Collected Works (Vol. I)

254 TANNHAUSER Two is by shape the Coptic aspirate,! Life breathed, and death indrawn. And so Rounds you at last the ten, completion’s self, The circle and the line. Why stick at nought? BERTRAM. Only a donkey fastened to a post Moves in a circle. LANDGRAVE. This is noble talk ! THE UNKNOWN MINSTREL. Leave the wide circle—word and argument ! Move to the line—the steady will of man, That shall attract the Two, the Breath of Life, The Holy Spirit: land you in the Three, Where form is perfect—in the triangle. TANNHAUSER, My friend, the Three is infinitely small, Mere surface. And I seek the Depth divine! THE UNKNOWN MINSTREL. The solid! But the triangle aspires To that same unity that you despise, And lo! the Pyramid! The Sages say : Unite that to the-Sphinx, and all is done, Completion of the Magnum Opus. TANNHAUSER. No! Each new dimension lands me farther yet In the morass of limit. THE UNKNOWN MINSTREL. Be it so! But follow me through all the labyrinth, And ten rewards us. And your Zero’s found To have an actual value and effect On unity—your Will. ' & TANNHAUSER, What’s then to seek? THE UNKNOWN MINSTREL. The fourth dimension, for the early step. LANDGRAVE. It seems this talk is merely mystical. This is no College of the Holy Ghost For Rosencreutz his mystifying crew !! A CourRTIER. A Poet’s tourney, and the theme is Love ! THE UNKNOWN MINSTREL. There is a sequel to our poet’s song, And he will sing it. TANNHAUSER. No! I know it not! THE UNKNOWN MINSTREL. The winepress and the sun ! TANNHAUSER (again tn Venusherg). My spouse and Queen! Bright Goddess of the amber limbs, the lips Redder than poppies in the golden cern That is your mane! Listen, the after-song ! [Zakinge hts harp. LANDGRAVE. What are these words? THE UNKNOWN MINSTREL. Let silence now abide : Disturb not the impassioned utterance ! TANNHAUSER. [ Seve. Can you believe the deadly will’s decree, The bitter earnestness of this desire, The deep intention, the solemnity, Profound as night and penetrant as fire, 1 The secret headquarters of the Rosicru- cians was named by them Collegium Spiritus Sancti.