The Equinox (Volume I, Number X)

168 THE EQUINOX And the voice of the world swept ever over me, And I gave answer: Come thou forth, my star! Oh! be it mine to see thy chariot flee! Oh! come thou in thine own triumphal car ! And at the naming of the secret Name Thou camest unto me, Istar! Istar! Istar! thou flaming rose-bud of the world! Istar! I call thee by thy secret Name! Istar| the snake within the red Rose curled, Come in thy triumph! Come thou in thy shame All uncontaminate—a lambent flame. Lick, lick the sores upon me!* ah! thy name Hath burned me through : I scorch within thy star! Drain me to death, and slay me with thy flame! Death and destruction! O Istar! Istar! Palace of dream! Red rose-leaves subtly hurled At the chariot-wheels of Time! O charioteer, Who drivest on the molten car o' the world Over desire, and love, and hope and fear, Hath not the name of the goddess on thine ear Fallen, and art thou still abashed with shame? Apollo! Apollo! Apollo! I name the Name, And the silver of the moon grows gold and clear; The sun-dawn breaks in everlasting flame, Shaming desire, and burning up the fear Of the world! O thou! I call thee by thy name Most secret! Yea! I smite the age-long year Of man’s deliverance! And thy steeds I tame With the word of the sun-god! And the molten bar * Merci, nor.