Then,ontheunanticipatedday,Earthheaved,androseaveinousmoundToroaroftheunderfloods;andoffitsprang,Rashingasredwineinwoman’sform,AsplendidMaenad,sheofthedeliriouslaugh,Herbodytwistedflameswiththesmoke-capcrowned;
SheoftheBacchicfoot;thechallengertothefray,Bewitchmentfortheembrace;whosang,whosangIntocationtoherswarm,Revolvedthem,hair,voice,feet,inhercarmagnole,AswithastrokeshesnappedtheRoyalstaff,DealttheawaitedblowongiltdecayOripenessofthetime!ORetributionsure,Ifbutourtallampillumeustoendure!
And,likeagladreleasingofhersoul,SentthewordLibertyuptomeetthemidwayblue,Herbridegroomindescenttoher;andtheyjoined,Inthefaceofmentheyjoined:attestittrue,Themillionwitnesses,thatshe,Forageslyingbesidethemole,WasontheunanticipatedmiracledayUpraisedtomidwayheavenand,astohergoal,Enfolded,eretheImmaculateknewWhatLuciferoftheMinthadcoinedHisbride’sadulteratecurrencyOfburninglovecorruptofaninfuriatehate;
Sheworthy,sheunworthy;thatonedayhismate:
Hismateforthatonedayoftheunwrittendeed。
Readbackwardonthehoar-frost’sbrilliantcrust;
Beneathitread。
Athirsttokiss,athirsttoslay,shestood,Aradiancefringedwithgrimaffright;
Forthemthathungered,shewasnourishingfood,Forthosewhosparkled,Night。
Readinherheart,andhowbeforetheJustHerdoings,hermisdoings,plead。
DownonherleapforhimtheyoungAngelicalbrokeTohusbandaresurgentFrance:
Fromwhom,withherdethroningstroke,Dishonourpassed;thedalliance,Thatisoccasion’syeaornay,Inissuesforthesoultopay,Discarded;andthecleft’twtdeedandword,Thesinuousliewhichwarblesthesweetbird,WhereinweseeoldDarknesspeer,ColdDissolutionbeck,shehadflunghence;
Andhencethetalonsandthebeakofprey;
HenceallthelurestosilkenswineThrongingthetroughsofindolence;
Witheverysleekconvolvementserpentine;
Theprideinelfinartstoveilanelleer,Andbidagoatfoottripitlikeafay。
Heclaspedinthisreved,uprisenFrance,Avalorousdame,ofcountenanceThelightning’suponcloud:unlitasyetOnbrowsandlipstheluridshineOfseasinthenight-wind’swhirl;unstirredHerpouchofthecenturies’injuriescompressed;
Theshriekthattoretheworldasyetunheard:
Earth’sanimatefullflowershelooked,intenseForworship,whollygenhim,fairAdoringordesiring;inherbrightjet,Earth’scrystalspringtosky:Earth’swarriorBestTowinHeaven’sPureupthatmidwayWesionfornewground,wheresenseAndspiritareoneforthefurtherflight;breast-bare,Bare-limbed;norgracelessgleamedherdisarrayInscornoftheseducteinsincere,ButmartiallynudeforhotBellona’splay,Andamorousoftheloftiestinherew。
Shesprangfromdusttodrinkofearth’scooldew,Thebreathofswayinggrassesshare,Mankindembrace,theirweaklingsrear,Atwrestlewiththetyrannicstrong;
Herforeheadcleartohermate,rginanew,Asimmortalsmaybeinthemortalsphere。
Readthroughherlaunchingheart,whohadlainlongWithEarthandheardtillitbecameherownOurgoodGreatMother’seveandmatinsong:
ThehummingburdenofEarth’stoiltofeedHercreaturesall,hertasktospeedtheirgrowth,Heraimtoleadthemupherpathways,shownBetweenthePainsandPleasures;warnedofboth,Ofeitheraidedontheirhardascent。
Nowwhenshelooked,withlove’sbenigndelightAftergreatecstasy,alongtheplains,WhatfoulestimpregnationofhersightTransformedthescenetomultitudinoustroopsOfhumansketches,quaver-figures,bent,Asweretheywintersedges,brokenhoops,Dryudder,nelesspoles,worm-eatenposts,Withfeaturesliketheflowersdefacedbydelugerains?
