Collected Works (Vol. I)

98 MYSTERIES: LYRICAL AND DRAMATIC Sounded the voice we knew as God’s. The words Were not a question any more, but said : ‘The last and greatest is within you now.” Then fire too subtle and omniscient Devoured our substance, and we moved again Not down, not up, but inwards mystically Involving self in self, and light in light. And this was not a pain, but peaceable Like young-eyed love, reviving ; it consumed And consecrated and made savour sweet To our changed senses. And the dual self Of love grew less distinct and I began To feel her heart in mine, her lips in mine. ... Then mistier grew the sense of God without, And God was I, and nothing might exist, Subsist, or be at all, outside of Me, Myself Existence of Existences. We had passed unknowing to the woody crown Of the little hill. There was a secret Vault. We entered. All without the walls appeared As fire, and all within as icy light ; The altar was of gold, and on it burnt Some ancient perfume. Then I saw myself And her together, as a priest, whose robe Was white and frail, and covered with a cope Of scarlet bound with gold: upon the head A golden crown, wherein a diamond shone ; Within which diamond we beheld our self The higher priest, not clothed, but clothed upon With the white brilliance of high nakedness As with a garment.! Then of our self there came A voice: ‘‘ Ye have attained to That which Is ; Kiss, and the vision is fulfilled.”’> And so Our bodies met, and, meeting, did not touch But interpenetrated in the kiss. This writing is engraved on lamina Of silver, found by me, the trusted friend 1 See the description of the robes and crown of the Magus in the ‘‘ Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage.” And loving servant of my lady and lord, In that abandoned Vault, of late destroyed By Etna’s fury. Nothing else remained (Save in the ante-room the sword we knew So often flashing at the column-head) Within. I think my lord has written this. Now for the child, whose rearing is my care, And in whose life is left my single hope, This writing shall conclude the book of song [lis father made in worship and true love Of his fair lady, and these songs shall be His hope, and his tradition, and his pride. Thus have I written for the sake of truth, And for his sake who bears his father’s sword— I pray God under my fond guardianship As worthily. Thus far, and §0—the end. THE HONOURABLE ADULTERERS I. I LooKED beneath her eyelids, where her eyes Like stars were deep, and dim like summer skies 3 I looked beneath their lashes; and be- hold ! My own thought mirrored in their maiden gold. Shame drew to them to cloud their light with lies, And shrank back shamed ; but Love waxed bright and bold. The devilish circle of the fiery ring! Became one moment like a little thing, And Truth and God were near us to with- draw The veil of Love’s unalterable law. We feared no fury of the jealous King, But, lest in honour love should find a flaw. 17 e. the wedding ring,