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Page 1 of 11901 · PDF PAGE 82
70 THE SOUL OF OSIRIS. Only the quest ! if any quest there be ! What is my purpose ? Could the Godhead guess ? So the long way seemed moving as I went, Flashing beneath me ; and the firmament Moving with quicker robes that swept the air. Still Dian drew me to her bosom bare, And madness more than will was my content. I moved, and as I moved I was aware ! The plain is covered with a many dead. Glisten white bone and salt-encrusted head, Glazed eye imagined, of a crystal built. And see ! dark patches, as of murder spilt. Ugh ! “ So thy fellows of…
1901 · PDF PAGE 76
64 THE SOUL OF OSIRIS. Loved, and no sin done ! Ay, the world shall see The quest is first—a love less terrible. Yet, as I ride toward the edge of snow That cuts the blue, I think. For even so Comes reason to me : “ Oh, return, return ! What folly is it for two souls to burn With hell’s own fire ! What is this quest of woe ? What is the end ? Consider and discern ! ” Banish the thought ! My working reason still Is the rebellious vassal to my will. Because I will it. That is God’s own mind. I cast all thought and prudence to the wind : On, to th…
1901 · PDF PAGE 79
… folk and mad they are, A million actions and a single mind. “ What is thy purpose, sweet my lord ? ” I pressed One stalwart. “ Ah ! the quest,” he cried, “ the quest.” God’s heart ! the antics, as they toil and shove ! One grabs a coin, one life, another love. All shriek, “ The prize is mine ! ” as men possessed. I was not fooled at anything thereof. Rather I hated them, and scorned for slaves ; “ Fools ! all your treasure is at last the grave’s ! ” Mine eyes had fixed them on the sphinx, the sky. “ Is then this quest of immortality ? ” And ec…
1901 · PDF PAGE 73
…khael’s trumpet-call. Yet there did grow a clamour shrill and loud : One cursed, one crossed himself, another vowed His soul against the quest ; the tumult ran Indecorous in that presence, man to man. Stilled suddenly, beholding how I bowed My soul in thought : another cry began. “ Gereth the dauntless ! Gereth of the Sea ! Gereth the loyal ! Child of royalty ! Witch-mothered Gereth ! Sword above the strong, Heart pure, head many-wiled ! ” The knightly throng Clamour my name, and flattering words, to me— If they may ’scape the quest—I do them w…
1901 · PDF PAGE 77
…t my breast. Yet I am cleansed, and find some little rest. Still from my agonised unspeaking tongue Breaks : I must go, go onward to the quest. Again the cursed cry : “ What quest is this ? Is it worth heaven in thy lover’s kiss ? A queen, a queen, to kiss and never tire ! Thy queen, quick-breathing for your twin desire ! ” I shudder, for the mystery of bliss ; I go, heart crying and a soul on fire ! “ Resolve all question by a moonward tread. Follow the moon ! ” Even so the king had said.
1901 · PDF PAGE 7
…E TWO LOVES ” ........................................ 55 TO LAURA ..................................................... 56 THE NAMELESS QUEST ................................... 59 “ A RELIGIOUS BRINGING-UP ” .......................... 76 “ THE LAW OF CHANGE ” ................................. 77 SYNTHESIS ................................................... 78
1901 · PDF PAGE 71
THE GATE OF THE SANCTUARY. 59 THE NAMELESS QUEST. HE king was silent. In the blazoned hall Shadows, more mute than at a funeral True mourners, waited, waited in the gloom ; Waited to hear what child was in the womb Of his high thoughts. As dead men were we all ; As dead men wait the trumpet in the tomb. The king was silent. Tense the high-strung air Must save itself by trembling—if it dare. Then a long shudder ran across the space ; Each man ashamed to see his fellow’s face, Each troubled and confused. He did not spare Our fear—he spake not yet…
1901 · PDF PAGE 87
…ters quench it ? King Shalomeh saith. I am the king : you know it, friend ! We wed. That is the tale of how my wooing sped. And oh ! the quest : half won—incredible ? I am so brave, and pure—folk love me well. But oh ! my life, my being ! That is dead, And my whole soul—a whirlwind out of hell !
1901 · PDF PAGE 83
…n thee dies. For we are many and thy name is One. The Godhead in me ! As a flash there came The jealous secret and the guarded name. The quest was mine ! And yet my thoughts confute My intuition ; and my will was mute. My voice—ah ! flashes out the word of flame : “ Eternal Beauty, One and absolute ! ” The overwhelming sweetness of a voice Filled me with Godhead. “ Still remains the choice ! Thou knowest me for Beauty ! Canst thou bear The fuller vision, the abundant air ? ” I only wept. The elements rejoice ; No tear before had ever fallen the…
1901 · PDF PAGE 75
THE GATE OF THE SANCTUARY. 63 Thou mayst win the quest—the king, thy friend, Gives thee his sword to keep thee—Gereth, kneel ! “ I dub thee Earl ; arise ! ” And then there rings The queen’s voice : “ Shall my love not match the king’s ? Here, from my finger drawn, this gem of power Shall guard thee in some unimagined hour. It hath strange virtue over mortal things. I freely give it for thy stirrup’s dower. ” I left the presence. Now the buffeting wind Gladdens my face—I leave the court behind. Am I Stark mad ? My face grows grim and grave ; I s…
1901 · PDF PAGE 84
… rainbow dragon scales within. Hope’s being, life’s delight, time’s eager tooth ; All, all are gone ; the serpent sloughs his skin ! The quest is mine ! Here ends mortality In contemplating the eternal Thee. Here, She is willing. Stands the Absolute Reaching its arms toward me. I am mute,
1901 · PDF PAGE 81
…ayhap ! I turned—the path ? My horror was complete— A flaming sword across the earthquake gap. I cried aloud to God in my despair. “ The quest of quests ! I seek it, for I dare ! Moonward ! on, moonward ! ” And the full moon shone, A glory for God’s eyes to dwell upon, A path of silver furrowed in the air, A gateway where an angel might have gone. And forward gleamed a narrow way of earth Crusted with salt : I watch the fairy birth Of countless flashes on the crystal flakes, Forgetting it is only death that makes Its home the centre of that sta…