AMBERGRIS 
93 
So thou, so I !  The stone unhewn, 
Foursquare, the sphere of human hands immune, 
Was not yet chosen for the corner-piece 
And keystone of the Royal Arch of Sex ; 
Unsolved the ultimate x ; 
The virginal breeding breeze 
Was yet of either unstirred ; 
Unspoken the Great Word. 
 
7.  Then on a sudden, we knew.  From deep to deep 
Reverberating, lightning unto lightning 
Across the sundering brightening 
Abyss of sorrow’s sleep, 
There shone the sword of love, and struck, and clove 
The intolerable veil, 
The woven chain of mail 
Prudence self-called, and folly known to who 
May know.  Then, O sweet drop of dew, 
Thy limpid light rolled over and was lost 
In mine, and mine is thine. 
Peace, ye who praise !  ye but disturb the shrine ! 
This voice is evil over against the peace 
Here in the West, the holiest.  Shaken and crossed. 
The threads Lachesis wove fell from her hands. 
The pale divided strands 
Were taken by thy master-hand, Eros ! 
Her evil thinkings cease, 
Thy miracles begin. 
Eros !  Eros !—Be silent !  It is sin 
Thus to invoke the oracles of order 
Their iron gates to unclose. 
The gross, inhospitable warder 
Of Love’s green garden of spice is well awake. 
Hell hath enough of Her three-headed hound ; 
But Love’s severer bound 
Knows for His watcher a more fearful shape, 
A formidable ape 
Skilled by lack art to mock the Gods profound 
In their abyss of under ground.