NamSibyllamquidemCumisegoipseoculismeisvidiinampullapendere,etcumillipueridicerent:Sibyllatitheleis;respondebatilla:apothaneinthelo.I.THEBURIALOFTHEDEADAprilisthecruellestmonth,breedingLilacsoutofthedeadland,mixingMemoryanddesire,stirringDullrootswithspringrain.Winterkeptuswarm,coveringEarthinforgetfulsnow,feedingAlittlelifewithdriedtubers.Summersurprisedus,comingovertheStarnbergerseeWithashowerofrain;westoppedinthecolonnade,Andwentoninsunlight,intotheHofgarten,Anddrankcoffee,andtalkedforanhour.BingarkeineRussin,stammausLitauen,echtdeutsch.Andwhenwewerechildren,stayingatthearchdukes,Mycousins,hetookmeoutonasled,AndIwasfrightened.Hesaid,Marie,Marie,holdontight.Anddownwewent.Inthemountains,thereyoufeelfree.Iread,muchofthenight,andgosouthinthewinter.Whataretherootsthatclutch,whatbranchesgrowOutofthisstonyrubbish?Sonofman,Youcannotsay,orguess,foryouknowonlyAheapofbrokenimages,wherethesunbeats,Andthedeadtreegivesnoshelter,thecricketnorelief,Andthedrystonenosoundofwater.OnlyThereisshadowunderthisredrock,(Comeinundertheshadowofthisredrock),AndIwillshowyousomethingdifferentfromeitherYourshadowatmorningstridingbehindyouOryourshadowateveningrisingtomeetyou;Iwillshowyoufearinahandfulofdust.FrischwehtderWindDerHeimatzuMeinIrischKind,Woweilestdu?Yougavemehyacinthsfirstayearago;Theycalledmethehyacinthgirl.––Yetwhenwecameback,late,fromtheHyacinthgarden,Yourarmsfull,andyourhairwet,IcouldnotSpeak,andmyeyesfailed,IwasneitherLivingnordead,andIknewnothing,Lookingintotheheartoflight,thesilence.OedundleerdasMeer.MadameSosostris,famousclairvoyante,Hadabadcold,neverthelessIsknowntobethewisestwomaninEurope,Withawickedpackofcards.Here,saidshe,Isyourcard,thedrownedPhoenicianSailor,(Thosearepearlsthatwerehiseyes.Look!)HereisBelladonna,theLadyoftheRocks,Theladyofsituations.Hereisthemanwiththreestaves,andheretheWheel,Andhereistheone-eyedmerchant,andthiscard,Whichisblank,issomethinghecarriesonhisback,WhichIamforbiddentosee.IdonotfindTheHangedMan.Feardeathbywater.Iseecrowdsofpeople,walkingroundinaring.Thankyou.IfyouseedearMrs.Equitone,TellherIbringthehoroscopemyself:Onemustbesocarefulthesedays.UnrealCity,Underthebrownfogofawinterdawn,AcrowdflowedoverLondonBridge,somany,Ihadnotthoughtdeathhadundonesomany.Sighs,shortandinfrequent,wereexhaled,Andeachmanfixedhiseyesbeforehisfeet.FlowedupthehillanddownKingWilliamStreet,TowhereSaintMaryWoolnothkeptthehoursWithadeadsoundonthefinalstrokeofnine.ThereIsawoneIknew,andstoppedhim,cryingStetson!YouwhowerewithmeintheshipsatMylae!Thatcorpseyouplantedlastyearinyourgarden,Hasitbeguntosprout?Willitbloomthisyear?Orhasthesuddenfrostdisturbeditsbed?OhkeeptheDogfarhence,thatsfriendtomen,Orwithhisnailshelldigitupagain!You!hypocritelecteur!-monsemblable,-monfrere!II.AGAMEOFCHESSTheChairshesatin,likeaburnishedthrone,Glowedonthemarble,wheretheglassHeldupbystandardswroughtwithfruitedvinesFromwhichagoldenCupidonpeepedout(Anotherhidhiseyesbehindhiswing)DoubledtheflamesofsevenbranchedcandelabraReflectinglightuponthetableasTheglitterofherjewelsrosetomeetit,Fromsatincasespouredinrichprofusion;InvialsofivoryandcolouredglassUnstoppered,lurkedherstrangesyntheticperfumes,Unguent,powdered,orliquid-troubled,confusedAnddrownedthesenseinodours;stirredbytheairThatfreshenedfromthewindow,theseascendedInfatteningtheprolongedcandle-flames,Flungtheirsmokeintothelaquearia,Stirringthepatternonthecofferedceiling.Hugesea-woodfedwithcopperBurnedgreenandorange,framedbythecolouredstone,Inwhichsadlightacarveddolphinswam.AbovetheantiquemantelwasdisplayedAsthoughawindowgaveuponthesylvansceneThechangeofPhilomel,bythebarbarouskingSorudelyforced;yettherethenightingaleFilledallthedesertwithinviolablevoiceAndstillshecried,andstilltheworldpursues,JugJugtodirtyears.AndotherwitheredstumpsoftimeWeretolduponthewalls;staringformsLeanedout,leaning,hushingtheroomenclosed.Footstepsshuffledonthestair.Underthefirelight,underthebrush,herhairSpreadoutinfierypointsGlowedintowords,thenwouldbesavagelystill.Mynervesarebadto-night.Yes,bad.Staywithme.Speaktome.Whydoyouneverspeak.Speak.Whatareyouthinkingof?Whatthinking?What?Ineverknowwhatyouarethinking.Think.IthinkweareinratsalleyWherethedeadmenlosttheirbones.Whatisthatnoise?Thewindunderthedoor.Whatisthatnoisenow?Whatisthewinddoing?Nothingagainnothing.DoYouknownothing?Doyouseenothing?DoyourememberNothing?IrememberThosearepearlsthatwerehiseyes.Areyoualive,ornot?Istherenothinginyourhead?ButOOOOthatShakespeherianRag-ItssoelegantSointelligentWhatshallIdonow?WhatshallIdo?IshallrushoutasIam,andwalkthestreetWithmyhairdown,so.Whatshallwedoto-morrow?Whatshallweeverdo?Thehotwateratten.Andifitrains,aclosedcaratfour.Andweshallplayagameofchess,Pressinglidlesseyesandwaitingforaknockuponthedoor.WhenLilshusbandgotdemobbed,Isaid-Ididntmincemywords,Isaidtohermyself,HURRYUPPLEASEITSTIMENowAlbertscomingback,makeyourselfabitsmart.HellwanttoknowwhatyoudonewiththatmoneyhegaveyouTogetyourselfsometeeth.Hedid,Iwasthere.Youhavethemallout,Lil,andgetaniceset,Hesaid,Iswear,Icantbeartolookatyou.AndnomorecantI,Isaid,andthinkofpoorAlbert,Hesbeeninthea