O,thesonginitsburdenranpure,Andburdentosongwasacrown。
Callistes,asinger,skilledInthegifthecouldmeasureandpraise,Byaral’sartwasthrilled,ThoughshesangbutaSongofDays,Wherethehusbandman’stoilandstrifeLittlevariestostrifeandtoil:
Butthemilkykerneloflife,Withhernumbered:corn,wine,fruit,oilThesongdidgehimtoeat:
GavethefirstraptsionofGood,AndthefreshyoungsenseofSweetThegraceofthebattleforfood,WiththeissueEarthcannotrefuseWhenmentotheirlabouraresworn。
’TwasasongoftheGodoftheMuseTotheforeheadofMorn。
Himlovedshe。Lo,nowwasheveiled:
Overseastoodaswelledcloud-rack:
Thefishing-boatheavenwardsailed,Bentabeam,withawhitenedtrack,Surprised,fasthaulingthenet,Asitflew:seadashed,earthshook。
Shesaid:Isitnight?Onotyet!
Withatravailofthoughtsinherlook。
Themountainheaveduptoitspeak:
Seadarkened:earthgatheredherfowl;
Ofbirdorofbranchrosetheshriek。
Night?butneversofellascowlWorenight,northeskysincethenWhenoceanranswallowingshore,AndtheGodslookeddownformen。
BroketempestwiththatsternroarNeveryet,savewhenblackonthewhirlRodewrathofasovereignPower。
Thentheyouthandtheshudderinggirl,Dimasshadesintheangryshower,JoinedhandsanddescendedamazeOfthepathsthatwereracingaleRoundboulderandbush,cleangways,Incessant,withsoundofahe。
Theheightwasafountain-urnPouringstreams,andthewholesolidheightLeaped,chasingateveryturnThepairinonespiritofflightTothefoldingpineforest。Yethere,Likethepausetothingshunted,indoubt,ThestillnessbredspectralfearOftheawfulnessrangingwithout,Andimminent。Downwardtheyfled,Fromunderthehauntedroof,TothevalleyaquakewiththetreadOfaniron-resoundinghoof,AsoflegionsofthunderfulhorseBrokenlooseandinlinetrampinghard。
FortherageofahungryforceRoamedblindofitsmarkoversward:
TheysawitrushdenseinthecloakOfitstravellingswatheofsteam;
Allthevalethroughathinthread-smokeWasthrownbacktodistanceextreme:
Anddullthefullbreastofitblinked,Likeabucklerofsteelbreathedo’er,Diminished,instrangenessdistinct,Glowingcold,unearthly,hoar:
AnEnnaoffieldsbeyondsun,Outoflight,inaluridweb;
AndthetraversingfuryspunUpanddownwithawave’sflowandebb;
Asthewavebreakstograspandtospurn,Retire,andinravenousgreed,Inveterate,swellitsreturn。
Upanddown,asifwringingfromspeedSightsthatmadetheunsightedappear,Deludeanddissolve,onitscoured。
Lo,aseauponlandheldcareerThroughtheplainofthevalehalf-devoured。
CallistesofhomeandescapeMutteredswiftly,unwittingofspeech。
ShegazedattheVoidofshape,Sheputherwhitehandtohisreach,Saying:NowhavewelookedontheThree。
Anddidedfromday,fromnight,Fromairthatisbreath,stoodshe,Likethevale,outoflight。
ThenagainindisorderlywordsHemutteredofhome,andwasmute,WiththeheartofthecoweringbirdsEretheyburstoffthefowler’sfoot。
HegavehersomerednessthatstreamedThroughherlimbsinaflittingglow。
Thesighofourlifesheseemed,Theblissofitclothinginwoe。
FrailerthanflowerwhentheroundOfthesickleencirclesit:strongTotellofthethingsprofound,Ourinmostutteringsong,Unspoken。SostoodsheawhileInthegloomoftheterrorafield,AndthesilenceabouthersmileSaidmorethanoftongueisrevealed。
Ihavebreathed:Ihavegazed:Ihavebeen:
Itsaid:andnotjoylesslyshoneTheremembranceoflightthroughthescreenOfafacethatseemedshadowandstone。
Sheledtheyouthtrembling,appalled,Tothelake-bankshesawsinkandriseLikeapanic-struckbreast。Thenshecalled,Andthehurricaneblacknesshadeyes。
ItlaunchedliketheThunderer’sbolt。
Paleshedrooped,andtheyouthbyhersideWouldhaveclaspedheranddaredarevoltSacrilegiousaseverdefiedHighOlympus,butvainlyforstrengthHiscompassionateheartshookaframeStrickenrigidtoiceallitslength。
