1. ۱There are who lord it o'er their fellow-men
2. ۲With most prevailing tinsel: who unpen
3. ۳Their baaing vanities, to browse away
4. ۴The comfortable green and juicy hay
5. ۵From human pastures; or, O torturing fact!
6. ۶Who, through an idiot blink, will see unpack'd
7. ۷Fire-branded foxes to sear up and singe
8. ۸Our gold and ripe-ear'd hopes. With not one tinge
9. ۹Of sanctuary splendour, not a sight
10. ۱۰Able to face an owl's, they still are dight
11. ۱۱By the blear-eyed nations in empurpled vests,
12. ۱۲And crowns, and turbans. With unladen ...,
13. ۱۳Save of blown self-applause, they proudly mount
14. ۱۴To their spirit's perch, their being's high account,
15. ۱۵Their tiptop nothings, their dull skies, their thrones--
16. ۱۶Amid the fierce intoxicating tones
17. ۱۷Of trumpets, shoutings, and belabour'd drums,
18. ۱۸And sudden cannon. Ah! how all this hums,
19. ۱۹In wakeful ears, like uproar past and gone--
20. ۲۰Like thunder clouds that spake to Babylon,
21. ۲۱And set those old Chaldeans to their tasks.--
22. ۲۲Are then regalities all gilded masks?
23. ۲۳No, there are throned seats unscalable
24. ۲۴But by a patient wing, a constant spell,
25. ۲۵Or by ethereal things that, unconfin'd,
26. ۲۶Can make a ladder of the eternal wind,
27. ۲۷And poise about in cloudy thunder-tents
28. ۲۸To watch the abysm-birth of elements.
29. ۲۹Aye, 'bove the withering of old-lipp'd Fate
30. ۳۰A thousand Powers keep religious state,
31. ۳۱In water, fiery realm, and airy bourne;
32. ۳۲And, silent as a consecrated urn,
33. ۳۳Hold sphery sessions for a season due.
34. ۳۴Yet few of these far majesties, ah, few!
35. ۳۵Have bared their operations to this globe--
36. ۳۶Few, who with gorgeous pageantry enrobe
37. ۳۷Our piece of heaven--whose benevolence
38. ۳۸Shakes hand with our own Ceres; every sense
39. ۳۹Filling with spiritual sweets to plenitude,
40. ۴۰As bees gorge full their cells. And, by the feud
41. ۴۱'Twixt Nothing and Creation, I here swear,
42. ۴۲Eterne Apollo! that thy Sister fair
43. ۴۳Is of all these the gentlier-mightiest.
44. ۴۴When thy gold breath is misting in the west,
45. ۴۵She unobserved steals unto her throne,
46. ۴۶And there she sits most meek and most alone;
47. ۴۷As if she had not pomp subservient;
48. ۴۸As if thine eye, high Poet! was not bent
49. ۴۹Towards her with the Muses in thine heart;
50. ۵۰As if the ministring stars kept not apart,
51. ۵۱Waiting for silver-footed messages.
52. ۵۲O Moon! the oldest shades 'mong oldest trees
53. ۵۳Feel palpitations when thou lookest in:
54. ۵۴O Moon! old boughs lisp forth a holier din
55. ۵۵The while they feel thine airy fellowship.
56. ۵۶Thou dost bless every where, with silver lip
57. ۵۷Kissing dead things to life. The sleeping kine,
58. ۵۸Couched in thy brightness, dream of fields divine:
59. ۵۹Innumerable mountains rise, and rise,
60. ۶۰Ambitious for the hallowing of thine eyes;
61. ۶۱And yet thy benediction passeth not
62. ۶۲One obscure hiding-place, one little spot
63. ۶۳Where pleasure may be sent: the nested wren
64. ۶۴Has thy fair face within its tranquil ken,
65. ۶۵And from beneath a sheltering ivy leaf
66. ۶۶Takes glimpses of thee; thou art a relief
67. ۶۷To the poor patient oyster, where it sleeps
68. ۶۸Within its pearly house.--The mighty deeps,
69. ۶۹The monstrous sea is thine--the myriad sea!
70. ۷۰O Moon! far-spooming Ocean bows to thee,
71. ۷۱And Tellus feels his forehead's cumbrous load.
72. ۷۲
73. ۷۳ Cynthia! where art thou now? What far abode
74. ۷۴Of green or silvery bower doth enshrine
75. ۷۵Such utmost beauty? Alas, thou dost pine
76. ۷۶For one as sorrowful: thy cheek is pale
77. ۷۷For one whose cheek is pale: thou dost bewail
78. ۷۸His tears, who weeps for thee. Where dost thou sigh?
79. ۷۹Ah! surely that light peeps from Vesper's eye,
80. ۸۰Or what a thing is love! 'Tis She, but lo!
81. ۸۱How chang'd, how full of ache, how gone in woe!
82. ۸۲She dies at the thinnest cloud; her loveliness
83. ۸۳Is wan on Neptune's blue: yet there's a stress
84. ۸۴Of love-spangles, just off yon cape of trees,
85. ۸۵Dancing upon the waves, as if to please
86. ۸۶The curly foam with amorous influence.
87. ۸۷O, not so idle: for down-glancing thence
88. ۸۸She fathoms eddies, and runs wild about
89. ۸۹O'erwhelming water-courses; scaring out
90. ۹۰The thorny sharks from hiding-holes, and fright'ning
91. ۹۱Their savage eyes with unaccustomed lightning.
92. ۹۲Where will the splendor be content to reach?
93. ۹۳O love! how potent hast thou been to teach
94. ۹۴Strange journeyings! Wherever beauty dwells,
95. ۹۵In gulf or aerie, mountains or deep dells,
96. ۹۶In light, in gloom, in star or blazing sun,
97. ۹۷Thou pointest out the way, and straight 'tis won.
98. ۹۸Amid his toil thou gav'st Leander breath;
99. ۹۹Thou leddest Orpheus through the gleams of death;
100. ۱۰۰Thou madest Pluto bear thin element;
101. ۱۰۱And now, O winged Chieftain! thou hast sent
102. ۱۰۲A moon-beam to the deep, deep water-world,
103. ۱۰۳To find Endymion.
104. ۱۰۴
105. ۱۰۵ On gold sand impearl'd
106. ۱۰۶With lily shells, and pebbles milky white,
107. ۱۰۷Poor Cynthia greeted him, and sooth'd her light
108. ۱۰۸Against his pallid face: he felt the charm
109. ۱۰۹To breathlessness, and suddenly a warm
110. ۱۱۰Of his heart's blood: 'twas very sweet; he stay'd
111. ۱۱۱His wandering steps, and half-entranced laid
112. ۱۱۲His head upon a tuft of straggling weeds,
113. ۱۱۳To taste the gentle moon, and freshening beads,
114. ۱۱۴Lashed from the crystal roof by fishes' tails.
115. ۱۱۵And so he kept, until the rosy veils
116. ۱۱۶Mantling the east, by Aurora's peering hand
117. ۱۱۷Were lifted from the water's ..., and fann'd
118. ۱۱۸Into sweet air; and sober'd morning came
119. ۱۱۹Meekly through billows:--when like taper-flame
120. ۱۲۰Left sudden by a dallying breath of air,
121. ۱۲۱He rose in silence, and once more 'gan fare
122. ۱۲۲Along his fated way.
123. ۱۲۳
124. ۱۲۴ Far had he roam'd,
125. ۱۲۵With nothing save the hollow vast, that foam'd
126. ۱۲۶Above, around, and at his feet; save things
127. ۱۲۷More dead than Morpheus' imaginings:
128. ۱۲۸Old rusted anchors, helmets, ...-plates large
129. ۱۲۹Of gone sea-warriors; brazen beaks and targe;
130. ۱۳۰Rudders that for a hundred years had lost
131. ۱۳۱The sway of human hand; gold vase emboss'd
132. ۱۳۲With long-forgotten story, and wherein
133. ۱۳۳No reveller had ever dipp'd a chin
134. ۱۳۴But those of Saturn's vintage; mouldering scrolls,
135. ۱۳۵Writ in the tongue of heaven, by those souls
136. ۱۳۶Who first were on the earth; and sculptures rude
137. ۱۳۷In ponderous stone, developing the mood
138. ۱۳۸Of ancient Nox;--then skeletons of man,
139. ۱۳۹Of beast, behemoth, and leviathan,
140. ۱۴۰And elephant, and eagle, and huge jaw
141. ۱۴۱Of nameless monster. A cold leaden awe
142. ۱۴۲These secrets struck into him; and unless
143. ۱۴۳Dian had chaced away that heaviness,
144. ۱۴۴He might have died: but now, with cheered feel,
145. ۱۴۵He onward kept; wooing these thoughts to steal
146. ۱۴۶About the labyrinth in his soul of love.
