"I am the Daughter of Fortitude
and ravished every hour of my youth,
for behold, I am understanding
and science dwelleth in me,
and the heavens oppress me,
they cover and desire me with an infinite appetite, ((26))
where none other has embraced me? ((27))
for I am shadowed with circle of the stars
and covered with the morning clouds.
My feet are swifter than the winds
and my hands are swifter than the morning dew
and my garments are from the beginning
and my dwelling place is in myself.
The lion knoweth not where I walk,
neither do the beasts of the field understand me.
I am deflowered, yet a virgin.
I sanctify and am not sanctified.
Happy is he that embraceth me,
for in the night season, I am sweet
and in the day, full of pleasure.
My company is a harmony of many symbols
and my lips sweeter than health itself.
I am a harlot for such as ravish me
and a virgin for such as know me not.
Purge your streets,
O ye sons of men and wash your houses clean.
Make yourselves holy and put on righteousness.
Cast out your old strumpets and burn their clothes,
then I'll bring forth children unto you
and they shall be the sons of comfort
in the age that is to come".

Behind, the fans of slatted light
and feathered rays recede. ((*))
The shock and tingle of her afterpresence.
Elmo's fire about the nerve ends.

On into this dream menagerie
amongst the spore of visionary beasts.
A track of jades and garnets puddled deep,
drags at our heels like estuary sand.
Ahead, a haunted maze of glass
where is the Demon Regent called Asmodeus,
charisma without subject,
who, in antique Persia loved a princess,
slew her seven suitors on their wedding night in jealousy,
was banished into Egypt.
Strange attractor ripples in the forebrain, as we near.
His algebraic beauty is insufferable.

VOLTAR