178
THE STAR IN THE WEST
Dividuality
the curse of existence must vanish , and
it can only vanish
through
the melting of the discord
ant ego into
the
harmonious Whole.
If we
set
our
selves
aside
on
a
pillar
of
purity
,
we are but dualizing
existence
,
the lees
of
the wine must
be
quaffed
in
the
same cup
as
the wine itself
,
there
is
no
other choice
:
XIV
.
Thou must
breathe
in
all
poisons
;
for thy meat
,
Poison
;
for
drink
,
still poison
;
for thy kiss
,
serpent's lips
!
...
Then the verse continues
,
and we see
if
we may
so
ex
press
it,
the great nuptials with
the Lords
of
Lust
:
An agony
is
this
That sweats out venom
;
thy clenched
hands
,
thy feet
Ooze blood
,
thine
eyes weep blood
;
thine anguish
is
More keen
than
death
.
At
last
—
there
is
no
deeper
vault
of
hell
beneath
!
Then
comes
the great reward
.
We have travelled
knee
deep through
the mire
of
life
,
yet
if
our souls
be
spotless
our
abasement
,
“
...
bringeth
back
the
sheaves
”
XV
.
Of golden corn
of
exaltation
,
With strange intoxications
mad and manifold
.
It
is
this curious phase
,
yearning
towards Perfection
,
which forms the great stumbling
-
block
to
all progress
in
the life
of
a
soul
.
Priestcraft has drawn
a
definite line
between
Vice and Virtue
;
it
has
hedged itself round
with chastity
,
veracity
,
honesty
,
and modesty
,
and set
itself apart
to
wage
an
incessant war
on
vice
,
lechery
,
mendacity
,
immodesty
,
etc.
,
etc.
And what has been
the
result
of
this duality
?
The very fort
of
virtuous
self
-
sufficiency
,
the very citadel
of
chaste
-
exclusive