Collected Works (Vol. I)

ACELDAMA, A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS IN. A PHILOSOPHICAL POEM. 1898. [The poems collected in Volume I. comprise the whole of the first period of Crowley’s life ; namely, that of spiritual and mystic enthusiasm. to class them as Juvenilia. to 1897 have been sedulously sought out and ACELDAMA. '‘T contemplate myself in that dim sphere Whose hollow centre I am standing at With burning eyes intent to penetrate The black circumference, and find out Ged.” ‘Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”--S‘vr. JOHN xil, 24, 25. Ir was a windy night, that memorable seventh night of December, when this philosophy was born in me. How the grave old Professor! wondered at my ravings! I had called at his house, for he was a valued friend of mine, and I felt strange thoughts and emotions shake within me. Ah! how I raved! I called to him to trample me, he would not. We passed together into the stormy night. | was on horseback, how | galloped round him in my phrenzy, till he became the prey of a real physical fear! How I shrieked out I] know not what strange words! And the poor good old man tried all he could to calm me; he thought I was mad! The fool! I was in the death struggle with self: God and Satan fought for my soul those three long hours. God conquered—now I have only one doubt left—which of the twain was God? I aspire ! ‘* And falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out... . Insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say—the field of blood.”-—.ACTS i. 18, T9. Howbeit, ; The poet himself would be inclined A few other early poems appear in ‘‘ Oracles,” Vol. IL, chosen as illustrative of the progress of his art. The great bulk of the early MSS. from 1887 destroyed. They were very voluminous.| DEDICATION. i DIvINE PHILOSOPHER !? Dear Friend !? Lover and Lord !* accept the verse That marches like a sombre hearse, Bearing Truth’s coffin, to the end. Let man’s distorted worships blend In this, the worthier and the worse, And penetrate the primal curse. Alas! They will not comprehend. Accept this gospel of disease In wanton words proclanned, receive The biood-wrought chaplet that J weave, Take me, and with thine infamies Mingle my shame, and on my breast Let thy desire achicve the rest. ACELDAMA, ‘«Six months and | sit still and hold In two cold palms her cold two feet; , Her hair, half grey half ruined vold, | Thrills me and burns me in kissing it. _ Love bites and stings me through to see Her keen face made of sunken bones, Her worn-out eyelids madden me, ‘That were shot through with purple once.” SWINBURNE, “Phe Leper,” Poems and Ballads, 1866, 1 Von Eckartshausen. * 2 An adept who was in correspondence with 1C.G. Lamb, Demonstrator of Engineering; the author. at Cambridge. VOI. I. 3 Christ.