147. ۱۴۷
148. ۱۴۸ "What is there in thee, Moon! that thou shouldst move
149. ۱۴۹My heart so potently? When yet a child
150. ۱۵۰I oft have dried my tears when thou hast smil'd.
151. ۱۵۱Thou seem'dst my sister: hand in hand we went
152. ۱۵۲From eve to morn across the firmament.
153. ۱۵۳No apples would I gather from the tree,
154. ۱۵۴Till thou hadst cool'd their cheeks deliciously:
155. ۱۵۵No tumbling water ever spake romance,
156. ۱۵۶But when my eyes with thine thereon could dance:
157. ۱۵۷No woods were green enough, no bower divine,
158. ۱۵۸Until thou liftedst up thine eyelids fine:
159. ۱۵۹In sowing time ne'er would I dibble take,
160. ۱۶۰Or drop a seed, till thou wast wide awake;
161. ۱۶۱And, in the summer tide of blossoming,
162. ۱۶۲No one but thee hath heard me blithly sing
163. ۱۶۳And mesh my dewy flowers all the night.
164. ۱۶۴No melody was like a passing spright
165. ۱۶۵If it went not to solemnize thy reign.
166. ۱۶۶Yes, in my boyhood, every joy and pain
167. ۱۶۷By thee were fashion'd to the self-same end;
168. ۱۶۸And as I grew in years, still didst thou blend
169. ۱۶۹With all my ardours: thou wast the deep glen;
170. ۱۷۰Thou wast the mountain-top--the sage's pen--
171. ۱۷۱The poet's harp--the voice of friends--the sun;
172. ۱۷۲Thou wast the river--thou wast glory won;
173. ۱۷۳Thou wast my clarion's blast--thou wast my steed--
174. ۱۷۴My goblet full of wine--my topmost deed:--
175. ۱۷۵Thou wast the charm of women, lovely Moon!
176. ۱۷۶O what a wild and harmonized tune
177. ۱۷۷My spirit struck from all the beautiful!
178. ۱۷۸On some bright essence could I lean, and lull
179. ۱۷۹Myself to immortality: I prest
180. ۱۸۰Nature's soft pillow in a wakeful rest.
181. ۱۸۱But, gentle Orb! there came a nearer bliss--
182. ۱۸۲My strange love came--Felicity's abyss!
183. ۱۸۳She came, and thou didst fade, and fade away--
184. ۱۸۴Yet not entirely; no, thy starry sway
185. ۱۸۵Has been an under-passion to this hour.
186. ۱۸۶Now I begin to feel thine orby power
187. ۱۸۷Is coming fresh upon me: O be kind,
188. ۱۸۸Keep back thine influence, and do not blind
189. ۱۸۹My sovereign vision.--Dearest love, forgive
190. ۱۹۰That I can think away from thee and live!--
191. ۱۹۱Pardon me, airy planet, that I prize
192. ۱۹۲One thought beyond thine argent luxuries!
193. ۱۹۳How far beyond!" At this a surpris'd start
194. ۱۹۴Frosted the springing verdure of his heart;
195. ۱۹۵For as he lifted up his eyes to swear
196. ۱۹۶How his own goddess was past all things fair,
197. ۱۹۷He saw far in the concave green of the sea
198. ۱۹۸An old man sitting calm and peacefully.
199. ۱۹۹Upon a weeded rock this old man sat,
200. ۲۰۰And his white hair was awful, and a mat
201. ۲۰۱Of weeds were cold beneath his cold thin feet;
202. ۲۰۲And, ample as the largest winding-sheet,
203. ۲۰۳A cloak of blue wrapp'd up his aged bones,
204. ۲۰۴O'erwrought with symbols by the deepest groans
205. ۲۰۵Of ambitious magic: every ocean-form
206. ۲۰۶Was woven in with black distinctness; storm,
207. ۲۰۷And calm, and whispering, and hideous roar
208. ۲۰۸Were emblem'd in the woof; with every shape
209. ۲۰۹That skims, or dives, or sleeps, 'twixt cape and cape.
210. ۲۱۰The gulphing whale was like a dot in the spell,
211. ۲۱۱Yet look upon it, and 'twould size and swell
212. ۲۱۲To its huge self; and the minutest fish
213. ۲۱۳Would pass the very hardest gazer's wish,
214. ۲۱۴And show his little eye's anatomy.
215. ۲۱۵Then there was pictur'd the regality
216. ۲۱۶Of Neptune; and the sea nymphs round his state,
217. ۲۱۷In beauteous vassalage, look up and wait.
218. ۲۱۸Beside this old man lay a pearly wand,
219. ۲۱۹And in his lap a book, the which he conn'd
220. ۲۲۰So stedfastly, that the new denizen
221. ۲۲۱Had time to keep him in amazed ken,
222. ۲۲۲To mark these shadowings, and stand in awe.
223. ۲۲۳
224. ۲۲۴ The old man rais'd his hoary head and saw
225. ۲۲۵The wilder'd stranger--seeming not to see,
226. ۲۲۶His features were so lifeless. Suddenly
227. ۲۲۷He woke as from a trance; his snow-white brows
228. ۲۲۸Went arching up, and like two magic ploughs
229. ۲۲۹Furrow'd deep wrinkles in his forehead large,
230. ۲۳۰Which kept as fixedly as rocky marge,
231. ۲۳۱Till round his wither'd lips had gone a smile.
232. ۲۳۲Then up he rose, like one whose tedious toil
233. ۲۳۳Had watch'd for years in forlorn hermitage,
234. ۲۳۴Who had not from mid-life to utmost age
235. ۲۳۵Eas'd in one accent his o'er-burden'd soul,
236. ۲۳۶Even to the trees. He rose: he grasp'd his stole,
237. ۲۳۷With convuls'd clenches waving it abroad,
238. ۲۳۸And in a voice of solemn joy, that aw'd
239. ۲۳۹Echo into oblivion, he said:--
240. ۲۴۰
241. ۲۴۱ "Thou art the man! Now shall I lay my head
242. ۲۴۲In peace upon my watery pillow: now
243. ۲۴۳Sleep will come smoothly to my weary brow.
244. ۲۴۴O Jove! I shall be young again, be young!
245. ۲۴۵O shell-borne Neptune, I am pierc'd and stung
246. ۲۴۶With new-born life! What shall I do? Where go,
247. ۲۴۷When I have cast this serpent-skin of woe?--
248. ۲۴۸I'll swim to the syrens, and one moment listen
249. ۲۴۹Their melodies, and see their long hair glisten;
250. ۲۵۰Anon upon that giant's arm I'll be,
251. ۲۵۱That writhes about the roots of Sicily:
252. ۲۵۲To northern seas I'll in a twinkling sail,
253. ۲۵۳And mount upon the snortings of a whale
254. ۲۵۴To some black cloud; thence down I'll madly sweep
255. ۲۵۵On forked lightning, to the deepest deep,
256. ۲۵۶Where through some sucking pool I will be hurl'd
257. ۲۵۷With rapture to the other side of the world!
258. ۲۵۸O, I am full of gladness! Sisters three,
259. ۲۵۹I bow full hearted to your old decree!
260. ۲۶۰Yes, every god be thank'd, and power benign,
261. ۲۶۱For I no more shall wither, droop, and pine.
262. ۲۶۲Thou art the man!" Endymion started back
263. ۲۶۳Dismay'd; and, like a wretch from whom the rack
264. ۲۶۴Tortures hot breath, and speech of agony,
265. ۲۶۵Mutter'd: "What lonely death am I to die
266. ۲۶۶In this cold region? Will he let me freeze,
267. ۲۶۷And float my brittle limbs o'er polar seas?
268. ۲۶۸Or will he touch me with his searing hand,
269. ۲۶۹And leave a black memorial on the sand?
270. ۲۷۰Or tear me piece-meal with a bony saw,
271. ۲۷۱And keep me as a chosen food to draw
272. ۲۷۲His magian fish through hated fire and flame?