Onamaintheblacktravellercame。
Lo,achariot,cleangthestorm,Clovethefountaininglakewithaplough,AndthelordofthesteedswasinformHe,theGodofimplacablebrow,Darkness:he:heinperson:heragedThroughthewavelikeaboarofthewildsFromthehuntersandhoundsdisengaged,Andanameshoutedhoarsely:hischild’s。
Horrormeltedinanguishtohear。
Lo,thewavehissedapartforthepathOftheterribleCharioteer,Withthefoamandtornfeaturesofwrath,Hurledaloftoneacharminasheet;
Andthesteedscloveit,rushingatlandLiketheteethofthefamishedatmeat。
Thenhesweptouthishand。
This,nomore,dothCallistesrecall:
Hesaw,erehedroppedinswoon,Onthemaidenthechariotfall,Asathundercloudswingsonthemoon。
Forth,freeofthedeluge,onecryFromthevanishinggalloproseclear:
And:Skiegeneia!theskyRang;Skiegeneia!thesphere。
Andshelefthimtherewith,torejoice,Repine,yearn,andknownothisaim,Thelifeoftheirdayinhervoice,Leftherlifeinhername。
NowthevalleyinruinoffieldsAndfairmeadowland,showingateveLikethespear-pittedwarrior’sshieldsAfterbattle,bademenbelieveThatnootherthanwrathfullestGodHadbeenlooseonherbeautifulbreast,Wheretheflowerygrasswasclod,Wheatandneasatrailingnest。
Thevalley,discreetingrief,Disclosedbuttheopentruth,AndEnnahadhopeofthesheaf:
TherewasnoneforthedesolateyouthDevotedtomournandtocrave。
OfthesecrethehaddinedOfhisfriendofadaywouldherave:
Howforlightofourearthshepined:
Fortheole,theneandthewheat,Burningthroughwithinheritedfire:
AndwhenMotherwentMothertomeet,ShewaspromptedbysimpledesireIntheday-destinedcartohaveplaceAttheskirtsoftheGoddess,unseen,Andbedrawntothedearearth’sface。
ShewasfirefortheblueandthegreenOfourearth,darkfire;athirstAsaseedofherbosomfordawn,WhiteairthathadrobedandnursedHermother。NowwasshegoneWiththeSilent,theGodwithouttear,LikeabudpeepingoutofitssheathTobesunderedandstampedwiththesere。
AndCallistestoherbeneath,Asshetoourbeams,extinct,Strainedarms:hewasshadeofhershade。
Indisionsoweretheylinked。
ButthesongwhichhadbetrayedHerflighttothecavernousearForitsownkeenlywakeful:thatsongOfthesowingandreaping,andcheerOfthehusbandman’sheartmadestrongThroughdroughtsanddelugingrainsWithhisfaithintheGreatMother’slove:
Othejoyofthebreathshesustains,Andthelyreofthelightabove,AndthefirstraptsionofGood,AndthefreshyoungsenseofSweet:
ThatsongtheyoutheverpursuedInthetrackofherfootingfleet。
FormentobeprofitedmuchByherdayuponearthdidhesing:
Ofhervoice,andhersteps,andhertouchOntheblossomsoftenderSpring,Immortal:andhowinhersoulSheiswiththem,andtearlessabides,FoldinggrainofaloveforonegoalInpatience,pastflowingoftides。
Andifuntohimshewastears,Heweptnot:hewastedwithin:
Seemingsaneinthesong,tohispeers,Onlycrazedwherethecrangsbegin。
OurLadyofGiftsprizedhelessThanherissueindarkness:thedimLostSkiegencia’scaressOfourearthmadeitrichestforhim。
Andforthatwasacurseonhimraised,Andhewitheredrathe,drytohisprime,ThoughthebounteousGerbepraisedThroughtheislandwithritesofoldtimeExceedinglyfervent,andreapedVenerationforteachingsdevout,Pioushymnswhenthecorn-sheavesareheapedAndthewine-pressesruddilyspout,AndtheoleandapplearejuiceAtatouchlightasherslostbelow。
WhatsoevertomenisofuseSpranghisworshipofthemwhobestow,Inameasureofsongsunexcelled:
ButthatsoullongearthandthesunFromherhomeoftheshadowsheheldForhisbeaconwherebeamthereisnone:
Andtojoinher,orhaveherbroughtback,Inhisfrenzythesingerwouldcall,Tillhefollowedwhereneverwastrack,Onthepathtrodofall。
