Poem: The Sphinx

上海龙凤shlf最新地址(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

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.

Red follows grey across the air, the waves of

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

Lies couching on the Chinese mat with eyes of

satin rimmed with gold.

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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址and half animal!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Come forth my lovely languorous Sphinx! and

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

And let me stroke your throat and see your

上海龙凤shlf最新地址body spotted like the Lynx!

And let me touch those curving claws of yellow

ivory and grasp

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The tail that like a monstrous Asp coils round

your heavy velvet paws!

A thousand weary centuries are thine

while I have hardly seen

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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Autumn's gaudy liveries.

But you can read the Hieroglyphs on the

great sandstone obelisks,

And you have talked with Basilisks, and you

have looked on Hippogriffs.

O tell me, were you standing by when Isis to

Osiris knelt?

And did you watch the Egyptian melt her union

for Antony

And drink the jewel-drunken wine and bend

her head in mimic awe

上海龙凤shlf最新地址To see the huge proconsul draw the salted tunny

上海龙凤shlf最新地址from the brine?

And did you mark the Cyprian kiss white Adon

on his catafalque?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And did you follow Amenalk, the God of

Heliopolis?

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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址the wedge-shaped Pyramid?

Lift up your large black satin eyes which are

like cushions where one sinks!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Fawn at my feet, fantastic Sphinx! and sing me

上海龙凤shlf最新地址all your memories!

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

how they slept beneath your shade.

Sing to me of that odorous green eve when

crouching by the marge

You heard from Adrian's gilded barge the

laughter of Antinous

And lapped the stream and fed your drouth and

上海龙凤shlf最新地址watched with hot and hungry stare

The ivory body of that rare young slave with

上海龙凤shlf最新地址his pomegranate mouth!

Sing to me of the Labyrinth in which the twi-

上海龙凤shlf最新地址formed bull was stalled!

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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址temple's granite plinth

上海龙凤shlf最新地址When through the purple corridors the screaming

上海龙凤shlf最新地址scarlet Ibis flew

In terror, and a horrid dew dripped from the

上海龙凤shlf最新地址moaning Mandragores,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And the great torpid crocodile within the tank

shed slimy tears,

And tare the jewels from his ears and staggered

上海龙凤shlf最新地址back into the Nile,

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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Who were your lovers? who were they

上海龙凤shlf最新地址who wrestled for you in the dust?

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

Leman had you, every day?

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

on the reedy banks?

Did Gryphons with great metal flanks leap on

you in your trampled couch?

Did monstrous hippopotami come sidling toward

上海龙凤shlf最新地址you in the mist?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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

With fearful heads and fearful flame to breed

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

Some Nereid coiled in amber foam with curious

上海龙凤shlf最新地址rock crystal breasts?

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

the brown Sidonian

For tidings of Leviathan, Leviathan or

Behemoth?

Or did you when the sun was set climb up the

cactus-covered slope

To meet your swarthy Ethiop whose body was

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址your lupanar

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Till from each black sarcophagus rose up the

painted swathed dead?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Or did you lure unto your bed the ivory-horned

Tragelaphos?

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址amorous than the dove

Of Ashtaroth? or did you love the god of the

Assyrian

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址rods of Oreichalch?

Or did huge Apis from his car leap down and

lay before your feet

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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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!

The river-horses in the slime trumpeted when

上海龙凤shlf最新地址they saw him come

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Odorous with Syrian galbanum and smeared with

spikenard and with thyme.

He came along the river bank like some tall

galley argent-sailed,

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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址your black breasts with his hand.

You kissed his mouth with mouths of flame:

you made the horned god your own:

You stood behind him on his throne:  you called

him by his secret name.

You whispered monstrous oracles into the

caverns of his ears:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址With blood of goats and blood of steers you

taught him monstrous miracles.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址White Ammon was your bedfellow!  Your

上海龙凤shlf最新地址chamber was the steaming Nile!

And with your curved archaic smile you watched

his passion come and go.

With Syrian oils his brows were bright:

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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址like that yellow gem

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Which hidden in their garment's hem the

merchants bring from Kurdistan.

His face was as the must that lies upon a vat of

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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:

And curious pearls like frozen dew were

broidered on his flowing silk.