273. ۲۷۳O misery of hell! resistless, tame,
274. ۲۷۴Am I to be burnt up? No, I will shout,
275. ۲۷۵Until the gods through heaven's blue look out!--
276. ۲۷۶O Tartarus! but some few days agone
277. ۲۷۷Her soft arms were entwining me, and on
278. ۲۷۸Her voice I hung like fruit among green leaves:
279. ۲۷۹Her lips were all my own, and--ah, ripe sheaves
280. ۲۸۰Of happiness! ye on the stubble droop,
281. ۲۸۱But never may be garner'd. I must stoop
282. ۲۸۲My head, and kiss death's foot. Love! love, farewel!
283. ۲۸۳Is there no hope from thee? This horrid spell
284. ۲۸۴Would melt at thy sweet breath.--By Dian's hind
285. ۲۸۵Feeding from her white fingers, on the wind
286. ۲۸۶I see thy streaming hair! and now, by Pan,
287. ۲۸۷I care not for this old mysterious man!"
288. ۲۸۸
289. ۲۸۹ He spake, and walking to that aged form,
290. ۲۹۰Look'd high defiance. Lo! his heart 'gan warm
291. ۲۹۱With pity, for the grey-hair'd creature wept.
292. ۲۹۲Had he then wrong'd a heart where sorrow kept?
293. ۲۹۳Had he, though blindly contumelious, brought
294. ۲۹۴Rheum to kind eyes, a sting to human thought,
295. ۲۹۵Convulsion to a mouth of many years?
296. ۲۹۶He had in truth; and he was ripe for tears.
297. ۲۹۷The penitent shower fell, as down he knelt
298. ۲۹۸Before that care-worn sage, who trembling felt
299. ۲۹۹About his large dark locks, and faultering spake:
300. ۳۰۰
301. ۳۰۱ "Arise, good youth, for sacred Phoebus' sake!
302. ۳۰۲I know thine inmost bosom, and I feel
303. ۳۰۳A very brother's yearning for thee steal
304. ۳۰۴Into mine own: for why? thou openest
305. ۳۰۵The prison gates that have so long opprest
306. ۳۰۶My weary watching. Though thou know'st it not,
307. ۳۰۷Thou art commission'd to this fated spot
308. ۳۰۸For great enfranchisement. O weep no more;
309. ۳۰۹I am a friend to love, to loves of yore:
310. ۳۱۰Aye, hadst thou never lov'd an unknown power
311. ۳۱۱I had been grieving at this joyous hour
312. ۳۱۲But even now most miserable old,
313. ۳۱۳I saw thee, and my blood no longer cold
314. ۳۱۴Gave mighty pulses: in this tottering case
315. ۳۱۵Grew a new heart, which at this moment plays
316. ۳۱۶As dancingly as thine. Be not afraid,
317. ۳۱۷For thou shalt hear this secret all display'd,
318. ۳۱۸Now as we speed towards our joyous task."
319. ۳۱۹
320. ۳۲۰ So saying, this young soul in age's mask
321. ۳۲۱Went forward with the Carian side by side:
322. ۳۲۲Resuming quickly thus; while ocean's tide
323. ۳۲۳Hung swollen at their backs, and jewel'd sands
324. ۳۲۴Took silently their foot-prints. "My soul stands
325. ۳۲۵Now past the midway from mortality,
326. ۳۲۶And so I can prepare without a sigh
327. ۳۲۷To tell thee briefly all my joy and pain.
328. ۳۲۸I was a fisher once, upon this main,
329. ۳۲۹And my boat danc'd in every creek and bay;
330. ۳۳۰Rough billows were my home by night and day,--
331. ۳۳۱The sea-gulls not more constant; for I had
332. ۳۳۲No housing from the storm and tempests mad,
333. ۳۳۳But hollow rocks,--and they were palaces
334. ۳۳۴Of silent happiness, of slumberous ease:
335. ۳۳۵Long years of misery have told me so.
336. ۳۳۶Aye, thus it was one thousand years ago.
337. ۳۳۷One thousand years!--Is it then possible
338. ۳۳۸To look so plainly through them? to dispel
339. ۳۳۹A thousand years with backward glance sublime?
340. ۳۴۰To breathe away as 'twere all scummy slime
341. ۳۴۱From off a crystal pool, to see its deep,
342. ۳۴۲And one's own image from the bottom peep?
343. ۳۴۳Yes: now I am no longer wretched thrall,
344. ۳۴۴My long captivity and moanings all
345. ۳۴۵Are but a slime, a thin-pervading scum,
346. ۳۴۶The which I breathe away, and thronging come
347. ۳۴۷Like things of yesterday my youthful pleasures.
348. ۳۴۸
349. ۳۴۹ "I touch'd no lute, I sang not, trod no measures:
350. ۳۵۰I was a lonely youth on desert shores.
351. ۳۵۱My sports were lonely, 'mid continuous roars,
352. ۳۵۲And craggy isles, and sea-mew's plaintive cry
353. ۳۵۳Plaining discrepant between sea and sky.
354. ۳۵۴Dolphins were still my playmates; shapes unseen
355. ۳۵۵Would let me feel their scales of gold and green,
356. ۳۵۶Nor be my desolation; and, full oft,
357. ۳۵۷When a dread waterspout had rear'd aloft
358. ۳۵۸Its hungry hugeness, seeming ready ripe
359. ۳۵۹To burst with hoarsest thunderings, and wipe
360. ۳۶۰My life away like a vast sponge of fate,
361. ۳۶۱Some friendly monster, pitying my sad state,
362. ۳۶۲Has dived to its foundations, gulph'd it down,
363. ۳۶۳And left me tossing safely. But the crown
364. ۳۶۴Of all my life was utmost quietude:
365. ۳۶۵More did I love to lie in cavern rude,
366. ۳۶۶Keeping in wait whole days for Neptune's voice,
367. ۳۶۷And if it came at last, hark, and rejoice!
368. ۳۶۸There blush'd no summer eve but I would steer
369. ۳۶۹My skiff along green shelving coasts, to hear
370. ۳۷۰The shepherd's pipe come clear from aery steep,
371. ۳۷۱Mingled with ceaseless bleatings of his sheep:
372. ۳۷۲And never was a day of summer shine,
373. ۳۷۳But I beheld its birth upon the brine:
374. ۳۷۴For I would watch all night to see unfold
375. ۳۷۵Heaven's gates, and Aethon snort his morning gold
376. ۳۷۶Wide o'er the swelling streams: and constantly
377. ۳۷۷At brim of day-tide, on some grassy lea,
378. ۳۷۸My nets would be spread out, and I at rest.
379. ۳۷۹The poor folk of the sea-country I blest
380. ۳۸۰With daily boon of fish most delicate:
381. ۳۸۱They knew not whence this bounty, and elate
382. ۳۸۲Would strew sweet flowers on a sterile beach.
383. ۳۸۳
384. ۳۸۴ "Why was I not contented? Wherefore reach
385. ۳۸۵At things which, but for thee, O Latmian!
386. ۳۸۶Had been my dreary death? Fool! I began
387. ۳۸۷To feel distemper'd longings: to desire
388. ۳۸۸The utmost privilege that ocean's sire
389. ۳۸۹Could grant in benediction: to be free
390. ۳۹۰Of all his kingdom. Long in misery
391. ۳۹۱I wasted, ere in one extremest fit
392. ۳۹۲I plung'd for life or death. To interknit
393. ۳۹۳One's senses with so dense a breathing stuff
394. ۳۹۴Might seem a work of pain; so not enough
395. ۳۹۵Can I admire how crystal-smooth it felt,
396. ۳۹۶And buoyant round my limbs. At first I dwelt
397. ۳۹۷Whole days and days in sheer astonishment;
398. ۳۹۸Forgetful utterly of self-intent;
399. ۳۹۹Moving but with the mighty ebb and flow.
400. ۴۰۰Then, like a new fledg'd bird that first doth shew
401. ۴۰۱His spreaded feathers to the morrow chill,
402. ۴۰۲I tried in fear the pinions of my will.
403. ۴۰۳'Twas freedom! and at once I visited
404. ۴۰۴The ceaseless wonders of this ocean-bed.
405. ۴۰۵No need to tell thee of them, for I see
406. ۴۰۶That thou hast been a witness--it must be
407. ۴۰۷For these I know thou canst not feel a drouth,
408. ۴۰۸By the melancholy corners of that mouth.
409. ۴۰۹So I will in my story straightway pass
410. ۴۱۰To more immediate matter. Woe, alas!
411. ۴۱۱That love should be my bane! Ah, Scylla fair!
412. ۴۱۲Why did poor Glaucus ever--ever dare
413. ۴۱۳To sue thee to his heart? Kind stranger-youth!
