Theninthattimeofgeneralcherishment,Sweetbreathingbalmandflutesbycoolwood-side,Hetheharshrouserofirebeingabsent,caged,ThendidgoodGaea’schildrengratefullyLifthymnstoGodstheyjudged,butpraisedforpeace,DelightfulPeace,thatanswersReason’scallHarmoniouslyandimagesherLaw;
Reflects,andthoughshort-ledasthen,reves,InmemoriesmadepresentonthebrainBynaturalyearnings,allthehappyscenes;
Thepictureofanearthalliedtoheaven;
Betweenthemtheknownsmilebehindblackmasks;
Rightlytheirvariousmoodsinterpreted;
AndfrolicbecausetoilfulchildrenborneWithlargercomprehensionofEarth’saimAtloftier,clearer,sweeter,bytheiraid。
AwakesformeandleapsfromshroudAllradiantlythemoon’sownnightOffoldedshowersinstreamercloud;
OurshadowsdownthehighwaywhiteOrdeepinwoodlandwoven-boughed,Withyonandyonastemalight。
IseemarauderrunagatesAcrossusshoottheirduskywink;
IheartheparliamentofchatsInhawsbesidetherer’sbrink;
Anddropsthevoleoffalder-banks,Topushhisarrowthroughthestream。
ThesebusypeoplehadourthanksForticklingsightandsound,butthemeTheywerenotmorethanbreathwedrewDelightedwithourworld’sembrace:
Themoss-rootsmellwherebeechesgrew,Andwateredgrassinbreezyspace;
Thesilkenheights,ofghostlybloomAmongtheirfolds,bydistancedraped。
’TwasYouth,rapacioustoconsume,Thatcriedtohaveitschaosshaped:
Absorbing,littlenoting,stillEnriched,andthinkingitbestowed;
WithwistfullooksoneachfarhillForsomethinghidden,somethingowed。
Untohismantledsister,DayHadgenthesecretthingswesoughtAndshewasgraveandsaintlygay;
Attimesshefluttered,spokeherthought;
Sheflewonit,thenfoldedwings,Inmeditationpassinglone,Tobreathearoundthesecretthings,Whichhavenoword,andyetareknown;
Ofthirstforthemareknown,asairIshealthinblood:wegainedenoughBythistofeelithonestfare;
Impalpable,notbarren,stuff。
AprideoflegsinmotionkeptOurspiritstotheirtaskmeanwhile,Andwhatwasdeepestdreamingslept:
Thepoststhatnamedtheswallowedmile;
BesidethestraightcanalthehutAbandoned;neartherer’ssourceItsinfantchirp;theshortestcut;
Theroadwaymissed;wereourdiscourse;
Attimesdearpoets,whomsomeewTranscendentorsubduedevokedTospeakthememorable,thetrue,Theluminousasamoonuncloaked;
Forproofthatthere,amongearth’sdumb,Asoulhadpassedandsaidourbest。
OritmightbewechimedonsomeHistoricfavourite’sastralcrest,Withparttoreverenceinitsgleam,Andparttoralrytheshout:
Soroyal,unuttered,isyouth’sdreamOfpowerwithintostrikewithout。
Butmostthesilencesweresweet,Likemothers’breasts,tobiditfeelItledinsuchdineconceitAsenesaughtwestampforreal。
ToeitherthenanuntoldtaleWasLife,andauthor,hero,we。
Thechaptersholdingpeakstoscale,Ordepthstofathom,madeourglee;
Forwewerearmedofinnerfires,Unbledinustheripedesires;
Andpassionrolledaquietsea,WhereonwasLovethephantomsail。
ATTHECLOSE
ToThee,dearGodofMercy,bothappeal,Whostraightwaysoundthecalltoarms。Thouknow’st;
Andthatblackspotineachembattledhost,Springoftheblood-stream,laterwiltreveal。
Nowisitredartilleryandwhitesteel;
Tillonadaywillringthector’sboast,That’tisThychosentowersuppermost,WhereThyrejectedgrovelsunderheel。
Soinalltimesofman’sdescentinsaneTobrute,didstrengthandcraftcombiningstrike,EvenasaGodofArmies,hisfellblow。
