Liber Ten
The Book of Insania
Parallel Figure
XIX
I
1] It is here in the day of torment and in the hour of
the worm that I have set my feet upon unhallowed ground.
2] I have been here for three score and three days, and
until this day, have I not spoken to, nor have I even seen another.
3] All that I have witnessed are nightmarish places and
utter darkness.
4] Verily, upon this place the sun doth not show his
face. Truely, is this a world without hope.
5] And when I was about to turn back, did I hear a voice
that came from behind me.
6] And it spake thusly: Hast thou come to learn?
7] Yes, I replied. And as I turned to see to whom I was
speaking, mine eyes were met by a most beautiful man.
8] His hair was liken unto a moonless night, and it fell
to just below his shoulders.
9] His eyes were liken unto a great abyss. It was as
if all of hell could be seen within them.
10] His voice was strong and almost commanding in tone.
And when he spake unto me, it was as if he were speaking to an multitude.
11] As he neared, it appeared that he was of average
height. and about him was a hooded cloak. And upon it were written symbols
which I have never before seen.
12] When he came to be just out of reach, he put forth
his arms unto me, saying: If thou hast come to learn, then follow me, for
I will show thee things never before seen.
13] Thou wilt have conversation with those who have never
before spoken. Thou wilt hear languages and tongues which are yet to come.
Thou wilt embrace those who have not yet been born.
14] Thy ears will behold wonders which have been a mystery
unto man since the beginning of time. Come with me and I will show thee.
15] Then did I follow him, for his promise unto me, was
as sweet as honey.
II
1] Thereafter did we journey for what seemed an eternity
and therefore did I ask of him: Master, where is it that we are going?
2] To this he did not reply; only did he continue walking
as if I had not spoken.
3] When I was about to fall to my knees from exhaustion,
did I notice a man in the distance.
4] He seemed to be busy doing something, but as yet,
I could not see what it was.
5] When we came to the place where the man knelt, it
could be seen with what he was involved.
6] The man was beating a dead animal over and over with
his fists.
7] The animal was one which I had never seen before this
day; It was small in stature and the colour of black.
8] As yet, had the man not noticed our presence. He only
continued to beat the animal and utter words which I have never heard.
9] Then did his actions move me to say unto him: Stop
this! What art thou doing?
10] This animal is dead! Thou canst not possibly do it
further harm!
11] To this the man did not reply, only did he continue
to beat the animal with vehemence, his maddened gaze never leaving its
corpse.
12] Now did I become angry with him, and thinking that
the man did not hear me, did I say unto him again: Stop this! Stop this
at once!
13] Art thou mad? Canst thou not see that thy work is
for naught?
14] Art thou both blind and deaf, that thou can not see
that this animal is dead and that thou can not hear my voice?
15] Again, he made no reply. He only continued as if
I had not spoken, his frail arms flailing wildly, his thin face bearing
only meaningless words.
16] Then did I say unto the man whom I had been following:
Master, what doth this mean? For what reason doth this man behave in this
manner? Why hath he destroyed this animal in such a way?
17] Then did he reply: This man is the soul of one whom
thou knowest, and of many whom thou knowest not.
18] The animal with which this man is bewitched, is a
matter which thou wilt deal with later.
19] The animal is small for it is, in essence, a small
matter, but it is men such as this who have made it great.
20] Thou canst not understand the words which this man
uttereth, for these are his logic.
21] Truely, thou art not afflicted as he. Therefore his
words wilt thou not discern.
22] He hath not killed this thing that creepeth, for
truely was it never alive.
23] The animal's name is Falsity and it is black for
it is poison, and to eat of it would kill thee.
24] This man is frail because he doth not eat. He can
not go and find food, for he is bound to this lie. Nor can he eat of this
animal, for to do so would cause him to perish.
25] Truely, is he trapped between one and naught and
naught and none.
26] This man doth not acknowledge thee, but he is neither
blind, nor is he deaf, but mad. He will only see what is before him and
nothing else.
27] For if he wast to look away, might he discover something
new, something that would call upon his own understanding, and of this
is he sore afraid.
28] Then did I ask of this man whom I knoweth not: Master,
what dost thou think that this madman will do?
29] And he replied thusly:
Surely he will eat of the animal and will perish, for
this is all that he will know. He will never learn of the truth, for he
is a fool.