414. ۴۱۴I lov'd her to the very white of truth,
415. ۴۱۵And she would not conceive it. Timid thing!
416. ۴۱۶She fled me swift as sea-bird on the wing,
417. ۴۱۷Round every isle, and point, and promontory,
418. ۴۱۸From where large Hercules wound up his story
419. ۴۱۹Far as Egyptian Nile. My passion grew
420. ۴۲۰The more, the more I saw her dainty hue
421. ۴۲۱Gleam delicately through the azure clear:
422. ۴۲۲Until 'twas too fierce agony to bear;
423. ۴۲۳And in that agony, across my grief
424. ۴۲۴It flash'd, that Circe might find some relief--
425. ۴۲۵Cruel enchantress! So above the water
426. ۴۲۶I rear'd my head, and look'd for Phoebus' daughter.
427. ۴۲۷Aeaea's isle was wondering at the moon:--
428. ۴۲۸It seem'd to whirl around me, and a swoon
429. ۴۲۹Left me dead-drifting to that fatal power.
430. ۴۳۰
431. ۴۳۱ "When I awoke, 'twas in a twilight bower;
432. ۴۳۲Just when the light of morn, with hum of bees,
433. ۴۳۳Stole through its verdurous matting of fresh trees.
434. ۴۳۴How sweet, and sweeter! for I heard a lyre,
435. ۴۳۵And over it a sighing voice expire.
436. ۴۳۶It ceased--I caught light footsteps; and anon
437. ۴۳۷The fairest face that morn e'er look'd upon
438. ۴۳۸Push'd through a screen of roses. Starry Jove!
439. ۴۳۹With tears, and smiles, and honey-words she wove
440. ۴۴۰A net whose thraldom was more bliss than all
441. ۴۴۱The range of flower'd Elysium. Thus did fall
442. ۴۴۲The dew of her rich speech: "Ah! Art awake?
443. ۴۴۳O let me hear thee speak, for Cupid's sake!
444. ۴۴۴I am so oppress'd with joy! Why, I have shed
445. ۴۴۵An urn of tears, as though thou wert cold dead;
446. ۴۴۶And now I find thee living, I will pour
447. ۴۴۷From these devoted eyes their silver store,
448. ۴۴۸Until exhausted of the latest drop,
449. ۴۴۹So it will pleasure thee, and force thee stop
450. ۴۵۰Here, that I too may live: but if beyond
451. ۴۵۱Such cool and sorrowful offerings, thou art fond
452. ۴۵۲Of soothing warmth, of dalliance supreme;
453. ۴۵۳If thou art ripe to taste a long love dream;
454. ۴۵۴If smiles, if dimples, tongues for ardour mute,
455. ۴۵۵Hang in thy vision like a tempting fruit,
456. ۴۵۶O let me pluck it for thee." Thus she link'd
457. ۴۵۷Her charming syllables, till indistinct
458. ۴۵۸Their music came to my o'er-sweeten'd soul;
459. ۴۵۹And then she hover'd over me, and stole
460. ۴۶۰So near, that if no nearer it had been
461. ۴۶۱This furrow'd visage thou hadst never seen.
462. ۴۶۲
463. ۴۶۳ "Young man of Latmos! thus particular
464. ۴۶۴Am I, that thou may'st plainly see how far
465. ۴۶۵This fierce temptation went: and thou may'st not
466. ۴۶۶Exclaim, How then, was Scylla quite forgot?
467. ۴۶۷
468. ۴۶۸ "Who could resist? Who in this universe?
469. ۴۶۹She did so breathe ambrosia; so immerse
470. ۴۷۰My fine existence in a golden clime.
471. ۴۷۱She took me like a child of suckling time,
472. ۴۷۲And cradled me in roses. Thus condemn'd,
473. ۴۷۳The current of my former life was stemm'd,
474. ۴۷۴And to this arbitrary queen of sense
475. ۴۷۵I bow'd a tranced vassal: nor would thence
476. ۴۷۶Have mov'd, even though Amphion's harp had woo'd
477. ۴۷۷Me back to Scylla o'er the billows rude.
478. ۴۷۸For as Apollo each eve doth devise
479. ۴۷۹A new appareling for western skies;
480. ۴۸۰So every eve, nay every spendthrift hour
481. ۴۸۱Shed balmy consciousness within that bower.
482. ۴۸۲And I was free of haunts umbrageous;
483. ۴۸۳Could wander in the mazy forest-house
484. ۴۸۴Of squirrels, foxes shy, and antler'd deer,
485. ۴۸۵And birds from coverts innermost and drear
486. ۴۸۶Warbling for very joy mellifluous sorrow--
487. ۴۸۷To me new born delights!
488. ۴۸۸
489. ۴۸۹ "Now let me borrow,
490. ۴۹۰For moments few, a temperament as stern
491. ۴۹۱As Pluto's sceptre, that my words not burn
492. ۴۹۲These uttering lips, while I in calm speech tell
493. ۴۹۳How specious heaven was changed to real hell.
494. ۴۹۴
495. ۴۹۵ "One morn she left me sleeping: half awake
496. ۴۹۶I sought for her smooth arms and lips, to slake
497. ۴۹۷My greedy thirst with nectarous camel-draughts;
498. ۴۹۸But she was gone. Whereat the barbed shafts
499. ۴۹۹Of disappointment stuck in me so sore,
500. ۵۰۰That out I ran and search'd the forest o'er.
501. ۵۰۱Wandering about in pine and cedar gloom
502. ۵۰۲Damp awe assail'd me; for there 'gan to boom
503. ۵۰۳A sound of moan, an agony of sound,
504. ۵۰۴Sepulchral from the distance all around.
505. ۵۰۵Then came a conquering earth-thunder, and rumbled
506. ۵۰۶That fierce complain to silence: while I stumbled
507. ۵۰۷Down a precipitous path, as if impell'd.
508. ۵۰۸I came to a dark valley.--Groanings swell'd
509. ۵۰۹Poisonous about my ears, and louder grew,
510. ۵۱۰The nearer I approach'd a flame's gaunt blue,
511. ۵۱۱That glar'd before me through a thorny brake.
512. ۵۱۲This fire, like the eye of gordian snake,
513. ۵۱۳Bewitch'd me towards; and I soon was near
514. ۵۱۴A sight too fearful for the feel of fear:
515. ۵۱۵In thicket hid I curs'd the haggard scene--
516. ۵۱۶The banquet of my arms, my arbour queen,
517. ۵۱۷Seated upon an uptorn forest root;
518. ۵۱۸And all around her shapes, wizard and brute,
519. ۵۱۹Laughing, and wailing, groveling, serpenting,
520. ۵۲۰Shewing tooth, tusk, and venom-bag, and sting!
521. ۵۲۱O such deformities! Old Charon's self,
522. ۵۲۲Should he give up awhile his penny pelf,
523. ۵۲۳And take a dream 'mong rushes Stygian,
524. ۵۲۴It could not be so phantasied. Fierce, wan,
525. ۵۲۵And tyrannizing was the lady's look,
526. ۵۲۶As over them a gnarled staff she shook.
527. ۵۲۷Oft-times upon the sudden she laugh'd out,
528. ۵۲۸And from a basket emptied to the rout
529. ۵۲۹Clusters of grapes, the which they raven'd quick
530. ۵۳۰And roar'd for more; with many a hungry lick
531. ۵۳۱About their shaggy jaws. Avenging, slow,
532. ۵۳۲Anon she took a branch of mistletoe,
533. ۵۳۳And emptied on't a black dull-gurgling phial:
534. ۵۳۴Groan'd one and all, as if some piercing trial
535. ۵۳۵Was sharpening for their pitiable bones.
536. ۵۳۶She lifted up the charm: appealing groans
537. ۵۳۷From their poor ... went sueing to her ear
538. ۵۳۸In vain; remorseless as an infant's bier
539. ۵۳۹She whisk'd against their eyes the sooty oil.
540. ۵۴۰Whereat was heard a noise of painful toil,
541. ۵۴۱Increasing gradual to a tempest rage,
542. ۵۴۲Shrieks, yells, and groans of torture-pilgrimage;
543. ۵۴۳Until their grieved bodies 'gan to bloat
544. ۵۴۴And puff from the tail's end to stifled throat:
545. ۵۴۵Then was appalling silence: then a sight
546. ۵۴۶More wildering than all that hoarse affright;
547. ۵۴۷For the whole herd, as by a whirlwind writhen,
548. ۵۴۸Went through the dismal air like one huge Python
549. ۵۴۹Antagonizing Boreas,--and so vanish'd.