ButatthecloseheenteredThydomain,DearGodofMercy,andiflion-likeHetorethefall’n,theEternalwashisFoe。
WithsagestcraftArachneworkedHerweb,andatacornerlurked,Awaitingwhatshouldplumphersoon,Tocaseitinthedeath-cocoon。
SagaciouslyherhomeshechoseForsitsthatwouldneverclose;
Insidemychalet-porchherfeastPluckedallthewindsbutchillNorth-east。
Thefinishedstructure,baronbar,Hadsnatchedfromlighttoformastar,Andstruckonsight,whenquickwithdews,LikemusicoftheveryMuse。
Greatartistspassoursinglesense;
Wehearinseeing,strungtotense;
Thenhaplymarvel,groanmayhap,Tothinksuchbeautymeansatrap。
ButNature’sgenius,evenman’sAtbest,ispracticalinplans;
Subserenttotheneedythought,Howeverraretheweaponwrought。
AslongasNatureholdsitgoodTourgehercreatures’questforfoodWillbeautystampthejustintentOfweaponsuponsercebent。
ForbeautyisaflowerofrootsEmbeddedlowerthanourboots;
Outoftheprimalstratasprings,AndshowsforcrownofusefulthingsArachne’sdreamofpreytosizeAspired;soshecouldnighdespiseThepunyspecksthebreezesroundSupplied,andletthemshakeunwound;
Assuredofherfatflytocome;
Perhapsablue,thespider’splum;
Whotakesthefataloddsinfight,Andgesrepastanappetite,Byplunging,whizzing,tillhiswingsArewebbed,andinthelistsheswings,Ashroudedlump,forhertoseeHerbanquetinherctory。
Thismatronoftheunnumberedthreads,Onedayofdandelions’headsDistributingtheirgrayperruquesUpeverygust,IwatchedwithlooksDiscreetbesidethechalet-door;
Andgracefullyalightwindbore,Directuponmywebster’swall,Amonsterintheformofball;
Themildestcapteeversnared,Thatneitherstrugglednordespaired,Onhalfthenetinvadinghung,Andplainasinhermothertongue,Whilelowtheweavercursedherlures,Remarked,“Youhaveme;Iamyours。“
Thricemagnified,inphantomshape,Herdreamofsizeshesaw,agape。
Midwaythevastround-rayingbeardAdesiccatedmidgeappeared;
Whosebodyprickedthenameofmeal,Whosehairhadgrowthinearth’sunreal;
Provocateofdreadandwrath,Contemptandhorror,inonefroth,Inextricable,insensible,Hispoisonpresencetherewoulddwell,Declaringhimherdreamfulfilled,Acatchtocomplimenttheskilled;
Andshereducedtobeakyskin,DisgracefulamongkithandkinAgainsthercorner,humpedandaged,Arachnewrinkled,pastenraged,Beyonddisgustorhopeinguile。
RidiculouslyvolatileHeseemedtoherlastsparkofmind;
AndthatinpallidashdeclinedBeneaththeblowbyknowledgedealt,WhereinthroughoutherframeshefeltThathe,thelightwind’slibertine,Withoutascoff,withoutagrin,Andmanneredlikethecourtlyfew,Whomerelydancedwhenlightwindsblew,Imperoustobeakandclaws,Tradition’sruinousWhitebeardwas;
Ofwhom,asactorsinoldscenes,Hadgrannamweaverswarnedtheirweans,Withword,thatlessthanfeather-weight,HesmotetheweblikeboltofFate。
Thismuteddrama,hourbyhour,Iwatchedamidaworldinflower,EreyetAutumnalthreadshadlaidTheirgray-blueo’erthegrass’sblade,Andstillalongthegarden-runTheblindwormstretchedhim,drunkofsun。
Arachnecrouchedunmoved;perchanceHersitorperformedadance;
Shepuckeredthinner;hethesameAswhenonthatlightwindhecame。
NextdaywastoldwhatdeedsofnightWeredone;thewebhadvanishedquite;
Withitthestrangeopposingpair;
Andlistlesswavedonvacantair,Forheradieutoheart’scontent,Asolitaryfilament。
OrshallwerunwithArtemisOryieldthebreasttoAphrodite?