Herisesandbeginstoround,Hedropsthesilverchainofsound,Ofmanylinkswithoutabreak,Inchirrup,whistle,slurandshake,Allintervolvedandspreadingwide,Likewater-dimplesdownatideWhereripplerippleovercurlsAndeddyintoeddywhirls;
ApressofhurriednotesthatrunSofleettheyscarcearemorethanone,YetchangeinglythetrillsrepeatAndlingerringingwhiletheyfleet,Sweettothequicko’theear,anddearToherbeyondthehandmaidear,Whositsbesideourinnersprings,Toooftendryforthishebrings,WhichseemstheveryjetofearthAtsightofsun,hermusic’smirth,Asuphewingsthespiralstair,Asongoflight,andpiercesairWithfountainardour,fountainplay,Toreachtheshiningtopsofday,AnddrinkineverythingdiscernedAnecstasytomusicturned,ImpelledbywhathishappybillDisperses;drinking,showeringstill,UnthinkingsavethathemaygeHisvoicetheoutlet,theretoleRenewedinendlessnotesofglee,Sothirstyofhisvoiceishe,ForalltohearandalltoknowThatheisjoy,awake,aglow;
ThetumultofthehearttohearThroughpurenessfilteredcrystal-clear,AndknowthepleasuresprinkledbrightBysimplesingingofdelight;
Shrill,irreflecte,unrestrained,Rapt,ringing,onthejetsustainedWithoutabreak,withoutafall,Sweet-silvery,sheerlyrical,Perennial,quaveringupthechordLikemyriaddewsofsunnyswardThattremblingintofulnessshine,Andsparkledroppingargentine;
SuchwooingastheearreceesFromzephyrcaughtinchoricleavesOfaspenswhentheirchatteringnetIsflushedtowhitewithsherswet;
Andsuchthewater-spirit’schimeOnmountainheightsinmorning’sprime,Toofreshlysweettoseemexcess,Tooanimatetoneedastress;
ButwiderovermanyheadsThestarryvoiceascendingspreads,Awakening,asitwaxesthin,Thebestinustohimakin;
Andeveryfacetowatchhimraised,Putsonthelightofchildrenpraised;
SorichourhumanpleasureripesWhensweetnessonsincerenesspipes,Thoughnoughtbepromisedfromtheseas,Butonlyasoft-rufflingbreezeSweepglitteringonastillcontent,SerenityinrashmentForsingingtillhisheavenfills,’Tisloveofearththatheinstils,Andeverwingingupandup,Ourvalleyishisgoldencup,AndhethewinewhichoverflowsToliftuswithhimashegoes:
Thewoodsandbrooks,thesheepandkine,Heis,thehills,thehumanline,Themeadowsgreen,thefallowsbrown,Thedreamsoflabourinthetown;
Hesingsthesap,thequickenedveins;
TheweddingsongofsunandrainsHeis,thedanceofchildren,thanksOfsowers,shoutofprimrose-banks,Andeyeofoletswhiletheybreathe;
Allthesethecirclingsongwillwreathe,Andyoushallheartheherbandtree,Thebetterheartofmenshallsee,Shallfeelcelestially,aslongAsyoucravenothingsavethesong。
WasnevervoiceofourscouldsayOurinmostinthesweetestway,Likeyondervoicealoft,andlinkAllhearersinthesongtheydrink。
Ourwisdomspeaksfromfailingblood,Ourpassionistoofullinflood,WewantthekeyofhiswildnoteOftruthfulinatunefulthroat;
ThesongseraphicallyfreeOftaintofpersonality,SopurethatitsalutesthesunsThevoiceofoneformillions,InwhomthemillionsrejoiceForgingtheironespiritvoice。
Yetmenhavewe,whomwerevere,Nownames,andmenstillhousinghere,Whoseles,bymanyabattle-dintDefaced,andgrindingwheelsonflint,Yieldsubstance,thoughtheysingnot,sweetForsongourhighestheaventogreet:
Whomheavenlysinginggesusnew,Enspheresthembrilliantinourblue,Fromfirmestbasetofarthestleap,BecausetheirloveofEarthisdeep,AndtheyarewarriorsinaccordWithlifetoserve,and,passreward,SotouchingpurestandsoheardInthebrain’sreflexofyonbird:
Whereforetheirsoulinme,ormine,Throughself-forgetfulnessdine,Inthem,thatsongaloftmaintains,TofilltheskyandthrilltheplainsWithshoweringsdrawnfromhumanstores,Ashetosilencenearersoars,Extendstheworldatwingsanddome,Morespaciousmakingmoreourhome,TilllostonhisaerialringsInlight,andthenthefancysings。