ReckedshethatsomepervertingdelhadlimnedEarth’sproudesttospoutscornoftheMaker’shand,Whocouldadaybeholdthesedeathlyhosts,Andsee,decked,graced,anddelicatelytrimmed,Aribandedandgemmedelectedfew,Sanctioned,ofmilkandhoneystarvetheland:-
Likemelodyinflesh,itspleasantgameOlympianwiseperform,cloakbuttheshame:
Beautifulstatures;hideous,ByChristiancontrast;prankedwithgoldenchains,Andflelewhereismanhoodstraight;
MortuarieswherewarmshouldbeatThebrotherhoodthatkeepsbloodsweet:
WhodaredincantiqueimpiousProclaimtheJust,towhomwasdueCathedralgratitudeinthepompofstate,ForthatonthoseleanoutcastshungthesuckerPains,OntheseelecttheswellingPleasuresgrew。
Surelyadel’slandwhenthatmeantdeathforeach!
FreshfromthebreastofEarth,notthus,Withallthebody’slifetoplumptheleech,IsNature’sway,sheknew。TheabominablesceneSpatattheskies;andthroughherveins,Tocloudcelestiallysown,RanvenomofwhatnourishmentHerdarksustainersubterreneSuppliedher,stretchedsupineontherack,Aleintheshrewdnerves,theseethingbrains,Underderiserevels,proneAsoneclampedfast,withtheinterminablesenselessblent。
Nowwasherfacewhitewavesinthetempest’ssharpflame-blink;
Herskiesshotblack。
NowwasitsionedinfamytodrinkOfearth’scooldew,andthroughthenesFrolicinpearlylaughterwithheryoung,Watchingthehealthful,natural,happysignsWherehandsofladsandmaidsliketendrilsclung,Aftertheirslyshyventuresfromtheleaf,Andpromisedbunches。NowitseemedTheworldwasonemalariousmire,Cryingforpurification:chiefThislandofFrance。ItseemedAduteousdesireTodrinkoflife’shotflood,andthecrimsonstreamed。
Shedrankwhatmakesmandemonatthedraught。
Herskiesloweredblack,Herloverflew,Theresweptashudderovermen。
Herheavenlyloverfledher,andshelaughed,Forlaughterwasherspirit’sweaponthen。
TheInfernalroseuncalled,hewithhiscrew。
Asmightythewsburstmanacles,shewentmad:
Herheartaflaringtorchusurpedherwits。
Suchenemiesofhernext-drawnbreathshehad!
TotreadherdowninherlegravebeneathTheirdancingfloorsunnedblindbytheRoyalwreath,Theyringedherstepswithcraftyprisonpits。
Withouttheygirdledher,madenestwithin。
Thererampedthelion,hereentrailedthesnake。
Theyforcedthecuptoherlipswhenshedrankblood;
Beliengit,inthemother’smindatstrain,Inthemother’sfears,andinyoungLiberty’swailAlarmed,forherencompassedchildren’ssake,Thesolesurewaytosaveherpricelessbud。
Wherewith,whenpowerhadgiftedhertoprevail,Vengeanceappearedaslogicallyakin。
Insanelyrationalthey;sherationallyinsane;
Andincomputeofsin,washerstheappealingsin。
AmidtheplashofscarletmudStainedatthemouth,drunkwithourcommonair,Notlackoflovewasherdefect;
TheFurymournedandragedandbledforFranceBreathingfromexultationtodespairAteverywild-wingedhopestruckbymischanceSoaringateachfaintgleamo’erherabyss。
Heardstill,tobeheardwhileFranceshallstanderect,Thefrontiermarchshepipedhersons,forwhereHercrouchingouterenemycamped,Attendantonthedeadlierinner’shiss。
Shepipedhersonsthefrontiermarch,thewineOfmartialmusic,History’scherishedtune;
Andthey,thesaintliestlabourersthatayeDroppedsweatonsoilforbread,tookarmsandtramped;
High-breastedtomatchmenorelements,OrFortune,harshschoolmistresswiththeundrilled:
War’sraggedpupils;manyawaveringline,Tornfromthedearfatsoilofchampaignshopefullytilled,Tornfromthemotherlybowl,thehomelyspoon,Tojestatfamine,plyThenovelscythe,andstandtoitonthefield;
Lieinthefurrows,rain-cloudsfortheirtents;
Frontingtheredartillerystraightenspine;
Bucklethesheratsightofcomradesstrewn;
Overanemptyplatteraffectthemerrilyfilled;
Die,ifthemultiplehazardsaroundsaiddie;
Downwardmeasureafoemanmightilysized;
Laughatthelegsthatwouldrunforalifedespised;
Lyricalonintodeath’sredroaringjaw-gape,steeledGailytotakeofthefoehislesson,andgereply。
Cheerfulapprentices,theyshallbemasterssoon!
