Themurmurhushesdown,theveilisrent。
Man’scry,earth’sanswer,heaven’sconsent,Herformisgentopardonedsight,AndletsourmortaleyesreceeThesovereignlovelinessofcelestialwhite;
Adoredbythemwhosolitarilypace,Induskoftheunderworld’sperpetualeve,Thepathsamongthemeadowasphodel,Remembering。NeverthereherfaceIsplanetary;reddenstoshoresea-shellAroundsuchwhitenesstheenamouredairOfnoonthatclothesher,neverthere。
Daughteroflight,thejoyfullight,Shestandsunveiledtonuptialsight,SweetinherdisregardofaidDinetoconquerorpersuade。
Afountainjetsfrommoss;aflowerBendsgentlywherehersunsettressesshower。
ByguerdonofherbrilliancemaybeseenWitheyelidsunabashedthepassion’sQueen。
ShornofattendantGracesshecanuseHernaturalsnarestomakeherwillsupreme。
Asimplenymphitis,inclinedtomuseBeforetheleaderfootshalldipinstream:
Onearmatcurvealongaroundedthigh;
HerfirmnewbreastseachpointingitsownwayAkneehalfbenttoshadeitsfellowshy,Whereinnocence,notnature,signalsnay。
ThebudoffreshrginityawaitsThewooer,andallroseatewillsheburst:
Shetouchesonthehourofhappymates;
Stillissheunawareshewakensthirst。
AndwhilecommandingblissfulsightbelieveItholdsherasabodystrainedtobreast,Downontheunderworld’sperpetualeveSheplungesthepossessordispossessed;
Andbidsbelievethatimage,heangwarm,Islosttofloatliketorch-smokeafterflame;
Thephantomanybreezeblowsoutofform;
Athirst’sdelusion,adefeatedaim。
Theraptureshedthetortureweaves;
Thedirestblowonhumanheartshedeals:
Thepaintoknowtheseendecees;
Noughttruebutwhatinsufferablyfeels。
Andstabsofherdeliciousnote,Thatisasheavenlylighttohearing,heardThroughshelterleaves,thelaughterfromherthroat,Weanswerasthemidnight’smorning’sbird。
Shelaughs,shewakensgleefulcries;
Inherdeliciouslaughterpartrevealed;
Yetmotherisshemoreofmoansandsighs,Forlongingsunappeasedandwoundsunhealed。
Yetwouldshebless,itishertasktobless:
Yonfoldedcouples,passingundershade,Areherrichharvest;biddencaress,caress,Consumethefruitinbloom;notdisobeyed。
Wedolorouscomplainershadadream,Wroughtonthevacantairfrominnerfire,WesawstandbareofhercelestialbeamThegloriousGoddess,andwedareddesire。
Thereatareshownreproachfuleyes,andlipsOfupwardcurltomeaningshalfobscure;
Andglancingwhereawood-nymphlightlyskipsShenods:atoncethatcreaturewearsherlure。
Blushofourbeingbetweenbirthanddeath:
Sobofourripenedbloodforitsnextbreath:
Herwilysemblancenoughtofherdenies;
SeemsittheGoddessruns,theGoddesshies,ThegenerousGoddessyields。AndshecanarmHerdwarfedandtwistedwithhersecretcharm;
BenevolentasEarthtofeedherown。
Fullyshalltheybefed,iftheybeseech。
Butscornshehasforthemthatwalkalone;
Blanchedmen,starvedwomen,whomnoartscanpleach。
Themenaschiefofcriminalsshedisdains,Andholdsthereasoninperceptethought。
Morepitiable,likererslackingrains,Kissingcoldstones,thewomenshrinkfordrought。
Thosefacelessdiscords,outofnaturestrayed,Rankoftheputrefactioneredecayed,Inimpioussinglesbearthethornywreaths:
TheirlesarewhereharmoniousPleasurebreathesForcouplescrownedwithflowersthatburnindew。
Comesthereatremorofnight’sforesthornAcrosshergardenfromtheinsanercrew,Shedarkenstomalignityofscorn。
Ashercoursesthroughhergarden-grounds:
Gruntofthetuskyboar,thebayinghounds,Thehunter’sshouts,areheardafar,andbringDeadonherhearthercrimsonedflowerofSpring。
These,theirreverentofLife’sdesign,DisionbetweennaturalanddineWouldcast;thesevauntingbarrennessforbest,InveinsofgatheredstrengthLife’stidearrest;
Andthesebecausetherosesfloodtheircheeks,VowtheminnaturewiseaswhenLovespeaks。
Withthemiswar;andwelltheGoddessknowsWhatunderminestheracewhomounttherose;
Howtheripemoment,lodgedinslumberoushours,Enkindledbypersuasionoverpowers:
Whyweakasareherfrailertrailingweeds,ThestrongwhenBeautygleamso’erNature’sneeds,Andtimelyguileunguardedfindsthemlie。
Theywhoherswaywithstandaseadefy,Ateverypointofjuncturemustbeproof;
NorlookformercyfromtheincessantsurgeHerforcesmedofcraftandpassionurgeFortheonewhelmingwavetospringaloof。
She,tenderness,ispitilesstothemResistinginhergodheadnature’struth。
Noflowertheirfaceshallbe,butwrithenstem;
Theiryouthafrost,theiragethedirgeforyouth。
Thesemiserablydisinclined,Thelamentablyunembraced,InsultthePleasuresEarthdesignedTopeopleandbeflowerthewaste。
WhereforethePleasurespassthemby:
Fordeaththeyle,inlifetheydie。
HerheadtheGoddessfromthemturns,Asfromgreymoundsofashesinbronzeurns。
