Having got rid of the crowd, Solomon says: “Behold thou art fair my love, thou hast dove’s eyes. Thy nose is like unto the Tower of Lebanon that looketh toward Damascus, and the beautiful hump in the centre thereof is like unto that of a camel, that wabbleth ever this way and that.” And the buxom nigger wench, pouting her ruby, liver lips, replies: “Kiss me with the kisses of thy mouth, for thy love is better than wine. Because of the savor of thy good ointments, which counteract the Jewish odor diligently collected since thy last annual bath, therefore do the virgins love thee. I am black, but comely. I am not a nigger, but only tanned. They made me the keeper of vineyards, (deleted by the censor). Place thy left hand beneath my head, and thy right hand shall embrace me, (deleted by the censor). My beloved is mine, and I am his, a bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me.” During the tête-à-tête, the captivating beauty was absent-mindedly picking the Tower of Lebanon, when Solomon said: “Knowest thou not that our laws prohibit the touching of the unwashed fingers to the nose, mouth or eyes. The Talmud says: ‘The evil spirit Bath Chorin rests upon the hands at night and will not depart until water is poured upon him three times over.’ That fairy tale is for the ignorant rabble. You and I have the gnosis. Some of the prophets say that the worship of Asherah, in which we indulge, is reprehensible, but who fashioned the first Grove among us? Ask them that.” In Jasher, 27-27, it is said that Abraham formed at Beersheba a Grove, and that he practiced all kinds of abominations. He gave to his seventeen children by Katurah charms by which they could exorcise spirits and perform all sorts of miracles in the black art. When King Hiram returned with the booze, anticipating a jolly orgy with the wise one, he pounded loudly on the door of the King’s chamber. Solomon, being busy, petulantly said: “Get thee hence Hiram, or I will have the cop run thee in.” Then King Hiram was exceeding wroth, and threatened to make war on Solomon and come up to Jerusalem with one hundred thousand warriors and take the fair colored charmer away from the seductive Jewish King. Then Solomon replied: “Chase thyself back, Hiram, to besotted Tyre and make love to that great pillar, which, with much pomp and ceremony, thou hast recently erected there, and which thou dost salute with the holy kiss every morning at sunrise.” CHAPTER XVI. The Mystic Societies. Pope Pius IX was accused of saying: “Damn the clandestine societies.” Oh, My! such shocking language, and so unjust too, for these quasi-religious societies, even like certain churches, were anciently faithful devotees of, and expert manipulators of the mystic symbols. Dr. Dalcho, a Masonic writer, asserts: “God was the first Grand Master and Adam the second.” And Adam initiated Eve into the profound and archaic mystery of the square and the eye.