550. ۵۵۰Yet there was not a breath of wind: she banish'd
551. ۵۵۱These phantoms with a nod. Lo! from the dark
552. ۵۵۲Came waggish fauns, and nymphs, and satyrs stark,
553. ۵۵۳With dancing and loud revelry,--and went
554. ۵۵۴Swifter than centaurs after rapine bent.--
555. ۵۵۵Sighing an elephant appear'd and bow'd
556. ۵۵۶Before the fierce witch, speaking thus aloud
557. ۵۵۷In human accent: "Potent goddess! chief
558. ۵۵۸Of pains resistless! make my being brief,
559. ۵۵۹Or let me from this heavy prison fly:
560. ۵۶۰Or give me to the air, or let me die!
561. ۵۶۱I sue not for my happy crown again;
562. ۵۶۲I sue not for my phalanx on the plain;
563. ۵۶۳I sue not for my lone, my widow'd wife;
564. ۵۶۴I sue not for my ruddy drops of life,
565. ۵۶۵My children fair, my lovely girls and boys!
566. ۵۶۶I will forget them; I will pass these joys;
567. ۵۶۷Ask nought so heavenward, so too--too high:
568. ۵۶۸Only I pray, as fairest boon, to die,
569. ۵۶۹Or be deliver'd from this cumbrous flesh,
570. ۵۷۰From this gross, detestable, filthy mesh,
571. ۵۷۱And merely given to the cold bleak air.
572. ۵۷۲Have mercy, Goddess! Circe, feel my prayer!"
573. ۵۷۳
574. ۵۷۴ That curst magician's name fell icy numb
575. ۵۷۵Upon my wild conjecturing: truth had come
576. ۵۷۶... and sabre-like against my heart.
577. ۵۷۷I saw a fury whetting a death-dart;
578. ۵۷۸And my slain spirit, overwrought with fright,
579. ۵۷۹Fainted away in that dark lair of night.
580. ۵۸۰Think, my deliverer, how desolate
581. ۵۸۱My waking must have been! disgust, and hate,
582. ۵۸۲And terrors manifold divided me
583. ۵۸۳A spoil amongst them. I prepar'd to flee
584. ۵۸۴Into the dungeon core of that wild wood:
585. ۵۸۵I fled three days--when lo! before me stood
586. ۵۸۶Glaring the angry witch. O Dis, even now,
587. ۵۸۷A clammy dew is beading on my brow,
588. ۵۸۸At mere remembering her pale laugh, and curse.
589. ۵۸۹"Ha! ha! Sir Dainty! there must be a nurse
590. ۵۹۰Made of rose leaves and thistledown, express,
591. ۵۹۱To cradle thee my sweet, and lull thee: yes,
592. ۵۹۲I am too flinty-hard for thy nice touch:
593. ۵۹۳My tenderest squeeze is but a giant's clutch.
594. ۵۹۴So, fairy-thing, it shall have lullabies
595. ۵۹۵Unheard of yet; and it shall still its cries
596. ۵۹۶Upon some ... more lily-feminine.
597. ۵۹۷Oh, no--it shall not pine, and pine, and pine
598. ۵۹۸More than one pretty, trifling thousand years;
599. ۵۹۹And then 'twere pity, but fate's gentle shears
600. ۶۰۰Cut short its immortality. Sea-flirt!
601. ۶۰۱Young dove of the waters! truly I'll not hurt
602. ۶۰۲One hair of thine: see how I weep and sigh,
603. ۶۰۳That our heart-broken parting is so nigh.
604. ۶۰۴And must we part? Ah, yes, it must be so.
605. ۶۰۵Yet ere thou leavest me in utter woe,
606. ۶۰۶Let me sob over thee my last adieus,
607. ۶۰۷And speak a blessing: Mark me! thou hast thews
608. ۶۰۸Immortal, for thou art of heavenly race:
609. ۶۰۹But such a love is mine, that here I chase
610. ۶۱۰Eternally away from thee all bloom
611. ۶۱۱Of youth, and destine thee towards a tomb.
612. ۶۱۲Hence shalt thou quickly to the watery vast;
613. ۶۱۳And there, ere many days be overpast,
614. ۶۱۴Disabled age shall seize thee; and even then
615. ۶۱۵Thou shalt not go the way of aged men;
616. ۶۱۶But live and wither, cripple and still breathe
617. ۶۱۷Ten hundred years: which gone, I then bequeath
618. ۶۱۸Thy fragile bones to unknown burial.
619. ۶۱۹Adieu, sweet love, adieu!"--As shot stars fall,
620. ۶۲۰She fled ere I could groan for mercy. Stung
621. ۶۲۱And poisoned was my spirit: despair sung
622. ۶۲۲A war-song of defiance 'gainst all hell.
623. ۶۲۳A hand was at my shoulder to compel
624. ۶۲۴My sullen steps; another 'fore my eyes
625. ۶۲۵Moved on with pointed finger. In this guise
626. ۶۲۶Enforced, at the last by ocean's foam
627. ۶۲۷I found me; by my fresh, my native home.
628. ۶۲۸Its tempering coolness, to my life akin,
629. ۶۲۹Came salutary as I waded in;
630. ۶۳۰And, with a blind voluptuous rage, I gave
631. ۶۳۱Battle to the swollen billow-ridge, and drave
632. ۶۳۲Large froth before me, while there yet remain'd
633. ۶۳۳Hale strength, nor from my bones all marrow drain'd.
634. ۶۳۴
635. ۶۳۵ "Young lover, I must weep--such hellish spite
636. ۶۳۶With dry cheek who can tell? While thus my might
637. ۶۳۷Proving upon this element, dismay'd,
638. ۶۳۸Upon a dead thing's face my hand I laid;
639. ۶۳۹I look'd--'twas Scylla! Cursed, cursed Circe!
640. ۶۴۰O vulture-witch, hast never heard of mercy?
641. ۶۴۱Could not thy harshest vengeance be content,
642. ۶۴۲But thou must nip this tender innocent
643. ۶۴۳Because I lov'd her?--Cold, O cold indeed
644. ۶۴۴Were her fair limbs, and like a common weed
645. ۶۴۵The sea-swell took her hair. Dead as she was
646. ۶۴۶I clung about her waist, nor ceas'd to pass
647. ۶۴۷Fleet as an arrow through unfathom'd brine,
648. ۶۴۸Until there shone a fabric crystalline,
649. ۶۴۹Ribb'd and inlaid with coral, pebble, and pearl.
650. ۶۵۰Headlong I darted; at one eager swirl
651. ۶۵۱Gain'd its bright portal, enter'd, and behold!
652. ۶۵۲'Twas vast, and desolate, and icy-cold;
653. ۶۵۳And all around--But wherefore this to thee
654. ۶۵۴Who in few minutes more thyself shalt see?--
655. ۶۵۵I left poor Scylla in a niche and fled.
656. ۶۵۶My fever'd parchings up, my scathing dread
657. ۶۵۷Met palsy half way: soon these limbs became
658. ۶۵۸Gaunt, wither'd, sapless, feeble, cramp'd, and lame.
659. ۶۵۹
660. ۶۶۰ "Now let me pass a cruel, cruel space,
661. ۶۶۱Without one hope, without one faintest trace
662. ۶۶۲Of mitigation, or redeeming bubble
663. ۶۶۳Of colour'd phantasy; for I fear 'twould trouble
664. ۶۶۴Thy brain to loss of reason: and next tell
665. ۶۶۵How a restoring chance came down to quell
666. ۶۶۶One half of the witch in me. On a day,
667. ۶۶۷Sitting upon a rock above the spray,
668. ۶۶۸I saw grow up from the horizon's brink
669. ۶۶۹A gallant vessel: soon she seem'd to sink
670. ۶۷۰Away from me again, as though her course
671. ۶۷۱Had been resum'd in spite of hindering force--
672. ۶۷۲So vanish'd: and not long, before arose
673. ۶۷۳Dark clouds, and muttering of winds morose.
674. ۶۷۴Old Eolus would stifle his mad spleen,
675. ۶۷۵But could not: therefore all the billows green
676. ۶۷۶Toss'd up the silver spume against the clouds.
677. ۶۷۷The tempest came: I saw that vessel's shrouds
678. ۶۷۸In perilous bustle; while upon the deck
679. ۶۷۹Stood trembling creatures. I beheld the wreck;
680. ۶۸۰The final gulphing; the poor struggling souls:
681. ۶۸۱I heard their cries amid loud thunder-rolls.