30] Then did I ask: Why dost thou not speak unto him
thy wisdom and teach him a new way that he may not perish?
31] And he replied: Only if thou wert to babble unto
him, would thou catch him aware.
32] But of this thou must beware, for to speak unto men
of this kind in such a way would give unto thee their understanding. Then
wouldest thou risk being led astray, and thou would perish with them.
33] First, thou must gain wisdom and learn of the way.
Then mayest thou go unto these men and save them.
34] Come with me and I will show thee more.
III
1] After three days journey did we arrive at our destination.
Deep in the forest, in a place called ElpiV {Greek: Elpis - Hope}
sat a small cottage,
2] And upon the door was graven a star within a star,
the smaller being inverted.
3] Then did I inquire of him: Is this thy home? And he
replied: This is my place of dwelling. Come inside; I have much to show
thee.
4] Then did we enter therein, and once inside he closed
the door.
5] Inside all was dark, save one candle that burned in
the center of the room. And as I looked about, I noticed that there was
naught else but a bed in the far corner.
6] Then did he say unto me: Remove all of thy clothing
and go therefore unto my bed.
7] So I removed my clothing and went unto his bed, and
thereby did I feel his fingers about my waist and did he enter therein.
8] In pain I cried aloud, but my cries were quickly cut
short by his hand upon my mouth.
9] And did he whisper unto mine ear: Do not feel, but
instead, listen - see.
IV
1] At that, all went to darkness, for but an instant,
and I found myself bound before many people. Then to my surprise was I
met with a most abhorrent sight.
2] There before me, was a man standing before a multitude
and about him was there no covering of any kind.
3] And at his feet lay a young girl. Also revealed was
she. Her age was not more than three and two.
4] Also upon this man's member did I notice that there
were many sores. And so did they run unto the ground.
5] Then did he go to his knees and entre the child.
6] And though he thrust with great effort, the child
did not scream, nor did she bring forth any tears, nor did anyone among
them protest; only did they smile and nod their heads in approval.
7] At this did I struggle to free myself, but all was
for naught.
8] Then did I notice that in my right hand was I holding
a great spear.
9] And at its tip did it have the sharpness sharper than
any sword, but I could not throw it, for I was bound.
10] When all failed, did I begin to shout at them: Stop
this! What are ye doing to this child? A curse be upon you for this defilement!
11] At this, were mine eyes filled with so many tears
that I could no longer see, for my heart was heavy with sorrow.
12] Then did I close my eyes, and when I again opened
them, was I safely lying upon the bed, and the man whom I had been following
was standing nearby.
V
1]Unto this man,did I inquire:Why didst thou have relations
with me as thou would lie with a woman?Dost thou not look upon me as a
man?
2] And he replied: Just as the fool gaineth his false
logic, so must thou gain thy wisdom similar.
3] And again was I moved to inquire: When thou wert having
thy way with me, did I have a vision; What meaning hath it?
4] And he replied: The man whom thou sawest is a teacher.
He hath many who follow him.
5] And his member is the matter of which I spoke of before.
And the sores which thou sawest are the many lies therein.
6] The child is the innocent whom this man defiles. Her
nakedness is his advantage, for it is her ignorance.
7] Also among them whom thou sawest watching, were many
children and men and women, both young and old. These are the ones who
have been defiled, and those who are yet to be defiled.
8] Thy arms and legs were bound, for thou hast not yet
obtained the means to save them.
9] Thou art bound by thine own ignorance. Truely, canst
thou save a drowning man, if thou art thyself drowning?
10] The spear thou sawest is the wisdom which thou wilt
need to fight the wicked.
11] Thy wisdom is deep within thee, but thou hast not
yet gained the understanding to use it.
12] When thou hast learned of the way, truely wilt thou
be mighty. Worry thyself not, for greatness shall come unto thee soon.
13] Those who will not surrender unto truth, thou wilt
destroy. And those who are still innocent, thou wilt save them.
14] But there are yet many things which thou must learn.
And many seasons will pass before thou findest wisdom.
15] Verily, I say unto thee: Wisdom is liken unto a beautiful
virgin, who will not give thee her kiss until that day when thou hast truely
earned it.
VI
1] Then did the man, whom I had been following, produce
a little red book, and offered it to me, and it was, to me, the most beautiful
I had ever seen.
2] He invited me to read from the book, saying: This
book is not beautiful, but vile and dangerous.
