endymion- a poetic romance-第11章
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On soft Adonis' shoulders； made him still
Nestle and turn uneasily about。
Soon were the white doves plain； with neck stretch'd out；
And silken traces lighten'd in descent；
And soon； returning from love's banishment；
Queen Venus leaning downward open arm'd：
Her shadow fell upon his breast； and charm'd
A tumult to his heart； and a new life
Into his eyes。 Ah； miserable strife；
But for her comforting！ unhappy sight；
But meeting her blue orbs！ Who； who can write
Of these first minutes？ The unchariest muse
To embracements warm as theirs makes coy excuse。
O it has ruffled every spirit there；
Saving Love's self； who stands superb to share
The general gladness： awfully he stands；
A sovereign quell is in his waving hands；
No sight can bear the lightning of his bow；
His quiver is mysterious； none can know
What themselves think of it； from forth his eyes
There darts strange light of varied hues and dyes：
A scowl is sometimes on his brow； but who
Look full upon it feel anon the blue
Of his fair eyes run liquid through their souls。
Endymion feels it； and no more controls
The burning prayer within him； so； bent low；
He had begun a plaining of his woe。
But Venus； bending forward； said： 〃My child；
Favour this gentle youth； his days are wild
With love… he… but alas！ too well I see
Thou know'st the deepness of his misery。
Ah； smile not so； my son： I tell thee true；
That when through heavy hours I used to rue
The endless sleep of this new…born Adon'；
This stranger aye I pitied。 For upon
A dreary morning once I fled away
Into the breezy clouds； to weep and pray
For this my love： for vexing Mars had teaz'd
Me even to tears： thence； when a little eas'd；
Down…looking； vacant； through a hazy wood；
I saw this youth as he despairing stood：
Those same dark curls blown vagrant in the wind；
Those same full fringed lids a constant blind
Over his sullen eyes： I saw him throw
Himself on wither'd leaves； even as though
Death had come sudden； for no jot he mov'd；
Yet mutter'd wildly。 I could hear he lov'd
Some fair immortal； and that his embrace
Had zoned her through the night。 There is no trace
Of this in heaven： I have mark'd each cheek；
And find it is the vainest thing to seek；
And that of all things 'tis kept secretest。
Endymion！ one day thou wilt be blest：
So still obey the guiding hand that fends
Thee safely through these wonders for sweet ends。
'Tis a concealment needful in extreme；
And if I guess'd not so； the sunny beam
Thou shouldst mount up to with me。 Now adieu！
Here must we leave thee。〃… At these words upflew
The impatient doves； uprose the floating car；
Up went the hum celestial。 High afar
The Latmian saw them minish into naught；
And； when all were clear vanish'd； still he caught
A vivid lightning from that dreadful bow。
When all was darkened； with AEtnean throe
The earth clos'd… gave a solitary moan…
And left him once again in twilight lone。
He did not rave； he did not stare aghast；
For all those visions were o'ergone； and past；
And he in loneliness： he felt assur'd
Of happy times； when all he had endur'd
Would seem a feather to the mighty prize。
So； with unusual gladness； on he hies
Through caves； and palaces of mottled ore；
Gold dome； and crystal wall； and turquois floor；
Black polish'd porticos of awful shade；
And； at the last； a diamond balustrade；
Leading afar past wild magnificence；
Spiral through ruggedest loopholes； and thence
Stretching across a void； then guiding o'er
Enormous chasms； where； all foam and roar；
Streams subterranean teaze their granite beds；
Then heighten'd just above the silvery heads
Of a thousand fountains； so that he could dash
The waters with his spear； but at the splash；
Done heedlessly； those spouting columns rose
Sudden a poplar's height； and 'gan to enclose
His diamond path with fretwork； streaming round
Alive； and dazzling cool； and with a sound；
Haply； like dolphin tumults； when sweet shells
Welcome the float of Thetis。 Long he dwells
On this delight； for； every minute's space；
The streams with changed magic interlace：
Sometimes like delicatest lattices；
Cover'd with crystal vines； then weeping trees。
Moving about as in a gentle wind；
Which； in a wink； to watery gauze refin'd；
Pour'd into shapes of curtain'd canopies；
Spangled； and rich with liquid broideries
Of flowers； peacocks； swans； and naiads fair。
Swifter than lightning went these wonders rare；
And then the water； into stubborn streams
Collecting； mimick'd the wrought oaken beams；
Pillars； and frieze； and high fantastic roof；
Of those dusk places in times far aloof
Cathedrals call'd。 He bade a loth farewell
To these founts Protean； passing gulph； and dell；
And torrent； and ten thousand jutting shapes；
Half seen through deepest gloom； and griesly gapes；
Blackening on every side； and overhead
A vaulted dome like Heaven's； far bespread
With starlight gems： aye； all so huge and strange；
The solitary felt a hurried change
Working within him into something dreary；…
Vex'd like a morning eagle； lost； and weary；
And purblind amid foggy； midnight wolds。
But he revives at once： for who beholds
New sudden things； nor casts his mental slough？
Forth from a rugged arch； in the dusk below；
Came mother Cybele！ alone… alone…
In sombre chariot； dark foldings thrown
About her majesty； and front death…pale；
With turrets crown'd。 Four maned lions hale
The sluggish wheels； solemn their toothed maws；
Their surly eyes brow…hidden； heavy paws
Uplifted drowsily； and nervy tails
Cowering their tawny brushes。 Silent sails
This shadowy queen athwart； and faints away
In another gloomy arch。
Wherefore delay；
Young traveller； in such a mournful place？
Art thou wayworn； or canst not further trace
The diamond path？ And does it indeed end
Abrupt in middle air？ Yet earthward bend
Thy forehead； and to Jupiter cloud…borne
Call ardently！ He was indeed wayworn；
Abrupt； in middle air； his way was lost；
To cloud…borne Jove he bowed； and there crost
Towards him a large eagle； 'twixt whose wings；
Without one impious word； himself he flings；
Committed to the darkness and the gloom：
Down； down； uncertain to what pleasant doom；
Swift as a fathoming plummet down he fell
Through unknown things； till exhaled asphodel；
And rose； with spicy fannings interbreath'd；
Came swelling forth where little caves were wreath'd
So thick with leaves and mosses； that they seem'd
Large honey…combs of green； and freshly teem'd
With airs delicious。 In the greenest nook
The eagle landed him； and farewell took。
It was a jasmine bower； all bestrown
With golden moss。 His every sense had grown
Ethereal for pleasure； 'bove his head
Flew a delight half…graspable； his tread
Was Hesperean； to his capable ears
Silence was music from the holy spheres；
A dewy lu