682. ۶۸۲O they had all been sav'd but crazed eld
683. ۶۸۳Annull'd my vigorous cravings: and thus quell'd
684. ۶۸۴And curb'd, think on't, O Latmian! did I sit
685. ۶۸۵Writhing with pity, and a cursing fit
686. ۶۸۶Against that hell-born Circe. The crew had gone,
687. ۶۸۷By one and one, to pale oblivion;
688. ۶۸۸And I was gazing on the surges prone,
689. ۶۸۹With many a scalding tear and many a groan,
690. ۶۹۰When at my feet emerg'd an old man's hand,
691. ۶۹۱Grasping this scroll, and this same slender wand.
692. ۶۹۲I knelt with pain--reached out my hand--had grasp'd
693. ۶۹۳These treasures--touch'd the knuckles--they unclasp'd--
694. ۶۹۴I caught a finger: but the downward weight
695. ۶۹۵O'erpowered me--it sank. Then 'gan abate
696. ۶۹۶The storm, and through chill aguish gloom outburst
697. ۶۹۷The comfortable sun. I was athirst
698. ۶۹۸To search the book, and in the warming air
699. ۶۹۹Parted its dripping leaves with eager care.
700. ۷۰۰Strange matters did it treat of, and drew on
701. ۷۰۱My soul page after page, till well-nigh won
702. ۷۰۲Into forgetfulness; when, stupefied,
703. ۷۰۳I read these words, and read again, and tried
704. ۷۰۴My eyes against the heavens, and read again.
705. ۷۰۵O what a load of misery and pain
706. ۷۰۶Each Atlas-line bore off!--a shine of hope
707. ۷۰۷Came gold around me, cheering me to cope
708. ۷۰۸Strenuous with hellish tyranny. Attend!
709. ۷۰۹For thou hast brought their promise to an end.
710. ۷۱۰
711. ۷۱۱ "In the wide sea there lives a forlorn wretch,
712. ۷۱۲Doom'd with enfeebled carcase to outstretch
713. ۷۱۳His loath'd existence through ten centuries,
714. ۷۱۴And then to die alone. Who can devise
715. ۷۱۵A total opposition? No one. So
716. ۷۱۶One million times ocean must ebb and flow,
717. ۷۱۷And he oppressed. Yet he shall not die,
718. ۷۱۸These things accomplish'd:--If he utterly
719. ۷۱۹Scans all the depths of magic, and expounds
720. ۷۲۰The meanings of all motions, shapes, and sounds;
721. ۷۲۱If he explores all forms and substances
722. ۷۲۲Straight homeward to their symbol-essences;
723. ۷۲۳He shall not die. Moreover, and in chief,
724. ۷۲۴He must pursue this task of joy and grief
725. ۷۲۵Most piously;--all lovers tempest-tost,
726. ۷۲۶And in the savage overwhelming lost,
727. ۷۲۷He shall deposit side by side, until
728. ۷۲۸Time's creeping shall the dreary space fulfil:
729. ۷۲۹Which done, and all these labours ripened,
730. ۷۳۰A youth, by heavenly power lov'd and led,
731. ۷۳۱Shall stand before him; whom he shall direct
732. ۷۳۲How to consummate all. The youth elect
733. ۷۳۳Must do the thing, or both will be destroy'd."--
734. ۷۳۴
735. ۷۳۵ "Then," cried the young Endymion, overjoy'd,
736. ۷۳۶"We are twin brothers in this destiny!
737. ۷۳۷Say, I intreat thee, what achievement high
738. ۷۳۸Is, in this restless world, for me reserv'd.
739. ۷۳۹What! if from thee my wandering feet had swerv'd,
740. ۷۴۰Had we both perish'd?"--"Look!" the sage replied,
741. ۷۴۱"Dost thou not mark a gleaming through the tide,
742. ۷۴۲Of divers brilliances? 'tis the edifice
743. ۷۴۳I told thee of, where lovely Scylla lies;
744. ۷۴۴And where I have enshrined piously
745. ۷۴۵All lovers, whom fell storms have doom'd to die
746. ۷۴۶Throughout my bondage." Thus discoursing, on
747. ۷۴۷They went till unobscur'd the porches shone;
748. ۷۴۸Which hurryingly they gain'd, and enter'd straight.
749. ۷۴۹Sure never since king Neptune held his state
750. ۷۵۰Was seen such wonder underneath the stars.
751. ۷۵۱Turn to some level plain where haughty Mars
752. ۷۵۲Has legion'd all his battle; and behold
753. ۷۵۳How every soldier, with firm foot, doth hold
754. ۷۵۴His even ...: see, many steeled squares,
755. ۷۵۵And rigid ranks of iron--whence who dares
756. ۷۵۶One step? Imagine further, line by line,
757. ۷۵۷These warrior thousands on the field supine:--
758. ۷۵۸So in that crystal place, in silent rows,
759. ۷۵۹Poor lovers lay at rest from joys and woes.--
760. ۷۶۰The stranger from the mountains, breathless, trac'd
761. ۷۶۱Such thousands of shut eyes in order plac'd;
762. ۷۶۲Such ranges of white feet, and patient lips
763. ۷۶۳All ruddy,--for here death no blossom nips.
764. ۷۶۴He mark'd their brows and foreheads; saw their hair
765. ۷۶۵Put sleekly on one side with nicest care;
766. ۷۶۶And each one's gentle wrists, with reverence,
767. ۷۶۷Put cross-wise to its heart.
768. ۷۶۸
769. ۷۶۹ "Let us commence,
770. ۷۷۰Whisper'd the guide, stuttering with joy, even now."
771. ۷۷۱He spake, and, trembling like an aspen-bough,
772. ۷۷۲Began to tear his scroll in pieces small,
773. ۷۷۳Uttering the while some mumblings funeral.
774. ۷۷۴He tore it into pieces small as snow
775. ۷۷۵That drifts unfeather'd when bleak northerns blow;
776. ۷۷۶And having done it, took his dark blue cloak
777. ۷۷۷And bound it round Endymion: then struck
778. ۷۷۸His wand against the empty air times nine.--
779. ۷۷۹"What more there is to do, young man, is thine:
780. ۷۸۰But first a little patience; first undo
781. ۷۸۱This tangled thread, and wind it to a clue.
782. ۷۸۲Ah, gentle! 'tis as weak as spider's skein;
783. ۷۸۳And shouldst thou break it--What, is it done so clean?
784. ۷۸۴A power overshadows thee! Oh, brave!
785. ۷۸۵The spite of hell is tumbling to its grave.
786. ۷۸۶Here is a shell; 'tis pearly blank to me,
787. ۷۸۷Nor mark'd with any sign or charactery--
788. ۷۸۸Canst thou read aught? O read for pity's sake!
789. ۷۸۹Olympus! we are safe! Now, Carian, break
790. ۷۹۰This wand against yon lyre on the pedestal."
791. ۷۹۱
792. ۷۹۲ 'Twas done: and straight with sudden swell and fall
793. ۷۹۳Sweet music breath'd her soul away, and sigh'd
794. ۷۹۴A lullaby to silence.--"Youth! now strew
795. ۷۹۵These minced leaves on me, and passing through
796. ۷۹۶Those files of dead, scatter the same around,
797. ۷۹۷And thou wilt see the issue."--'Mid the sound
798. ۷۹۸Of flutes and viols, ravishing his heart,
799. ۷۹۹Endymion from Glaucus stood apart,
800. ۸۰۰And scatter'd in his face some fragments light.
801. ۸۰۱How lightning-swift the change! a youthful wight
802. ۸۰۲Smiling beneath a coral diadem,
803. ۸۰۳Out-sparkling sudden like an upturn'd gem,
804. ۸۰۴Appear'd, and, stepping to a beauteous corse,
805. ۸۰۵Kneel'd down beside it, and with tenderest force
806. ۸۰۶Press'd its cold hand, and wept--and Scylla sigh'd!
807. ۸۰۷Endymion, with quick hand, the charm applied--
808. ۸۰۸The nymph arose: he left them to their joy,
809. ۸۰۹And onward went upon his high employ,
810. ۸۱۰Showering those powerful fragments on the dead.
811. ۸۱۱And, as he pass'd, each lifted up its head,
812. ۸۱۲As doth a flower at Apollo's touch.