3] It will teach thee many things of which thou must
beware, for the knowledge written therein is both a blessing and a curse.
4] When thou eatest of this book, it will be sweet unto
thy mouth, but unto thy belly it will be as bitter as poison.
5] But if thou eatest of the book and perceive, thou
wilt be mighty among kings.
6] Come, eat up the book if thou wilt, but goest thou
carefully in thy way.
VII
1] And there did I open the little red book, which I
was holding.
2] And therein were written many strange things.
3] And at once was I taken up in the spirit where I saw
the man whom I had been following for who he was.
4] Strangely was he likened unto me, though he stood
as a mighty angel, whose face shone like the sun.
5] And upon the earth did he place his left foot and
upon the waters he his right.
6] And when he spake, there came after seven thunders.
7] And upon hearing the seven thunders, I asked of the
man: What meaneth these seven thunders?
8] And he spake thus: These are the seven voices of thy
Wisdom and Understanding.
9] Thou art to write all of what they utter and seal
them up not.
10] Then will they be loosed upon the nations as a testimony
of thy covenant with God.
11] There shall stand no secret beside them.
VIII
1] Then was I taken away to the house of a child and
his mother.
2] Inside the house, I witnessed the mother of the boy,
weeping and praying unto her God, tears streaming down her face as she
gave herself up as an offering.
3] Closed away did she keep herself day and night, wailing
and praying.
4] Then did I witness an spirit that visited the woman
and spake of that which she must do in order to receive blessing from her
God.
5] And of what this spirit told her and of what this
spirit had told others of her kind, she doubted not any word and did what
the spirit told her, shutting herself up.
6] And outside of the house did I see the boy standing
on a large stone, shaking his fists in the air and cursing God in anger.
And there did he spit into the heavens and rave much at God.
7] Question upon question did he rave unto the air, each
time cursing God and rending his clothes.
8] And then did I say unto my heart: Why is this child
so anguished? Why hateth he God for his own misgivings? Would it not profit
this child if he did seek God as his mother?
9] And then did I hear a great voice which answered me
saying: He is closer to God than she will ever be.
10] Truly, doth God love this little angry one.
11] For ever doth God delight in the brave.
12] Ever doth God rejoice in the seeker of truth.
13] Ever doth God love the implacable inquiry.
14] So much doth God hate the coward.
15] So much doth God hate he who accepts readily what
is set before him.
16] So much doth God despise vulgar silence, for it is
not praise that rouseth God, but the force of question and the ecstasy
thereof.
IX
1] Then was I met by an very old man, who looked like
a woman. His hair was as white as snow and his voice sounded like rushing
water and fire did come from his eyes like burning coals.
2] And he spake unto me saying: My name is [Obiæ],
servant of God the Almighty, he who liveth forever and forever.
3] He hath given me a vision, and hath commanded me to
tell thee of it. By the names of God have I sworn to do so, but after I
have told thee what I have seen, must I then leave thee and return thee
unto thy place. Then will I be free of this terrible obligation.
4] I can not deny my master his wishes, so here is what
I witnessed:
5] One evening was I taken up unto heaven, and there
did I see a pregnant young girl, beautiful was she, and her hair was as
a burning fire.
6] And did her belly glow bright with the glow of the
sun, and this was because of the child that was within her. And this light
did not abate the light of the moon that shown from her upon her feet.
7] Beautiful was this girl, for she was an effigy of
the perfection of God's work upon the earth.
8] Then did I hear a voice come from out of heaven saying:
Blessed is the child whom this girl is carrying; blessed is he of God,
for he shall deliver the fallen from out of the company of sin and shall
save them from the wrath of God.
9] Then did the girl cry out in pain, for she was about
to give birth to the child whom she was carrying.
10] And at once did there appear before the girl, a mighty
dragon. And this dragon was deceitful in his appearance, for he looked
to be given of the seven spirits of God, but he was not.
11] And upon hearing the voice coming from out of the
heavens and the sound of the girl crying in pain, had the dragon come unto
her but for concern.
12] For the dragon remembered his crimes against God
and how he had deceived the world with his lying tongue. And also, he remembered
God's promise to him, that one day God would send one unto the world to
walk among men and deliver the righteous from out of the mouth of the dragon.
13] And he wished to devour the child when he came forth,
for the dragon knew that his time was drawing nigh.
