“We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.”
The passage provided is from T.S. Eliot's poem "The Journey of the Magi." It is a reflection by one of the Magi, or wise men, who journeyed to see the birth of Jesus. Let's examine the passage in the context of the poem:
In this passage, the Magus, one of the wise men who witnessed the birth of Jesus, is reflecting on the experience of returning to his own land after the journey. Here's a breakdown of the lines:
1. "We returned to our places, these Kingdoms": The Magus is describing how he and the other Magi returned to their respective homelands or kingdoms after their journey to Bethlehem to see the newborn Christ.
2. "But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation": The Magus is expressing a sense of unease and discomfort in their own kingdoms. The term "old dispensation" refers to the previous religious and cultural order or arrangement that they were part of before encountering Jesus. The birth of Christ has disrupted their sense of normalcy and familiarity.
3. "With an alien people clutching their gods": The Magus now finds himself surrounded by people who follow different religious beliefs and deities. The term "alien people" suggests that these people and their customs are foreign to him. They are fervently holding onto their own gods and beliefs, which are unfamiliar to the Magus.
4. "I should be glad of another death": This is a profound and somewhat enigmatic statement. The Magus is not expressing a desire for physical death but rather a sense of longing for a profound transformation or rebirth. He has witnessed something so extraordinary and spiritually significant (the birth of Jesus) that it has left him feeling spiritually restless and disconnected from his old way of life. He is essentially saying that he would welcome a radical change or transformation that would free him from the unease and spiritual dissonance he now feels.
In the context of the entire poem, "The Journey of the Magi" is a reflection on the spiritual and emotional turmoil experienced by the Magi after witnessing the birth of Jesus. Their encounter with Christ has left them questioning their own beliefs and their place in the world. The passage you provided captures the Magus's sense of alienation from his own culture and the profound impact that the birth of Christ has had on him, leading him to seek a deeper spiritual transformation or understanding.
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