s: Into o'er-hanging boughs, and precious fruits.


s: And it had gloomy shades, sequestered deep,


s: Where no man went; and if from shepherd's keep


s: A lamb strayed far a-down those inmost glens,


s: Whither his brethren, bleating with content,


s: Among the shepherds, 'twas believed ever,


s: That not one fleecy lamb which thus did sever


s: From the white flock, but pass'd unworried


s: By angry wolf, or pard with prying head,


s: Where fed the herds of Pan: ay great his gains


s: Who thus one lamb did lose. Paths there were many,


s: Winding through palmy fern, and rushes fenny,


s: To a wide lawn, whence one could only see


s: Stems thronging all around between the swell


s: Of turf and slanting branches: who could tell


s: The freshness of the space of heaven above,


s: Edg'd round with dark tree tops? through which a dove


s: Would often beat its wings, and often too


s: A little cloud would move across the blue.


s: There stood a marble altar, with a tress


s: And so the dawned light in pomp receive.


s: For 'twas the morn: Apollo's upward fire


s: Of brightness so unsullied, that therein


s: Gave temperate sweets to that well-wooing sun;


s: The lark was lost in him; cold springs had run


s: To warm their chilliest bubbles in the grass;


s: Man's voice was on the mountains; and the mass


s: Of nature's lives and wonders puls'd tenfold,


s: To feel this sun-rise and its glories old.


s: Now while the silent workings of the dawn


s: All suddenly, with joyful cries, there sped


s: Who gathering round the altar, seemed to pry


s: Some folk of holiday: nor had they waited


s: For many moments, ere their ears were sated


s: With a faint breath of music, which ev'n then


s: Fill'd out its voice, and died away again.


s: To light-hung leaves, in smoothest echoes breaking


s: Through copse-clad vallies,--ere their death, o'ertaking


s: Might mark a lynx's eye, there glimmered light


s: Fair faces and a rush of garments white,


s: Plainer and plainer shewing, till at last


s: O kindly muse! let not my weak tongue faulter


s: To stammer where old Chaucer used to sing.


s: Leading the way, young damsels danced along,


s: With April's tender younglings: next, well trimm'd,


s: A crowd of shepherds with as sunburnt looks


s: Such as sat listening round Apollo's pipe,


s: When the great deity, for earth too ripe,


s: In music, through the vales of Thessaly:


s: Some idly trailed their sheep-hooks on the ground,


s: With ebon-tipped flutes: close after these,


s: Now coming from beneath the forest trees,


s: Begirt with ministring looks: alway his eye


s: And after him his sacred vestments swept.


s: From his right hand there swung a vase, milk-white,


s: Of mingled wine, out-sparkling generous light;


s: Of all sweet herbs that searching eye could cull:


s: Wild thyme, and valley-lilies whiter still


s: Than Leda's love, and cresses from the rill.


s: His aged head, crowned with beechen wreath,


s: Their share of the ditty. After them appear'd,


s: Their voices to the clouds, a fair wrought car,


s: The freedom of three steeds of dapple brown:


s: Who stood therein did seem of great renown


s: Among the throng. His youth was fully blown,


s: And, for those simple times, his garments were


s: A chieftain king's: beneath his breast, half bare,


s: His nervy knees there lay a boar-spear keen.


s: A smile was on his countenance; he seem'd,


s: To common lookers on, like one who dream'd


s: But there were some who feelingly could scan


s: And see that oftentimes the reins would slip


s: Through his forgotten hands: then would they sigh,


s: And think of yellow leaves, of owlets cry,


s: Of logs piled solemnly.--Ah, well-a-day,


s: Why should our young Endymion pine away!


s: Stood silent round the shrine: each look was chang'd


s: Beckon'd their sons to silence; while each cheek


s: Of virgin bloom paled gently for slight fear.


s: Stood, wan, and pale, and with an awed face,


s: Among his brothers of the mountain chase.


s: Eyed them with joy from greatest to the least,


s: Thus spake he: "Men of Latmos! shepherd bands!


s: Whose care it is to guard a thousand flocks:


s: Whether descended from beneath the rocks


s: That overtop your mountains; whether come


s: Or from your swelling downs, where sweet air stirs


s: Blue hare-bells lightly, and where prickly furze


s: Buds lavish gold; or ye, whose precious charge


s: Nibble their fill at ocean's very marge,


s: Whose mellow reeds are touch'd with sounds forlorn


s: Mothers and wives! who day by day prepare


s: The scrip, with needments, for the mountain air;


s: Will put choice honey for a favoured youth:


s: Yea, every one attend! for in good truth


s: Our vows are wanting to our great god Pan.


s: Night-swollen mushrooms? Are not our wide plains


s: Speckled with countless fleeces? Have not rains


s: Green'd over April's lap? No howling sad


s: Sickens our fearful ewes; and we have had


s: The earth is glad: the merry lark has pour'd


s: That spreads so clear o'er our solemnity."


s: Thus ending, on the shrine he heap'd a spire


s: Of teeming sweets, enkindling sacred fire;


s: Anon he stain'd the thick and spongy sod


s: With wine, in honour of the shepherd-god.


s: Now while the earth was drinking it, and while


s: Bay leaves were crackling in the fragrant pile,


s: And gummy frankincense was sparkling bright


s: 'Neath smothering parsley, and a hazy light


s: Spread greyly eastward, thus a chorus sang:


s: "O THOU, whose mighty palace roof doth hang


s: Eternal whispers, glooms, the birth, life, death


s: Of unseen flowers in heavy peacefulness;


s: Their ruffled locks where meeting hazels darken;


s: And through whole solemn hours dost sit, and hearken


s: In desolate places, where dank moisture breeds


s: Thou wast to lose fair Syrinx--do thou now,


s: By all the trembling mazes that she ran,


s: "O thou, for whose soul-soothing quiet, turtles


s: Passion their voices cooingly 'mong myrtles,


s: Through sunny meadows, that outskirt the side


s: Of thine enmossed realms: O thou, to whom


s: Broad leaved fig trees even now foredoom


s: Their ripen'd fruitage; yellow girted bees


s: Their golden honeycombs; our village leas


s: Their fairest blossom'd beans and poppied corn;


s: The chuckling linnet its five young unborn,


s: To sing for thee; low creeping strawberries


s: Their summer coolness; pent up butterflies


s: Their freckled wings; yea, the fresh budding year


s: By every wind that nods the mountain pine,


s: "Thou, to whom every fawn and satyr flies


s: For willing service; whether to surprise


s: The squatted hare while in half sleeping fit;


s: To save poor lambkins from the eagle's maw;


s: Bewildered shepherds to their path again;


s: Or to tread breathless round the frothy main,


s: And, being hidden, laugh at their out-peeping;


s: Or to delight thee with fantastic leaping,


s: The while they pelt each other on the crown


s: With silvery oak apples, and fir cones brown--


s: "O Hearkener to the loud clapping shears,


s: A ram goes bleating: Winder of the horn,


s: When snouted wild-boars routing tender corn


s: Anger our huntsman: Breather round our farms,


s: To keep off mildews, and all weather harms:


s: Strange ministrant of undescribed sounds,


s: That come a swooning over hollow grounds,


s: The many that are come to pay their vows


s: Conception to the very bourne of heaven,


s: Then leave the naked brain: be still the leaven,


s: That spreading in this dull and clodded earth


s: An unknown--but no more: we humbly screen


s: With uplift hands our foreheads, lowly bending,


s: And giving out a shout most heaven rending,


s: Conjure thee to receive our humble Pæan,


s: Even while they brought the burden to a close,


s: That lingered in the air like dying rolls


s: Of dolphins bob their noses through the brine.


s: To the swift treble pipe, and humming string.


s: Aye, those fair living forms swam heavenly


s: Fair creatures! whose young childrens' children bred


s: High genitors, unconscious did they cull


s: Time's sweet first-fruits--they danc'd to weariness,


s: And then in quiet circles did they press


s: The hillock turf, and caught the latter end


s: Or they might watch the quoit-pitchers, intent


s: Who now, ere Phœbus mounts the firmament,


s: Fondles the flower amid the sobbing rain.


s: Beside the feathery whizzing of the shaft,


s: And the dull twanging bowstring, and the raft


s: Branch down sweeping from a tall ash top,


s: Call'd up a thousand thoughts to envelope


s: Those who would watch. Perhaps, the trembling knee


s: Poor, lonely Niobe! when her lovely young


s: Were dead and gone, and her caressing tongue


s: Her motherly cheeks. Arous'd from this sad mood


s: By one, who at a distance loud halloo'd,


s: Many might after brighter visions stare:


s: Tossing about on Neptune's restless ways,


s: There shot a golden splendour far and wide,


s: Spangling those million poutings of the brine


s: With quivering ore: 'twas even an awful shine


s: Who thus were ripe for high contemplating,


s: Might turn their steps towards the sober ring


s: 'Mong shepherds gone in eld, whose looks increas'd


s: The silvery setting of their mortal star.


s: There they discours'd upon the fragile bar


s: And what our duties there: to nightly call


s: Vesper, the beauty-crest of summer weather;


s: To summon all the downiest clouds together


s: To tint her pallid cheek with bloom, who cons


s: Sweet poesy by moonlight: besides these,


s: One felt heart-certain that he could not miss


s: His quick gone love, among fair blossom'd boughs,


s: Where every zephyr-sigh pouts, and endows


s: Another wish'd, mid that eternal spring,


s: To meet his rosy child, with feathery sails,


s: Sweeping, eye-earnestly, through almond vales:


s: Who, suddenly, should stoop through the smooth wind,


s: And with the balmiest leaves his temples bind;


s: And, ever after, through those regions be


s: Their fellow huntsmen o'er the wide champaign


s: In times long past; to sit with them, and talk


s: Of all the chances in their earthly walk;


s: Comparing, joyfully, their plenteous stores


s: Benighted, close they huddled from the cold,


s: And shar'd their famish'd scrips. Thus all out-told


s: To hide the cankering venom, that had riven


s: His senses had swoon'd off: he did not heed


s: The sudden silence, or the whispers low,


s: Or anxious calls, or close of trembling palms,


s: Or maiden's sigh, that grief itself embalms:


s: But in the self-same fixed trance he kept,


s: Like one who on the earth had never slept.


s: Aye, even as dead-still as a marble man,


s: Who whispers him so pantingly and close?


s: His friends, the dearest. Hushing signs she made,


s: And breath'd a sister's sorrow to persuade


s: Her eloquence did breathe away the curse:


s: She led him, like some midnight spirit nurse


s: Along a path between two little streams,--


s: Guarding his forehead, with her round elbow,


s: From low-grown branches, and his footsteps slow


s: From stumbling over stumps and hillocks small;


s: Until they came to where these streamlets fall,


s: With mingled bubblings and a gentle rush,


s: With crystal mocking of the trees and sky.


s: A little shallop, floating there hard by,


s: And soon it lightly dipt, and rose, and sank,


s: And dipt again, with the young couple's weight,--


s: Peona guiding, through the water straight,


s: Which gaining presently, she steered light


s: To whose cool bosom she was used to bring


s: Her playmates, with their needle broidery,


s: Under her favourite bower's quiet shade,


s: On her own couch, new made of flower leaves,


s: Dried carefully on the cooler side of sheaves


s: When last the sun his autumn tresses shook,


s: And the tann'd harvesters rich armfuls took.


s: But, ere it crept upon him, he had prest


s: And still, a sleeping, held her finger-tips


s: In tender pressure. And as a willow keeps


s: A patient watch over the stream that creeps


s: Held her in peace: so that a whispering blade


s: Of grass, a wailful gnat, a bee bustling


s: Down in the blue-bells, or a wren light rustling


s: Among sere leaves and twigs, might all be heard.


