The Ibarlot
IN
N that masterpiece “ Tannhäuser , " without any re
quest whatsoever , and without any idiotic introduc
tion , the song ofan unknown minstrel breaks unheralded
on the astonished ears of the Landgrave's
Court :
Tender
the phrase, and faint the melody ,
When poets
praise a maiden's
purity ;
Platitude linked to imbecility .1
Murmurs
of surprise arise , but it is not till he sings ,
As 'mongst spring's sprigs sprouts sunshine's constant face ;
Or as a mill grinds on , with steady pace ;
So sprouts, so grinds , the unblushing commonplace. ?
that
the
murmurs
break
into
an
indignant
uproar .
Insolent
scoundrel ,
rude
upstart , abusing
our
ears
with your insults ! Crucify him ! boycott him ! cut him !
The Landgrave's
society was shocked by that
rude
minstrel , and our society is no doubt shocked by the
satire of Aleister
Crowley .
On our book -shelves his
works stand literary pickled birches , to administer to
our
mental
ultimatums
a
corrective
dose .
A good
purgative
is an excellent thing taken now and again ,
it keeps
both the bowels free and the mind clear , and
Mrs.
Grundy
is nothing if she be not constipated .
“
Thou
poisonous
bitch , ” says Crowley , when
he
addresses
a Spenserian
verse
to Mrs.
Sally G--d ,
1 Tannhäuser , vol i, p. 249.
2 lbid .