The Star in the West

THE CUP 183 downwards . o , Christians ! you daily crucify your Saviour , hourly you drive the rusty nails through His outstretched hands , O “ maudite race !” “ WHOSE GOD IS THEIR BELLY , WHOSE GLORY IS IN THEIR SHAME , WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS .” Temptation is the Armourer who tries the blade, and Resistance the quality of the steel. How many of the well -fed will bear the test of old Andrea ? How many would prove themselves a worthy blade to Ferrara ? Sadness stares around us with hollow tear -drowned eyes , and the days of our joys are wet with the weep ing of the night of sorrow . On , on we plod , through life's by -ways and alleys , through mud and slime , onward we must go if we are ever to win the gates of Wisdom and Understanding and attain the Kingdom of the Holy Crown . “ Self ” we must slay , it is the great sin of life : “ The scorpion kisses , and the stings of sin , cling hard within . " 2 The small still voice calls to us , yet we must overcome it , in its conquest alone lies our salvation . “ Truth ” is our St. George , whose sword is as keen as his of “ The Nameless Quest ," and “ Self ” the dragon which we must slay : Central , supreme , most formidable , Night Gathered its garments , drew itself apart ; Gaunt limbs appear athwart the coprolite , Veil the deep agony , display the heart ; Even as a gloomy sea , Wherein dead fishes be , Poisonous things , nameless ; the eightfold Fear , Misshapen crab and worm , The intolerable sperm , Lewd dragons , slime - built . Stagnant , the foul mere Crawled , moved , gave tongue , 1 Songs of the Spirit , vol . i, p . 50 . 2 Ibid . vol . i, p . 54 .