96 
ASSUMPTA CANIDIA 
 
A million million voices roared aloud ! 
A million million sabres flashed between ! 
Flamed the vast falchion !  Fiery Cherubin 
Flung me astounded to the mist and cloud. 
A stone, flung downward through eternal space, 
I dropped.  What bitter curses and despair 
Rang through wide aether !  How the trumpet blare 
Cursed back at me !  Thou canst not see His Face ! 
Equal and Spouse ?  Bring forth the Virgin Dower, 
Eternal Wisdom and Eternal Power ! 
 
I woke !  and in a well’s untroubled pool 
I saw my face—and I was ugly now ! 
Blood-spattered ebony eyelash and white brow ! 
Blood on my lips, and hair, and breast !  “ Thou fool ! ” 
A horrid torture in my heart—and then 
I licked my lips :  the tigress tasted blood. 
My changèd features—wash them in the flood 
Of murder !  This is power over men 
And angels.  I will lift the twisted rod, 
And make my power as the power of God ! 
 
I made my beauty as it was before. 
I learned strange secrets ; by my love and skill 
I bent creation to my wanded will. 
I tuned the stars, I bound the bitter shore 
Beyond the Pleiads :  until the Universe 
Moved at my mantra :  Heaven and Hell obeyed ; 
Creation at my orders stayed or swayed. 
“ Take back,” I cried, “ the mockery of a curse ! ”