’Twastheseasonwhenwintertide,Inthehigherrock-hollowsupdrawn,Leavesmeadowstobud,andhespied,Bylightthrowingshallowshade,Betweenthebeamandthegloom,SicilianEnna,whoseMaidSuchaspectwearsinherbloomUnderneathsincetheCharioteerOfDarknesswhirledheraway,Onareapedafternoonoftheyear,Nighthepoppy-droopofDay。
Oandnakedofher,alldust,ThemajesticMotherandNurse,RingingcriestotheGod,theJust,Curledthelandwiththeblightofhercurse:
RecollectedofthisgladisleStillquaking。Butnowmorefair,AndmomentlyfrayingthewhileTheveiloftheshadowsthere,SoftEnnathatprostrategriefSangthrough,andrevealedroundthenes,Bronze-orange,thecrispyoungleaf,Thewheat-bladestrippinginlines,AhueunilluminedbysunOftheflowersfloodinggrassasfromfounts:
AllthepenetrabledunOfthemornereshemounts。
NorhadsaffronandsapphireandredWavedalofttotheirsistersbelow,Whengapedbytherock-channelheadOfthelake,black,acaveatoneblow,Reverberantovertheplain:
AsoundoftfearfullyswungForthecomingofwrathfulrain:
Andforth,likethedragon-tongueOfafirebeatenflatbythegale,Butmoreasthesmoketobehold,Achariotburst。ThenawailQueredhighofthelovethatwouldfoldBlissimmeasurable,biggerthanheart,ThoughaGod’s:andthewheelswerestayed,AndtheteamofthechariotswartRearedinmarble,thes,dismayed,LikehoofsthatbynightplashingseaCurveandrampfromthevastswan-wave:
For,lo,theGreatMother,She!
AndCallistesgazed,hegaveHiseyeballsuptothesight:
TheembraceoftheTwain,ofwhomTomenaretheirday,theirnight,Mellowfruitsandtheshearingtomb:
OurLadyoftheSheavesAndtheLilyofHades,theSweetOfEnna:hesawthroughleavesTheMotherandDaughtermeet。
Theystoodbythechariot-wheel,Embraced,verytall,mostlikeFellowpoplars,wind-taken,thatreelDowntheirsheringcolumnsandstrikeHeadtohead,crossingthroats:andapart,Forthefeastofthelook,theydrew,WhichDarknessnolongercouldthwart;
Andtheybroketogetheranew,Exultingtotears,flowerandbud。
ButthemateoftheRaylesswasgrave:
ShesmiledlikeSleeponitsflood,Thatwashesofallwecrave:
LikethetranceofeyesawakeAndthespiritenshrouded,shecastThewanunderworldonthelake。
Theywereso,andtheypassed。
Hetellsit,whoknewthelawUponmortals:hestoodaleDeclaringthatthishesaw:
Hecouldsee,andsurve。
NowtheyouthwasnotwareofthebeamsWiththegrassesintertwined,Foreachthingseen,asindreams,Camesteppingtorearthroughhismind,TillitstruckhisrememberedprayerTobewitnessofthiswhichhadflownLikeasmokemeltedthinnerthanair,Thatthevacancydothdisown。
Andewingamaiden,hethoughtItmightnowbemorn,andafarWithinhimthememorywroughtOfasomethingthatslippedfromthecarWhenthose,theaugust,movedby:
Perchanceascarf,andperchanceThismaiden。Shedidnotfly,Norstartedathisadvance:
Shelooked,aswheninfinitethirstPantspausingtoblessthesprings,Refreshed,unsated。ThenfirstHetrembledwithaweofthethingsHehadseen;andhedidtransfer,Dininganddoubtinginturn,Hisreverenceuntoher;
Noraskedwhathecrouchedtolearn:
Thewhenceofher,whither,andwhyHerpresencethere,andhername,Herparentage:underwhichskyHerbirth,andhowhithershecame,Soyoung,argin,alone,Unfriended,hangnofear,AsOreadshave;nomoan,Likethelostuponearth;notear;
Notasignofthetorchintheblood,ThoughherstaturehadreachedtheheightWhenmantlesatenderrudInmaidsthatofyouthshavesight,Ifmaidsofourseedtheybe:
Forhesaid:Agladsionartthou!
Andsheansweredhim:Thoutome!
Asmenutteravow。
Thensaidshe,quickasthecriesOftherainycranes:Light!light!