Botharemighty;
Bothgebliss;
Eachcantortureifdided;
Eachclaimsworshipundided,Inherwakewouldhaveuswallow。
YouthmustofferonbentkneesHomageuntooneorother;
Earth,themother,Thisdecrees;
AnduntothepallidScytherEitherpointsusshunweeitherShunortoodevoutlyfollow。
AREADINGOFLIFE——WITHTHEHUNTRESS
Throughthewater-eyeofnight,Midwaybetweeneveanddawn,Seethechase,therout,theflightIndeepforest;oread,faun,Goat-foot,antlerslaidonneck;
Ravenousallthelineforspeed。
SeeyonwavysparklebeckSignoftherginLady’slead。
DownhercourseaserpentstarCoilsandshattersatherheels;
Pealsthehornexulting,pealsPlainte,isitnearorfar。
Huntress,arrowytopursue,Inandoutofwoodyglen,Undercliffsthatteartheblue,Overtorrent,overfen,Sheandforest,wheresheskimsFeathery,darkenandrelume:
Thoseareherwhite-lightninglimbsCleangloadsofleafygloom。
Mountainshearherandcallback,Shrewdwithnight:afrostywailDistant:hertheemeraldvaleFolds,andwondersinhertrack。
Nowherretinueislean,Manyrearward;streamsthechaseEagerforthofcovert;seenOnehottidetherapturousrace。
Quer-chargedandcrescent-crowned,UponaflashthelightedmoundLeapsshe,bowtoshoulder,shaftStrungtobarbwitharcher’scraft,Legslikeplaitedlyre-chords,feetSongstosee,pastpitchofsweet。
Fearfulswiftnesstheyoutrun,Shaggywildness,greyordun,Challenge,chargeoftuskselude:
Theirsthedancetotametherude;
Beast,andbeastinmanhoodtame,Followwetheirsilverflame。
Prideoffleshfrombondagefree,Reapinggourofitswaste,Markshersertors,andsheSanctifiestheunembraced。
Noughtofperilousshereeks;
Valourclothesheropenbreast;
Sweetbeyondthethrillofsex;
Hallowedbythesexconfessed。
Huntressarrowytopursue,Coldershethansunlessdew,She,thatbreathofupperair;
Ay,butneverlyristsang,DraughtofBacchusneversprangBloodtheblissofGodstoshare,Higho’ersweepofeaglewings,Liketherunwithher,whenringsClearherrally,andherdart,Intheforest’scavernheart,Tellsofherctoriousaim。
Thenispauseandchatter,cheer,Laughteratsomesatyrlame,Looksuponthefallendeer,Measuringhisnoblecrest;
Hereafavouriteinhertrain,Foremostmidhernymphs,caressed;
Allapplauded。ShallshereignWorshipped?Otobewithherthere!
She,thatbreathofnimbleair,Liftsthebreasttogiantpower。
Maidandman,andmanandmaid,WhoeachotherwoulddevourElsewhere,bythechasebetrayed,Therearecomrades,ledbyher,Maid-preserver,man-maker。
Whomurmurs,hither,hither:whoWherenoughtisaudiblesofillstheear?
WherenoughtissiblecanmakeappearAveilwitheyesthatwaverthrough,Liketwilight’spledgeofblessednighttocome,Ordaymostgolden?Allunseenanddumb,Shebreathes,shemoves,intingflees,Islost,andleavesthethrilleddesireToclaspandstrikeaslackenedlyre,Tilloversmilesofhyacinthseas,FlameinacrystalvesselsailsBeneathadomeofjewelledspray,ForlandthatdropstherosydayOnnightsofthrobbingnightingales。
Landwarddidthewonderflit,Orheart’sdesireofher,allearthinit。
Wesawtheheavensflingdowntheirrose;
Onrapturouswaveswesawherglide;
Thepearlysea-shellhalfenclose;
Theshoalofsea-nymphsflushthetide;
Andwe,afiretokissherfeet,nomoreBeholdthantracksalongastartledshore,WithbrightenededgesofdarkleavesthatfeignAnambushhoped,asheartlessnightremain。
Moreclosely,warmly:hither,hither!she,TheveryshecalledforthbyripenedbloodForitsnextbreathofbeing,murmurs;she,Allurement;she,fulfilment;she,Thestreamwithinusurgedtoflood;
Man’scry,earth’sanswer,heaven’sconsent;Oshe,Maid,womananddinity;
Ourover-earthly,inner-earthlymateUnmated;she,ourhungerandourfruitUntasted;sheourwrittenfateUnread;Life’sflowering,Life’sroot:
Unread,dined;unseen,beheld;
Theevanescent,ever-presentshe,GreatNature’ssternnecessityInradianceclothed,tosoftnessquelled;
Withasword’sedgeofsweetnesskeentotakeOurbreathforbliss,ourheartsforfulnessbreak。