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BOOK 5
THE BOOK OF VISIONS
Now These are the Five Visions:
* This is the vision of Cyradis.
BEHOLD! A GREAT LIGHT came into mine eyes,
and I was dazzled by it and could not see; but in
time, as mine eyes grew accustomed to the
brilliance, I saw a great table lain with fine cloth and dishes of
gold. And I saw the seven guests at the feast and the
empty seat for the beloved one who had not yet come.
And the seven guests ate that which pleased them and
looked about often for the one who had not yet arrived.
And I looked upon this in puzzlement, for I knew not why
it should be shown to me.
And I became aware of a robed and hooded figure
standing by my left hand and another upon my right,
and both figures insisted with imperious gesture that I
continue to watch the feast. And in time, the seven guests
rose from the table, having eaten their fill, and lo, much of
the feast remained, and still was I filled with wonder and
puzzlement.
And then the figure upon my right spake unto me,
saying: 'This is the Feast of Life, and the seven guests are
the seven Gods, who have chosen that which pleased
them.'
And the figure upon my left spake also unto me,
saying: 'One guest hath not yet arrived at the feast, and
that guest is also a God. And when he cometh, he will
choose all that the other guests have not taken.'
And still I perceived not the meaning of their words,
yet felt I the emnity which stood between them. And
each strove to some great end but failed in its
accomplishment because of the other. And then they turned
their shadowed faces to me and spake unto me in one
voice, saying: 'The choice is upon thee, for two guests
shall come to the Feast of Life, and thou shalt bid one
stay and the other go, and it shall be as thou shalt decide.
And thy choice shall be for all that was, all that is and all
that is yet to be.'
And I was bowed down by the weight of the burden
they had placed upon me, for now at last I understood the
vision and why it had been sent. The figure upon my right
and the figure upon my left were the Destinies which had
striven the one against the other adown all the endless
corridors of time, and each was as strong as the other, and
they remained locked, each in the grip of the other. And all
that was, all that is, and all that is yet to be is divided
equally between them. So equal is this division that the
weight of my choice between them will tip the balance, and
I will make this choice for all of creation. And I turned to
the figures in anguish to protest the burden, that I was not
wise enough to decide, and they replied, saying: 'No man