AndHeliosroseinhereyes,Thatwerefullasthedew-ballsbright,RelucenttohimasdewsUnshaded。Breathing,shesentHervoicetotheGodoftheMuse,Andalongthevaleitwent,Strangetohear:notthin,notshrill:
Sweet,butnoyoungmaid’sthroat:
TheechobeyondthehillRanfallingonhalfthenote:
AndundertheshakengroundWheretheHundred-headedgroansBytherootsofgreatAEtnabound,AsofhimwerehollowtonesOfwonderingroared:ataleRepeatedtosunlesshalls。
ButnowoffthefaceofthevaleShadowsfledinabreath,andthewallsOfthelake’srock-headweregold,Andthebreastofthelake,thatswellOfthecrestlesslongwaverolledToshore-bubble,pebbleandshell。
AmorningofradiantlidsO’erthedanceoftheearthopenedwide:
Thebeeschosetheirflowers,thesnubkidsUponhindlegswentsporte,orplied,Nosing,hardatthedugstobefilled:
Therewasmilk,honey,musictomake:
Uptheirbranchesthelittlebirdsbilled:
Chirrup,drone,bleatandbuzzringedthelake。
Oshininginsunlight,chiefAfterwaterandwater’scaress,Wastheyoungbronze-orangeleaf,Thatclungtothetreeasatress,ShootinglucidtendrilstowedWiththene-hooktreeorpole,LikeArachnelaunchedoutonherthread。
ThenthemaidenherduskystoleInthespanoftheblack-starredzone,Gatheredupforherfootingfleet。
AsonethathadtoilofherownShefollowedthelinesofwheatTrippingstraightthroughthefields,greenblades,Tothegrovesofolegrey,Downy-grey,golden-tinged:andtogladesWherethepear-blossomthickensthesprayInanight,likethesnow-packedstorm:
Pear,apple,almond,plum:
Notwintrynow:pushing,warm!
Andshetouchedthemwithfingerandthumb,Asthene-hookcloses:shesmiled,Recountingagainandagain,Corn,wine,fruit,oil!likeachild,Withthemeaningknowntomen。
ForhoursinthetrackoftheploughAndthepruning-knifeshestepped,Andofhowtheseedworks,andofhowYieldsthesoil,sheseemedadept。
Thenshemurmuredthatnameofthedearth,TheBeneficent,Hers,whobadeOurhusbandmensowforthebirthOfthegrainmakingearthfullglad。
ShemurmuredthatOther’s:thedirgeOflife-light:forwhosedarklapOurlocksareclippedonthevergeOftherealmwhererunsnosap。
Shesaid:Wehavelookedonboth!
AndhereyeshadawaveringbeamOfvariouslights,likethefrothOfthestorm-swollenranestreamInflameofthebolt。WhatlinksWerethesewhichhadmadehimherfriend?
Heeyedher,asonewhodrinks,Andwoulddrinktotheend。
Nowthemeadowswithcrocusbesprent,Andtheasphodelwoodsidessheleft,Andthelake-slopes,therashingscentOfnarcissus,dark-sweet,forthecleftThattutorsthetorrent-brook,DelayingitsforcefulspleenWithmanyawindandcrookThroughrocktothebroadrane。
Bythehyacinth-bellsinthebrakes,Andtheshade-lovedwhitewindflower,halfhid,Andthesun-longlizardsandsnakesOnthecleft’sbarrenledges,thatslidOutofsight,smoothaswaterdrops,all,AtasnapoftwigorbarkInthetrackoftheforeignfoot-fall,Sheclimbedtothepineforestdark,OverbrowinganemeraldchineOfthegrass-billows。Thence,asawreath,Runningpoplarandcypresstopine,Thelake-banksareseen,andbeneath,neyard,llage,groves,rers,towers,farms,Thecitadelwatchingthebay,Thebaywiththetowninitsarms,ThetownshiningwhiteasthesprayOfthesapphiresea-waveontherock,Wheretherockstarsthegirdleofsea,White-ringed,asthemiddayflock,Clippedbyheat,ringstheroundofthetree。
ThathourofthepiercingshaftTransfesbough-shadows,confusedInveinsoffire,andshelaughed,WithherquietmouthamusedToseethewholeflock,adroop,Asleep,hugthetree-stemasone,ImperceptiblyfillingtheloopOfitsshadeataslantofsun。
Thepipesunderpentofthecrag,Wherethegoatherdsinpipingrecline,Havewhimsicalstops,burstandflagUncorrectedasoutstretchedswine:
Forthefingersareslackandunsure,Andthewindissuesquerulous:-thornsAndsnakes!——butshelisteneddemure,Comparingday’smusicwithmorn’s。
