The Winged Beetle

75 THE GOD AND THE GIRL (Imitated from the Greek of Misander) THERE was a God (well-skilled of touch and tongue) For all his wisdom that was yet babe-young. He took the gilded dung called womanhood, And fed it daily with his heart’s best blood. With sun and moon he worked by day and night, Wedding the greater and the lesser light. So sought he to excite that leprous mould Even to the pure, the vegetable gold. He licked it over with his silver tongue Sang golden songs to the disdainful dung. Regenerating starlight of the vault He called ; and sulphur, mercury, and salt. Long years he laboured at the cucurbite : Long years he thrilled the alembic with his light. Long years he travailed at the athanor : Inert the dung was as it was before.