Shortthetriumph,briefhisrapture:seeahurricanesuddenlyBeattheliftingbillowcrestless,rollitbrokenthiswayandthat;
Attheleaponyieldingether,indespiteofhisreprimand,Swayedtumultuousthefire-steeds,plungingrecklesshitherandyon;
Untomenagreatamazement,allagazeattheTroubledEast:-
Pitifullyformasterystringinascension,thecharioteer,Reminiscent,driftsofcounselcaughtconfusedinhisaridwits;
Thereinsstiffahindhisshouldermadlypulledforthemastery,Tillathunderoffthetensechordsthro’hisearsdinnedhorrible。
Panicseizedhim:fledhissionofinolability;
Fledthedreamthatheofmortalsrodemischancespredominant;
Andhecried,’HadIpetitionedforacupofchillaconite,MydescenttoawfulHadeshadbeensoft,fornowmustIgoWiththecursebyfatherZeuscastonambitionimmoderate。
Oh,mysisters!Thou,myGoddess,inwhoseloveIwasenable,FromwhosearmsIrushedbefrenzied,whatawreckwillthisbodybe,Thatadmiredoftheestoodrose-warminthecourtswherethymysteriesCelebrationhadfromme,methemostsplendidlyprileged!
NevermoreshallIthytemplefillwithincensesbewildering;
Notagainhearthyhalf-murmurs——Iamlost!——never,nevermore。
Iamwreckedonseasofair,hurledtomydeathinavesselofflame!
Hither,sisters!Father,saveme!Hither,succourme,Cypria!’
NowawailofmentoZeusrang:fromOlympustheThundererSawtherageofthehavocwide-mouthed,thebrightcarsuperimpendingOverAsia,Africa,lowdown;ruinflamingoverthevales;
Lightdisastrousrisingsavageoutofsmokeinveterately;
Beast-black,conflagrationlikeamenacingshadowmoveWithvoraciousroaringsouthward,whereaslant,insufferable,Thebrightsteedscareeredtheirparchedwaydownanarcofthefirmament。
Forthedaygrewliketothicknight,andtheorbwasitsbeacon-
fire,Andfromhilltohillofdarknessbursttheday’sapparitionforth。
Lo,awrestler,notaGod,stoodinthecharioteverlowering:
Lo,theshapeofonewhoracedtheretooutstripthelegitimatehours:
Lo,therash’dbeamsofPhoebusdraggedinshameatthechariot-
wheels:
Lightofdaysofhappypipingsbythemead-singingrulets!
Lo,lo,increasinglustre,torridbreathtothenostrils;lo,Torridbrillianciesthro’thevapourslightenswifter,penetratethem,Fastenmerciless,ruminant,hueless,onearth’sframecracklingbusily。
Healoft,thefrenzieddrer,intheglowoftheunerse,Likethepalingofthedawn-starwitherssibly,healoft:
Bitterfuryinhisaspect,bitterdeathintheheartofhim。
Crouchtheherds,contractthereptiles,crouchthelionsundertheirpaws。
Whiteasmetalinthefurnacearethefacesofhuman-kind:
Inarticulatecreaturesofearthdumballawaittheultimateshock。
Tothebolthelaunched,’Strikedead,thou,’utteredZeus,veryterrible;
’Perishfolly,else’tisman’sfate’;andtheboltflewunerringly。
Thenthekindlerstooped;fromthetorch-cardownthemeasurelessaltitudesLeanedhisraylesshead,relinquishedreinandfooting,raisednotacry。
Liketheflowerontherer’ssurfacewhenexpandingitvanishes,Gavehislimbstorightandleft,quenched:andsofellheprecipitate,Seenofmenasagladrain-fall,sendingcoolnessyetereitcomes:
Soheshoweredabovethem,shadowedo’erthebluearchipelagoes,O’erthesilken-shiningpasturesofthecontinentsandtheisles;
Sodescendingbroughtrevaltothegreeneryofourearth。
Lither,noisyinthebreezesnowhissisterssheringweep,BythererflowingsmoothouttothevexedseaofAdria,Wherehefell,andwheretheysufferedsuddenchangetothetremulousEver-wailfultreesbemoaninghim,abruisedpurplecyclamen。
Flowersofthewillow-herbarewool;
Flowersofthebriarberriesred;
Speedingtheirseedasthebreezemayrule,Flowersofthethistleloosenthethread。
Flowersoftheclematisdripinbeard,Slackfromthefir-treeyounglyclimbed;
Chapletsinair,fliesfoliageseared;
Heeleduponearth,lieclustersrimed。
WherewereskiesofthemantlestainedOrangeandscarlet,acoatoffriezeTravelsfromNorthtilldayhaswaned,Tattered,soakedintheditch’sdyes;
Tumblestherookundergreyorslate;
Elseenfoldingus,dampstothebone;
Narrowstheworldtomyneighbour’sgate;
PaintsmeLifeasawheezycrone。
Nowseemsnonebutthespiderlord;
Starincirclehiswebwaitsprey,Silveringbush-mounds,bluebrushingsward;
Slowrunsthehour,swiftflitstheray。
Nowtohisthread-shroudishenigh,Nightothetanglewherewingsaresealed,Hewhofrolickedthejewelledfly;
Allisadrooponthedownandtheweald。
Mistsmoreloneforthesheep-bellenwrapNightsthattardilyletslipamornPalerthanmoons,andonnoontide’slapFlamediescold,liketheroselateborn。
Rosebornlate,bornwitheredinbud!-
I,evenI,forazenithofsunCry,tofulfilme,nourishmyblood:
Oforadayofthelonglight,one!
