Canto 74Oh, but fair was her face
Book 16. Part Seven - Pondicherry Circa 1927 – 1947
O pall of black Night
O pall of black Night painted with still gold stars,
Hang now thy folds, close, clinging against earth’s bars,
O dim Night!
5Then Slumber shall come swinging the unseen
Gates, and to lands guarded by a screen
Of strange light
Set out, my soul charioted on a swift dream
From earth escape slipping into the unknown gleam,
10The Ray white.
To the hill-tops of silence
To the hill-tops of silence from over the infinite sea,
Golden he came,
Armed with the flame,
15Looked on the world that his greatness and passion must free.
Oh, but fair was her face
Oh, but fair was her face as she lolled in her green-tinted robe,
Emerald trees,
Sapphire seas,
20Sun-ring and moon-ring that glittered and hung in each lobe.