endymion- a poetic romance-第3章
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For thee to tumble into Naiads' cells；
And； being hidden； laugh at their out…peeping；
Or to delight thee with fantastic leaping；
The while they pelt each other on the crown
With silvery oak apples； and fir cones brown…
By all the echoes that about thee ring；
Hear us； O satyr king！
〃O Hearkener to the loud clapping shears
While ever and anon to his shorn peers
A ram goes bleating： Winder of the horn；
When snouted wild…boars routing tender corn
Anger our huntsmen： Breather round our farms；
To keep off mildews； and all weather harms：
Strange ministrant of undescribed sounds；
That come a swooning over hollow grounds；
And wither drearily on barren moors：
Dread opener of the mysterious doors
Leading to universal knowledge… see；
Great son of Dryope；
The many that are come to pay their vows
With leaves about their brows！
〃Be still the unimaginable lodge
For solitary thinkings； such as dodge
Conception to the very bourne of heaven；
Then leave the naked brain： be still the leaven；
That spreading in this dull and clodded earth
Gives it a touch ethereal… a new birth：
Be still a symbol of immensity；
A firmament reflected in a sea；
An element filling the space between；
An unknown… but no more： we humbly screen
With uplift hands our foreheads； lowly bending；
And giving out a shout most heaven rending；
Conjure thee to receive our humble Paean；
Upon thy Mount Lycean！〃
Even while they brought the burden to a close；
A shout from the whole multitude arose；
That lingered in the air like dying rolls
Of abrupt thunder； when Ionian shoals
Of dolphins bob their noses through the brine。
Meantime； on shady levels； mossy fine；
Young companies nimbly began dancing
To the swift treble pipe； and humming string。
Aye； those fair living forms swam heavenly
To tunes forgotten… out of memory：
Fair creatures！ whose young children's children bred
Thermopylae its heroes… not yet dead；
But in old marbles ever beautiful。
High genitors； unconscious did they cull
Time's sweet first…fruits… they danc'd to weariness；
And then in quiet circles did they press
The hillock turf； and caught the latter end
Of some strange history； potent to send
A young mind from its bodily tenement。
Or they might watch the quoit…pitchers； intent
On either side； pitying the sad death
Of Hyacinthus； when the cruel breath
Of Zephyr slew him；… Zephyr penitent；
Who now； ere Phoebus mounts the firmament；
Fondles the flower amid the sobbing rain。
The archers too； upon a wider plain；
Beside the feathery whizzing of the shaft；
And the dull twanging bowstring； and the raft
Branch down sweeping from a tall ash top；
Call'd up a thousand thoughts to envelope
Those who would watch。 Perhaps； the trembling knee
And frantic gape of lonely Niobe；
Poor； lonely Niobe！ when her lovely young
Were dead and gone； and her caressing tongue
Lay a lost thing upon her paly lip；
And very； very deadliness did nip
Her motherly cheeks。 Arous'd from this sad mood
By one； who at a distance loud halloo'd；
Uplifting his strong bow into the air；
Many might after brighter visions stare：
After the Argonauts； in blind amaze
Tossing about on Neptune's restless ways；
Until； from the horizon's vaulted side；
There shot a golden splendour far and wide；
Spangling those million poutings of the brine
With quivering ore： 'twas even an awful shine
From the exaltation of Apollo's bow；
A heavenly beacon in their dreary woe。
Who thus were ripe for high contemplating；
Might turn their steps towards the sober ring
Where sat Endymion and the aged priest
'Mong shepherds gone in eld； whose looks increas'd
The silvery setting of their mortal star。
There they discours'd upon the fragile bar
That keeps us from our homes ethereal；
And what our duties there： to nightly call
Vesper； the beauty…crest of summer weather；
To summon all the downiest clouds together
For the sun's purple couch； to emulate
In ministring the potent rule of fate
With speed of fire…tail'd exhalations；
To tint her pallid cheek with bloom； who cons
Sweet poesy by moonlight： besides these；
A world of other unguess'd offices。
Anon they wander'd； by divine converse；
Into Elysium； vieing to rehearse
Each one his own anticipated bliss。
One felt heart…certain that he could not miss
His quick gone love； among fair blossom'd boughs；
Where every zephyr…sigh pouts； and endows
Her lips with music for the welcoming。
Another wish'd； mid that eternal spring；
To meet his rosy child； with feathery sails；
Sweeping； eye…earnestly； through almond vales：
Who； suddenly； should stoop through the smooth wind；
And with the balmiest leaves his temples bind；
And； ever after； through those regions be
His messenger； his little Mercury。
Some were athirst in soul to see again
Their fellow huntsmen o'er the wide champaign
In times long past； to sit with them； and talk
Of all the chances in their earthly walk；
Comparing； joyfully； their plenteous stores
Of happiness； to when upon the moors；
Benighted； close they huddled from the cold；
And shar'd their famish'd scrips。 Thus all out…told
Their fond imaginations；… saving him
Whose eyelids curtain'd up their jewels dim；
Endymion： yet hourly had he striven
To hide the cankering venom； that had riven
His fainting recollections。 Now indeed
His senses had swoon'd off： he did not heed
The sudden silence； or the whispers low；
Or the old eyes dissolving at his woe；
Or anxious calls； or close of trembling palms；
Or maiden's sigh； that grief itself embalms：
But in the self…same fixed trance he kept；
Like one who on the earth had never stept。
Aye； even as dead still as a marble man；
Frozen in that old tale Arabian。
Who whispers him so pantingly and close？
Peona； his sweet sister： of all those；
His friends； the dearest。 Hushing signs she made；
And breath'd a sister's sorrow to persuade
A yielding up； a cradling on her care。
Her eloquence did breathe away the curse：
She led him； like some midnight spirit nurse
Of happy changes in emphatic dreams；
Along a path between two little streams；…
Guarding his forehead； with her round elbow；
From low…grown branches； and his footsteps slow
From stumbling over stumps and hillocks small；
Until they came to where these streamlets fall；
With mingled bubblings and a gentle rush；
Into a river； clear； brimful； and flush
With crystal mocking of the trees and sky。
A little shallop； floating there hard by；
Pointed its beak over the fringed bank；
And soon it lightly dipt； and rose； and sank；
And dipt again； with the young couple's weight；…
Peona guiding； through the water straight；
Towards a bowery island opposite；
Which gaining presently； she steered light
Into a shady； fresh； and ripply cove；
Where nested was an arbour； overwove
By many a summer's silent fingering
