 | Some verses (1892) |  |
17
THE MAD SPHINX
“Un vieux Sphinx ignoré du monde insoucieux,
Oublié sur la carte, et dont l'humeur farouche
Ne chante qu' aux rayons du soleil qui se couche”
Oublié sur la carte, et dont l'humeur farouche
Ne chante qu' aux rayons du soleil qui se couche”
Nought since offended Isis drew her veil
More closely round the radiance of her head
And passed beyond the planets, might avail
To break my silence. Now the time has fled.
More closely round the radiance of her head
And passed beyond the planets, might avail
To break my silence. Now the time has fled.
Forgotten, old, abandoned to the scorn
Of desert winds, I would not give one sign
Of all the torments that my soul has borne,
Were not my voice the secret of the shrine.
Of desert winds, I would not give one sign
Of all the torments that my soul has borne,
Were not my voice the secret of the shrine.
18
All day the sunlight sees me fixed and stern:
The red simoon in vain may bid me speak:
Only when round the pole the star-wheels turn
I feel hot tears roll down my marble cheek.
The red simoon in vain may bid me speak:
Only when round the pole the star-wheels turn
I feel hot tears roll down my marble cheek.
Yes! All I loved has passed and I remain,
Old phantom striving through the fearful night
To kiss its shadow, filled with doubt and pain:
I am a star that lingers till the light.
Old phantom striving through the fearful night
To kiss its shadow, filled with doubt and pain:
I am a star that lingers till the light.
I am the lips that kiss the frozen glass
Dividing them from unforgotten days:
I am the tune condemned to roam and pass
Upon the winds and rest on wrecks and strays.
Dividing them from unforgotten days:
I am the tune condemned to roam and pass
Upon the winds and rest on wrecks and strays.
In me who may not move is held the fire
Of wandering; I alone in silence set
Know where delight is mated with desire,
Where pleasure lives and dies without regret.
Of wandering; I alone in silence set
Know where delight is mated with desire,
Where pleasure lives and dies without regret.
The lakes of perfume, deep and wild and strange,
The palaces of colour, soft and strong,
The port where dreams are anchored, whence they range,
The seas of music and the waves of song.
The palaces of colour, soft and strong,
The port where dreams are anchored, whence they range,
The seas of music and the waves of song.
19
All these I know, and with unchanging gaze
Fixed on the far horizon clear from cloud
I dream of earth's unseen deep-hidden maze
Of seas of flame and lands more rich and proud.
Fixed on the far horizon clear from cloud
I dream of earth's unseen deep-hidden maze
Of seas of flame and lands more rich and proud.
The sand has drifted to my sculptured breast,
The tooth of time has gnawed my perfect face;
In vain they strive to stir my savage rest
Or move my limbs from their appointed place.
The tooth of time has gnawed my perfect face;
In vain they strive to stir my savage rest
Or move my limbs from their appointed place.
I saw the dust rise from the chariot wheels
Of kings that now are sand: I saw the sun
Light fallen shrines where now the jackal steals
At night. Alas! For all the days are done.
Of kings that now are sand: I saw the sun
Light fallen shrines where now the jackal steals
At night. Alas! For all the days are done.
A race of slaves digs in the outworn soil
Where ranks of spearmen shone from mile to mile:
Where are the cities full of lust and toil
That rose above the reedy banks of Nile?
Where ranks of spearmen shone from mile to mile:
Where are the cities full of lust and toil
That rose above the reedy banks of Nile?
No more the beaks of galleys rowed amain
Will meet and bite whilst on the ringing shore
Sword swings on shield, and on the helmets rain
Of arrows falls and glistens: nevermore
Will meet and bite whilst on the ringing shore
Sword swings on shield, and on the helmets rain
Of arrows falls and glistens: nevermore
20
Will boats of pilgrims toward Canopus sail
With songs and beaten tambourines. The sky
Under the strokes of dawn grows green and pale
Above the tawny desert. Ah! Must I
With songs and beaten tambourines. The sky
Under the strokes of dawn grows green and pale
Above the tawny desert. Ah! Must I
Henceforward crouch in silence, with no word
Of all the agonies that my heart endures,
Nor speak of wonders I have seen and heard,
Of loves that loathe and hatred that allures?
Of all the agonies that my heart endures,
Nor speak of wonders I have seen and heard,
Of loves that loathe and hatred that allures?
Yet through long years of silence sure to die,
Through all the wars of this man-travailled land,
While myriads came and passed and came, have I
Gazed over wilderness of the sand:
Through all the wars of this man-travailled land,
While myriads came and passed and came, have I
Gazed over wilderness of the sand:
And now being tired of all, being tired to see
The fruitless labour of the wearied earth,
The eternal conflict of the land and sea,
The works of men that crumble, little worth,
The fruitless labour of the wearied earth,
The eternal conflict of the land and sea,
The works of men that crumble, little worth,
The sterile laughter of the bitter sun,
The interminable procession of the stars,
I too am fain that this my life were done
And my face freed from time's deep-delving scars.
The interminable procession of the stars,
I too am fain that this my life were done
And my face freed from time's deep-delving scars.
21
Now that my beauty is gone, and year by year
Sad Egypt bends more low her outraged head,
I dream of wonders: if mine end is near
I shall not fear the constellations dead.
Sad Egypt bends more low her outraged head,
I dream of wonders: if mine end is near
I shall not fear the constellations dead.
Egypt is gone; her temples, gods and kings
Are gone. O time the hour should peal that sends
Me to the kingdom of forgotten things
Among the kings and gods that were my friends.
Are gone. O time the hour should peal that sends
Me to the kingdom of forgotten things
Among the kings and gods that were my friends.
Now I will speak not word again, but wait
And watch with changeless gaze and lips sealed dumb,
Beyond the sunset's purple-pillared gate,
The signs that tell me of the days to come.
And watch with changeless gaze and lips sealed dumb,
Beyond the sunset's purple-pillared gate,
The signs that tell me of the days to come.
| Some verses (1892) | |