Sheewsherqueringcouplesunconsoled,Andofherbeautymirrortheybecome,Likeorchardblossoms,apple,pearandplum,Freeofthecloud,beneaththefloodofgold。
Crownedwithwreathsthatburnindew,Hercoupleswhirl,sun-satiated,Athirstforshade,theysigh,theywed,Theyplaythemusicmadeoftwo:
Oldestofearth,earth’syoungesttillearth’send:
Cunningerthanthenumberedstrings,Formelodies,forharmonies,Formastereddiscords,andthethingsNotvocable,whosemysteriesAreinmostLove’s,Life’sreachofLifeextend。
IsitananguishoverflowingshameAndthetongue’spudencyconfidestoher,Witheyesofembers,breathofincensemyrrh,Thewoman’smarrowinsomedearyouth’sname,ThenistheGoddesstendernessMaternal,andshehasasister’stonesBenigntosootheintemperatedistress,Didedespairfromhope,andsighsfrommoans。
HergentlenessimpartsexhalingeaseTothoseofhermilk-bearervotariesAswarmofbosom-earthasshe;ofthesourceDirect;erraticbutinheart’sexcess;
Beingmortalandill-matchedforLove’sgreatforce;
Likegreenleavescaughtwithflamesbyhisimpress。
Andpraytheyunderskieslessovercast,Thatswiftlymayherstarofevedescend,Herlustrousmorningstarflynottoofast,Tolengthenblissfulnightwillshebefriend。
Unfailingherreplytowoman’svoiceInsupplicationinstant。Isitman’s,Shehears,approveshiswords,hergardenscans,Andhim:theflowersarevarious,hehaschoice。
Perchancehiswoundisdeep;shelistenslong;
Enjoyswhatmusicfillstheplaintesong;
Andmarkshowhe,whowouldbehawkatpoiseAbovethebird,hisplaintesongenjoys。
ShereadshimwhenhishumbledmanhoodweepsToherinvoked:distractionisimplored。
Asmile,andheisupongodlikeleapsAbove,withhisbrightGoddessownedtheadored。
Histalesofherdeclareshecondescends;
Cansharehisfires,notalwaysgoadsandrends:
Moreover,quitsathrone,andmustencloseAqueenliergemthanwoman’swaysiderose。
Shebends,hequickens;shebreatheslow,hespringsEnraptured;lowshelaughs,hiswoesdisperse;
Aloudshelaughsandsweepshisvariedstrings。
’TistaughthimhowfortouchofmournfulverseRarelythemusicmadeoftwoascends,AndBeauty’sQueensomeotherwayiswon。
Oritmaysolvetheriddle,thatshelendsHerselftoall,andyieldsherselftonone,Saveheavenliest:thoughclaimsbymenareraisedInhotassuranceundershadeofdoubt:
AndnumerousaretheimagesbepraisedAsBeauty’sQueen,shouldpassionheadtherout。
BesuretheruddyhueisLove’s:towooLove’sFountainwemustmounttheruddyhue。
Thatishergarden’sprecept,seenwhereshinesHerblood-flower,anditsunsoughtneighbourpines。
Daughteroflight,thejoyfullight,ShebidshercouplesfacefullEast,Reflectingradiance,evenwhenfromherfeastTheiroutstretchedarmsbrowndesertsdisunite,Thelion-hauntedthicketsholdapart。
Inlovetheruddyhuedeclaresgreatheart;
HighconfidenceinherwhoseaidislentToloversliftingthetunedinstrument,Notoneofrippledstringsandfuneraltone。
Anddoththemanpursueatightenedzone,ThenbeitastheLaurelGodheruns,Confirmedtowin,withcountenancetheSun’s。
ShouldpityblessthetremulousvoiceofwoeHeliftsforpity,limphisoffspringshow。
Forhimrequiringwoman’sartstopleaseInfantiletasteswithbabereluctances,Noraceofgiants!Inthewoman’sveinsPersuasionripelyruns,throughhersthepains。
Herchoiceofhim,shouldkindoccasionnod,AspiringblendstheTitanwiththeGod;
Yetuntodwarfandmortal,she,submissInherhighLady’smandate,yieldsthekiss;
AndisitneededthatLove’sdaintierbruteBesnaredashunter,shewilltemptpursuit。
SheisgreatNature’severintimateInbreast,anddothasreadyhandmaidwait,Untilpervertedbyhersenselessmale,Sheplaysthewindingsnake,theshrinkingsnail,Theflyingdeer,alltricksofelfame,Elusetoallure,sincehegrewtame。
HencehastheGoddess,Nature’searliestPower,Andgreatestandmostpresent,withherdowerOfthetranscendentbeauty,gainedreputeFormeditatedguile。ShelaughstohearAchargehergarden’slabyrinthsscarceconfute,Hergarden’shistoriestelloftoallnear。
Letitbesaid,ButlessuponherguileDothsherelyforherimmortalsmile。
Stilllettherumourspread,andterrorscreensTopushherconquestsbythesimplestmeans。
Whilemanabjuresnotlustihead,norswervesFromearth’sgoodlabours,Beauty’sQueenheserves。
Herspaciousgardenandhergarden’sgrantSheoffersinrewardforhandsomecheer:
ChoiceofthenymphswhoselookswillslantThesecretdownadewyleerOfcornereyelidsintohaze:
ManyafairAphrosyneLikeflower-belltohoney-bee:
AndheretheyflickerroundthemazeBewilderinghiminheartandhead:
Andheretheyweartheclosedemure,Withsubtlepeepstoreassure:
Othersparadewherelovehasbled,Andofitscrimsonweavetheirmesh:
Otherstosnapoffingersleap,Asbearingbreastwithloveasleep。
Theseareherlaughtersintheflesh。
Orwouldshefitawarriormood,Shelightsherseemingunsubdued,Andindicatesthefortress-key。