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THE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY SCENE.—TZhe room is furnished with comfort as well as luxury. A crucifix ts in the window to the East, and the room ts flooded with sunlight, CORA VAVASOUR (late of the Halls). ULRIC, tllegitimate son of Cora. MADELINE, girl in love with Ulric. THE SPIRIT OF TRAGEDY, as Chorus. SPIRIT OF TRAGEDY. ERE, in the home of a friend, Here, in the mist of a lie, The pageant moves on to the desolate end Under a sultry sky. Noon is upon us, and Night, Spreading her wings unto flight, Visits the lands that lie far in the West, Where th…
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THE MOTHER’S TRAGEDY
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THE MOTHER’S TRAGEDY 9 Of my old life; I sought another world. I ‘‘ got religion ””"—how I hate the phrase !— So jest the matron newspapers. The end. Since then I lived, as I am living still, Wrapped in the all-absorbing love of him My child, my child! And now my selfishness Is shamed, and I have made the sacrifice To give this pure heart to that maidenly, And let mine old age grow upon my hair, Finding my happiness in seeing him The all-devoted, and in God’s good pleasure Have little children playing at my knees, That I may listen, in their in…
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THE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY OTHER POEMS ALEISTER CROWLEY PRIVATELY PRINTED Tore)|
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6 THE MOTHER’S TRAGEDY CORA remains thinking. I was no bolder twenty years ago! Time, Time, thou maker and destroyer both, Only in resurrection hast no part! | Broods. SPIRIT OF TRAGEDY. How light and how agreeable, Paved pathway to the gate of hell! See how all virtues, graces, shine, Till woman half appears divine! But I am waiting, watching still The treason of the powers of ill. Soft, moveless, as a tigress glides, Strange laughing devilry abides Its hour to poison. How they gloat, The fiends, upon her lips and throat! They touch her heart,…
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THE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY 7 I have a glass whose bitter destiny No wizard may conjure. Arise ye there, Old hours of horror, clear by one and one, In the confused and tossing ocean, Where memory picks spar and spar from out The dreadful whirlpool hardly yet appeased, To join together in imagination The ship—the wreck! And yet I stand at last Secure in my unselfish love to them, Repaid in mine own currency. I trust God hath made smooth the road beneath the hearse Of my forgetful age. All must be well. SPIRIT OF TRAGEDY. Mortals never learn from storie…
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THE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY 25 Thus in one hour from peace and happiness To such a fury that the very room Seems to my fancy to be tossed about, Rocking and whirling on some dizzy sea. There is a horrible feeling in the air. [She shudders. SPIRIT OF TRAGEDY. The keystone of this arch of misery Is set by the unfaltering hands Of Fate. How desperate the anarchy Wrought in one hour! The fickle sands Run through the glass, and all the light is gone. Abysses without name the mighty power Spans with spread fingers; on the horizon Blood stains the setting su…
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2 THE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY Love that was strong die away as a song, Melt as a cable of sand. But I am watching, with unwearied eye, The wayfare of the tragedy. I see the brightness of the home; I see The grisly phantom of despair to be. I see the miserable past redeemed, (Intolerable as its purpose seemed,) Redeemed by love: I see the jealous days Pass into sunshine, and youth-beaming rays Quicken the soul’s elixir. Let me show How these air-castles tumble into woe. CORA. Why did your eyelids quiver as I spoke ? A smile, a tear? that trembling, in …
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26 THE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY This tragedy is terrible to me. Even I, its spirit, shudder as I see; I, passionless, the moulder of men’s hope, The slayer of them, cast no horoscope Divining what befell, And I am moved: Both love, and both are worthy to be loved. Ah Fate! if thou hadst cast the dies Whence no appeal, in any other wise! I am the soul of the grim face of things; Mine are the Sphinx’s wings; Mine own life lives with this event! Yet even I, its very self, lament The execrable tyranny, The rayless misery Of this wild whirlpool sea of circu…
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|e) THE MOTHER’S TRAGEDY Naked as dawn, the purpose of the hour Grows on my vision, and my cynic laughter Chills in my veins: the old avenging power Shows me the thing that is to be hereafter. I gloated on the coming of the curse— I did create a hearse, Black plumes and solemn mourners; and saw The triumph of some natural law Fit for a poet’s verse. I saw some common fate to lure, to tempt; (No mortal of the ages is exempt) Some notable disaster to the house Wherein such piety and love abide; I saw some hateful spouse Carry away the bride. That…
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CONTENTS PROLOGUE—SIN: AN ODE THE MOTHER’s TRAGEDY THE FaTAL Force THE SUMMIT OF THE AMOROUS MOUNTAIN THE MOTHER AT THE SABBATH THE BRIDEGROOM . THE CoURSE OF TRUE LOVE MADONNA OF THE GOLDEN EYEs . CONVENTIONAL WICKEDNESS . Mors JANUA AMORIS SIDONIA THE SORCERESS THE WHORE IN HEAVEN THE LesBiaN HELL THE REAPER . . THE Lorp’s Day THE GROWTH OF Gop . Love’s WISDOM PAGE vil 30 66 67 70 73 75 79 80 84 85 9° 94 97 98 102
