Collected Works (Vol. II)

156 THE SWORD OF - SONG Mysticism does not need Christ. Krishna will serve, or the Carpenter. The Sacred Walrus. God, some Vestments, and Lady Wim- borne. Fearful aspect of John ili, 16. Universalism. Will God get the bara* slam? Eternal life. Divergent views of its desirability. Buddhist idea. Dogma of Belief. - But if you drink your mystic fill * Great slam-—a term of Bridge-Whist. + John iii, 18, ‘‘ He that believeth not is condemned already.”’ Under the good tree Igdrasil © Where is at all your use for Christ? Hath Krishna not at all sufficed? I hereby guarantee to pull A faith as quaint and beautiful As much attractive to an ass, And setting reason at defiance, As Zionism, Christian Science, Or Ladies’ League, ® ‘‘ Keep off the Grass !”’ From “ Alice through the Looking-Glass.” Hence I account no promise worse, Fail to conceive a fiercer curse Than John’s third chapter (sixteenth verse), But now (you say) broad-minded folk Think that those words the Master spoke Should save all men at last. But mind! The text says nothing of the kind! Read the next verses ! t Then—one-third Of all humanity are steady In a belief in Buddha’s word, Possess eternal life already, And shun delights, laborious days Of labour living (Milton’s phrase) In strenuous purpose to—? to cease ! “A fig for God’s eternal peace ! True peace is to annihilate The chain of causes men call Fate, So that no Sattva ®& may renew Once death has run life’s shuttle through.” (Their sages put it somewhat thus) What’s fun to them is death to us! That’s clear at least. But never mind! Call them idolaters and blind! | We'll talk of Christ. As Shelley sang, ‘“‘ Shall an eternal issue hang 460 465 470 480 490 495 Bara is Hindustani for great.