{ "id": "john-keats/endymion", "title": "Endymion", "ordinal": null, "subtitle": null, "poet": "John Keats", "poet_slug": "john-keats", "language": "en", "book": "Endymion: A Poetic Romance", "book_slug": "endymion", "book_kind": "volume", "sequence": 1, "container": null, "epigraph": null, "first_published": { "year": 1818, "venue": "Endymion: A Poetic Romance (1818)", "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.", "uncertain": false, "sources": [ "https://archive.org/details/keatsendymion" ] }, "source": { "kind": "standard-ebooks", "repo": "standardebooks/john-keats_poetry", "file": "poetry.xhtml", "upstream": [ "https://archive.org/details/completepoetical01keat", "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/005261190" ], "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)" }, "verification": { "level": "structural-only", "last_checked": "2026-08-12" }, "stats": { "n_lines": 4081, "n_stanzas": 137, "n_parts": 4, "longest_line_chars": 58, "max_indent": 3 }, "site_ready": true, "parts": [ { "ordinal": "I", "title": null, "stanza_range": [ 1, 28 ] }, { "ordinal": "II", "title": null, "stanza_range": [ 28, 50 ] }, { "ordinal": "III", "title": null, "stanza_range": [ 50, 92 ] }, { "ordinal": "IV", "title": null, "stanza_range": [ 92, 137 ] } ], "stanzas": [ [ { "text": "Inscribed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "with every feeling of pride and regret", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "and with “a bowed mind”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "to the memory of", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "the most English of poets except Shakspeare,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thomas Chatterton", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Its loveliness increases; it will never", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pass into nothingness; but still will keep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A bower quiet for us, and a sleep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A flowery band to bind us to the earth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darken’d ways", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some shape of beauty moves away the pall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For simple sheep; and such are daffodils", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With the green world they live in; and clear rills", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That for themselves a cooling covert make", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Gainst the hot season; the mid-forest brake,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And such too is the grandeur of the dooms", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We have imagined for the mighty dead;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All lovely tales that we have heard or read:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An endless fountain of immortal drink,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Nor do we merely feel these essences", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For one short hour; no, even as the trees", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That whisper round a temple become soon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dear as the temple’s self, so does the moon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The passion poesy, glories infinite,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Haunt us till they become a cheering light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unto our souls, and bound to us so fast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That, whether there be shine, or gloom o’ercast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They alway must be with us, or we die.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Therefore ’tis with full happiness that I", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Will trace the story of Endymion.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The very music of the name has gone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into my being, and each pleasant scene", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is growing fresh before me as the green", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of our own valleys: so I will begin", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now while I cannot hear the city’s din;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now while the early budders are just new,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And run in mazes of the youngest hue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About old forests; while the willow trails", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its delicate amber; and the dairy pails", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bring home increase of milk. And, as the year", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grows lush in juicy stalks, I’ll smoothly steer", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My little boat, for many quiet hours,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With streams that deepen freshly into bowers.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Many and many a verse I hope to write,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before the daisies, vermeil rimm’d and white,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hide in deep herbage; and ere yet the bees", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hum about globes of clover and sweet peas,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I must be near the middle of my story.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O may no wintry season, bare, and hoary,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "See it half-finish’d: but let Autumn bold.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With universal tinge of sober gold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be all about me when I make an end.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And now at once, adventuresome, I send", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My herald thought into a wilderness:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There let its trumpet blow, and quickly dress", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My uncertain path with green, that I may speed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Easily onward, thorough flowers and weed.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Upon the sides of Latmos was outspread", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "A mighty forest: for the moist earth fed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So plenteously all weed-hidden roots", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into o’erhanging boughs, and precious fruits.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And it had gloomy shades, sequestered deep,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where no man went; and if from shepherd’s keep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A lamb stray’d far a-down those inmost glens,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Never again saw he the happy pens", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whither his brethren, bleating with content,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Over the hills at every nightfall went.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the shepherds, ’twas believed ever,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That not one fleecy lamb which thus did sever", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the white flock, but pass’d unworrièd", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By angry wolf, or pard with prying head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until it came to some unfooted plains", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where fed the herds of Pan: aye great his gains", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who thus one lamb did lose. Paths there were many,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Winding through palmy fern, and rushes fenny,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And ivy banks; all leading pleasantly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To a wide lawn, whence one could only see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stems thronging all around between the swell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of turf and slanting branches: who could tell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The freshness of the space of heaven above,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Edged round with dark tree-tops? through which a dove", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would often beat its wings, and often too", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A little cloud would move across the blue.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Full in the middle of this pleasantness", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "There stood a marble altar, with a tress", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of flowers budded newly; and the dew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had taken fairy phantasies to strew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Daisies upon the sacred sward last eve,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so the dawned light in pomp receive.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For ’twas the morn: Apollo’s upward fire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made every eastern cloud a silvery pyre", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of brightness so unsullied, that therein", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A melancholy spirit well might win", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Oblivion, and melt out his essence fine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the winds: rain-scented eglantine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gave temperate sweets to that well-wooing sun;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The lark was lost in him; cold springs had run", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To warm their chilliest bubbles in the grass;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Man’s voice was on the mountains; and the mass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of nature’s lives and wonders pulsed tenfold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To feel this sun-rise and its glories old.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Now while the silent workings of the dawn", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Were busiest, into that self-same lawn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All suddenly, with joyful cries, there sped", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A troop of little children garlanded;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who gathering round the altar seem’d to pry", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Earnestly round as wishing to espy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some folk of holiday: nor had they waited", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For many moments, ere their ears were sated", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With a faint breath of music, which ev’n then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fill’d out its voice, and died away again.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Within a little space again it gave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its airy swellings, with a gentle wave,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To light-hung leaves, in smoothest echoes breaking", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through copse-clad valleys,⁠—ere their death, o’er-taking", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The surgy murmurs of the lonely sea.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And now, as deep into the wood as we", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Might mark a lynx’s eye, there glimmer’d light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fair faces and a rush of garments white,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Plainer and plainer showing, till at last", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the widest alley they all past,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Making directly for the woodland altar.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O kindly muse! let not my weak tongue faulter", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In telling of this goodly company,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of their old piety, and of their glee:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But let a portion of ethereal dew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fall on my head, and presently unmew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My soul; that I may dare, in wayfaring,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To stammer where old Chaucer used to sing.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Leading the way, young damsels danced along,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Bearing the burden of a shepherd song;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Each having a white wicker, overbrimm’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With April’s tender younglings: next, well trimm’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A crowd of shepherds with as sunburnt looks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As may be read of in Arcadian books;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such as sat listening round Apollo’s pipe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When the great deity, for earth too ripe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let his divinity o’erflowing die", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In music, through the vales of Thessaly:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some idly trail’d their sheep-hooks on the ground,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And some kept up a shrilly mellow sound", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With ebon-tipped flutes: close after these,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now coming from beneath the forest trees,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A venerable priest full soberly,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Begirt with minist’ring looks: alway his eye", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Steadfast upon the matted turf he kept,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And after him his sacred vestments swept.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From his right hand there swung a vase, milk-white,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of mingled wine, out-sparkling generous light;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in his left he held a basket full", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all sweet herbs that searching eye could cull:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wild thyme, and valley-lilies whiter still", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than Leda’s love, and cresses from the rill.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His aged head, crowned with beechen wreath,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seem’d like a poll of ivy in the teeth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of winter hoar. Then came another crowd", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of shepherds, lifting in due time aloud", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their share of the ditty. After them appear’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Up-follow’d by a multitude that rear’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their voices to the clouds, a fair-wrought car,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Easily rolling so as scarce to mar", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The freedom of three steeds of dapple brown:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who stood therein did seem of great renown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the throng. His youth was fully blown,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Showing like Ganymede to manhood grown;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, for those simple times, his garments were", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A chieftain king’s; beneath his breast, half bare,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was hung a silver bugle, and between", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His nervy knees there lay a boar-spear keen.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A smile was on his countenance; he seem’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To common lookers-on, like one who dream’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of idleness in groves Elysian:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But there were some who feelingly could scan", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A lurking trouble in his nether lip,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And see that oftentimes the reins would slip", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through his forgotten hands: then would they sigh,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And think of yellow leaves, of owlets’ cry,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of logs piled solemnly.⁠—Ah, well-a-day,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why should our young Endymion pine away!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Soon the assembly, in a circle ranged,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Stood silent round the shrine: each look was changed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sudden veneration: women meek", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beckon’d their sons to silence; while each cheek", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of virgin bloom paled gently for slight fear.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion too, without a forest peer,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stood, wan, and pale, and with an awed face,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among his brothers of the mountain chase.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In midst of all, the venerable priest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eyed them with joy from greatest to the least,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, after lifting up his aged hands,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus spake he: “Men of Latmos! shepherd bands!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose care it is to guard a thousand flocks:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whether descended from beneath the rocks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That overtop your mountains; whether come", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From valleys where the pipe is never dumb;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or from your swelling downs, where sweet air stirs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blue harebells lightly, and where prickly furze", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Buds lavish gold; or ye, whose precious charge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nibble their fill at ocean’s very marge,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose mellow reeds are touch’d with sounds forlorn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By the dim echoes of old Triton’s horn:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mothers and wives! who day by day prepare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The scrip, with needments, for the mountain air;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all ye gentle girls who foster up", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Udderless lambs, and in a little cup", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will put choice honey for a favour’d youth:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yea, every one attend! for in good truth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our vows are wanting to our great god Pan.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are not our lowing heifers sleeker than", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Night-swollen mushrooms? Are not our wide plains", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Speckled with countless fleeces? Have not rains", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Green’d over April’s lap? No howling sad", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sickens our fearful ewes; and we have had", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Great bounty from Endymion our lord.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The earth is glad: the merry lark has pour’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His early song against yon breezy sky,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That spreads so clear o’er our solemnity.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thus ending, on the shrine he heap’d a spire", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of teeming sweets, enkindling sacred fire;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Anon he stain’d the thick and spongy sod", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With wine, in honour of the shepherd-god.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now while the earth was drinking it, and while", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bay leaves were crackling in the fragrant pile,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And gummy frankincense was sparkling bright", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Neath smothering parsley, and a hazy light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spread grayly eastward, thus a chorus sang:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O thou, whose mighty palace roof doth hang", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "From jagged trunks, and overshadoweth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eternal whispers, glooms, the birth, life, death,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of unseen flowers in heavy peacefulness;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who lov’st to see the hamadryads dress", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their ruffled locks where meeting hazels darken;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And through whole solemn hours dost sit, and hearken", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The dreary melody of bedded reeds⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In desolate places, where dank moisture breeds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The pipy hemlock to strange overgrowth;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bethinking thee, how melancholy loth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou wast to lose fair Syrinx⁠—do thou now,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By thy love’s milky brow!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By all the trembling mazes that she ran,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hear us, great Pan!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O thou, for whose soul-soothing quiet, turtles", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Passion their voices cooingly ’mong myrtles,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What time thou wanderest at eventide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through sunny meadows, that outskirt the side", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of thine enmossed realms: O thou, to whom", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Broad-leaved fig-trees even now foredoom", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their ripen’d fruitage; yellow-girted bees", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their golden honeycombs; our village leas", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their fairest blossom’d beans and poppied corn;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The chuckling linnet its five young unborn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sing for thee; low-creeping strawberries", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their summer coolness; pent-up butterflies", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their freckled wings; yea, the fresh budding year", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All its completions⁠—be quickly near,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By every wind that nods the mountain pine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O forester divine!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Thou, to whom every faun and satyr flies", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For willing service; whether to surprise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The squatted hare while in half-sleeping fit;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or upward ragged precipices flit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To save poor lambkins from the eagle’s maw;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or by mysterious enticement draw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bewilder’d shepherds to their path again;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or to tread breathless round the frothy main,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And gather up all fancifullest shells", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For thee to tumble into Naiads’ cells,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, being hidden, laugh at their out-peeping;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or to delight thee with fantastic leaping,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The while they pelt each other on the crown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With silvery oak-apples, and fir-cones brown⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By all the echoes that about thee ring,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hear us, O satyr king!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O Hearkener to the loud-clapping shears,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "While ever and anon to his shorn peers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A ram goes bleating: Winder of the horn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When snouted wild-boars routing tender corn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Anger our huntsman: Breather round our farms,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To keep off mildews, and all weather harms:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Strange ministrant of undescribed sounds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That come a-swooning over hollow grounds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And wither drearily on barren moors:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dread opener of the mysterious doors", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leading to universal knowledge⁠—see,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Great son of Dryope,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The many that are come to pay their vows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With leaves about their brows!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Be still the unimaginable lodge", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For solitary thinkings; such as dodge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Conception to the very bourne of heaven,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then leave the naked brain: be still the leaven,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That spreading in this dull and clodded earth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gives it a touch ethereal⁠—a new birth:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be still a symbol of immensity;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A firmament reflected in a sea;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An element filling the space between;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An unknown⁠—but no more: we humbly screen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With uplift hands our foreheads, lowly bending,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And giving out a shout most heaven-rending,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Conjure thee to receive our humble Pæan,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon thy Mount Lycean!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Even while they brought the burden to a close,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "A shout from the whole multitude arose,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That linger’d in the air like dying rolls", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of abrupt thunder, when Ionian shoals", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of dolphins bob their noses through the brine.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Meantime, on shady levels, mossy fine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Young companies nimbly began dancing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To the swift treble pipe, and humming string.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, those fair living forms swam heavenly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To tunes forgotten⁠—out of memory:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fair creatures! whose young children’s children bred", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thermopylæ its heroes⁠—not yet dead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But in old marbles ever beautiful.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "High genitors, unconscious did they cull", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Time’s sweet first-fruits⁠—they danced to weariness,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then in quiet circles did they press", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The hillock turf, and caught the latter end", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of some strange history, potent to send", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A young mind from its bodily tenement.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or they might watch the quoit-pitchers, intent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On either side; pitying the sad death", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Hyacinthus, when the cruel breath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Zephyr slew him,⁠—Zephyr penitent,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who now, ere Phœbus mounts the firmament,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fondles the flower amid the sobbing rain.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The archers too, upon a wider plain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beside the feathery whizzing of the shaft,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the dull twanging bowstring, and the raft", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Branch down sweeping from a tall ash top", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Call’d up a thousand thoughts to envelope", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those who would watch. Perhaps, the trembling knee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And frantic gape of lonely Niobe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Poor, lonely Niobe! when her lovely young", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were dead and gone, and her caressing tongue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lay a lost thing upon her paly lip,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And very, very deadliness did nip", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her motherly cheeks. Aroused from this sad mood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By one, who at a distance loud halloo’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Uplifting his strong bow into the air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Many might after brighter visions stare:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "After the Argonauts, in blind amaze", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tossing about on Neptune’s restless ways,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until, from the horizon’s vaulted side,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There shot a golden splendour far and wide,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spangling those million poutings of the brine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With quivering ore: ’twas even an awful shine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the exaltation of Apollo’s bow;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A heavenly beacon in their dreary woe.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who thus were ripe for high contemplating,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Might turn their steps towards the sober ring", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where sat Endymion and the aged priest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Mong shepherds gone in eld, whose looks increased", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The silvery setting of their mortal star.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There they discoursed upon the fragile bar", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That keeps us from our homes ethereal;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And what our duties there: to nightly call", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Vesper, the beauty-crest of summer weather;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To summon all the downiest clouds together", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For the sun’s purple couch; to emulate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In minist’ring the potent rule of fate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With speed of fire-tail’d exhalations;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To tint her pallid cheek with bloom, who cons", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sweet poesy by moonlight: besides these,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A world of other unguess’d offices.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Anon they wander’d, by divine converse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into Elysium; vying to rehearse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Each one his own anticipated bliss.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One felt heart-certain that he could not miss", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His quick-gone love, among fair blossom’d boughs,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where every zephyr-sigh pouts, and endows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her lips with music for the welcoming.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Another wish’d, ’mid that eternal spring,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To meet his rosy child, with feathery sails,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sweeping, eye-earnestly, through almond vales:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who, suddenly, should stoop through the smooth wind,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And with the balmiest leaves his temples bind;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, ever after, through those regions be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His messenger, his little Mercury.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some were athirst in soul to see again", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their fellow-huntsmen o’er the wide champaign", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In times long past; to sit with them, and talk", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all the chances in their earthly walk;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Comparing, joyfully, their plenteous stores", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of happiness, to when upon the moors,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Benighted, close they huddled from the cold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And shared their famish’d scrips. Thus all out-told", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their fond imaginations,⁠—saving him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose eyelids curtain’d up their jewels dim,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion: yet hourly had he striven", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To hide the cankering venom, that had riven", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His fainting recollections. Now indeed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His senses had swoon’d off: he did not heed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sudden silence, or the whispers low,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or the old eyes dissolving at his woe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or anxious calls, or close of trembling palms,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or maiden’s sigh, that grief itself embalms:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But in the self-same fixed trance he kept,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like one who on the earth had never stept.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, even as dead-still as a marble man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Frozen in that old tale Arabian.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Who whispers him so pantingly and close?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Peona, his sweet sister: of all those,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His friends, the dearest. Hushing signs she made,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And breathed a sister’s sorrow to persuade", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A yielding up, a cradling on her care.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her eloquence did breathe away the curse:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She led him, like some midnight spirit nurse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of happy changes in emphatic dreams,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Along a path between two little streams,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Guarding his forehead, with her round elbow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From low-grown branches, and his footsteps slow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From stumbling over stumps and hillocks small;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until they came to where these streamlets fall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With mingled bubblings and a gentle rush,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into a river, clear, brimful, and flush", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With crystal mocking of the trees and sky.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A little shallop, floating there hard by,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pointed its beak over the fringed bank;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And soon it lightly dipt, and rose, and sank,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And dipt again, with the young couple’s weight,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Peona guiding, through the water straight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Towards a bowery island opposite;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which gaining presently, she steered light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into a shady, fresh, and ripply cove,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where nested was an arbour, overwove", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By many a summer’s silent fingering;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To whose cool bosom she was used to bring", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her playmates, with their needle broidery,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And minstrel memories of times gone by.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So she was gently glad to see him laid", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Under her favourite bower’s quiet shade", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On her own couch, new made of flower leaves,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dried carefully on the cooler side of sheaves", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When last the sun his autumn tresses shook,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the tann’d harvesters rich armfuls took.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Soon was he quieted to slumbrous rest:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But, ere it crept upon him, he had prest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Peona’s busy hand against his lips,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And still, a-sleeping, held her finger-tips", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In tender pressure. And as a willow keeps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A patient watch over the stream that creeps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Windingly by it, so the quiet maid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Held her in peace: so that a whispering blade", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of grass, a wailful gnat, a bee bustling", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down in the bluebells, or a wren light rustling", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among sere leaves and twigs, might all be heard.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "O magic sleep! O comfortable bird,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "That broodest o’er the troubled sea of the mind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till it is hush’d and smooth! O unconfined", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Restraint! imprison’d liberty! great key", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To golden palaces, strange minstrelsy,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fountains grotesque, new trees, bespangled caves,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Echoing grottoes, full of tumbling waves", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And moonlight; aye, to all the mazy world", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of silvery enchantment!⁠—who, upfurl’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beneath thy drowsy wing a triple hour,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But renovates and lives?⁠—Thus, in the bower,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion was calm’d to life again.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Opening his eyelids with a healthier brain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He said: “I feel this thine endearing love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All through my bosom: thou art as a dove", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Trembling its closed eyes and sleeked wings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About me; and the pearliest dew not brings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such morning incense from the fields of May,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As do those brighter drops that twinkling stray", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From those kind eyes,⁠—the very home and haunt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of sisterly affection. Can I want", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aught else, aught nearer heaven, than such tears?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet dry them up, in bidding hence all fears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That, any longer, I will pass my days", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alone and sad. No, I will once more raise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My voice upon the mountain-heights; once more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Make my horn parley from their foreheads hoar:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Again my trooping hounds their tongues shall loll", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Around the breathed boar: again I’ll poll", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The fair-grown yew-tree, for a chosen bow:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, when the pleasant sun is getting low,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Again I’ll linger in a sloping mead", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To hear the speckled thrushes, and see feed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our idle sheep. So be thou cheered, sweet!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, if thy lute is here, softly intreat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My soul to keep in its resolved course.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Hereat Peona, in their silver source,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Shut her pure sorrow-drops with glad exclaim,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And took a lute, from which there pulsing came", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A lively prelude, fashioning the way", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In which her voice should wander. ’Twas a lay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More subtle cadenced, more forest wild", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than Dryope’s lone lulling of her child;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And nothing since has floated in the air", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So mournful strange. Surely some influence rare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Went, spiritual, through the damsel’s hand;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For still, with Delphic emphasis, she spann’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The quick invisible strings, even though she saw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion’s spirit melt away and thaw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before the deep intoxication.