14] Then did the woman bring forth a male child, just
as it had been prophesied. And at once was the child taken up unto heaven,
that the dragon might not hurt him.
15] And then did God send the woman into the wilderness,
to a place which was already prepared for her, where she might see her
child and yet not be with him.
16] And seeing that he had not prevailed, did the dragon
send his own seed unto the child that she might approach him and fornicate
with him and deceive him.
17] And this did God allow, for the child must also make
a choice, for the woman that the dragon sent unto the child looked very
much like this child's own mother. And by this did the dragon hope that
the child would be deceived.
18] And at this did a mighty war break out in heaven
and the dragon fought and his angels with Michael and Raphael and their
angels, for they had come out of the House of God to protect the child.
19] And the child was afflicted much by this fighting
and was driven mad.
20] Then did the Spirit of God descend upon the child
to give him strength.
21] And did the child stand up and roar from his mouth
as the roar of a mighty lion, saying: This woman who hath approached me
is not my Mother and neither is this dragon my Father!
22] Wherefore then is my Mother? Wherefore then is my
Father also? And at this he wept bitterly.
23] And Michael and Raphael took hold of the dragon and
cast him down unto the earth and his angels with him. And the child sent
the woman from out of his presence and she at once followed the dragon.
24] Then did I hear many voices like thunder coming from
out of the heavens saying: Great is the power of God, and great is the
child, for he hath suffered and hath chosen rightly! Glory and praise be
to God for the kingdom of God and his Son hath finally come! Praise be
unto God the Father and to his Son and to all the host of heaven for they
have cast out of heaven the dragon and his daughter the great whore, and
their children with them!
25] And then did I see the woman who brought forth the
child, come unto him whom she had born, and did they embrace one another.
And beautiful were they there, for he were ever a sun and she were ever
a moon.
26] And again did I hear many voices like thunder coming
from out of heaven saying: Glory be to the Mother, and glory be to the
Son, for together shall they inherit the earth! And also shall they come
again unto the house of God and with them shall come their children!
X
1] And then did the young woman and the child descend
unto the earth, that they might gather together the children of God, those
who were not deceived by the dragon and his daughter the whore.
2] And then did I see, as it were, two mighty pillars
standing upon the earth, reaching far up into heaven.
3] One of the pillars were the colour of pearl and the
other the colour of onyx stone.
4] And in the midst of these two pillars did the spirit
of God descend unto a place which shown with the colour of the sun.
5] And unto these pillars and unto the place which shown
like the sun did the children of God gather together in righteousness.
XI
1] And then did I see the dragon, realizing that he had
been cast down unto the earth, say unto his daughter the whore and their
children: Come, let us seek out this child and his Mother, that we may
seek revenge. And let us gather together all of the children of the earth
and deceive them into thinking that this child and his Mother are evil,
that we might unite and pursue them together.
2] And the children of earth were deceived so, and helped
to pursue the woman and the child, for the whore had told them that this
child and his Mother were evil and that their mouths should be shut up,
lest they corrupt the world into sin.
3] Then did I see the child and his Mother flee unto
the two pillars and unto the children of God who were within them, and
there did the dragon and the whore and her children war with the young
woman and her child and their children.
4] And in the midst of the pillars were there a throne
made of gold, and upon it sat the child.
XII
1] Then did I see a man come forth and take hold of a
nation. And this man did come forth and take hold of that nation in the
time of the coming forth of the child and his Mother. And by this might
he be known unto the knowing.
2] And seeing the waring of the dragon and the whore
and their children with the child and his Mother and their children, did
he say unto himself and to those who followed him: There is great calamity
over the earth caused by the waring of these two. Come, we must choose
one and abate the other so that there may be peace in the earth.
3] This did the dragon hear and descend upon the man
who took hold of the nation, and spake unto his heart and deceived him.
And thus was this man possessed by the spirit of the dragon and at once
was his heart hardened and his mind was shut up. And thereby did he fornicate
with the whore and did cause himself to sin greatly.
4] And did this man call together his armies and make
war with the child and his Mother and their children, and did pursue them
over the earth.
5] But the man and his armies could not conquer the child
and his Mother and their children, for the Spirit of God was with them.
6] And in the sight of the man and his armies did the
children of God cause fire to come down from heaven and shut up the skies
that it might not rain.
7] And there were war between these two for the space
of three and one half years.
