“What of Kaftor and Polydeukes? You have told us nothing of them. They were the brothers of Helen.”
“No, that is not true, they are not interesting. Helen alone was a child of the Swan.”
“Why, too, do you say that the Swan wounded her with its beak? That is not in the legend, nor is it likely. Then why do you say that Lêda was blue like water in the night? You have a reason for saying it.”
“Did you not hear the words of the River. Symbols must never be explained. They must not be understood. Have faith. Ah! do not doubt. The maker of the symbol has concealed a truth in it, but he need not explain it or what would be the use of the reader of symbols.
“One must not tear aside ceremonies, for they only conceal the invisible. We know that in these trees adorable nymphs are enclosed, and yet when the wood-cutter fells the trees they are dead. We know that behind us are dancing satyrs and divine nakedness but we need not turn round, for if we do all will have disappeared.
“The undulating reflection of the springs is actually the naiad. The buck standing in the midst of the does is the reality of the Satyr. One or other of you all is Aphrodite in reality. But we must not know it, we must not seek to find it out. Such is the condition of love and joy. Praise be to the blessed darkness for it.”