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Star In the West TNR.pdf - The Hermetic Library

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<strong>The</strong> handmaidens of Aphrodite ga<strong>the</strong>r round <strong>the</strong>m, and <strong>the</strong>ir silver voices<br />

rise in one of those sweet clear songs, already so familiar to our ears, set like<br />

a gem in <strong>the</strong> gold of <strong>the</strong> narrative. <strong>The</strong> following rondel I choose for its<br />

simplicity and sweetness:<br />

Sing, little bird, it is dawn;<br />

Cry! with <strong>the</strong> day <strong>the</strong> woods ring;<br />

Now in <strong>the</strong> blush of <strong>the</strong> morn,<br />

Sing!<br />

Love doth enchain me and cling,<br />

Love, of <strong>the</strong> breeze that is born,<br />

Love, with <strong>the</strong> breeze that takes wing.<br />

Love that is lighter than scorn,<br />

Love that is strong as a king,<br />

Love, through <strong>the</strong> gate that is horn,<br />

Sing!*<br />

*<strong>The</strong> Tale of Archais, vol. i, p. 14.<br />

<strong>The</strong> anger of Zeus is aroused. Aphrodite bids Charicles flee, but his passion<br />

is too great, he defies <strong>the</strong> powers. (<strong>The</strong>y are only gods; would he have<br />

succeeded had <strong>the</strong>y been Grundy?) <strong>The</strong> curse of Zeus is reversed:<br />

His form did change, and, writhing from her clasp,<br />

Fled hissing outward, a more hateful asp<br />

Than <strong>In</strong>dia breeds to-day.<br />

. . . . . . . . . . . . .<br />

…till day<br />

Dropped her blue pinions, and <strong>the</strong> night drew on,<br />

And sable clouds banked out <strong>the</strong> weary sun.*<br />

*<strong>The</strong> Tale of Archais, vol. i, p. 16.<br />

<strong>The</strong> whole course of events is now reversed, Charicles a venomous adder,<br />

Archais once again her own divine and glorious self. And this is how we<br />

find her <strong>the</strong> second time:

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