Like a cat beside a pool More than half afraid of it, Fishing gingerly I sit Here beside this pool of wit-- Dumb as any fool! Chirrups humor in the grass; Winds of tickling laughter pass, And the world grows wise forsooth, Lets gleam amused tooth Seeing in this water-glass Jests that swim the depths of truth, And like fins of fishes shiver It to fretful quirk and quiver. Ripples break and bubbles rise Catching smiles from out the skies In their globed eyes. Surely, surely there was never Such a pleasant river! Only I am out of tune Like an icicle in June, Or a monster from the moon. Dionysus, hear my prayer! Spreading arms to the mute air, I entreat thee, fashion me One with this gay company, One in mirth and one in song Dartling their minds among. Loosener of lips and heart, Draw my sullen mouth apart. Give a gleam to guide me by As a phare in a night-sky-- Grace of tongue and warmth of eye; Give me of thy fire and dew; Give me flash of mimic art-- Spice of Godhead in this brew To pierce my fellows thru and thru. Oh, thou vintal Deity, Loose my limbs that they may fly With this reckless revelry! Sick of sober ways am I; In this tumult I alone Am a satyr turned to stone; Satyr--satyr--not a man! Gifts I ask not of Apollo-- Wine is good and grief is hollow; I would follow after Pan; I would follow, follow, follow After Pan! Or if he wander ways too quiet, Shepherd ways of warmth and ease, Let me taste a wilder riot In thy mysteries-- Let me quaff it, laugh it, cry it! Give me, give me, give me these-- Fleet foot after those that flee, Hot veins amorous to seize Maenads maddened by the wine, Wound with hair and wreathed with vine, Maenads stained with purple lees-- Give me, give me, give me these. Only this I ask of thee Dionysus, Dionysus, son of Semele! THE ANSWER Lo! the God of purple pleasure Heard and hearkened to his prayer, Reft the swathed bands that bound him, From his cloak of Self unwound him, Filled him with supernal seizure That his humor's jewelled treasure Leaped and sparkled in the air-- Till the night was bright around him. Never such a jestful fit Dreamt he in his wildest wishes! Never from the pool of wit Had he drawn such shining fishes! Humid flame glowed in each eye And his face had changed its vesture, And his arms moved with strange gesture Apt in every mimicry. With the spell of Fire and Dew He pierced his fellows thru and thru. Surely Dithyrambus pressed him!