s: That broodest o'er the troubled sea of the mind


s: Till it is hush'd and smooth! O unconfin'd


s: Restraint! imprisoned liberty! great key


s: Fountains grotesque, new trees, bespangled caves,


s: And moonlight; aye, to all the mazy world


s: But renovates and lives?--Thus, in the bower,


s: Opening his eyelids with a healthier brain,


s: He said: "I feel this thine endearing love


s: All through my bosom: thou art as a dove


s: Trembling its closed eyes and sleeked wings


s: About me; and the pearliest dew not brings


s: Such morning incense from the fields of May,


s: As do those brighter drops that twinkling stray


s: From those kind eyes,--the very home and haunt


s: Aught else, aught nearer heaven, than such tears?


s: Yet dry them up, in bidding hence all fears


s: Alone and sad. No, I will once more raise


s: My voice upon the mountain-heights; once more


s: Make my horn parley from their foreheads hoar:


s: Again my trooping hounds their tongues shall loll


s: Around the breathed boar: again I'll poll


s: The fair-grown yew tree, for a chosen bow:


s: And, when the pleasant sun is getting low,


s: To hear the speckled thrushes, and see feed


s: Our idle sheep. So be thou cheered sweet,


s: And, if thy lute is here, softly intreat


s: My soul to keep in its resolved course."


s: Shut her pure sorrow drops with glad exclaim,


s: And took a lute, from which there pulsing came


s: In which her voice should wander. 'Twas a lay


s: Than Dryope's lone lulling of her child;


s: And nothing since has floated in the air


s: So mournful strange. Surely some influence rare


s: Went, spiritual, through the damsel's hand;


s: For still, with Delphic emphasis, she spann'd


s: The quick invisible strings, even though she saw


s: But soon she came, with sudden burst, upon


s: Her self-possession--swung the lute aside,


s: And earnestly said: "Brother, 'tis vain to hide


s: That thou dost know of things mysterious,


s: Weigh down thy nature. Hast thou sinn'd in aught


s: Offensive to the heavenly powers? Caught


s: Thy deathful bow against some deer-herd bent,


s: And that, alas! is death. No, I can trace


s: Something more high perplexing in thy face!"


s: Endymion look'd at her, and press'd her hand,


s: And said, "Art thou so pale, who wast so bland


s: Tell me thine ailment: tell me all amiss!--


s: Ah! thou hast been unhappy at the change


s: Wrought suddenly in me. What indeed more strange?


s: That toiling years would put within my grasp,


s: That I have sigh'd for: with so deadly gasp


s: These things which happen. Rightly have they done:


s: Heave his broad shoulder o'er the edge of the world,


s: My spear aloft, as signal for the chace--


s: I, who, for very sport of heart, would race


s: With my own steed from Araby; pluck down


s: A vulture from his towery perching; frown


s: To lose, at once, all my toil breeding fire,


s: And sink thus low! but I will ease my breast


s: Of secret grief, here in this bowery nest.


s: Whence, from a certain spot, its winding flood


s: Seems at the distance like a crescent moon:


s: And in that nook, the very pride of June,


s: So dear a picture of his sovereign power,


s: And I could witness his most kingly hour,


s: When he doth lighten up the golden reins,


s: His snorting four. Now when his chariot last


s: At which I wondered greatly, knowing well


s: That but one night had wrought this flowery spell;


s: And, sitting down close by, began to muse


s: What it might mean. Perhaps, thought I, Morpheus,


s: In passing here, his owlet pinions shook;


s: Her ebon urn, young Mercury, by stealth,


s: Had dipt his rod in it: such garland wealth


s: Came not by common growth. Thus on I thought,


s: Moreover, through the dancing poppies stole


s: A breeze, most softly lulling to my soul;


s: Of colours, wings, and bursts of spangly light;


s: The which became more strange, and strange, and dim,


s: And then were gulph'd in a tumultuous swim:


s: Yet it was but a dream: yet such a dream


s: With mellow utterance, like a cavern spring,


s: Could figure out and to conception bring


s: Watching the zenith, where the milky way


s: Among the stars in virgin splendour pours;


s: Of heaven appear'd to open for my flight,


s: From such high soaring by a downward glance:


s: So kept me stedfast in that airy trance,


s: When, presently, the stars began to glide,


s: At which I sigh'd that I could not pursue,


s: And dropt my vision to the horizon's verge;


s: And lo! from opening clouds, I saw emerge


s: The loveliest moon, that ever silver'd o'er


s: A shell for Neptune's goblet: she did soar


s: Commingling with her argent spheres did roll


s: Through clear and cloudy, even when she went


s: Whereat, methought, the lidless-eyed train


s: To commune with those orbs, once more I rais'd


s: My sight right upward: but it was quite dazed


s: By a bright something, sailing down apace,


s: Making me quickly veil my eyes and face:


s: Whence that completed form of all completeness?


s: Whence came that high perfection of all sweetness?


s: Speak, stubborn earth, and tell me where, O where


s: Not oat-sheaves drooping in the western sun;


s: Not--thy soft hand, fair sister! let me shun


s: Indeed, locks bright enough to make me mad;


s: And they were simply gordian'd up and braided,


s: Her pearl round ears, white neck, and orbed brow;


s: The which were blended in, I know not how,


s: Blush-tinted cheeks, half smiles, and faintest sighs,


s: That, when I think thereon, my spirit clings


s: And plays about its fancy, till the stings


s: To what high fane?--Ah! see her hovering feet,


s: More bluely vein'd, more soft, more whitely sweet


s: Than those of sea-born Venus, when she rose


s: From out her cradle shell. The wind out-blows


s: 'Tis blue, and over-spangled with a million


s: Of little eyes, as though thou wert to shed,


s: Over the darkest, lushest blue-bell bed,


s: Handfuls of daisies."--"Endymion, how strange!


s: Dream within dream!"--"She took an airy range,


s: Came blushing, waning, willing, and afraid,


s: And press'd me by the hand: Ah! 'twas too much;


s: Methought I fainted at the charmed touch,


s: Who dives three fathoms where the waters run


s: Where falling stars dart their artillery forth,


s: And eagles struggle with the buffeting north


s: But lapp'd and lull'd along the dangerous sky.


s: Soon, as it seem'd, we left our journeying high,


s: And straightway into frightful eddies swoop'd;


s: Such as ay muster where grey time has scoop'd


s: Huge dens and caverns in a mountain's side:


s: There hollow sounds arous'd me, and I sigh'd


s: To faint once more by looking on my bliss--


s: The wooing arms which held me, and did give


s: My eyes at once to death: but 'twas to live,


s: To take in draughts of life from the gold fount


s: Of kind and passionate looks; to count, and count


s: The moments, by some greedy help that seem'd


s: A second self, that each might be redeem'd


s: And plunder'd of its load of blessedness.


s: Ah, desperate mortal! I ev'n dar'd to press


s: Our feet were soft in flowers. There was store


s: A scent of violets, and blossoming limes,


s: Loiter'd around us; then of honey cells,


s: Made delicate from all white-flower bells;


s: An arch face peep'd,--an Oread as I guess'd.


s: "Why did I dream that sleep o'er-power'd me


s: In midst of all this heaven? Why not see,


s: Far off, the shadows of his pinions dark,


s: And stare them from me? But no, like a spark


s: That needs must die, although its little beam


s: And up I started: Ah! my sighs, my tears,


s: My clenched hands;--for lo! the poppies hung


s: Dew-dabbled on their stalks, the ouzel sung


s: Bluster'd, and slept, and its wild self did teaze


s: Mark me, Peona! that sometimes it brought


s: Faint fare-thee-wells, and sigh-shrilled adieus!--


s: Of heaven and earth had faded: deepest shades


s: Were deepest dungeons; heaths and sunny glades


s: Were full of pestilent light; our taintless rills


s: Seem'd sooty, and o'er-spread with upturn'd gills


s: Of dying fish; the vermeil rose had blown


s: In frightful scarlet, and its thorns out-grown


s: Before my heedless footsteps stirr'd, and stirr'd


s: My stumblings down some monstrous precipice:


s: Therefore I eager followed, and did curse


s: The disappointment. Time, that aged nurse,


s: Rock'd me to patience. Now, thank gentle heaven!


s: These things, with all their comfortings, are given


s: Sweet sister, help to stem the ebbing sea


s: To answer; feeling well that breathed words


s: Would all be lost, unheard, and vain as swords


s: Against the enchased crocodile, or leaps


s: Of grasshoppers against the sun. She weeps,


s: And wonders; struggles to devise some blame;


s: To put on such a look as would say, _Shame


s: On this poor weakness!_ but, for all her strife,


s: She could as soon have crush'd away the life


s: From a sick dove. At length, to break the pause,


s: She said with trembling chance: "Is this the cause?


s: This all? Yet it is strange, and sad, alas!


s: That one who through this middle earth should pass


s: Most like a sojourning demi-god, and leave


s: His name upon the harp-string, should achieve


s: Singing alone, and fearfully,--how the blood


s: Left his young cheek; and how he used to stray


s: He knew not where; and how he would say, _nay_,


s: If any said 'twas love: and yet 'twas love;


s: What could it be but love? How a ring-dove


s: Let fall a sprig of yew tree in his path;


s: And how he died: and then, that love doth scathe,


s: The gentle heart, as northern blasts do roses;


s: And then the ballad of his sad life closes


s: Among the winds at large--that all may hearken!


s: Although, before the crystal heavens darken,


s: Pictur'd in western cloudiness, that takes


s: The semblance of gold rocks and bright gold sands,


s: Islands, and creeks, and amber-fretted strands


s: And towers of amethyst,--would I so tease


s: My pleasant days, because I could not mount


s: Of that fine element that visions, dreams,


s: And fitful whims of sleep are made of, streams


s: So thin a breathing, not the spider's shuttle,


s: Circled a million times within the space


s: Of a swallow's nest-door, could delay a trace,


s: Must dreams themselves be; seeing they're more slight


s: Than the mere nothing that engenders them!


s: Of high and noble life with thoughts so sick?


s: Why pierce high-fronted honour to the quick


s: For nothing but a dream?" Hereat the youth


s: Look'd up: a conflicting of shame and ruth


s: Was in his plaited brow: yet, his eyelids


s: A little breeze to creep between the fans


s: Upon his cheek, while thus he lifeful spake.


s: My thirst for the world's praises: nothing base,


s: No merely slumberous phantasm, could unlace


s: The stubborn canvas for my voyage prepar'd--


s: Though now 'tis tatter'd; leaving my bark bar'd


s: And sullenly drifting: yet my higher hope


s: Is of too wide, too rainbow-large a scope,


s: Wherein lies happiness? In that which becks


s: A fellowship with essence; till we shine,


s: Full alchemiz'd, and free of space. Behold


s: A rose leaf round thy finger's taperness,


s: And soothe thy lips: hist, when the airy stress


s: Of music's kiss impregnates the free winds,


s: Then old songs waken from enclouded tombs;


s: Old ditties sigh above their father's grave;


s: Round every spot were trod Apollo's foot;


s: Bronze clarions awake, and faintly bruit,


s: In every place where infant Orpheus slept.


s: Feel we these things?--that moment have we stept


s: Is like a floating spirit's. But there are


s: More self-destroying, leading, by degrees,


s: To the chief intensity: the crown of these


s: Is made of love and friendship, and sits high


s: Is friendship, whence there ever issues forth


s: There hangs by unseen film, an orbed drop


s: Of light, and that is love: its influence,


s: Thrown in our eyes, genders a novel sense,


s: At which we start and fret; till in the end,


s: Nor with aught else can our souls interknit


s: Life's self is nourish'd by its proper pith,


s: And we are nurtured like a pelican brood.


s: That men, who might have tower'd in the van


s: All chaff of custom, wipe away all slime


s: Whilst they did sleep in love's elysium.


s: Than speak against this ardent listlessness:


s: For I have ever thought that it might bless


s: As does the nightingale, upperched high,


s: And cloister'd among cool and bunched leaves--


s: She sings but to her love, nor e'er conceives


s: How tiptoe Night holds back her dark-grey hood.


s: Just so may love, although 'tis understood


s: The mere commingling of passionate breath,


s: Produce more than our searching witnesseth:


s: What I know not: but who, of men, can tell


s: That flowers would bloom, or that green fruit would swell


s: To melting pulp, that fish would have bright mail,


s: The earth its dower of river, wood, and vale,


s: The meadows runnels, runnels pebble-stones,


s: The seed its harvest, or the lute its tones,


s: Tones ravishment, or ravishment its sweet,


s: If human souls did never kiss and greet?


