_Nectoris._ I ask no food for the body. I come to feed the soul on wisdom. (_Gebuel opens the door._) Hail to you, guardian of the mysteries. (_She salutes him in the Egyptian manner._) _Gebuel._ What wisdom do you seek? _Nectoris._ The wisdom of the Golden Hawk. _Gebuel._ Who told you of this place? _Nectoris._ In my dreams I went into the forest where the bronze and gold serpents coil like flames amid the leaves, and they made me wise with great sayings, and the spirits of power passed into my spirit; for the forest was the forest of knowledge. But when I held the image of the Hawk exalted on the standard of the crossed pole before the serpents, they paled and grew dim in the presence of a strength greater than theirs; and as I looked the wood became silent and empty, and the creatures of the wisdom, which is of time, faded away. _Gebuel._ The serpent is wisdom from the beginning of time, but the Golden Hawk is poised in the immensities between that which has been and the revelation of the last secret. _Nectoris._ Even so. I saw before me the Hawk brooding with spread wings in space beyond the worlds, in the midst of the network of the stars; and as its wings moved they fanned the golden denseness of the air, and sparks arose and came and went like luminous winged creatures. _Gebuel._ They are the flames of life. _Nectoris._ I saw three towers rising from the head of the bird like a great crown, and from them sprang the souls of the heroes. _Gebuel._ Even so. This is one of the greater mysteries. _Nectoris._ From the wings and the heart sprang the souls of the workers, who make beautiful all they touch. _Gebuel._ The heart is the kindling will of the golden one. _Nectoris._ From the feet of the bird came the workers of less skill and cunning, and these make the foundations of the works of beauty, and drift onwards, without the inspiration and the kindling fire. _Gebuel._ Where did you learn to discern these mysteries, my daughter? _Nectoris._ Since my childhood I have lived among strangers in a place of dreams. I have wandered from land to land searching for wisdom. I have but the sombre knowledge born of time, which is shattered before the final ecstacy. Now my footsteps have brought me to you, O great magician. _Gebuel_ (_kindly_). You are welcome. _Nectoris._ I have been guided by some star that smiled on my nativity, which was darkened until this day in obedience to a wisdom higher than its own. _Gebuel._ Why did you seek for me?