Collected Works (Vol. I)

TANNHAUSER 227 ‘This were my guerdon: to fade utterly Into the rose-heart of that sanguine vase, And lose my purpose in its silent sea, And lose my life, and find my life, and pass Up to the sea that is as molten glass. I mind me of that old Egyptian, Met where Aurora streamed her rainbow hair, Who called me from the quest. man ! A crown of light scintillant in the air Shone over him: he bade me not despair. An holy ‘* The Blouu of the Osiris !”” was his word : (Meaning the Christ?) ‘‘The life, the tears, the tomb ! ‘¢The Love of Isis is its name!” (I heard This for the love of Mary.) In her womb Brews the Elixir, and the roses bloom. For the Three Maries (so he said) were One: Three aspects of the mystic spouse of God, Isis! This pagan! ‘‘ Look towards the Sun”? (Quoth he), ‘‘and seek a winepress to be trod; ‘With Beauty girdled, garlanded, and shod. ‘* Thus,” riddled he, ‘‘ thy heart shall know its Peace !” Let be! I ride upon the sand instead, Look to the Cross, whereon I take mine ease ! Let be! Just so the Roman soldier said. Esaias?2 He is dead—as I am dead ! What was his symbol and his riddle’s key? Go, seek the stars and count them and explore ! Go, sift the sands beyond a starless sea! So, find an answer where the dismal shore Of time beats back eternity! No more! 1 7,e., Tiphereth, the Sphere of Beauty. 2 See Mark xv. 35, 36 for the obscure allu- sions, Let me ride on more hastily than this, That so my body may be tired of me, And fling me to the old forgetful kiss, Sleep’s, when my mind goes, riderless and free, Into some corner of eternity. Alas! that mind returns from its abode With newer problems, fiercer thoughts! But stay ! Suppose it came not? It must be with God !— a Then this dull house of gold and iron and clay Is happy also—’tis an easy way ! So easy, I am fearful of mishap. Some fatal argument the God must find That linked us first. The dice are in His lap— Let Him decide in His imperial mind ! My choice ; to see entirely—and be blind! Yet I bethink me of that holy man, (Pagan albeit) my stirrup’s wisdom-share: ‘‘Learn this from Thothmes the Egyptian. ‘* Use only in thine uttermost despair !” He whispered me a Word.! ‘Beware! Beware ! ‘“ Two voices are there in the sullen sea’; ‘* Two functions hath the inevitable fire ; ‘‘ Earthquake hath earth, and yet fertility: ‘* See to thy purpose, and thy set desire! ‘ Else, dire the fate—the ultimation dire !” Vague threats and foolish words! Quite meaningless The empty sounds he muttered in mine ear. Why should their silly mystery impress My thoughtful forehead with the lines of fear? (This riding saps my courage as my cheer.) 1 [Tt is a tradition of magic that all words have a double effect ; an upright, and an.averse. See the shadow of a devil’s head cast by the fingers raised in blessing as figured in Eliphaz Levi's ‘‘ Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie” and elsewhere. Upon this tradition the whole play hangs.