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But soon she came, with sudden burst, upon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her self-possession⁠—swung the lute aside,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And earnestly said: “Brother, ’tis vain to hide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That thou dost know of things mysterious,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Immortal, starry; such alone could thus", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Weigh down thy nature. Hast thou sinn’d in aught", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Offensive to the heavenly powers? Caught", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A Paphian dove upon a message sent?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy deathful bow against some deer-herd bent,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sacred to Dian? Haply, thou hast seen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her naked limbs among the alders green;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And that, alas! is death! No, I can trace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Something more high perplexing in thy face!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Endymion look’d at her, and press’d her hand,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And said, “Art thou so pale, who wast so bland", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And merry in our meadows? How is this?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tell me thine ailment: tell me all amiss!⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ah! thou hast been unhappy at the change", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wrought suddenly in me. What indeed more strange?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or more complete to overwhelm surmise?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ambition is no sluggard: ’tis no prize,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That toiling years would put within my grasp,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I have sigh’d for: with so deadly gasp", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No man e’er panted for a mortal love.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So all have set my heavier grief above", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These things which happen. Rightly have they done:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I, who still saw the horizontal sun", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Heave his broad shoulder o’er the edge of the world,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Out-facing Lucifer, and then had hurl’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My spear aloft, as signal for the chase⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I, who, for very sport of heart, would race", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With my own steed from Araby; pluck down", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A vulture from his towery perching; frown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A lion into growling, loth retire⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To lose, at once, all my toil-breeding fire,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sink thus low! but I will ease my breast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of secret grief, here in this bowery nest.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“This river does not see the naked sky,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Till it begins to progress silverly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Around the western border of the wood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whence, from a certain spot, its winding flood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seems at the distance like a crescent moon:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in that nook, the very pride of June,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had I been used to pass my weary eves;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The rather for the sun unwilling leaves", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So dear a picture of his sovereign power,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I could witness his most kingly hour,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When he doth tighten up the golden reins,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And paces leisurely down amber plains", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His snorting four. Now when his chariot last", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its beams against the zodiac-lion cast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There blossom’d suddenly a magic bed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of sacred ditamy, and poppies red:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At which I wondered greatly, knowing well", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That but one night had wrought this flowery spell;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, sitting down close by, began to muse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What it might mean. Perhaps, thought I, Morpheus,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In passing here, his owlet pinions shook;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or, it may be, ere matron Night uptook", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her ebon urn, young Mercury, by stealth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had dipt his rod in it: such garland wealth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came not by common growth. Thus on I thought,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until my head was dizzy and distraught.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moreover, through the dancing poppies stole", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A breeze, most softly lulling to my soul;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And shaping visions all about my sight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of colours, wings, and bursts of spangly light;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The which became more strange, and strange, and dim,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then were gulf’d in a tumultuous swim:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then I fell asleep. Ah, can I tell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The enchantment that afterwards befell?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet it was but a dream: yet such a dream", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That never tongue, although it overteem", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With mellow utterance, like a cavern spring,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Could figure out and to conception bring", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All I beheld and felt. Methought I lay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Watching the zenith, where the milky way", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the stars in virgin splendour pours;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And travelling my eye, until the doors", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of heaven appear’d to open for my flight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I became loth and fearful to alight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From such high soaring by a downward glance:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So kept me steadfast in that airy trance,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spreading imaginary pinions wide.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When, presently, the stars began to glide,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And faint away, before my eager view:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At which I sigh’d that I could not pursue,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And dropt my vision to the horizon’s verge;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lo! from opening clouds, I saw emerge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The loveliest moon, that ever silver’d o’er", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A shell for Neptune’s goblet; she did soar", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So passionately bright, my dazzled soul", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Commingling with her argent spheres did roll", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through clear and cloudy, even when she went", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At last into a dark and vapoury tent⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whereat, methought, the lidless-eyed train", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of planets all were in the blue again.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To commune with those orbs, once more I raised", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My sight right upward: but it was quite dazed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By a bright something, sailing down apace,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Making me quickly veil my eyes and face:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Again I look’d, and, O ye deities,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who from Olympus watch our destinies!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whence that completed form of all completeness?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whence came that high perfection of all sweetness?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Speak, stubborn earth, and tell me where, O where", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hast thou a symbol of her golden hair?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not oat-sheaves drooping in the western sun;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not⁠—thy soft hand, fair sister! let me shun", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such follying before thee⁠—yet she had,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Indeed, locks bright enough to make me mad;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And they were simply gordian’d up and braided,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leaving, in naked comeliness, unshaded,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her pearl round ears, white neck, and orbed brow;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The which were blended in, I know not how,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With such a paradise of lips and eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blush-tinted cheeks, half-smiles, and faintest sighs,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That, when I think thereon, my spirit clings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And plays about its fancy, till the stings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of human neighbourhood envenom all.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unto what awful power shall I call?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To what high fane?⁠—Ah! see her hovering feet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More bluely vein’d, more soft, more whitely sweet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than those of sea-born Venus, when she rose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From out her cradle shell. The wind out-blows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her scarf into a fluttering pavilion;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Tis blue, and over-spangled with a million", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of little eyes, as though thou wert to shed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Over the darkest, lushest bluebell bed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Handfuls of daisies.”⁠—“Endymion, how strange!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dream within dream!”⁠—“She took an airy range,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then, towards me, like a very maid,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came blushing, waning, willing, and afraid,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And press’d me by the hand: Ah! ’twas too much;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Methought I fainted at the charmed touch,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet held my recollection, even as one", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who dives three fathoms where the waters run", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gurgling in beds of coral: for anon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I felt upmounted in that region", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where falling stars dart their artillery forth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And eagles struggle with the buffeting north", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That balances the heavy meteor-stone;⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Felt too, I was not fearful, nor alone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But lapp’d and lull’d along the dangerous sky.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Soon, as it seem’d, we left our journeying high,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And straightway into frightful eddies swoop’d;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such as ay muster where gray time has scoop’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Huge dens and caverns in a mountain’s side:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There hollow sounds aroused me, and I sigh’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To faint once more by looking on my bliss⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I was distracted; madly did I kiss", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The wooing arms which held me, and did give", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My eyes at once to death: but ’twas to live,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To take in draughts of life from the gold fount", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of kind and passionate looks; to count, and count", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The moments, by some greedy help that seem’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A second self, that each might be redeem’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And plunder’d of its load of blessedness.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ah, desperate mortal! I ev’n dared to press", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her very cheek against my crowned lip,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, at that moment, felt my body dip", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into a warmer air: a moment more,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our feet were soft in flowers. There was store", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of newest joys upon that alp. Sometimes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A scent of violets, and blossoming limes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Loiter’d around us; then of honey cells,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made delicate from all white-flower bells;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And once, above the edges of our nest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An arch face peep’d,⁠—an Oread as I guess’d.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Why did I dream that sleep o’erpower’d me", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In midst of all this heaven? Why not see,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Far off, the shadows of his pinions dark,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And stare them from me? But no, like a spark", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That needs must die, although its little beam", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Reflects upon a diamond, my sweet dream", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fell into nothing⁠—into stupid sleep.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so it was, until a gentle creep,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A careful moving caught my waking ears,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And up I started: Ah! my sighs, my tears,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My clenched hands;⁠—for lo! the poppies hung", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dew-dabbled on their stalks, the ouzel sung", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A heavy ditty, and the sullen day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had chidden herald Hesperus away,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With leaden looks: the solitary breeze", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bluster’d, and slept, and its wild self did tease", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With wayward melancholy; and I thought,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mark me, Peona! that sometimes it brought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Faint fare-thee-wells, and sigh-shrillcd adieus!⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Away I wander’d⁠—all the pleasant hues", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of heaven and earth had faded: deepest shades", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were deepest dungeons; heaths and sunny glades", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were full of pestilent light; our taintless rills", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seem’d sooty, and o’erspread with upturn’d gills", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of dying fish; the vermeil rose had blown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In frightful scarlet, and its thorns outgrown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like spiked aloe. If an innocent bird", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before my heedless footsteps stirr’d, and stirr’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In little journeys, I beheld in it", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A disguised demon, missioned to knit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My soul with under darkness; to entice", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My stumblings down some monstrous precipice:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Therefore I eager follow’d, and did curse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The disappointment. Time, that aged nurse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rock’d me to patience. Now, thank gentle heaven!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These things, with all their comfortings, are given", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To my down-sunken hours, and with thee,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sweet sister, help to stem the ebbing sea", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of weary life.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thus ended he, and both", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Sat silent: for the maid was very loth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To answer; feeling well that breathed words", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would all be lost, unheard, and vain as swords", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Against the enchased crocodile, or leaps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of grasshoppers against the sun. She weeps,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And wonders; struggles to devise some blame;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To put on such a look as would say, Shame", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On this poor weakness! but, for all her strife,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She could as soon have crush’d away the life", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From a sick dove. At length, to break the pause,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She said with trembling chance: “Is this the cause?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This all? Yet it is strange, and sad, alas!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That one who through this middle earth should pass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Most like a sojourning demi-god, and leave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His name upon the harp-string, should achieve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No higher bard than simple maidenhood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Singing alone, and fearfully,⁠—how the blood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Left his young cheek; and how he used to stray", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He knew not where; and how he would say, nay,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If any said ’twas love: and yet ’twas love;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What could it be but love? How a ringdove", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let fall a sprig of yew-tree in his path;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And how he died: and then, that love doth scathe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The gentle heart, as northern blasts do roses;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then the ballad of his sad life closes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With sighs, and an alas!⁠—Endymion!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be rather in the trumpet’s mouth,⁠—anon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the winds at large⁠—that all may hearken!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Although, before the crystal heavens darken,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I watch and dote upon the silver lakes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pictured in western cloudiness, that takes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The semblance of gold rocks and bright gold sands,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Islands, and creeks, and amber-fretted strands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With horses prancing o’er them, palaces", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And towers of amethyst,⁠—would I so tease", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My pleasant days, because I could not mount", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into those regions? The Morphean fount", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of that fine element that visions, dreams,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And fitful whims of sleep are made of, streams", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into its airy channels with so subtle,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So thin a breathing, not the spider’s shuttle,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Circled a million times within the space", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of a swallow’s nest-door, could delay a trace,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A tinting of its quality: how light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Must dreams themselves be; seeing they’re more slight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than the mere nothing that engenders them!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then wherefore sully the entrusted gem", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of high and noble life with thoughts so sick?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why pierce high-fronted honour to the quick", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For nothing but a dream?” Hereat the youth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Look’d up: a conflicting of shame and ruth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was in his plaited brow: yet his eyelids", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Widen’d a little, as when Zephyr bids", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A little breeze to creep between the fans", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of careless butterflies: amid his pains", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He seem’d to taste a drop of manna-dew,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Full palatable; and a colour grew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon his cheek, while thus he lifeful spake.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Peona! ever have I long’d to slake", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "My thirst for the world’s praises: nothing base,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No merely slumberous phantasm, could unlace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The stubborn canvas for my voyage prepared⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though now ’tis tatter’d; leaving my bark bared", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sullenly drifting: yet my higher hope", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is of too wide, too rainbow-large a scope,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To fret at myriads of earthly wrecks.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wherein lies happiness? In that which becks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our ready minds to fellowship divine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A fellowship with essence; till we shine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Full alchemized, and free of space. Behold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The clear religion of heaven! Fold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A rose leaf round thy finger’s taperness,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And soothe thy lips: hist, when the airy stress", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of music’s kiss impregnates the free winds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And with a sympathetic touch unbinds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Æolian magic from their lucid wombs:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then old songs waken from enclouded tombs;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Old ditties sigh above their father’s grave;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ghosts of melodious prophesyings rave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Round every spot where trod Apollo’s foot;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bronze clarions awake, and faintly bruit,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where long ago a giant battle was;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, from the turf, a lullaby doth pass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In every place where infant Orpheus slept.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Feel we these things?⁠—that moment have we stept", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into a sort of oneness, and our state", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is like a floating spirit’s. But there are", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Richer entanglements, enthralments far", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More self-destroying, leading, by degrees,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To the chief intensity: the crown of these", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is made of love and friendship, and sits high", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon the forehead of humanity.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All its more ponderous and bulky worth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is friendship, whence there ever issues forth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A steady splendour; but at the tip-top,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There hangs by unseen film, an orbed drop", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of light, and that is love: its influence", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thrown in our eyes genders a novel sense,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At which we start and fret: till in the end,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Melting into its radiance, we blend,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mingle, and so become a part of it,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor with aught else can our souls interknit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So wingedly: when we combine therewith,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Life’s self is nourish’d by its proper pith,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And we are nurtured like a pelican brood.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, so delicious is the unsating food,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That men, who might have tower’d in the van", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all the congregated world, to fan", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And winnow from the coming step of time", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All chaff of custom, wipe away all slime", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Left by men-slugs and human serpentry,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have been content to let occasion die,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whilst they did sleep in love’s Elysium.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, truly, I would rather be struck dumb,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than speak against this ardent listlessness:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For I have ever thought that it might bless", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The world with benefits unknowingly;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As does the nightingale, up-perched high,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And cloister’d among cool and bunched leaves⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She sings but to her love, nor e’er conceives", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How tiptoe Night holds back her dark-gray hood.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Just so may love, although ’tis understood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The mere commingling of passionate breath,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Produce more than our searching witnesseth:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What I know not: but who, of men, can tell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That flowers would bloom, or that green fruit would swell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To melting pulp, that fish would have bright mail,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The earth its dower of river, wood, and vale,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The meadows runnels, runnels pebble-stones", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The seed its harvest, or the lute its tones,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tones ravishment, or ravishment its sweet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If human souls did never kiss and greet?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Now, if this earthly love has power to make", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Men’s being mortal, immortal; to shake", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ambition from their memories, and brim", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their measure of content; what merest whim,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seems all this poor endeavour after fame,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To one, who keeps within his steadfast aim", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A love immortal, an immortal too.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Look not so wilder’d; for these things are true", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And never can be born of atomies", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That buzz about our slumbers, like brain-flies,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leaving us fancy-sick. No, no, I’m sure,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My restless spirit never could endure", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To brood so long upon one luxury,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unless it did, though fearfully, espy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A hope beyond the shadow of a dream.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My sayings will the less obscured seem", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When I have told thee how my waking sight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Has made me scruple whether that same night", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was pass’d in dreaming. Hearken, sweet Peona!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beyond the matron-temple of Latona,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which we should see but for these darkening boughs,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lies a deep hollow, from whose ragged brows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bushes and trees do lean all round athwart,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And meet so nearly, that with wings outraught,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And spreaded tail, a vulture could not glide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Past them, but he must brush on every side.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some moulder’d steps lead into this cool cell,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Far as the slabbed margin of a well,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose patient level peeps its crystal eye", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Right upward, through the bushes, to the sky.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Oft have I brought thee flowers, on their stalks set", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like vestal primroses, but dark velvet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Edges them round, and they have golden pits:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twas there I got them, from the gaps and slits", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In a mossy stone, that sometimes was my seat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When all above was faint with mid-day heat.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And there in strife no burning thoughts to heed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I’d bubble up the water through a reed;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So reaching back to boyhood: make me ships", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of moulted feathers, touchwood, alder chips,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With leaves stuck in them; and the Neptune be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of their petty ocean. Oftener, heavily,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When lovelorn hours had left me less a child,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I sat contemplating the figures wild", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of o’erhead clouds melting the mirror through.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon a day, while thus I watch’d, by flew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A cloudy Cupid, with his bow and quiver;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So plainly character’d, no breeze would shiver", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The happy chance: so happy, I was fain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To follow it upon the open plain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, therefore, was just going; when, behold!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A wonder, fair as any I have told⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The same bright face I tasted in my sleep,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Smiling in the clear well. My heart did leap", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through the cool depth.⁠—It moved as if to flee⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I started up, when lo! refreshfully,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There came upon my face, in plenteous showers,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dew-drops, and dewy buds, and leaves, and flowers,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wrapping all objects from my smother’d sight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bathing my spirit in a new delight.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, such a breathless honey-feel of bliss", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alone preserved me from the drear abyss", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of death, for the fair form had gone again.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pleasure is oft a visitant; but pain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Clings cruelly to us, like the gnawing sloth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On the deer’s tender haunches: late, and loth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Tis scared away by slow returning pleasure.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How sickening, how dark the dreadful leisure", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of weary days, made deeper exquisite,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By a foreknowledge of unslumbrous night!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like sorrow came upon me, heavier still,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than when I wander’d from the poppy hill:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And a whole age of lingering moments crept", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sluggishly by, ere more contentment swept", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Away at once the deadly yellow spleen.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yes, thrice have I this fair enchantment seen;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Once more been tortured with renewed life.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When last the wintry gusts gave over strife", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With the conquering sun of spring, and left the skies", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Warm and serene, but yet with moisten’d eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In pity of the shatter’d infant buds,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That time thou didst adorn, with amber studs,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My hunting cap, because I laugh’d and smiled,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Chatted with thee, and many days exiled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All torment from my breast;⁠—’twas even then,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Straying about, yet coop’d up in the den", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of helpless discontent,⁠—hurling my lance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From place to place, and following at chance,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At last, by hap, through some young trees it struck,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, plashing among bedded pebbles, stuck", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In the middle of a brook,⁠—whose silver ramble", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down twenty little falls through reeds and bramble,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tracing along, it brought me to a cave,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whence it ran brightly forth, and white did lave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The nether sides of mossy stones and rock,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Mong which it gurgled blithe adieus, to mock", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its own sweet grief at parting. Overhead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hung a lush screen of drooping weeds, and spread", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thick, as to curtain up some wood-nymph’s home.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "‘Ah! impious mortal, whither do I roam!’", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Said I, low-voiced: ‘Ah, whither! ’Tis the grot", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Proserpine, when Hell, obscure and hot,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Doth her resign; and where her tender hands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She dabbles, on the cool and sluicy sands:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or ’tis the cell of Echo, where she sits,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And babbles thorough silence, till her wits", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are gone in tender madness, and anon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Faints into sleep, with many a dying tone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of sadness. O that she would take my vows,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And breathe them sighingly among the boughs,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sue her gentle ears for whose fair head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Daily, I pluck sweet flowerets from their bed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And weave them dyingly⁠—send honey-whispers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Round every leaf, that all those gentle lispers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "May sigh my love unto her pitying!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O charitable Echo! hear, and sing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This ditty to her!⁠—tell her’⁠—So I stay’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My foolish tongue, and listening, half afraid,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stood stupefied with my own empty folly,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And blushing for the freaks of melancholy.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Salt tears were coming, when I heard my name", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Most fondly lipp’d, and then these accents came:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "‘Endymion! the cave is secreter", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than the isle of Delos. Echo hence shall stir", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No sighs but sigh-warm kisses, or light noise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of thy combing hand, the while it travelling cloys", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And trembles through my labyrinthine hair.’", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At that oppress’d, I hurried in.⁠—Ah! where", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are those swift moments? Whither are they fled?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I’ll smile no more, Peona; nor will wed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sorrow, the way to death; but patiently", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bear up against it: so farewell, sad sigh;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And come instead demurest meditation,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To occupy me wholly, and to fashion", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My pilgrimage for the world’s dusky brink,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No more will I count over, link by link,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My chain of grief: no longer strive to find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A half-forgetfulness in mountain wind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blustering about my ears: aye, thou shalt see,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dearest of sisters, what my life shall be;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What a calm round of hours shall make my days.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There is a paly flame of hope that plays", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where’er I look; but yet, I’ll say ’tis naught⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And here I bid it die. Have not I caught,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Already, a more healthy countenance?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By this the sun is setting; we may chance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Meet some of our near-dwellers with my car.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "This said, he rose, faint-smiling like a star", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Through autumn mists, and took Peona’s hand:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They stept into the boat, and launch’d from land.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "O sovereign power of love! O grief! O balm!", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "All records, saving thine, come cool, and calm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And shadowy, through the mist of passed years:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For others, good or bad, hatred and tears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have become indolent; but touching thine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One sigh doth echo, one poor sob doth pine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One kiss brings honey-dew from buried days.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The woes of Troy, towers smothering o’er their blaze,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stiff-holden shields, far-piercing spears, keen blades,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Struggling, and blood, and shrieks⁠—all dimly fades", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into some backward corner of the brain;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet, in our very souls, we feel amain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The close of Troïlus and Cressid sweet.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hence, pageant history! hence, gilded cheat!