Poem: The Sphinx

(To Marcel Schwob in friendship and in admiration)

上海龙凤shlf最新地址In a dim corner of my room for longer than

上海龙凤shlf最新地址my fancy thinks

A beautiful and silent Sphinx has watched me

through the shifting gloom.

Inviolate and immobile she does not rise she

does not stir

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For silver moons are naught to her and naught

上海龙凤shlf最新地址to her the suns that reel.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Red follows grey across the air, the waves of

上海龙凤shlf最新地址moonlight ebb and flow

But with the Dawn she does not go and in the

night-time she is there.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Dawn follows Dawn and Nights grow old and

上海龙凤shlf最新地址all the while this curious cat

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Lies couching on the Chinese mat with eyes of

上海龙凤shlf最新地址satin rimmed with gold.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Upon the mat she lies and leers and on the

tawny throat of her

Flutters the soft and silky fur or ripples to her

pointed ears.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Come forth, my lovely seneschal! so somnolent,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址so statuesque!

Come forth you exquisite grotesque! half woman

and half animal!

Come forth my lovely languorous Sphinx! and

上海龙凤shlf最新地址put your head upon my knee!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And let me stroke your throat and see your

body spotted like the Lynx!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And let me touch those curving claws of yellow

ivory and grasp

The tail that like a monstrous Asp coils round

your heavy velvet paws!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址A thousand weary centuries are thine

上海龙凤shlf最新地址while I have hardly seen

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Some twenty summers cast their green for

Autumn's gaudy liveries.

But you can read the Hieroglyphs on the

上海龙凤shlf最新地址great sandstone obelisks,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And you have talked with Basilisks, and you

have looked on Hippogriffs.

O tell me, were you standing by when Isis to

Osiris knelt?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And did you watch the Egyptian melt her union

for Antony

And drink the jewel-drunken wine and bend

her head in mimic awe

To see the huge proconsul draw the salted tunny

from the brine?

And did you mark the Cyprian kiss white Adon

on his catafalque?

And did you follow Amenalk, the God of

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Heliopolis?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And did you talk with Thoth, and did you hear

上海龙凤shlf最新地址the moon-horned Io weep?

And know the painted kings who sleep beneath

the wedge-shaped Pyramid?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Lift up your large black satin eyes which are

like cushions where one sinks!

Fawn at my feet, fantastic Sphinx! and sing me

上海龙凤shlf最新地址all your memories!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Sing to me of the Jewish maid who wandered

with the Holy Child,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And how you led them through the wild, and

上海龙凤shlf最新地址how they slept beneath your shade.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Sing to me of that odorous green eve when

crouching by the marge

上海龙凤shlf最新地址You heard from Adrian's gilded barge the

laughter of Antinous

And lapped the stream and fed your drouth and

watched with hot and hungry stare

The ivory body of that rare young slave with

his pomegranate mouth!

Sing to me of the Labyrinth in which the twi-

formed bull was stalled!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Sing to me of the night you crawled across the

temple's granite plinth

When through the purple corridors the screaming

scarlet Ibis flew

In terror, and a horrid dew dripped from the

moaning Mandragores,

And the great torpid crocodile within the tank

shed slimy tears,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And tare the jewels from his ears and staggered

back into the Nile,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And the priests cursed you with shrill psalms as

in your claws you seized their snake

And crept away with it to slake your passion by

上海龙凤shlf最新地址the shuddering palms.

Who were your lovers? who were they

who wrestled for you in the dust?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Which was the vessel of your Lust?  What

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Leman had you, every day?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Did giant Lizards come and crouch before you

上海龙凤shlf最新地址on the reedy banks?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Did Gryphons with great metal flanks leap on

上海龙凤shlf最新地址you in your trampled couch?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Did monstrous hippopotami come sidling toward

上海龙凤shlf最新地址you in the mist?

Did gilt-scaled dragons writhe and twist with

上海龙凤shlf最新地址passion as you passed them by?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And from the brick-built Lycian tomb what

horrible Chimera came

上海龙凤shlf最新地址With fearful heads and fearful flame to breed

上海龙凤shlf最新地址new wonders from your womb?

Or had you shameful secret quests and did

上海龙凤shlf最新地址you harry to your home

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Some Nereid coiled in amber foam with curious

rock crystal breasts?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Or did you treading through the froth call to

the brown Sidonian

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For tidings of Leviathan, Leviathan or

Behemoth?

Or did you when the sun was set climb up the

上海龙凤shlf最新地址cactus-covered slope

To meet your swarthy Ethiop whose body was

of polished jet?

