Itisthematerialcounterpartofthe\'NightoftheSoul。\'Wehaveleftourhouseandsetforthinthedarknesswhichparalysesthosefacultiesthatmakeusmenintheworldofmen。Butsurelythegreatmystics，withalltheirinsightandheavenlylove，fellshortwhentheysoughtfreedomincompleteseparatenessfromcreationinsteadofinperfectunitywithit。TheGreeksknewbetterwhentheyflungAriadne\'scrownamongthestars，andwroteDemeter\'sgriefonabarrenearth，andPersephone\'sjoyinthefruitfulfield。Fortheearthisgatheredupinman；heisthewholewhichisgreaterthanthesumofitsparts。StandingintheimageofGod，andclothedinthegarmentofGod，heliftsuppriestlyhandsandpresentsthesacrificeofredeemedearthbeforethethroneoftheAll-Father。\"Dustandashesandahouseofdevils，\"hecries；
andtherecomesbackforanswer，\"REXCONCUPISCETDECOREMTUAM。\"
TheAngelofDeathhasbroadwingsofsilenceandmysterywithwhichheshadowsthevalleywhereweneedfearnoevil，andwherethevoicewhichspeakstousisasthe\"voiceofdoves，taberingupontheirbreasts。\"Itisaplaceofhealingandpreparation，ofpeaceandrefreshingafterthesharply-definedoutlinesofagarishday。Walkingtherewelearntousethosenaturalfacultiesofthesoulwhicharehamperedbythefamiliarityofbodilyprogress，toapprehendthetruthswhichwehaveintellectuallyaccepted。Itistheplaceofsecretswherethehumilitywhichembracesallattainableknowledgecries\"Iknownot\"；andwhileweproclaimfromthehouse-topsthatwhichwehavelearnt，themannerofourlearninglieshidforeachoneofusinthesanctuaryofoursouls。
TheEgyptians，intheirancientwisdom，actinthedesertagreatandrosphinx，imageofmysteryandsilence，staringfromunderlevelbrowsacrossthearidsandsofthesea-way。TheGreeksborrowedanddebasedtheimage，turningtheinscrutableintoasemi-womanwhoaskedafoolishriddle，andhurledherselfdowninpetulantpridewhenOEdipusansweredaright。Sowe，marringtheofficeofsilence，questionitsmystery；thwartourselveswithriddlesofourownsuggesting；andturnaway，leavingourofferingbuthalfconsumedonthealtaroftheunknowngod。ItwasnotthetheftoffirethatbroughtthevengeanceofheavenuponPrometheus，butthemockingsacrifice。OrpheuslostEurydicebecausehemustseeherfacebeforetheappointedtime。Persephoneateofthepomegranateandhungeredingloomforthedayoflightwhichshouldhavebeenendless。
Theuniverseisfullofmiracleandmystery；thedarknessandsilencearesetforasignwedarenotdespise。Thepallofnightlifts，leavingusengulphedinthelightofimmensityunderatossingheavenofstars。Thedawnbreaks，butitdoesnotsurpriseus，forwehavewatchedfromthevalleyandseenthepaletwilight。