 | Mansoul or The Riddle of the World |  |
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Book 2: The Descent
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Though lost days gladsome gleam; Worlds lingering ray,
Shows stony clustered trunks, from floor to roof,
Of Herthas cave. Nor were we without light,
Before our further steps.
Shows stony clustered trunks, from floor to roof,
Of Herthas cave. Nor were we without light,
Before our further steps.
Had Hertha, a torch
Bestowed on Mansoul; that gleaned sheaf erst was
Of stars' rays shed upon Her mountain-top.
And that should shine before our halting steps;
In Underwórlds dark Vóyage, now to begin.
Till tó first circuit óf those Radious Rocks,
Where sleep the faithful Dead; whose dust, men laid,
Whom comforts yet the Sun, our feet arrive.
Bestowed on Mansoul; that gleaned sheaf erst was
Of stars' rays shed upon Her mountain-top.
And that should shine before our halting steps;
In Underwórlds dark Vóyage, now to begin.
Till tó first circuit óf those Radious Rocks,
Where sleep the faithful Dead; whose dust, men laid,
Whom comforts yet the Sun, our feet arrive.
On me and Minimus, had there charge been laid,
Unwist of us (one-twain); that from henceforth,
We on manifold Mansoul should attend; whereof,
We unwitting likewise were least several part.
Unwist of us (one-twain); that from henceforth,
We on manifold Mansoul should attend; whereof,
We unwitting likewise were least several part.
Bearing forth Herthas torch, in glooming cave,
Mansoul led on before us. I held fast
In hand, as we groped forth, the Muses staff:
Whiles more and more the trode, towards dread Abyss;
Seemed sink and fall way from únder us.
Mansoul led on before us. I held fast
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Whiles more and more the trode, towards dread Abyss;
Seemed sink and fall way from únder us.
Way of the dead, where all day-labours cease;
Is thís we living tread, with troubled hearts.
We go down, tó be guests of griesly Death;
In Hels tremendous House, befóre our deaths.
Seemed full of whíspers, each new horrid place:
Phantasms flit forth, before our fearful steps.
Is thís we living tread, with troubled hearts.
We go down, tó be guests of griesly Death;
In Hels tremendous House, befóre our deaths.
Seemed full of whíspers, each new horrid place:
Phantasms flit forth, before our fearful steps.
Reached tó that gallerys ending, derne and still;
That seemed iron closure, óf Eternal Tomb:
Revealed was fateful door of massy stone.
There was, my weed fell off me of itself.
Whence I, recording precept of the Muse;
Anointed wíth that Temple-chrism my flesh:
And did-on Orphic garment of Worlds Grave.
That seemed iron closure, óf Eternal Tomb:
Revealed was fateful door of massy stone.
There was, my weed fell off me of itself.
Whence I, recording precept of the Muse;
Anointed wíth that Temple-chrism my flesh:
And did-on Orphic garment of Worlds Grave.
Thus shrouded, like to clay-cold corse, I knocked;
With that was in mine hand, the Muses staff,
(As Mansoul bade,) thríce, on that squalid port:
And fearful echoed, living noise in Hel!
And rumbled dread in Region derne, far off.
With that was in mine hand, the Muses staff,
(As Mansoul bade,) thríce, on that squalid port:
And fearful echoed, living noise in Hel!
And rumbled dread in Region derne, far off.
Reeled on its pivots, thát ports rusty mass:
And Hé who, as ít had néver been removed,
Now slowly it revolved, regardeth us!
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Now slowly it revolved, regardeth us!
Loath charnel-breath smóte, smother of the grave,
On our lives' sense: an horror of endless vast
Darkness of Únder-Earth, shrouded, compassed us.
On our lives' sense: an horror of endless vast
Darkness of Únder-Earth, shrouded, compassed us.
A griesly fleshless hand laid on the lock;
That hollow-jowled dread Portent of a wight,
Spake; Your Intent? There enters here no flesh;
Herein no líves-way lieth. And narrowly he ús,
Grim Spectre, Porter of Hels horrid House,
Upon this part; (wherein besides, 't is said,
Be other many doors, and fearful deep
Descending paths, of spirits deceased;) hath eyed.
That hollow-jowled dread Portent of a wight,
Spake; Your Intent? There enters here no flesh;
Herein no líves-way lieth. And narrowly he ús,
Grim Spectre, Porter of Hels horrid House,
Upon this part; (wherein besides, 't is said,
Be other many doors, and fearful deep
Descending paths, of spirits deceased;) hath eyed.
Might hárdly I utterance frame of faltering lips.
Responding to that Doorward, then I said:
We Wisdom seek, whereas it may be sought.
And might we, in recompense of just Heavens best gift;
Unto ús men, Speech and Understanding Mind,
As diver, groping neath gross waters' weight,
On seas dark ground, the while with-holding breath;
Bring, were it but an emmets burden up,
Of very Sooth, to day and living light!
That phantom Porter prónounced, ghostly, Pass!
Responding to that Doorward, then I said:
We Wisdom seek, whereas it may be sought.
And might we, in recompense of just Heavens best gift;
Unto ús men, Speech and Understanding Mind,
As diver, groping neath gross waters' weight,
On seas dark ground, the while with-holding breath;
Bring, were it but an emmets burden up,
Of very Sooth, to day and living light!
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Deaths iron-strong cragged Gate, our feet have passed.
We tread in, on grave-dust. Great silent weight
Is fallen on ús of an Eternal Night!