s: "Now, if this earthly love has power to make


s: Their measure of content; what merest whim,


s: Seems all this poor endeavour after fame,


s: To one, who keeps within his stedfast aim


s: Look not so wilder'd; for these things are true,


s: That buzz about our slumbers, like brain-flies,


s: Leaving us fancy-sick. No, no, I'm sure,


s: When I have told thee how my waking sight


s: Has made me scruple whether that same night


s: Was pass'd in dreaming. Hearken, sweet Peona!


s: Which we should see but for these darkening boughs,


s: Lies a deep hollow, from whose ragged brows


s: Bushes and trees do lean all round athwart,


s: And meet so nearly, that with wings outraught,


s: And spreaded tail, a vulture could not glide


s: Past them, but he must brush on every side.


s: Some moulder'd steps lead into this cool cell,


s: Whose patient level peeps its crystal eye


s: Right upward, through the bushes, to the sky.


s: Oft have I brought thee flowers, on their stalks set


s: Edges them round, and they have golden pits:


s: 'Twas there I got them, from the gaps and slits


s: In a mossy stone, that sometimes was my seat,


s: When all above was faint with mid-day heat.


s: And there in strife no burning thoughts to heed,


s: So reaching back to boy-hood: make me ships


s: Of moulted feathers, touchwood, alder chips,


s: With leaves stuck in them; and the Neptune be


s: When love-lorn hours had left me less a child,


s: Of o'er-head clouds melting the mirror through.


s: Upon a day, while thus I watch'd, by flew


s: A cloudy Cupid, with his bow and quiver;


s: So plainly character'd, no breeze would shiver


s: And, therefore, was just going; when, behold!


s: The same bright face I tasted in my sleep,


s: Smiling in the clear well. My heart did leap


s: Through the cool depth.--It moved as if to flee--


s: There came upon my face, in plenteous showers,


s: Dew-drops, and dewy buds, and leaves, and flowers,


s: Wrapping all objects from my smothered sight,


s: Aye, such a breathless honey-feel of bliss


s: Of death, for the fair form had gone again.


s: Clings cruelly to us, like the gnawing sloth


s: On the deer's tender haunches: late, and loth,


s: 'Tis scar'd away by slow returning pleasure.


s: How sickening, how dark the dreadful leisure


s: By a fore-knowledge of unslumbrous night!


s: Like sorrow came upon me, heavier still,


s: Than when I wander'd from the poppy hill:


s: And a whole age of lingering moments crept


s: Sluggishly by, ere more contentment swept


s: Yes, thrice have I this fair enchantment seen;


s: Once more been tortured with renewed life.


s: When last the wintry gusts gave over strife


s: With the conquering sun of spring, and left the skies


s: Warm and serene, but yet with moistened eyes


s: That time thou didst adorn, with amber studs,


s: My hunting cap, because I laugh'd and smil'd,


s: All torment from my breast;--'twas even then,


s: Straying about, yet, coop'd up in the den


s: Of helpless discontent,--hurling my lance


s: From place to place, and following at chance,


s: At last, by hap, through some young trees it struck,


s: And, plashing among bedded pebbles, stuck


s: In the middle of a brook,--whose silver ramble


s: Down twenty little falls, through reeds and bramble,


s: Whence it ran brightly forth, and white did lave


s: The nether sides of mossy stones and rock,--


s: 'Mong which it gurgled blythe adieus, to mock


s: Its own sweet grief at parting. Overhead,


s: Hung a lush scene of drooping weeds, and spread


s: Thick, as to curtain up some wood-nymph's home.


s: "Ah! impious mortal, whither do I roam?"


s: Said I, low voic'd: "Ah, whither! 'Tis the grot


s: Of Proserpine, when Hell, obscure and hot,


s: Doth her resign; and where her tender hands


s: She dabbles, on the cool and sluicy sands:


s: Or 'tis the cell of Echo, where she sits,


s: And babbles thorough silence, till her wits


s: Faints into sleep, with many a dying tone


s: Of sadness. O that she would take my vows,


s: And breathe them sighingly among the boughs,


s: To sue her gentle ears for whose fair head,


s: Daily, I pluck sweet flowerets from their bed,


s: And weave them dyingly--send honey-whispers


s: Round every leaf, that all those gentle lispers


s: This ditty to her!--tell her"--so I stay'd


s: My foolish tongue, and listening, half afraid,


s: Stood stupefied with my own empty folly,


s: And blushing for the freaks of melancholy.


s: Salt tears were coming, when I heard my name


s: Most fondly lipp'd, and then these accents came:


s: Than the isle of Delos. Echo hence shall stir


s: No sighs but sigh-warm kisses, or light noise


s: Of thy combing hand, the while it travelling cloys


s: And trembles through my labyrinthine hair."


s: At that oppress'd I hurried in.--Ah! where


s: Are those swift moments? Whither are they fled?


s: Bear up against it: so farewel, sad sigh;


s: My pilgrimage for the world's dusky brink.


s: No more will I count over, link by link,


s: My chain of grief: no longer strive to find


s: Blustering about my ears: aye, thou shalt see,


s: Dearest of sisters, what my life shall be;


s: What a calm round of hours shall make my days.


s: There is a paly flame of hope that plays


s: Where'er I look: but yet, I'll say 'tis naught--


s: And here I bid it die. Have not I caught,


s: By this the sun is setting; we may chance


s: Meet some of our near-dwellers with my car."


s: This said, he rose, faint-smiling like a star


s: Through autumn mists, and took Peona's hand:


s: They stept into the boat, and launch'd from land.


s: O sovereign power of love! O grief! O balm!


s: All records, saving thine, come cool, and calm,


s: And shadowy, through the mist of passed years:


s: For others, good or bad, hatred and tears


s: Have become indolent; but touching thine,


s: One sigh doth echo, one poor sob doth pine,


s: One kiss brings honey-dew from buried days.


s: The woes of Troy, towers smothering o'er their blaze,


s: Stiff-holden shields, far-piercing spears, keen blades,


s: Struggling, and blood, and shrieks--all dimly fades


s: Hence, pageant history! hence, gilded cheat!


s: Wide sea, that one continuous murmur breeds


s: To goodly vessels; many a sail of pride,


s: And golden keel'd, is left unlaunch'd and dry.


s: But wherefore this? What care, though owl did fly


s: About the great Athenian admiral's mast?


s: What care, though striding Alexander past


s: Though old Ulysses tortured from his slumbers


s: The glutted Cyclops, what care?--Juliet leaning


s: Tenderly her fancy from its maiden snow,


s: Doth more avail than these: the silver flow


s: Are things to brood on with more ardency


s: Than the death-day of empires. Fearfully


s: Must such conviction come upon his head,


s: Who, thus far, discontent, has dared to tread,


s: Without one muse's smile, or kind behest,


s: In chaffing restlessness, is yet more drear


s: Than to be crush'd, in striving to uprear


s: Love's standard on the battlements of song.


s: So once more days and nights aid me along,


s: What promise hast thou faithful guarded since


s: The day of sacrifice? Or, have new sorrows


s: Come with the constant dawn upon thy morrows?


s: Alas! 'tis his old grief. For many days,


s: Has he been wandering in uncertain ways:


s: Through wilderness, and woods of mossed oaks;


s: Counting his woe-worn minutes, by the strokes


s: Of the lone woodcutter; and listening still,


s: Hour after hour, to each lush-leav'd rill.


s: Stems the upbursting cold: a wild rose tree


s: A bud which snares his fancy: lo! but now


s: He plucks it, dips its stalk in the water: how!


s: It swells, it buds, it flowers beneath his sight;


s: And, in the middle, there is softly pight


s: There must be surely character'd strange things,


s: For with wide eye he wonders, and smiles oft.


s: Follow'd by glad Endymion's clasped hands:


s: Onward it flies. From languor's sullen bands


s: His limbs are loos'd, and eager, on he hies


s: Through the green evening quiet in the sun,


s: O'er many a heath, through many a woodland dun,


s: Through buried paths, where sleepy twilight dreams


s: Where there was never sound of mortal men,


s: Saving, perhaps, some snow-light cadences


s: Melting to silence, when upon the breeze


s: Some holy bark let forth an anthem sweet,


s: To cheer itself to Delphi. Still his feet


s: Went swift beneath the merry-winged guide,


s: Until it reached a splashing fountain's side


s: That, near a cavern's mouth, for ever pour'd


s: Unto the temperate air: then high it soar'd,


s: As if, athirst with so much toil, 'twould sip


s: The crystal spout-head: so it did, with touch


s: Most delicate, as though afraid to smutch


s: So fairy-quick, was strange! Bewildered,


s: Endymion sought around, and shook each bed


s: Of covert flowers in vain; and then he flung


s: Himself along the grass. What gentle tongue,


s: What whisperer disturb'd his gloomy rest?


s: In the fountain's pebbly margin, and she stood


s: 'Mong lilies, like the youngest of the brood.


s: To him her dripping hand she softly kist,


s: Her ringlets round her fingers, saying: "Youth!


s: Too long, alas, hast thou starv'd on the ruth,


s: The bitterness of love: too long indeed,


s: Thy soul of care, by heavens, I would offer


s: All the bright riches of my crystal coffer


s: Vermilion-tail'd, or finn'd with silvery gauze;


s: Yea, or my veined pebble-floor, that draws


s: A virgin light to the deep; my grotto-sands


s: Tawny and gold, ooz'd slowly from far lands


s: By my diligent springs; my level lilies, shells,


s: My charming rod, my potent river spells;


s: Yes, every thing, even to the pearly cup


s: I've been thy guide; that thou must wander far


s: To mortal steps, before thou cans't be ta'en


s: From every wasting sigh, from every pain,


s: Why it is thus, one knows in heaven above:


s: But, a poor Naiad, I guess not. Farewel!


s: Hereat, she vanished from Endymion's gaze,


s: The dashing fount pour'd on, and where its pool


s: Lay, half asleep, in grass and rushes cool,


s: Quick waterflies and gnats were sporting still,


s: And fish were dimpling, as if good nor ill


s: Holding his forehead, to keep off the burr


s: Of smothering fancies, patiently sat down;


s: And, while beneath the evening's sleepy frown


s: Glow-worms began to trim their starry lamps,


s: Thus breath'd he to himself: "Whoso encamps


s: O what a wretch is he! and when 'tis his,


s: The kernel of his hopes, how more than vile:


s: Yet, for him there's refreshment even in toil;


s: Free from the smallest pebble-head of doubt


s: That he will seize on trickling honey-combs:


s: Alas, he finds them dry; and then he foams,


s: But this is human life: the war, the deeds,


s: All human; bearing in themselves this good,


s: That they are still the air, the subtle food,


s: How quiet death is. Where soil is men grow,


s: Whether to weeds or flowers; but for me,


s: There is no depth to strike in: I can see


s: Nought earthly worth my compassing; so stand


s: With not a thing to sigh for, or to seek,


s: But the soft shadow of my thrice-seen love,


s: Than be--I care not what. O meekest dove


s: Of heaven! O Cynthia, ten-times bright and fair!


s: From thy blue throne, now filling all the air,


s: Glance but one little beam of temper'd light


s: Yet do not so, sweet queen; one torment spar'd,


s: Worse than the torment's self: but rather tie


s: Large wings upon my shoulders, and point out


s: My love's far dwelling. Though the playful rout


s: Of Cupids shun thee, too divine art thou,


s: Not to have dipp'd in love's most gentle stream.


s: My madness impious; for, by all the stars


s: That tend thy bidding, I do think the bars


s: That kept my spirit in are burst--that I


s: Am sailing with thee through the dizzy sky!


s: How beautiful thou art! The world how deep!


