Konx Om Pax

THE STONE OF THE PHILOSOPHERS 93 —Christ and the Church, and that stuff—faughl—I should certainly have thought he was trying to palm off his purulence under the guise of religion. An Oriental Kensitl cried the scholar. Just so, and the pious prurient would buy it and taboo “Dolores,” added Arthur Gray. Well, judge thisl concluded Basil. It’s a pretty free adaptation from the Arabic—or what passes for Arabic in Marocco! he con temptuously added. And diving into his shooting-jacket, he produced and read: INSPIRATION O DESERT sand! how still and prone the large-eyed boy upon thy breast Lies in E1 Maghrab’ in the West, and makes his low luxurious moan! How still the stars that watch above! how still his lever, lapsed for joy To death upon the dying boy, the boy dissolved and lost in love! Even as a serpent in the grass their passion stole upon them there Within the warm ambrosial air, the intoxicating midnight mass. The pale boy lifted high the cup; the swarthy priest insanely poured That utmost unction of the Lord, that only Gods might drink it up. Wherefore indeed the holy Jinn that have embraced “ addin Islam ” Arose from their colossal calm, and smote the paramours of sin. Shrieking they fled, and all was still; the perfume of the place was spilt Even on the domes of ivory gilt that soar on Allah’s holy hill. I saw the threescore iron kings smite thrice upon the Burning Throne Till Mecca’s black enchaunted stone resolved the rapture of their wings. The proud Emirs bowed low before the awful fervour of the wind