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ΤΗΕ RITES OF ELEUSIS
Ah! sweeter still October,
When russet leaves go grey,
And sombre loves and sober
Make twilight of the day.
Dark dreams and shadows tenser
Throb through the vital scroll,
Man’s souli
Lift, shake the subtle censer
That hides the cruel coal
!
Still sweeter when the Bowman
His silky shaft of frost
Lets loose on earth, that no man
May linger nor be lost.
The barren woods, deserted.
Lose echo of our sighs—
Lovkdies ?—
Love lives—in granite skirted,
And under oaken skies.
But best is grim December,
The Goatish God his power;
The Satyr blows the ember,
And pain is passion’s flower;
When blood drips over kisses,
And madness sobs through wine :—
Ah, mine !—
The snake starts up and hisses
And strikes and—I am thine!
[He tram/res at thefeet of SPHINX toward c.1.c.'r.
[HERMANUBIS recites.
HERMANUBIS l.
O coiled and constricted and chosen !
Ο tortured and twisted and twined!
Deep spring of my soul deep frozen,
The sleep of the truth of the mind!
As a bright snake curled
Round the Vine of the World
!