Lilith

With a fearsome yell, her clammy fur staring in clumps, her tail thick as a cable, her eyes flashing green as a
chrysoprase, her distended claws entangling themselves so that she floundered across the carpet, a huge white
cat rushed from somewhere, and made for the chimney. Quick as thought the librarian threw the manuscript
between her and the hearth. She crouched instantly, her eyes fixed on the book. But his voice went on as if
still he read, and his eyes seemed also fixed on the book:−−
"Ah, the two worlds! so strangely are they one, And yet so measurelessly wide apart! Oh, had I lived the
bodiless alone And from defiling sense held safe my heart, Then had I scaped the canker and the smart,
Scaped life−in−death, scaped misery's endless moan!"
Lilith
At these words such a howling, such a prolonged yell of agony burst from the cat, that we both stopped our
ears. When it ceased, Mr. Raven walked to the fire−place, took up the book, and, standing between the
creature and the chimney, pointed his finger at her for a moment. She lay perfectly still. He took a half−burnt
stick from the hearth, drew with it some sign on the floor, put the manuscript back in its place, with a look
that seemed to say, "Now we have her, I think!" and, returning to the cat, stood over her and said, in a still,
solemn voice:−−
"Lilith, when you came here on the way to your evil will, you little thought into whose hands you were
delivering yourself!−− Mr. Vane, when God created me,−−not out of Nothing, as say the unwise, but out of
His own endless glory−−He brought me an angelic splendour to be my wife: there she lies! For her first
thought was POWER; she counted it slavery to be one with me, and bear children for Him who gave her
being. One child, indeed, she bore; then, puffed with the fancy that she had created her, would have me fall
down and worship her! Finding, however, that I would but love and honour, never obey and worship her, she
poured out her blood to escape me, fled to the army of the aliens, and soon had so ensnared the heart of the
great Shadow, that he became her slave, wrought her will, and made her queen of Hell. How it is with her
now, she best knows, but I know also. The one child of her body she fears and hates, and would kill, asserting
a right, which is a lie, over what God sent through her into His new world. Of creating, she knows no more
than the crystal that takes its allotted shape, or the worm that makes two worms when it is cloven asunder.
Vilest of God's creatures, she lives by the blood and lives and souls of men. She consumes and slays, but is
powerless to destroy as to create."
The animal lay motionless, its beryl eyes fixed flaming on the man: his eyes on hers held them fixed that they
could not move from his.
"Then God gave me another wife−−not an angel but a woman−−who is to this as light is to darkness."
The cat gave a horrible screech, and began to grow bigger. She went on growing and growing. At last the
spotted leopardess uttered a roar that made the house tremble. I sprang to my feet. I do not think Mr. Raven
started even with his eyelids.
"It is but her jealousy that speaks," he said, "jealousy self−kindled, foiled and fruitless; for here I am, her
master now whom she, would not have for her husband! while my beautiful Eve yet lives, hoping
immortally! Her hated daughter lives also, but beyond her evil ken, one day to be what she counts her
destruction−−for even Lilith shall be saved by her childbearing. Meanwhile she exults that my human wife
plunged herself and me in despair, and has borne me a countless race of miserables; but my Eve repented, and
is now beautiful as never was woman or angel, while her groaning, travailing world is the nursery of our
Father's children. I too have repented, and am blessed.−−Thou, Lilith, hast not yet repented; but thou
must.−−Tell me, is the great Shadow beautiful? Knowest thou how long thou wilt thyself remain
beautiful?−−Answer me, if thou knowest."
Lilith 94