The World’s Tragedy

THE RED STAR. 51 Of lust and ugliness and gold, The rank goats of the whorish mire. So falls their flame to that decayed Glow of wet rot in the wintry wood. Ay ! from this star disaster-rayed A very wormwood draught is brewed : The light of life shall shrink dismayed At the dawn of prostitute and prude ; And the pagan glory fade From the brows of womanhood. IST SATYR But the boy shall thrust the maid From the sunlight to the shade. He shall make her passion good. 2ND SATYR Nay ! for all the world-decay Rots from sapphirine to grey. All the leprous lichen clings Round the comeliness of things. Brothers ! sisters ! fauns and elves ! Dryads ! Oreads ! Undines ! Fairies, let us hide ourselves