Tale of Archais

52 THE TALE OF ARCHAIS Fair children in a world diviner far Than that unspeakable desirous star Like a blue diamond flaming in the void, Jewelled with satellite and asteroid, Where our desire is welcome. Yea, the night Holds in her bosom such a world of light As in this sick sad Earth would consume man With its quick blaze of truth. Thy bitter ban, Zeus, shall most utterly be made to cease. We must fight Fate and conquer it. Our peace, Our passion, is the silent answer given To the importunate questioning of heaven. Thou art supreme, my king, and I in thee ; We have life hard by its chill throat, to choke Its petty gasping pleasures, and to see The ancient altars with new incense smoke : We are supreme to watch the universe Waiting to crash together at the curse Of God let drop upon it like the light, In one sharp agony of glory, spent Through the thick misty æther, when the night Slips her loose robe from sea and continent. Calm, and suspiring thinner air then these, We are alone to linger at our ease