Or did you while the earthen skiffs dropped

上海龙凤shlf最新地址down the grey Nilotic flats

At twilight and the flickering bats flew round

the temple's triple glyphs

Steal to the border of the bar and swim across

上海龙凤shlf最新地址the silent lake

And slink into the vault and make the Pyramid

your lupanar

Till from each black sarcophagus rose up the

painted swathed dead?

Or did you lure unto your bed the ivory-horned

Tragelaphos?

Or did you love the god of flies who plagued

上海龙凤shlf最新地址the Hebrews and was splashed

上海龙凤shlf最新地址With wine unto the waist? or Pasht, who had

上海龙凤shlf最新地址green beryls for her eyes?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Or that young god, the Tyrian, who was more

amorous than the dove

Of Ashtaroth? or did you love the god of the

Assyrian

Whose wings, like strange transparent talc, rose

high above his hawk-faced head,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Painted with silver and with red and ribbed with

rods of Oreichalch?

Or did huge Apis from his car leap down and

上海龙凤shlf最新地址lay before your feet

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Big blossoms of the honey-sweet and honey-

coloured nenuphar?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址How subtle-secret is your smile!  Did you

love none then?  Nay, I know

Great Ammon was your bedfellow!  He lay with

you beside the Nile!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The river-horses in the slime trumpeted when

they saw him come

Odorous with Syrian galbanum and smeared with

spikenard and with thyme.

He came along the river bank like some tall

galley argent-sailed,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He strode across the waters, mailed in beauty,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址and the waters sank.

He strode across the desert sand:  he reached

the valley where you lay:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址He waited till the dawn of day:  then touched

your black breasts with his hand.

You kissed his mouth with mouths of flame:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址you made the horned god your own:

You stood behind him on his throne:  you called

him by his secret name.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址You whispered monstrous oracles into the

上海龙凤shlf最新地址caverns of his ears:

With blood of goats and blood of steers you

taught him monstrous miracles.

White Ammon was your bedfellow!  Your

chamber was the steaming Nile!

And with your curved archaic smile you watched

上海龙凤shlf最新地址his passion come and go.

With Syrian oils his brows were bright:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址and wide-spread as a tent at noon

His marble limbs made pale the moon and lent

the day a larger light.

His long hair was nine cubits' span and coloured

like that yellow gem

Which hidden in their garment's hem the

merchants bring from Kurdistan.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址His face was as the must that lies upon a vat of

new-made wine:

The seas could not insapphirine the perfect azure

of his eyes.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址His thick soft throat was white as milk and

threaded with thin veins of blue:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And curious pearls like frozen dew were

上海龙凤shlf最新地址broidered on his flowing silk.

On pearl and porphyry pedestalled he was

too bright to look upon:

For on his ivory breast there shone the wondrous

上海龙凤shlf最新地址ocean-emerald,

That mystic moonlit jewel which some diver of

the Colchian caves

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Had found beneath the blackening waves and

上海龙凤shlf最新地址carried to the Colchian witch.

Before his gilded galiot ran naked vine-wreathed

corybants,

And lines of swaying elephants knelt down to

draw his chariot,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And lines of swarthy Nubians bare up his litter

as he rode

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Down the great granite-paven road between the

nodding peacock-fans.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The merchants brought him steatite from Sidon

in their painted ships:

The meanest cup that touched his lips was

fashioned from a chrysolite.

The merchants brought him cedar chests of rich

上海龙凤shlf最新地址apparel bound with cords:

His train was borne by Memphian lords:  young

kings were glad to be his guests.

Ten hundred shaven priests did bow to Ammon's

上海龙凤shlf最新地址altar day and night,

Ten hundred lamps did wave their light through

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Ammon's carven house - and now

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Foul snake and speckled adder with their young

上海龙凤shlf最新地址ones crawl from stone to stone

For ruined is the house and prone the great

rose-marble monolith!

Wild ass or trotting jackal comes and couches

in the mouldering gates:

Wild satyrs call unto their mates across the

fallen fluted drums.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And on the summit of the pile the blue-faced

上海龙凤shlf最新地址ape of Horus sits

And gibbers while the fig-tree splits the pillars

of the peristyle

The god is scattered here and there:  deep

hidden in the windy sand

上海龙凤shlf最新地址I saw his giant granite hand still clenched in

impotent despair.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And many a wandering caravan of stately

negroes silken-shawled,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Crossing the desert, halts appalled before the

neck that none can span.

