Collected Works (Vol. III)

86 GARGOYLES NIV. Simple to say ; to do complex ! That we this higher type of man May surely generate, o’ nights Our lesser brains we vainly vex. Our knowledge lacks ; we miss the plan. Fools hope our luck will set to rights Our skill that’s baulked. Yet now we know At least the way we wish to go. XV. This task assume! Colossal mind And toil transcending, concentrate Not on the metaphysic wild ; Not on the deserts vast and blind Of dark Religion; not on Fate, The barren ocean; but the Child Shows us a beacon in the night ; A lens to lure and lend the light. XVI. Wisdom and Love, intenser glow ! Beauty and Strength, increase and burn ! Be brothers to the law of life ! Things as they are—their nature know! Act! Nor for faith nor folly turn ! The hour is nigh when man and wife, Knowing, shall worship face to face, Beget and bear the royal race. THE WHITE CAT. HAIL, sweet my sister! hail, adulterous spouse, Gilded with passionate pomp, and gay with guilt: Rioting, rioting in the dreary house With blood and wine and roses splashed and spilt About thy dabbling feet, and aching jaws Whose tongue licks mine, twin asps like moons that curl, Red moons of blood! claws, Like a white swan raping a jet-black girl, Whose catlike body Mine, with hysteric laughter! O white cat! QO windy star blown sideways up the sky ! Twin cat, twin star, ’lis night; the owl and bat Ifoot, scream; ‘tis us they call--to love or (ie. Twin cat, our broomsticks wait: we’ll fly afar ! We'll blaze about the unlighted sky, twin star ! ALI AND HASSAN, FROM TIT ALF LAYLAIL WA LAYLALL, Att bade Hassan to his house to sup. They ate, passed round the full forbidden cup, Till, in an interval of dance and song, Hassan forgot his manners—loud and long. Struck with confusion, forth he fares, takes ship To utmost Ind and far-off Serendip. Full forty years he there abides: at last, Rich and respected, he contemns the past :— ‘Tf I declare myself, there’s hope, I wot, Hassan’s remembered, and his fault forgot !—” Determines to revisit home. Sweet airs Accomplishing the voyage, he repairs Unto the barber. ‘* Tell me of the state! Haroun still holds the royal Caliphate ?” ‘* Nay,” said the barber, ‘‘ long ago he passed Where all delights are ’stinguished at the last, And all good things forgotten, wallahy ! He died—aha now !—no—yes—let me see! Ten years, three months, four days, as I’m a sinner, Since Hassan let the—shame dinner.” at Ali’s AL MALIK. A GHAZAL OF AL QAHAR. AL MALIK the magnificent Was sitting in his silken tent. But when he saw the boy Habib 1 wis his colour came and went.