Thelema ScholarTHE ALEISTER CROWLEY COLLECTION
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1902 · PDF PAGE 122

Tannhäuser

… But, after all these Folk of Fear are driven Before the avenging levin That rives the opening skies, Behold that Formless and that Holy Flame That hath no name ; That Fire that darts and flashes, writhes and creeps Snake-wise in royal robe, Wound round that vanished glory of the globe. Unto that sky beyond the starry deeps, Beyond the Toils of Time — then formulate In thine own mind, luminous, concentrate, The Lion of the Light, a child that stands On the vast shoulders of the Steed of God : Or winged, or shooting flying shafts, or shod With t…

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1902 · PDF PAGE 109

Tannhäuser

A flickering light, a formless triple flame, The self-begotten, the impassive shrine. The seat of Heaven's archipelagoes ; Yet lighted not the glory virhence it came, Nor shone upon the surface of the sea. Time, and the Great One, and the Nameless Name, Held in their grip the child, Eternity. Silence and Darkness in their womb withheld That spiritual fire, and brooded still : Nature and Time, their soleness undispelled. Ever awaiting the eternal Will. And Law was unbegotten : uttermost Night Dwelt, inaccessible to sound and sight ; Shielded fro…

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1902 · PDF PAGE 140

Tannhäuser

Out flames the miracle of life and love ! Out, out the lights ! Flame, flame, the rushing storm ! Darkness and death, and glory in my soul ! Swept, swept away are pope and cardinal, Palace and city ! There I lay beneath The golden roof of the eternal stars, Borne up on some irremeable sea That glowed with most internal brilliance ; Borne up, borne up by hands invisible Into a firmament of secret light Manifest, open, permeating me ! Then, then, I cried upon the mystic Word ! (That once begot in me the Venusberg) And lo ! that light was darkness…

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1902 · PDF PAGE 104

Tannhäuser

…y. \Sings. He is the equal of the gods, my queen. He crowned and chosen out of men, Who sits beside thee, sees Love's laughing ecstasies Flame in thy face, and alter then To the low light of passion dimly seen In shaded woods and dells, Love's wide demesne. I02

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1902 · PDF PAGE 107

Tannhäuser

…love ? I see you sigh ! The Scythe is laid unto the Golden Grain : A note of utter unreality Usurps the strain. I sing not of that other flame of hell Wrapping with torture the delighted brow — But thou ! who knowest, and hast known, so well, Sing thou ! \Tannhduser, e7ttranced, imagines himself to be still in Venusberg. Tannhauser {aside). I have been dreaming that I left this place, Escaped with life, wooed my Elizabeth ; My dreams are always strange in Venusberg. [ Taking his harp. Sing thee again, dear lady, of our joy .•* Listen, then, lis…

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1902 · PDF PAGE 44

Tannhäuser

… sleep Pillowed in nuptial arms —so fresh and cool— (Yet in their veins I know the fire that runs Racing and maddening from the crown of flame, The monolithic core of mystical Red fury that is called a woman's heart) Sinking, I say, from the supreme embrace. The Good-night kisses ; sinking into sleep — What dreams betoken the dread solitude ? Venus. What dreams ? Ah, dreamest not of me, my knight ? Of vast caresses that include all worlds ? Of transmutation into molten steel Fusing with my intolerable gold In the red crucible of alchemy. That i…

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1902 · PDF PAGE 76

Tannhäuser

… is the eternal breath of God ; Yet on my forehead I perceive a star That shames thy beauties and thy manifold Mind with its tiny triple flame. I go! Venus. Try not the impossible. Thou knowest my power. I shall renew the charm. TannhAuser. I see a Power Above thy mockery of witchcraft. Work 74

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1902 · PDF PAGE 114

Tannhäuser

…assionate, desperate breath Ever confronting the dark gate of Death. I passed that gate ! O pitiful ! The same Mystery holds me, and the flame Of Life stands up, unbroken citadel. Beyond my sight, vague, far, intangible. Broken are will, and witchery, and prayer. Remains the life of earth, which is but hell. Destiny's web, and my immense despair. Landgrave. Your words are terrible ! We knew them true Even while you sang. But see ! the light of day ! Beauty in all things and—for you—true love ! I 12