s: How tremulous-dazzlingly the wheels sweep


s: Around their axle! Then these gleaming reins,


s: How lithe! When this thy chariot attains


s: Those twilight eyes?--Those eyes!--my spirit fails--


s: Dear goddess, help! or the wide-gaping air


s: Will gulph me--help!"--At this with madden'd stare,


s: And lifted hands, and trembling lips he stood;


s: Like old Deucalion mountain'd o'er the flood,


s: And, but from the deep cavern there was borne


s: A voice, he had been froze to senseless stone;


s: Nor sigh of his, nor plaint, nor passion'd moan


s: Had more been heard. Thus swell'd it forth: "Descend,


s: Young mountaineer! descend where alleys bend


s: Oft hast thou seen bolts of the thunder hurl'd


s: As from thy threshold; day by day hast been


s: Of icy pinnacles, and dipp'dst thine arms


s: Into the deadening ether that still charms


s: Their marble being: now, as deep profound


s: As those are high, descend! He ne'er is crown'd


s: Where airy voices lead: so through the hollow,


s: The silent mysteries of earth, descend!"


s: He heard but the last words, nor could contend


s: From the clear moon, the trees, and coming madness.


s: 'Twas far too strange, and wonderful for sadness;


s: To dive into the deepest. Dark, nor light,


s: The region; nor bright, nor sombre wholly,


s: Aye, millions sparkled on a vein of gold,


s: Along whose track the prince quick footsteps told,


s: Out-shooting sometimes, like a meteor-star,


s: Through a vast antre; then the metal woof,


s: Like Vulcan's rainbow, with some monstrous roof


s: Curves hugely: now, far in the deep abyss,


s: It seems an angry lightning, and doth hiss


s: Through winding passages, where sameness breeds


s: Vexing conceptions of some sudden change;


s: Of sapphire columns, or fantastic bridge


s: Now fareth he, that o'er the vast beneath


s: Towers like an ocean-cliff, and whence he seeth


s: But as the murmuring surge. Chilly and numb


s: His bosom grew, when first he, far away,


s: Old darkness from his throne: 'twas like the sun


s: Uprisen o'er chaos: and with such a stun


s: Came the amazement, that, absorb'd in it,


s: He saw not fiercer wonders--past the wit


s: Who, when this planet's sphering time doth close,


s: Will be its high remembrancers: who they?


s: The mighty ones who have made eternal day


s: For Greece and England. While astonishment


s: With deep-drawn sighs was quieting, he went


s: In sacred custom, that he well nigh fear'd


s: To search it inwards; whence far off appear'd,


s: Through a long pillar'd vista, a fair shrine,


s: And, just beyond, on light tiptoe divine,


s: The youth approach'd; oft turning his veil'd eye


s: Down sidelong aisles, and into niches old.


s: And when, more near against the marble cold


s: He had touch'd his forehead, he began to thread


s: All courts and passages, where silence dead


s: Rous'd by his whispering footsteps murmured faint:


s: And long he travers'd to and fro, to acquaint


s: There, when new wonders ceas'd to float before,


s: And thoughts of self came on, how crude and sore


s: Whose flitting lantern, through rude nettle-briar,


s: In lone Endymion's ear, now he has caught


s: The goal of consciousness? Ah, 'tis the thought,


s: Of rivers, nor hill-flowers running wild


s: In pink and purple chequer, nor, up-pil'd,


s: The cloudy rack slow journeying in the west,


s: Like herded elephants; nor felt, nor prest


s: Cool grass, nor tasted the fresh slumberous air;


s: An unknown time, surcharg'd with grief, away,


s: Was now his lot. And must he patient stay,


s: Tracing fantastic figures with his spear?


s: "No!" exclaimed he, "why should I tarry here?"


s: At which he straightway started, and 'gan tell


s: Warming and growing strong in the belief


s: He caught her airy form, thus did he plain,


s: Moving more near the while. "O Haunter chaste


s: Of river sides, and woods, and heathy waste,


s: Where with thy silver bow and arrows keen


s: Art thou now forested? O woodland Queen,


s: What smoothest air thy smoother forehead woos?


s: Where dost thou listen to the wide halloos


s: Of thy disparted nymphs? Through what dark tree


s: Glimmers thy crescent? Wheresoe'er it be,


s: 'Tis in the breath of heaven: thou dost taste


s: Freedom as none can taste it, nor dost waste


s: But, finding in our green earth sweet contents,


s: An exil'd mortal, sounds its pleasant name!


s: Within my breast there lives a choking flame--


s: O let me cool it among the zephyr-boughs!


s: O let me slake it at the running springs!


s: O let me once more hear the linnet's note!


s: Before mine eyes thick films and shadows float--


s: O let me 'noint them with the heaven's light!


s: Dost thou now lave thy feet and ankles white?


s: O think how sweet to me the freshening sluice!


s: Dost thou now please thy thirst with berry-juice?


s: O think how this dry palate would rejoice!


s: If in soft slumber thou dost hear my voice,


s: O think how I should love a bed of flowers!--


s: Young goddess! let me see my native bowers!


s: Thus ending loudly, as he would o'erleap


s: Feeling about for its old couch of space


s: Desponding, o'er the marble floor's cold thrill.


s: But 'twas not long; for, sweeter than the rill


s: To margin sallows, were the leaves he spied,


s: And flowers, and wreaths, and ready myrtle crowns


s: Up heaping through the slab: refreshment drowns


s: Itself, and strives its own delights to hide--


s: In a long whispering birth enchanted grew


s: Before his footsteps; as when heav'd anew


s: Old ocean rolls a lengthened wave to the shore,


s: Down whose green back the short-liv'd foam, all hoar,


s: Bursts gradual, with a wayward indolence.


s: Increasing still in heart, and pleasant sense,


s: So anxious for the end, he scarcely wastes


s: One moment with his hand among the sweets:


s: Onward he goes--he stops--his bosom beats


s: As plainly in his ear, as the faint charm


s: Of which the throbs were born. This still alarm,


s: This sleepy music, forc'd him walk tiptoe:


s: For it came more softly than the east could blow


s: Or than the west, made jealous by the smiles


s: Of thron'd Apollo, could breathe back the lyre


s: Who lov'd--and music slew not? 'Tis the pest


s: Of love, that fairest joys give most unrest;


s: That things of delicate and tenderest worth


s: Are swallow'd all, and made a seared dearth,


s: And suffocate true blessings in a curse.


s: Dew-dropping melody, in the Carian's ear;


s: First heaven, then hell, and then forgotten clear,


s: To where thick myrtle branches, 'gainst his head


s: Brushing, awakened: then the sounds again


s: Went noiseless as a passing noontide rain


s: Over a bower, where little space he stood;


s: So saw he panting light, and towards it went


s: Through winding alleys; and lo, wonderment!


s: Upon soft verdure saw, one here, one there,


s: Cupids a slumbering on their pinions fair.


s: A chamber, myrtle wall'd, embowered high,


s: Full of light, incense, tender minstrelsy,


s: And more of beautiful and strange beside:


s: In midst of all, there lay a sleeping youth


s: Of fondest beauty; fonder, in fair sooth,


s: Than sighs could fathom, or contentment reach:


s: And coverlids gold-tinted like the peach,


s: Fell sleek about him in a thousand folds--


s: Of neck and shoulder, nor the tenting swerve


s: Of knee from knee, nor ankles pointing light;


s: But rather, giving them to the filled sight


s: On one white arm, and tenderly unclos'd,


s: By tenderest pressure, a faint damask mouth


s: To slumbery pout; just as the morning south


s: Disparts a dew-lipp'd rose. Above his head,


s: Four lily stalks did their white honours wed


s: All tendrils green, of every bloom and hue,


s: Together intertwin'd and trammel'd fresh:


s: The vine of glossy sprout; the ivy mesh,


s: Shading its Ethiop berries; and woodbine,


s: Of velvet leaves and bugle-blooms divine;


s: The creeper, mellowing for an autumn blush;


s: One, kneeling to a lyre, touch'd the strings,


s: Muffling to death the pathos with his wings;


s: At the youth's slumber; while another took


s: In through the woven roof, and fluttering-wise


s: At these enchantments, and yet many more,


s: The breathless Latmian wonder'd o'er and o'er;


s: He forthright pass'd, and lightly treading went


s: To that same feather'd lyrist, who straightway,


s: Smiling, thus whisper'd: "Though from upper day


s: Thou art a wanderer, and thy presence here


s: For 'tis the nicest touch of human honour,


s: When some ethereal and high-favouring donor


s: Presents immortal bowers to mortal sense;


s: As now 'tis done to thee, Endymion. Hence


s: Upon these living flowers. Here is wine,


s: So cool a purple: taste these juicy pears,


s: Sent me by sad Vertumnus, when his fears


s: Deepening to richness from a snowy gleam;


s: Sweeter than that nurse Amalthea skimm'd


s: And here is manna pick'd from Syrian trees,


s: Feast on, and meanwhile I will let thee know


s: Of all these things around us." He did so,


s: Still brooding o'er the cadence of his lyre;


s: By telling how the sea-born goddess pin'd


s: For a mortal youth, and how she strove to bind


s: Who would not be so prison'd? but, fond elf,


s: Faint through his careless arms; content to see


s: Content, O fool! to make a cold retreat,


s: When on the pleasant grass such love, lovelorn,


s: Of diverse passion; when her lips and eyes


s: Were clos'd in sullen moisture, and quick sighs


s: Came vex'd and pettish through her nostrils small.


s: Hush! no exclaim--yet, justly mightst thou call


s: But my poor mistress went distract and mad,


s: When the boar tusk'd him: so away she flew


s: To Jove's high throne, and by her plainings drew


s: Immortal tear-drops down the thunderer's beard;


s: Whereon, it was decreed he should be rear'd


s: Each summer time to life. Lo! this is he,


s: Of this still region all his winter-sleep.


s: Aye, sleep; for when our love-sick queen did weep


s: Over his waned corse, the tremulous shower


s: Heal'd up the wound, and, with a balmy power,


s: Medicined death to a lengthened drowsiness:


s: The which she fills with visions, and doth dress


s: To watch his slumber through. 'Tis well nigh pass'd,


s: She scuds with summer breezes, to pant through


s: The first long kiss, warm firstling, to renew


s: Look! how those winged listeners all this while


s: Stand anxious: see! behold!"--This clamant word


s: Broke through the careful silence; for they heard


s: A rustling noise of leaves, and out there flutter'd


s: Pigeons and doves: Adonis something mutter'd,


s: The while one hand, that erst upon his thigh


s: Lay dormant, mov'd convuls'd and gradually


s: Up to his forehead. Then there was a hum


s: Arise! awake! Clear summer has forth walk'd


s: Unto the clover-sward, and she has talk'd


s: Rise, Cupids! or we'll give the blue-bell pinch


s: To your dimpled arms. Once more sweet life begin!"


s: At this, from every side they hurried in,


s: Rubbing their sleepy eyes with lazy wrists,


s: And doubling over head their little fists


s: In backward yawns. But all were soon alive:


s: For as delicious wine doth, sparkling, dive


s: In nectar'd clouds and curls through water fair,


s: So from the arbour roof down swell'd an air


s: To laugh, and play, and sing, and loudly call


s: For their sweet queen: when lo! the wreathed green


s: Blue heaven, and a silver car, air-borne,


s: Whose silent wheels, fresh wet from clouds of morn,


s: Spun off a drizzling dew,--which falling chill


s: On soft Adonis' shoulders, made him still


s: Soon were the white doves plain, with necks stretch'd out,


s: And soon, returning from love's banishment,


s: Queen Venus leaning downward open arm'd:


s: Her shadow fell upon his breast, and charm'd


s: But meeting her blue orbs! Who, who can write


s: Of these first minutes? The unchariest muse


s: To embracements warm as theirs makes coy excuse.


s: Saving love's self, who stands superb to share


s: The general gladness: awfully he stands;


s: A sovereign quell is in his waving hands;


s: No sight can bear the lightning of his bow;


s: What themselves think of it; from forth his eyes


s: There darts strange light of varied hues and dyes:


s: A scowl is sometimes on his brow, but who


s: Of his fair eyes run liquid through their souls.


