ascendeth

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

And then (if now the Tetragrammaton be not considered in the manner just described, but in this manner of instituting the square, IHVI, IHV, IH, I, then Yod also is in a certain sense solitary, but in a plainly contrary sense. For it ascendeth in its path upwards and upwards. (That is, it doth not so much receive the higher sense, in order that it may denote the beautiful path or the foundation; but the highest, that is, the father or the wisdom.) The woman is again hidden. (That is, in this instance, the former meaning by which it denoted the bride of Microprosopus, namely, the last letter of the above-written form of the Tetragrammaton, ceaseth in itself.)

(He is therefore called) the supernal V, Vau (Daath or knowledge, and) the inferior V, Vau (that is, the external Microprosopus. And thus also) the supernal H, He (the mother), the inferior H, He (the bride). But I, Yod, is above all (symbolizing the father), and with him is none other associated; he is I, Yod, as at first; neither ascendeth he in himself (through the height of the numeration, like as with H, He, the pentad, with Vau, the hexad, ascend to a similar height) except as a symbolic glyph. (That is, the decad, which is expressed not in that same letter I, Yod, but by a hexad and a tetrad.)

(Further on it is written), Gen. vi. 1: “And it came to pass when man began to multiply upon the face of the earth.” (Where by these words) ADM, Adam, began to multiply (there is understood Daath, or the knowledge, the soul of the beautiful path, to which Moses is referred; which sendeth down many lights into the bride, the earth, when the spouse ascendeth thither). This is that which is written (ibid. 3): BShGM, Beshegam, “in that also, he is flesh” (which word Beshegam, “in that also,” by equality of numeration equalleth MShH, Moses) Adam (namely) the supernal (Daath, or knowledge). And it is written: “Upon the face of the earth” (which face of the earth is this, that the highest representation of the queen is the understanding, the mother, unto whose gates Moses ascended).

He said unto him: “For what reason?” He answered unto him: “Because at that time the lower judgment threateneth through Microprosopus; but that forehead is uncovered which is called ‘Acceptation,’ and then wrath is assuaged, and the prayer ascendeth.

“The first whiteness shineth, and ascendeth and descendeth for the purpose of combining with that which is connected (with it) in connection.

“The second whiteness shineth and ascendeth and descendeth, and darteth forth its rays, and igniteth three other lights, which are called NTzCh, Netzach, Victory, ChSD, Chesed, and Benignity, ThPARTh, Tiphereth, and Beauty; and they radiate in perfection and in gladness.

“The third whiteness radiateth and shineth, and descendeth and ascendeth, and goeth forth from the part enclosing the brain, and darteth forth its rays toward the seventh middle light.

The first whiteness shineth and ascendeth and descendeth in three lights on the left-hand side, and they radiate and are bathed in that whiteness, like as when a man batheth his body in good unguents and odours, in better than he at first possessed.

The second whiteness descendeth and ascendeth and shineth in three lights on the right-hand side, and they radiate and are bathed in that whiteness, like as when a man batheth in good unguents and odours, in better than he at first possessed.

The third whiteness shineth and ascendeth and descendeth, and goeth forth the light of the inner whiteness of the brain, and darteth forth its rays when necessary unto the black hair, and unto the head, and unto the brain of the head.

It is said in the “Book of Concealed Mystery”: That beard, the truth of all (truths), proceedeth from the place of the ears, and descendeth around the mouth of the Holy One; and descendeth and ascendeth, covering (the cheeks which it calleth) the places of copious fragrance; (it is) white with ornament: and it descendeth in the equilibrium (of balanced power), and furnisheth a covering even unto the midst of the breast.

“The first world, which proceedeth from the first disposition, hath dominion over, and descendeth and ascendeth in a thousand times a thousand myriads of myriads of shield-bearers, and by it are they comprehended under a great seal.

“The second world, which proceedeth from that disposition, hath dominion over and descendeth and ascendeth in fifty-seven thousand bodyguards, who are the lords of lamentations; and these are connected with it for the purpose of disposing the neck of the spine.

