endymion- a poetic romance-第17章
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The range of flower'd Elysium。 Thus did fall
The dew of her rich speech： 'Ah！ Art awake？
'O let me hear thee speak； for Cupid's sake！
'I am so oppress'd with joy！ Why； I have shed
'An urn of tears； as though thou wert cold dead；
'And now I find thee living； I will pour
'From these devoted eyes their silver store；
'Until exhausted of the latest drop；
'So it will pleasure thee； and force thee stop
'Here； that I too may live： but if beyond
'Such cool and sorrowful offerings； thou art fond
'Of soothing warmth； of dalliance supreme；
'If thou art ripe to taste a long love dream；
'If smiles； if dimples； tongues for ardour mute；
'Hang in thy vision like a tempting fruit；
'O let me pluck it for thee。' Thus she link'd
Her charming syllables； till indistinct
Their music came to my o'er…sweeten'd soul；
And then she hover'd over me； and stole
So near； that if no nearer it had been
This furrow'd visage thou hadst never seen。
〃Young man of Latmos！ thus particular
Am I； that thou may'st plainly see how far
This fierce temptation went： and thou may'st not
Exclaim； How then； was Scylla quite forgot？
〃Who could resist？ Who in this universe？
She did so breathe ambrosia； so immerse
My fine existence in a golden clime。
She took me like a child of suckling time；
And cradled me in roses。 Thus condemn'd；
The current of my former life was stemm'd；
And to this arbitrary queen of sense
I bow'd a tranced vassal： nor would thence
Have mov'd； even though Amphion's harp had woo'd
Me back to Scylla o'er the billows rude。
For as Apollo each eve doth devise
A new appareling for western skies；
So every eve； nay every spendthrift hour
Shed balmy consciousness within that bower。
And I was free of haunts umbrageous；
Could wander in the mazy forest…house
Of squirrels； foxes shy； and antler'd deer；
And birds from coverts innermost and drear
Warbling for very joy mellifluous sorrow…
To me new born delights！
〃Now let me borrow；
For moments few； a temperament as stern
As Pluto's sceptre； that my words not burn
These uttering lips； while I in calm speech tell
How specious heaven was changed to real hell。
〃One morn she left me sleeping： half awake
I sought for her smooth arms and lips； to slake
My greedy thirst with nectarous camel…draughts；
But she was gone。 Whereat the barbed shafts
Of disappointment stuck in me so sore；
That out I ran and search'd the forest o'er。
Wandering about in pine and cedar gloom
Damp awe assail'd me； for there 'gan to boom
A sound of moan； an agony of sound；
Sepulchral from the distance all around。
Then came a conquering earth…thunder； and rumbled
That fierce complain to silence： while I stumbled
Down a precipitous path； as if impell'd。
I came to a dark valley。… Groanings swell'd
Poisonous about my ears； and louder grew；
The nearer I approach'd a flame's gaunt blue；
That glar'd before me through a thorny brake。
This fire； like the eye of gordian snake；
Bewitch'd me towards； and I soon was near
A sight too fearful for the feel of fear：
In thicket hid I curs'd the haggard scene…
The banquet of my arms； my arbour queen；
Seated upon an uptorn forest root；
And all around her shapes； wizard and brute；
Laughing； and wailing； groveling； serpenting；
Showing tooth； tusk； and venom…bag； and sting！
O such deformities！ Old Charon's self；
Should he give up awhile his penny pelf；
And take a dream 'mong rushes Stygian；
It could not be so phantasied。 Fierce； wan；
And tyrannizing was the lady's look；
As over them a gnarled staff she shook。
Oft…times upon the sudden she laugh'd out；
And from a basket emptied to the rout
Clusters of grapes； the which they raven'd quick
And roar'd for more； with many a hungry lick
About their shaggy jaws。 Avenging； slow；
Anon she took a branch of mistletoe；
And emptied on't a black dull…gurgling phial：
Groan'd one and all； as if some piercing trial
Was sharpening for their pitiable bones。
She lifted up the charm： appealing groans
From their poor breasts went sueing to her ear
In vain； remorseless as an infant's bier
She whisk'd against their eyes the sooty oil。
Whereat was heard a noise of painful toil；
Increasing gradual to a tempest rage；
Shrieks； yells； and groans of torture…pilgrimage；
Until their grieved bodies 'gan to bloat
And puff from the tail's end to stifled throat：
Then was appalling silence： then a sight
More wildering than all that hoarse affright；
For the whole herd； as by a whirlwind writhen；
Went through the dismal air like one huge Python
Antagonizing Boreas；… and so vanish'd。
Yet there was not a breath of wind： she banish'd
These phantoms with a nod。 Lo！ from the dark
Came waggish fauns； and nymphs； and satyrs stark；
With dancing and loud revelry；… and went
Swifter than centaurs after rapine bent。…
Sighing an elephant appear'd and bow'd
Before the fierce witch； speaking thus aloud
In human accent： 'Potent goddess！ chief
'Of pains resistless！ make my being brief；
'Or let me from this heavy prison fly：
'Or give me to the air； or let me die！
'I sue not for my happy crown again；
'I sue not for my phalanx on the plain；
'I sue not for my lone； my widow'd wife；
'I sue not for my ruddy drops of life；
'My children fair； my lovely girls and boys！
'I will forget them； I will pass these joys；
'Ask nought so heavenward； so too… too high：
'Only I pray； as fairest boon； to die；
'Or be deliver'd from this cumbrous flesh；
'From this gross； detestable； filthy mesh；
'And merely given to the cold bleak air。
'Have mercy； Goddess！ Circe； feel my prayer！'
〃That curst magician's name fell icy numb
Upon my wild conjecturing： truth had come
Naked and sabre…like against my heart。
I saw a fury whetting a death…dart；
And my slain spirit； overwrought with fright；
Fainted away in that dark lair of night。
Think； my deliverer； how desolate
My waking must have been！ disgust； and hate；
And terrors manifold divided me
A spoil amongst them。 I prepar'd to flee
Into the dungeon core of that wild wood：
I fled three days… when lo！ before me stood
Glaring the angry witch。 O Dis； even now；
A clammy dew is beading on my brow；
At mere remembering her pale laugh； and curse。
'Ha！ ha！ Sir Dainty！ there must be a nurse
'Made of rose leaves and thistledown； express；
'To cradle thee my sweet； and lull thee： yes；
'I am too flinty…hard for thy nice touch：
'My tenderest squeeze is but a giant's clutch。
'So； fairy…thing； it shall have lullabies
'Unheard of yet： and it shall still its cries
'Upon some breast more lilly…feminine。
'Oh； no… it shall not pine； and pine； and pine
'More than one pretty； trifling thousand years；
'And then 'twere pity； but fate's gentle shears
'Cut short its immortality。 Sea…flirt！
'Young dove of the waters！ truly I'll not hurt
'One hair of thine： see how I weep and sigh；
'That our heart…broken par
