“Yermah broke his vow, and was blaspheming violently when the swift and terrible punishment came. Alcamayn heard his awful words, but feared even to repeat them, lest we be doomed to suffer again. Rahula has inflamed the populace against him, and they are running through the streets shouting: ‘Down with the apostate, Yermah! He has committed unpardonable sin against the Ineffable! He shall no longer rule Tlamco!’ Dost thou not hear the bugle calls? Signals are flashing from the forts, and the whole city is in uproar.” Many extraneous sounds bore out this testimony; but neither auditor evinced surprise, though both showed concern. “So,” said Setos presently, “the prophecy concerning the lost planet has come true. A great and momentous change is upon us.” “Hast thou not heard the Blessed Books read in the temples?” “Thou shouldst remember that I have been in the house of enemies. It would have been unsafe for me. Wilt thou refresh early recollections now and hurriedly?” As far as he was capable, Setos was devout, and was always comforted by the rumble of long words. Imos had a voice which fitted him for such an occasion, and he was much pleased to have the opportunity to use it. With the proper degree of solemnity, he crossed to the east side of the room, where the books lay, and then making three profound genuflections, he began reading promptly: _In the beginning the Great Spirit, surnamed Cohesion, breathed into chaotic disorder the fire of life. Verily, it grew to mighty proportions. It had two arms dividing the Supernal from the light of this world, which is darkness to the ones reposing in the sunshine of eternal peace. So vast was the chasm yawning between Spirit and Matter, that no mortal crossed the void for a million years. Then the twilight changed into morning, and there arose from the Celestial Shore an Archangel strong and mighty._ _Hirach was his name. May it ever more be blessed! And a great voice was heard in the expanse like unto the sound of a trumpet, saying_: “_Who is able to cross the chasm, to give to souls unborn the Key? To open the book to them that therein they may read the Way of life?_” _And the bodiless and formless ones sounded the Æolian harps, and sang_: “_Hirach is his name! Thrice blessed is he—Hirach of two threefold wings, encircling heaven, earth and the vast ocean! He alone is great; he is able to cross the vast abyss._”