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1902 · PDF PAGE 121

Tannhäuser

…iew that visible Image of Nature ; fatal is her name ! It fitteth not thy body to behold That living light of Hell, The unluminous, dead flame. Until that body from the crucible Hath passed, pure gold ! 119

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1902 · PDF PAGE 75

Tannhäuser

…dorable, Seductive, sombre, moving amorously. Droop the long eyelids, purple with young blood. The lazy lashes and the flowing mane. The flame of fire from head to feet of me ! K 73

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1902 · PDF PAGE 30

Tannhäuser

… thee with intolerable fire. I was song, music, passion, death, upon thy lyre — Thy lyre ! I am the Grail and I the Glory now : I am the flame and fuel of thy breast ; I am the star of God upon thy brow ; I am thy queen, enraptured and possessed. 28

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1902 · PDF PAGE 105

Tannhäuser

But me ! I burn with love ! My lips are wan ! Thy face is turned— I flame ! I melt ! I fall ! My heart is chilled and dark ; My soul's ethereal spark Is dulled for sorrow ; my despairs recall At last Thy name, O gracious Paphian, Lady of Mercy to the love of man ! Come, come, immortal, of the many thrones ! Sparrows and doves in chariot diamonded Drawn through the midmost air ! O Lady of despair, Who bound the golden helmet of Thy head ? Whose voice rings out the pitiful low tones : "Who, who hath wronged thee? And my power atones. " She who no…

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1902 · PDF PAGE 110

Tannhäuser

…f arrowy light, the dawn's first deed. Metallic showers and smoke self-glittering For many an aeon. Wild the pennons spring Of streaming flame ! Then, surging from the tide, Grew the desirable, the golden one. Separate from the sun. Now fire and air no more exult, exceed, Are balanced in the sphere. The waters wide Glow on the bosom of fixed earth ; and Need, The Lady of Beginning, also was. Thus was the firmament a vital glass. The waters as the vessel of the soul ; Thus earth, the mystic basis of the whole, Was smitten through with fire, as c…

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1902 · PDF PAGE 29

Tannhäuser

…, Thy blinding beauty, and the hght Shed from Thy shoulders, and the golden night Of mingling fire and stars and roses swart In the long flame of hair that leaps athwart, Live in each tingling gossamer ! Dread eyes ! Each flings its arrow of sharp sacrifice. Eating me up with poison ! I am hurled Far through the vaporous confines of the world With agony of sundering sense, beholding Thy mighty flower, blood-coloured death, unfolding ! Lithe limbs and supple shoulders and lips curled, Curled out to draw me to their monstrous world ! Warm breasts…

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1902 · PDF PAGE 142

Tannhäuser

…t Tannhaiiser, Rather a spark of the supreme white light That dwelt and flickered in him in old time ; That Light, I say, that hides its flame awhile To shine more fully —to redeem the world ' I say, then, " I " ; and yet it is not " I " Distinct, but " I " incorporate in All. I am, the Resurrection and the Life ! The Work is finished, and the Night rolled back ! I am the Rising Sun of Life and Light, The Glory of the Shining of the Dawn ! I am Osiris ! I the Lord of Life Triumphant over death. — O Sorrow, Sorrow, Sorrow of the World ! Heinrich…

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1902 · PDF PAGE 139

Tannhäuser

Why shakes your bosom ? Why does glory flame A crown, a cincture? What befell you there? Tannhauser. I came to Rome across the winter snows Barefoot, and through the lovely watered land Rich in the sunshine—even unto Rome. There knelt I with the other sinful folk At the great chair of Peter. Sobbed they out From full repentant hearts their menial sins, And got them peace. But 1 told brutally (Cynical phrase, contempt of self and him) My sojourn in the Venusberg ; then he Rose in his wrath, and shook the barren staff Over my head, and cried— I h…

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1902 · PDF PAGE 32

Tannhäuser

…ashes slake Their sleek and silky thirst in tears of light ! Thine eyes ! They burn me, even me ! They smite Me who am scatheless, and a flame of fire. See, in our sorrow and intense desire All worlds are caught and sealed ! The stars are taken In love's weak web, and gathered up, and shaken! Our word is mighty on the magic moon ! The sun resurges to our triple tune ! (See, it is done ! ) O chosen of the Christ ! My knight, and king, and lover, wast thou priced, A portion in the all-pervading bliss, Thou, whom I value at my ageless kiss ? 30

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