LIBER TERTIUS VEL LABORIS 175
Of the tune that rejoices,
The manifold measure
Of feet tuned to voices
Of terrible pleasure.
We pass in our courses
Above the grey treasure
Of seas in Earth’s forces,
Her girdle, her splendour.
We bridle the horses
Of sea as we lend her
Tunes subtle and tender
To sink in her sources.
The air’s love? We rend her!
We pass to the West,
We sink on the breast
Of the Ocean to rest.
As I pass, as I madden
In fury of flight,
The sea’s billows gladden
Invoking the light.
The depths of her sadden
Not seeing the sight
Of the glorious one,
Whose steed is the Sun,
Whose journey is certain,
Who speeds to the gate,
The visible curtain
Of visible fate.
My soul takes no hurt in
Their gloom: I await
The portals to rise
In the desolate skies,
I trust to my song
Irresistibly strong
To sunder and shatter
Those towers of matter.
They rise! Oh! They rise,
The terrible towers
Of Hades: they lift
Across the white skies
Those terrible-cliffed
Rocks, where the hours
Beat vainly : where lies
The horrible rift
Of the earth’s green bowers
Where the wan ships drift,
And the sun’s rays shift,
And the river runs
Whose banks have no flowers,
Whose waves have no suns.
Sheer to the terror
Of heaven, the walls
Strike ; and the mirror
Of water recalls
No truth, but dim error.
The soul of me falls
Down to the glamour
Of dream ; and fear
Beats like a hammer.
Ilere ! it is here!
Lost are my friends ;
The elements shrink
Where the life-world ends
On the icy brink
Of the sunless river ;
Inds, and for ever !
I pass to the portals
Of death in my flight.
I sound at the gates.
I call the immortals
Of death and of night.
I call on the Fates
By the summons of light.
The gates are rended;
The rocks divide ;
My soul hath descended
Abreast of the tide.
I, single and splendid,
Death have defied !
I pass by the terrible gates and the guardians
dragon-eyed.
I thunder adown
The vast abyss.
(The journey’s crown
Is a woman’s kiss !),
What terrors to master !
What fear and disaster
To gain the renown
And the fadeless bliss!
I thunder aloud
On the rocks as I fly,
Borne on a cloud
In the gloomy sky.