THE FATAL FORCE 35
Sweet to thy nostrils! For three times I cast
Its faint dust in the tripod, and three times
The smoke of adoration has gone up
To greet our gods; for the old gods are dead.”
Then there came forth a leper in the hall,
In the most holy temple. So amazed
All shrank. And he made prophecy and said:
“The child that shall be born of thee is called
Fear. He shall save a people from their sin;
For the old gods indeed go down to death,
But the new gods arise from rottenness.”
Then said the goddess: “I indeed am pure
In my impurity ; immaculate
In misconception; maiden in my whoredom ;
Chaste in my incest, being made a god
Through my own strength.” The leper with smooth
words
Turned, and went laughingly towards the west,
And took of his own leprosy and threw
Its foul flakes in the censer. So he passed,
Laughing, and on the altar the flame fell,
Till a great darkness was upon the room,
And only the Queen’s eyes blazed out. So all
Silently went, and left her naked there,
Crowned, sceptred, and exultant, till a chant
Rolled from her moving lips; and great fear fell
Upon us, and the flame leapt, and we fled,
Worshipping. But the mood passed, and we see
A lecherous woman whose magician power