V
Mastertheblood,norreadbychills,Earthadmonishes:Hastthouploughed,Sown,reaped,harvestedgrainforthemills,Thouhastthelightovershadowofcloud。
Steadilyeyeing,beforethatwailAnimal-infant,thymindbegan,Momentlynearerme:shouldsightfail,Plodinthetrackofthehusbandman。
Verilynowisourseasonofseed,NowinourAutumn;andEarthdiscernsThemthathaveservedherinthemthatcanread,Glassing,whereunderthesurfacesheburns,Quickatherwheel,whilethefuel,decay,Brightensthefireofrenewal:andwe?
Deathisthewordofaboneday,KnowyouthebreastofthespringingTo-be。
BurstsfromarendingEastinflawsTheyounggreenleaflet’sharrier,swornTostrewthegarden,striptheshaws,AndshowourSpringwithbannertorn。
Waseversuchragomorn?
Thewindhasteeth,thewindhasclaws。
Allthewind’swolvesthroughwoodsareloose,Thewildwind’sfalconryaloft。
Shrillunderfootthegrassbladeshrews,Atgallop,clumped,anddownthecroftBestridbyshadows,beaten,tossed;
Itseemsascythe,itseemsarod。
Thehowlisupatthehowl’saccost;
Theshersgreetandtheshersnod。
Isthelandship?wearerolled,wedreTritonly,cleanghissandhum;
Whirlwiththedead,ormountorde,Ordownindregs,oroninscum。
Anddrumsthedistant,pipesthenear,Andvaleandhillaregreyingrey,Aswhenthesurgeiscrumblingsheer,Andsea-mewswingthehazeofspray。
Clouds——aretheybonywitches?——swarms,Dartingswiftontherobber’sflight,Hurryaninfantskyinarms:
Itpeeps,itbecks;’tisday,’tisnight。
BlackwhileovertheloopofblueTheswatheisclosed,likeshroudoncorse。
Lo,asifswifttheFuriesflew,TheFatesatheelatacrytohorse!
Interpretmethesavagewhirr:
AndisitNaturescourged,orshe,Heroffspring’sexecutioner,Reducinglandtobarrensea?
ButistheremeaninginadayWhenthisfierceangeloftheair,Intenttothrow,andhaplyslay,Canforwhatbreathoflifewebear,Exactthewrestle?——CalltomindThemanymeaningsglisteningupWhenNaturetohernurslingskind,Handsthemthefruitageandthecup!
AndseekwerichsignificanceNototherwherethanwiththosetidesOfpleasureonthesunnedexpanse,Whoseflowdeludes,whoseebbderides?
