I

Within the golden portal

of the garden of the Wise,

Watching by the seven sprayed fountain,

the Hesperian Dragon lies.

Like the ever-burning Branches

In the dream of holy seer;

Like the types of Asia's churches,

Those glorious jets appear.

Three times the magic waters

Must the Winged Dragon drain,

Then his scales shall burst asunder

And his heart be reft in twain.

Forth shall flow an emanation,

Forth shall spring a shape divine,

And if Sol and Cynthia aid thee,

Shall the charmed Key be thine.

II

In the solemn groves of Wisdom,

Where black pines their shadows fling

Near the haunted cell of Hermes

Three lovely flowerets spring:

The Violet damask tinted

In scent all flowers above;

The milk white vestal Lily,

And the purple flower of Love,

Red Sol a sign shall give thee

Where the sapphire violets gleam,

Watered by the rills that wander

From the viewless golden stream;

One Violet shalt thou gather,

But Ah -- beware -- beware!

The Lily and the Amaranth

Demand thy chiefest care.

III

Within the lake of crystal,

Roseate as Sol's first ray,

With eyes of diamond lustre,

A thousand fireflies play.

A net within that water,

A net with web of gold,

If cast where air bells glitter

One shining fish shall hold.

IV

Amid the oldest mountains

Whose tops are nest the Sun,

The everlasting rivers

Through glowing channels run;

Those mountains are of silver,

Those channels are of gold,

And thence the countless treasures

Of the Kings of Earth are rolled.

But far, far must we wander

O'er realms and seas unknown

Who seeks the Ancient Mountains

Where shines the Wondrous Stone.