ALEISTER CROWLEY
The Neophyte
SIGHT I tread the unsubstantial way
‘That looms before me, as the thundering night
Falls on the ocean : I must stop, and pray
One little prayer, and then—what bitter fight
Flames at the end beyond the darkling goal ?
“These are my passions that my feet must tread;
‘This is my sword, the fervour of my soul ;
‘This is my Will, the crown upon my head.
For see! the darkness beckons : I have gone,
Before this terrible hour, towards the gloom,
Braved the wild dragon, called the tiger on
With whirling cries of pride, sought out the tomb
Where lurking vampires battened, and my steel
Fhas wrought its splendour through the gates of death,
‘My courage did not falter: now I feel
My heart beat wave-wise, and my throat catch breath
Asif [choked; some horror creeps between
‘The spirit of my will and its desire,
Some just reluctance to the Great Unseen
‘That coils its nameless terrors, and its dit
Fear round my heart ; a devil cold as ice
Breathes somewhere, for I feel his shudder take
‘My veins: some deadlier asp or cockatrice
Slimes in my senses : T am half awake,
‘Half automatic, as I move along
Wrappedin a cloud of blackness deep as hell,
_ Hsing afar some halt-forgicen 005
s of dsraption; yet strange glories dwell
Aonemy fel oro is
the very Dawn, would strike wis
"The limitationsof this deadly aight,
_ ‘That folds me for the sign of death and sin—
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