s: The burning prayer within him; so, bent low,


s: But Venus, bending forward, said: "My child,


s: Favour this gentle youth; his days are wild


s: Thou know'st the deepness of his misery.


s: Ah, smile not so, my son: I tell thee true,


s: That when through heavy hours I used to rue


s: The endless sleep of this new-born Adon',


s: Into the breezy clouds, to weep and pray


s: For this my love: for vexing Mars had teaz'd


s: Me even to tears: thence, when a little eas'd,


s: Down-looking, vacant, through a hazy wood,


s: I saw this youth as he despairing stood:


s: Those same dark curls blown vagrant in the wind;


s: Those same full fringed lids a constant blind


s: Himself on wither'd leaves, even as though


s: Death had come sudden; for no jot he mov'd,


s: Yet mutter'd wildly. I could hear he lov'd


s: Some fair immortal, and that his embrace


s: Had zoned her through the night. There is no trace


s: Of this in heaven: I have mark'd each cheek,


s: And find it is the vainest thing to seek;


s: And that of all things 'tis kept secretest.


s: So still obey the guiding hand that fends


s: Thee safely through these wonders for sweet ends.


s: Thou shouldst mount up to with me. Now adieu!


s: Here must we leave thee."--At these words up flew


s: The impatient doves, up rose the floating car,


s: The Latmian saw them minish into nought;


s: And, when all were clear vanish'd, still he caught


s: A vivid lightning from that dreadful bow.


s: When all was darkened, with Etnean throe


s: The earth clos'd--gave a solitary moan--


s: And left him once again in twilight lone.


s: He did not rave, he did not stare aghast,


s: For all those visions were o'ergone, and past,


s: Would seem a feather to the mighty prize.


s: Through caves, and palaces of mottled ore,


s: Gold dome, and crystal wall, and turquois floor,


s: Spiral through ruggedest loopholes, and thence


s: Stretching across a void, then guiding o'er


s: Enormous chasms, where, all foam and roar,


s: Streams subterranean tease their granite beds;


s: Then heighten'd just above the silvery heads


s: Of a thousand fountains, so that he could dash


s: The waters with his spear; but at the splash,


s: Done heedlessly, those spouting columns rose


s: Sudden a poplar's height, and 'gan to enclose


s: His diamond path with fretwork, streaming round


s: Alive, and dazzling cool, and with a sound,


s: Haply, like dolphin tumults, when sweet shells


s: Welcome the float of Thetis. Long he dwells


s: On this delight; for, every minute's space,


s: The streams with changed magic interlace:


s: Cover'd with crystal vines; then weeping trees,


s: Which, in a wink, to watery gauze refin'd,


s: Pour'd into shapes of curtain'd canopies,


s: Spangled, and rich with liquid broideries


s: Of flowers, peacocks, swans, and naiads fair.


s: Swifter than lightning went these wonders rare;


s: And then the water, into stubborn streams


s: Collecting, mimick'd the wrought oaken beams,


s: Pillars, and frieze, and high fantastic roof,


s: Cathedrals call'd. He bade a loth farewel


s: To these founts Protean, passing gulph, and dell,


s: And torrent, and ten thousand jutting shapes,


s: Half seen through deepest gloom, and griesly gapes,


s: A vaulted dome like Heaven's, far bespread


s: With starlight gems: aye, all so huge and strange,


s: Working within him into something dreary,--


s: Vex'd like a morning eagle, lost, and weary,


s: And purblind amid foggy, midnight wolds.


s: New sudden things, nor casts his mental slough?


s: Forth from a rugged arch, in the dusk below,


s: About her majesty, and front death-pale,


s: With turrets crown'd. Four maned lions hale


s: The sluggish wheels; solemn their toothed maws,


s: Their surly eyes brow-hidden, heavy paws


s: Cowering their tawny brushes. Silent sails


s: This shadowy queen athwart, and faints away


s: Young traveller, in such a mournful place?


s: Art thou wayworn, or canst not further trace


s: The diamond path? And does it indeed end


s: Abrupt in middle air? Yet earthward bend


s: Thy forehead, and to Jupiter cloud-borne


s: Abrupt, in middle air, his way was lost;


s: To cloud-borne Jove he bowed, and there crost


s: Towards him a large eagle, 'twixt whose wings,


s: Without one impious word, himself he flings,


s: Committed to the darkness and the gloom:


s: Down, down, uncertain to what pleasant doom,


s: Swift as a fathoming plummet down he fell


s: Through unknown things; till exhaled asphodel,


s: And rose, with spicy fannings interbreath'd,


s: Came swelling forth where little caves were wreath'd


s: So thick with leaves and mosses, that they seem'd


s: Large honey-combs of green, and freshly teem'd


s: With airs delicious. In the greenest nook


s: With golden moss. His every sense had grown


s: Flew a delight half-graspable; his tread


s: Silence was music from the holy spheres;


s: The little flowers felt his pleasant sighs


s: And stirr'd them faintly. Verdant cave and cell


s: He wander'd through, oft wondering at such swell


s: Said he, "will all this gush of feeling pass


s: My breath of life, where art thou? High above,


s: Dancing before the morning gates of heaven?


s: Or keeping watch among those starry seven,


s: Old Atlas' children? Art a maid of the waters,


s: One of shell-winding Triton's bright-hair'd daughters?


s: Into thine arms; to scare Aurora's train,


s: And snatch thee from the morning; o'er the main


s: To scud like a wild bird, and take thee off


s: Thy shepherd vest, and woo thee mid fresh leaves.


s: Its powerless self: I know this cannot be.


s: O let me then by some sweet dreaming flee


s: To her entrancements: hither sleep awhile!


s: Hither most gentle sleep! and soothing foil


s: For some few hours the coming solitude."


s: Thus spake he, and that moment felt endued


s: With power to dream deliciously; so wound


s: Through a dim passage, searching till he found


s: The smoothest mossy bed and deepest, where


s: Stretching his indolent arms, he took, O bliss!


s: A naked waist: "Fair Cupid, whence is this?"


s: A well-known voice sigh'd, "Sweetest, here am I!"


s: At which soft ravishment, with doating cry


s: That thou wouldst spout a little streamlet o'er


s: These sorry pages; then the verse would soar


s: And sing above this gentle pair, like lark


s: Around thine aged top, and thy clear fount


s: Exhales in mists to heaven. Aye, the count


s: Have seen a new tinge in the western skies:


s: The world has done its duty. Yet, oh yet,


s: These lovers did embrace, and we must weep


s: That there is no old power left to steep


s: Long time in silence did their anxious fears


s: Question that thus it was; long time they lay


s: To mellow into words, and then there ran


s: Two bubbling springs of talk from their sweet lips.


s: "O known Unknown! from whom my being sips


s: Such darling essence, wherefore may I not


s: Be ever in these arms? in this sweet spot


s: These toying hands and kiss their smooth excess?


s: That breath about my eyes? Ah, thou wilt steal


s: Thou wilt be gone away, and wilt not heed


s: My lonely madness. Speak, my kindest fair!


s: To pluck thee from me? And, of thine own will,


s: Full well I feel thou wouldst not leave me. Still


s: Who, that thou canst not be for ever here,


s: Or lift me with thee to some starry sphere?


s: Enchantress! tell me by this soft embrace,


s: By the most soft completion of thy face,


s: Those lips, O slippery blisses, twinkling eyes,


s: And by these tenderest, milky sovereignties--


s: These tenderest, and by the nectar-wine,


s: The passion"----"O lov'd Ida the divine!


s: How he does love me! His poor temples beat


s: To the very tune of love--how sweet, sweet, sweet.


s: Revive, dear youth, or I shall faint and die;


s: Revive, or these soft hours will hurry by


s: In tranced dulness; speak, and let that spell


s: Its heavy pressure, and will press at least


s: My lips to thine, that they may richly feast


s: What! dost thou move? dost kiss? O bliss! O pain!


s: I love thee, youth, more than I can conceive;


s: And so long absence from thee doth bereave


s: Myself to thee. Ah, dearest, do not groan


s: Or thou wilt force me from this secrecy,


s: Had done it already; that the dreadful smiles


s: At my lost brightness, my impassion'd wiles,


s: And from all serious Gods; that our delight


s: And wherefore so ashamed? 'Tis but to atone


s: For endless pleasure, by some coward blushes:


s: Of Jove--Minerva's start--no bosom shook


s: In reverence veiled--my crystalline dominion


s: Half lost, and all old hymns made nullity!


s: With thee into the ken of heavenly powers,


s: So thou wouldst thus, for many sequent hours,


s: Press me so sweetly. Now I swear at once


s: That I am wise, that Pallas is a dunce--


s: Perhaps her love like mine is but unknown--


s: In chastity: yes, Pallas has been sighing,


s: With fingers cool as aspen leaves. Sweet love,


s: Nor knew that nests were built. Now a soft kiss--


s: Aye, by that kiss, I vow an endless bliss,


s: Ourselves whole summers by a river glade;


s: And I will tell thee stories of the sky,


s: And breathe thee whispers of its minstrelsy.


s: Of our close voices marry at their birth;


s: Of human words! roughness of mortal speech!


s: Thine honied tongue--lute-breathings, which I gasp


s: To have thee understand, now while I clasp


s: Thee thus, and weep for fondness--I am pain'd,


s: In the very deeps of pleasure, my sole life?"--


s: Hereat, with many sobs, her gentle strife


s: With too much passion, will here stay and pity,


s: For the mere sake of truth; as 'tis a ditty


s: Not of these days, but long ago 'twas told


s: To a sleeping lake, whose cool and level gleam


s: To Phœbus' shrine; and in it he did fling


s: His weary limbs, bathing an hour's space,


s: And after, straight in that inspired place


s: Has it been ever sounding for those ears


s: Whose tips are glowing hot. The legend cheers


s: Yon centinel stars; and he who listens to it


s: Must surely be self-doomed or he will rue it:


s: For quenchless burnings come upon the heart,


s: Should be engulphed in the eddying wind.


s: As much as here is penn'd doth always find


s: A resting place, thus much comes clear and plain;


s: Anon the strange voice is upon the wane--


s: And 'tis but echo'd from departing sound,


s: Her gentle limbs, and left the youth asleep.--


s: Now turn we to our former chroniclers.--


s: Sweet paining on his ear: he sickly guess'd


s: How lone he was once more, and sadly press'd


s: Sat silently. Love's madness he had known:


s: Often with more than tortured lion's groan


s: Moanings had burst from him; but now that rage


s: A rough-voic'd war against the dooming stars.


s: No, he had felt too much for such harsh jars:


s: With melancholy thought: O he had swoon'd


s: Drunken from pleasure's nipple; and his love


s: Henceforth was dove-like.--Loth was he to move


s: From the imprinted couch, and when he did,


s: 'Twas with slow, languid paces, and face hid


s: In muffling hands. So temper'd, out he stray'd


s: Half seeing visions that might have dismay'd


s: Alecto's serpents; ravishments more keen


s: Than Hermes' pipe, when anxious he did lean


s: It was a sounding grotto, vaulted, vast,


s: O'er studded with a thousand, thousand pearls,


s: And crimson mouthed shells with stubborn curls,


s: Of every shape and size, even to the bulk


s: In which whales arbour close, to brood and sulk


s: Fish-semblances, of green and azure hue,


s: Ready to snort their streams. In this cool wonder


s: On all his life: his youth, up to the day


s: When 'mid acclaim, and feasts, and garlands gay,


s: He stept upon his shepherd throne: the look


s: Of his white palace in wild forest nook,


s: Each tender maiden whom he once thought fair,


s: With every friend and fellow-woodlander--


s: Pass'd like a dream before him. Then the spur


s: Of the old bards to mighty deeds: his plans


s: To nurse the golden age 'mong shepherd clans:


s: That wondrous night: the great Pan-festival:


s: His sister's sorrow; and his wanderings all,


s: Until into the earth's deep maw he rush'd:


s: Then all its buried magic, till it flush'd


s: High with excessive love. "And now," thought he,


s: Now I have tasted her sweet soul to the core


s: And make my branches lift a golden fruit


s: Though it be quick and sharp enough to blight


s: My silent thoughts are echoing from these shells;


s: Or they are but the ghosts, the dying swells


s: He kept an anxious ear. The humming tone


s: Came louder, and behold, there as he lay,


s: On either side outgush'd, with misty spray,


s: A copious spring; and both together dash'd


s: Swift, mad, fantastic round the rocks, and lash'd


s: Among the conchs and shells of the lofty grot,


s: Leaving a trickling dew. At last they shot


s: Down from the ceiling's height, pouring a noise


s: As of some breathless racers whose hopes poize


s: Upon the last few steps, and with spent force


s: Along the ground they took a winding course.


