293 
because supposed to live upon the dew. We cau therefore 
easily see the process by which Soma or humidity generally 
became identified with the moon, the queen of humidity. 
Soma is the Iranian Haoma, the Omomi of Plutarch,* and the 
whole of the ninth book of the Rig-Veda is devoted to its 
praise ; illimitable power, benefit, and efficacy being ascribed 
to the personified King Soma, the Asura. Now, after making 
all due allowance for the wonder and delight which may have 
been produced in the human mind by wine (using that word in 
a general sense), and also for man’s appreciation of, and thank- 
fulness for, moisture in its various forms, there still remains 
something unexplained and mysterious in the intensity of the 
Soma-cult and in the apparent extravagance of the Soma 
laudation. But the great idea behind these lower ones in- 
volves man’s yearning for continued existence, and the line of 
thought is as follows : — Moisture, drink, wine of heaven, 
water of life, renews the face of the earth, man and nature in 
the present physical and visible state of things. But man is to 
live hereafter in another and a higher world ; then must there 
be some subtle nehtar, some elixir of immortality, which, when 
procured, shall be in him as a well of water springing up into 
everlasting life. This is the true Soma, of which the other is 
but the shadow, nor can it be too highly praised, too ardently 
desired. This view alone enables us to understand such 
aspirations as the following : — 
“ Where there is eternal light, in the world where the sun 
is placed, 
In that immortal imperishable world place me, 0 Soma. 
Where life is free, in the third heaven of heavens, 
• Where the worlds are radiant there make me immortal. 
Where there is happiness and delight, where joy and 
pleasure reside. 
Where the desires of our desire are attained, there make 
me immortal.”! 
And this poetic prayer we might transcribe in words more 
familiar : — May He who is the light of light,! dwelling in the 
world, whose sun goes not down, whose service is perfect 
freedom, in whose presence there is fulness of joy, and at 
whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore, clothe our 
mortal with immortality in the third § heaven of lieavens.|| 
Speaking elsewhere of Dionysos as Theoinos, I have considered 
* Peri Is. Jcai Os. xlvi. t R'if- Veda, IX. cxiii. 7 . 
£ “ The Deity who is, as an ancient Christian lamp attests, <I'<5c ipwrur.” 
(W. E. Cooper, in Faith and Free Thought, 246.) 
§ 2 Cor. xii. 2. || i Kings viii. 27. 
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