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Swart planet in the universe of deeds!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wide sea, that one continuous murmur breeds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Along the pebbled shore of memory!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Many old rotten-timber’d boats there be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon thy vaporous bosom, magnified", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To goodly vessels; many a sail of pride,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And golden-keel’d, is left unlaunch’d and dry.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But wherefore this? What care, though owl did fly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About the great Athenian admiral’s mast?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What care, though striding Alexander past", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Indus with his Macedonian numbers?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though old Ulysses tortured from his slumbers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The glutted Cyclops, what care?⁠—Juliet leaning", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Amid her window-flowers,⁠—sighing,⁠—weaning", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tenderly her fancy from its maiden snow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Doth more avail than these; the silver flow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Hero’s tears, the swoon of Imogen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fair Pastorella in the bandit’s den,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are things to brood on with more ardency", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than the death-day of empires. Fearfully", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Must such conviction come upon his head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who, thus far, discontent, has dared to tread,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Without one muse’s smile, or kind behest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The path of love and poesy. But rest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In chafing restlessness, is yet more drear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than to be crush’d, in striving to uprear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Love’s standard on the battlements of song.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So once more days and nights aid me along,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like legion’d soldiers.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Brain-sick shepherd-prince,", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "What promise hast thou faithful guarded since", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The day of sacrifice? Or, have new sorrows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Come with the constant dawn upon thy morrows?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alas! ’tis his old grief. For many days,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Has he been wandering in uncertain ways:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through wilderness, and woods of mossed oaks;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Counting his woe-worn minutes, by the strokes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of the lone wood-cutter; and listening still,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hour after hour, to each lush-leaved rill.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now he is sitting by a shady spring,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And elbow-deep with feverous fingering", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stems the upbursting cold: a wild rose tree", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pavilions him in bloom, and he doth see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A bud which snares his fancy: lo! but now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He plucks it, dips its stalk in the water: how!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It swells, it buds, it flowers beneath his sight;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, in the middle, there is softly pight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A golden butterfly; upon whose wings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There must be surely character’d strange things,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For with wide eye he wonders, and smiles oft.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Lightly this little herald flew aloft,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Follow’d by glad Endymion’s clasped hands:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Onward it flies. From languor’s sullen bands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His limbs are loosed, and eager, on he hies", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dazzled to trace it in the sunny skies.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It seem’d lie flew, the way so easy was;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And like a new-born spirit did he pass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through the green evening quiet in the sun,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O’er many a heath, through many a woodland dun,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through buried paths, where sleepy twilight dreams", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The summer time away. One track unseams", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A wooded cleft, and, far away, the blue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of ocean fades upon him; then, anew,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He sinks adown a solitary glen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where there was never sound of mortal men,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Saving, perhaps, some snow-light cadences", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Melting to silence, when upon the breeze", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some holy bark let forth an anthem sweet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To cheer itself to Delphi. Still his feet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Went swift beneath the merry-winged guide,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until it reach’d a splashing fountain’s side", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That, near a cavern’s mouth, for ever pour’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unto the temperate air: then high it soar’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, downward, suddenly began to dip,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As if, athirst with so much toil, ’twould sip", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The crystal spout-head: so it did, with touch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Most delicate, as though afraid to smutch,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even with mealy gold, the waters clear.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But, at that very touch, to disappear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So fairy-quick, was strange! Bewildered,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion sought around, and shook each bed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of covert flowers in vain; and then he flung", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Himself along the grass. What gentle tongue,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What whisperer, disturb’d his gloomy rest?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It was a nymph uprisen to the breast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In the fountain’s pebbly margin, and she stood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Mong lilies, like the youngest of the brood.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To him her dripping hand she softly kist,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And anxiously began to plait and twist", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her ringlets round her fingers, saying: “Youth!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Too long, alas, hast thou starved on the ruth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The bitterness of love: too long indeed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seeing thou art so gentle. Could I weed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The soul of care, by heavens, I would offer", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All the bright riches of my crystal coffer,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Amphitrite; all my clear-eyed fish,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Golden, or rainbow-sided, or purplish,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Vermilion-tail’d, or finn’d with silvery gauze;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yea, or my veined pebble-floor, that draws", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A virgin light to the deep; my grotto-sands,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tawny and gold, oozed slowly from far lands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By my diligent springs: my level lilies, shells,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My charming rod, my potent river spells;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yes, every thing, even to the pearly cup", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Meander gave me,⁠—for I bubbled up", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To fainting creatures in a desert wild.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But woe is me, I am but as a child", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To gladden thee; and all I dare to say,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is, that I pity thee; that on this day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I’ve been thy guide; that thou must wander far", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In other regions, past the scanty bar", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To mortal steps, before thou canst be ta’en", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From every wasting sigh, from every pain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the gentle bosom of thy love.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why it is thus, one knows in heaven above:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But, a poor Naiad, I guess not. Farewell!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I have a ditty for my hollow cell.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Hereat she vanish’d from Endymion’s gaze,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Who brooded o’er the water in amaze:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The dashing fount pour’d on, and where its pool", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lay, half asleep, in grass and rushes cool,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Quick waterflies and gnats were sporting still,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And fish were dimpling, as if good nor ill", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had fallen out that hour. The wanderer,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Holding his forehead to keep off the burr", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of smothering fancies, patiently sat down;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, while beneath the evening’s sleepy frown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Glowworms began to trim their starry lamps,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus breathed he to himself: “Whoso encamps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To take a fancied city of delight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O what a wretch is he! and when ’tis his,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "After long toil and travelling, to miss", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The kernel of his hopes, how more than vile:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet, for him there’s refreshment even in toil:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Another city doth he set about,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Free from the smallest pebble-bead of doubt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That he will seize on trickling honey-combs:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alas, he finds them dry; and then he foams,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And onward to another city speeds.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But this is human life: the war, the deeds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The disappointment, the anxiety,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Imagination’s struggles, far and nigh,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All human; bearing in themselves this good,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That they are still the air, the subtle food,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To make us feel existence, and to show", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How quiet death is. Where soil is, men grow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whether to weeds or flowers; but for me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There is no depth to strike in: I can see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Naught earthly worth my compassing; so stand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon a misty, jutting head of land⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alone? No, no; and by the Orphean lute,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When mad Eurydice is listening to ’t,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I’d rather stand upon this misty peak,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With not a thing to sigh for, or to seek,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But the soft shadow of my thrice seen love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than be⁠—I care not what. O meekest dove", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of heaven! O Cynthia, ten times bright and fair!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From thy blue throne, now filling all the air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Glance but one little beam of temper’d light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into my bosom, that the dreadful night", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And tyranny of love be somewhat scared!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet do not so, sweet queen; one torment spared,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would give a pang to jealous misery,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Worse than the torment’s self: but rather tie", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Large wings upon my shoulders, and point out", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My love’s far dwelling. Though the playful rout", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Cupids shun thee, too divine art thou,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Too keen in beauty, for thy silver prow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not to have dipp’d in love’s most gentle stream.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O be propitious, nor severely deem", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My madness impious; for, by all the stars", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That tend thy bidding, I do think the bars", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That kept my spirit in are burst⁠—that I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Am sailing with thee through the dizzy sky!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How beautiful thou art! The world how deep!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How tremulous-dazzlingly the wheels sweep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Around their axle! Then these gleaming reins,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How lithe! When this thy chariot attains", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its airy goal, haply some bower veils", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those twilight eyes? Those eyes!⁠—my spirit fails⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dear goddess, help! or the wide gaping air", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will gulf me⁠—help!”⁠—At this, with madden’d stare,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lifted hands, and trembling lips, he stood;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like old Deucalion mountain’d o’er the flood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or blind Orion hungry for the morn.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, but from the deep cavern there was borne", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A voice, he had been froze to senseless stone;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor sigh of his, nor plaint, nor passion’d moan", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had more been heard. Thus swell’d it forth: “Descend,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Young mountaineer! descend where alleys bend", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the sparry hollows of the world!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Oft hast thou seen bolts of the thunder hurl’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As from thy threshold; day by day hast been", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A little lower than the chilly sheen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of icy pinnacles, and dipp’dst thine arms", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the deadening ether that still charms", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their marble being: now, as deep profound", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As those are high, descend! He ne’er is crown’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With immortality, who fears to follow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where airy voices lead: so through the hollow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The silent mysteries of earth, descend!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He heard but the last words, nor could contend", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "One moment in reflection: for he fled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the fearful deep, to hide his head", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the clear moon, the trees, and coming madness.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "’Twas far too strange, and wonderful for sadness;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Sharpening, by degrees, his appetite", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To dive into the deepest. Dark, nor light,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The region; nor bright, nor sombre wholly,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But mingled up; a gleaming melancholy;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A dusky empire and its diadems;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One faint eternal eventide of gems.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, millions sparkled on a vein of gold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Along whose track the prince quick footsteps told,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With all its lines abrupt and angular:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Out-shooting sometimes, like a meteor-star,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through a vast antre; then the metal woof,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like Vulcan’s rainbow, with some monstrous roof", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Curves hugely: now, far in the deep abyss,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It seems an angry lightning, and doth hiss", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fancy into belief: anon it leads", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through winding passages, where sameness breeds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Vexing conceptions of some sudden change;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whether to silver grots, or giant range", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of sapphire columns, or fantastic bridge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Athwart a flood of crystal. On a ridge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now fareth he, that o’er the vast beneath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Towers like an ocean-cliff, and whence he seeth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A hundred waterfalls, whose voices come", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But as the murmuring surge. Chilly and numb", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His bosom grew, when first he, far away,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Descried an orbed diamond, set to fray", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Old Darkness from his throne: ’twas like the sun", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Uprisen o’er chaos: and with such a stun", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came the amazement, that, absorb’d in it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He saw not fiercer wonders⁠—past the wit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of any spirit to tell, but one of those", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who, when this planet’s sphering time doth close", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will be its high remembrancers: who they?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The mighty ones who have made eternal day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For Greece and England. While astonishment", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With deep-drawn sighs was quieting, he went", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into a marble gallery, passing through", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A mimic temple, so complete and true", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In sacred custom, that he well nigh fear’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To search it inwards; whence far off appear’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through a long pillar’d vista, a fair shrine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, just beyond, on light tiptoe divine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A quiver’d Dian. Stepping awfully,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The youth approach’d; oft turning his veil’d eye", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down sidelong aisles, and into niches old:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when, more near against the marble cold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He had touch’d his forehead, he began to thread", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All courts and passages, where silence dead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Roused by his whispering footsteps, murmur’d faint:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And long he traversed to and fro, to acquaint", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Himself with every mystery, and awe;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till, weary, he sat down before the maw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of a wide outlet, fathomless and dim,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To wild uncertainty and shadows grim.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There, when new wonders ceased to float before,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thoughts of self came on, how crude and sore", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The journey homeward to habitual self!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A mad pursuing of the fog-born elf,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose flitting lantern, through rude nettle-brier,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cheats us into a swamp, into a fire,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the bosom of a hated thing.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "What misery most drowningly doth sing", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In lone Endymion’s ear, now he has raught", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The goal of consciousness? Ah, ’tis the thought,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The deadly feel of solitude: for lo!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He cannot see the heavens, nor the flow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of rivers, nor hill-flowers running wild", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In pink and purple chequer, nor, up-piled,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The cloudy rack slow journeying in the west,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like herded elephants; nor felt, nor prest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cool grass, nor tasted the fresh slumberous air;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But far from such companionship to wear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An unknown time, surcharged with grief, away,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was now his lot. And must he patient stay,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tracing fantastic figures with his spear?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“No!” exclaim’d he, “why should I tarry here?”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No! loudly echoed times innumerable.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At which he straightway started, and ’gan tell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His paces back into the temple’s chief;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Warming and glowing strong in the belief", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of help from Dian: so that when again", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He caught her airy form, thus did he plain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moving more near the while: “O Haunter chaste", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of river sides, and woods, and heathy waste,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where with thy silver bow and arrows keen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Art thou now forested? O woodland Queen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What smoothest air thy smoother forehead woos?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where dost thou listen to the wide halloos", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of thy disparted nymphs? Through what dark tree", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Glimmers thy crescent? Wheresoe’er it be,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Tis in the breath of heaven: thou dost taste", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Freedom as none can taste it, nor dost waste", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy loveliness in dismal elements;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But, finding in our green earth sweet contents,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There livest blissfully. Ah, if to thee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It feels Elysian, how rich to me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An exiled mortal, sounds its pleasant name!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Within my breast there lives a choking flame⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O let me cool ’t the zephyr-boughs among!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A homeward fever parches up my tongue⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O let me slake it at the running springs!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon my ear a noisy nothing rings⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O let me once more hear the linnet’s note!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before mine eyes thick films and shadows float⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O let me ’noint them with the heaven’s light!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dost thou now lave thy feet and ankles white?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O think how sweet to me the freshening sluice!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dost thou now please thy thirst with berry-juice?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O think how this dry palate would rejoice!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If in soft slumber thou dost hear my voice,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O think how I should love a bed of flowers!⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Young goddess! let me see my native bowers!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Deliver me from this rapacious deep!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thus ending loudly, as he would o’erleap", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "His destiny, alert he stood: but when", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Obstinate silence came heavily again,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Feeling about for its old couch of space", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And airy cradle, lowly bow’d his face,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Desponding, o’er the marble floor’s cold thrill.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But ’twas not long; for, sweeter than the rill", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To its old channel, or a swollen tide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To margin sallows, were the leaves he spied,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And flowers, and wreaths, and ready myrtle crowns", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upheaping through the slab: refreshment drowns", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Itself, and strives its own delights to hide⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor in one spot alone; the floral pride", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In a long whispering birth enchanted grew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before his footsteps; as when heaved anew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Old ocean rolls a lengthened wave to the shore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down whose green back the short-lived foam, all hoar,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bursts gradual, with a wayward indolence.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Increasing still in heart, and pleasant sense,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon his fairy journey on he hastes;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So anxious for the end, he scarcely wastes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One moment with his hand among the sweets:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Onward he goes⁠—he stops⁠—his bosom beats", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As plainly in his ear, as the faint charm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of which the throbs were born. This still alarm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This sleepy music, forced him walk tiptoe:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For it came more softly than the east could blow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Arion’s magic to the Atlantic isles;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or than the west, made jealous by the smiles", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of throned Apollo, could breathe back the lyre", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To seas Ionian and Tyrian.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "O did he ever live, that lonely man,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Who loved⁠—and music slew not? ’Tis the pest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of love, that fairest joys give most unrest;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That things of delicate and tenderest worth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are swallow’d all, and made a seared dearth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By one consuming flame: it doth immerse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And suffocate true blessings in a curse.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Half-happy, by comparison of bliss,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is miserable. ’Twas even so with this", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dew-dropping melody, in the Carian’s ear;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "First heaven, then hell, and then forgotten clear,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Vanish’d in elemental passion.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And down some swart abysm he had gone,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Had not a heavenly guide benignant led", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To where thick myrtle branches, ’gainst his head", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Brushing, awakened: then the sounds again", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Went noiseless as a passing noontide rain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Over a bower, where little space he stood;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For as the sunset peeps into a wood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So saw he panting light, and towards it went", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through winding alleys; and lo, wonderment!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon soft verdure saw, one here, one there,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cupids a-slumbering on their pinions fair.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "After a thousand mazes overgone,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "At last, with sudden step, he came upon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A chamber, myrtle-wall’d, embower’d high,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Full of light, incense, tender minstrelsy,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And more of beautiful and strange beside:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For on a silken couch of rosy pride,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In midst of all, there lay a sleeping youth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of fondest beauty; fonder, in fair sooth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than sighs could fathom, or contentment reach:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And coverlids gold-tinted like the peach,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or ripe October’s faded marigolds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fell sleek about him in a thousand folds⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not hiding up an Apollonian curve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of neck and shoulder, nor the tenting swerve", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of knee from knee, nor ankles pointing light;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But rather, giving them to the fill’d sight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Officiously. Sideway his face reposed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On one white arm, and tenderly unclosed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By tenderest pressure, a faint damask mouth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To slumbery pout; just as the morning south", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Disparts a dew-lipp’d rose. Above his head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Four lily stalks did their white honours wed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To make a coronal; and round him grew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All tendrils green, of every bloom and hue,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Together intertwin’d and trammell’d fresh:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The vine of glossy sprout; the ivy mesh,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shading its Ethiop berries; and woodbine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of velvet-leaves and bugle-blooms divine;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Convolvulus in streaked vases flush;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The creeper, mellowing for an autumn blush;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And virgin’s bower, trailing airily;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With others of the sisterhood. Hard by,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stood serene Cupids watching silently.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One, kneeling to a lyre, touch’d the strings,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Muffling to death the pathos with his wings;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, ever and anon, uprose to look", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At the youth’s slumber; while another took", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A willow bough, distilling odorous dew,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And shook it on his hair; another flew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In through the woven roof, and fluttering-wise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rain’d violets upon his sleeping eyes.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "At these enchantments, and yet many more,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The breathless Latmian wonder’d o’er and o’er;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until impatient in embarrassment,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He forthright pass’d, and lightly treading went", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To that same feather’d lyrist, who straightway,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Smiling, thus whisper’d: “Though from upper day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou art a wanderer, and thy presence here", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Might seem unholy, be of happy cheer!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For ’tis the nicest touch of human honour,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When some ethereal and high-favouring donor", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Presents immortal bowers to mortal sense;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As now ’tis done to thee, Endymion. Hence", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was I in no wise startled. So recline", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon these living flowers. Here is wine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alive with sparkles⁠—never, I aver,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Since Ariadne was a vintager,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So cool a purple: taste these juicy pears,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sent me by sad Vertumnus, when his fears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were high about Pomona: here is cream.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Deepening to richness from a snowy gleam;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sweeter than that nurse Amalthea skimm’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For the boy Jupiter: and here, undimm’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By any touch, a bunch of blooming plums", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ready to melt between an infant’s gums:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And here is manna pick’d from Syrian trees.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In starlight, by the three Hesperides.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Feast on, and meanwhile I will let thee know", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all these things around us.” He did so,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Still brooding o’er the cadence of his lyre;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thus: “I need not any hearing tire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By telling how the sea-born goddess pined", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For a mortal youth, and how she strove to bind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Him all in all unto her doating self.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who would not be so prison’d? but, fond elf,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He was content to let her amorous plea", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Faint through his careless arms; content to see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An unseized heaven dying at his feet;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Content, O fool! to make a cold retreat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When on the pleasant grass such love, love-lorn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lay sorrowing; when every tear was born", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of diverse passion; when her lips and eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were closed in sullen moisture, and quick sighs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came vex’d and pettish through her nostrils small.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hush! no exclaim⁠—yet, justly might’st thou call", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Curses upon his head.⁠—I was half glad,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But my poor mistress went distract and mad,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When the boar tusk’d him: so away she flew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Jove’s high throne, and by her plainings drew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Immortal tear-drops down the thunderer’s beard.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whereon, it was decreed he should be rear’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Each summer-time to life. Lo! this is he,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That same Adonis, safe in the privacy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of this still region all his winter-sleep.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, sleep; for when our love-sick queen did weep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Over his waned corse, the tremulous shower", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Heal’d up the wound, and, with a balmy power,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Medicined death to a lengthened drowsiness:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The which she fills with visions, and doth dress", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In all this quiet luxury; and hath set", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Us young immortals, without any let,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To watch his slumber through. ’Tis well nigh pass’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even to a moment’s filling up, and fast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She scuds with summer breezes, to pant through", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The first long kiss, warm firstling, to renew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Embower’d sports in Cytherea’s isle.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Look! how those winged listeners all this while", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stand anxious: see! behold!”⁠—This clamant word", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Broke through the careful silence; for they heard", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A rustling noise of leaves, and out there flutter’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pigeons and doves: Adonis something mutter’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The while one hand, that erst upon his thigh", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lay dormant, moved convulsed and gradually", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Up to his forehead. Then there was a hum", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of sudden voices, echoing, “Come! come!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Arise! awake! Clear summer has forth walk’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unto the clover-sward, and she has talk’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Full soothingly to every nested finch:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rise, Cupids! or we’ll give the bluebell pinch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To your dimpled arms. Once more sweet life begin!”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At this, from every side they hurried in,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rubbing their sleepy eyes with lazy wrists,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And doubling overhead their little fists", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In backward yawns. But all were soon alive:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For, as delicious wine doth, sparkling, dive", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In nectar’d clouds and curls through water fair,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So from the arbour roof down swell’d an air", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Odorous and enlivening; making all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To laugh, and play, and sing, and loudly call", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For their sweet queen; when lo! the wreathed green", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Disparted, and far upward could be seen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blue heaven, and a silver car, air-borne,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose silent wheels, fresh wet from clouds of morn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spun off a drizzling dew,⁠—which falling chill", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On soft Adonis’ shoulders, made him still", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nestle and turn uneasily about.