SOCRATE
(L’'HOMME AU NEZ CASSE)
ONSUMMATE beauty built of ugliness,
O broken-nose philosopher, is thine.
Diamonds are deepest in the blue-mud mine;
So is the secret of thy strong success
Daemonic-glittering through the wear and stress
Of tortured feature; virtue’s soul doth shine,
Genius and wisdom in the force divine
That fills thy face; magnificence! no less.
Ay! thou shalt drink the hemlock; thou shalt suffer
And die for self respect, for love of others!
To-day are men indissolubly brothers?
Is my life smoother than the Greek’s or rougher?
The Greek at least shall stead me in my craft.
Crucify Crowley! Nay, my friends! the draught.
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