HerlostdaughterProserpine.
ButtheGoddessfoundnorefuge,
Foundnokindlywelcomethere,
Andnotemplebearingwitness
Totheworshipofthegods.
"Fromthefieldsandfromthevineyards
Camenofruitstodeckthefeasts,
Onlyfleshofbloodstainedvictims
Smolderedonthealtar-fires,
Andwhere'erthegrievinggoddess
Turnshermelancholygaze,
Sunkinvilestdegradation
Manhisloathsomenessdisplays."
MityabrokeintosobsandseizedAlyosha'shand.
"Mydear, mydear, indegradation, indegradationnow, 'saterribleamountofsufferingformanonearth, 'tthinkI'monlyabruteinanofficer'suniform, —ifonlyI''.
Wouldhepurgehissoulfromvileness
Andattaintolightandworth,
Hemustturnandclingforever
TohisancientMotherEarth.
''? IgoonandIdon'tknowwhetherI''sthetrouble, foreverythingintheworldisariddle! AndwheneverI'vehappenedtosinkintothevilestdegradation (andit'salwaysbeenhappening) ? Never! ForI', Igoheadlongwithmyheelsup, andampleasedtobefallinginthatdegradingattitude, , , IamThyson, OLord, andIloveThee, andIfeelthejoywithoutwhichtheworldcannotstand.
Joyeverlastingfostereth
Thesoulofallcreation,
Itishersecretfermentfires
Thecupoflifewithflame.
'Tisatherbeckthegrasshathturned
Eachbladetowardsthelight
Andsolarsystemshaveevolved
Fromchaosanddarknight,
Fillingtherealmsofboundlessspace
Beyondthesage'ssight.
AtbounteousNature'skindlybreast,
AllthingsthatbreathedrinkJoy,
Andbirdsandbeastsandcreepingthings
AllfollowwhereSheleads.
Hergiftstomanarefriendsinneed,
Thewreath, thefoamingmust,
Toangels—visionofGod'sthrone,
Toinsects—sensuallust.
Butenoughpoetry! Iamintears; ', "sensuallust."
Toinsects—sensuallust.
Iamthatinsect, brother, , and, angelasyouare, thatinsectlivesinyou, too, , becausesensuallustisatempest—worsethanatempest! Beautyisaterribleandawfulthing! Itisterriblebecauseithasnotbeenfathomedandnevercanbefathomed, , brother, butI''sterriblewhatmysteriesthereare! , ! Ican''sstillmoreawfulisthatamanwiththeidealofSodominhissouldoesnotrenouncetheidealoftheMadonna, andhisheartmaybeonfirewiththatideal, genuinelyonfire, , manisbroad, toobroad, indeed.I'! ? Believeme, ? , nowtocometofacts."