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Soon were the white doves plain, with necks stretch’d out,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And silken traces lighten’d in descent;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And soon, returning from love’s banishment,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Queen Venus leaning downward open-arm’d:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her shadow fell upon his breast, and charm’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A tumult to his heart, and a new life", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into his eyes. Ah, miserable strife,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But for her comforting! unhappy sight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But meeting her blue orbs! Who, who can write", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of these first minutes? The unchariest muse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To embracements warm as theirs makes coy excuse.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "O it has ruffled every spirit there,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Saving Love’s self, who stands superb to share", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The general gladness: awfully he stands;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A sovereign quell is in his waving hands;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No sight can bear the lightning of his bow;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His quiver is mysterious, none can know", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What themselves think of it; from forth his eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There darts strange light of varied hues and dyes:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A scowl is sometimes on his brow, but who", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Look full upon it feel anon the blue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of his fair eyes run liquid through their souls.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion feels it, and no more controls", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The burning prayer within him; so, bent low,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He had begun a plaining of his woe.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But Venus, bending forward, said: “My child,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Favour this gentle youth; his days are wild", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With love⁠—he⁠—but alas! too well I see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou know’st the deepness of his misery.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ah, smile not so, my son: I tell thee true,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That when through heavy hours I used to rue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The endless sleep of this new-born Adon’,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This stranger ay I pitied. For upon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A dreary morning once I fled away", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the breezy clouds, to weep and pray", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For this my love: for vexing Mars had teased", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Me even to tears; thence, when a little eased,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down-looking, vacant, through a hazy wood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I saw this youth as he despairing stood:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those same dark curls blown vagrant in the wind;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those same full fringed lids a constant blind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Over his sullen eyes: I saw him throw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Himself on wither’d leaves, even as though", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Death had come sudden; for no jot he moved,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet mutter’d wildly. I could hear he loved", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some fair immortal, and that his embrace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had zoned her through the night. There is no trace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of this in heaven: I have mark’d each cheek,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And find it is the vainest thing to seek;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And that of all things ’tis kept secretest.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion! one day thou wilt be blest:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So still obey the guiding hand that fends", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee safely through these wonders for sweet ends.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Tis a concealment needful in extreme;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And if I guessed not so, the sunny beam", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou shouldst mount up with me. Now adieu!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Here must we leave thee.”⁠—At these words upflew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The impatient doves, uprose the floating car,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Up went the hum celestial. High afar", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Latmian saw them minish into naught;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, when all were clear vanish’d, still he caught", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A vivid lightning from that dreadful bow.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When all was darken’d, with Ætnean throe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The earth closed⁠—gave a solitary moan⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And left him once again in twilight lone.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He did not rave, he did not stare aghast,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For all those visions were o’ergone, and past,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And he in loneliness: he felt assured", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of happy times, when all he had endured", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would seem a feather to the mighty prize.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So, with unusual gladness, on he hies", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through caves, and palaces of mottled ore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gold dome, and crystal wall, and turquois floor,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Black polish’d porticoes of awful shade,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, at the last, a diamond balustrade,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leading afar past wild magnificence,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spiral through ruggedest loopholes, and thence", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stretching across a void, then guiding o’er", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Enormous chasms, where, all foam and roar,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Streams subterranean tease their granite beds;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then heighten’d just above the silvery heads", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of a thousand fountains, so that he could dash", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The waters with his spear; but at the splash,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Done heedlessly, those spouting columns rose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sudden a poplar’s height, and ’gan to enclose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His diamond path with fretwork, streaming round", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alive, and dazzling cool, and with a sound,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Haply, like dolphin tumults, when sweet shells", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Welcome the float of Thetis. Long he dwells", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On this delight; for, every minute’s space,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The streams with changed magic interlace:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sometimes like delicatest lattices,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cover’d with crystal vines; then weeping trees,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moving about as in a gentle wind,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which, in a wink, to watery gauze refined,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pour’d into shapes of curtain’d canopies,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spangled, and rich with liquid broideries", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of flowers, peacocks, swans, and naiads fair.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Swifter than lightning went these wonders rare;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then the water, into stubborn streams", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Collecting, mimick’d the wrought oaken beams,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pillars, and frieze, and high fantastic roof,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of those dusk places in times far aloof", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cathedrals call’d. He bade a loth farewell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To these founts Protean, passing gulf, and dell,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And torrent, and ten thousand jutting shapes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Half seen through deepest gloom, and griesly gapes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blackening on every side, and overhead", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A vaulted dome like Heaven’s, far bespread", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With starlight gems: aye, all so huge and strange,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The solitary felt a hurried change", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Working within him into something dreary,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Vex’d like a morning eagle, lost, and weary,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And purblind amid foggy, midnight wolds.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But he revives at once: for who beholds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "New sudden things, nor casts his mental slough?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forth from a rugged arch, in the dusk below,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came mother Cybele! alone⁠—alone⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In sombre chariot; dark foldings thrown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About her majesty, and front death-pale,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With turrets crown’d. Four maned lions hale", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sluggish wheels; solemn their toothed maws,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their surly eyes brow-hidden, heavy paws", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Uplifted drowsily, and nervy tails", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cowering their tawny brushes. Silent sails", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This shadowy queen athwart, and faints away", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In another gloomy arch.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Wherefore delay,", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Young traveller, in such a mournful place?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Art thou wayworn, or canst not further trace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The diamond path? And does it indeed end", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Abrupt in middle air? Yet earthward bend", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy forehead, and to Jupiter cloud-borne", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Call ardently! He was indeed wayworn;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Abrupt, in middle air, his way was lost;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To cloud-borne Jove he bowed, and there crost", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Towards him a large eagle, ’twixt whose wings,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Without one impious word, himself he flings,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Committed to the darkness and the gloom:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down, down, uncertain to what pleasant doom,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Swift as a fathoming plummet down he fell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through unknown things; till exhaled asphodel,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And rose, with spicy fannings interbreathed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came swelling forth where little caves were wreathed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So thick with leaves and mosses, that they seem’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Large honeycombs of green, and freshly teem’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With airs delicious. In the greenest nook", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The eagle landed him, and farewell took.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "It was a jasmine bower, all bestrown", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With golden moss. His every sense had grown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ethereal for pleasure; ’bove his head", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Flew a delight half-graspable; his tread", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was Hesperean; to his capable ears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Silence was music from the holy spheres;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A dewy luxury was in his eyes;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The little flowers felt his pleasant sighs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And stirr’d them faintly. Verdant cave and cell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He wander’d through, oft wondering at such swell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of sudden exaltation: but, “Alas!”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Said he, “will all this gush of feeling pass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Away in solitude? And must they wane,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like melodies upon a sandy plain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Without an echo? Then shall I be left", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So sad, so melancholy, so bereft!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet still I feel immortal! O my love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My breath of life, where art thou? High above,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dancing before the morning gates of heaven?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or keeping watch among those starry seven,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Old Atlas’ children? Art a maid of the waters,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One of shell-winding Triton’s bright-hair’d daughters?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or art, impossible! a nymph of Dian’s,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Weaving a coronal of tender scions", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For very idleness? Where’er thou art,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Methinks it now is at my will to start", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into thine arms; to scare Aurora’s train,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And snatch thee from the morning; o’er the main", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To scud like a wild bird, and take thee off", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From thy sea-foamy cradle; or to doff", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy shepherd vest, and woo thee ’mid fresh leaves.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No, no, too eagerly my soul deceives", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its powerless self: I know this cannot be.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O let me then by some sweet dreaming flee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To her entrancements: hither sleep awhile!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hither most gentle sleep! and soothing foil", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For some few hours the coming solitude.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thus spake he, and that moment felt endued", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With power to dream deliciously; so wound", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through a dim passage, searching till he found", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The smoothest mossy bed and deepest, where", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He threw himself, and just into the air", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stretching his indolent arms, he took, O bliss!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A naked waist: “Fair Cupid, whence is this?”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A well-known voice sigh’d, “Sweetest, here am I!”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At which soft ravishment, with doting cry", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They trembled to each other.⁠—Helicon!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O fountain’d hill! Old Homer’s Helicon!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That thou wouldst spout a little streamlet o’er", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These sorry pages; then the verse would soar", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sing above this gentle pair, like lark", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Over his nested young: but all is dark", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Around thine aged top, and thy clear fount", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Exhales in mists to heaven. Aye, the count", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of mighty Poets is made up; the scroll", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is folded by the Muses; the bright roll", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is in Apollo’s hand: our dazed eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have seen a new tinge in the western skies:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The world has done its duty. Yet, oh yet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Although the sun of poesy is set,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These lovers did embrace, and we must weep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That there is no old power left to steep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A quill immortal in their joyous tears.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Long time in silence did their anxious fears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Question that thus it was: long time they lay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fondling and kissing every doubt away;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Long time ere soft caressing sobs began", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To mellow into words, and then there ran", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Two bubbling springs of talk from their sweet lips.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O known Unknown! from whom my being sips", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such darling essence, wherefore may I not", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be ever in these arms? in this sweet spot", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pillow my chin for ever? ever press", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These toying hands and kiss their smooth excess?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why not for ever and for ever feel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That breath about my eyes? Ah, thou wilt steal", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Away from me again, indeed, indeed⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou wilt be gone away, and wilt not heed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My lonely madness. Speak, delicious fair,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is⁠—is it to be so? No! Who will dare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To pluck thee from me? And, of thine own will,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Full well I feel thou wouldst not leave me. Still", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let me entwine thee surer, surer⁠—now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How can we part? Elysium! Who art thou?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who, that thou canst not be for ever here,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or lift me with thee to some starry sphere?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Enchantress! tell me by this soft embrace,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By the most soft completion of thy face,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those lips, O slippery blisses, twinkling eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And by these tenderest, milky sovereignties⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These tenderest, and by the nectar-wine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The passion”⁠—“O doved Ida the divine!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion! dearest! Ah, unhappy me!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His soul will ’scape us⁠—O felicity!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How he does love me! His poor temples beat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To the very tune of love⁠—how sweet, sweet, sweet.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Revive, dear youth, or I shall faint and die;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Revive, or these soft hours will hurry by", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In tranced dullness; speak, and let that spell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Affright this lethargy! I cannot quell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its heavy pressure, and will press at least", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My lips to thine, that they may richly feast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until we taste the life of love again.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What! dost thou move? dost kiss? O bliss! O pain!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I love thee, youth, more than I can conceive;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so long absence from thee doth bereave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My soul of any rest: yet must I hence:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet, can I not to starry eminence", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Uplift thee; nor for very shame can own", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Myself to thee. Ah, dearest, do not groan", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or thou wilt force me from this secrecy,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I must blush in heaven. O that I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had done it already; that the dreadful smiles", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At my lost brightness, my impassion’d wiles,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had waned from Olympus’ solemn height,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And from all serious Gods; that our delight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was quite forgotten, save of us alone!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And wherefore so ashamed? ’Tis but to atone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For endless pleasure, by some coward blushes:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet must I be a coward!⁠—Honour rushes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Too palpable before me⁠—the sad look", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Jove⁠—Minerva’s start⁠—no bosom shook", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With awe of purity⁠—no Cupid pinion", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In reverence veiled⁠—my crystalline dominion", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Half lost, and all old hymns made nullity!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But what is this to love? O I could fly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With thee into the ken of heavenly powers,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So thou wouldst thus, for many sequent hours,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Press me so sweetly. Now I swear at once", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I am wise, that Pallas is a dunce⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Perhaps her love like mine is but unknown⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O I do think that I have been alone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In chastity: yes, Pallas has been sighing,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While every eve saw me my hair uptying", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With fingers cool as aspen leaves. Sweet love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I was as vague as solitary dove,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor knew that nests were built. Now a soft kiss⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, by that kiss, I vow an endless bliss,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An immortality of passion’s thine:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ere long I will exalt thee to the shine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of heaven ambrosial; and we will shade", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ourselves whole summers by a river glade;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I will tell thee stories of the sky,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And breathe thee whispers of its minstrelsy.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My happy love will overwing all bounds!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O let me melt into thee; let the sounds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of our close voices marry at their birth;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let us entwine hoveringly⁠—O dearth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of human words! roughness of mortal speech!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lispings empyrean will I sometime teach", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thine honey’d tongue⁠—lute-breathings which I gasp", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To have thee understand, now while I clasp", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee thus, and weep for fondness⁠—I am pain’d.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion: woe! woe! is grief contain’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In the very deeps of pleasure, my sole life?”⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hereat, with many sobs, her gentle strife", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Melted into a languor. He return’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Entranced vows and tears.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Ye who have yearn’d", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "With too much passion, will here stay and pity,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For the mere sake of truth; as ’tis a ditty", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not of these days, but long ago ’twas told", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By a cavern wind unto a forest old;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then the forest told it in a dream", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To a sleeping lake, whose cool and level gleam", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A poet caught as he was journeying", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Phœbus’ shrine; and in it he did fling", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His weary limbs, bathing an hour’s space,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And after, straight in that inspired place", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He sang the story up into the air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Giving it universal freedom. There", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Has it been ever sounding for those ears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose tips are glowing hot. The legend cheers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yon sentinel stars; and he who listens to it", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Must surely be self-doom’d or he will rue it:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For quenchless burnings come upon the heart.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made fiercer by a fear lest any part", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Should be engulfed in the eddying wind.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As much as here is penn’d doth always find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A resting-place, thus much comes clear and plain;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Anon the strange voice is upon the wane⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And ’tis but echoed from departing sound,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That the fair visitant at last unwound", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her gentle limbs, and left the youth asleep.⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus the tradition of the gusty deep.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Now turn we to our former chroniclers.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Endymion awoke, that grief of hers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sweet paining on his ear: he sickly guess’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How lone he was once more, and sadly press’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His empty arms together, hung his head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And most forlorn upon that widow’d bed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sat silently. Love’s madness he had known:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Often with more than tortured lion’s groan", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moanings had burst from him; but now that rage", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had pass’d away: no longer did he wage", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A rough-voiced war against the dooming stars.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No, he had felt too much for such harsh jars:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The lyre of his soul Æolian tuned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forgot all violence, and but communed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With melancholy thought: O he had swoon’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Drunken from pleasure’s nipple; and his love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Henceforth was dove-like.⁠—Loth was he to move", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the imprinted couch, and when he did,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twas with slow, languid paces, and face hid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In muffling hands. So temper’d, out he stray’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Half seeing visions that might have dismay’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alecto’s serpents; ravishments more keen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than Hermes’ pipe, when anxious he did lean", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Over eclipsing eyes: and at the last", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It was a sounding grotto, vaulted, vast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O’erstudded with a thousand, thousand pearls,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And crimson-mouthed shells with stubborn curls,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of every shape and size, even to the bulk", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In which whales harbour close, to brood and sulk", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Against an endless storm. Moreover too,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fish-semblances, of green and azure hue,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ready to snort their streams. In this cool wonder", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion sat down, and ’gan to ponder", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On all his life: his youth, up to the day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When ’mid acclaim, and feasts, and garlands gay,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He stept upon his shepherd throne: the look", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of his white palace in wild forest nook,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all the revels he had lorded there:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Each tender maiden whom he once thought fair,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With every friend and fellow-woodlander⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pass’d like a dream before him. Then the spur", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of the old bards to mighty deeds: his plans", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To nurse the golden age ’mong shepherd clans:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That wondrous night: the great Pan festival:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His sister’s sorrow; and his wanderings all,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until into the earth’s deep maw he rush’d:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then all its buried magic, till it flush’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "High with excessive love. “And now,” thought he,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“How long must I remain in jeopardy", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of blank amazements that amaze no more?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now I have tasted her sweet soul to the core,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All other depths are shallow; essences,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Once spiritual, are like muddy lees,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Meant but to fertilize my earthly root,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And make my branches lift a golden fruit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the bloom of heaven: other light,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though it be quick and sharp enough to blight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Olympian eagle’s vision, is dark,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dark as the parentage of chaos. Hark!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My silent thoughts are echoing from these shells;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or they are but the ghosts, the dying swells", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of noises far away?⁠—list!”⁠—Hereupon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He kept an anxious ear. The humming tone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came louder, and behold, there as he lay,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On either side outgush’d, with misty spray,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A copious spring; and both together dash’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Swift, mad, fantastic round the rocks, and lash’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the conchs and shells of the lofty grot,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leaving a trickling dew. At last they shot", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down from the ceiling’s height, pouring a noise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As of some breathless racers whose hopes poise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon the last few steps, and with spent force", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Along the ground they took a winding course.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion follow’d⁠—for it seem’d that one", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ever pursued, the other strove to shun⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Follow’d their languid mazes, till well nigh", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He had left thinking of the mystery,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And was now rapt in tender hoverings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Over the vanish’d bliss. Ah? what is it sings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His dream away? What melodies are these?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They sound as through the whispering of trees,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not native in such barren vaults. Give ear!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O Arethusa, peerless nymph! why fear", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Such tenderness as mine? Great Dian, why,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why didst thou hear her prayer? O that I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were rippling round her dainty fairness now,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Circling about her waist, and striving how", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To entice her to a dive! then stealing in", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Between her luscious lips and eyelids thin.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O that her shining hair was in the sun,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I distilling from it thence to run", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In amorous rillets down her shrinking form!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To linger on her lily shoulders, warm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Between her kissing breasts, and every charm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Touch raptured!⁠—see how painfully I flow:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fair maid, be pitiful to my great woe.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stay, stay thy weary course, and let me lead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A happy wooer, to the flowery mead", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where all that beauty snared me.”⁠—“Cruel god,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Desist! or my offended mistress’ nod", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will stagnate all thy fountains:⁠—tease me not", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With siren words⁠—Ah, have I really got", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such power to madden thee? And is it true⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Away, away, or I shall dearly rue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My very thoughts: in mercy then away,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Kindest Alpheus, for should I obey", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My own dear will, ’twould be a deadly bane.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O, Oread-Queen! would that thou hadst a pain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like this of mine, then would I fearless turn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And be a criminal.” “Alas, I burn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I shudder⁠—gentle river, get thee hence.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alpheus! thou enchanter! every sense", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of mine was once made perfect in these woods.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fresh breezes, bowery lawns, and innocent floods,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ripe fruits, and lonely couch, contentment gave;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But ever since I heedlessly did lave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In thy deceitful stream, a panting glow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grew strong within me: wherefore serve me so,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And call it love? Alas! ’twas cruelty.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not once more did I close my happy eye", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Amid the thrush’s song. Away! avaunt!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O ’twas a cruel thing.”⁠—“Now thou dost taunt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So softly, Arethusa, that I think", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If thou wast playing on my shady brink,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou wouldst bathe once again. Innocent maid!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stifle thine heart no more;⁠—nor be afraid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of angry powers: there are deities", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will shade us with their wings. Those fitful sighs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Tis almost death to hear: O let me pour", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A dewy balm upon them!⁠—fear no more,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sweet Arethusa! Dian’s self must feel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sometimes these very pangs. Dear maiden, steal", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blushing into my soul, and let us fly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These dreary caverns for the open sky.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I will delight thee all my winding course,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the green sea up to my hidden source", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About Arcadian forests; and will show", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The channels where my coolest waters flow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through mossy rocks; where ’mid exuberant green,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I roam in pleasant darkness, more unseen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than Saturn in his exile; where I brim", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Round flowery islands, and take thence a skim", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of mealy sweets, which myriads of bees", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Buzz from their honey’d wings: and thou shouldst please", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thyself to choose the richest, where we might", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be incense-pillow’d every summer night.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Doff all sad fears, thou white deliciousness,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And let us be thus comforted; unless", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou couldst rejoice to see my hopeless stream", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hurry distracted from Sol’s temperate beam,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And pour to death along some hungry sands.”⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“What can I do, Alpheus? Dian stands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Severe before me: persecuting fate!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unhappy Arethusa! thou wast late", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A huntress free in”⁠—At this, sudden fell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those two sad streams adown a fearful dell.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Latmian listen’d, but he heard no more,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Save echo, faint repeating o’er and o’er", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The name of Arethusa. On the verge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of that dark gulf he wept, and said; “I urge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee, gentle Goddess of my pilgrimage,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By our eternal hopes, to soothe, to assuage,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If thou art powerful, these lovers’ pains;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And make them happy in some happy plains.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He turn’d⁠—there was a whelming sound⁠—he stept,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "There was a cooler light; and so he kept", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Towards it by a sandy path, and lo!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More suddenly than doth a moment go,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The visions of the earth were gone and fled⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He saw the giant sea above his head.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "There are who lord it o’er their fellow-men", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With most prevailing tinsel: who unpen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their baaing vanities, to browse away", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The comfortable green and juicy hay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From human pastures; or, O torturing fact!