2 ?b90

178
"El teleosteo, reino de hueso, con su caballo de mar,, trueca los bronquios
en branquias, y Ileva el aquejado de athma (ahogo, en s6nscrito), a que
le penetre una cascada por la boca
...
" (1,238). This may present a
parallel with what Alberto is doing - providing Cemi with the poetic in-
spiration which will eventually lead to control and balance in the ritmo
hesicAstico of the final chapter. The phrases which immediately follow
seem to evoke Alberto's fate once his benevolent influence has had its
effect on Cemi: "Pero al final, las 16grimas de oro aparecen en la cAma-
ra mortuoria, donde el Chucho, muestra su morado, con eclipses azules y
su cola erotigante como la de un gato" (1.238) and yet: "Glanis hechi-
cero igual a Glanis, pez astuto, le enseTf6 no solo a no picar el anzuelo,
sino a comerse el gusanillo carnada" (1,240). Taking the bait without
the hook, as well as a sexual reference, could refer to a use of the
creativity of eros which-does not lead to death,, i. e. "el eros de la
lejania" as a means to poetic expression. By learning from Alberto's
mistakes and his use of rich language, Cemi may take the bait without
the hook. The "pez fAlico" is linked by the imagery to primeval chaos
and the "lechuza de mar, " the "sea owl" or "whore".. takes its place
bearing "los ceros de la muerte" (Ip 240) - in other words this sort of
sexuality leads to spiritual death. It is the path followed by Fibo
and all who are obsessed with sexual ecstasy. The final exhortation to
action could apply to Demetrio and Cemi equally well; "Tu muela de can-
grejo eq un molino para el trigo" (1.240). suggesting assimilations and
transformations. The signature rex puer suggests a young king, and as
Alberto is expressing himself in creative, evocative language, he may
at this point have some pretentions to the title. We recall here the
interest of Lezama in Lao-tse who is the "viejo-sabio-niffo" (IIp 890).
However whimsical Alberto's royal title, it echoes the many instances in
which royal personages are linked with family members, in order to