The footfall made of óur entrancéd flesh,
None echoing sound; passed now beyond Worlds noise.
Save for our torches flickering gleam; and that
Shines but as fathoms breadth before our steps;
Lightless lies all Dead Underworld from henceforth.
We tread in, on grave-dust. Great silent weight
Is fallen on ús of an Eternal Night!
The footfall made of óur entrancéd flesh,
None echoing sound; passed now beyond Worlds noise.
Save for our torches flickering gleam; and that
Shines but as fathoms breadth before our steps;
Lightless lies all Dead Underworld from henceforth.
Opens vast covert maze of ghostly paths,
In hollow rocks, before our fearful pace.
Therein be gliding múltitude óf passed spirits;
In grave-clothes wound, descending from their deaths!
In hollow rocks, before our fearful pace.
Therein be gliding múltitude óf passed spirits;
In grave-clothes wound, descending from their deaths!
Enforced our steps, for Power is come upon us;
Like unto that, which over them prevails.
We go down, by great shelves of craggéd rock;
To deadly undigged vast Gulf: Abysmal Place
Under West half, of wíde, round-eddying, Earth.
Whose horrid walls, in dim default of Light;
Our torches gleam reveals uneath. There spirits;
Pale drooping troops, in languor of their deaths;
From hundred galleries, which do there Converge;
Arrive each moment.
Like unto that, which over them prevails.
We go down, by great shelves of craggéd rock;
To deadly undigged vast Gulf: Abysmal Place
Under West half, of wíde, round-eddying, Earth.
Whose horrid walls, in dim default of Light;
Our torches gleam reveals uneath. There spirits;
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From hundred galleries, which do there Converge;
Arrive each moment.
Standing them amidst,
Be mighty Æons, pride-fallen from Starry Height;
Before the birth of Time, or thís World was.
Be mighty Æons, pride-fallen from Starry Height;
Before the birth of Time, or thís World was.
Being later cóndemned tó Death-Pit of Earth:
Is there their Task, to marshal souls in flocks:
And winnowed fróm lives' dross, in balances, poise:
And ássign, áfter their deserts, in ranks;
Unto their several wards, to sleep in death.
Is there their Task, to marshal souls in flocks:
And winnowed fróm lives' dross, in balances, poise:
And ássign, áfter their deserts, in ranks;
Unto their several wards, to sleep in death.
We as fearful fugitíves, with faltering knees;
Where all unknown, before our nightmare steps;
(So dread, so dark!) have hasted thence to pass.
In crooked ways we tread, uncertain paths.
Our torches fitful gleam showed us at length;
Framed like unénding dove-cote, ín derne cliff:
Or, to compare together small and great;
Like to the formal treasure-house óf the bee:
Where innocents sleep, buds of great Tree of Life;
Whom Winters spite had withered from the root.
Ere might they, tó a kíndly Sun unfold,
Their frail first leaves. Their place of rest beneath,
Cradle to cradle, in Under-World, was this.
Where all unknown, before our nightmare steps;
(So dread, so dark!) have hasted thence to pass.
In crooked ways we tread, uncertain paths.
Our torches fitful gleam showed us at length;
Framed like unénding dove-cote, ín derne cliff:
Or, to compare together small and great;
Like to the formal treasure-house óf the bee:
Where innocents sleep, buds of great Tree of Life;
Whom Winters spite had withered from the root.
Ere might they, tó a kíndly Sun unfold,
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Cradle to cradle, in Under-World, was this.
We, us seemed, long Night traverse of squalid paths,
Beyond. The abode, of lunatic spirits, we pass;
Some of whom waked. I viewed, with hearts dismay,
Their sad fond troubled looks!
Beyond. The abode, of lunatic spirits, we pass;
Some of whom waked. I viewed, with hearts dismay,
Their sad fond troubled looks!
To lower deeps,
Decline our steps: whose vaulted gloom might pierce
Our torches ray uneath. Was then, we ceased
To bé urged forth. Thus stayed, in Womb of Earth;
Not being yet manifest Herthas promised Voice;
We feared, as shut in íron unending tomb.
Till I bethóught me of thát, the Muses staff.
In darkness dread, I poised it then upright:
And as it fell forth, we addressed our face.
Decline our steps: whose vaulted gloom might pierce
Our torches ray uneath. Was then, we ceased
To bé urged forth. Thus stayed, in Womb of Earth;
Not being yet manifest Herthas promised Voice;
We feared, as shut in íron unending tomb.
Till I bethóught me of thát, the Muses staff.
In darkness dread, I poised it then upright:
And as it fell forth, we addressed our face.
Within a while, contínued thus our course;
Our torch shows new inéxtricable paths:
Dire Yammer sounded ín our ears, before
Our halting steps: mistrust was in our hearts!
We would and had we might, have swerved from thence.
The image presently, ah! mirrored in our glass:
(We hastily had taken our Merlins mirror forth;)
Showed fearful gleam of Sinners' Wailing-place.
Where spirits rest not, áfter their fleshes' deaths;
But wallow and wind, in torment of their minds;
Shut out from bliss.
Our torch shows new inéxtricable paths:
Dire Yammer sounded ín our ears, before
Our halting steps: mistrust was in our hearts!
We would and had we might, have swerved from thence.
The image presently, ah! mirrored in our glass:
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Showed fearful gleam of Sinners' Wailing-place.
Where spirits rest not, áfter their fleshes' deaths;
But wallow and wind, in torment of their minds;
Shut out from bliss.