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who, through an idiot blink, will see unpack’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fire-branded foxes to sear up and singe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our gold and ripe-ear’d hopes. With not one tinge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of sanctuary splendour, not a sight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Able to face an owl’s, they still are dight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By the blear-eyed nations in empurpled vests,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And crowns, and turbans. With unladen breasts,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Save of blown self-applause, they proudly mount", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To their spirit’s perch, their being’s high account,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their tiptop nothings, their dull skies, their thrones⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Amid the fierce intoxicating tones", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of trumpets, shoutings, and belabour’d drums,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sudden cannon. Ah! how all this hums,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In wakeful ears, like uproar past and gone⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like thunder-clouds that spake to Babylon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And set those old Chaldeans to their tasks.⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are then regalities all gilded masks?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No, there are throned seats unscalable", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But by a patient wing, a constant spell,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or by ethereal things that, unconfined,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Can make a ladder of the eternal wind,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And poise about in cloudy thunder-tents", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To watch the abysm-birth of elements.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, ’bove the withering of old-lipp’d Fate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A thousand Powers keep religious state,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In water, fiery realm, and airy bourne;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, silent as a consecrated urn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hold spherey sessions for a season due.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet few of these far majesties, ah, few!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have bared their operations to this globe⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Few, who with gorgeous pageantry enrobe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our piece of heaven⁠—whose benevolence", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shakes hand with our own Ceres; every sense", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Filling with spiritual sweets to plenitude,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As bees gorge full their cells. And, by the feud", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twixt Nothing and Creation, I here swear,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eterne Apollo! that thy Sister fair", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is of all these the gentlier-mightiest.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When thy gold breath is misting in the west,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She unobserved steals unto her throne,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And there she sits most meek and most alone;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As if she had not pomp subservient;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As if thine eye, high Poet! was not bent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Towards her with the Muses in thine heart;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As if the minist’ring stars kept not apart,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Waiting for silver-footed messages.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O Moon! the oldest shades ’mong oldest trees", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Feel palpitations when thou lookest in:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O Moon! old boughs lisp forth a holier din", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The while they feel thine airy fellowship.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou dost bless everywhere, with silver lip", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Kissing dead things to life. The sleeping kine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Couch’d in thy brightness, dream of fields divine:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Innumerable mountains rise, and rise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ambitious for the hallowing of thine eyes;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet thy benediction passeth not", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One obscure hiding-place, one little spot", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where pleasure may be sent: the nested wren", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Has thy fair face within its tranquil ken,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And from beneath a sheltering ivy leaf", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Takes glimpses of thee; thou art a relief", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To the poor patient oyster, where it sleeps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Within its pearly house.⁠—The mighty deeps,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The monstrous sea is thine⁠—the myriad sea!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O Moon! far-spooming Ocean bows to thee,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Tellus feels his forehead’s cumbrous load.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Cynthia! where art thou now? What far abode", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of green or silvery bower doth enshrine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such utmost beauty? Alas, thou dost pine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For one as sorrowful: thy cheek is pale", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For one whose cheek is pale: thou dost bewail", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His tears, who weeps for thee. Where dost thou sigh?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ah! surely that light peeps from Vesper’s eye,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or what a thing is love! ’Tis She, but lo!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How changed, how full of ache, how gone in woe!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She dies at the thinnest cloud; her loveliness", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is wan on Neptune’s blue: yet there’s a stress", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of love-spangles, just off yon cape of trees,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dancing upon the waves, as if to please", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The curly foam with amorous influence.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O, not so idle: for down-glancing thence,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She fathoms eddies, and runs wild about", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O’erwhelming water-courses; scaring out", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The thorny sharks from hiding-holes, and fright’ning", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their savage eyes with unaccustom’d lightning.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where will the splendour be content to reach?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O love! how potent hast thou been to teach", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Strange journeyings! Wherever beauty dwells,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In gulf or aerie, mountains or deep dells,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In light, in gloom, in star or blazing sun,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou pointest out the way, and straight ’tis won.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Amid his toil thou gavest Leander breath;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou leddest Orpheus through the gleams of death;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou madest Pluto bear thin element;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And now, O winged Chieftain! thou hast sent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A moonbeam to the deep, deep water-world,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To find Endymion.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "On gold sand impearl’d", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "With lily shells, and pebbles milky white,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Poor Cynthia greeted him, and soothed her light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Against his pallid face: he felt the charm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To breathlessness, and suddenly a warm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of his heart’s blood: ’twas very sweet; he stay’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His wandering steps, and half-entranced laid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His head upon a tuft of straggling weeds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To taste the gentle moon, and freshening beads,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lash’d from the crystal roof by fishes’ tails.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so he kept, until the rosy veils", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mantling the east, by Aurora’s peering hand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were lifted from the water’s breast, and fann’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into sweet air; and sober’d morning came", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Meekly through billows:⁠—when like taper-flame", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Left sudden by a dallying breath of air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He rose in silence, and once more ’gan fare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Along his fated way.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Far had he roam’d,", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "With nothing save the hollow vast, that foam’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Above, around, and at his feet; save things", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More dead than Morpheus’ imaginings:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Old rusted anchors, helmets, breastplates large", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of gone sea-warriors: brazen beaks and targe;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rudders that for a hundred years had lost", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sway of human hand; gold vase emboss’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With long-forgotten story, and wherein", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No reveller had ever dipp’d a chin", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But those of Saturn’s vintage; mouldering scrolls,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Writ in the tongue of heaven, by those souls", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who first were on the earth; and sculptures rude", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In ponderous stone, developing the mood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of ancient Nox;⁠—then skeletons of man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of beast, behemoth, and leviathan,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And elephant, and eagle, and huge jaw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of nameless monster. A cold leaden awe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These secrets struck into him; and unless", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dian had chased away that heaviness,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He might have died: but now, with cheered feel,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He onward kept; wooing these thoughts to steal", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About the labyrinth in his soul of love.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“What is there in thee. Moon! that thou shouldst move", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "My heart so potently? When yet a child", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I oft have dried my tears when thou hast smiled.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou seem’dst my sister: hand in hand we went", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From eve to morn across the firmament.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No apples would I gather from the tree,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till thou hadst cool’d their cheeks deliciously:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No tumbling water ever spake romance,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But when my eyes with thine thereon could dance:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No woods were green enough, no bower divine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until thou liftedst up thine eyelids fine:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In sowing-time ne’er would I dibble take,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or drop a seed, till thou wast wide awake;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, in the summer tide of blossoming,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No one but thee hath heard me blithely sing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And mesh my dewy flowers all the night.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No melody was like a passing spright", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If it went not to solemnize thy reign.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yes, in my boyhood, every joy and pain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By thee were fashion’d to the self-same end", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And as I grew in years, still didst thou blend", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With all my ardours; thou wast the deep glen:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou wast the mountaintop⁠—the sage’s pen⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The poet’s harp⁠—the voice of friends⁠—the sun;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou wast the river⁠—thou wast glory won;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou wast my clarion’s blast⁠—thou wast my steed⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My goblet full of wine⁠—my topmost deed:⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou wast the charm of women, lovely Moon!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O what a wild and harmonized tune", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My spirit struck from all the beautiful!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On some bright essence could I lean, and lull", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Myself to immortality: I prest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nature’s soft pillow in a wakeful rest.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But gentle Orb! there came a nearer bliss⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My strange love came⁠—Felicity’s abyss!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She came, and thou didst fade, and fade away⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet not entirely: no, thy starry sway", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Has been an under-passion to this hour.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now I begin to feel thine orby power", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is coming fresh upon me: O be kind,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Keep back thine influence, and do not blind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My sovereign vision.⁠—Dearest love, forgive", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I can think away from thee and live!⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pardon me, airy planet, that I prize", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One thought beyond thine argent luxuries!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How far beyond!” At this a surprised start", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Frosted the springing verdure of his heart;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For as he lifted up his eyes to swear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How his own goddess was past all things fair,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He saw far in the concave green of the sea", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An old man sitting calm and peacefully.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon a weeded rock this old man sat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And his white hair was awful, and a mat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of weeds were cold beneath his cold thin feet;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, ample as the largest winding-sheet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A cloak of blue wrapp’d up his aged bones,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O’erwrought with symbols by the deepest groans", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of ambitious magic: every ocean-form", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was woven in with black distinctness; storm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And calm, and whispering, and hideous roar,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Quicksand, and whirlpool, and deserted shore", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were emblem’d in the woof; with every shape", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That skims, or dives, or sleeps, ’twixt cape and cape.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The gulphing whale was like a dot in the spell,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet look upon it, and ’twould size and swell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To its huge self; and the minutest fish", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would pass the very hardest gazer’s wish,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And show his little eye’s anatomy.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then there was pictured the regality", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Neptune; and the sea-nymphs round his state,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In beauteous vassalage, look up and wait.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beside this old man lay a pearly wand,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in his lap a book, the which he conn’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So steadfastly, that the new denizen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had time to keep him in amazed ken,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To mark these shadowings, and stand in awe.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The old man raised his hoary head and saw", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The wilder’d stranger⁠—seeming not to see,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His features were so lifeless. Suddenly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He woke as from a trance: his snow-white brows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Went arching up, and like two magic ploughs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Furrow’d deep wrinkles in his forehead large,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which kept as fixedly as rocky marge,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till round his wither’d lips had gone a smile.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then up he rose, like one whose tedious toil", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had watch’d for years in forlorn hermitage,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who had not from mid-life to utmost age", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eased in one accent his o’erburden’d soul,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even to the trees. He rose: he grasp’d his stole,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With convulsed clenches waving it abroad,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in a voice of solemn joy, that awed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Echo into oblivion, he said:⁠—", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Thou art the man! Now shall I lay my head", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "In peace upon my watery pillow: now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sleep will come smoothly to my weary brow.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O Jove! I shall be young again, be young!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O shell-borne Neptune, I am pierced and stung", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With new-born life! What shall I do? Where go,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When I have cast this serpent-skin of woe?⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I’ll swim to the sirens, and one moment listen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their melodies, and see their long hair glisten;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Anon upon that giant’s arm I’ll be,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That writhes about the roots of Sicily:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To northern seas I’ll in a twinkling sail,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And mount upon the snortings of a whale", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To some black cloud; thence down I’ll madly sweep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On forked lightning, to the deepest deep,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where through some sucking pool I will be hurl’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With rapture to the other side of the world!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O, I am full of gladness! Sisters three,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I bow full-hearted to your old decree!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yes, every god be thank’d, and power benign,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For I no more shall wither, droop, and pine.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou art the man!” Endymion started back", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dismay’d; and, like a wretch from whom the rack", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tortures hot breath, and speech of agony,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mutter’d: “What lonely death am I to die", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In this cold region? Will he let me freeze,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And float my brittle limbs o’er polar seas?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or will he touch me with his searing hand,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And leave a black memorial on the sand?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or tear me piecemeal with a bony saw,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And keep me as a chosen food to draw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His magian fish through hated fire and flame?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O misery of hell! resistless, tame,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Am I to be burnt up? No, I will shout,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until the gods through heaven’s blue look out!⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O Tartarus! but some few days agone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her soft arms were entwining me, and on", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her voice I hung like fruit among green leaves:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her lips were all my own, and⁠—ah, ripe sheaves", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of happiness! ye on the stubble droop,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But never may be garner’d. I must stoop", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My head, and kiss death’s foot. Love! love, farewell!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is there no hope from thee? This horrid spell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would melt at thy sweet breath.⁠—By Dian’s hind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Feeding from her white fingers, on the wind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I see thy streaming hair! and now, by Pan,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I care not for this old mysterious man!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He spake, and walking to that aged form,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Look’d high defiance. Lo! his heart ’gan warm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With pity, for the gray-hair’d creature wept.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had he then wrong’d a heart where sorrow kept?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had he, though blindly contumelious, brought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rheum to kind eyes, a sting to human thought,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Convulsion to a mouth of many years?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He had in truth; and he was ripe for tears.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The penitent shower fell, as down he knelt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before that care-worn sage, who trembling felt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About his large dark locks, and faltering spake:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Arise, good youth, for sacred Phœbus’ sake!", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "I know thine inmost bosom, and I feel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A very brother’s yearning for thee steal", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into mine own: for why? thou openest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The prison gates that have so long opprest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My weary watching. Though thou kuow’st it not,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou art commission’d to this fated spot", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For great enfranchisement. O weep no more!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I am a friend to love, to loves of yore:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, hadst thou never loved an unknown power,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I had been grieving at this joyous hour.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But even now most miserable old,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I saw thee, and my blood no longer cold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gave mighty pulses: in this tottering case", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grew a new heart, which at this moment plays", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As dancingly as thine. Be not afraid,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For thou shalt hear this secret all display’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now as we speed towards our joyous task.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So saying, this young soul in age’s mask", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Went forward with the Carian side by side:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Resuming quickly thus; while ocean’s tide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hung swollen at their backs, and jewell’d sands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Took silently their foot-prints.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“My soul stands", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Now past the midway from mortality,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so I can prepare without a sigh", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To tell thee briefly all my joy and pain.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I was a fisher once, upon this main,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And my boat danced in every creek and bay;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rough billows were my home by night and day⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sea-gulls not more constant; for I had", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No housing from the storm and tempests mad,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But hollow rocks⁠—and they were palaces", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of silent happiness, of slumberous ease:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Long years of misery have told me so.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, thus it was one thousand years ago.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One thousand years!⁠—Is it then possible", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To look so plainly through them? to dispel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A thousand years with backward glance sublime?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To breathe away as ’twere all scummy slime", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From off a crystal pool, to see its deep,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And one’s own image from the bottom peep?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yes: now I am no longer wretched thrall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My long captivity and moanings all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are but a slime, a thin-pervading scum,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The which I breathe away, and thronging come", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like things of yesterday my youthful pleasures:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“I touch’d no lute, I sang not, trod no measures:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "I was a lonely youth on desert shores.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My sports were lonely, ’mid continuous roars,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And craggy isles, and sea-mew’s plaintive cry⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Plaining discrepant between sea and sky.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dolphins were still my playmates; shapes unseen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would let me feel their scales of gold and green,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor be my desolation; and, full oft,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When a dread waterspout had rear’d aloft", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its hungry hugeness, seeming ready ripe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To burst with hoarsest thunderings, and wipe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My life away like a vast sponge of fate,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some friendly monster, pitying my sad state,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Has dived to its foundations, gulf’d it down,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And left me tossing safely. But the crown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all my life was utmost quietude:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More did I love to lie in cavern rude,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Keeping in wait whole days for Neptune’s voice,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And if it came at last, hark, and rejoice!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There blush’d no summer eve but I would steer", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My skiff along green shelving coasts, to hear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The shepherd’s pipe come clear from aery steep,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mingled with ceaseless bleatings of his sheep:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And never was a day of summer shine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But I beheld its birth upon the brine:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For I would watch all night to see unfold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Heaven’s gates, and Æthon snort his morning gold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wide o’er the swelling streams: and constantly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At brim of day-tide on some grassy lea,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My nets would be spread out, and I at rest.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The poor folk of the sea-country I blest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With daily boon of fish most delicate:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They knew not whence this bounty, and elate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would strew sweet flowers on a sterile beach.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Why was I not contented? Wherefore reach", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "At things which, but for thee, O Latmian!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had been my dreary death? Fool! I began", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To feel distemper’d longings: to desire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The utmost privilege that ocean’s sire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Could grant in benediction: to be free", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all his kingdom. Long in misery", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I wasted, ere in one extremest fit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I plunged for life or death. To interknit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One’s senses with so dense a breathing stuff", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Might seem a work of pain; so not enough", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Can I admire how crystal-smooth it felt,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And buoyant round my limbs. At first I dwelt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whole days and days in sheer astonishment;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forgetful utterly of self-intent;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moving but with the mighty ebb and flow.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then, like a new-fledged bird that flrst doth show", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His spreaded feathers to the morrow chill,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I tried in fear the pinions of my will.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twas freedom! and at once I visited", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The ceaseless wonders of this ocean-bed.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No need to tell thee of them, for I see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That thou hast been a witness⁠—it must be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For these I know thou canst not feel a drouth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By the melancholy corners of that mouth.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So I will in my story straightway pass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To more immediate matter. Woe, alas!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That love should be my bane! Ah, Scylla fair!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why did poor Glaucus ever⁠—ever dare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sue thee to his heart? Kind stranger-youth!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I loved her to the very white of truth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And she would not conceive it. Timid thing!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She fled me swift as sea-bird on the wing,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Round every isle, and point, and promontory,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From where large Hercules wound up his story", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Far as Egyptian Nile. My passion grew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The more, the more I saw her dainty hue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gleam delicately through the azure clear:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until ’twas too fierce agony to bear;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in that agony, across my grief", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It flash’d, that Circe might find some relief⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cruel enchantress! So above the water", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I rear’d my head, and look’d for Phœbus’ daughter.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ææa’s isle was wondering at the moon:⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It seem’d to whirl around me, and a swoon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Left me dead-drifting to that fatal power.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“When I awoke, ’twas in a twilight bower;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Just when the light of morn, with hum of bees,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stole through its verdurous matting of fresh trees.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How sweet, and sweeter! for I heard a lyre,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And over it a sighing voice expire.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It ceased⁠—I caught light footsteps; and anon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The fairest face that morn e’er look’d upon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Push’d through a screen of roses. Starry Jove!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With tears, and smiles, and honey-words she wove", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A net whose thraldom was more bliss than all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The range of flower’d Elysium. Thus did fall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The dew of her rich speech: ‘Ah! art awake?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O let me hear thee speak, for Cupid’s sake!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I am so oppress’d with joy! Why, I have shed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An urn of tears, as though thou wert cold dead;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And now I find thee living, I will pour", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From these devoted eyes their silver store,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until exhausted of the latest drop,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So it will pleasure thee, and force thee stop", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Here, that I too may live: but if beyond", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such cool and sorrowful offerings, thou art fond", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of soothing warmth, of dalliance supreme;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If thou art ripe to taste a long love-dream;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If smiles, if dimples, tongues for ardour mute,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hang in thy vision like a tempting fruit,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O let me pluck it for thee!’ Thus she link’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her charming syllables, till indistinct", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their music came to my o’er-sweeten’d soul;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then she hover’d over me, and stole", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So near, that if no nearer it had been", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This furrow’d visage thou hadst never seen.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Young man of Latmos! thus particular", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Am I, that thou may’st plainly see how far", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This fierce temptation went: and thou may’st not", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Exclaim, How, then, was Scylla quite forgot?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Who could resist? Who in this universe?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "She did so breathe ambrosia; so immerse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My fine existence in a golden clime.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She took me like a child of suckling time,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And cradled me in roses. Thus condemn’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The current of my former life was stemm’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And to this arbitrary queen of sense", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I bow’d a tranced vassal: nor would thence", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have moved, even though Amphion’s harp had woo’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Me back to Scylla o’er the billows rude.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For as Apollo each eve doth devise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A new apparelling for western skies;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So every eve, nay, every spendthrift hour", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shed balmy consciousness within that bower.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I was free of haunts umbrageous;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Could wander in the mazy forest-house", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of squirrels, foxes shy, and antler’d deer,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And birds from coverts innermost and drear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Warbling for very joy mellifluous sorrow⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To me new-born delights!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Now let me borrow,", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "For moments few, a temperament as stern", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As Pluto’s sceptre, that my words not burn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These uttering lips, while I in calm speech tell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How specious heaven was changed to real hell.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“One morn she left me sleeping; half awake", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "I sought for her smooth arms and lips, to slake", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My greedy thirst with nectarous camel-draughts;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But she was gone. Whereat the barbed shafts", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of disappointment stuck in me so sore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That out I ran and search’d the forest o’er.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wandering about in pine and cedar gloom", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Damp awe assail’d me; for there ’gan to boom", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A sound of moan, an agony of sound,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sepulchral from the distance all around.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then came a conquering earth-thunder, and rumbled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That fierce complain to silence: while I stumbled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down a precipitous path, as if impell’d.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I came to a dark valley.⁠—Groanings swell’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Poisonous about my ears, and louder grew,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The nearer I approach’d a flame’s gaunt blue,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That glared before me through a thorny brake.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This fire, like the eye of gordian snake,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bewitch’d me towards; and I soon was near", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A sight too fearful for the feel of fear:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In thicket hid I cursed the haggard scene⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The banquet of my arms, my arbour queen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seated upon an uptorn forest root;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all around her shapes, wizard and brute,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Laughing, and wailing, grovelling, serpenting,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Showing tooth, tusk, and venom-bag, and sting!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O such deformities! old Charon’s self,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Should he give up awhile his penny pelf,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And take a dream ’mong rushes Stygian,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It could not be so fantasied. Fierce, wan,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And tyrannizing was the lady’s look,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As over them a gnarled staff she shook.