s: Endymion follow'd--for it seem'd that one


s: Ever pursued, the other strove to shun--


s: Follow'd their languid mazes, till well nigh


s: Over the vanish'd bliss. Ah! what is it sings


s: His dream away? What melodies are these?


s: They sound as through the whispering of trees,


s: Not native in such barren vaults. Give ear!


s: Such tenderness as mine? Great Dian, why,


s: Why didst thou hear her prayer? O that I


s: Were rippling round her dainty fairness now,


s: Circling about her waist, and striving how


s: To entice her to a dive! then stealing in


s: Between her luscious lips and eyelids thin.


s: In amorous rillets down her shrinking form!


s: Between her kissing breasts, and every charm


s: Touch raptur'd!--See how painfully I flow:


s: Stay, stay thy weary course, and let me lead,


s: Where all that beauty snar'd me."--"Cruel god,


s: Will stagnate all thy fountains:--tease me not


s: Such power to madden thee? And is it true--


s: My own dear will, 'twould be a deadly bane."--


s: "O, Oread-Queen! would that thou hadst a pain


s: Like this of mine, then would I fearless turn


s: I shudder--gentle river, get thee hence.


s: Of mine was once made perfect in these woods.


s: Fresh breezes, bowery lawns, and innocent floods,


s: Ripe fruits, and lonely couch, contentment gave;


s: Grew strong within me: wherefore serve me so,


s: O 'twas a cruel thing."--"Now thou dost taunt


s: Thou wouldst bathe once again. Innocent maid!


s: Stifle thine heart no more:--nor be afraid


s: Will shade us with their wings. Those fitful sighs


s: 'Tis almost death to hear: O let me pour


s: Sometimes these very pangs. Dear maiden, steal


s: I will delight thee all my winding course,


s: From the green sea up to my hidden source


s: The channels where my coolest waters flow


s: Through mossy rocks; where, 'mid exuberant green,


s: I roam in pleasant darkness, more unseen


s: Round flowery islands, and take thence a skim


s: Buzz from their honied wings: and thou shouldst please


s: Thyself to choose the richest, where we might


s: Doff all sad fears, thou white deliciousness,


s: Thou couldst rejoice to see my hopeless stream


s: Hurry distracted from Sol's temperate beam,


s: And pour to death along some hungry sands."--


s: A huntress free in"--At this, sudden fell


s: Those two sad streams adown a fearful dell.


s: The Latmian listen'd, but he heard no more,


s: Save echo, faint repeating o'er and o'er


s: Of that dark gulph he wept, and said: "I urge


s: By our eternal hopes, to soothe, to assuage,


s: If thou art powerful, these lovers pains;


s: And make them happy in some happy plains.


s: He turn'd--there was a whelming sound--he stept,


s: There was a cooler light; and so he kept


s: The visions of the earth were gone and fled--


s: There are who lord it o'er their fellow-men


s: From human pastures; or, O torturing fact!


s: Our gold and ripe-ear'd hopes. With not one tinge


s: Able to face an owl's, they still are dight


s: By the blear-eyed nations in empurpled vests,


s: And crowns, and turbans. With unladen breasts,


s: Save of blown self-applause, they proudly mount


s: To their spirit's perch, their being's high account,


s: Their tiptop nothings, their dull skies, their thrones--


s: Of trumpets, shoutings, and belabour'd drums,


s: And sudden cannon. All! how all this hums,


s: In wakeful ears, like uproar past and gone--


s: Like thunder clouds that spake to Babylon,


s: And set those old Chaldeans to their tasks.--


s: But by a patient wing, a constant spell,


s: Aye, 'bove the withering of old-lipp'd Fate


s: Yet few of these far majesties, ah, few!


s: Have bared their operations to this globe--


s: Shakes hand with our own Ceres; every sense


s: Filling with spiritual sweets to plenitude,


s: As bees gorge full their cells. And, by the feud


s: 'Twixt Nothing and Creation, I here swear,


s: When thy gold breath is misting in the west,


s: And there she sits most meek and most alone;


s: As if thine eye, high Poet! was not bent


s: Towards her with the Muses in thine heart;


s: As if the ministring stars kept not apart,


s: O Moon! the oldest shades 'mong oldest trees


s: O Moon! old boughs lisp forth a holier din


s: The while they feel thine airy fellowship.


s: Thou dost bless every where, with silver lip


s: Kissing dead things to life. The sleeping kine,


s: Couched in thy brightness, dream of fields divine:


s: Ambitious for the hallowing of thine eyes;


s: One obscure hiding-place, one little spot


s: Where pleasure may be sent: the nested wren


s: Has thy fair face within its tranquil ken,


s: Takes glimpses of thee; thou art a relief


s: To the poor patient oyster, where it sleeps


s: Within its pearly house.--The mighty deeps,


s: The monstrous sea is thine--the myriad sea!


s: O Moon! far-spooming Ocean bows to thee,


s: And Tellus feels his forehead's cumbrous load.


s: Cynthia! where art thou now? What far abode


s: Such utmost beauty? Alas, thou dost pine


s: For one whose cheek is pale: thou dost bewail


s: His tears, who weeps for thee. Where dost thou sigh?


s: Ah! surely that light peeps from Vesper's eye,


s: Or what a thing is love! 'Tis She, but lo!


s: How chang'd, how full of ache, how gone in woe!


s: She dies at the thinnest cloud; her loveliness


s: Is wan on Neptune's blue: yet there's a stress


s: Of love-spangles, just off yon cape of trees,


s: O, not so idle: for down-glancing thence


s: The thorny sharks from hiding-holes, and fright'ning


s: Their savage eyes with unaccustomed lightning.


s: Where will the splendor be content to reach?


s: O love! how potent hast thou been to teach


s: Strange journeyings! Wherever beauty dwells,


s: In gulf or aerie, mountains or deep dells,


s: In light, in gloom, in star or blazing sun,


s: Thou pointest out the way, and straight 'tis won.


s: Amid his toil thou gav'st Leander breath;


s: Thou leddest Orpheus through the gleams of death;


s: And now, O winged Chieftain! them hast sent


s: A moon-beam to the deep, deep water-world,


s: With lily shells, and pebbles milky white,


s: Poor Cynthia greeted him, and sooth'd her light


s: Against his pallid face: he felt the charm


s: Of his heart's blood: 'twas very sweet; he stay'd


s: His wandering steps, and half-entranced laid


s: His head upon a tuft of straggling weeds,


s: To taste the gentle moon, and freshening beads,


s: Lashed from the crystal roof by fishes' tails.


s: Mantling the east, by Aurora's peering hand


s: Were lifted from the water's breast, and faun'd


s: Into sweet air; and sober'd morning came


s: Meekly through billows:--when like taper-flame


s: Left sudden by a dallying breath of air,


s: He rose in silence, and once more 'gan fare


s: With nothing save the hollow vast, that foam'd


s: Above, around, and at his feet; save things


s: Old rusted anchors, helmets, breast-plates large


s: Of gone sea-warriors; brazen beaks and targe;


s: Rudders that for a hundred years had lost


s: The sway of human hand; gold vase emboss'd


s: But those of Saturn's vintage; mouldering scrolls,


s: Writ in the tongue of heaven, by those souls


s: Who first were on the earth; and sculptures rude


s: These secrets struck into him; and unless


s: He might have died: but now, with cheered feel,


s: He onward kept; wooing these thoughts to steal


s: About the labyrinth in his soul of love.


s: "What is there in thee, Moon! that thou shouldst move


s: I oft have dried my tears when thou hast smil'd.


s: Thou seem'dst my sister: hand in hand we went


s: Till thou hadst cool'd their cheeks deliciously:


s: But when my eyes with thine thereon could dance:


s: No woods were green enough, no bower divine,


s: Until thou liftedst up thine eyelids fine:


s: In sowing time ne'er would I dibble take,


s: Or drop a seed, till thou wast wide awake;


s: No one but thee hath heard me blithly sing


s: By thee were fashion'd to the self-same end;


s: And as I grew in years, still didst thou blend


s: With all my ardours: thou wast the deep glen;


s: Thou wast the mountain-top--the sage's pen--


s: The poet's harp--the voice of friends--the sun;


s: Thou wast the river--thou wast glory won;


s: Thou wast my clarion's blast--thou wast my steed--


s: My goblet full of wine--my topmost deed:--


s: Thou wast the charm of women, lovely Moon!


s: My spirit struck from all the beautiful!


s: On some bright essence could I lean, and lull


s: But, gentle Orb! there came a nearer bliss--


s: She came, and thou didst fade, and fade away--


s: Keep back thine influence, and do not blind


s: My sovereign vision.--Dearest love, forgive


s: That I can think away from thee and live!--


s: One thought beyond thine argent luxuries!


s: How far beyond!" At this a surpris'd start


s: Frosted the springing verdure of his heart;


s: How his own goddess was past all things fair,


s: He saw far in the concave green of the sea


s: Of weeds were cold beneath his cold thin feet;


s: And, ample as the largest winding-sheet,


s: A cloak of blue wrapp'd up his aged bones,


s: O'erwrought with symbols by the deepest groans


s: Was woven in with black distinctness; storm,


s: And calm, and whispering, and hideous roar


s: Were emblem'd in the woof; with every shape


s: That skims, or dives, or sleeps, 'twixt cape and cape.


s: The gulphing whale was like a dot in the spell,


s: Yet look upon it, and 'twould size and swell


s: Would pass the very hardest gazer's wish,


s: Of Neptune; and the sea nymphs round his state,


s: In beauteous vassalage, look up and wait.


s: And in his lap a book, the which he conn'd


s: To mark these shadowings, and stand in awe.


s: The old man rais'd his hoary head and saw


s: The wilder'd stranger--seeming not to see,


s: He woke as from a trance; his snow-white brows


s: Went arching up, and like two magic ploughs


s: Furrow'd deep wrinkles in his forehead large,


s: Till round his wither'd lips had gone a smile.


s: Then up he rose, like one whose tedious toil


s: Had watch'd for years in forlorn hermitage,


s: Eas'd in one accent his o'er-burden'd soul,


s: Even to the trees. He rose: he grasp'd his stole,


s: With convuls'd clenches waving it abroad,


s: "Thou art the man! Now shall I lay my head


s: Sleep will come smoothly to my weary brow.


s: O Jove! I shall be young again, be young!


s: O shell-borne Neptune, I am pierc'd and stung


s: With new-born life! What shall I do? Where go,


s: When I have cast this serpent-skin of woe?--


s: I'll swim to the syrens, and one moment listen


s: Their melodies, and see their long hair glisten;


s: To northern seas I'll in a twinkling sail,


s: To some black cloud; thence down I'll madly sweep


s: On forked lightning, to the deepest deep,


s: Where through some sucking pool I will be hurl'd


s: With rapture to the other side of the world!


s: O, I am full of gladness! Sisters three,


s: Yes, every god be thank'd, and power benign,


s: For I no more shall wither, droop, and pine.


s: Thou art the man!" Endymion started back


s: Dismay'd; and, like a wretch from whom the rack


s: Tortures hot breath, and speech of agony,


s: Mutter'd: "What lonely death am I to die


s: In this cold region? Will he let me freeze,


s: And float my brittle limbs o'er polar seas?


s: Or will he touch me with his searing hand,


s: His magian fish through hated fire and flame?


