The Star in the West

THE LOOKING -GLASS 31 Little , if any , poetry of a truly epic nature can we find ; the nearest is the song of Tannhäuser , somewhat of a prophecy , somewhat of an anthem : I rose within the elemental ball, And lo ! the Ancient One of Days did sit ! His head and hair were white as wool . His eyes A flaming fire : and from the splendid mouth Flashed the Eternal Sword ! Lo ! Lying at his feet as dead , I saw The leaping - forth of Law : Division of the North wind and the South , The lightning of the armies of the Lord ; East rolled asunder from the rended West ; Height clove the depth ; the Voice begotten said : “ Divided be thy ways and limited ! ” Answered the reflux and the indrawn breath : “ Let there be Life , and Death !” ? Worthy of the author of “ The Marriage of Heaven and Hell !” “ Let there be Life and Death ,” and the link between these two is Love . Here we will give but one or two curious examples , dealing with the great songs of love in the next chapter . As a singer of love - songs Aleister Crowley excels . The following is from “ The Star and the Garter " : Your lips are gathered up to mine ; Your bosom heaves with fearful breath ; Your scent is keen as floral wine , Inviting me , and love , to death.2 Also the following is charming in its simplicity : She has a lithe white body , slim And limber , fairy - like , a snake Hissing some Babylonian hymn Tangled in the Assyrian brake .3 1 Tannhäuser , vol . I, p . 252 . 2 The Star and the Garter , vol . iii, p . II . 3 Ibid . vol . iii, p . 10 .