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ofttimes upon the sudden she laugh’d out,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And from a basket emptied to the rout", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Clusters of grapes, the which they raven’d quick", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And roar’d for more; with many a hungry lick", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About their shaggy jaws. Avenging, slow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Anon she took a branch of mistletoe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And emptied on ’t a black dull-gurgling phial:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Groan’d one and all, as if some piercing trial", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was sharpening for their pitiable bones.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She lifted up the charm: appealing groans", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From their poor breasts went sueing to her ear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In vain; remorseless as an infant’s bier", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She whisk’d against their eyes the sooty oil.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whereat was heard a noise of painful toil,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Increasing gradual to a tempest rage,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shrieks, yells, and groans of torture-pilgrimage;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until their grieved bodies ’gan to bloat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And puff from the tail’s end to stifled throat:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then was appalling silence: then a sight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More wildering than all that hoarse affright;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For the whole herd, as by a whirlwind writhen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Went through the dismal air like one huge Python", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Antagonizing Boreas,⁠—and so vanish’d.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet there was not a breath of wind: she banish’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These phantoms with a nod. Lo! from the dark", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came waggish fauns, and nymphs, and satyrs stark,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With dancing and loud revelry,⁠—and went", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Swifter than centaurs after rapine bent.⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sighing an elephant appear’d and bow’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before the fierce witch, speaking thus aloud", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In human accent: ‘Potent goddess! chief", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of pains resistless! make my being brief,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or let me from this heavy prison fly:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or give me to the air, or let me die!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I sue not for my happy crown again;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I sue not for my phalanx on the plain;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I sue not for my lone, my widow’d wife:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I sue not for my ruddy drops of life,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My children fair, my lovely girls and boys!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I will forget them; I will pass these joys;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ask nought so heavenward, so too⁠—too high:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Only I pray, as fairest boon, to die,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or be deliver’d from this cumbrous flesh,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From this gross, detestable, filthy mesh,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And merely given to the cold bleak air.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have mercy. Goddess! Circe, feel my prayer!’", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“That curst magician’s name fell icy numb", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Upon my wild conjecturing: truth had come", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Naked and sabre-like against my heart.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I saw a fury whetting a death-dart;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And my slain spirit, overwrought with fright,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fainted away in that dark lair of night.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Think, my deliverer, how desolate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My waking must have been! disgust, and hate,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And terrors manifold divided me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A spoil amongst them. I prepared to flee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the dungeon core of that wild wood:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I fled three days⁠—when lo! before me stood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Glaring the angry witch. O Dis, even now,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A clammy dew is beading on my brow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At mere remembering her pale laugh, and curse.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "‘Ha! ha! Sir Dainty! there must be a nurse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made of rose-leaves and thistle-down, express,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To cradle thee my sweet, and lull thee: yes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I am too flinty-hard for thy nice touch:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My tenderest squeeze is but a giant’s clutch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So, fairy-thing, it shall have lullabies", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unheard of yet; and it shall still its cries", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon some breast more lily-feminine.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Oh, no⁠—it shall not pine, and pine, and pine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More than one pretty, trifling thousand years;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then ’twere pity, but fate’s gentle shears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cut short its immortality. Sea-flirt!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Young dove of the waters! truly I’ll not hurt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One hair of thine: see how I weep and sigh,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That our heart-broken parting is so nigh.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And must we part? Ah, yes, it must be so.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet ere thou leavest me in utter woe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let me sob over thee my last adieus,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And speak a blessing: Mark me! thou hast thews", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Immortal, for thou art of heavenly race:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But such a love is mine, that here I chase", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eternally away from thee all bloom", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of youth, and destine thee towards a tomb.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hence shalt thou quickly to the watery vast;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And there, ere many days be overpast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Disabled age shall seize thee; and even then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou shalt not go the way of aged men;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But live and wither, cripple and still breathe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ten hundred years: which gone, I then bequeath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy fragile bones to unknown burial.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Adieu, sweet love, adieu!’⁠—As shot stars fall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She fled ere I could groan for mercy. Stung", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And poisoned was my spirit: despair sung", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A war-song of defiance ’gainst all hell.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A hand was at my shoulder to compel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My sullen steps; another ’fore my eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moved on with pointed finger. In this guise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Enforced, at the last by ocean’s foam", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I found me; by my fresh, my native home.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its tempering coolness, to my life akin,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came salutary as I waded in;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And with a blind voluptuous rage, I gave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Battle to the swollen billow-ridge, and drave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Large froth before me, while yet there remain’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hale strength, nor from my bones all marrow drain’d.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Young lover, I must weep⁠—such hellish spite", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "With dry cheek who can tell? While thus my might", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Proving upon this element, dismay’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon a dead thing’s face my hand I laid;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I look’d⁠—’twas Scylla! Cursed, cursed Circe!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O vulture-witch, hast never heard of mercy?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Could not thy harshest vengeance be content,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But thou must nip this tender innocent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Because I lov’d her?⁠—Cold, O cold indeed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were her fair limbs, and like a common weed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sea-swell took her hair. Dead as she was", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I clung about her waist, nor ceased to pass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fleet as an arrow through unfathom’d brine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until there shone a fabric crystalline,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ribb’d and inlaid with coral, pebble, and pearl.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Headlong I darted: at one eager swirl", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gain’d its bright portal, enter’d, and behold!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twas vast, and desolate, and icy-cold;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all around⁠—But wherefore this to thee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who in few minutes more thyself shalt see?⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I left poor Scylla in a niche and fled.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My fever’d parchings up, my scathing dread", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Met palsy half way: soon these limbs became", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gaunt, wither’d, sapless, feeble, cramp’d, and lame.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Now let me pass a cruel, cruel space,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Without one hope, without one faintest trace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of mitigation, or redeeming bubble", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of colour’d phantasy: for I fear ’twould trouble", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy brain to loss of reason: and next tell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How a restoring chance came down to quell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One half of the witch in me.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“On a day,", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Sitting upon a rock above the spray,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I saw grow up from the horizon’s brink", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A gallant vessel: soon she seem’d to sink", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Away from me again, as though her course", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had been resumed in spite of hindering force⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So vanish’d: and not long, before arose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dark clouds, and muttering of winds morose.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Old Æolus would stifle his mad spleen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But could not; therefore, all the billows green", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Toss’d up the silver spume against the clouds.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The tempest came: I saw that vessel’s shrouds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In perilous bustle; while upon the deck", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stood trembling creatures. I beheld the wreck;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The final gulfing; the poor struggling souls;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I heard their cries amid loud thunder-rolls.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O they had all been saved but crazed eld", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Annull’d my vigorous cravings; and thus quell’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And curb’d, think on ’t, O Latmian! did I sit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Writhing with pity, and a cursing fit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Against that hell-born Circe. The crew had gone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By one and one, to pale oblivion;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I was gazing on the surges prone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With many a scalding tear, and many a groan,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When at my feet emerged an old man’s hand,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grasping this scroll, and this same slender wand.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I knelt with pain⁠—reach’d out my hand⁠—had grasp’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These treasures⁠—touch’d the knuckles⁠—they un-clasp’d⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I caught a finger; but the downward weight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O’erpower’d me⁠—it sank. Then ’gan abate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The storm, and through chill aguish gloom outburst", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The comfortable sun. I was athirst", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To search the book, and in the warming air", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Parted its dripping leaves with eager care.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Strange matters did it treat of, and drew on", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My soul page after page, till well nigh won", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into forgetfulness; when, stupefied,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I read these words, and read again, and tried", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My eyes against the heavens, and read again.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O what a load of misery and pain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Each Atlas-line bore off!⁠—a shine of hope", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came gold around me, cheering me to cope", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Strenuous with hellish tyranny. Attend!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For thou hast brought their promise to an end.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "In the wide sea there lives a forlorn wretch,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Doom’d with enfeebled carcase to outstretch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His loath’d existence through ten centuries,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then to die alone. Who can devise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A total opposition? No one. So", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One million times ocean must ebb and flow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And he oppressed. Yet he shall not die,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These things accomplish’d:⁠—If he utterly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Scans all the depths of magic, and expounds", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The meanings of all motions, shapes, and sounds;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If he explores all forms and substances", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Straight homeward to their symbol-essences;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He shall not die. Moreover, and in chief,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He must pursue this task of joy and grief", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Most piously;⁠—all lovers tempest-tost,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in the savage overtchelming lost,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He shall deposit side by side, until", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Time’s creeping shall the dreary space fulfil:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which done, and all these labours ripened,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A youth, by heavenly power loved and led,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shall stand before him; whom he shall direct", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How to consummate all. The youth elect", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Must do the thing, or both will be destroyed.⁠—", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Then,” cried the young Endymion, overjoy’d,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "“We are twin brothers in this destiny!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Say, I entreat thee, what achievement high", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is, in this restless world, for me reserved.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What! if from thee my wandering feet had swerved,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had we both perish’d?”⁠—“Look!” the sage replied,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Dost thou not mark a gleaming through the tide,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of divers brilliances? ’tis the edifice", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I told thee of, where lovely Scylla lies;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And where I have enshrined piously", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All lovers, whom fell storms have doom’d to die", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Throughout my bondage.” Thus discoursing, on", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They went till unobscured the porches shone;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which hurryingly they gain’d, and enter’d straight.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sure never since king Neptune held his state", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was seen such wonder underneath the stars.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Turn to some level plain where haughty Mars", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Has legion’d all his battle; and behold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How every soldier, with firm foot, doth hold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His even breast: see, many steeled squares,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And rigid ranks of iron⁠—whence who dares", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One step? Imagine further, line by line,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These warrior thousands on the field supine;⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So in that crystal place, in silent rows,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Poor lovers lay at rest from joys and woes.⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The stranger from the mountains, breathless, traced", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such thousands of shut eyes in order placed;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such ranges of white feet, and patient lips", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All ruddy,⁠—for here death no blossom nips,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He mark’d their brows and foreheads; saw their hair", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Put sleekly on one side with nicest care;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And each one’s gentle wrists, with reverence,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Put cross-wise to its heart.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Let us commence,”", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Whisper’d the guide, stuttering with joy, “even now.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He spake, and, trembling like an aspen-bough,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Began to tear his scroll in pieces small,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Uttering the while some mumblings funeral.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He tore it into pieces small as snow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That drifts unfeather’d when bleak northerns blow;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And having done it, took his dark blue cloak", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And bound it round Endymion: then struck", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His wand against the empty air times nine.⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“What more there is to do, young man, is thine:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But first a little patience; first undo", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This tangled thread, and wind it to a clue.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ah, gentle! ’tis as weak as spider’s skein;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And shouldst thou break it⁠—What, is it done so clean?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A power overshadows thee! Oh, brave!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The spite of hell is tumbling to its grave.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Here is a shell; ’tis pearly blank to me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor mark’d with any sign or charactery⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Canst thou read aught? O read for pity’s sake!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Olympus! we are safe! Now, Carian, break", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This wand against yon lyre on the pedestal.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "’Twas done: and straight with sudden swell and fall", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Sweet music breathed her soul away, and sigh’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A lullaby to silence.⁠—“Youth! now strew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These minced leaves on me, and passing through", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those files of dead, scatter the same around,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thou wilt see the issue.”⁠—’Mid the sound", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of flutes and viols, ravishing his heart,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion from Glaucus stood apart,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And scatter’d in his face some fragments light.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How lightning-swift the change! a youthful wight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Smiling beneath a coral diadem,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Out-sparkling sudden like an upturn’d gem,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Appear’d, and, stepping to a beauteous corse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Kneel’d down beside it, and with tenderest force", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Press’d its cold hand, and wept,⁠—and Scylla sigh’d!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion, with quick hand, the charm applied⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The nymph arose: he left them to their joy,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And onward went upon his high employ,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Showering those powerful fragments on the dead.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, as he pass’d, each lifted up its head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As doth a flower at Apollo’s touch.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Death felt it to his inwards: ’twas too much:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Death fell a-weeping in his charnel-house.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Latmian persevered along, and thus", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All were reanimated. There arose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A noise of harmony, pulses and throes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of gladness in the air⁠—while many, who", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had died in mutual arms devout and true,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sprang to each other madly; and the rest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Felt a high certainty of being blest.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They gazed upon Endymion. Enchantment", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grew drunken, and would have its head and bent.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Delicious symphonies, like airy flowers,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Budded, and swell’d, and, full-blown, shed full showers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of light, soft, unseen leaves of sounds divine.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The two deliverers tasted a pure wine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of happiness, from fairy press oozed out.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Speechless they eyed each other, and about", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The fair assembly wandered to and fro,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Distracted with the richest overflow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of joy that ever pour’d from heav’n.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "—“Away!”", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Shouted the new born god; “Follow, and pay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our piety to Neptunus supreme!”⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then Scylla, blushing sweetly from her dream,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They led on first, bent to her meek surprise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through portal columns of a giant size", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the vaulted, boundless emerald.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Joyous all follow’d, as the leader call’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down marble steps; pouring as easily", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As hour-glass sand⁠—and fast, as you might see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Swallows obeying the south summer’s call,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or swans upon a gentle waterfall.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thus went that beautiful multitude, nor far,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Ere from among some rocks of glittering spar,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Just within ken, they saw descending thick", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Another multitude. Whereat more quick", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moved either host. On a wide sand they met,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And of those numbers every eye was wet;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For each their old love found. A murmuring rose,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like what was never heard in all the throes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of wind and waters: ’tis past human wit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To tell; ’tis dizziness to think of it.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "This mighty consummation made, the host", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Moved on for many a league; and gain’d and lost", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Huge sea-marks; vanward swelling in array,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And from the rear diminishing away,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till a faint dawn surprised them. Glaucus cried,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Behold! behold, the palace of his pride!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "God Neptune’s palaces.” With noise increased,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They shoulder’d on towards that brightening east.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At every onward step proud domes arose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In prospect,⁠—diamond gleams and golden glows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of amber ’gainst their faces levelling.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Joyous, and many as the leaves in spring,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Still onward; still the splendour gradual swell’d.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rich opal domes were seen, on high upheld", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By jasper pillars, letting through their shafts", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A blush of coral. Copious wonder-draughts", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Each gazer drank; and deeper drank more near:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For what poor mortals fragment up, as mere", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As marble was there lavish, to the vast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of one fair palace, that far, far surpass’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even for common bulk, those olden three,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Memphis, and Babylon, and Nineveh.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "As large, as bright, as colour’d as the bow", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of Iris, when unfading it doth show", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beyond a silvery shower, was the arch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through which this Paphian army took its march,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the outer courts of Neptune’s state:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whence could be seen, direct, a golden gate,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To which the leaders sped; but not half raught", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ere it burst open swift as fairy thought,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And made those dazzled thousands veil their eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like callow eagles at the first sunrise.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Soon with an eagle nativeness their gaze", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ripe from hue-golden swoons took all the blaze,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then, behold! large Neptune on his throne", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of emerald deep: yet not exalt alone;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At his right hand stood winged Love, and on", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His left sat smiling Beauty’s paragon.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Far as the mariner on highest mast", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Can see all round upon the calmed vast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So wide was Neptune’s hall: and as the blue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Doth vault the waters, so the waters drew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their doming curtains, high, magnificent,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Awed from the throne aloof;⁠—and when storm rent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Disclosed the thunder-gloomings in Jove’s air;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But soothed as now, flash’d sudden everywhere,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Noiseless, sub-marine cloudlets, glittering", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Death to a human eye: for there did spring", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From natural west, and east, and south, and north,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A light as of four sunsets, blazing forth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A gold-green zenith ’bove the Sea-God’s head.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of lucid depth the floor, and far outspread", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As breezeless lake, on which the slim canoe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of feather’d Indian darts about, as through", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The delicatest air: air verily,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But for the portraiture of clouds and sky:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This palace floor breath-air,⁠—but for the amaze", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of deep-seen wonders motionless,⁠—and blaze", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of the dome pomp, reflected in extremes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Globing a golden sphere.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "They stood in dreams", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Till Triton blew his horn. The palace rang;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Nereids danced; the Sirens faintly sang;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the great Sea-King bow’d his dripping head.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then Love took wing, and from his pinions shed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On all the multitude a nectarous dew.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The ooze-born Goddess beckoned and drew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fair Scylla and her guides to conference;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when they reach’d the throned eminence", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She kiss’d the sea-nymph’s cheek,⁠—who sat her down", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A-toying with the doves. Then,⁠—“Mighty crown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sceptre of this kingdom!” Venus said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Thy vows were on a time to Nais paid:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Behold!”⁠—Two copious tear-drops instant fell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the God’s large eyes; he smiled delectable.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And over Glaucus held his blessing hands.⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Endymion! Ah! still wandering in the bands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of love? Now this is cruel. Since the hour", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I met thee in earth’s bosom, all my power", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have I put forth to serve thee. What, not yet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Escaped from dull mortality’s harsh net?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A little patience, youth! ’twill not be long,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or I am skilless quite: an idle tongue,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A humid eye, and steps luxurious,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where these are new and strange, are ominous.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, I have seen these signs in one of heaven,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When others were all blind; and were I given", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To utter secrets, haply I might say", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some pleasant words:⁠—but Love will have his day.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So wait awhile expectant. Pr’ythee soon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even in the passing of thine honey-moon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Visit thou my Cytherea: thon wilt find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cupid well-natured, my Adonis kind;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And pray persuade with thee⁠—Ah, I have done,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All blisses be upon thee, my sweet son!”⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus the fair goddess: while Endymion", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Knelt to receive those accents halcyon.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Meantime a glorious revelry began", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Before the water-monarch. Nectar ran", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In courteous fountains to all cups out-reach’d;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And plunder’d vines, teeming exhaustless, pleach’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "New growth about each shell and pendent lyre;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The which, in disentangling for their fire,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pull’d down fresh foliage and coverture", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For dainty toying. Cupid, empire-sure,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Flutter’d and laugh’d, and oft-times through the throng", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made a delighted way. Then dance, and song,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And garlanding, grew wild; and pleasure reign’d.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In harmless tendril they each other chain’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And strove who should be smother’d deepest in", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fresh crush of leaves.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "O ’tis a very sin", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "For one so weak to venture his poor verse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In such a place as this. O do not curse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "High Muses! let him hurry to the ending.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "All suddenly were silent. A soft blending", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of dulcet instruments came charmingly;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then a hymn.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“King of the stormy sea!", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Brother of Jove, and co-inheritor", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of elements! Eternally before", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee the waves awful bow. Fast, stubborn rock,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At thy fear’d trident shrinking, doth unlock", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its deep foundations, hissing into foam.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All mountain-rivers, lost in the wide home", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of thy capacious bosom, ever flow.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou frownest, and old Æolus thy foe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Skulks to his cavern, ’mid the gruff complaint", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of all his rebel tempests. Dark clouds faint", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When, from thy diadem, a silver gleam", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Slants over blue dominion. Thy bright team", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gulfs in the morning light, and scuds along", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To bring thee nearer to that golden song", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Apollo singeth, while his chariot", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Waits at the doors of heaven. Thou art not", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For scenes like this: an empire stern hast thou;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And it hath furrow’d that large front: yet now,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As newly come of heaven, dost thou sit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To blend and interknit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Subdued majesty with this glad time.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O shell-borne King sublime!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We lay our hearts before thee evermore⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We sing, and we adore!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Breathe softly, flutes;", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Be tender of your strings, ye soothing lutes;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor be the trumpet heard! O vain, O vain;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not flowers budding in an April rain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor breath of sleeping dove, nor river’s flow,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No, nor the Æolian twang of Love’s own bow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Can mingle music fit for the soft ear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of goddess Cytherea!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet deign, white Queen of Beauty, thy fair eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On our soul’s sacrifice.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Bright-winged Child!", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Who has another care when thou hast smiled?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unfortunates on earth, we see at last", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All death-shadows, and glooms that overcast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our spirits, fann’d away by thy light pinions.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O sweetest essence! sweetest of all minions!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "God of warm pulses, and dishevell’d hair,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And panting bosoms bare!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dear unseen light in darkness! eclipser", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of light in light! delicious poisoner!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy venom’d goblet will we quaff until", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We fill⁠—we fill!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And by thy Mother’s lips⁠—”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Was heard no more", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "For clamour, when the golden palace door", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Open’d again, and from without, in shone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A new magnificence. On oozy throne", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Smooth-moving came Oceanus the old,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To take a latest glimpse at his sheepfold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before he went into his quiet cave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To muse for ever⁠—Then a lucid wave,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Scoop’d from its trembling sisters of mid-sea,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Afloat, and pillowing up the majesty", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Doris, and the Ægean seer, her spouse⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Next, on a dolphin, clad in laurel boughs,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Theban Amphion leaning on his lute:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His fingers went across it⁠—All were mute", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To gaze on Amphitrite, queen of pearls,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Thetis pearly too.⁠—", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The palace whirls", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Around giddy Endymion; seeing he", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was there far strayed from mortality.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He could not bear it⁠—shut his eyes in vain;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Imagination gave a dizzier pain.