“The third world, which goeth forth from that arrangement, hath dominion over and descendeth and ascendeth in sixty-nine thousand authors of grief, who are upheld by it, like as metal (is upheld) by the tongs (of the smith).

“And that light ascendeth unto the shore of the deep superior sea, for all good openings and dignities are disclosed in that opening.

THE hair is arranged in the sixth conformation, and ascendeth from below upwards, and toucheth the circles of most excellent fragrance, even unto the beginning of the mouth above; and the hair descendeth from the beginning (of the mouth above) unto the beginning of the opening of the mouth below. “Arise thou! Rabbi Yisa, and expound this conformation.”

“And whensoever any one amongst us openeth his mouth, so that he may speak concerning any conformation, that form is localized and awaiteth the voice which goeth forth from our lips, and then it ascendeth in its place and is crowned.

But when he ascendeth, so that he may be conformed therein, he cannot subsist and he cannot consist. Wherefore? Because the form of the man is not as yet constituted.

And in that time is there found with Him (i.e., Microprosopus) an intuition of mercy, and therefore the prayer of the Israelites ascendeth, because His eyes are opened (i.e., those of Microprosopus), and are whitened with that whiteness (of the eye of Macroprosopus).

Truly before that from those nostrils the fire and smoke issue forth, that voice ascendeth upwards, and slideth into the beginning of the brain; and the two tears flow down from the eyes.

Also we have learned that this beard departeth from His ears, and descendeth and ascendeth, and toucheth upon the places of fragrance.

The second conformation. The hair goeth forth, and ascendeth from the one part of the mouth even unto the other part of the opening of the mouth; and it descendeth beneath the mouth unto the other side, hair above hair, in beautiful arrangement.

The fourth conformation. The hair goeth forth and is disposed in order, and ascendeth, and is spread over His cheeks, which are the place of fragrance of the Ancient One.

“THE second conformation. The hair goeth forth and ascendeth from the beginning of (the one side of) the mouth even unto the beginning of the other side of the mouth; and descendeth beneath the mouth unto the other side, hair above hair, in beautiful arrangement. Arise, Rabbi Abba!”

“THE fourth conformation. This path of hairs is disposed, and ascendeth and descendeth in His cheeks into the place of fragrance.

“For it is written, Ps. civ. 1: ‘Thou art clothed with Honour and Majesty.’ (Otherwise: In the fourth conformation the hair goeth forth, and is disposed, and ascendeth and descendeth in the cheeks, in the places of fragrance. This conformation is elegant and beautiful in appearance, and it is the supernal glory. And this is the tradition: The supernal glory goeth forth, and is crowned, and floweth down in the beauty of the cheeks. And this glory is called the glory of the beard; and from it depend honour and glory, the vestments of adornment, those magnificent purple garments wherewith he is clothed. Concerning which it is written: ‘Thou art clothed with honour and majesty,’ which are the forms of clothing. In this form of man is he formed, rather than in any other form.)

And therefore She ascendeth not without Him, like as with the palms; one sex ariseth not without the other.

Since concerning Him it is said, Ps. xviii. 9: “There ascendeth a smoke in His nose,” &c.

But yet from the letter the judgment dependeth, and judgment pertaineth unto the nose (of Microprosopus). Like as it is written, Ps. xviii. 9: “Smoke ascendeth out of His nose.”

But concerning this (nose of) Microprosopus it is written, Ps. xviii. 9: “A smoke ascendeth in His nose.”

For that voice sent forward (from inconsiderate thought) cleaveth the air, and it goeth forth and ascendeth, and is carried around through the universe; and therefore is the voice.

IN those abodes (otherwise forms) of fragrance the beard beginneth to appear from the top of the ears, and it descendeth and ascendeth in the place of fragrance.

The letter Ch, Cheth, which goeth forth and descendeth and ascendeth, and is crowned in the head (referring to the Second Sephira, Chokmah, Wisdom), and is fire condensed in ether (i.e., developeth in the palatal letter I, Yod).