Spell reflex

[Johnyxxx]

Hello,

I cannot make head or tail of what the bold text means; can anybody help me to understand?

Looking back on the heatless and rayless noonday of those Vats, I see, as I have said, the mere bodies of my friend and me, the upright bones of us, indescribably dwarfed by their antediluvian monstrosity. Yet within the lightless bellies of these sarcophagi were heaped up, we were utterly assured (though how, I know not) floods, beyond measure, of the waters for which our souls had pined. Waters, imaginably so clear as to be dense, as if of melted metal more translucent even than crystal; of such a tenuous purity that not even the moonlit branches of a dream would spell their reflex in them; so costly, so far beyond price, that this whole stony world's rubies and sapphires and amethysts of Mandalay and Guadalajara and Solikamsk, all the treasure-houses of Cambalech and the booty of King Tamburlane would suffice to purchase not one drop.

The Vats, Walter de la Mare, 1923

Thank you.

 

[Johnyxxx]

I have thought about what this challenging text could mean and it seems to me that the writer probably wanted to say that the water was so pure that even the moonlit branches of a dream would not dare to recflect in it, would not dare to profane its purity by their reflection. Could it be so?

 

[Tarheel]

I think you need to read that while you're stoned on marijuana. Or at least you should drink a few beers first. I think your guess is as good as anybody's.

 

[bhaisahab]

Yes, I think you have it, Johnyxxx.

 

[Johnyxxx]

I think you need to read that while you're stoned on marijuana. Or at least you should drink a few beers first.

As a matter of fact, I was drinking Pilsner Urquell while I was thinking what the text could mean. No joke, I mean it.

 

[Tdol]

I think it might be suggesting that it would take magic to have a reflection even of a dream in something so pure, so maybe I need to see if they stock Urquell anywhere near here to make sure. It certainly sounds like a good way of checking things out. :up: