Poem: The Sphinx
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Poem: The Sphinx
(To Marcel Schwob in friendship and in admiration)
In a dim corner of my room for longer than
my fancy thinks
A beautiful and silent Sphinx has watched me
上海龙凤shlf最新地址through the shifting gloom.
Inviolate and immobile she does not rise she
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址moonlight ebb and flow
But with the Dawn she does not go and in the
上海龙凤shlf最新地址night-time she is there.
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址tawny throat of her
Flutters the soft and silky fur or ripples to her
pointed ears.
Come forth, my lovely seneschal! so somnolent,
so statuesque!
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Come forth you exquisite grotesque! half woman
上海龙凤shlf最新地址and half animal!
Come forth my lovely languorous Sphinx! and
put your head upon my knee!
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
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
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.
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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?
And did you watch the Egyptian melt her union
for Antony
And drink the jewel-drunken wine and bend
上海龙凤shlf最新地址her head in mimic awe
To see the huge proconsul draw the salted tunny
from the brine?
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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?
Lift up your large black satin eyes which are
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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!
Sing to me of the Jewish maid who wandered
上海龙凤shlf最新地址with the Holy Child,
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址You heard from Adrian's gilded barge the
上海龙凤shlf最新地址laughter of Antinous
And lapped the stream and fed your drouth and
watched with hot and hungry stare
上海龙凤shlf最新地址The ivory body of that rare young slave with
his pomegranate mouth!
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Sing to me of the Labyrinth in which the twi-
formed bull was stalled!
Sing to me of the night you crawled across the
上海龙凤shlf最新地址temple's granite plinth
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,
And the great torpid crocodile within the tank
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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?
Which was the vessel of your Lust? What
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Leman had you, every day?
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
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?
And from the brick-built Lycian tomb what
horrible Chimera came
With fearful heads and fearful flame to breed
new wonders from your womb?
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
For tidings of Leviathan, Leviathan or
Behemoth?
Or did you when the sun was set climb up the
cactus-covered slope
上海龙凤shlf最新地址To meet your swarthy Ethiop whose body was
of polished jet?
Or did you while the earthen skiffs dropped
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址And slink into the vault and make the Pyramid
your lupanar
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Till from each black sarcophagus rose up the
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
green beryls for her eyes?
Or that young god, the Tyrian, who was more
上海龙凤shlf最新地址amorous than the dove
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址galley argent-sailed,
He strode across the waters, mailed in beauty,
上海龙凤shlf最新地址and the waters sank.
上海龙凤shlf最新地址He strode across the desert sand: he reached
the valley where you lay:
He waited till the dawn of day: then touched
your black breasts with his hand.
上海龙凤shlf最新地址You kissed his mouth with mouths of flame:
you made the horned god your own:
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
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!
上海龙凤shlf最新地址And with your curved archaic smile you watched
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址the day a larger light.
上海龙凤shlf最新地址His long hair was nine cubits' span and coloured
上海龙凤shlf最新地址like that yellow gem
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址broidered on his flowing silk.
On pearl and porphyry pedestalled he was
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
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
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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,
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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!
Wild ass or trotting jackal comes and couches
in the mouldering gates:
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
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
I saw his giant granite hand still clenched in
impotent despair.
And many a wandering caravan of stately
上海龙凤shlf最新地址negroes silken-shawled,
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.
Go, seek his fragments on the moor and
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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!
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Charm his dull ear with Syrian hymns! he loved
上海龙凤shlf最新地址your body! oh, be kind,
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Pour spikenard on his hair, and wind soft rolls
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!
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Away to Egypt! Have no fear. Only one
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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.
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.
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.
And Nilus with his broken horn lies in his black
and oozy bed
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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,
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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,
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
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
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址magnificence.
Your horrible and heavy breath makes the light
flicker in the lamp,
And on my brow I feel the damp and dreadful
dews of night and death.
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Your eyes are like fantastic moons that shiver
上海龙凤shlf最新地址in some stagnant lake,
Your tongue is like a scarlet snake that dances
上海龙凤shlf最新地址to fantastic tunes,
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Your pulse makes poisonous melodies, and your
上海龙凤shlf最新地址black throat is like the hole
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Left by some torch or burning coal on Saracenic
上海龙凤shlf最新地址tapestries.
Away! The sulphur-coloured stars are hurrying
through the Western gate!
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Away! Or it may be too late to climb their silent
上海龙凤shlf最新地址silver cars!
See, the dawn shivers round the grey gilt-dialled
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址through the curtains of the night,
上海龙凤shlf最新地址And saw my taper burning bright, and knocked,
and bade you enter in?
Are there not others more accursed, whiter with
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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?
上海龙凤shlf最新地址Get hence, you loathsome mystery! Hideous
animal, get hence!
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
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
上海龙凤shlf最新地址better than the thing I am.
上海龙凤shlf最新地址False Sphinx! False Sphinx! By reedy Styx
上海龙凤shlf最新地址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
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.