The Argonauts

ARGONAUTAE O sleeper through dawn and though daylight, . O sleeper through dusk and through night! O shifted from white light to gray light, From gray to the one black light! O silence and sound In the far profound! O serpent of scales as an armour To bind on the breast of a lord! Not deaf to the Voice of the Charmer, Not blind to the sweep of the sword! I strike to the deep That thou stir in thy sleep! Rise up from mine innermost being! Lift up the gemmed head to the heart! Lift up till the eyes that were seeing Be blind, and their life depart! Till the Eye that was blind Be a lamp to my mind! Coil fast all thy coils on me, dying, Absorbed in the sense of the Snake! Stir, leave the flower-throne, and up-flying Hiss once, and hiss thrice, and awake! Then crown me and cling! Flash forward—and spring! Flash forth on the fire of the altar, The stones, and the sacrifice shed ;