Self-love, their only God,
Hath them undone. Though severs them from us.
Impenetrable íron huge mountain-mass;
Appeared there souls of wights, in Merlin's glass;
Horrific spectacle! midst fire-flashing smoke;
In endless pine. A thousand flamíng mouths,
Doom-pits; as little and little we might perceive
Glowed in fire-hills of Hels unending Plain:
Where, nigher viewed, us seemed, in every Abyss;
Writhed demon-gotten monsters óf mankind.
Midst torments, they continually there upclimb:
To fall to greater bale, back from the brinks.
Hath them undone. Though severs them from us.
Impenetrable íron huge mountain-mass;
Appeared there souls of wights, in Merlin's glass;
Horrific spectacle! midst fire-flashing smoke;
In endless pine. A thousand flamíng mouths,
Doom-pits; as little and little we might perceive
Glowed in fire-hills of Hels unending Plain:
Where, nigher viewed, us seemed, in every Abyss;
Writhed demon-gotten monsters óf mankind.
Midst torments, they continually there upclimb:
To fall to greater bale, back from the brinks.
Other impélled by fiery-eddying Tempest;
Great multitúde, bé borne ón-forth to their Doom;
Evil-dóers. Mongst whom, now blackened is his face;
One who lived lately crowned. We marvelled seeing,
Souls, in one condemnation with him, on him,
(Become now all mens curse,) to turn their backs!
Whom vehemently théy, with loathing mouths, reproach
Their evil ending late, by tímeless death:
In wicked warfare he, crowned sot, provoked.
Now a griesly leprosy blots his werewolfs face!
Great multitúde, bé borne ón-forth to their Doom;
Evil-dóers. Mongst whom, now blackened is his face;
One who lived lately crowned. We marvelled seeing,
Souls, in one condemnation with him, on him,
(Become now all mens curse,) to turn their backs!
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Their evil ending late, by tímeless death:
In wicked warfare he, crowned sot, provoked.
Now a griesly leprosy blots his werewolfs face!
From sulphur-reeking powder of Hel-Plain;
Uprise to meet them, fiends more fearful-shaped,
Than may be told. That War-monger, they, haled forth;
With glowing links, attach, of ádamant chains
Insoluble: and weld to adamant stake;
(One of mány, ímmoveable, which therein seen fixt.)
To be all Hels derision, from henceforth.
And that before Hel-forged steel looking-glass;
Wherein he evermore contemplates himself;
His coxcomb vísage and enormous deeds.
And ever sleepless, dire accusing Voice
Rings ceaseless in his ears, in a dead World:
Requiring of his impious soul, the Breath
Of Europes human Spring. He esteeming less
Than his fond self, Earths Nations; (heathen,) sought
His violent bloody rapine of the World.
Uprise to meet them, fiends more fearful-shaped,
Than may be told. That War-monger, they, haled forth;
With glowing links, attach, of ádamant chains
Insoluble: and weld to adamant stake;
(One of mány, ímmoveable, which therein seen fixt.)
To be all Hels derision, from henceforth.
And that before Hel-forged steel looking-glass;
Wherein he evermore contemplates himself;
His coxcomb vísage and enormous deeds.
And ever sleepless, dire accusing Voice
Rings ceaseless in his ears, in a dead World:
Requiring of his impious soul, the Breath
Of Europes human Spring. He esteeming less
Than his fond self, Earths Nations; (heathen,) sought
His violent bloody rapine of the World.
Whilst yet, with bereaved thought, in Merlin's glass,
We gazed: an earthquake smote Hel-Pit. Seemed gape
And shut-to each fearful blind pathway before us:
Stagger Hel-Frame and founder underfoot;
And shatter o'er our heads. We wist not whither,
Flee forth, to save us. In that sore constraint,
Beat thick our hearts, our knees failed under us.
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And shut-to each fearful blind pathway before us:
Stagger Hel-Frame and founder underfoot;
And shatter o'er our heads. We wist not whither,
Flee forth, to save us. In that sore constraint,
Beat thick our hearts, our knees failed under us.
But Herthas divine Spirit hath succoured us.
That leading swiftly on, eách one by the hand;
Mongst crumbling craigs, saved from that peril forth.
That leading swiftly on, eách one by the hand;
Mongst crumbling craigs, saved from that peril forth.
And we ascending, whence we were miswent:
Beneath that dívine Well-Spring of Grace passed:
Which flows from Heavens long-suffering Mercy-Seat.
Down even unto the Lost. Some of whose drops;
Fell likewise luminous sprinkling upon us;
Like to a quickening dew.
Seemed from that point,
Beneath that dívine Well-Spring of Grace passed:
Which flows from Heavens long-suffering Mercy-Seat.
Down even unto the Lost. Some of whose drops;
Fell likewise luminous sprinkling upon us;
Like to a quickening dew.
Our footsteps to wax lighter, every moment.
Neath gross compácture of thís corrúptible flesh.
Seemed, I might run in air of Upper Earth;
Hills overleap, speed on a waters' face.
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Nor more my footfall echoing rumour made.
Great Herthas Voice it is, upholds our steps,
In Underworld, and guides our forward course.
We speed in dim main thoroughfare óf Worlds Dead,
And namely of righteous souls; whose flesh men laid,
With tears of late, to moulder ín sad grave.
They are mány whích borne forth: that ghostly glide;
Like drift of orchard blossoms, falling rife;
Wafted of South winds breath; towárds their place
Appointed them, of Everlasting Rest.