LookinthefaceofmenwhofareLock-mouthed,amatchinlungsandthewsForthisfierceangeloftheair,Totwistwithhimandtakehisbruise。
ThatisthefacebelovedofoldOfEarth,youngmotherofherbrood:
NorbrokenforusshowsthemouldWhenmuscleisinmindrenewed:
Thoughfartherfromhernaturerude,Yetnearertoherspirit’shold:
Andthoughofgentlermoodserene,Stillforcefulofherfountain-jet。
Soshallherblowsbeshrewdlymet,BeluminouslyreadthesceneWhereLifeisathergrindstoneset,Thatshemaygeusedgeingkeen,Stringusforbattle,tillasplayThecommonstrokesoffortuneshower。
Suchmeaninginadagger-dayOurwitsmayclasptowaxinpower。
Yea,feeluswarmeratherbreast,Byspinofbloodinlustydrill,Thanwhenherhoneyedhandscaressed,AndPleasure,sapping,seemedtofill。
Beholdthelifeatease;itdrifts。
Thesharpenedlifecommandsitscourse。
Shewinnows,winnowsroughly;sifts,Todipherchoseninhersource:
Contentionisthetalforce,Whenceplucktheybrain,herprizeofgifts,Skyofthesenses!onwhichheight,Notdisconnected,yetreleased,Theyseehowspiritcomestolight,Throughconquestoftheinnerbeast,WhichMeasuretamestomovementsane,Inharmonywithwhatisfair。
NeverisEarthmisreadbybrain:
Thatisthewellingofher,thereThemirror:withonestepbeyond,Forlikewiseisitvoice;andmore,Benignestkinshipbidsrespond,Whenwailtheweak,andthemrestoreWhomdaysasfellasthismayre,WhileEarthsitseboninhergloom,UsatomiesoflifealeUnheeding,bentonlifetocome。
Herchildrenofthelabouringbrain,Thesearethechampionsoftherace,Trueparents,andthesolehumane,Withunderstandingfortheirbase。
Earthyieldsthemilk,butallhermindIsvowedtothreshforstouterstock。
Herpassionforoldgiantkind,Thatscaledthemount,uphurledtherock,DevolvesonthemwhoreadarightHermeaninganddevoutlyserve;
NorinherstarlessnessofnightPeruseherwiththecravennerve:
Butevenasshefromgrasstocorn,Toeaglehighfromgrubbingmole,Proveinstrongbrainhernoblestborn,Thestationfortheflightofsoul。
Dayofthecloudinfleets!OdayOfweddedwhiteandblue,thatsailImmingled,withafootingrayInshadow-sandalsdownourvale!-
Andswifttorashgoldenmeads,Swiftuptherunofturfitspeeds,Thybrightofheadanddarkofheel,Towherethehilltopflingsonsky,Ashawkfromwristordustfromwheel,Thetiptoesealerstossedtofly:-
Theethelastthunder’scavernedpealDeleredfromawailfulnight:
Allduskyroundthycradledlight,Thosebrine-bornissues,nowinbloomTransfigured,wreathedasraven’splumeAndbriony-leaftowatchtheelie:
Darkeyebrowso’eradreamfuleyeNighopening:tillinthebraidOfpurpledvapoursthouwertrosed:
TillthatnewbabeaGoddessmaidAppearedanddlydisclosedHerbeatoflife:thencrimsonplayedOnedgesoftheplumeandleaf:
Shapehadtheyandfairfeaturebrief,Thewings,thesmiles:theyflewthebreast,Earth’smilk。ButwhatimperialmarchTheirstandardsledforearth,noneguessedEreupwardofacolouredarch,AnarrowstrainingeagerheadLightened,andhighforzenithsped。
Fierierfollowed;followedFire。
NametheyounglordofEarth’sdesire,Whoselookherwineis,andwhosemouthHermusic!BeauteouswassheseenBeneathhermidwayWestofSouth;
AndsisterwasherqueredgreenTosapphireoftheNereideyesOnseawhensunisbreeze;shewinkedAsthey,andwaved,heavedwaterwiseHerfloodofleavesandgrasseslinked:
AmyriadlustrousbutterfliesAmomentintheflutteringsheen;
BecappedwiththeslateairthatthrowsThereindeer’santlersblackbetweenLow-frowningandwide-fallensnows,Aminuteafter;hooded,stoledTosuitagravesideSeason’sdirge。
Lo,butthebreakingofasurge,Andsheisinherlover’sfold,Illuminedo’eraboundlessrangeAnew:andthroughquickmorninghoursTheTropic-ArcticcounterchargeDidseemtopantinbeamsandshowers。
Butnoonbeheldalargerheaven;
BeheldonourreflectingfieldTheSowertotheBearergen,Andboththeirinnersweetestyield,FreshaswhendewsweregreyorfirstReceedtheflushofhuesathirst。
Heardwethewoodland,eyeingsun,Asharpandharperweretheyone。
Amurkycloudafairpursued,Assailed,andfeltthelimbselude:
Hesathimdowntopipehiswoe,Andsomestrangebeastofskybecame:
Agiant’sclubwithheldtheblow;
Amilkycloudwentalltoflame。