When appealed to, Ripton acquiesced, and shivered. Not only
were they to be knights, they would have to be Titans, for the powers of
the world, the spurious ruling Social Gods, would have to be defied and
overthrown. And Titan number one flung up his handsome bold face as if to
challenge base Jove on the spot; and Titan number two strained the upper
button of his coat to meet across his pocket-handkerchief on his chest,
and warmed his fingers under his coat-tails. The moon had fallen from her
high seat and was in the mists of the West, when he was allowed to seek
his blankets, and the cold acting on his friend's eloquence made Ripton's
flesh very contrite. The poor fellow had thinner blood than the hero; but
his heart was good. By the time he had got a little warmth about him, his
heart gratefully strove to encourage him in the conception of becoming a
knight and a Titan; and so striving Ripton fell asleep and dreamed.

CHAPTER XXXVII

Behold the hero embarked in the redemption of an erring beautiful woman.

"Alas!" writes the Pilgrim at this very time to Lady Blandish, "I cannot
get that legend of the Serpent from me, the more I think. Has he not
caught you, and ranked you foremost in his legions? For see: till you
were fashioned, the fruits hung immobile on the boughs. They swayed
before us, glistening and cold. The hand must be eager that plucked them.
They did not come down to us, and smile, and speak our language, and read
our thoughts, and know when to fly, when to follow! how surely to have
us!

"Do but mark one of you standing openly in the track of the Serpent. What
shall be done with her? I fear the world is wiser than its judges! Turn
from her, says the world. By day the sons of the world do. It darkens,
and they dance together downward. Then comes there one of the world's
elect who deems old counsel devilish; indifference to the end of evil
worse than its pursuit. He comes to reclaim her. From deepest bane will
he bring her back to highest blessing. Is not that a bait already? Poor
fish! 'tis wondrous flattering. The Serpent has slimed her so to secure
him! With slow weary steps he draws her into light: she clings to him;
she is human; part of his work, and he loves it. As they mount upward, he
looks on her more, while she, it may be, looks above. What has touched
him? What has passed out of her, and into him? The Serpent laughs below.
At the gateways of the Sun they fall together!"

This allitera