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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Mr. Sampson
COLLEGIUM AD SPIRITUM SANCTUM Cefalu, Sicily
Mar. 23, 1923. Sampson, Esq.
Dear Sir,
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Frater Ahah [Frank Bennett] has sent me a little essay of yours, without saying why. I have to presume that it is intended for me to criticize. Now criticism is my strong point. I have a mean envious disposition which finds its chief pleasure in picking holes in the works of better men than myself. You have therefore came to the right shop, and here are the goods wrapped up and tied with a beautiful pink tape, with a loop for you to put your finger through.
I like your essay on the fly, bee, tigress, scorn, child, and Christ rather well. There is a lot of thought in it, which is very unusual in essays. That thought, too, is decided deep and true [although] I am going to quarrel with you about the form. You have a good vocabulary and considerable mastery of English; there is a certain sublimity of style, as well as lucidity, and directness. You understand moreover, how to use some of the tricks of composition. For example the surprise identification which Aristotle himself claims as the master-stroke in tragedy. But your essay will not do for all that.
You can write well; but here you have been trying to write in a form beyond your present capacity. The result is that one receives an impression of affectation, which always suggests insincerity and that is very misleading, because you are obviously in dead earnest. The moral of each section is very well brought out and the repetition of phrases and ideas, especially the; "that art thou" is very effective. But a composition which depends as this does, for these reasons, upon its form, demands a perfection of form which even the greatest masters of language might hesitate to attempt. You would "get away with it" more easily if it were poetry, where the structure would help. In prose, you have a certain latitude, so that the most trifling imperfection (though difficult to detect while writing) shows glaringly in the completed work. The punctuation, by the way, might be improved. The essay should be re-written, and I suggest that it be cast into an austere form such as that of the Psalms. The paragraphs might be much shorter with advantage and the refrains (such as "that art thou") brought into prominence by suitable paragraphing. I should say that you have a very remarkable talent for this kind of prose; but you can never give too much attention to the formal perfection. Compare the 136 Psalm, and several others, such as the 150th.
Love is the law, love under will.
Yours fraternally.
Copy of a letter received by Frater Progradior [Frank Bennett] (to be given to Mr. Sampson) from the Beast 666. May 9 1923 e.v. and handed to him on May 11, 1923 e.v. by me Frater Progradior. 6º = 5o A∴A∴
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