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THE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY 19 CORA. All is too true—my own philosophy Mars my world’s wisdom. (Suddenly.) Can you tell me why I loved you as a child, and why I dare Now take your head between my hands and kiss Your forehead with these shameful lips of mine, These harlot lips, and kiss you unashamed ? ULRIC. Strange are these words, and this emotion strange! CORA. Strange is the truth, and deadly as an asp. ULRIC. Wear me no more with this anxiety. CORA. How can I speak? For this will ruin us. ULRIC. Unspoken, I demand thy heart of thee. CORA. My hear…
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20 THE MOTHER’S TRAGEDY CORA. This shaft is aimed even against thy life. ULRIC. What is my life without the love of thee ? CORA. I hate each word as I do hate the devil. ULRIC. I, each evasion. Iam bound a slave To this wild passion. It will eat me up. CORA. You cannot guess the horror that you speak. I tell you, if I know your golden heart, This detestation of yourself shall cry The cry of Edipus—“ I have profaned——” ULRIC. What sphinx more cruel? What new C:dipus ? You riddle, Cora, and it breaks my heart. [He sinks exhausted. (Rallying.) By …
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24 THE MOTHER’S TRAGEDY ULRIC. Believe me, I am nervous and distraught. You know me, how excitable I am. A moment, and you see me calm again. Come, Cora, do not frighten Madeline! [ He vatses her to lead her from the room. CORA. Where would you lead me? I am blind with tears. ULRIC. I have no tears. Mine eyes are hard and cold As my intention. Help me, Madeline. CORA. God will avenge me bitterly on you If you stretch hand to aid this infamy. ULRIC. You shall not wreck her life. Be silent now! Believe me, it 1s nothing, Madeline! She often falls…
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THE MOTHER’S TRAGEDY 29 ULRIC. So perish the Queen’s enemies! Well, little lover, have I done it well ? Cora, my sweetheart, we are happy now To think our troubles should be ended so In perfect love and—I am feeling ill [CORA recovers her mental balance. CORA. A blood-grey vapour and a scorpion steam To poison the unrighteous life of God! [ULRIC looks on in a completely dazed manner, uncomprehending. CORA Zakes razor and puts tt in his hand. Kill yourself. ULRIC, smiling, as tf with some divine and ineffable joy, draws the razor across his thro…
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THE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY You are not earthly. I have often thought The Virgin has some special care for you, And given of her beauty and her peace A special dower. Your thoughts are ever pure; Your soul in sweet communion with God! Why, you are crying ? CORA. You say this to me? O could you look within a magic glass, Holding my hand, such sights would come to you Beyond your knowledge—aye, beyond belief ! I am no saintly virgin wrapped in prayer, Nor is my life one river of clear water Drawn from the wells of God. You foolish child! My love for you…
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THE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY 21 ULRIC. Stop! stop! I did not hear you. O my God! What agony is this? What have I done To earn this infamy? Or rather, Thou, What have I not done? Have Thou pity yet; Sustain me in this vile extremity! [He prays silently. CORA, watching him. How wonderful! He will abide the shock. Death and mute horror fight within his face Against a will made masterful to Fate. ULRIC razses his eyes and lifts hts arm in act to strike. Then I detest you! Mother! Treacherous! Vile as the worm that battens on the dead! CORA. Ulric! He’s mad…
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28 THE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY MADELINE. O Heart of Jesus! Thou art bleeding still ! This was Thy true disciple. Leave her not, Sweet Jesus, in this madness. Who is this ? [Enter ULRIC; he carries a razor. ULRIC. I have a lovely bride at last, my dear! A phantom with intolerable eyes Came close and whispered: I am Wisdom’s self, Thy spouse from everlasting. Mortal king Of my immortal self, I claim thy love! So, we are wedded close. Justice demands The punishment of this accurséd one, Originator of the cruel crimes My mother-mistress carried to their c…
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THE MOTHER’S TRAGEDY 13 ULRIC. My Cora! old! But urgently a word Came of some purpose. - I am half afraid To hear it—and yourself! Reluctance sits Doggéd against the will to speak. Dear friend, Let us sit close and whisper. GORA. Listen, then! You are grown man: young men seek happiness. Is there one joy your soul hath never felt ? One pure sweet passion ? ULRIC. Sweet! you speak of love! You must have guessed I meant to question you, And smoothed the passage to my modesty. CORA, with bitter sorrow at her heart. You make me very glad. Yes, yes,…
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12 THE MOTHER’S TRAGEDY Majestic fires! Before the throne of God Deep silence waits the lifting of the rod, The moving nod. Silence, reflected thence, still and intense, into the firmament; Such silence as befits the event. Re-enter CORA. CORA. This is the hour, O child whom I have loved With love more tender than a mother’s love, Being thy friend; this moment have I sought, Awaiting always the propitious time, To speak some purpose grown more definite Than is our wont. We spent the honey days In gentle intercourse: high souls have stood Watchi…