Beyond the glory that shone about the city was black night, and high on its bosom twinkled one tiny star.
"Behold the world that thou hast left," said the Voice, "behold and tremble." Then my lips and eyes were sealed with silence and with darkness, so that I was dumb and blind.

The Gates rolled back, the Doors swung wide, and I was swept into the city that is in the Place of Death.

I was swept swiftly I know not whither, till at length I stood upon my feet.

Again the great Voice pealed: "Draw the veil of blackness from his eyes, unseal the silence on his lips, that Harmachis, Child of Earth, may see, hear, and understand, and make adoration at the Shrine of Her that Was and Is and Shall Be." And my lips and eyes were touched once more, so that my sight and speech came back.
Behold! I stood within a hall of blackest marble, so lofty that even in the rosy light scarce could my vision reach the great groins of the roof.

Music wailed about its spaces, and all adown its length stood winged Spirits fashioned in living fire, and such was the brightness of their forms that I could not look on them.