813. ۸۱۳Death felt it to his inwards; 'twas too much:
814. ۸۱۴Death fell a weeping in his charnel-house.
815. ۸۱۵The Latmian persever'd along, and thus
816. ۸۱۶All were re-animated. There arose
817. ۸۱۷A noise of harmony, pulses and throes
818. ۸۱۸Of gladness in the air--while many, who
819. ۸۱۹Had died in mutual arms devout and true,
820. ۸۲۰Sprang to each other madly; and the rest
821. ۸۲۱Felt a high certainty of being blest.
822. ۸۲۲They gaz'd upon Endymion. Enchantment
823. ۸۲۳Grew drunken, and would have its head and bent.
824. ۸۲۴Delicious symphonies, like airy flowers,
825. ۸۲۵Budded, and swell'd, and, full-blown, shed full showers
826. ۸۲۶Of light, soft, unseen leaves of sounds divine.
827. ۸۲۷The two deliverers tasted a pure wine
828. ۸۲۸Of happiness, from fairy-press ooz'd out.
829. ۸۲۹Speechless they eyed each other, and about
830. ۸۳۰The fair assembly wander'd to and fro,
831. ۸۳۱Distracted with the richest overflow
832. ۸۳۲Of joy that ever pour'd from heaven.
833. ۸۳۳
834. ۸۳۴ ----"Away!"
835. ۸۳۵Shouted the new-born god; "Follow, and pay
836. ۸۳۶Our piety to Neptunus supreme!"--
837. ۸۳۷Then Scylla, blushing sweetly from her dream,
838. ۸۳۸They led on first, bent to her meek surprise,
839. ۸۳۹Through portal columns of a giant size,
840. ۸۴۰Into the vaulted, boundless emerald.
841. ۸۴۱Joyous all follow'd, as the leader call'd,
842. ۸۴۲Down marble steps; pouring as easily
843. ۸۴۳As hour-glass sand--and fast, as you might see
844. ۸۴۴Swallows obeying the south summer's call,
845. ۸۴۵Or swans upon a gentle waterfall.
846. ۸۴۶
847. ۸۴۷ Thus went that beautiful multitude, nor far,
848. ۸۴۸Ere from among some rocks of glittering spar,
849. ۸۴۹Just within ken, they saw descending thick
850. ۸۵۰Another multitude. Whereat more quick
851. ۸۵۱Moved either host. On a wide sand they met,
852. ۸۵۲And of those numbers every eye was wet;
853. ۸۵۳For each their old love found. A murmuring rose,
854. ۸۵۴Like what was never heard in all the throes
855. ۸۵۵Of wind and waters: 'tis past human wit
856. ۸۵۶To tell; 'tis dizziness to think of it.
857. ۸۵۷
858. ۸۵۸ This mighty consummation made, the host
859. ۸۵۹Mov'd on for many a league; and gain'd, and lost
860. ۸۶۰Huge sea-marks; vanward swelling in array,
861. ۸۶۱And from the rear diminishing away,--
862. ۸۶۲Till a faint dawn surpris'd them. Glaucus cried,
863. ۸۶۳"Behold! behold, the palace of his pride!
864. ۸۶۴God Neptune's palaces!" With noise increas'd,
865. ۸۶۵They shoulder'd on towards that brightening east.
866. ۸۶۶At every onward step proud domes arose
867. ۸۶۷In prospect,--diamond gleams, and golden glows
868. ۸۶۸Of amber 'gainst their faces levelling.
869. ۸۶۹Joyous, and many as the leaves in spring,
870. ۸۷۰Still onward; still the splendour gradual swell'd.
871. ۸۷۱Rich opal domes were seen, on high upheld
872. ۸۷۲By jasper pillars, letting through their shafts
873. ۸۷۳A blush of coral. Copious wonder-draughts
874. ۸۷۴Each gazer drank; and deeper drank more near:
875. ۸۷۵For what poor mortals fragment up, as mere
876. ۸۷۶As marble was there lavish, to the vast
877. ۸۷۷Of one fair palace, that far far surpass'd,
878. ۸۷۸Even for common bulk, those olden three,
879. ۸۷۹Memphis, and Babylon, and Nineveh.
880. ۸۸۰
881. ۸۸۱ As large, as bright, as colour'd as the bow
882. ۸۸۲Of Iris, when unfading it doth shew
883. ۸۸۳Beyond a silvery shower, was the arch
884. ۸۸۴Through which this Paphian army took its march,
885. ۸۸۵Into the outer courts of Neptune's state:
886. ۸۸۶Whence could be seen, direct, a golden gate,
887. ۸۸۷To which the leaders sped; but not half raught
888. ۸۸۸Ere it burst open swift as fairy thought,
889. ۸۸۹And made those dazzled thousands veil their eyes
890. ۸۹۰Like callow eagles at the first sunrise.
891. ۸۹۱Soon with an eagle nativeness their gaze
892. ۸۹۲Ripe from hue-golden swoons took all the blaze,
893. ۸۹۳And then, behold! large Neptune on his throne
894. ۸۹۴Of emerald deep: yet not exalt alone;
895. ۸۹۵At his right hand stood winged Love, and on
896. ۸۹۶His left sat smiling Beauty's paragon.
897. ۸۹۷
898. ۸۹۸ Far as the mariner on highest mast
899. ۸۹۹Can see all round upon the calmed vast,
900. ۹۰۰So wide was Neptune's hall: and as the blue
901. ۹۰۱Doth vault the waters, so the waters drew
902. ۹۰۲Their doming curtains, high, magnificent,
903. ۹۰۳Aw'd from the throne aloof;--and when storm-rent
904. ۹۰۴Disclos'd the thunder-gloomings in Jove's air;
905. ۹۰۵But sooth'd as now, flash'd sudden everywhere,
906. ۹۰۶Noiseless, sub-marine cloudlets, glittering
907. ۹۰۷Death to a human eye: for there did spring
908. ۹۰۸From natural west, and east, and south, and north,
909. ۹۰۹A light as of four sunsets, blazing forth
910. ۹۱۰A gold-green zenith 'bove the Sea-God's head.
911. ۹۱۱Of lucid depth the floor, and far outspread
912. ۹۱۲As breezeless lake, on which the slim canoe
913. ۹۱۳Of feather'd Indian darts about, as through
914. ۹۱۴The delicatest air: air verily,
915. ۹۱۵But for the portraiture of clouds and sky:
916. ۹۱۶This palace floor breath-air,--but for the amaze
917. ۹۱۷Of deep-seen wonders motionless,--and blaze
918. ۹۱۸Of the dome pomp, reflected in extremes,
919. ۹۱۹Globing a golden sphere.
920. ۹۲۰
921. ۹۲۱ They stood in dreams
922. ۹۲۲Till Triton blew his horn. The palace rang;
923. ۹۲۳The Nereids danc'd; the Syrens faintly sang;
924. ۹۲۴And the great Sea-King bow'd his dripping head.
925. ۹۲۵Then Love took wing, and from his pinions shed
926. ۹۲۶On all the multitude a nectarous dew.
927. ۹۲۷The ooze-born Goddess beckoned and drew
928. ۹۲۸Fair Scylla and her guides to conference;
929. ۹۲۹And when they reach'd the throned eminence
930. ۹۳۰She kist the sea-nymph's cheek,--who sat her down
931. ۹۳۱A toying with the doves. Then,--"Mighty crown
932. ۹۳۲And sceptre of this kingdom!" Venus said,
933. ۹۳۳"Thy vows were on a time to Nais paid:
934. ۹۳۴Behold!"--Two copious tear-drops instant fell
935. ۹۳۵From the God's large eyes; he smil'd delectable,
936. ۹۳۶And over Glaucus held his blessing hands.--
937. ۹۳۷"Endymion! Ah! still wandering in the bands
938. ۹۳۸Of love? Now this is cruel. Since the hour
939. ۹۳۹I met thee in earth's bosom, all my power
940. ۹۴۰Have I put forth to serve thee. What, not yet
941. ۹۴۱Escap'd from dull mortality's harsh net?
942. ۹۴۲A little patience, youth! 'twill not be long,
943. ۹۴۳Or I am skilless quite: an idle tongue,
944. ۹۴۴A humid eye, and steps luxurious,
945. ۹۴۵Where these are new and strange, are ominous.
946. ۹۴۶Aye, I have seen these signs in one of heaven,
947. ۹۴۷When others were all blind; and were I given
948. ۹۴۸To utter secrets, haply I might say
949. ۹۴۹Some pleasant words:--but Love will have his day.
