If Mylta, Vērian, and you, dear friends, may not consider me of lost mind, or altogether given to preposterous fancies, at least I may amuse you by a recital of what you may regard as merely a dream. To Favēon I have related a former experience, and his incredulous smile assures me that he yet remembers it.
Yesterday after classes I laid on my couch to meditate and rest. I did not at all feel inclined to sleep, but soon a semi-conscious state stole over my senses. At the moment my gaze was resting on a great cluster of tēmos blooms sent me by Valloa̤, my betrothed, to whom my tenderest thoughts, like bright plumaged song birds, were flying. Presently the tēmos blooms were blurred from my sight by a shining vaporous cloud, from which emerged a female form, so wondrously lovely that I was overawed and amazed. The form was tall, and of proportions suited to the form of a Goddess. Over her shoulders her hair fell like a golden mist, and her eyes blue as the azure floor of Astranola̤, gazed tenderly, smilingly into mine. Rodels, floating on Naro's gleaming waters are not whiter than was her face, which shone with an indescribably strange, luminous glow. Floating rather than walking toward me she extended her hands, and in a voice so gentle, so tender, so mellifluous that it yet lingers in my memory like strains of sweetest music, she said, "Dano, Dano, my brother, do not you recognize your sister Onta̤? I am not dead, I live, and love you, my brother Dano. It was but my physical body that died. I, the real Onta̤, am as alive as when hand in hand we strayed by Naro's waters. Dano, believe that I am Onta̤, for I shall again and again come to teach you the mystery of life after death of the body. Happily you possess clear seeing vision, which perceives the real, Immortal Self, and you are to be a Teacher of our people, who through you will attain to a higher conception of divine things. Already you begin to apprehend the oncoming glory of a New Revelation, which will bring to the heavy hearted children of Ento gladness immeasurable. Fear not, my brother, your message of joy will not fall upon deaf ears, for the way is being prepared, and the invisible ones, who possess the strength and wisdom of the fabled gods, will not fail you in your hour of greatest need. I know that already they have spoken to you through one of another World, and soon your vision will grow so strong and clear that you will be able to perceive them, as you now for the first time perceive me. I can remain no longer, but soon will come again," she said, and as she came she went.
As I dreamed I seemed to weep for joy that my beloved Onta̤ still lived, and as she ceased speaking I strove to clasp her to my heart, but she eluded me, and ere I more than realized her presence she vanished from my sight, and I sprang to my feet, not in fear, but in a state of trepidation indescribable.
Mylta—But, Dano, do you believe that you really saw your sister Onta̤, or do you consider it all a vivid dream? Of course, as your sister has long been in the Silence, it could have been naught else than a dream. Favēon, be quiet. Yes, I am excited. Oh, how I should like to have such a dream; and only think, if it really might be true! It is so dreadful to die, to leave all that one loves, and more dreadful still to lose one's loved ones, knowing that the utmost one can do is to mourn until we too shall pass into the Silence. Ah, my Vērian, our tears will not ward off——
De L'Ester—Gentola̤, quickly draw near to Dano. Touch his head with your finger tips. That will suffice. Drowsily he leans back in his chair, and passes his hands over his forehead and eyes. Now in a startled manner he whispers, "Onta̤, Onta̤; nay, it is not Onta̤. Onta̤ has golden hair, and this woman's hair is dark hued, and she is of a strange race. Ah, I now see her clearly, and it is the same woman who twice has appeared to me. Speak, I pray you, that I may know who you are, and why you come to me."
De L'Ester—Follow closely my dictation.
Gentola—Though I am not of Ento I have been named Gentola̤. Twice I have been made to speak to you, and now I shall say that which you are to remember for it relates to gravest interests.
I have come from a world closely resembling Ento. It is far away in space, and by its inhabitants it is known as Earth. I have been brought to you by persons who once lived on either Earth or Ento, but death of their physical bodies having freed the imperishable, intelligent Principle, they are known as Spirits and may go from World to World. I, too, am a spirit, but, like yourself, am yet connected with a physical body, to which I shall soon return. Through the activity of a wonderful natural sense you are enabled to perceive me and to hear my words; and later on, when your Spirit senses shall have grown clearer, you also will see and hear Spirits who are wholly freed from the physical body. Already you have perceived freed Spirits and your quickened senses are unfolding, as unfolds a flower. Two of the Spirits accompanying me are of Ento's Spirit World. During their mortal lives they were known as Inidora̤, and Genessano, sons of Genessano Allis Immo and of his Wife Camarissa̤,who long have existed in a World invisible to your mortal vision, but which is as real as is Ento. As I am unacquainted with your language I speak from dictation of a Spirit who, from time to time, will reveal to you truths which will bring to you and to your people joys unspeakable. This spirit bids me say to you that in boundless space there are countless Worlds inhabited by beings like yourself. That all are Andûmana̤'s children, and all, like yourself, are immortal. That when, through death of the body, their spirits become freed, they continue to exist in worlds' far more beautiful than Ento, whose peoples now are on the eve of a revelation which, to them, will be as the dawning of a day of supremest joy. But for you, dear youth, will come a sorrow so overwhelming, a grief so poignant, that it will well nigh rend you from your body. But courage, courage, sufficient for your days will be your strength. You have chosen and are being prepared to give to your despairing peoples a message so glorious that its Divine effulgence will dissipate the shadows of the hopeless beliefs which so long have held them in Spiritual bondage. Already in the minds of many of your people there is a sense of unrest and discontent with old beliefs and forms of worship. It is a premonition of wonderful events which ere long will occur, for spirits of Ento's and other Spirit Worlds have combined their forces to awaken the inner consciousness of your peoples, and they feel the quickening impulse but are unaware of its significance. Many are prepared to receive the glad tidings that existence is continuous, and when this knowledge shall have been revealed to them quickly they will emerge from the depths of perpetual sorrow into the radiance of a consciousness of immortality.
You would know the nature of the sorrow that is to come into your life? I shrink from saying that it has become necessary to inform you that your betrothed, Valloa̤ Fûnha̤, slowly but surely is releasing herself from her frail physical body. Slowly but surely, like some sweet flower of an untimely season, she droops and fades away, and ere long she will be your Spirit, not your Mortal Bride. Her father does not realize that her days are nearly ended or even that she is really ill, else ere now he would have called you home. You are to await his or your father's summons, and you are not to speak of this or of aught I have said to you. Soon again I shall be with you to further reveal to you that which concerns yourself and others, and now, Info oovistû.
De L'Ester—Favēon, Nitana and the others are greatly amazed and alarmed at Dano's strange condition, but as he breathes and moves they know that he has not swooned, so silently they await his awakening, and now he is arousing from his partially submerged state. He is so highly sensitive that while en rapport with you he is almost wholly conscious and fully remembers all that you have said to him, and though as yet he does not comprehend his condition, in time he will do so. It is to be regretted that such a heavy sorrow must fall into his young life, but when finally he shall realize that his adored Valloa̤ will not be forever lost to him, with his sorrow will be blended joy inexpressible.