Lumen de Lumine

IN we went, and having entred the Rock, the interior parts were of a heavenly Smaragdine Colour. Somewhere they shin'd like Leaves of pure Gold, and then appear'd a third inexpressible purple tincture. We had not gone very far, but we came to an Ancient Majestic Altar; On the Offertorie, or very top of it, was figur'd the Trunck of an old rotten tree, pluck'd up by the Roots. Out of this crept a Snake, of colour white and Green, Slow of Motion like a Snayle, and very weake, having but newly felt the Sun that overlook'd her. Towards the Foot, or Basis of this Altar was an Inscription in old Egyptian Hieroglyphics, which Thalia expounded, and this is it.