950. ۹۵۰So wait awhile expectant. Pr'ythee soon,
951. ۹۵۱Even in the passing of thine honey-moon,
952. ۹۵۲Visit my Cytherea: thou wilt find
953. ۹۵۳Cupid well-natured, my Adonis kind;
954. ۹۵۴And pray persuade with thee--Ah, I have done,
955. ۹۵۵All blisses be upon thee, my sweet son!"--
956. ۹۵۶Thus the fair goddess: while Endymion
957. ۹۵۷Knelt to receive those accents halcyon.
958. ۹۵۸
959. ۹۵۹ Meantime a glorious revelry began
960. ۹۶۰Before the Water-Monarch. Nectar ran
961. ۹۶۱In courteous fountains to all cups outreach'd;
962. ۹۶۲And plunder'd vines, teeming exhaustless, pleach'd
963. ۹۶۳New growth about each shell and pendent lyre;
964. ۹۶۴The which, in disentangling for their fire,
965. ۹۶۵Pull'd down fresh foliage and coverture
966. ۹۶۶For dainty toying. Cupid, empire-sure,
967. ۹۶۷Flutter'd and laugh'd, and oft-times through the throng
968. ۹۶۸Made a delighted way. Then dance, and song,
969. ۹۶۹And garlanding grew wild; and pleasure reign'd.
970. ۹۷۰In harmless tendril they each other chain'd,
971. ۹۷۱And strove who should be smother'd deepest in
972. ۹۷۲Fresh crush of leaves.
973. ۹۷۳
974. ۹۷۴ O 'tis a very sin
975. ۹۷۵For one so weak to venture his poor verse
976. ۹۷۶In such a place as this. O do not curse,
977. ۹۷۷High Muses! let him hurry to the ending.
978. ۹۷۸
979. ۹۷۹ All suddenly were silent. A soft blending
980. ۹۸۰Of dulcet instruments came charmingly;
981. ۹۸۱And then a hymn.
982. ۹۸۲
983. ۹۸۳ "KING of the stormy sea!
984. ۹۸۴Brother of Jove, and co-inheritor
985. ۹۸۵Of elements! Eternally before
986. ۹۸۶Thee the waves awful bow. Fast, stubborn rock,
987. ۹۸۷At thy fear'd trident shrinking, doth unlock
988. ۹۸۸Its deep foundations, hissing into foam.
989. ۹۸۹All mountain-rivers lost, in the wide home
990. ۹۹۰Of thy capacious bosom ever flow.
991. ۹۹۱Thou frownest, and old Eolus thy foe
992. ۹۹۲Skulks to his cavern, 'mid the gruff complaint
993. ۹۹۳Of all his rebel tempests. Dark clouds faint
994. ۹۹۴When, from thy diadem, a silver gleam
995. ۹۹۵Slants over blue dominion. Thy bright team
996. ۹۹۶Gulphs in the morning light, and scuds along
997. ۹۹۷To bring thee nearer to that golden song
998. ۹۹۸Apollo singeth, while his chariot
999. ۹۹۹Waits at the doors of heaven. Thou art not
1000. ۱۰۰۰For scenes like this: an empire stern hast thou;
1001. ۱۰۰۱And it hath furrow'd that large front: yet now,
1002. ۱۰۰۲As newly come of heaven, dost thou sit
1003. ۱۰۰۳To blend and interknit
1004. ۱۰۰۴Subdued majesty with this glad time.
1005. ۱۰۰۵O shell-borne King sublime!
1006. ۱۰۰۶We lay our hearts before thee evermore--
1007. ۱۰۰۷We sing, and we adore!
1008. ۱۰۰۸
1009. ۱۰۰۹ "Breathe softly, flutes;
1010. ۱۰۱۰Be tender of your strings, ye soothing lutes;
1011. ۱۰۱۱Nor be the trumpet heard! O vain, O vain;
1012. ۱۰۱۲Not flowers budding in an April rain,
1013. ۱۰۱۳Nor breath of sleeping dove, nor river's flow,--
1014. ۱۰۱۴No, nor the Eolian twang of Love's own bow,
1015. ۱۰۱۵Can mingle music fit for the soft ear
1016. ۱۰۱۶Of goddess Cytherea!
1017. ۱۰۱۷Yet deign, white Queen of Beauty, thy fair eyes
1018. ۱۰۱۸On our souls' sacrifice.
1019. ۱۰۱۹
1020. ۱۰۲۰ "Bright-winged Child!
1021. ۱۰۲۱Who has another care when thou hast smil'd?
1022. ۱۰۲۲Unfortunates on earth, we see at last
1023. ۱۰۲۳All death-shadows, and glooms that overcast
1024. ۱۰۲۴Our spirits, fann'd away by thy light pinions.
1025. ۱۰۲۵O sweetest essence! sweetest of all minions!
1026. ۱۰۲۶God of warm pulses, and dishevell'd hair,
1027. ۱۰۲۷And panting bosoms bare!
1028. ۱۰۲۸Dear unseen light in darkness! eclipser
1029. ۱۰۲۹Of light in light! delicious poisoner!
1030. ۱۰۳۰Thy venom'd goblet will we quaff until
1031. ۱۰۳۱We fill--we fill!
1032. ۱۰۳۲And by thy Mother's lips----"
1033. ۱۰۳۳
1034. ۱۰۳۴
1035. ۱۰۳۵ Was heard no more
1036. ۱۰۳۶For clamour, when the golden palace door
1037. ۱۰۳۷Opened again, and from without, in shone
1038. ۱۰۳۸A new magnificence. On oozy throne
1039. ۱۰۳۹Smooth-moving came Oceanus the old,
1040. ۱۰۴۰To take a latest glimpse at his sheep-fold,
1041. ۱۰۴۱Before he went into his quiet cave
1042. ۱۰۴۲To muse for ever--Then a lucid wave,
1043. ۱۰۴۳Scoop'd from its trembling sisters of mid-sea,
1044. ۱۰۴۴Afloat, and pillowing up the majesty
1045. ۱۰۴۵Of Doris, and the Egean seer, her spouse--
1046. ۱۰۴۶Next, on a dolphin, clad in laurel boughs,
1047. ۱۰۴۷Theban Amphion leaning on his lute:
1048. ۱۰۴۸His fingers went across it--All were mute
1049. ۱۰۴۹To gaze on Amphitrite, queen of pearls,
1050. ۱۰۵۰And Thetis pearly too.--
1051. ۱۰۵۱
1052. ۱۰۵۲ The palace whirls
1053. ۱۰۵۳Around giddy Endymion; seeing he
1054. ۱۰۵۴Was there far strayed from mortality.
1055. ۱۰۵۵He could not bear it--shut his eyes in vain;
1056. ۱۰۵۶Imagination gave a dizzier pain.
1057. ۱۰۵۷"O I shall die! sweet Venus, be my stay!
1058. ۱۰۵۸Where is my lovely mistress? Well-away!
1059. ۱۰۵۹I die--I hear her voice--I feel my wing--"
1060. ۱۰۶۰At Neptune's feet he sank. A sudden ring
1061. ۱۰۶۱Of Nereids were about him, in kind strife
1062. ۱۰۶۲To usher back his spirit into life:
1063. ۱۰۶۳But still he slept. At last they interwove
1064. ۱۰۶۴Their cradling arms, and purpos'd to convey
1065. ۱۰۶۵Towards a crystal bower far away.
1066. ۱۰۶۶
1067. ۱۰۶۷ Lo! while slow carried through the pitying crowd,
1068. ۱۰۶۸To his inward senses these words spake aloud;
1069. ۱۰۶۹Written in star-light on the dark above:
1070. ۱۰۷۰Dearest Endymion! my entire love!
1071. ۱۰۷۱How have I dwelt in fear of fate: 'tis done--
1072. ۱۰۷۲Immortal bliss for me too hast thou won.
1073. ۱۰۷۳Arise then! for the hen-dove shall not hatch
1074. ۱۰۷۴Her ready eggs, before I'll kissing snatch
1075. ۱۰۷۵Thee into endless heaven. Awake! awake!
1076. ۱۰۷۶
1077. ۱۰۷۷ The youth at once arose: a placid lake
1078. ۱۰۷۸Came quiet to his eyes; and forest green,
1079. ۱۰۷۹Cooler than all the wonders he had seen,
1080. ۱۰۸۰Lull'd with its simple song his fluttering ....
1081. ۱۰۸۱How happy once again in grassy nest!