The Vision and the Voice

THE VISION AND THE VOICE Hil Behold the lion-child swimmeth (in the heaven) And the moon reeleth:— (It is) Thou! (It is) Thou! (It is) Thou! Triumph; the Will stealeth away (like a thief), The Strong Will that staggered Before Ra Hoor Khuit!—Hadit!—Nuit! IV To the God OAI Be praise In the end and the beginning! And may none fall Who Will attain The Sword, the Balances, the Crown! And that which thou hearest is but the dropping of the dew from my limbs, for I dance in the night, naked upon the grass, in shadowy places, by running streams. Many are they who have loved the nymphs of the woods, and of the wells, and of the fountains, and of the hills. And of these some were nympholept. For it was not a nymph, but I myself that walked upon the earth taking my pleasure. So also there were many images of Pan, and men adored them, and as a beautiful god he made their olives bear double and their vines increase; but some were slain by the god, for it was I that had woven the garlands about him. Now cometh a song. So sweet is this song that no one could resist it. For in it is all the passionate ache of the moonlight, and the great hunger of the sea, and the terror of desolate places,—all things that lure men to the unattainable. 163