The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

THE EQUINOX waters become perturbed. The noises die away. There zs a noise of chanting. Chorus from beneath. Dreams diluvian daunt the daring daughters That, devout in the hour of wastrel waters, Hither bore from its house of eld the shrine. Dreams, and devils, and things of death together, Chorus glorious, wild as wind and weather, Mocking; Shine, O our God! Lord God, now shine! Is the symbol of Life indeed departed? Hath-the augur indeed found bloodless-hearted Firstling lamb, and the dove without entrails? Is the hope of the world for ever sunken? Was the dream of us dark, demented, drunken? All in vain are we vowed before the veils? Were we false to the faith? Did hope desert us? Was not leonine love the grace that girt us? Why then bore we the shrine across the sea? Wait! the moment of midmost murk discloses Dawn, deep laden the winds of March with roses. Groans of travail announce the babe to be. Now the waves of the pool are stirred; the ocean Labours; Earth is awake; a murmured motion Marks the end of the tragic theme. Behold How the garden of Pan with subtle laughter Shakes, how Bacchus and Ceres, leaping after, Link extravagant limbs of rose and gold ! [Zn silence, lastly, a great Beetle emerges from the pool, holding 72