endymion- a poetic romance-第8章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Pavillions him in bloom； and he doth see
A bud which snares his fancy： lo！ but now
He plucks it； dips its stalk in the water： how！
It swells； it buds； it flowers beneath his sight；
And； in the middle； there is softly pight
A golden butterfly； upon whose wings
There must be surely character'd strange things；
For with wide eye he wonders； and smiles oft。
Lightly this little herald flew aloft；
Follow'd by glad Endymion's clasped hands：
Onward it flies。 From languor's sullen bands
His limbs are loos'd； and eager； on he hies
Dazzled to trace it in the sunny skies。
It seem'd he flew； the way so easy was；
And like a new…born spirit did he pass
Through the green evening quiet in the sun；
O'er many a heath； through many a woodland dun；
Through buried paths； where sleepy twilight dreams
The summer time away。 One track unseams
A wooded cleft； and； far away； the blue
Of ocean fades upon him； then； anew；
He sinks adown a solitary glen；
Where there was never sound of mortal men；
Saving； perhaps； some snow…light cadences
Melting to silence； when upon the breeze
Some holy bark let forth an anthem sweet；
To cheer itself to Delphi。 Still his feet
Went swift beneath the merry…winged guide；
Until it reach'd a splashing fountain's side
That； near a cavern's mouth； for ever pour'd
Unto the temperate air： then high it soar'd；
And； downward； suddenly began to dip；
As if； athirst with so much toil； 'twould sip
The crystal spout…head： so it did； with touch
Most delicate； as though afraid to smutch
Even with mealy gold the waters clear。
But； at that very touch； to disappear
So fairy…quick； was strange！ Bewildered；
Endymion sought around； and shook each bed
Of covert flowers in vain； and then he flung
Himself along the grass。 What gentle tongue；
What whisperer disturb'd his gloomy rest？
It was a nymph uprisen to the breast
In the fountain's pebbly margin； and she stood
'Mong lillies； like the youngest of the brood。
To him her dripping hand she softly kist；
And anxiously began to plait and twist
Her ringlets round her fingers； saying： 〃Youth！
Too long； alas； hast thou starv'd on the ruth；
The bitterness of love： too long indeed；
Seeing thou art so gentle。 Could I weed
Thy soul of care； by heavens； I would offer
All the bright riches of my crystal coffer
To Amphitrite； all my clear…eyed fish；
Golden； or rainbow…sided； or purplish；
Vermilion…tail'd； or finn'd with silvery gauze；
Yea； or my veined pebble…floor； that draws
A virgin light to the deep； my grotto…sands
Tawny and gold； ooz'd slowly from far lands
By my diligent springs； my level lillies； shells；
My charming rod； my potent river spells；
Yes； every thing； even to the pearly cup
Meander gave me；… for I bubbled up
To fainting creatures in a desert wild。
But woe is me； I am but as a child
To gladden thee； and all I dare to say；
Is； that I pity thee； that on this day
I've been thy guide； that thou must wander far
In other regions； past the scanty bar
To mortal steps； before thou canst be ta'en
From every wasting sigh； from every pain；
Into the gentle bosom of thy love。
Why it is thus； one knows in heaven above：
But； a poor Naiad； I guess not。 Farewell！
I have a ditty for my hollow cell。〃
Hereat； she vanished from Endymion's gaze；
Who brooded o'er the water in amaze：
The dashing fount pour'd on； and where its pool
Lay； half asleep； in grass and rushes cool；
Quick waterflies and gnats were sporting still；
And fish were dimpling； as if good nor ill
Had fallen out that hour。 The wanderer；
Holding his forehead； to keep off the bur
Of smothering fancies； patiently sat down；
And； while beneath the evening's sleepy frown
Glow…worms began to trim their starry lamps；
Thus breath'd he to himself： 〃Whoso encamps
To take a fancied city of delight；
O what a wretch is he！ and when 'tis his；
After long toil and travelling； to miss
The kernel of his hopes； how more than vile：
Yet； for him there's refreshment even in toil；
Another city doth he set about；
Free from the smallest pebble…head of doubt
That he will seize on trickling honey…combs；
Alas； he finds them dry； and then he foams；
And onward to another city speeds。
But this is human life： the war； the deeds；
The disappointment； the anxiety；
Imagination's struggles； far and nigh；
All human； bearing in themselves this good；
That they are still the air； the subtle food；
To make us feel existence； and to show
How quiet death is。 Where soil is men grow；
Whether to weeds or flowers； but for me；
There is no depth to strike in： I can see
Naught earthly worth my compassing； so stand
Upon a misty； jutting head of land…
Alone？ No； no； and by the Orphean lute；
When mad Eurydice is listening to't；
I'd rather stand upon this misty peak；
With not a thing to sigh for； or to seek；
But the soft shadow of my thrice…seen love；
Than be… I care not what。 O meekest dove
Of heaven！ O Cynthia； ten…times bright and fair！
From thy blue throne； now filling all the air；
Glance but one little beam of temper'd light
Into my bosom； that the dreadful might
And tyranny of love be somewhat scar'd！
Yet do not so； sweet queen； one torment spar'd；
Would give a pang to jealous misery；
Worse than the torment's self： but rather tie
Large wings upon my shoulders； and point out
My love's far dwelling。 Though the playful rout
Of Cupids shun thee； too divine art thou；
Too keen in beauty； for thy silver prow
Not to have dipp'd in love's most gentle stream。
O be propitious； nor severely deem
My madness impious； for； by all the stars
That tend thy bidding； I do think the bars
That kept my spirit in are burst… that I
Am sailing with thee through the dizzy sky！
How beautiful thou art！ The world how deep！
How tremulous…dazzlingly the wheels sweep
Around their axle！ Then these gleaming reins；
How lithe！ When this thy chariot attains
Its airy goal； haply some bower veils
Those twilight eyes？ Those eyes！… my spirit fails…
Dear goddess； help！ or the wide…gaping air
Will gulph me… help！〃… At this with madden'd stare；
And lifted hands； and trembling lips he stood；
Like old Deucalion mountain'd o'er the flood；
Or blind Orion hungry for the morn。
And； but from the deep cavern there was borne
A voice； he had been froze to senseless stone；
Nor sigh of his； nor plaint； nor passion'd moan
Had more been heard。 Thus swell'd it forth： 〃Descend；
Young mountaineer！ descend where alleys bend
Into the sparry hollows of the world！
Oft hast thou seen bolts of the thunder hurl'd
As from thy threshold； day by day hast been
A little lower than the chilly sheen
Of icy pinnacles； and dipp'dst thine arms
Into the deadening ether that still charms
Their marble being： now； as deep profound
As those are high； descend！ He ne'er is crown'd
With immortality； who fears to follow
Where airy voices lea
