The last two lines were repeated, as by a simultaneous impulse, in a low but audible tone by the whole assembly.  In the meantime Esmo had invested each of us with the symbol of our enrolment in the Zinta, the silver sash and Star of the Initiates.  The ceremonial seemed to me to afford that sort of religious sanction and benediction which had been so signally wanting to the original form of our union.  As we rose I turned my eyes for a moment upon the Throne, now vacant as at first.  Another Chief, followed by the voices of the assembly, repeated, in a low deep tone, which fell on our ears as distinctly as the loudest trumpet-note in the midst of absolute silence, the solemn imprecation—­

  “Who denies a brother’s need,
   Who in will, or word, or deed,
   Breaks the Circle’s bounded line,
   Rends the Veil that guards the Shrine,
   Lifts the hand to lips that lie,
   Fronts the Star with soothless eye:—. 
   Dreams of horror haunt his rest,
   Storms of madness vex his breast,
   Snares surround him, Death beset,
   Man forsake—­and God forget!”

It was probably rather the tone of profound conviction and almost tremulous awe with which these words were slowly enunciated by the entire assemblage, than their actual sense, though the latter is greatly weakened by my translation, that gave them an effect on my own mind such as no oath and no rite, however solemn, no religious ceremonial, no forms of the most secret mysteries, had ever produced.  I was not surprised that Eveena was far more deeply affected.  Even the earlier words of the imprecation had caused her to shudder; and ere it closed she would have sunk to the ground, but for the support of my arm.  Disengaging the bracelet, Esmo held out to our lips the signet, which, as I now perceived, reproduced in miniature the symbols that formed the canopy above the throne.  A few moments of deep and solemn silence had elapsed, when one of the Chiefs, who, except Esmo, had now resumed their seats, rose, and addressing himself to the latter, said—­

“The Initiate has shown in the Hall of the Vision a knowledge of the sense embodied in our symbols, of the creed and thoughts drawn from them, which he can hardly have learned in the few hours that have elapsed since you first spoke to him of their existence.  If there be not in his world those who have wrought out for themselves similar truths in not dissimilar forms, he must possess a rare and almost instinctive power to appreciate the lessons we can teach.  I will ask your permission, therefore, to put to him but one question, and that the deepest and most difficult of all.”

Esmo merely bent his head in reply.

“Can you,” said the speaker, turning to me with marked courtesy, “draw meaning or lesson from the self-entwined coil of the Serpent?”