40 
THE GARDEN OF JANUS 
 
 
XVII 
 
Then did I build an altar on the shore 
 Of oyster-shells, and ringed it round 
With star-fish.  Thither a green flame I bore 
 Of phosphor foam, and strewed the ground 
With dew-drops, children of my wand, whose core 
 Was trembling steel 
Electric that made spin the universal Wheel. 
 
XVIII 
 
With that a goat came running from the cave 
 That lurked below the tall white cliff. 
Thy name !  cried I.  The answer that he gave 
 Was but one tempest-whisper—“ If ! ” 
Ah, then !  his tongue to his black palate clave ;   
 For on Soul’s curtain 
Is written this one certainty that naught is certain !   
 
XIX 
 
So then I caught that goat up in a kiss, 
 And cried Io Pan !  Io Pan !  Io Pan !   
Then all this body’s wealth of ambergris 
 (Narcissus-scented flesh of man !) 
I burnt before him in the sacrifice ; 
 For he was sure— 
Being the Doubt of Things, the one thing to endure !   
 
XX 
 
Wherefore, when madness took him at the end, 
 He, doubt-goat, slew the goat of doubt ;