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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Tables of the Law and The Adoration of the Magi</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tables-of-the-law-and-the-adoration-of-the-magi--7088678</link><description><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7088678/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright Literary Fiction Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/264a22d1633a8a664b47eda57ea574ef.jpg</url><title>Tables of the Law and The Adoration of the Magi</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tables-of-the-law-and-the-adoration-of-the-magi--7088678</link></image><lastBuildDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:21:02 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>William Butler Yeats</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Literary Fiction Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker64@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/264a22d1633a8a664b47eda57ea574ef.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Kids &amp; Family"><itunes:category text="Pets &amp; Animals"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Science"><itunes:category text="Nature"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>027f06d6-0b16-5d28-bf95-75adbc859464</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>Plea for Ragged Schools; or, Prevention Better than Cure-Thomas Guthrie</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/plea-for-ragged-schools-or-prevention-better-than-cure-thomas-guthrie--73874232</link><description><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73874232</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:01:54 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73874232/plea_for_ragged_schools_or_prevention_better_than_cure_thomas_guthrie.mp3" length="49347047" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>William Butler Yeats</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>6162</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/264a22d1633a8a664b47eda57ea574ef.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Louis Lambert-Honoré de Balzac</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/louis-lambert-honore-de-balzac--73853142</link><description><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73853142</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 09:01:42 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73853142/louis_lambert_honore_de_balzac.mp3" length="115981834" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>William Butler Yeats</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>14483</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/264a22d1633a8a664b47eda57ea574ef.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Faust II-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/faust-ii-johann-wolfgang-von-goethe--73836413</link><description><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73836413</guid><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:02:31 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73836413/6137_faust_ii_johann_wolfgang_von_goethe.mp3" length="212109311" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>William Butler Yeats</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26486</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/264a22d1633a8a664b47eda57ea574ef.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Green Millennium-Fritz Leiber</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/green-millennium-fritz-leiber--73800441</link><description><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73800441</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:32:38 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73800441/green_millennium_fritz_leiber.mp3" length="196017533" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>William Butler Yeats</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>24478</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/264a22d1633a8a664b47eda57ea574ef.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Charles Simeon-Handley Carr Glyn Moule</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/charles-simeon-handley-carr-glyn-moule--73344642</link><description><![CDATA["Charles Simeon-Handley Carr Glyn Moule" is a compelling exploration of the life and contributions of key figures in Christian thought. This audiobook delves into the profound impact of their faith and teachings, offering insights that continue to resonate in contemporary discussions about spirituality and morality. The themes of devotion and the search for meaning are timeless, making this work a valuable listen for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of faith's role in personal and communal life. Engaging with these influential voices provides a rich context for reflecting on our own beliefs and the enduring power of faith in shaping human experience.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73344642</guid><pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 17:59:27 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73344642/charles_simeon_handley_carr_glyn_moule.mp3" length="215575010" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>William Butler Yeats</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Charles Simeon-Handley Carr Glyn Moule" is a compelling exploration of the life and contributions of key figures in Christian thought. This audiobook delves into the profound impact of their faith and teachings, offering insights that continue to...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Charles Simeon-Handley Carr Glyn Moule" is a compelling exploration of the life and contributions of key figures in Christian thought. This audiobook delves into the profound impact of their faith and teachings, offering insights that continue to resonate in contemporary discussions about spirituality and morality. The themes of devotion and the search for meaning are timeless, making this work a valuable listen for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of faith's role in personal and communal life. Engaging with these influential voices provides a rich context for reflecting on our own beliefs and the enduring power of faith in shaping human experience.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26919</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/264a22d1633a8a664b47eda57ea574ef.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Tables of the Law and The Adoration of the Magi - William Butler Yeats</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/tables-of-the-law-and-the-adoration-of-the-magi-william-butler-yeats--72390263</link><description><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72390263</guid><pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:52:27 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72390263/tables_of_the_law_and_the_adoration_of_the_magi_william_butler_yeats.mp3" length="20436785" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/f821b8bc-0777-4a30-99d6-bf3cd4277396/f821b8bc-0777-4a30-99d6-bf3cd4277396.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/f821b8bc-0777-4a30-99d6-bf3cd4277396/f821b8bc-0777-4a30-99d6-bf3cd4277396.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/f821b8bc-0777-4a30-99d6-bf3cd4277396/f821b8bc-0777-4a30-99d6-bf3cd4277396.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>William Butler Yeats</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The first two tales involve the persona's relationship with a certain Aherne, who has come into possession of a beautiful book by Joachim of Flora, a book deemed so heretical that Pope Alexander IV had all known copies burnt. This one overlooked copy, Aherne now cherishes, apparently influenced by a sect directed by a Michael Robartes. (Both Robartes and Aherne appear in other works of Yeats.) A decade after this introduction, Michael Robartes having suffered some "terrible destiny," part 2 opens with the persona catching sight of a much changed Aherne, convinced that he cannot be saved. After a vision constituting a religious experience, the persona flees and never returns to seek out his friend again. The third part of the tale, called "The Adoration of the Magi," introduces three old brothers who come to the persona's door shortly after the previous events and tell him of their own experiences involving Michael Robartes. A spirit calling himself by that name appeared to them in a fishing boat and told them something inspiring that they believed but do not divulge to the narrator. Then years later a voice reported to the eldest brother that Robartes had died, and shortly thereafter the middle brother had a dream in which he was told that he and his brothers should seek a dying woman in Paris who would teach them "the secret names of the gods." When they obeyed, the middle brother had a waking dream in which he saw the stable of Christ's birth. This story changes the persona's life by leading him away from the influence of that terrible book of which he heard from the unfortunate Aherne. (Summary by T. A. Copeland)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2555</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adoration,aherne,law,literary,magi,michael,persona,robartes,tables,yeats</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/264a22d1633a8a664b47eda57ea574ef.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
