THE RITE OF MARS
I. Was the Lord displeased against the Rivers?
Was thine anger kindled against the Rivers?
Was thy wrath kindled against the Sea?
That thou didst ride upon thy Horses and thy Chariots of Salvation?
2. The Mountains saw thee and they trembled.
The deluge of Water
rolled by: the Deep uttered his Voice; and lifted up his hands on high,
3, The Sun and the Moon stood still in their habitations.
At the light of thine arrows they went, at the shaking of thy glittering
spear
!
4. Thou didst march through the Land in thine indignation:
thou didst
thresh the Heathen in thine anger.
54 Thou didst march through the sea with thine Horses: through the Depth
of the Mighty Waters!
[CAPRICORNUS starts up wildly and dances the dance of
MARS]
[CAPRICORNUSfalls !(%/7007 near hisplace.
SOR. SCORPIO. Brother Aries, let us crown the Master of
Battles.
[They advance to altar.
SOR.
SCORPIO takes crown and
crowns
MARS, all PROBATIONERS joining in chant as
before,]
BRO. MARS. May Victory crown your arms
!
PROBATIONERS, Let us join battle!
We conquer!
We
conquer.
[CAPRICORNUS07204711/?ששמand threm‘ens them, mailing :
My head is split.
The crashing axe
Of the agony of things shears through
The stupid skull: out spurt the brains.
The universe revolves, then cracks,
Then roars in dissolution due;
And I am counting up the gains
And losses of a life afire
With dust of thought and dulled desire.
53