the reference to the "gardens of the hesperides" invokes imagery from greek mythology, where the gardens are guarded by the hesperides and the serpent ladon, containing the golden apples of immortality. here, they symbolize an ideal state of fulfillment or enlightenment, accessible only to those who dedicate themselves entirely to the pursuit of beauty and truth. by stating that admission is granted only to those whose "dreams" focus on the "beauty" of the presiding queen, the author suggests that the true reward of life and art is an alignment with its most noble and transcendent aspects. the "presiding queen" becomes a metaphor for the ultimate ideal or guiding principlewhether it be wisdom, beauty, or divine truth. this passage aligns seamlessly with the broader themes of alchemical writings, which often emphasize the inner journey and the refinement of the soul as paramount goals. just as the alchemist seeks the symbolic "gold" of spiritual enlightenment, the seeker of life as an art strives for a connection with the "beauty" of existence itself. the pursuit is its own reward, mirroring the alchemical process of transformation, which values growth and understanding over material outcomes.
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