X
Lo,wherehurricaneflocksoftheNorth-windrattletheirthunderLoudthroughanight,andatdawncomeschangetothegreatSouth-
west,Houndsarethehoundedinclouds,waves,forests,invertedtherace:
Lo,intheday’syoungbeamsthecolossalinvadingpursuersBurstuponrocksandwerefoam;
Ridgedupatorrentcrest;
Crumbledtoruin,stillgazingaglacialwonder;
Turnedshamedfeettoetoheelontheirtrackatapanicpace。
Yesterday’sclarioncockscuddedhenoftheinvalidcomb;
They,thetriumphanttonanttoweringupper,wereunder;
They,olatorsofhome,daredhopeaninolatehome;
Theythathadstoodforthestrokewerethegoroushewers;
Quickasthetrickofthewristwiththerapier,theythepursuers。
Heavensandmenamazedheardthearrogantcryingforgrace;
Sawtheoncehearth-reekrabblethescourgeofanarmydispieced;
SawsuchashiftofthehuntaswhenTitanOlympusclomb。
Fly!wasthesportsman’sword;andthenoteofthequarryrang,Chase!
BannersfromSouth,fromEast,Sheavesofpalebannersdroopingholeandshred;
Thecaptebridesofvalour,SabineWesPluckedfromthefoeman’sblushfulbed,Forgloriousmutedbattle-tonguesOfdeedsalongthehorizon’sred,Atcostofunreluctantles;
Hertoilfulheroeshomewardpoured,Togetheirfeveredmotherairofthelungs。
Shebreathed,andinthebreathingcraved。
Enronedasshewas,atbay,Safetyshekissedonherdrawnsword,Andwavedforctory,forfreshctorywaved:
Shecravedforctoryasherdailybread;
Forctoryasherdailybanquetraved。
NowhadherglutofvengeancelefthergreyOfblood,whoinherentrailsfiercelytoreToclutchandsqueezehersnakes;herselfthemoreDetalizing:redwasherAuroralray;
Desiredifbuttopaintherpallidhue。
Thepassionforthatyounghorizonred,Whichdoweredherwiththeflags,theblazingfame,Likedotageofthepast-meridiandameForsomebrightSungodadolescent,swelledInsatiate,tothevoraciousgrew,Theglutton’sinwardravenersbred;
Tillshe,mankind’smostdreaded,mostabhorred,WitlessinherdemandsonFortune,asked,AsbytheweangFatesimpelled,Tohavethethingmostloathed,theironlord,Controllerandchastiser,underctorymasked。
BannersfromEast,fromSouth,Shehuggedhiminthem,fearedthescourgetheymeant,Yetblindlyhugged,andhungeringbuilthisthrone。
Somayyouseethellageinnocent,Withcurtseyofshutlidsandopenmouth,Inacttobegforsweetsexpectaloathlystone:
SeefurthermoretheJustinhismeasuresweighHersufferingsandhersins,dispensehermeed。
Falsetoherbridegroomlordofthemiracleday,Shefell:fromhisetherealhomeobservedThroughlove,grownalienlove,notmovedtopleadAgainsttheseason’sfruitfordeadlySeed,Butmarkinghowshehadaimed,andwheresheswerved,Whysuffered,withasadconsentingthought。
Norwouldheshunhersullenlook,normonstrousholdThedoerofthemonstrous;shearoused,She,thelongtortured,suddenlyfreed,distraught,MorestronglythedineinhimthanwhenJoyofherasshesprangfrommouldDrewhimthemidwayheavensadownToclaspherinhisarmsespousedBeforethesightofwonderingmen,Andputuponthedayadeathlesscrown。
Theveinsandarteriesofher,foldinfold,Hisalienlovelaidopen,todideThemartyredcreaturefromhercrimes;heknewWhatcowardiceinhervalourcouldreside;