Dernly aught míght we in Únderworld yet perceive:
Till tó that circuit of Hels Radious Rocks,
Where sleep Worlds Faithful Dead, our steps arrive.
And namely of righteous souls; whose flesh men laid,
With tears of late, to moulder ín sad grave.
They are mány whích borne forth: that ghostly glide;
Like drift of orchard blossoms, falling rife;
Wafted of South winds breath; towárds their place
Appointed them, of Everlasting Rest.
Dernly aught míght we in Únderworld yet perceive:
Till tó that circuit of Hels Radious Rocks,
Where sleep Worlds Faithful Dead, our steps arrive.
And that is now! . . . Pause hath our giddy race:
And waning in the same, whiles we approach;
Is stár-bright saving light, of Herthas torch.
And waning in the same, whiles we approach;
Is stár-bright saving light, of Herthas torch.
Ló, a numbed multitude, gáthered to Souls' Porch;
Which wedded were in World, to righteous life!
Where cease our soles to tread, a little aloof;
We a sóul viewed, thát conflicted with himself:
Which finally he, subdued; trode underfoot:
Whom then received the rest to fellowship.
Which wedded were in World, to righteous life!
Where cease our soles to tread, a little aloof;
We a sóul viewed, thát conflicted with himself:
Which finally he, subdued; trode underfoot:
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Threefold stands, ín dim light, that solemn Port.
Not of óne building only, or substance like,
The several gates; but all like-radious.
Paths of the Just I read engráven on height.
Not of óne building only, or substance like,
The several gates; but all like-radious.
Paths of the Just I read engráven on height.
Conformable tó souls-stature, of just spirits:
Those give on several Regions, quoth the Voice;
Where their eternal heritage is, of Peace.
Those give on several Regions, quoth the Voice;
Where their eternal heritage is, of Peace.
With that was in mine hand, the Muses staff;
As Mansoul bade, I knockt on a side-port:
Nor feared; so from withinforth wafted breath
Was of hearts' rest, which all constraint dispersed.
As Mansoul bade, I knockt on a side-port:
Nor feared; so from withinforth wafted breath
Was of hearts' rest, which all constraint dispersed.
Peace, the thrice-blesséd high Warden óf that porch:
(A Chief One He, amóngst the Sons of God;
Being multipresent, ín the Universe:)
Lookt from a lattice. Ánd taken cógnizance of us;
(His brows were ás wreathed snow; his eyes stárbright;)
Lifted the hasp: and, Pass with God! Peace quoth.
(A Chief One He, amóngst the Sons of God;
Being multipresent, ín the Universe:)
Lookt from a lattice. Ánd taken cógnizance of us;
(His brows were ás wreathed snow; his eyes stárbright;)
Lifted the hasp: and, Pass with God! Peace quoth.
Neath covert óf His dove-like wings, outstretcht,
We assurance entering found, in House of Death:
Nay, an occult parfume seemed surprise our sense
Of heavenly places!
We assurance entering found, in House of Death:
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Of heavenly places!
Led by Herthas Voice;
Recomforted, in now Radious Rocks, we course:
Where all ways shine like dímly luminous;
As some wood-bank is seen, in World above,
That gledeworms haunt. A Kosmic light this is,
Remaining, óf Heavens sovereign radiance;
Whilst Earth was ín Her making, midst the Stars;
Which evermore those shed forth, by slów degrees:
And partly a spiritual light it is.
Recomforted, in now Radious Rocks, we course:
Where all ways shine like dímly luminous;
As some wood-bank is seen, in World above,
That gledeworms haunt. A Kosmic light this is,
Remaining, óf Heavens sovereign radiance;
Whilst Earth was ín Her making, midst the Stars;
Which evermore those shed forth, by slów degrees:
And partly a spiritual light it is.
A new and happy pang empierced our hearts;
Where suffered us the Voice suspend our steps,
At first, before a lodge in luminous cliff,
Embayed; where slumbering heroes sleep úplayed:
Britannias sons renowned, (not lightly esteemed,
Seed of the Gods; for their prowd warlike deeds:)
Which wrought deliverance, both by Land and Seas.
Where suffered us the Voice suspend our steps,
At first, before a lodge in luminous cliff,
Embayed; where slumbering heroes sleep úplayed:
Britannias sons renowned, (not lightly esteemed,
Seed of the Gods; for their prowd warlike deeds:)
Which wrought deliverance, both by Land and Seas.
Here sleep then those magnanimous, whose names' praise
Lives on mens lips, and ín our grateful hearts;
War-smiths in their war-weed. Be uphanged bays,
O'er each ones generous head. Wounds théy received:
Shine with a sacred light and camphire breathe.
On them we gazed, with lingering long regard:
Through trembling místy, on our eyelids, tears.
Have they, and like defenders of our hearths;
Which beat down thé Unright, Gods endless Peace!
Lives on mens lips, and ín our grateful hearts;
War-smiths in their war-weed. Be uphanged bays,
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Shine with a sacred light and camphire breathe.
On them we gazed, with lingering long regard:
Through trembling místy, on our eyelids, tears.
Have they, and like defenders of our hearths;
Which beat down thé Unright, Gods endless Peace!
Sleep other, hardly a shafts-flight fróm them forth:
Nor less, (though strove those not in field,) of worth.
Were they pre-eminent ín all citizens' works;
Uphólding the hónour of their Nations House.
Nor less, (though strove those not in field,) of worth.
Were they pre-eminent ín all citizens' works;
Uphólding the hónour of their Nations House.