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O I shall die! sweet Venus, be my stay!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where is my lovely mistress? Wellaway!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I die⁠—I hear her voice⁠—I feel my wing”⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At Neptune’s feet he sank. A sudden ring’⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Nereids were about him, in kind strife", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To usher back his spirit into life:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But still he slept. At last they interwove", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their cradling arms, and purposed to convey", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Towards a crystal bower far away.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Lo! while slow carried through the pitying crowd,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "To his inward senses these words spake aloud;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Written in starlight on the dark above:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Dearest Endymion! my entire love!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How have I dwelt in fear of fate; ’tis done⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Immortal bliss for me too hast thou won.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Arise then! for the hen-dove shall not hatch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her ready eggs, before I’ll kissing snatch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee into endless heaven. Awake! awake!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The youth at once arose: a placid lake", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Came quiet to his eyes; and forest green,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cooler than all the wonders he had seen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lull’d with its simple song his fluttering breast.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How happy once again in grassy nest!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Muse of my native land! loftiest Muse!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O first-born on the mountains! by the hues", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of heaven on the spiritual air begot:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Long didst thou sit alone in northern grot,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While yet our England was a wolfish den;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before our forests heard the talk of men;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before the first of Druids was a child:⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Long didst thou sit amid our regions wild,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rapt in a deep prophetic solitude.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There came an eastern voice of solemn mood:⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet wast thou patient. Then sang forth the Nine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Apollo’s garland:⁠—yet didst thou divine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such home-bred glory, that they cried in vain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Come hither, Sister of the Island!” Plain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spake fair Ausonia; and once more she spake", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A higher summons:⁠—still didst thou betake", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee to thy native hopes. O thou hast won", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A full accomplishment! The thing is done,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which undone, these our latter days had risen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On barren souls. Great Muse, thou know’st what prison", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of flesh and bone, curbs, and confines, and frets", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our spirits’ wings: despondency besets", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our pillows; and the fresh to-morrow morn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seems to give forth its light in very scorn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of our dull, uninspired, snail-paced lives.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Long have I said, how happy he who shrives", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To thee! But then I thought on poets gone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And could not pray:⁠—nor can I now⁠—so on", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I move to the end in lowliness of heart.⁠—", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Ah, woe is me! that I should fondly part", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "From my dear native land! Ah, foolish maid!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Glad was the hour, when, with thee, myriads bade", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Adieu to Ganges and their pleasant fields!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To one so friendless the clear freshet yields", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A bitter coolness; the ripe grape is sour:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet I would have, great gods! but one short hour", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of native air⁠—let me but die at home.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Endymion to heaven’s airy dome", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Was offering up a hecatomb of vows,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When these words reach’d him. Whereupon he bows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His head through thorny-green entanglement", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of underwood, and to the sound is bent,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Anxious as hind towards her hidden fawn.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Is no one near to help me? No fair dawn", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of life from charitable voice? No sweet saying", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To set my dull and sadden’d spirit playing?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No hand to toy with mine? No lips so sweet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I may worship them? No eyelids meet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To twinkle on my bosom? No one dies", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before me, till from these enslaving eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Redemption sparkles!⁠—I am sad and lost.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thou, Carian lord, hadst better have been tost", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Into a whirlpool. Vanish into air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Warm mountaineer! for canst thou only bear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A woman’s sigh alone and in distress?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "See not her charms! Is Phœbe passionless?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Phœbe is fairer far⁠—O gaze no more:⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet if thou wilt behold all beauty’s store,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Behold her panting in the forest grass!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Do not those curls of glossy jet surpass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For tenderness the arms so idly lain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Amongst them? Feelest not a kindred pain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To see such lovely eyes in swimming search", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "After some warm delight, that seems to perch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dovelike in the dim cell lying beyond", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their upper lids?⁠—Hist!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O for Hermes’ wand,", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "To touch this flower into human shape!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That woodland Hyacinthus could escape", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From his green prison, and here kneeling down", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Call me his queen, his second life’s fair crown!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ah me, how I could love!⁠—My soul doth melt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For the unhappy youth⁠—Love! I have felt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So faint a kindness, such a meek surrender", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To what my own full thoughts had made too tender,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That but for tears my life had fled away!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ye deaf and senseless minutes of the day,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thou, old forest, hold ye this for true,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There is no lightning, no authentic dew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But in the eye of love: there’s not a sound,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Melodious howsoever, can confound", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The heavens and earth in one to such a death", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As doth the voice of love: there’s not a breath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will mingle kindly with the meadow air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till it has panted round, and stolen a share", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of passion from the heart!”⁠—", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Upon a bough", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "He leant, wretched. He surely cannot now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thirst for another love: O impious,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That he can even dream upon it thus!⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thought he, “Why am I not as are the dead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Since to a woe like this I have been led", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through the dark earth, and through the wondrous sea?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Goddess! I love thee not the less: from thee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By Juno’s smile I turn not⁠—no, no, no⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While the great waters are at ebb and flow.⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I have a triple soul! O fond pretence⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For both, for both my love is so immense,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I feel my heart is cut for them in twain.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And so he groan’d, as one by beauty slain.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The lady’s heart beat quick, and he could see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her gentle bosom heave tumultuously.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He sprang from his green covert: there she lay,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sweet as a musk-rose upon new-made hay;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With all her limbs on tremble, and her eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shut softly up alive. To speak he tries:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Fair damsel, pity me! forgive that I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus violate thy bower’s sanctity!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O pardon me, for I am full of grief⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grief born of thee, young angel! fairest thief!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who stolen hast away the wings wherewith", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I was to top the heavens. Dear maid, sith", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou art my executioner, and I feel", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Loving and hatred, misery and weal,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will in a few short hours be nothing to me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all my story that much passion slew me;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Do smile upon the evening of my days;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, for my tortured brain begins to craze,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be thou my nurse; and let me understand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How dying I shall kiss that lily hand.⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dost weep for me? Then should I be content.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Scowl on, ye fates! until the firmament", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Outblackens Erebus, and the full-cavern’d earth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Crumbles into itself. By the cloud-girth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Jove, those tears have given me a thirst", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To meet oblivion.”⁠—As her heart would burst", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The maiden sobb’d awhile, and then replied:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Why must such desolation betide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As that thou speakest of? Are not these green nooks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Empty of all misfortune? Do the brooks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Utter a gorgon voice? Does yonder thrush,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Schooling its half-fledged little ones to brush", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About the dewy forest, whisper tales?⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Speak not of grief, young stranger, or cold snails", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will slime the rose to-night. Though if thou wilt,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Methinks ’twould be a guilt⁠—a very guilt⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not to companion thee, and sigh away", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The light⁠—the dusk⁠—the dark⁠—till break of day!”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Dear lady,” said Endymion, “ ’tis past:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I love thee! and my days can never last.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I may pass in patience still speak:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let me have music dying, and I seek", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No more delight⁠—I bid adieu to all.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Didst thou not after other climates call,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And murmur about Indian streams?”⁠—Then she,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sitting beneath the midmost forest tree,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For pity sang this roundelay⁠⸺⁠", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O Sorrow,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Why dost borrow", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "The natural hue of health, from vermeil lips?⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To give maiden blushes", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "To the white rose bushes?", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Or is’t thy dewy hand the daisy tips?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O Sorrow,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Why dost borrow", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "The lustrous passion from a falcon-eye?⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To give the glowworm light?", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Or, on a moonless night,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "To tinge, on siren shores, the salt sea-spry?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O Sorrow,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Why dost borrow", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "The mellow ditties from a mourning tongue?⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To give at evening pale", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Unto the nightingale,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "That thou mayst listen the cold dews among?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O Sorrow,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Why dost borrow", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Heart’s lightness from the merriment of May?⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A lover would not tread", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "A cowslip on the head,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Though he should dance from eve till peep of day⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor any drooping flower", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Held sacred for thy bower,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Wherever he may sport himself and play.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“To Sorrow,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "I bade good morrow,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "And thought to leave her far away behind;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But cheerly, cheerly,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "She loves me dearly;", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "She is so constant to me, and so kind;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I would deceive her,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "And so leave her,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "But ah! she is so constant and so kind.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Beneath my palm-trees, by the river side", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I sat a-weeping: in the whole world wide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There was no one to ask me why I wept,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so I kept", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Brimming the water-lily cups with tears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cold as my fears.", "indent": 2 } ], [ { "text": "“Beneath my palm-trees, by the river side,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I sat a-weeping: what enamour’d bride,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cheated by shadowy wooer from the clouds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But hides and shrouds", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Beneath dark palm-trees by a river side?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“And as I sat, over the light blue hills", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There came a noise of revellers: the rills", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the wide stream came of purple hue⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twas Bacchus and his crew!", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "The earnest trumpet spake, and silver thrills", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From kissing cymbals made a merry din⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twas Bacchus and his kin!", "indent": 2 } ], [ { "text": "Like to a moving vintage down they came,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Crown’d with green leaves, and faces all on flame;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All madly dancing through the pleasant valley,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To scare thee, Melancholy!", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "O then, O then, thou wast a simple name!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I forgot thee, as the berried holly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By shepherds is forgotten, when, in June,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tall chestnuts keep away the sun and moon:⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I rush’d into the folly!", "indent": 2 } ], [ { "text": "“Within his car, aloft, young Bacchus stood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Trifling his ivy-dart, in dancing mood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With sidelong laughing;", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "And little rills of crimson wine imbrued", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His plump white arms, and shoulders, enough white", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For Venus’ pearly bite;", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "And near him rode Silenus on his ass,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pelted with flowers as he on did pass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tipsily quaffing.", "indent": 2 } ], [ { "text": "“Whence came ye, merry Damsels! whence came ye!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So many, and so many, and such glee?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why have ye left your bowers desolate,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your lutes, and gentler fate?", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "‘We follow Bacchus! Bacchus on the wing,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A conquering!", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Bacchus, young Bacchus! good or ill betide,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We dance before him thorough kingdoms wide:⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Come hither, lady fair, and joined be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To our wild minstrelsy!’", "indent": 2 } ], [ { "text": "“Whence came ye, jolly Satyrs! whence came ye,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So many, and so many, and such glee?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why have ye left your forest haunts, why left", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your nuts in oak-tree cleft?⁠—", "indent": 2 } ], [ { "text": "“ ‘For wine, for wine we left our kernel tree;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For wine we left our heath, and yellow brooms,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And cold mushrooms;", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "For wine we follow Bacchus through the earth;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Great god of breathless cups and chirping mirth!⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Come hither, lady fair, and joined be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To our mad minstrelsy!’", "indent": 2 } ], [ { "text": "“Over wide streams and mountains great we went,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, save when Bacchus kept his ivy tent,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Onward the tiger and the leopard pants,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With Asian elephants:", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Onward these myriads⁠—with song and dance,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With zebras striped, and sleek Arabians’ prance,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Web-footed alligators, crocodiles,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bearing upon their scaly backs, in files,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Plump infant laughers mimicking the coil", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of seamen, and stout galley-rowers’ toil:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With toying oars and silken sails they glide,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor care for wind and tide.", "indent": 2 } ], [ { "text": "“Mounted on panthers’ furs and lions’ manes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From rear to van they scour about the plains;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A three days’ journey in a moment done;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And always, at the rising of the sun,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About the wilds they hunt with spear and horn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On spleenful unicorn.", "indent": 2 } ], [ { "text": "“I saw Osirian Egypt kneel adown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before the vine-wreath crown!", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "I saw parch’d Abyssinia rouse and sing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To the silver cymbals’ ring!", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "I saw the whelming vintage hotly pierce", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Old Tartary the fierce!", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "The Kings of Inde their jewel-sceptres vail,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And from their treasures scatter pearled hail;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Great Brahma from his mystic heaven groans,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all his priesthood moans;", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Before young Bacchus’ eye-wink turning pale,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into these regions came I following him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sick-hearted, weary⁠—so I took a whim", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To stray away into these forests drear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alone, without a peer:", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "And I have told thee all thou mayest hear.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Young Stranger!", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "I’ve been a ranger", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "In search of pleasure throughout every clime:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alas, ’tis not for me!", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Bewitch’d I sure must be,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "To lose in grieving all my maiden prime.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Come then, Sorrow!", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Sweetest Sorrow!", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Like an own babe I nurse thee on my breast;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I thought to leave thee", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "And deceive thee,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "But now of all the world I love thee best.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“There is not one,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "No, no, not one", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "But thee to comfort a poor lonely maid;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou art her mother,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "And her brother,", "indent": 2 }, { "text": "Her playmate, and her wooer in the shade.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "O what a sigh she gave in finishing,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And look, quite dead to every wordly thing!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion could not speak, but gazed on her;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And listened to the wind that now did stir", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About the crisped oaks full drearily,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet with as sweet a softness as might be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Remember’d from its velvet summer song.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At last he said: “Poor lady, how thus long", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have I been able to endure that voice?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fair Melody! kind Siren! I’ve no choice;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I must be thy sad servant evermore:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I cannot choose but kneel here and adore.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alas, I must not think⁠—by Phœbe, no!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let me not think, soft Angel! shall it be so?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Say, beautifullest, shall I never think?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O thou couldst foster me beyond the brink", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of recollection! make my watchful care", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Close up its bloodshot eyes, nor see despair!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Do gently murder half my soul, and I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shall feel the other half so utterly!⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I’m giddy at that cheek so fair and smooth;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O let it blush so ever! let it soothe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My madness! let it mantle rosy-warm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With the tinge of love, panting in safe alarm.⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This cannot be thy hand, and yet it is;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And this is sure thine other softling⁠—this", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thine own fair bosom, and I am so near!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wilt fall asleep! O let me sip that tear!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And whisper one sweet word that I may know", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This is this world⁠—sweet dewy blossom!”⁠—Woe!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Woe! woe to that Endymion! Where is he?⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even these words went echoing dismally", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through the wide forest⁠—a most fearful tone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like one repenting in his latest moan;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And while it died away a shade pass’d by,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As of a thundercloud. When arrows fly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through the thick branches, poor ringdoves sleek forth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their timid necks and tremble; so these both", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leant to each other trembling, and sat so", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Waiting for some destruction⁠—when lo!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Foot-feather’d Mercury appear’d sublime", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beyond the tall tree tops; and in less time", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than shoots the slanted hail-storm, down he dropt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Towards the ground; but rested not, nor stopt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One moment from his home: only the sward", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He with his wand light touch’d, and heavenward", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Swifter than sight was gone⁠—even before", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The teeming earth a sudden witness bore", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of his swift magic. Diving swans appear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Above the crystal circlings white and clear;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And catch the cheated eye in wild surprise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How they can dive in sight and unseen rise⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So from the turf outsprang two steeds jet-black,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Each with large dark blue wings upon his back.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The youth of Caria placed the lovely dame", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On one, and felt himself in spleen to tame", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The other’s fierceness. Through the air they flew,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "High as the eagles. Like two drops of dew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Exhaled to Phœbus’ lips, away they are gone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Far from the earth away⁠—unseen, alone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among cool clouds and winds, but that the free,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The buoyant life of song can floating be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Above their heads, and follow them untired.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Muse of my native land, am I inspired?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This is the giddy air, and I must spread", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wide pinions to keep here; nor do I dread", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or height, or depth, or width, or any chance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Precipitous: I have beneath my glance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those towering horses and their mournful freight.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Could I thus sail, and see, and thus await", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fearless for power of thought, without thine aid?⁠—", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "There is a sleepy dusk, an odorous shade", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "From some approaching wonder, and behold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those winged steeds, with snorting nostrils bold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Snuff at its faint extreme, and seem to tire,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dying to embers from their native fire!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "There curl’d a purple mist around them; soon,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "It seem’d as when around the pale new moon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sad Zephyr droops the clouds like weeping willow:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Twas Sleep slow journeying with head on pillow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For the first time, since he came nigh dead-born", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the old womb of night, his cave forlorn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had he left more forlorn; for the first time,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He felt aloof the day and morning’s prime⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Because into his depth Cimmerian", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There came a dream, showing how a young man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ere a lean bat could plump its wintery skin,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would at high Jove’s empyreal footstool win", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An immortality, and how espouse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Jove’s daughter, and be reckon’d of his house.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now was he slumbering towards heaven’s gate,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That he might at the threshold one hour wait", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To hear the marriage melodies, and then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sink downward to his dusky cave again.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His litter of smooth semilucent mist,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Diversely tinged with rose and amethyst,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Puzzled those eyes that for the centre sought;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And scarcely for one moment could be caught", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His sluggish form reposing motionless.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those two on winged steeds, with all the stress", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of vision search’d for him, as one would look", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Athwart the sallows of a river nook", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To catch a glance at silver-throated eels,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or from old Skiddaw’s top, when fog conceals", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His rugged forehead in a mantle pale,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With an eye-guess towards some pleasant vale", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Descry a favourite hamlet faint and far.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "These raven horses, though they foster’d are", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Of earth’s splenetic fire, dully drop", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their full-vein’d ears, nostrils blood wide, and stop;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon the spiritless mist have they outspread", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their ample feathers, are in slumber dead,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And on those pinions, level in mid air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion sleepeth and the lady fair.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Slowly they sail, slowly as icy isle", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon a calm sea drifting: and meanwhile", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The mournful wanderer dreams. Behold! he walks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On heaven’s pavement; brotherly he talks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To divine powers: from his hand full fain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Juno’s proud birds are pecking pearly grain:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He tries the nerve of Phœbus’ golden bow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And asketh where the golden apples grow:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon his arm he braces Pallas’ shield,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And strives in vain to unsettle and to wield", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A Jovian thunderbolt: arch Hebe brings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A full-brimm’d goblet, dances lightly, sings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And tantalizes long; at last he drinks,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lost in pleasure, at her feet he sinks,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Touching with dazzled lips her starlight hand.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He blows a bugle,⁠—an ethereal band", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are visible above: the Seasons four,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Green-kirtled Spring, flush Summer, golden store", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Autumn’s sickle, Winter frosty hoar,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Join dance with shadowy Hours; while still the blast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In swells unmitigated, still doth last", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sway their floating morris. “Whose is this?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose bugle?” he inquires: they smile⁠—“O Dis!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why is this mortal here? Dost thou not know", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its mistress’ lips? Not thou?⁠—’Tis Dian’s: lo!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She rises crescented!” He looks, ’tis she,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His very goddess: good-bye earth, and sea,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And air, and pains, and care, and suffering;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Good-bye to all but love! Then doth he spring", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Towards her, and awakes⁠—and, strange, o’erhead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of those same fragrant exhalations bred,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beheld awake his very dream: the gods", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stood smiling; merry Hebe laughs and nods;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Phœbe bends towards him crescented.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O state perplexing! On the pinion bed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Too well awake, he feels the panting side", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of his delicious lady. He who died", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For soaring too audacious in the sun,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When that same treacherous wax began to run,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Felt not more tongue-tied than Endymion.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His heart leapt up as to its rightful throne,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To that fair-shadow’d passion pulsed its way⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ah, what perplexity! Ah, well a day!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So fond, so beauteous was his bed-fellow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He could not help but kiss her: then he grew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Awhile forgetful of all beauty save", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Young Phœbe’s, golden-hair’d; and so ’gan crave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forgiveness: yet he turn’d once more to look", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At the sweet sleeper,⁠—all his soul was shook,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She press’d his hand in slumber; so once more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He could not help but kiss her and adore.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At this the shadow wept, melting away.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Latmian started up: “Bright goddess, stay!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Search my most hidden breast! By truth’s own tongue,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I have no dædale heart; why is it wrung", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To desperation? Is there nought for me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon the bourne of bliss, but misery?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "These words awoke the stranger of dark tresses:", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Her dawning love-look rapt Endymion blesses", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With ’haviour soft. Sleep yawn’d from underneath.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Thou swan of Ganges, let us no more breathe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This murky phantasm! thou contented seem’st", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pillow’d in lovely idleness, nor dream’st", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What horrors may discomfort thee and me.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ah, shouldst thou die from my heart-treachery!⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet did she merely weep⁠—her gentle soul", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hath no revenge in it: as it is whole", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In tenderness, would I were whole in love!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Can I prize thee, fair maid, all price above,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even when I feel as true as innocence?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I do, I do.⁠—What is this soul then? Whence", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came it? It does not seem my own, and I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have no self-passion or identity.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some fearful end must be: where, where is it?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By Nemesis, I see my spirit flit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Alone about the dark⁠—Forgive me, sweet:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shall we away?” He roused the steeds; they beat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their wings chivalrous into the clear air,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leaving old Sleep within his vapoury lair.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The good-night blush of eve was waning slow,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "And Vesper, risen star, began to throe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In the dusk heavens silvery, when they", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thus sprang direct towards the Galaxy.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor did speed hinder converse soft and strange⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eternal oaths and vows they interchange,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In such wise, in such temper, so aloof", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Up in the winds, beneath a starry roof,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So witless of their doom, that verily", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Tis well nigh past man’s search their hearts to see⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whether they wept, or laugh’d or grieved or toy’d⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Most like with joy gone mad, with sorrow cloy’d.