Collected Works (Vol. III)

106 GARGOYLES He had starved himself on earth in hope In heaven to banquet with the Pope, With God and Christ on either hand And all the angels’ choral band Playing sweet music. O the fool To treat earth as a baby’s school ! In hell one lives as one is wont. Punch said to would-be Don’t ! Might I advise the same to those Shapeless and senseless embryos Who seek to live? Yes, God is wise Enough to set a snare for lies As well as truths. The soul content On earth in his own element Will be content from flesh released. But he who strives to be a beast Or strives to be a god; would gain Long bliss for a few hours of pain, Or struggles for no matter what, Continues. I would rather not. Vv. That puzzle’s grief I did not share Because on earth J did not care. I met a grave philosopher— *Had sought most nobly not to err Probing God’s Nature. See his lobes Swell with hell’s torment! Still he probes The same fool’s problem. I explain The simple state of things in vain. He chose to study God, and die in it. He made his bed, and he must lie in it. VI. After my dinner I debate (Urged to the task by habit’s Fate) The project of a poisoning. In hell one finds that everything Is easy. Poison to my hand ; A cunning potion cool and bland Fit to administer the draught :— How like old times! I nodded, laughed, Poisoned my neighbour, a young girl Sent here for marrying an earl. Of course she did not die. But then On earth I never killed my men ; bridegrooms : They only die whom one forgets. Remember that each action sets Its mark still deeper in the mind ! VII. O piteous lot of humankind Whose history repeats itself ! Dinner is cleared by gnome and elf; I pay the bill, take Baal’s receipt, And stroll off smoking. Soon I meet The fairest foulest whore that burns. High feeding pays: desire returns. She willing (for a copper rin)! For any ecstasy of sin Gaily embraces me. A room Starts up in the half-light, half-gloom, Perfectly purposed for debauch. In mirrors shines a wicked nautch, And on the floor Hawaian belles Rave in a hula-hula?—Hell’s ! Fragonard, Rops, had lined the walls With wild indecent bacchanals, And bawdy photographs attest The Devil’s taste to be the best. VITl. I did not sleep at all: but she :— O face of deathless agony ! O torture of hell’s worm, to wrest From peace that miserable breast ! Me, me she strikes in mid-delight Staggered and shattered at the sight, The moment that she slept. I laughed Thereat : the bow! I idly quaffed Was nectar : she amused me, so. You see, my friend, I did not know. I also slept at morn. Then, then, A low voice whispered in the den: ‘‘Lucky young fellow! Brave and clever! This sort of thing goes on for ever.” IX. On earth I dreaded impotence, Age, death. You see, I had no sense. Best be an old man ere you die ; They wish insensibility, 1 Japanese coin worth a small portion of a penny. 2 The indecent dance of the South Seas.