s: Until the gods through heaven's blue look out!--


s: Her voice I hung like fruit among green leaves:


s: Her lips were all my own, and--ah, ripe sheaves


s: My head, and kiss death's foot. Love! love, farewel!


s: Is there no hope from thee? This horrid spell


s: Would melt at thy sweet breath.--By Dian's hind


s: Feeding from her white fingers, on the wind


s: I see thy streaming hair! and now, by Pan,


s: I care not for this old mysterious man!"


s: He spake, and walking to that aged form,


s: Look'd high defiance. Lo! his heart 'gan warm


s: With pity, for the grey-hair'd creature wept.


s: Had he then wrong'd a heart where sorrow kept?


s: Had he, though blindly contumelious, brought


s: Rheum to kind eyes, a sting to human thought,


s: He had in truth; and he was ripe for tears.


s: The penitent shower fell, as down he knelt


s: Before that care-worn sage, who trembling felt


s: About his large dark locks, and faultering spake:


s: "Arise, good youth, for sacred Phœbus' sake!


s: A very brother's yearning for thee steal


s: The prison gates that have so long opprest


s: My weary watching. Though thou know'st it not,


s: Thou art commission'd to this fated spot


s: For great enfranchisement. O weep no more;


s: I am a friend to love, to loves of yore:


s: Aye, hadst thou never lov'd an unknown power,


s: I had been grieving at this joyous hour.


s: Gave mighty pulses: in this tottering case


s: Grew a new heart, which at this moment plays


s: For thou shalt hear this secret all display'd,


s: Now as we speed towards our joyous task."


s: So saying, this young soul in age's mask


s: Went forward with the Carian side by side:


s: Resuming quickly thus; while ocean's tide


s: To tell thee briefly all my joy and pain.


s: And my boat danc'd in every creek and bay;


s: Rough billows were my home by night and day,--


s: The sea-gulls not more constant; for I had


s: No housing from the storm and tempests mad,


s: But hollow rocks,--and they were palaces


s: Of silent happiness, of slumberous ease:


s: Aye, thus it was one thousand years ago.


s: One thousand years!--Is it then possible


s: To look so plainly through them? to dispel


s: A thousand years with backward glance sublime?


s: To breathe away as 'twere all scummy slime


s: From off a crystal pool, to see its deep,


s: And one's own image from the bottom peep?


s: Yes: now I am no longer wretched thrall,


s: The which I breathe away, and thronging come


s: Like things of yesterday my youthful pleasures.


s: "I touch'd no lute, I sang not, trod no measures:


s: My sports were lonely, 'mid continuous roars,


s: And craggy isles, and sea-mew's plaintive cry


s: Plaining discrepant between sea and sky.


s: Dolphins were still my playmates; shapes unseen


s: Would let me feel their scales of gold and green,


s: When a dread waterspout had rear'd aloft


s: To burst with hoarsest thunderings, and wipe


s: My life away like a vast sponge of fate,


s: Some friendly monster, pitying my sad state,


s: Has dived to its foundations, gulph'd it down,


s: And left me tossing safely. But the crown


s: Keeping in wait whole days for Neptune's voice,


s: And if it came at last, hark, and rejoice!


s: There blush'd no summer eve but I would steer


s: My skiff along green shelving coasts, to hear


s: The shepherd's pipe come clear from aery steep,


s: Mingled with ceaseless bleatings of his sheep:


s: For I would watch all night to see unfold


s: Heaven's gates, and Æthon snort his morning gold


s: Wide o'er the swelling streams: and constantly


s: At brim of day-tide, on some grassy lea,


s: My nets would be spread out, and I at rest.


s: The poor folk of the sea-country I blest


s: They knew not whence this bounty, and elate


s: Would strew sweet flowers on a sterile beach.


s: "Why was I not contented? Wherefore reach


s: At things which, but for thee, O Latmian!


s: I plung'd for life or death. To interknit


s: One's senses with so dense a breathing stuff


s: Might seem a work of pain; so not enough


s: Can I admire how crystal-smooth it felt,


s: And buoyant round my limbs. At first I dwelt


s: Whole days and days in sheer astonishment;


s: Moving but with the mighty ebb and flow.


s: Then, like a new fledg'd bird that first doth shew


s: His spreaded feathers to the morrow chill,


s: The ceaseless wonders of this ocean-bed.


s: That thou hast been a witness--it must be--


s: For these I know thou canst not feel a drouth,


s: By the melancholy corners of that mouth.


s: That love should be my bane! Ah, Scylla fair!


s: To sue thee to his heart? Kind stranger-youth!


s: And she would not conceive it. Timid thing!


s: She fled me swift as sea-bird on the wing,


s: Round every isle, and point, and promontory,


s: From where large Hercules wound up his story


s: Gleam delicately through the azure clear:


s: It flash'd, that Circe might find some relief--


s: I rear'd my head, and look'd for Phœbus' daughter.


s: It seem'd to whirl around me, and a swoon


s: Left me dead-drifting to that fatal power.


s: "When I awoke, 'twas in a twilight bower;


s: Just when the light of morn, with hum of bees,


s: Stole through its verdurous matting of fresh trees.


s: How sweet, and sweeter! for I heard a lyre,


s: It ceased--I caught light footsteps; and anon


s: The fairest face that morn e'er look'd upon


s: Push'd through a screen of roses. Starry Jove!


s: With tears, and smiles, and honey-words she wove


s: A net whose thraldom was more bliss than all


s: The range of flower'd Elysium. Thus did fall


s: The dew of her rich speech: "Ah! Art awake?


s: O let me hear thee speak, for Cupid's sake!


s: I am so oppress'd with joy! Why, I have shed


s: An urn of tears, as though thou wert cold dead;


s: From these devoted eyes their silver store,


s: So it will pleasure thee, and force thee stop


s: Here, that I too may live: but if beyond


s: Such cool and sorrowful offerings, thou art fond


s: Of soothing warmth, of dalliance supreme;


s: If thou art ripe to taste a long love dream;


s: If smiles, if dimples, tongues for ardour mute,


s: Hang in thy vision like a tempting fruit,


s: O let me pluck it for thee." Thus she link'd


s: Their music came to my o'er-sweeten'd soul;


s: This furrow'd visage thou hadst never seen.


s: Am I, that thou may'st plainly see how far


s: This fierce temptation went: and thou may'st not


s: Exclaim, How then, was Scylla quite forgot?


s: "Who could resist? Who in this universe?


s: She took me like a child of suckling time,


s: And cradled me in roses. Thus condemn'd,


s: The current of my former life was stemm'd,


s: I bow'd a tranced vassal: nor would thence


s: Have mov'd, even though Amphion's harp had woo'd


s: Me back to Scylla o'er the billows rude.


s: So every eve, nay every spendthrift hour


s: Shed balmy consciousness within that bower.


s: Of squirrels, foxes shy, and antler'd deer,


s: And birds from coverts innermost and drear


s: Warbling for very joy mellifluous sorrow--


s: As Pluto's sceptre, that my words not burn


s: These uttering lips, while I in calm speech tell


s: How specious heaven was changed to real hell.


s: "One morn she left me sleeping: half awake


s: I sought for her smooth arms and lips, to slake


s: My greedy thirst with nectarous camel-draughts;


s: But she was gone. Whereat the barbed shafts


s: That out I ran and search'd the forest o'er.


s: Damp awe assail'd me; for there 'gan to boom


s: Sepulchral from the distance all around.


s: Then came a conquering earth-thunder, and rumbled


s: That fierce complain to silence: while I stumbled


s: Down a precipitous path, as if impell'd.


s: I came to a dark valley.--Groanings swell'd


s: Poisonous about my ears, and louder grew,


s: The nearer I approach'd a flame's gaunt blue,


s: That glar'd before me through a thorny brake.


s: This fire, like the eye of gordian snake,


s: Bewitch'd me towards; and I soon was near


s: A sight too fearful for the feel of fear:


s: In thicket hid I curs'd the haggard scene--


s: The banquet of my arms, my arbour queen,


s: And all around her shapes, wizard and brute,


s: Laughing, and wailing, groveling, serpenting,


s: Shewing tooth, tusk, and venom-bag, and sting!


s: Should he give up awhile his penny pelf,


s: It could not be so phantasied. Fierce, wan,


s: Oft-times upon the sudden she laugh'd out,


s: Clusters of grapes, the which they raven'd quick


s: And roar'd for more; with many a hungry lick


s: About their shaggy jaws. Avenging, slow,


s: And emptied on't a black dull-gurgling phial:


s: Groan'd one and all, as if some piercing trial


s: Was sharpening for their pitiable bones.


s: She lifted up the charm: appealing groans


s: From their poor breasts went sueing to her ear


s: In vain; remorseless as an infant's bier


s: She whisk'd against their eyes the sooty oil.


s: Whereat was heard a noise of painful toil,


s: Shrieks, yells, and groans of torture-pilgrimage;


s: Until their grieved bodies 'gan to bloat


s: And puff from the tail's end to stifled throat:


s: Then was appalling silence: then a sight


s: More wildering than all that hoarse affright;


s: For the whole herd, as by a whirlwind writhen,


s: Went through the dismal air like one huge Python


s: Yet there was not a breath of wind: she banish'd


s: These phantoms with a nod. Lo! from the dark


s: Came waggish fauns, and nymphs, and satyrs stark,


s: With dancing and loud revelry,--and went


s: Swifter than centaurs after rapine bent.--


s: Before the fierce witch, speaking thus aloud


s: Of pains resistless! make my being brief,


s: My children fair, my lovely girls and boys!


s: I will forget them; I will pass these joys;


s: Ask nought so heavenward, so too--too high:


s: Or be deliver'd from this cumbrous flesh,


s: From this gross, detestable, filthy mesh,


s: Have mercy, Goddess! Circe, feel my prayer!"


s: That curst magician's name fell icy numb


s: Upon my wild conjecturing: truth had come


s: And my slain spirit, overwrought with fright,


s: Fainted away in that dark lair of night.


s: My waking must have been! disgust, and hate,


s: A spoil amongst them. I prepar'd to flee


s: Into the dungeon core of that wild wood:


s: I fled three days--when lo! before me stood


s: Glaring the angry witch. O Dis, even now,


s: At mere remembering her pale laugh, and curse.


s: "Ha! ha! Sir Dainty! there must be a nurse


s: Made of rose leaves and thistledown, express,


s: To cradle thee my sweet, and lull thee: yes,


s: I am too flinty-hard for thy nice touch:


s: My tenderest squeeze is but a giant's clutch.


s: So, fairy-thing, it shall have lullabies


s: Unheard of yet; and it shall still its cries


s: Oh, no--it shall not pine, and pine, and pine


s: More than one pretty, trifling thousand years;


s: And then 'twere pity, but fate's gentle shears


s: Young dove of the waters! truly I'll not hurt


s: One hair of thine: see how I weep and sigh,


s: That our heart-broken parting is so nigh.


s: And must we part? Ah, yes, it must be so.


s: And speak a blessing: Mark me! Thou hast thews


s: Immortal, for thou art of heavenly race:


s: But such a love is mine, that here I chase


s: Of youth, and destine thee towards a tomb.


s: Hence shalt thou quickly to the watery vast;


s: Disabled age shall seize thee; and even then


s: But live and wither, cripple and still breathe


s: Ten hundred years: which gone, I then bequeath


s: Adieu, sweet love, adieu!"--As shot stars fall,


s: She fled ere I could groan for mercy. Stung


s: And poisoned was my spirit: despair sung


s: A war-song of defiance 'gainst all hell.


s: Moved on with pointed finger. In this guise


s: I found me; by my fresh, my native home.


s: Its tempering coolness, to my life akin,


s: And, with a blind voluptuous rage, I gave


s: Battle to the swollen billow-ridge, and drave


s: Large froth before me, while there yet remain'd


s: Hale strength, nor from my bones all marrow drain'd.


s: "Young lover, I must weep--such hellish spite


s: With dry cheek who can tell? While thus my might


s: Upon a dead thing's face my hand I laid;


s: I look'd--'twas Scylla! Cursed, cursed Circe!


s: O vulture-witch, hast never heard of mercy?


