82
A DRAMA OF EXILE.
Then the Eye Divinest, from the Deepest, flaming,
On the horse-eyes feeding, shall burn out their fire:
Blind the beast shall stagger, where It overcame him,—
Meek as lamb at pasture—bloodless in desire—
Down the beast shall shiver,—slain amid the taming,—
And, by Life essential, the phantasm Death expire.
A Voice. Gabriel, thou Gabriel!
Another Voice. What wouldst thou with me?
First Voice. I heard thy voice sound in the angels' song;
And I would give thee question.
Second Voice. Question me.
First Voice. Why have I called thrice to my morning star
And had no answer? All the stars are out,
And round the earth, upon their silver lives,
Wheel out the music of the inner life,
And answer in their places. Only in vain
I cast my voice against the outer rays
Of my star, shut in light behind the sun!
No more reply than from a breaking string,
Breaking when touched. Or is she not my star?
Where is my star—my star? Have ye cast down
Her glory like my glory? Has she waxed
Mortal, like Adam? Has she learnt to hate
Like any angel?
Second Voice.She is sad for thee:
All things grow sadder to thee, one by one.
Chorus.Live, work on, O Earthy!
By the Actual's tension,
Speed the arrow worthy
Of a pure ascension.
From the low earth round you,
Beach the heights above you;
From the stripes that wound you,
Seek the loves that love you!
God's divinest burneth plain
Through the crystal diaphane
Of our loves that love you.
First Voice. Gabriel, O Gabriel!
On the horse-eyes feeding, shall burn out their fire:
Blind the beast shall stagger, where It overcame him,—
Meek as lamb at pasture—bloodless in desire—
Down the beast shall shiver,—slain amid the taming,—
And, by Life essential, the phantasm Death expire.
A Voice. Gabriel, thou Gabriel!
Another Voice. What wouldst thou with me?
First Voice. I heard thy voice sound in the angels' song;
And I would give thee question.
Second Voice. Question me.
First Voice. Why have I called thrice to my morning star
And had no answer? All the stars are out,
And round the earth, upon their silver lives,
Wheel out the music of the inner life,
And answer in their places. Only in vain
I cast my voice against the outer rays
Of my star, shut in light behind the sun!
No more reply than from a breaking string,
Breaking when touched. Or is she not my star?
Where is my star—my star? Have ye cast down
Her glory like my glory? Has she waxed
Mortal, like Adam? Has she learnt to hate
Like any angel?
Second Voice.She is sad for thee:
All things grow sadder to thee, one by one.
Chorus.Live, work on, O Earthy!
By the Actual's tension,
Speed the arrow worthy
Of a pure ascension.
From the low earth round you,
Beach the heights above you;
From the stripes that wound you,
Seek the loves that love you!
God's divinest burneth plain
Through the crystal diaphane
Of our loves that love you.
First Voice. Gabriel, O Gabriel!