Further, rest certain meek ones of the Earth,
Yet militant ánd like-great in heavenly sight;
Under, lo, crowns they sleep, of living light.
Unmoveable, forcible, upright únto Death;
They little esteeming Worlds brief fleshling life;
Like to lone light-towers, founded on fast rocks;
Witnessed midst storms of malice, fór the Right!
Them nigh, in án exalted Place of Rest;
Sleep óther úpright souls, of guise diverse.
Seers were they and Prophets ín their several Ages,
Of the Worlds Nations.
Yet militant ánd like-great in heavenly sight;
Under, lo, crowns they sleep, of living light.
Unmoveable, forcible, upright únto Death;
They little esteeming Worlds brief fleshling life;
Like to lone light-towers, founded on fast rocks;
Witnessed midst storms of malice, fór the Right!
Them nigh, in án exalted Place of Rest;
Sleep óther úpright souls, of guise diverse.
Seers were they and Prophets ín their several Ages,
Of the Worlds Nations.
Said then Herthas Voice:
The pathways óf the Just, in áll the Earth;
Shall meet together in One Holy Place:
Under the Silent Brow of Heaven supreme.
The pathways óf the Just, in áll the Earth;
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Under the Silent Brow of Heaven supreme.
In every Age and Family of Mans kin
Rise steadfast spirits, nourished of lofty thought:
That seekers be, with singleness of heart,
Of Righteousness; and mongst their fellows, teach
The Blameless Life. Called unto that High Trust;
By an intimate whisper breathing ín their breasts;
They hear, from Heaven, as child his mothers voice.
Rise steadfast spirits, nourished of lofty thought:
That seekers be, with singleness of heart,
Of Righteousness; and mongst their fellows, teach
The Blameless Life. Called unto that High Trust;
By an intimate whisper breathing ín their breasts;
They hear, from Heaven, as child his mothers voice.
Whence they, like rushlights, ín a dawnless Dark,
Shine, and have willingly oft jeopardied their own lives.
Nor few, despising torments of vile flesh;
Embraced, as their lives Bride, have bitter deaths.
That sovereign smile, yet blossoms ón their lips;
Wherewith they, dauntless, patient, in their Faiths;
Deceased.
Shine, and have willingly oft jeopardied their own lives.
Nor few, despising torments of vile flesh;
Embraced, as their lives Bride, have bitter deaths.
That sovereign smile, yet blossoms ón their lips;
Wherewith they, dauntless, patient, in their Faiths;
Deceased.
We might not tárry, in Únderworlds paths.
Yet mongst souls' blessed Dead of the White Isle;
(Where we more softly now and reverent tread):
Vouchsafed the foster-Voice, whom I besought;
I linger might, befóre clear shining rock;
At my petition become visible:
Wherein appeared a little cubicle.
White was it as mine Islands cliffs; whereo'er
A gentle dove stood graven, with wings displayed.
(There I alone, a private grief might open.)
Yet mongst souls' blessed Dead of the White Isle;
(Where we more softly now and reverent tread):
Vouchsafed the foster-Voice, whom I besought;
I linger might, befóre clear shining rock;
At my petition become visible:
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White was it as mine Islands cliffs; whereo'er
A gentle dove stood graven, with wings displayed.
(There I alone, a private grief might open.)
With childhood eyes, I looked upon a tomb:
I an alabaster casket gazed upon.
Peace I read, (her lifes name,) shine graven thereon;
Who numbered with the blesséd, here sleeps and waits;
That Dawn celestial, which shall not fade:
(The eyes of love, even marble-stone may pierce!)
I an alabaster casket gazed upon.
Peace I read, (her lifes name,) shine graven thereon;
Who numbered with the blesséd, here sleeps and waits;
That Dawn celestial, which shall not fade:
(The eyes of love, even marble-stone may pierce!)
Like to a lily ín a thorny wood;
How beautiful thou wast, ín thy few life-days,
In forest of the World; so few alas.
Death cánnot dim thy vision, ín my heart.
Dear Lodestar bright; whereby I daily set,
My shallops course, in Lifes solicitous voyage.
How beautiful thou wast, ín thy few life-days,
In forest of the World; so few alas.
Death cánnot dim thy vision, ín my heart.
Dear Lodestar bright; whereby I daily set,
My shallops course, in Lifes solicitous voyage.
Long cold be those dead lips; that word ne'er spake
Unworth, unsooth; those dying lips, that kissed,
Once kisst, (thy natures painful travail past;)
This last new-bórn on thy dear breast, alas.
For death, that may not be entreated, set
Had early, on thy loved front, His seal, alas!
Mother of my lifes breath, I living lift
O'er thee, these prayer-knit hands. I durst not weep;
Lest I of Under-Earth, the canon break.
Unworth, unsooth; those dying lips, that kissed,
Once kisst, (thy natures painful travail past;)
This last new-bórn on thy dear breast, alas.
For death, that may not be entreated, set
Had early, on thy loved front, His seal, alas!
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O'er thee, these prayer-knit hands. I durst not weep;
Lest I of Under-Earth, the canon break.
I heard a Voice saying, Spirits which in their rests,
Behold the Heavenly Vision, cannot wake,
To Worldly speech. . . . Revealed, all in that moment,
Was to mine inward vision, Herthas Voice;
Mighty, not human-membered, Protean Spirit.
Behold the Heavenly Vision, cannot wake,
To Worldly speech. . . . Revealed, all in that moment,
Was to mine inward vision, Herthas Voice;
Mighty, not human-membered, Protean Spirit.
