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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Gerald Kelly
Aug 2 1901.
Dear Gerald,
I near Colombo. From Hongkong I sent you "Alice" [Alice: an Adultery] etc. You might think of Shakespeare purple passages to adorn or explain some of the sonnets I haven't headed.
I thought of doing 50 more sonnets to give Alice's idea of each day but this is too great for me. I fear my style will give me away author = editor = critic. Perhaps the rose might be rewritten by another. We will see.
I will write in a week or so and give you news of my ideas re coming home.
You say Jones [George Cecil Jones] told you "my news between Cambridge and Mexico". You don't say how fully. I was a fool to go: but glad I went.
Orphy [Orpheus] is developing fast in idea, execution hangs fire—travelling makes everything impossible.
Book II. The Lament of O[rpheus]. (i) wild despair—disbelief in her really being dead etc. Lines 1-500 (ii) more or less philosophical considerations of his grief. (iii) wild outburst. (iv) more (ii) ending in desire to recall the happy days of his wooing.
[Book] II [pp.] 500-764 O[rpheus] describes how he found Eurydice. She is too vague to court. I have made her a nymph in a rainbow above a waterfall at the East end of a sacred pool. He invokes Aphrodite to give her humanity. A [phrodite] replies "Sing of your heroic exploits.
[Book] II [pp.] 764-? He invokes Jason Medea Aeaetes Pelias Hercules etc their shades and the Drama of the Argo is splayed before Euryd[ice].
She consents—love-duet.
Zeus comes in and explains that he will go mad unless she becomes mortal.
More love-duet in nobler numbers as she consents.
The Cosmic Fuck! (This is a new invention of mine which would take too long to explain).
The drama of MEDEA is played by request of Eurydice as a warning to O[rpheus] if he screws elsewhere.
Lament then continues and O[rpheus] decides to go to Hades.
Book III. O[rpheus] in Hell. Journey thither—conquest of Cerberus—Minas and Co, listen to O[rpheus] who sings them the DRAMA of Hercules and Theseus. etc etc. You can imagine all the rest which is undeveloped.
I have a suspicion that you think "The M herself for her enchanting son etc " is ME. 'Taint it's Milton though I confess I should not be ashamed if I had written it.
I can imagine your fury on reading this. The interpolation of two complete dramas into a passionate lament must seem to you the acme of dramatic impropriety.
I have not got K.F.[1] yet: mebbe it will be forwarded to me at Colombo. More likely you haven't sent it yet.
I am liverish and weary: no more now.
Ever,
A.C.
Enclosed newspaper cuttings are good.
The Silver Crescent should be interested in "The Golf Champion's" downfall!
1—[King's Friend. A play that Crowley was writing. It does not survive. Gerald Yorke.]
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