Collected Works (Vol. III)

174 ORPHEUS LIBER TERTIUS VEL LABORIS TO THE MEMORY OF IEHI AOUR, WITH WHOM I WALKED THROUGH HELL, AND COMPELLED IT ‘* Neither were his hopes frustrated : For having appeased them with the melodious sound of his voice and touch, prevailed at length so far, as that they granted him leave to take her away with him; but on this condition, that she should follow him, and he not to look back upon her, till he came to the light of the upper World; which he (impatient of, out of love and care, and thinking that he was in a manner past all danger) nevertheless violated, insomuch that the Covenant is broken, and she forthwith tumbles back again headlong into Hell."—Zhe Wisdom of the Ancients. ‘* Moody Pluto winks while Orpheus plays." —Rafge of Lucrece. . i ot Vivid and hoary, Take fire, understand The ways of the dark, As an angel did guide me, As I pass in my flight On the awed storm cloud, Steeps steeper than sleep, oe Depths deeper than night, | Waving the brand I have furrowed and ploughed | Of the dawn’s red spark. (Deep calling to deep !) My measures mark The influence fine Through the spaces of light, e The heads of them bowed Of the voyage divine ° Of the airy bark For the fears that weep, ; And the joys that smite, Wherein I travel And the loves disallowed. : O’er mountain and level, They are risen ; they leap ; The land, and the sea. They wing them in white, And the beings of air, Crying aloud And the lives of the land, Words widowed that keep And the daughters of fire, The frost of their fires forgotten and faded | And the sons of the Ocean, from Memory’s steep. Come unto me ; My chariot bear, ! | | | My tunes understand, | ‘ H | As I pass in my glory O’er sea and land, Share my emotion. I smite the loud tune They gather, they gather, From a fervid hand, Apollo, O father ! By the promontory, They gather around ; The mountainous moon, They echo the sound My love desire,