Through wards and galleries óf those Radious Rocks,
Us Herthas Voice compells, with quickened steps.
As startled hare in field scuds from her form:
So our alternate feet, speed under us.
When first the Voice again restrained our course:
Twin antique river-floods, in a wide Plain,
Great Digla and Frat, (amongst the sons of men,
Of old resounding fame,) we mirrored view:
That flow from mountain-fastness óf the Gods:
Which upholds heavens wide firmament, ón that half.
Us Herthas Voice compells, with quickened steps.
As startled hare in field scuds from her form:
So our alternate feet, speed under us.
When first the Voice again restrained our course:
Twin antique river-floods, in a wide Plain,
Great Digla and Frat, (amongst the sons of men,
Of old resounding fame,) we mirrored view:
That flow from mountain-fastness óf the Gods:
Which upholds heavens wide firmament, ón that half.
Those, water Lands, where settlements founded erst;
Were of men, gathered ín communities;
Amongst whose citizens, were those seers-Chaldeans,
Which erst divined stars' occult influences.
Were of men, gathered ín communities;
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Which erst divined stars' occult influences.
Had the Ancient-of-Days, mídst that fair champaign;
Whence doth the mornings sacred radiance spring;
Planted a garden; where, of thé floods' loam:
He tempered with His hands, His fingers formed
First fathers of the World; and breath of life,
In their clay breasts, He breathed: and charge them gave,
To keep it, ás His divine pleasure was.
Whence doth the mornings sacred radiance spring;
Planted a garden; where, of thé floods' loam:
He tempered with His hands, His fingers formed
First fathers of the World; and breath of life,
In their clay breasts, He breathed: and charge them gave,
To keep it, ás His divine pleasure was.
Trembled the Earth, in thát She Man brought fórth.
And came, divided fróm brute clay, on Man;
A dívine breath: whence Speech and Mind, whereby
Todáy unto Héritage of all the Earth;
Those Adamites have attained.
And came, divided fróm brute clay, on Man;
A dívine breath: whence Speech and Mind, whereby
Todáy unto Héritage of all the Earth;
Those Adamites have attained.
Tilth found Mans sons;
In Morning of the World, through handiwork:
Where each soul hath received his acre-breath,
Of the Lords Field. They, an husband-folk, it pierce
With mattocks; they it water and subdue:
And eat of thé increase, and have enough.
In Morning of the World, through handiwork:
Where each soul hath received his acre-breath,
Of the Lords Field. They, an husband-folk, it pierce
With mattocks; they it water and subdue:
And eat of thé increase, and have enough.
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Their plots made plain, they seed-pans of mould fined,
Prepare; and furrows for young sets, wherein
They in-let water, fróm their rivers streams.
And sith when mens' sons taste the dulcet fruit,
Of wild palm grove, that crowns Euphrates brinks:
They its seedlings set their sluices all along.
Prepare; and furrows for young sets, wherein
They in-let water, fróm their rivers streams.
And sith when mens' sons taste the dulcet fruit,
Of wild palm grove, that crowns Euphrates brinks:
They its seedlings set their sluices all along.
The crooked plough-share find mens later sons;
And tame under the yoke, stiff-necked wild bulls:
By whose napes strength, they cleave the glistering clod.
And tame under the yoke, stiff-necked wild bulls:
By whose napes strength, they cleave the glistering clod.
As for their grain, when harvest-moon is seen;
Blithe husbands whet the sickle; ánd put in
Their teeming corn-stalks billowing in wide wind.
Then joy and shouting ín each bountiful field:
Where maiden-companies, dight their virgin locks,
With corn-flowers, carol forth from plot to plot;
With timbrels, treading roundels, ás they wend.
Some, bever bear, in sweating water-skins;
Unto the thirsting reapers.
Blithe husbands whet the sickle; ánd put in
Their teeming corn-stalks billowing in wide wind.
Then joy and shouting ín each bountiful field:
Where maiden-companies, dight their virgin locks,
With corn-flowers, carol forth from plot to plot;
With timbrels, treading roundels, ás they wend.
Some, bever bear, in sweating water-skins;
Unto the thirsting reapers.
Further forth,
The smiles I see, where dance those tó an house;
That blossom, full of laughter, ón their lips,
Like dewy roses; where on foster Earth,
Mild-eyed grave ancients, pénsive sunning sit.
The smiles I see, where dance those tó an house;
That blossom, full of laughter, ón their lips,
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Mild-eyed grave ancients, pénsive sunning sit.
Their gentle choirs, returning have I seen,
In Merlins glass. They zealous-handed now;
Bind grips of corn-ears, roaming to and fro;
That treasure which reap men: their burdens bear,
Then in their bosoms, tó the threshing-floors,
At the steads' lathes; where tread slow-footed round,
The toilful ox-teams.
In Merlins glass. They zealous-handed now;
Bind grips of corn-ears, roaming to and fro;
That treasure which reap men: their burdens bear,
Then in their bosoms, tó the threshing-floors,
At the steads' lathes; where tread slow-footed round,
The toilful ox-teams.
Vine-rows men have learned
And orchards, ín succeeding age, to plant.
When Time of Summer fruits is comen in;
Now vintage month: they pluck, God giving thanks,
Thereof. And there is mirth when blithe young men;
Tread, stived in fats, sweet clusters óf ripe grapes.
And orchards, ín succeeding age, to plant.
