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SCRIPTURES
Chapter 14
Areta speaks to her son – “You are the light for which I waited” – Kronus tells of
Seti-Kahn’s cruel test, offers two paths: flee or die together – Areta: “Would you
bring my life to nothing?” – Areta reveals her true self to Kronus – Kronus beholds
the eternal wonder of Areta – “Why did you endure this life?” – “How can one man
alone, change the lives of so many?” – The power of Oneness – Kronus leaves his mother’s
cell
1 These then are the words which Areta spoke unto her son, even Kronus, which stood before the Emperor as most renowned and worthy of praise; having secured through the genius of his person, a glory and prestige far greater than all those before him.
2 Causing that the mother should view him with most inward joy; finding in the presence of her son, the shadow of that little boy which would laugh and play midst the sunshine of her youth; to lay beside her in the night, being suckled upon the breasts midst dreams and gentle sleep.
3 Yet did Areta see with saddened heart, the shadows of her past, when she was young and filled with hope for the son she held most dearly, to see but now those fleeting images which would no longer sing or dance together in sunlight or in shade.
4 For in the presence of Kronus were all her yesterdays made as dreams instead; being vanished away through the cruel designs of hateful men which would trap the son she loved so deeply.
5 And Areta spoke unto the son with soft and tender words; plying with most loving skill to ease the hurt of all his troubles; to set free his soul of hate and fear, to fill him with that gentle cunning which would sweep away the darkness of lesser men.
6 For this cause did the mother speak in softest tones, a fullness of her heart’s desiring; to say midst smiles and gentle touches: “O, my son, most good and noble heart, give not your soul to anger, neither yield your joy for fear of me.
7 For in all these years did I wait your coming whereby I might prove some final benefit in the doing of all those things which I have set before you;
8 Believing midst hopeful dreams, that in my son would all my hopes find full expression in the lives of those which rule; to take from out of all your goodness, a life and power all their own.
9 Look, my son, and see most fully the pains which I did bear, to carry in my flesh the scars of cruel and senseless beatings, bearing in my heart the abuses of small and hateful men.
10 For it matters not the harshness of such lesser men, nor the darkness of their deeds; for I did cast my eyes unto that far and distant light, believing with all my might, that in the day of darkest gloom the light would leap upon me, to bathe me in the goodness of your love forever.
11 Know then, my son, that you are the light for which I waited; you are the joy for which I dreamed both night and day; enduring with most comely grace, the hardships of these passing years.
12 Hoping then, believing now, that in you alone would come that light which shines most brightly through the darkness of the age; to lift the hearts of all who see, to that high and noble place where you and I do dwell.
13 Grieve not, therefore, over such pains and afflictions as you do now see me bear; for though my flesh seem scarred and broken, yet in my soul there is brightness still, for yet does there stir within me the songs of faith and hope.
14 Give not your heart to anger, nor yield yourself to some lesser passion; for the cruelties of others did I survive that I might wait the coming of my son;
15 But if, in this present moment, you would give your heart to vengeance, then would I most surely fall; to lay myself down in endless sorrow.
16 Therefore, my good and noble son, prove yourself the greatest of men, and save the world from all this hurt; for if you would throw away your life for vengeance sake, then would the sum of every man and every woman fall beside you in the grave, to rise no more forever.”
17 These then are the words which Areta spoke unto Kronus, the son of all her hope and joy together mixed; that she might sweep away the anger of his heart.
18 And Kronus, holding his mother in his arms to comfort her did speak, saying: “Do not grieve for my sake, most good and gracious Mother; for in my love for you would I set aside the fullness of my indignation, that you might find upon my bosom both safety and rest from all your hurt and pain.
19 But this you must know most surely, that if I take no revenge against my father to kill him, then shall the law compel that I should strangle you upon the post, which thing I will never do.
20 For I will not have you shamed before strange and violent men, neither will I permit against you any further harm; for now am I a man both strong and quick; and I shall endure no longer the bestiality of lesser men against you.