On pearl and porphyry pedestalled he was

too bright to look upon:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For on his ivory breast there shone the wondrous

ocean-emerald,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址That mystic moonlit jewel which some diver of

上海龙凤shlf最新地址the Colchian caves

Had found beneath the blackening waves and

carried to the Colchian witch.

Before his gilded galiot ran naked vine-wreathed

corybants,

And lines of swaying elephants knelt down to

上海龙凤shlf最新地址draw his chariot,

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

as he rode

Down the great granite-paven road between the

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址The merchants brought him cedar chests of rich

apparel bound with cords:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址His train was borne by Memphian lords:  young

上海龙凤shlf最新地址kings were glad to be his guests.

Ten hundred shaven priests did bow to Ammon's

altar day and night,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Ten hundred lamps did wave their light through

Ammon's carven house - and now

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

ones crawl from stone to stone

上海龙凤shlf最新地址For ruined is the house and prone the great

上海龙凤shlf最新地址rose-marble monolith!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Wild ass or trotting jackal comes and couches

上海龙凤shlf最新地址in the mouldering gates:

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Wild satyrs call unto their mates across the

fallen fluted drums.

And on the summit of the pile the blue-faced

上海龙凤shlf最新地址ape of Horus sits

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And gibbers while the fig-tree splits the pillars

上海龙凤shlf最新地址of the peristyle

The god is scattered here and there:  deep

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址neck that none can span.

And many a bearded Bedouin draws back his

yellow-striped burnous

To gaze upon the Titan thews of him who was

thy paladin.

Go, seek his fragments on the moor and

wash them in the evening dew,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And from their pieces make anew thy mutilated

paramour!

Go, seek them where they lie alone and from

their broken pieces make

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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址in the senseless stone!

Charm his dull ear with Syrian hymns! he loved

上海龙凤shlf最新地址your body! oh, be kind,

Pour spikenard on his hair, and wind soft rolls

of linen round his limbs!

Wind round his head the figured coins! stain

with red fruits those pallid lips!

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Weave purple for his shrunken hips! and purple

for his barren loins!

Away to Egypt!  Have no fear.  Only one

God has ever died.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Only one God has let His side be wounded by a

上海龙凤shlf最新地址soldier's spear.

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

for thy head.

Still from his chair of porphyry gaunt Memnon

strains his lidless eyes

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Across the empty land, and cries each yellow

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址the withering corn.

Your lovers are not dead, I know.  They will

rise up and hear your voice

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And clash their cymbals and rejoice and run to

上海龙凤shlf最新地址kiss your mouth!  And so,

Set wings upon your argosies!  Set horses to

your ebon car!

Back to your Nile!  Or if you are grown sick of

dead divinities

Follow some roving lion's spoor across the copper-

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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

long flanks of polished brass

And take a tiger for your mate, whose amber

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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

weary of your sullen ways,

I weary of your steadfast gaze, your somnolent

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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址to fantastic tunes,

Your pulse makes poisonous melodies, and your

上海龙凤shlf最新地址black throat is like the hole

Left by some torch or burning coal on Saracenic

tapestries.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Away!  The sulphur-coloured stars are hurrying

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

上海龙凤shlf最新地址towers, and the rain

Streams down each diamonded pane and blurs

上海龙凤shlf最新地址with tears the wannish day.

What snake-tressed fury fresh from Hell, with

uncouth gestures and unclean,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址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

leprosies than I?

Are Abana and Pharphar dry that you come here

上海龙凤shlf最新地址to slake your thirst?

Get hence, you loathsome mystery!  Hideous

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.

上海龙凤shlf最新地址You make my creed a barren sham, you wake

上海龙凤shlf最新地址foul dreams of sensual life,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And Atys with his blood-stained knife were

better than the thing I am.

False Sphinx!  False Sphinx!  By reedy Styx

上海龙凤shlf最新地址old Charon, leaning on his oar,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Waits for my coin.  Go thou before, and leave

me to my crucifix,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址Whose pallid burden, sick with pain, watches

上海龙凤shlf最新地址the world with wearied eyes,

上海龙凤shlf最新地址And weeps for every soul that dies, and weeps

上海龙凤shlf最新地址for every soul in vain.