When Time of Summer fruits is comen in;
Now vintage month: they pluck, God giving thanks,
Thereof. And there is mirth when blithe young men;
Tread, stived in fats, sweet clusters óf ripe grapes.
Hark to the merry pipes! And when those cease;
Men shout, and móngst them loud hand-clapping is.
And whén run in the urns is all the must;
Glad heydeguyes begin of lads and maids,
In Spring-tide of their lives. And who look on,
Jests bandy back again. And mumming seen
Is át their bonfires, neath vast night of stars.
Men shout, and móngst them loud hand-clapping is.
And whén run in the urns is all the must;
Glad heydeguyes begin of lads and maids,
In Spring-tide of their lives. And who look on,
Jests bandy back again. And mumming seen
Is át their bonfires, neath vast night of stars.
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At erst, that antique people of Shinars Plain;
Had framed them cabans, óf the rivers reeds.
Sith they of well-trode clay, have walled them bowers.
And being to multitude grown. God's human kin:
Is mongst them traffic, ín well-peopled plain:
Where, (whích were pinfolds,) hundred villages rise:
And wrights are in their streets; and chapmen trade:
Bearing on camels' bunches, díverse wares.
And later, Mother-City, is Babylon named;
Of all that March, girt-in with walls and towers.
Had framed them cabans, óf the rivers reeds.
Sith they of well-trode clay, have walled them bowers.
And being to multitude grown. God's human kin:
Is mongst them traffic, ín well-peopled plain:
Where, (whích were pinfolds,) hundred villages rise:
And wrights are in their streets; and chapmen trade:
Bearing on camels' bunches, díverse wares.
And later, Mother-City, is Babylon named;
Of all that March, girt-in with walls and towers.
But ah! vicissitudes óf this World of ours.
In brief precession of eternal Stars:
That erewhile glóry of builded clay of theirs;
Temples, proud palaces, míghty édified towers:
Tasks oft of múltitude, of human hands;
Reverted long ago ís, to desert dust:
As Image in a glass; as Dream that fades.
In brief precession of eternal Stars:
That erewhile glóry of builded clay of theirs;
Temples, proud palaces, míghty édified towers:
Tasks oft of múltitude, of human hands;
Reverted long ago ís, to desert dust:
As Image in a glass; as Dream that fades.
The Courts of Kings are nettle-beds; judgment halls,
Silent, where trembled breakers of their laws
Are haunts become of owls, and dragons lairs.
Silent, where trembled breakers of their laws
Are haunts become of owls, and dragons lairs.
Gardens wherein their princes solace sought;
In hours of Summer heat and drought to walk:
Where they delighted, at their list, to pluck
All manner there, of timely pleasant fruits;
Reverted áre to wasteful wilderness.
Where now wild asses snuff-up, East winds breath:
That hardly, of á sere wíthered herb, may find
To feed their fills. And in Worlds days that are;
Where no man, of his free will, passeth more.
In hours of Summer heat and drought to walk:
Where they delighted, at their list, to pluck
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Reverted áre to wasteful wilderness.
Where now wild asses snuff-up, East winds breath:
That hardly, of á sere wíthered herb, may find
To feed their fills. And in Worlds days that are;
Where no man, of his free will, passeth more.
Nor more is that first Family of the World named,
Men of divíne descent. Mens lips forget
These days it to pronounce.
Men of divíne descent. Mens lips forget
These days it to pronounce.
Soon after this;
In Underworlds Deep, were stayed our forward steps;
Suspent, before great antique sepulchre.
We viewed within, One ón his elbow leaned;
(Accustomed guise of men, in those East parts;)
Whose front girds gem-dight royal diadem:
Nebo, who instituted righteous laws,
Rock of his people, prophet, priest and king.
In Underworlds Deep, were stayed our forward steps;
Suspent, before great antique sepulchre.
We viewed within, One ón his elbow leaned;
(Accustomed guise of men, in those East parts;)
Whose front girds gem-dight royal diadem:
Nebo, who instituted righteous laws,
Rock of his people, prophet, priest and king.
Souls! quoth that venerable Sire evoked;
Which have not your mortality yet put off:
How came ye in híther! And éntered by what Gate?
To ghostly realms, of éverlasting sleep.
I read, revert! lest suddenly overtake,
You apúnishment, thát Heavens ordinance transgress;
Descended to Worlds Dead, before your deaths.
Which have not your mortality yet put off:
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To ghostly realms, of éverlasting sleep.
I read, revert! lest suddenly overtake,
You apúnishment, thát Heavens ordinance transgress;
Descended to Worlds Dead, before your deaths.
Made réverence, Mansoul hath responded thus:
We entered hither by the gates of Peace.
Know, O righteous Lord of men, mongst living wights,
Whom comforts yet the Sun, in World above;
We have diligently sought out righteous paths.
Nor, wíthout Heavens grace, bé we descended;
In an excess of spirit, yet living flesh,
To Earth beneath, to enquíre of Ages past:
Unto whom, as nearer to immortal Gods;
Was more revealed, than is vouchsafed to us:
Concerning Wisdom and eternal Light.
Nebo.
We entered hither by the gates of Peace.
Know, O righteous Lord of men, mongst living wights,
Whom comforts yet the Sun, in World above;
We have diligently sought out righteous paths.
Nor, wíthout Heavens grace, bé we descended;
In an excess of spirit, yet living flesh,
To Earth beneath, to enquíre of Ages past:
Unto whom, as nearer to immortal Gods;
Was more revealed, than is vouchsafed to us:
Concerning Wisdom and eternal Light.
