to the Sphinx With raven quills in purple inks,... Then send the boy to fetch more drinks. EPILOGUE Than farthest stars more distant, A mile more, A mile more, A voice cries on insistent: "You may smile more if you will;  "You may sing too and spring too; But numb at last And dumb at last, Whatever port you cling to, You must come at last to a hill.  "And never a man you'll find there To take your hand And shake your hand; But when you go behind there You must make your hand a sword  "To fence with a foeman swarthy, And swink there Nor shrink there, Though cowardly and worthy Must drink there one reward." 

Cleave you the woods and pass the plain,

The trees will end, the grass will wane,

A tawny desert midmost set,

Saving at night some vampires flit

And oily pools, swarm insects fat

Things that the traveller shudders at,

Into the world of outer light,

Outward will dash in sudden flight;

A purulent place more vile than all,

Rotten and black, with coils acrawl,

The mere alive with slimy worms,

And murders and repulsive forms

A mile more,

A mile more,

But numb at last

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