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Chapter 2

7. Moreover I beheld a vision of a river. There was a little boat thereon; and in it under purple sails was a golden woman, an image of Asi wrought in finest gold. Also the river was of blood, and the boat of shining steel. Then I loved her; and, loosing my girdle, cast myself into the stream.
    8. I gathered myself into the little boat, and for many days and nights did I love her, burning beautiful incense before her.
    9. Yea! I gave her of the flower of my youth.
    10. But she stirred not; only by my kisses I defiled her so that she turned to blackness before me.
    11. Yet I worshipped her, and gave her of the flower of my youth.
    12. Also it came to pass, that thereby she sickened, and corrupted before me. Almost I cast myself into the stream.
    13. Then at the end appointed her body was whiter than the milk of the stars, and her lips red and warm as the sunset, and her life of a white heat like the heat of the midmost sun.
    14. Then rose she up from the abyss of Ages of Sleep, and her body embraced me. Altogether I melted into her beauty and was glad.
    15. The river also became the river of Amrit, and the little boat was the chariot of the flesh, and the sails thereof the blood of the heart that beareth me, that beareth me.
    16. O serpent woman of the stars! I, even I, have fashioned Thee from a pale image of fine gold.

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