THE CUP
181
XXIV .
An ecstasy to which no life responds
,
Is the enormous secret I have
learned
:
When self-denial's furnace - flame has burned
Through
love , and
all
the agonizing
bonds
That hold the soul within
its
shell are turned
To water weak
;
Then may desires obtain the cypress crown they seek
.
It
is
only when we lose the cherished present
,
that
it
looms
up
through
the
mist
of
time
as
a
glorious
past
;
and
it
is
only when
we
have
lost
the body
of
corruption
,
that
its
soul rises sublime purifying
all
;
our personality purified
by
death
the great Time Soul
lies cradled
in
our own
as
the four lips
of
two lovers
are
in
their
bridal
kiss
.
Alone
by
trampling
life's
grapes
do
we
gain
the
vintage
of
the
Soul
,
the
Medean draught
of
rejuvenescence
.
The
whole
of
this wonderful
philosophy
the
poet
sums
up
in
the following
two verses
of
extraordinary
and extravagant
power
:
XXVIII
.
Aubrey attained
in
sleep
when
he
dreamt this
Wonderful dream
of
women
,
tender child
And harlot
,
naked
all
,
in
thousands piled
On one hot writhing
heap
,
his shameful
kiss
To shudder through them
,
with lithe limbs defiled
To wade
,
to
dip
Down through the mass
,
caressed
by
every purple
lip
.
XXIX
.
Choked with their reek and fume
and bitter sweat
His body perishes
;
his life
is
drained
;
The last sweet
drop
of
nectar has not stained
Another life
;
his lips and limbs are wet
With
death
-
dews
!
Ha
!
The painter has attaine
As high
a
meed
As his who first begot
sweet
music
on
a
reed
.