Heaven fúlfill ríght desires of pious hearts!
But what might, where remaineth naught únto ús;
Save Silent Shadow of everlasting Death;
My children, I, long dead, to you impart?
And lifting hís two consecrated hands;
Which wont his Nations prayers and sacrifices;
(He a Prophet, herald of eternal Gods;)
To offer up: he sware his royal oath,
By Throne of the Most Highest; him liever were,
To be a thrall, one captive led in war;
A tiller of Earths dust, or to keep flocks;
Or shipman trading by the rivers flood:
And see rise dewy dayspring on Earths face,
And smell that sweetness of the morrows breath;
Than crowned and sceptered King, here swoon in death.
Mansoul.
Which wont his Nations prayers and sacrifices;
(He a Prophet, herald of eternal Gods;)
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By Throne of the Most Highest; him liever were,
To be a thrall, one captive led in war;
A tiller of Earths dust, or to keep flocks;
Or shipman trading by the rivers flood:
And see rise dewy dayspring on Earths face,
And smell that sweetness of the morrows breath;
Than crowned and sceptered King, here swoon in death.
Warden of men, beséech thee! únfold to us;
That Wisdom heavenly, whích once Saviour Gods,
Time was, infused into thy living breast.
Nebo.
Is not His Eye all-seeing overall?
Contend to please Him: so do tó all men;
As thou wouldst be done by of them. Deceased;
So mayest thou enter This eternal rest.
Whiles yet great Nebo spake; so swiftly under us,
Removed our flitting feet, I might uneath
Draw vital breath: seemed us wide realms we passed.
When little and little ralented was our course.
We a mighty Land beheld, in Merlins glass:
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Wherein clay villages, and mens tillage scant;
Few cities walled, of aspect ruinous.
Thus journeying, we be come, in Worlds beneath:
Where lo, the appearance ín a radious grot;
Of One of ancient days, of lofty looks:
Whom Zarathrustra names the Foster Voice.
He chants before an everburning hearth;
Whereon are leaping, thé undying tongues
Of hallowed flames: flames figuring ín his thought,
The invísible Image óf the Most High God
Of the Whole Earth, The God of Light, he hymns.
And bóldly, All-háil, O Light of Elam! spake.
We adjure thee, O Teacher, open thou to us,
Seekers of very Sooth and Living Light:
What is that heavenly knowledge, which enshrined
Of old was in thy breast.
In that he spake;
We laid fast hold on thé infernal rock;
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Whilst we with him conversed. Quoth Mansoul thus:
Who launcht the Stars, on their Eternal Course;
And stablished Ordinance óf the Sun and Earth:
And mánifold seeds of Life sowed, on Earths Breast?
Deemest thou, The ALL-WEILDER óf the Universe;
Divine ALL-SEER, Uphólding all things; past
Power óf conceiving of weak human thought:
Regardeth that infinite medley of mortal haps;
Which cometh each moment, on Earths dust, to pass!
Where men find hitherto féw well-ássured paths!
From thousand years' raptures raised, the Seer regardeth us:
And whiles he seemeth yet bete the sacred flame;
He answered tardily; Unweaned from fleshly life:
What seek ye, ere days prefixt of your own deaths?
In storied Deep, of thousand ages past;
Realm only of spirits.
Mansoul.
If an angels voice,
Hath spoken in thine ear; teach us, we adjure
Thee, by this holy hearth!
Zarathrustra.
Hear! Souls, not yet
Purged from blind-born affections of Man's flesh.
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And Dark be set before your living steps.
Mansoul.
Can Being, we ask, be Parent of Itself?
From whence All floweth?
Zarathrustra.
The All, the Was, the Is,
Founded in Bosom of Eternity, both
The Visible ánd Invisible; when was yet
No place. And, ín that spake the Holy Breath;
The Elements were found: (pollute them not!)
And spread His hands the heavens, and hanged them forth;
On hinges, thát they evermore might revolve.
Founded in Bosom of Eternity, both
The Visible ánd Invisible; when was yet
No place. And, ín that spake the Holy Breath;
The Elements were found: (pollute them not!)
And spread His hands the heavens, and hanged them forth;
On hinges, thát they evermore might revolve.
Be clothed each soul with light! Seek to All-Light:
Walk in the ways of Truth, eschew dark paths.
Thy garden bé, O Child of Light, good thoughts.
Thy deeds, which seeth All-Seeing Eye, good works:
So shalt thou inherit, ín the Paradise.
Walk in the ways of Truth, eschew dark paths.
Thy garden bé, O Child of Light, good thoughts.
Thy deeds, which seeth All-Seeing Eye, good works:
So shalt thou inherit, ín the Paradise.
Mansoul.
Can none unfold Dark Riddle of the World;
Which so long time confounds weak human sense?
Zarathrustra.
Death cannot sound that Ocean of the Gods.
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What shall we do? since more we may not know.
Zarathrustra.
Seek Oneness óf your souls, with the Highest Good,
Which all things sways; Lord of all Might, Light, Love.
Which all things sways; Lord of all Might, Light, Love.
Observe ye in nothing do contaminate
Earths sacred Face, the Sun-Gods daily Hearth.
Earths sacred Face, the Sun-Gods daily Hearth.
So may ye inherit wíth the spirits of Light:
And tread the Power of Darkness underfoot.
He said, and slept.
And tread the Power of Darkness underfoot.
He said, and slept.
| Mansoul or The Riddle of the World | |