I 2
THE STAR IN THE WEST
breaks
a primal
sea gemmed with
all
the
colours
of
the opal
,
deepening into
a
limitless amethyst
,
darkens
,
and the sun
goes out
.
The spangled pall
of
Night
is
drawn
,
and the lull
of
death
is
o'er
us
;
but no
,
hark
!
the distant boom
of
a
beetle
is
carried across the still
glowing
welkin
,
it
is
the signal drum announcing
the
marriage
of
Night
and
Day
.
The
crescent
moon
rises
,
diaphanous
and
fair
,
and
the world wakes
to
a
chant
:
DIONYSUS
I
bring
ye
wine from above
,
From the vats
of
the storied sun
;
For every
one
of
ye
love
,
And life for every one
.
Ye shall dance on hill and
level
;
Ye shall sing
in
hollows and height
In
the festal mystical revel
,
The rapturous Bacchanal rite
!
The rocks and trees are yours
,
And the waters
under the hill
,
By the might
of
that which endures
,
The holy heaven
of
will
!
I
kindle
a
flame like
a
torrent
To rush
from
star
to
star
;
Your hair
as
a
comet's
horrent
,
Ye shall see things
as
they are
!
I
lift the mask of matter
;
I
open the heart
of
man
;
For
I
am
of
force
to
shatter
The cast that hideth -Pan
!
Your loves shall lap
up
slaughter
,
And dabbled with roses of blood
Each desperate
darling daughter
Shall swim
in
the fervid flood
.
I
bring
ye
laughter and tears
,
The kisses that foam and bleed
,
The joys
of
a
million years
,
The flowers that bear no seed
.
My life
is
bitter and sterile
,
Its flame
is
a
wandering star
.