The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

THE EQUINOX 66. Write, & find ecstasy in writing! Work, & be our bed in working! Thrill with the joy of life & death! Ah! thy death shall be lovely: whoso seeth it shall be glad. Thy death shall be the seal of the promise of our agelong love. Come! lift up thine heart & rejoice! We are one; we are none. 67. Hold! Hold! Bear up in thy rapture; fall not in swoon of the excellent kisses! 68. Harder! Hold up thyself! Lift thine head! breathe not so deep—die! 69. Ah! Ah! What do I feel? Is the word exhausted? 70. There is help & hope in other spells. Wisdom says: be strong! Then canst thou bear more joy. Be not animal; refine thy rapture! If thou drink, drink by the eight and ninety rules of art: if thou love, exceed by delicacy; and if thou do aught joyous, let there be subtlety therein ! 71. But exceed! exceed! 72. Strive ever to more! and if thou art truly mine—and doubt it not, an if thou art ever joyous !—death is the crown of all. 73. Ah! Ah! Death! Death! thou shalt long for death. Death is forbidden, o man, unto thee. 74. The length of thy longing shall be the strength of its glory. He that lives long & desires death much is ever the King among the Kings. 75. Aye! listen to the numbers & the words: 76.4638ABK24ALGMOR3YX 2489RP S TOV AL. What meaneth this, o prophet? Thou knowest not; nor shalt thou know ever. There cometh one to follow thee: he shall expound it. But remember, o chosen 24