And many a bearded Bedouin draws back his

上海龙凤shlf最新地址yellow-striped burnous

To gaze upon the Titan thews of him who was

thy paladin.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Go, seek his fragments on the moor and

wash them in the evening dew,

And from their pieces make anew thy mutilated

paramour!

Go, seek them where they lie alone and from

上海龙凤shlf最新地址their broken pieces make

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Thy bruised bedfellow!  And wake mad passions

in the senseless stone!

Charm his dull ear with Syrian hymns! he loved

your body! oh, be kind,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Pour spikenard on his hair, and wind soft rolls

上海龙凤shlf最新地址of linen round his limbs!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Wind round his head the figured coins! stain

with red fruits those pallid lips!

Weave purple for his shrunken hips! and purple

上海龙凤shlf最新地址for his barren loins!

Away to Egypt!  Have no fear.  Only one

上海龙凤shlf最新地址God has ever died.

Only one God has let His side be wounded by a

soldier's spear.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址But these, thy lovers, are not dead.  Still by the

hundred-cubit gate

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Dog-faced Anubis sits in state with lotus-lilies

上海龙凤shlf最新地址for thy head.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Still from his chair of porphyry gaunt Memnon

上海龙凤shlf最新地址strains his lidless eyes

Across the empty land, and cries each yellow

morning unto thee.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And Nilus with his broken horn lies in his black

上海龙凤shlf最新地址and oozy bed

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And till thy coming will not spread his waters on

the withering corn.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Your lovers are not dead, I know.  They will

rise up and hear your voice

And clash their cymbals and rejoice and run to

kiss your mouth!  And so,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Set wings upon your argosies!  Set horses to

your ebon car!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Back to your Nile!  Or if you are grown sick of

上海龙凤shlf最新地址dead divinities

Follow some roving lion's spoor across the copper-

coloured plain,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Reach out and hale him by the mane and bid

上海龙凤shlf最新地址him be your paramour!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Couch by his side upon the grass and set your

white teeth in his throat

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And when you hear his dying note lash your

上海龙凤shlf最新地址long flanks of polished brass

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And take a tiger for your mate, whose amber

sides are flecked with black,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And ride upon his gilded back in triumph

上海龙凤shlf最新地址through the Theban gate,

And toy with him in amorous jests, and when

上海龙凤shlf最新地址he turns, and snarls, and gnaws,

O smite him with your jasper claws! and bruise

him with your agate breasts!

Why are you tarrying?  Get hence!  I

上海龙凤shlf最新地址weary of your sullen ways,

I weary of your steadfast gaze, your somnolent

上海龙凤shlf最新地址magnificence.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Your horrible and heavy breath makes the light

上海龙凤shlf最新地址flicker in the lamp,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And on my brow I feel the damp and dreadful

dews of night and death.

Your eyes are like fantastic moons that shiver

in some stagnant lake,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Your tongue is like a scarlet snake that dances

to fantastic tunes,

Your pulse makes poisonous melodies, and your

black throat is like the hole

Left by some torch or burning coal on Saracenic

tapestries.

Away!  The sulphur-coloured stars are hurrying

上海龙凤shlf最新地址through the Western gate!

Away!  Or it may be too late to climb their silent

silver cars!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址See, the dawn shivers round the grey gilt-dialled

towers, and the rain

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Streams down each diamonded pane and blurs

with tears the wannish day.

What snake-tressed fury fresh from Hell, with

上海龙凤shlf最新地址uncouth gestures and unclean,

Stole from the poppy-drowsy queen and led you

to a student's cell?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址What songless tongueless ghost of sin crept

through the curtains of the night,

And saw my taper burning bright, and knocked,

and bade you enter in?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Are there not others more accursed, whiter with

上海龙凤shlf最新地址leprosies than I?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Are Abana and Pharphar dry that you come here

to slake your thirst?

Get hence, you loathsome mystery!  Hideous

上海龙凤shlf最新地址animal, get hence!

You wake in me each bestial sense, you make me

上海龙凤shlf最新地址what I would not be.

You make my creed a barren sham, you wake

foul dreams of sensual life,

And Atys with his blood-stained knife were

better than the thing I am.

False Sphinx!  False Sphinx!  By reedy Styx

old Charon, leaning on his oar,

Waits for my coin.  Go thou before, and leave

me to my crucifix,

Whose pallid burden, sick with pain, watches

the world with wearied eyes,

And weeps for every soul that dies, and weeps

for every soul in vain.