man under necessity!

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