OfthegentlespiritthatslipsFromthebarkofthetreeshediscoursed,Andofherofthewells,whoselipsArecoolnessenchanting,rock-sourced。
Andmuchofthesacredloon,Thefrolic,theGoatfootGod,ForstoriesofindolentnoonInthepineforest’sodorousnod,Shequestioned,notknowing:hecanBewaspish,irascible,rude,Heisoftenerfriendlytoman,Andevertobeastsandtheirbrood。
Forthewhichdidshelovehimwell,Shesaid,andhispipesofthereed,HistwitchedlipspuffingtotellInmusichistearsandhisneed,Againstthesharpcatchofhishurt。
NotasshepherdsofPandidshespeak,Norspakeastheschools,todert,Butfondly,perceinghimweakBeforeGods,andtoshepherdsafear,Aholiness,hornandheel。
AllthisshehadlearntinherearFromCallistes,andtaughthimtofeel。
Yea,thesolemndinityflushedThroughtheshaggybrownskinofthebeast,Andthesteepswherethecataractrushed,Andthewildswheretheforestispriest,Werehistempletoclothehiminawe,Whileshespake:’twasawonder:shereadThehauntsofthebeakandtheclawAsplainasthelandofbread,ButCitiesandmartialStates,Whithersoontheyouthveeredhistheme,Wereimperousbarrier-gatesToher:andthatship,atrireme,Nearingharbour,scarcewakenedherglance,ThoughhedweltonthemessageitboreOfsceptreandswordandlanceTothebee-swarmsblackontheshore,Whichwereaudiblealmost,Soblacktheywere。ItbefelThathecalledupthewarriorhostOftheSongpouringhydromelInthunder,thewide-wingedSong。
AndhenamedwithhisboyishprideTheheroes,thenoblethrongPastAcheronnow,foultide!
WithhisjoyofthegodlikebandAndtheversedine,henamedThechiefspressinghotonthestrand,SeenofGods,ofGodsaided,andmaimed。
Thefleetfootandireful;theKing;
Him,theprompterinstratagem,Many-shiftedandmasterful:Sing,OMuse!Butshecried:NotofthemShebreathedasifbreathhadfailed,Andhereyes,whileshebadehimdesist,Heldthelost-to-lightghostsgrey-mailed,Asyouseethegreyrer-mistHoldshapesontheyonderbank。
Amomentherbodywaned,Thelightofhersprangandsank:
Thenshelookedatthesun,sheregainedClearfeature,andshebreatheddeep。
Sheworethewansmilehehadseen,AstheflowofthererofSleep,OnthemouthoftheShadow-Queen。
Insunlightshecravedtobask,Saying:Life!Andwhowasshe?who?
Ofwhatissue?Hedarednotask,Forthatpartlyheknew。
AnoiseofthehollowgroundTurnedtheeyetotheearindebate:
NotthesoftoverflowingofsoundOfthepines,ranked,lofty,straight,Barelyswayedtosomewhispersremote,Someswarmingwhispersabove:
Notthepineswiththefaintairsafloat,Hush-hushingthenesteddove:
Itwasnotthepines,ortheroutOftheardfrommid-forestinchase,ButthelongmuffledroarofashoutSubterranean。Sharpgrewherface。
Sherose,yetnotmovedbyaffright;
’TwasrathergoodhastetouseHerholidayofdelightInthebeamsoftheGodoftheMuse。
Andthesteepsoftheforestshecrossed,OnitsdryredsheddingsandconesUpthepathsbyrootsgreen-mossed,Spottedamber,andoldmossedstones。
Thenoutwherethebrook-torrentstartsToherleap,andfrombendtocurveAhurryingelbowdartsFortheinstant-glancingswerve,Decise,witholentwillIntheactionformed,likehers,Themaiden’s,ascending;andstillAscending,thebudofthefurze,Thebroom,andallblue-berriedshootsOfstubbornandpricklykind,Thejuniperflatonitsroots,Thedwarfrhododaphne,behindSheleft,andthemountainsheepFarbehind,goat,herbageandflower。
Theislandwashers,andthedeep,Allheaven,agoldenhour。
Thenwithwonderfulvoice,thatrangThroughairastheswan’snighdeath,OfthegloryofLightshesang,ShesangoftheraptureofBreath。
Norever,sayshewhoheard,HeardEarthinherboundariesbroad,FrombosomofsingerorbirdAsweetnessthusrichoftheGodWhoseharmoniesalwaysaresane。
Shesangoffurrowandseed,Theburial,birthofthegrain,Thegrowth,andtheshowersthatfeed,AndthegreenbladeswangmatureForthehusbandman’sarmfulbrown。