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Full facing their swift flight, from ebon streak,", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "The moon put forth a little diamond peak,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No bigger than an unobserved star,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On tiny point of fairy scimetar:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bright signal that she only stoop’d to tie", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her silver sandals, ere deliciously", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She bow’d into the heavens her timid head.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Slowly she rose, as though she would have fled,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While to his lady meek the Carian turn’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To mark if her dark eyes had yet discern’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This beauty in its birth⁠—Despair! despair!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He saw her body fading gaunt and spare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In the cold moonshine. Straight he seized her wrist;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It melted from his grasp; her hand he kiss’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, horror! kiss’d his own⁠—he was alone.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her steed a little higher soar’d and then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dropt hawk-wise to the earth.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "There lies a den,", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Beyond the seeming confines of the space", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made for the soul to wander in and trace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its own existence, of remotest glooms.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dark regions are around it, where the tombs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of buried griefs the spirit sees, but scarce", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One hour doth linger weeping, for the pierce", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of new-born woe it feels more inly smart:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in these regions many a venom’d dart", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At random flies; they are the proper home", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of every ill: the man is yet to come", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who hath not journey’d in this native hell.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But few have ever felt how calm and well", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sleep may be had in that deep den of all.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There anguish does not sting, nor pleasure pall;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Woe-hurricanes beat ever at the gate,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet all is still within and desolate.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beset with painful gusts, within ye hear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No sound so loud as when on curtain’d bier", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The death-watch tick is stifled. Enter none", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who strive therefor: on the sudden it is won.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Just when the sufferer begins to burn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then it is free to him; and from an urn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Still fed by melting ice, he takes a draught⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Young Semele such richness never quaff’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In her maternal longing. Happy gloom!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dark Paradise! where pale becomes the bloom", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of health by due; where silence dreariest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is most articulate; where hopes infest;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where those eyes are the brightest far that keep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their lids shut longest in a dreamless sleep.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O happy spirit-home! O wondrous soul!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pregnant with such a den to save the whole", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In thine own depth. Hail, gentle Carian!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For, never since thy griefs and woes began,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hast thou felt so content: a grievous feud", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hath led thee to this Cave of Quietude.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aye, his lull’d soul was there, although upborne,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With dangerous speed: and so he did not mourn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Because he knew not whither he was going.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So happy was he, not the aerial blowing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of trumpets at clear parley from the east", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Could rouse from that fine relish, that high feast.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They stung the feather’d horse; with fierce alarm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He flapp’d towards the sound. Alas, no charm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Could lift Endymion’s head, or he had view’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A skyey mask, a pinion’d multitude,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And silvery was its passing: voices sweet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Warbling the while as if to lull and greet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The wanderer in his path. Thus warbled they,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While past the vision went in bright array.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Who, who from Dian’s feast would be away?", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "For all the golden bowers of the day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are empty left? Who, who away would be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From Cynthia’s wedding and festivity?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not Hesperus: lo! upon his silver wings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He leans away for highest heaven and sings,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Snapping his lucid fingers merrily!⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ah, Zephyrus! art here, and Flora too!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ye tender bibbers of the rain and dew,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Young playmates of the rose and daffodil,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be careful, ere ye enter in, to fill", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your baskets high", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "With fennel green, and balm, and golden pines,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Savory, latter-mint, and columbines,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cool parsley, basil sweet, and sunny thyme;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yea, every flower and leaf of every clime,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All gather’d in the dewy morning: hie", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Away! fly, fly!⁠—", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Crystalline brother of the belt of heaven,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aquarius! to whom king Jove has given", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Two liquid pulse streams ’stead of feather’d wings,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Two fanlike fountains⁠—thine illuminings", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For Dian play:", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Dissolve the frozen purity of air;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let thy white shoulders silvery and bare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Show cold through watery pinions; make more bright", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Star-Queen’s crescent on her marriage night:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Haste, haste away!⁠—", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Castor has tamed the planet Lion, see!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And of the Bear has Pollux mastery:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A third is in the race! who is the third,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Speeding away swift as the eagle bird?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The ramping Centaur!", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "The Lion’s mane’s on end: the Bear how fierce!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Centaur’s arrow ready seems to pierce", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some enemy: far forth his bow is bent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the blue of heaven. He’ll be shent,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pale unrelentor,", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "When he shall hear the wedding lutes a-playing.⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Andromeda! sweet woman! why delaying", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So timidly among the stars: come hither!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Join this bright throng, and nimbly follow whither", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They all are going.", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Danae’s Son, before Jove newly bow’d,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Has wept for thee, calling to Jove aloud.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thee, gentle lady, did he disenthrall:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ye shall for ever live and love, for all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy tears are flowing.⁠—", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "By Daphne’s fright, behold Apollo!”⁠—", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "More", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Endymion heard not: down his steed him bore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Prone to the green head of a misty hill.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "His first touch of the earth went nigh to kill.", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "“Alas!” said he, “were I but always borne", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through dangerous winds, had but my footsteps worn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A path in hell, for ever would I bless", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Horrors which nourish an uneasiness", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For my own sullen conquering: to him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who lives beyond earth’s boundary, grief is dim,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sorrow is but a shadow: now I see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The grass; I feel the solid ground⁠—Ah, me!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It is thy voice⁠—divinest! Where?⁠—who? who", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Left thee so quiet on this bed of dew?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Behold upon this happy earth we are;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let us ay love each other; let us fare", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On forest-fruits, and never, never go", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the abodes of mortals here below,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or be by phantoms duped. O destiny!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into a labyrinth now my soul would fly,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But with thy beauty will I deaden it.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where didst thou melt to? By thee will I sit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For ever: let our fate stop here⁠—a kid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I on this spot will offer: Pan will bid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Us live in peace, in love and peace among", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His forest wildernesses. I have clung", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To nothing, loved a nothing, nothing seen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or felt but a great dream! Oh, I have been", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Presumptuous against love, against the sky,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Against all elements, against the tie", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of mortals each to each, against the blooms", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of flowers, rush of rivers, and the tombs", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of heroes gone! Against his proper glory", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Has my own soul conspired: so my story", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will I to children utter, and repent.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There never lived a mortal man, who bent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His appetite beyond his natural sphere,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But starved and died. My sweetest Indian, here,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Here will I kneel, for thou redeemed hast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My life from too thin breathing: gone and past", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are cloudy phantasms. Caverns lone, farewell!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And air of visions, and the monstrous swell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of visionary seas! No, never more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shall airy voices cheat me to the shore", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of tangled wonder, breathless and aghast.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Adieu, my daintiest Dream! although so vast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My love is still for thee. The hour may come", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When we shall meet in pure elysium.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On earth I may not love thee; and therefore", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Doves will I offer up, and sweetest store", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All through the teeming year: so thou wilt shine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On me, and on this damsel fair of mine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And bless our simple lives. My Indian bliss!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My river-lily bud! one human kiss!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One sigh of real breath⁠—one gentle squeeze,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Warm as a dove’s nest among summer trees,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And warm with dew at ooze from living blood!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whither didst melt? Ah, what of that!⁠—all good", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We’ll talk about⁠—no more of dreaming.⁠—Now,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where shall our dwelling be? Under the brow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of some steep mossy hill, where ivy dun", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would hide us up, although spring leaves were none;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And where dark yew trees, as we rustle through,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will drop their scarlet berry cups of dew?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O thou wouldst joy to live in such a place;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dusk for our loves, yet light enough to grace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those gentle limbs on mossy bed reclined:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For by one step the blue sky shouldst thou find,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And by another, in deep dell below,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "See, through the trees, a little river go", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All in its mid-day gold and glimmering.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Honey from out the gnarled hive I’ll bring,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And apples, wan with sweetness, gather thee,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cresses that grow where no man may them see,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sorrel untorn by the dew-claw’d stag:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pipes will I fashion of the syrinx flag,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That thou mayst always know whither I roam,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When it shall please thee in our quiet home", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To listen and think of love. Still let me speak;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Still let me dive into the joy I seek,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For yet the past doth prison me. The rill,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou haply mayst delight in, will I fill", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With fairy fishes from the mountain tarn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thou shalt feed them from the squirrel’s barn.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its bottom will I strew with amber shells,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And pebbles blue from deep enchanted wells.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Its sides I’ll plant with dew-sweet eglantine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And honeysuckles full of clear bee-wine.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I will entice this crystal rill to trace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Love’s silver name upon the meadow’s face.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I’ll kneel to Vesta, for a flame of fire;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And to god Phœbus, for a golden lyre;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Empress Dian, for a hunting-spear;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Vesper, for a taper silver-clear,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I may see thy beauty through the night;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Flora, and a nightingale shall light", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tame on thy finger; to the River-gods,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And they shall bring thee taper fishing-rods", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of gold, and lines of Naiads’ long bright tress.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Heaven shield thee for thine utter loveliness!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy mossy footstool shall the altar be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Fore which I’ll bend, bending, dear love, to thee:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those lips shall be my Delphos, and shall speak", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Laws to my footsteps, colour to my cheek,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Trembling or steadfastness to this same voice,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And of three sweetest pleasurings the choice:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And that affectionate light, those diamond things,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those eyes, those passions, those supreme pearl springs,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shall be my grief, or twinkle me to pleasure.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Say, is not bliss within our perfect seizure?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O that I could not doubt!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The mountaineer", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Thus strove by fancies vain and crude to clear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His brier’d path to some tranquillity.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It gave bright gladness to his lady’s eye,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet the tears she wept were tears of sorrow;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Answering thus, just as the golden morrow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beam’d upward from the valleys of the east:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O that the flutter of his heart had ceased,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or the sweet name of love had pass’d away.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Young feather’d tyrant! by a swift decay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wilt thou devote this body to the earth:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I do think that at my very birth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I lisp’d thy blooming titles inwardly;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For at the first, first dawn and thought of thee,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With uplift hands I blest the stars of heaven.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Art thou not cruel? Ever have I striven", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To think thee kind, but ah, it will not do!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When yet a child, I heard that kisses drew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Favour from thee, and so I gave and gave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To the void air, bidding them find out love:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But when I came to feel how far above", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All fancy, pride, and fickle maidenhood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All earthly pleasure, all imagined good,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was the warm tremble of a devout kiss,⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even then, that moment, at the thought of this,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fainting I fell into a bed of flowers,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And languish’d there three days. Ye milder powers,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Am I not cruelly wrong’d? Believe, believe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Me, dear Endymion, were I to weave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With my own fancies garlands of sweet life,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou shouldst be one of all. Ah, bitter strife!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I may not be thy love: I am forbidden⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Indeed I am⁠—thwarted, affrighted, chidden,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By things I tremble at, and gorgon wrath.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Twice hast thou ask’d whither I went: henceforth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ask me no more! I may not utter it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor may I be thy love. We might commit", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ourselves at once to vengeance; we might die;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We might embrace and die: voluptuous thought!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Enlarge not to my hunger, or I’m caught", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In trammels of perverse deliciousness.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No, no, that shall not be: thee will I bless,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And bid a long adieu.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "The Carian", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "No word return’d: both lovelorn, silent, wan,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the valleys green together went.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Far wandering, they were perforce content", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sit beneath a fair lone beechen tree;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor at each other gazed, but heavily", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pored on its hazel cirque of shedded leaves.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Endymion! unhappy! it nigh grieves", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "Me to behold thee thus in last extreme:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Enskied ere this, but truly that I deem", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Truth the best music in a first-born song.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy lute-voiced brother will I sing ere long,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thou shalt aid⁠—hast thou not aided me?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yes, moonlight Emperor! felicity", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Has been thy meed for many thousand years;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet often have I, on the brink of tears,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mourn’d as if yet thou wert a forester;⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Forgetting the old tale.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He did not stir", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "His eyes from the dead leaves, or one small pulse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of joy he might have felt. The spirit culls", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unfaded amaranth, when wild it strays", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through the old garden-ground of boyish days.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A little onward ran the very stream", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By which he took his first soft poppy dream;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And on the very bark ’gainst which he leant", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A crescent he had carved, and round it spent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His skill in little stars. The teeming tree", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had swollen and green’d the pious charactery.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But not ta’en out. Why, there was not a slope", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Up which he had not fear’d the antelope;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And not a tree, beneath whose rooty shade", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He had not with his tamed leopards play’d;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor could an arrow light, or javelin,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fly in the air where his had never been⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet he knew it not.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "O treachery!", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Why does his lady smile, pleasing her eye", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With all his sorrowing? He sees her not.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But who so stares on him? His sister sure!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Peona of the woods!⁠—Can she endure⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Impossible⁠—how dearly they embrace!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His lady smiles; delight is in her face;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It is no treachery.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Dear brother mine!", "indent": 3 }, { "text": "Endymion, weep not so! Why shouldst thou pine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When all great Latmos so exalt will be?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thank the great gods, and look not bitterly;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And speak not one pale word, and sigh no more.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sure I will not believe thou hast such store", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of grief, to last thee to my kiss again.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou surely canst not bear a mind in pain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Come hand in hand with one so beautiful.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be happy both of you! for I will pull", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The flowers of autumn for your coronals.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pan’s holy priest for young Endymion calls;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when he is restored, thou, fairest dame,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shalt be our queen. Now, is it not a shame", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To see ye thus,⁠—not very, very sad?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Perhaps ye are too happy to be glad:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O feel as if it were a common day;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Free-voiced as one who never was away.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No tongue shall ask, Whence come ye? but ye shall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be gods of your own rest imperial.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not even I, for one whole month, will pry", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into the hours that have pass’d us by,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Since in my arbour I did sing to thee.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O Hermes! on this very night will be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A hymning up to Cynthia, queen of light;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For the soothsayers old saw yesternight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Good visions in the air,⁠—whence will befall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As say these sages, health perpetual", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To shepherds and their flocks; and furthermore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Dian’s face they read the gentle lore:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Therefore for her these vesper-carols are.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Our friends will all be there from nigh and far.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Many upon thy death have ditties made;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And many, even now, their foreheads shade", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With cypress, on a day of sacrifice.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "New singing for our maids shalt thou devise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And pluck the sorrow from our huntsmen’s brows.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tell me, my lady-queen, how to espouse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This wayward brother to his rightful joys!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His eyes are on thee bent, as thou didst poise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His fate most goddess-like. Help me, I pray,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To lure⁠—Endymion, dear brother, say", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What ails thee?” He could bear no more, and so", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bent his soul fiercely like a spiritual bow,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And twang’d it inwardly, and calmly said:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“I would have thee my only friend, sweet maid!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My only visitor! not ignorant though,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That those deceptions which for pleasure go", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "’Mong men, are pleasures real as real may be;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But there are higher ones I may not see,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If impiously an earthly realm I take,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Since I saw thee, I have been wide awake", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Night after night, and day by day, until", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of the empyrean I have drunk my fill.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let it content thee. Sister, seeing me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More happy than betides mortality.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A hermit young, I’ll live in mossy cave,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where thou alone shalt come to me, and lave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy spirit in the wonders I shall tell.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through me the shepherd realm shall prosper well;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For to thy tongue will I all health confide.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, for my sake, let this young maid abide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With thee as a dear sister. Thou alone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Peona, mayst return to me. I own", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This may sound strangely: but when, dearest girl,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou seest it for my happiness, no pearl", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will trespass down those cheeks. Companion fair!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wilt be content to dwell with her, to share", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This sister’s love with me?” Like one resign’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And bent by circumstance, and thereby blind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In self-commitment, thus that meek unknown:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Aye, but a buzzing by my ears has flown,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of jubilee to Dian:⁠—truth I heard!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Well then, I see there is no little bird,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tender soever, but is Jove’s own care.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Long have I sought for rest, and, unaware,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Behold I find it! so exalted too!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So after my own heart! I knew, I knew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There was a place untenanted in it;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In that same void white Chastity shall sit,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And monitor me nightly to lone slumber.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With sanest lips I vow me to the number", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Dian’s sisterhood; and, kind lady,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With thy good help, this very night shall see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My future days to her fane consecrate.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "As feels a dreamer what doth most create", "indent": 1 }, { "text": "His own particular fright, so these three felt:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or like one who, in after ages, knelt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Lucifer or Baal, when he’d pine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "After a little sleep: or when in mine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Far under-ground, a sleeper meets his friends", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who know him not. Each diligently bends", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Towards common thoughts and things for very fear;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Striving their ghastly malady to cheer,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By thinking it a thing of yes and no,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That housewives talk of. But the spirit-blow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was struck, and all were dreamers. At the last", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion said: “Are not our fates all cast?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why stand we here? Adieu, ye tender pair!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Adieu!” Whereat those maidens, with wild stare,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Walk’d dizzily away. Pained and hot", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His eyes went after them, until they got", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Near to a cypress grove, whose deadly maw,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In one swift moment, would what then he saw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Engulf for ever. “Stay,” he cried, “ah, stay!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Turn, damsels! hist! one word I have to say:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sweet Indian, I would see thee once again.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It is a thing I dote on: so I’d fain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Peona, ye should hand in hand repair,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Into those holy groves that silent are", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Behind great Dian’s temple. I’ll be yon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At Vesper’s earliest twinkle⁠—they are gone⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But once, once, once again⁠—” At this he press’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His hands against his face, and then did rest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His head upon a mossy hillock green,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so remain’d as he a corpse had been", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All the long day; save when he scantly lifted", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His eyes abroad, to see how shadows shifted", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With the slow move of time,⁠—sluggish and weary", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until the poplar tops, in journey dreary,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had reach’d the river’s brim. Then up he rose,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, slowly as that very river flows,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Walk’d towards the temple grove with this lament:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Why such a golden eve? The breeze is sent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Careful and soft, that not a leaf may fall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before the serene father of them all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bows down his summer head below the west.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now am I of breath, speech, and speed possest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But at the setting I must bid adieu", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To her for the last time. Night will strew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On the damp grass myriads of lingering leaves,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And with them shall I die; nor much it grieves", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To die, when summer dies on the cold sward.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why, I have been a butterfly, a lord", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of flowers, garlands, love-knots, silly posies.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Groves, meadows, melodies, and arbour-roses;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My kingdom’s at its death, and just it is", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I should die with it: so in all this", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We miscall grief, bale, sorrow, heart-break, woe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where is there to plain of? By Titan’s foe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I am but rightly served.” So saying, he", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tripp’d lightly on, in sort of deathful glee;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Laughing at the clear stream and setting sun,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As though they jests had been: nor had he done", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His laugh at nature’s holy countenance,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until that grove appear’d, as if perchance,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then his tongue with sober seemlihed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gave utterance as he enter’d: “Ha!” I said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“King of the butterflies; but by this gloom,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And by old Rhadamanthus’ tongue of doom.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This dusk religion, pomp of solitude,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the Promethean clay by thief endued,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By old Saturnus’ forelock, by his head", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shook with eternal palsy, I did wed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Myself to things of light from infancy;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thus to be cast out, thus lorn to die,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is sure enough to make a mortal man", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Grow impious.” So he inwardly began", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On things for which no wording can be found;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Deeper and deeper sinking, until drown’d", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beyond the reach of music: for the choir", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Cynthia he heard not, though rough brier", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor muffling thicket interposed to dull", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The vesper hymn, far swollen, soft and full,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through the dark pillars of those sylvan aisles.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He saw not the two maidens, nor their smiles,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wan as primroses gather’d at midnight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By chilly-finger’d spring. “Unhappy wight!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Endymion!” said Peona, “we are here!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What wouldst thou ere we all are laid on bier?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then he embraced her, and his lady’s hand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Press’d, saying: “Sister, I would have command,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If it were heaven’s will, on our sad fate.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At which that dark-eyed stranger stood elate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And said, in a new voice, but sweet as love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Endymion’s amaze: “By Cupid’s dove,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so thou shalt! and by the lily truth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of my own breast thou shalt, beloved youth!”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And as she spake, into her face there came", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Light, as reflected from a silver flame:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her long black hair swell’d ampler, in display", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Full golden; in her eyes a brighter day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dawn’d blue, and full of love. Aye, he beheld", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Phœbe, his passion! joyous she upheld", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her lucid bow, continuing thus: “Drear, drear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Has our delaying been; but foolish fear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Withheld me first; and then decrees of fate;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then ’twas fit that from this mortal state", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thou shouldst, my love, by some unlook’d-for change", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be spiritualized. Peona, we shall range", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These forests, and to thee they safe shall be", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As was thy cradle; hither shalt thou flee", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To meet us many a time.” Next Cynthia bright", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Peona kiss’d, and bless’d with fair good night:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her brother kiss’d her too, and knelt adown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before his goddess, in a blissful swoon.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She gave her fair hands to him, and behold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before three swiftest kisses he had told,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They vanish’d far away!⁠—Peona went", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Home through the gloomy wood in wonderment.", "indent": 0 } ] ] }