PREDECESSORS

Faëry of Sheba, idol moulded in Onyx milk-white, moon-mailed and casqued with gems; Ye gold-swathed queens of Egypt, Isis' kin, With bright god-hawks and snakes for diadems; Serene masque-music of Greek girls that bear The sacred Veil to that Athenian feast; Hypatia, casting from thine ivory chair The gods' last challenge to the godless priest; Fantastic fine Provençals wistfully Hearkening Love, the mournful lute player; Diamond ladies of that Italy When Art and Wisdom Passion's angels were— Ye give this grail (touch with no mad misprision!) Of Beauty's rose-red miracled tradition.

 

 

 

 

XL

TRANSITION

But these recoil in riddles and reserves.—  The dream's untuned. Ah! vanished chords thereof! Ah! keen divisions of the jangled nerves That strung so long the gracious lutes of love!— Hurry to sell old magian Lamps for new, Though beauty's moonlike domes dissolve and pass:  If all things change, ye would be changing too, Crazed hearts that know not your desire, alas! Still, through these wintry treasons that forswear The lovely bitter bondage of our god, Rare perennations of the soul prepare—  And Music yet shall seal the period With some new star,—with sad pure hands unveil For ransomed eyes again the gilded Grail.

 

 

 

 

XLI

 Prev. P 22/33 next