21 For this cause have I placed before us but two paths only; for in the one is there found safety and joy, while in the other is there found for each of us, that good and gentle death where none would dare intrude.
22 Know then that in my love for you would I set aside the rage within, yet in my desire to save you am I most strongly resolved; and though my heart be filled with gentle stirrings for your sake only, still will I not stay my hand in delivering you from all this vileness.
23 Come then, my good and precious Mother, and let us fly ourselves away; for I am no longer the boy of ages past, but am instead a man most highly skilled in war and dark survival.
24 Let us, therefore, go quickly and in secret from this place of blood and wrath; and in those yon but distant mountains make for us a home and refuge where we might dwell in peace and safety.
25 For even I did wait for you all these many years, even as you did wait for me; enduring in my flesh the cruelties and hardships of all my training; being compelled to persevere against adversity perchance to find again the mother I love.
26 But if, my good and gentle Mother, you will not flee yourself away, to dwell in safety to the mountains of Fen Magurah, then let us now die together; for I would lay aside both rank and privilege that I might rest in death beside you.
27 For there in that dark but gentle shade shall we sleep in sweet repose, being made safe at last from the evils which man would do; for in death shall we deeply sleep in the goodness of our love forever.
28 Choose, therefore, the path which we shall tread, and fear no longer; for it is for your sake that I would set aside forever the glories and honors of men, counting them as filth and dross.
29 For in being your son only have I found the greatest worth; having been made within my heart and mind most noble because of you; being shaped and fashioned through the teachings of my mother into the man of greatest merit.
30 For in the softness of your form and in the goodness of your speech have I found the only true honor and the greatest thing of glory; being worthy in yourself of most gentle approbation.”
31 Such did Kronus speak most tenderly unto his mother; and kissing her upon the lips and upon the nipples of her breasts, he made himself as steel; and drawing from his tunic a vial of poison, he held it before her, saying:
32 “Tell me, my Mother, the path which we shall go; for in the one is there life and safety in the mountains of Fen Magurah, while on the other there is death and peace forever.
33 Yet do not fear but know this only, that in whatsoever path you would choose will we be together always; for I will never leave you or forsake you; neither can any man compel me to bring some evil against you for the sake of all their hate and pleasure.”
34 Now when Kronus had spoken all these things, the mother did embrace her son to hold him; and she spoke into the depths of all his heart and mind together saying:
35 “Would you bring my life to nothing? Would you cast aside the dreaming of all my life for safety’s sake? Will you make as nothing the suffering of all my years?
36 Look you then, my son, and see most clearly: For am I the only woman which is made to suffer because of cruel and hateful men? Shall I then save myself while yet the world continues on in pain and frightful dreaming?
37 Shall I seek for myself, alone, that distant light while yet the world is cast in darkness and fear forever? Is this the end for which I lived? Shall the sum of all my years seek for itself no greater purpose?
38 Come then, my son, and I will reveal to you that hidden portion; which thing when you shall see, will remove such fears as you do bear for my sake alone; for I am more than this body which you see.
39 For I, of myself, did fashion the body which even now you do hold; for I desired to walk among the children of men, being hopeful that I might find some means by which to save them; for even in the midst of all their fear and darkness did I see some greater destiny filled with promise and endless wonder.
40 Know then, my brave and noble son, that the mother which cast you forth from the womb of all her dreaming is even now most able to deliver the son from such pain and fear as you do bear for me.
41 For behold, I am Areta, even the Mother of all living things; bearing in my soul a fullness of life and love, grace and beauty, hope and joy; being in my truer self beyond the reach of death and darkness; dwelling most constantly in the goodness of my soul forever.
42 Look you then and marvel; for in this dark and frightful moment will I show the power of the mother you love so deeply.”
43 And behold, there did gather from out of every part of her, a bright and shimmering light; which light did move throughout the sum of all her flesh, to gather within the very bosom of all her being.
