Readings in Sri Aurobindo's Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol from Book II, Canto 8

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For terrible agencies the spirit
allows, and there are subtle and

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enormous powers that shield
themselves with the covering

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ignorance, Offspring of the
gulfs, agents of the shadowy

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force, haters of light,
intolerant of peace.

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Aping to the thought, the
shining friend and guide,

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opposing in the heart the
eternal will, they veil the

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occult, uplifting harmonist.
His wisdom's oracles are made

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our bonds the doors of God.
They have locked with keys of

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creed, and shut out by the law
his tireless grace.

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Along all nature's lines they
have set their posts and

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intercept the caravans of light.
Wherever the gods act, they

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intervene.
A yoke is laid upon the world's

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dim heart.
Masked are its beats from the

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supernal bliss, and the closed
peripheries of brilliant mind

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block the fine entries of
celestial fire.

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Always the dark adventurers seem
to win nature.

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They fill with evils.
Institutes turn into defeats.

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The victories of truth proclaim
as falsehoods the eternal laws,

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and load the dice of doom With
wizard lies.

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The world shrines they have
occupied usurped its Thrones in

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scorn of the dwindling chances
of the gods.

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They claim creation as their
conquered thief, and crown

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themselves the iron Lords of
time.

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Adepts of the illusion and the
mask.

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The artificers of nature's fall
and pain have built their altars

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of triumphant night in the clay
temple of terrestrial life, in

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the vacant precincts of the
sacred fire in front of the

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raredos, in the Mystic rite
facing the dim villam and nun

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can Pierce in tones his solemn
hymn, the mitred priest,

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invoking their dreadful presence
in his breast, attributing to

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them the awful name, he chants
the syllables of the magic

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texts, and summons the unseen
communions act while twixt the

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incense and the muttered prayer.
All the fierce Bale with which

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the world is wracked is mixed in
the foaming chalice of man's

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heart, and poured to them like
sacramental wine.

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Assuming names divine, they
guide and rule opponents of the

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highest.
They have come out of their

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world of soulless thought and
power to serve by enmity.

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The cosmic scheme Night is their
refuge and strategic base

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against the Sword of Flame, the
Luminous Eye bastions.

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They live in massive forts of
gloom, calm and secure in

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sunless privacy.
No wandering ray of heaven can

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enter there.
Armored, protected by their

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lethal masks, as in a studio of
creative death, the giant sons

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of darkness sit and plan the
drama of the earth, their tragic

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stage.
All who would raise the fallen

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world must come under the
dangerous arches of their power,

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for even the radiant children of
the gods to darken their

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privileges and dreadful right.
None can reach heaven who has

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not passed through hell.