s: Could not thy harshest vengeance be content,


s: Because I lov'd her?--Cold, O cold indeed


s: Were her fair limbs, and like a common weed


s: The sea-swell took her hair. Dead as she was


s: I clung about her waist, nor ceas'd to pass


s: Fleet as an arrow through unfathom'd brine,


s: Ribb'd and inlaid with coral, pebble, and pearl.


s: Gain'd its bright portal, enter'd, and behold!


s: And all around--But wherefore this to thee


s: Who in few minutes more thyself shalt see?--


s: My fever'd parchings up, my scathing dread


s: Met palsy half way: soon these limbs became


s: Gaunt, wither'd, sapless, feeble, cramp'd, and lame.


s: Without one hope, without one faintest trace


s: Of colour'd phantasy; for I fear 'twould trouble


s: Thy brain to loss of reason: and next tell


s: How a restoring chance came down to quell


s: A gallant vessel: soon she seem'd to sink


s: Away from me again, as though her course


s: Had been resum'd in spite of hindering force--


s: Dark clouds, and muttering of winds morose.


s: But could not: therefore all the billows green


s: Toss'd up the silver spume against the clouds.


s: The tempest came: I saw that vessel's shrouds


s: Stood trembling creatures. I beheld the wreck;


s: The final gulphing; the poor struggling souls:


s: I heard their cries amid loud thunder-rolls.


s: O they had all been sav'd but crazed eld


s: Annull'd my vigorous cravings: and thus quell'd


s: And curb'd, think on't, O Latmian! did I sit


s: Against that hell-born Circe. The crew had gone,


s: With many a scalding tear and many a groan,


s: When at my feet emerg'd an old man's hand,


s: Grasping this scroll, and this same slender wand.


s: I knelt with pain--reached out my hand--had grasp'd


s: These treasures--touch'd the knuckles--they unclasp'd--


s: I caught a finger: but the downward weight


s: O'erpowered me--it sank. Then 'gan abate


s: The storm, and through chill aguish gloom outburst


s: To search the book, and in the warming air


s: Parted its dripping leaves with eager care.


s: Strange matters did it treat of, and drew on


s: My soul page after page, till well-nigh won


s: I read these words, and read again, and tried


s: My eyes against the heavens, and read again.


s: Each Atlas-line bore off!--a shine of hope


s: Came gold around me, cheering me to cope


s: For thou hast brought their promise to an end.


s: "_In the wide sea there lives a forlorn wretch,


s: Doom'd with enfeebled carcase to outstretch


s: His loath'd existence through ten centuries,


s: One million times ocean must ebb and flow,


s: These things accomplish'd:--If he utterly_


s: _Scans all the depths of magic, and expounds


s: The meanings of all motions, shapes, and sounds;


s: Straight homeward to their symbol-essences;


s: He shall not die. Moreover, and in chief,_


s: _He must pursue this task of joy and grief


s: Time's creeping shall the dreary space fulfil:_


s: _Which done, and all these labours ripened,


s: A youth, by heavenly power lov'd and led,


s: Shall stand before him; whom he shall direct


s: Must do the thing, or both will be destroy'd._"--


s: "Then," cried the young Endymion, overjoy'd,


s: Say, I intreat thee, what achievement high


s: Is, in this restless world, for me reserv'd.


s: What! if from thee my wandering feet had swerv'd,


s: Had we both perish'd?"--"Look!" the sage replied,


s: "Dost thou not mark a gleaming through the tide,


s: I told thee of, where lovely Scylla lies;


s: All lovers, whom fell storms have doom'd to die


s: Throughout my bondage." Thus discoursing, on


s: They went till unobscur'd the porches shone;


s: Which hurryingly they gain'd, and enter'd straight.


s: Sure never since king Neptune held his state


s: Was seen such wonder underneath the stars.


s: Turn to some level plain where haughty Mars


s: How every soldier, with firm foot, doth hold


s: His even breast: see, many steeled squares,


s: And rigid ranks of iron--whence who dares


s: One step? Imagine further, line by line,


s: These warrior thousands on the field supine:--


s: So in that crystal place, in silent rows,


s: Poor lovers lay at rest from joys and woes.--


s: The stranger from the mountains, breathless, trac'd


s: Such thousands of shut eyes in order plac'd;


s: Such ranges of white feet, and patient lips


s: All ruddy,--for here death no blossom nips.


s: He mark'd their brows and foreheads; saw their hair


s: Put sleekly on one side with nicest care;


s: And each one's gentle wrists, with reverence,


s: Whisper'd the guide, stuttering with joy, even now."


s: He spake, and, trembling like an aspen-bough,


s: Began to tear his scroll in pieces small,


s: Uttering the while some mumblings funeral.


s: That drifts unfeather'd when bleak northerns blow;


s: And having done it, took his dark blue cloak


s: And bound it round Endymion: then struck


s: His wand against the empty air times nine.--


s: "What more there is to do, young man, is thine:


s: This tangled thread, and wind it to a clue.


s: Ah, gentle! 'tis as weak as spider's skein;


s: And shouldst thou break it--What, is it done so clean?


s: The spite of hell is tumbling to its grave.


s: Here is a shell; 'tis pearly blank to me,


s: Nor mark'd with any sign or charactery--


s: Canst thou read aught? O read for pity's sake!


s: Olympus! we are safe! Now, Carian, break


s: This wand against yon lyre on the pedestal."


s: 'Twas done: and straight with sudden swell and fall


s: Sweet music breath'd her soul away, and sigh'd


s: A lullaby to silence.--"Youth! now strew


s: These minced leaves on me, and passing through


s: Those files of dead, scatter the same around,


s: And thou wilt see the issue."--'Mid the sound


s: Of flutes and viols, ravishing his heart,


s: And scatter'd in his face some fragments light.


s: How lightning-swift the change! a youthful wight


s: Out-sparkling sudden like an upturn'd gem,


s: Appear'd, and, stepping to a beauteous corse,


s: Kneel'd down beside it, and with tenderest force


s: Press'd its cold hand, and wept,--and Scylla sigh'd!


s: Endymion, with quick hand, the charm applied--


s: The nymph arose: he left them to their joy,


s: Showering those powerful fragments on the dead.


s: And, as he pass'd, each lifted up its head,


s: Death felt it to his inwards: 'twas too much:


s: Death fell a weeping in his charnel-house.


s: Had died in mutual arms devout and true,


s: Sprang to each other madly; and the rest


s: Grew drunken, and would have its head and bent.


s: Delicious symphonies, like airy flowers,


s: Budded, and swell'd, and, full-blown, shed full showers


s: Of light, soft, unseen leaves of sounds divine.


s: Of happiness, from fairy-press ooz'd out.


s: Speechless they eyed each other, and about


s: Shouted the new born god; "Follow, and pay


s: Then Scylla, blushing sweetly from her dream,


s: They led on first, bent to her meek surprise,


s: Joyous all follow'd, as the leader call'd,


s: As hour-glass sand,--and fast, as you might see


s: Swallows obeying the south summer's call,


s: Thus went that beautiful multitude, nor far,


s: Ere from among some rocks of glittering spar,


s: Just within ken, they saw descending thick


s: Moved either host. On a wide sand they met,


s: For each their old love found. A murmuring rose,


s: Like what was never heard in all the throes


s: Mov'd on for many a league; and gain'd, and lost


s: Huge sea-marks; vanward swelling in array,


s: Till a faint dawn surpris'd them. Glaucus cried,


s: "Behold! behold, the palace of his pride!


s: God Neptune's palaces!" With noise increas'd,


s: They shoulder'd on towards that brightening cast.


s: In prospect,--diamond gleams, and golden glows


s: Joyous, and many as the leaves in spring,


s: Still onward; still the splendour gradual swell'd.


s: Rich opal domes were seen, on high upheld


s: By jasper pillars, letting through their shafts


s: A blush of coral. Copious wonder-draughts


s: Each gazer drank; and deeper drank more near:


s: For what poor mortals fragment up, as mere


s: Of one fair palace, that far far surpass'd,


s: Even for common bulk, those olden three,


s: As large, as bright, as colour'd as the bow


s: Through which this Paphian army took its march,


s: Into the outer courts of Neptune's state:


s: Whence could be seen, direct, a golden gate,


s: To which the leaders sped; but not half raught


s: Ere it burst open swift as fairy thought,


s: And made those dazzled thousands veil their eyes


s: Like callow eagles at the first sunrise.


s: Soon with an eagle nativeness their gaze


s: Ripe from hue-golden swoons took all the blaze,


s: And then, behold! large Neptune on his throne


s: At his right hand stood winged Love, and on


s: So wide was Neptune's hall: and as the blue


s: Doth vault the waters, so the waters drew


s: Their doming curtains, high, magnificent,


s: Aw'd from the throne aloof;--and when storm-rent


s: Disclos'd the thunder-gloomings in Jove's air;


s: But sooth'd as now, flash'd sudden everywhere,


s: Noiseless, sub-marine cloudlets, glittering


s: Death to a human eye: for there did spring


s: From natural west, and east, and south, and north,


s: A light as of four sunsets, blazing forth


s: A gold-green zenith 'bove the Sea-God's head.


s: Of lucid depth the floor, and far outspread


s: As breezeless lake, on which the slim canoe


s: Of feather'd Indian darts about, as through


s: But for the portraiture of clouds and sky:


s: This palace floor breath-air,--but for the amaze


s: Of deep-seen wonders motionless,--and blaze


s: Of the dome pomp, reflected in extremes,


s: Till Triton blew his horn. The palace rang;


s: The Nereids danc'd; the Syrens faintly sang;


s: And the great Sea-King bow'd his dripping head.


s: Then Love took wing, and from his pinions shed


s: Fair Scylla and her guides to conference;


s: And when they reach'd the throned eminence


s: She kist the sea-nymph's cheek,--who sat her down


s: A toying with the doves. Then,--"Mighty crown


s: And sceptre of this kingdom!" Venus said,


s: Behold!"--Two copious tear-drops instant fell


s: From the God's large eyes; he smil'd delectable,


s: And over Glaucus held his blessing hands.--


s: "Endymion! Ah! still wandering in the bands


s: Of love? Now this is cruel. Since the hour


s: I met thee in earth's bosom, all my power


s: Have I put forth to serve thee. What, not yet


s: Escap'd from dull mortality's harsh net?


s: A little patience, youth! 'twill not be long,


s: Where these are new and strange, are ominous.


s: Aye, I have seen these signs in one of heaven,


s: When others were all blind; and were I given


s: Some pleasant words:--but Love will have his day.


s: So wait awhile expectant. Pr'ythee soon,


s: Even in the passing of thine honey-moon,


s: And pray persuade with thee--Ah, I have done,


s: All blisses be upon thee, my sweet son!"--


s: In courteous fountains to all cups outreach'd;


s: And plunder'd vines, teeming exhaustless, pleach'd


s: New growth about each shell and pendent lyre;


s: The which, in disentangling for their fire,


s: Flutter'd and laugh'd, and oft-times through the throng


s: Made a delighted way. Then dance, and song,


s: And garlanding grew wild; and pleasure reign'd.


s: In harmless tendril they each other chain'd,


s: And strove who should be smother'd deepest in


s: For one so weak to venture his poor verse


s: In such a place as this. O do not curse,


s: High Muses! let him hurry to the ending.


s: All suddenly were silent. A soft blending


s: Thee the waves awful bow. Fast, stubborn rock,


s: At thy fear'd trident shrinking, doth unlock


s: Its deep foundations, hissing into foam.


s: All mountain-rivers lost, in the wide home


s: Skulks to his cavern, 'mid the gruff complaint


s: Of all his rebel tempests. Dark clouds faint


s: Slants over blue dominion. Thy bright team


s: Gulphs in the morning light, and scuds along


s: To bring thee nearer to that golden song


s: Waits at the doors of heaven. Thou art not


s: For scenes like this: an empire stern hast thou;


s: And it hath furrow'd that large front: yet now,


s: We lay our hearts before thee evermore--


s: Be tender of your strings, ye soothing lutes;