The work follows an enigmatic mystical tradition in which the preserved, exalted body of a revered figure is interred beneath a tomb filled with symbols representing the totality of existence. The followers of the mystery enshrine this relic with ever-burning, magical lamps—symbols of enduring wisdom and poetic revelation—transmitting an incomparable, metaphysical light across generations. The narrative contrasts the past, when imagination and inspired emotion birthed legendary figures and transcendent passions that elevated common life into myth, with the present era dominated by analytical criticism. It laments that art and imagination have been enclosed within the narrow confines of critique, reducing their transformative power to mere commentary on worldly affairs. Throughout the work, the author proclaims that the critical age is nearing its end and anticipates a rebirth marked by the return of a visionary, imaginative force that transcends mundane reality. As the prevailing focus shifts from external standards to internal revelation, everyday emotions and artistic passions will be recognized not as ephemeral reflections but as vital, divine manifestations. Art is portrayed not as an idle mirror of time’s fleeting tendencies but as a revelatory process that embodies the eternal and the ineffable. The text employs rich allegory and symbolism to evoke a timeless connection between the physical and the spiritual. It weaves together myth, historical tradition, and visionary prophecy to argue that true creativity and the art of inspiration are inherent spiritual gifts. These forces, once unburdened by the encroachments of rational criticism, are destined to restore belief in a supersensual world where deep, archetypal truths reside. The stylistic narrative melds allusions to ancient traditions, medieval mysticism, and Renaissance romanticism, suggesting that the remnants of an age when poetic genius and divine inspiration reigned supreme still cast immortal influences over modern thought. This conflation of eras serves as both a tribute to the lost splendors of the past and a clarion call for a future where art is experienced as a revelation—a spontaneous, inexhaustible outpouring of cosmic truth. Ultimately, the work serves as an artistic manifesto that critiques the dominant rationalist worldview and envisions an imminent cultural shift: from a focus on measured, dispassionate commentary to one that wholeheartedly embraces the mysterious, sometimes ineffable, power of imagination and emotion as the basis for understanding and experiencing reality.
By W.B. Yeats · First published 1931 · Genre: Symbolism, Allegory, Fantasy