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THE FATAL FORCE
So absolute as I shall do to-day
In this new infamy. For I must pass
Desolate into the dusk of things again,
Having risen so far-to fall to the abyss,
Deeper for exaltation ; I must go
Wailing and naked into the inane
Cavernous shrineless place of misery,
Forgetful, hateful, impotent, except
The last initiation seize my soul,
And fling me into Isis’ very self,
The immortal, mortal. Let me know this
night
Whether my place is found among the stars
That wander in the deep, or made secure
As the high throne of her that dwells in
heaven,
Fruitful for life and death, Wisdom her name !
This hour the foolish ones shall see their souls
Shrink at my manifest deity. This night
My spirit on my spirit shall beget
Myself for my own child. Behold! they
come,
Fantastically moving through the dance,
The many mourners, and the fatal bier
Looms in the dimness of the anteroom.
It is enough. My hour is at hand!
CHORUS exter and ctrcumarntbulate.
Even as the traitor’s breath
Goeth forth, he perisheth
By the secret sibilant word that is spoken
unto death.
Even as the profane hand
Reacheth to the sacred sand,
Fire consumes him that his name be forgotten
in the land.
Even as the wicked eye
Seeks the mysteries to spy,
So the blindness of the gods takes his spirit :
he shall die.
Even as the evil priest,
Poisoned by the sacred feast,
Changes by its seven powers to the misbe-
gotten beast :
Even as the powers of ill,
Broken by the wanded will,
Shriek about the holy place, vain and vague
and terrible :
Even as the lords of hell,
Chained in fires before the spell,
Strain upon the sightless steel, break not
fetters nor compel :
So be distant, O profane !
Children of the hurricane ! |
Lest the sword of fire destroy, lest the ways
of death be plain !
So depart, and so be wise,
Lest your perishable eyes
Look upon the formless fire, see the maiden
sacrifice !
So depart, and secret flame
Burn upon the stone of shame,
That the holy ones may hear music of the
sleepless Name !
Now the sacred and obscene
Kiss, the pure and the unclean
Mingle in the incense steaming up before the
goddess queen.
Holy, holy, holy spouse
Of the sun-engirdled house,
With the secret symbol burning on thy mul-
tiscient brows !
Hear, O hear the mystic song
Of the serpent-moving throng,
Isis mother, Isis maiden, Isis beautiful and
strong !
Even as the traitor’s breath
Goeth forth, he perisheth
By the secret sibilant word that is spoken
unto death.
RATOUM.
The hour is given unto death. Bring in
Dead Horus, for the night is shed above.
[Coffix brought tn.