44 And with great suddenness, the mother breathed most heavily, and in an instant did the light leave the tabernacle of her flesh to float and move in the airs above; and out of the light did the mother speak, saying:
45 “Do not fear, my son, the passing of my flesh into death; for I shall live forever in the vastness of the Deep.
46 Think not therefore, that it is needful that you should save me; for it is the mother’s place and right to save the son she loves so dearly.”
47 Thus did Kronus, seeing the soul of his mother before him, gaze in wonder and deep regard; and in an instant did the light fall again into the flesh of the body, to awaken it, as if from slumber; and Kronus spoke, saying:
48 “O, my Mother, my good and gentle light; for what cause would you endure so great a sorrow as this life would have you bear, seeing that you are not bound by the limitations of the flesh?
49 For when I am made to see the brightness of your glory, the wonder of your light, even I am filled with astonishment concerning the nature of my mother.
50 Tell me therefore, and hold not back: Why would you endure the cruelties of this life when there is made for you a way of escape? Why would you suffer the afflictions of the flesh when the light of all your being is greater than this mortal clay?”
51 And Areta answered her son, saying: “In the beginning did I endure for hope’s sake only, believing most firmly and without relent, that by my life and presence in this far and distant world might I save from oblivion, the life of every man and every woman.
52 But in the day when I drew you forth from the womb of my flesh, in the moment of greatest pain and fear in bringing forth, was there born in me a thing which I had never known before.
53 Thus in the birth of you, my son, was there born in me some endless love; for you are the child of all my hope and love together; and for your sake, alone, did I bear in my flesh the cruelties of men.
54 Know then that if you will do the things which I have asked, then might there spring up within the heart of man the seeds of hope and love also; and out of this might there leap from out of the darkness something still of greater worth.
55 Therefore, my good and noble son, lose not your faith and hope for fear of me; for even I shall save you from the cunning of your father; to preserve you to that greater purpose for which I have dreamed so long ago.
56 Hold, therefore, onto such love as you do bear for me, and turn loose the darkness of hate and wrath together; for in such love as you shall find within, shall you find that greater place of refuge; permitting that you should endure all things, hope all things and dream all things together possible.”
57 Now when the mother had finished speaking, Kronus thought most deeply within himself, being troubled and perplexed most deeply within; and after some long and silent moment, he spoke unto Areta, saying:
58 “How can one man alone, change the lives of so many? For the world is greater than all my might, being filled with nations and peoples of every kind. What, therefore, is the life of one man when compared to the ways of all men together? By what means would I bend forever the fate of nations and of kings?”
59 And Areta answered, saying: “Come, my son, and I will reveal in you the power and strength of Oneness; for it is certain that one man, of himself, cannot do the things which I desire, to save from oblivion the life of every man and every woman.
60 Therefore, my son, change the life of one man only and he shall stand beside you; then shall these two, being as one together, change the lives of two others also; and then shall these four men together, be as the force of one.
61 And if you will continue, to move in small degrees, then shall these four men become greater and greater in numbers still, to move, of themselves, in patience throughout the affairs of men;
62 Even until there should stand beside you a multitude of men who, being made like unto yourself in word and deed, shall stand as one together, to change by subtle means the fate of nations and kings.
63 Know then, my son, that in the many which stand beside you, even these shall be made as one in you and you in them; and in this Oneness are all things made possible.
64 Go then, my son, and leave this dark and dreadful place; for even now would I set forth my hand to save you from the cunning of your father. Only kiss me now upon the lips, and remember me in all your doings.
65 Be you brave and most strongly cunning in the doing of good and noble things; for I shall not forget the son I love so dearly, but shall most faithfully walk beside you.”
66 Thus did the mother speak, and the son, kissing her upon the lips, did bathe her with his tears; and when he was completed, he turned himself as hard as iron and gave himself to the affairs of nations and of men.