8] And this man could not abate the child, for the power
of God was within his hand. But neither would this man surrender and repent
of his sins against God, for the dragon had hardened his heart, and the
whore had kept him drunk with the wine of fornication.
9] And difficult was this war for the man and his nation,
for he did not know, at times, with whom he was fighting, for when the
armies of the child were not making war with the whore and the dragon and
their children, they would clothe themselves with the clothing of the nations,
and though they hid themselves not, they could not be found.
10] So did the man cause all who followed him to receive
a mark, that he may know them thereby, for the man knew that the children
of God would not accept anything that he offered them. And also did he
sign a decree that whosoever did not have the mark, could not buy nor sell
anything soever. Thus he thought that he might starve the children of God,
for they could not be beaten by any other means.
11] And thus were there two great warriors. One warrior
was named the army of the beast and the other army was named the army of
the lamb, and there were much waring between them, such as the earth had
never seen.
12] Verily, were arrow met by lightening, and the roar
of great chariots were met by the earth that was rent beneath them. Yea,
every soldier of the beast were met by an dark and wicked specter.
13] And there were hail an plague and whirling winds
and every manner of horror and woe. And all of these things came at the
hand of the children of God. Aye, such a war were never seen before this
day.
14] Also, before many burning temples, I saw a great
man standing, who was held in high regard and thought to be holy, and he
was struck down dead, for he was unclean. And was his temple also burned
to the ground, yea, and many thousand churches with it, for neither were
they clean, and because the Spirit of God had never known them.
XIII
1] Thus were the earth rent and torn with war; and were
the inhabitants of the earth smitten with fire and with great hail and
with whirling winds and churning waters and terrible plagues.
2] And also because of the children of God did spirits
move freely upon the earth, with fleshly bodies and did afflict all who
had followed the beast and taken his mark.
3] And the children of the beast were frightened by the
children of the lamb and did hide themselves and cry out unto the beast
to save them, but he could not, for the child had already beaten him.
4] Then did other nations come together with the beast,
for the children of the lamb did afflict them also, and they were sore
afraid of the child and those who followed him because of this.
5] And coming unto the beast did the nations cry out:
We have called out to our father, but he came not. We have called out to
his daughter, but neither did she come. So have we called out to their
children, but they were too scattered to hear and come, for the lamb hath
made war with them and conquered. Help us, for we fear that the child will
prevail and become king of every nation and tongue.
6] Thus did the nations come together and heal the beast
and give him back his strength. And standing, did the beast become wroth
with the child, for he had hurt the beast much.
7] Then did the beast approach the two pillars without
fear, for he had become many strong.
8] And did the beast smite the pillars with a rod of
iron and smash them into pieces, and there did the pillars lie fallen for
the space of three and one half days.
9] And the nations rejoiced much at the sight of the
fallen temple, for those who had worshipped therein had tormented them
for three and one half years.
10] But after three and one half days had passed, did
the heavens open up, and a voice did come from out of the heavens and did
speak unto those who worshipped in the temple of God: Come up hither, for
thy work is now done. Thou hast been good and faithful; Come and receive
thy reward. Leave the children of the earth; there is nothing for them.
They would not know me, and neither will I receive them.
11] Thus were the children of God caught up unto heaven,
and before every eye were they caught up unto heaven.
12] And in that hour did the earth tremble as it had
never trembled, and great cities and mountains did fall for her quaking.
And were many crushed beneath them.
13] And the man and his nation were left burned and desolate,
and his children scattered and fallen dead.
14] And seeing that they were not taken and that they
were left to God's wrath, did the children of the earth strike at themselves
and tear at their clothes in mourning.
15] And did they spit at the name of the whore and her
father the dragon, for they had lied to them and told them that they would
be the ones who were caught up in that great day.
16] In that day were there much weeping and mourning,
for the Spirit of God had left them.
17] And did the inhabitants of the earth seek out the
whore in her hiding and the beast who fornicated with her, and threw themselves
upon them and murdered them.
18] Aye, but the Lord God Almighty did not look upon
them, for these were things for yesterday.
19] And when the man had finished speaking, was I then
immediatly returned unto the place from which I came. And as I was returning,
did I hear a voice which came from within, saying: Add the numbers which
I have given thee with those which I will give thee soon, and therein,
in their proper order and by the blasphemous last, lie my commandment unto
thee, my son.