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DANA©.

,»»»*>

t o re

Fi«sT published in xhe Dial mdcccxciii.

AFFCCTIONATCLY DCDICATGD TO C. H. S.

fy^43?^8

THG STORY.

A dauqhTCR -was bonn to Acnisius, kinq of A«qolis, and called Danae, and Taken to The TcmpleoF Zeus as ThecusTomwrould have it done. Thene Those who had b«ouqhT heR, havinq made an OFFeHinq, awaiTedan Oracle, when p^onouncemenT was made to This cffcct: ThoT The son of This child should slay hett FaThejR. Now Aci^isius was no kinq by naTune; no, noT so much as a bnavc man is; he, The«eFO«e, Thinkinq to p«evenT Fotc, dcTcnmined to immufie his dauqhTe«, and, by The Time ThoT she was w^eaned, had «aisea a Towe« OF bi^ass, so sTRonq ThoT iT miqhT neve« be bi^oken inTO, so smooTh ThoT iT miqhT neve« be scaled, and so hiqh ThoT his dauqhTC^ wasReaned inThcTopOFiT beyond The neach of any man. Thene, Then, she was Hea«ed wiTh no OTTendance save ThoT of a sinqle c«one, who, as youThFul pocTs know, like all old w^omen had buT one sub jecT to con^- ve«se upon, namelyThescandalsoF love; now xhis one had been undefi such pcnalxies For- bidden he«, ThoT, as a companion, she was HttIc bcTTcr Than a hen. Danac's moThen w^as so sliqhTly considei^ed ThoT iT is noT known whcTher she died in qivinq bii^Th to het^,oii, iF noT,in w^hoTmanneR she suppo«Ted The Tyranny of hen husband. NevenTheless The will ThoT is Love hoTed The selFishcow- ardiceoFAcRisiusandchoscThechildThaTshe miqhT live immaculoTC and ycT become a happy moTher, in ordcTThaTThe blessedness OF TnoT sTaTC miqhT be made know^n,asalso iv

The nobleness OFxhe issue bo«nouTOF puniTy. FoK This was The moThen of ThaT Perseus, w^hosecjuoiThu«ledToanincHedibIedisTance, by accidenT, as had been prophesied, bnoke open The head of his cruel qrandsire; OFTer whichjusTmisForTune,heslewThemonsTrous Gorqon and delivered Andromeda From a SeO'-Draqon, beside beinq more beauTiFuI and doinq more heroic acTions Than iT is easy TO bear in mind. Zeus Then, The Will ThoT is Love, The Power ThoT is LiqhT, prepared e ver yThinq , and in due Time 4aid sieqe TO ThoT Tower, assaulTed iT and sct iT ot nouqhT. XhereoFTcr wiThouT OFFriqhT, wiThouT loss OFinnocence,wiThouTviolence,shame,orany awkwardness, wiThouT The never-'TO'-be^- whoUy --avoided TriFlinq of courTship, buT only once boThed naked and amorT in pure sunshine, The virqinconceivedandbareason. Whereupon Acrisius in a very qreaT panic, Thinkinq iT a miracle or w^orse, senT her to sea in an open chesT, her baby wiTh her ; buT LiqhT is over The sea and Love FindcTh a pOTh across The widesT ocean; nor was she ever in danqer,buT wiThouTFcar Found boTh haven andhome in Seriphos, where she brouqhTup her son as holil v as she ouqhT. This is The sTory ''such as youTfiFul poeTs dream On summer eves by haunTed sTream," and The poem like such dreams has no Fixed order or proqress, buT beqins and beqins aqain, and is broken off roTher Than ended. May This Danae make happy Friends w^iTh as innocenT a maiden and as blessed a moTher in Thy mind, also, qenTle Reader.

DANAG. APOeM.

BY

T. STURG©

MOOR©.

STILL, b«illianT whh bRiqhT bnass, xhe DANA©

TOweR decides

The sun's qold sharxs; -which sxRike, and on Of xhc

all sides, xowen's

Like^idicule-'liTlauqhTen, spread; andsome sieqc by

In bnave^y bend back whence xhey have qolden

come, liqhxand

And my xhein sTRcnqxh wixh xhose xhax of

come dinecx, DanaS's

Wixh rinsx impexuous poxency unchecked, swoon.

Ffiom xhe qodf's bow. Fon xhis xhe heax is

qneax

O'en all xhe land of A^qolis of laxe.

The kinq, Acnisius, hopes his xowe« may

pHove

ImpKeqnable xo liquid liqhx and love,

Rolled «ound ix in a qolden ocean-'xide

Whose ebb is a June niqhx: and so all dnied

And dusxyhavexhe ways become; xhe Fields,

They w^ind amonq, wixh q«ain a Hich soil

yields

Should qlow, nox xhus discover xo xhe eve,

Bexween sxjRaws lank and earless, whax

CKacks lie

And lenqxhen snake'-like on xhe b«ixxle

eanxh.

Liqhx in excess sxiFles hen nu«slinq minxh:

Old Inachus, mosx like a Fevened wnexch.

Who on his hox bed seance haxh sxnenqxh xo

sxnexch,

Doxh, Round sxones limpinq, Feebly seaward

cRaw^l:

While in xhe xow^eR'-xop Danac small,

Unconscious how a qod xow^and hen sxeals

vii

DANA© Across he« p«ison'-FlooR, lies numbed: no« Feels

His buRninq kiss xhe hand he Reaches ri^sT; But swooned amoRx, wixh sweax hen bRow has buRsx;

While pajRxed lips show xeexh like maids in boweR,

WheRe pasx xhem no sweex bneaxh haxh sxiRRed xhis houn.

Of he« An oracle had Zeus, xhe kinq of heaven, Foxheti's On xhis Ac^isius' Fond pexixion qiven: FoUy. " By xhe uninxendinq hand of xhy new^'-bo«n

And inFonx dauqhxen's son shalx xhou be

xoRn

FnomliFeandpow^eR: xillhexhaxaqeaxxain

When younq men xake xo quoixs Finsx, live

and^eiqn!"

Xhis silly kinq was Filled wixh hope ax once

Xo ouxw^ix Zeus, which proved him bux a

dunce;

His dauqhxe^ he FAom all men sxnaiqhx im^

mu«ed,

And deemed himselF F«om qRandsons xhus

secured.

Of heft Leaves lap and ovenlap, and xKees ; xhe lily,

body's Deep'-delled and F«aqile, q^ow^s up veny

qttowxh sxill^:

and ixs So silken shade and shaw^ls of varied hue

chanq^ Hid Danae who whixen daily qnew :

inq When moulds xhe poxxett on his whi«linq

beauxy w^heel

and OF Dumb clay, a hinx of Final cuRves w^ill sxeal viii

>^In polishx walls a sistcr round is kissed.

F«om clever hands in sapience su«e; just so DANA© QuainT querulous suqqesTions of a fIo\v Of conTouR simpler, moRe capacious, slips he« F^om God's xhumb when he moulds a sisTe«ly woman's hips. love for

Hen xhiqhs will lenqxhen FasTe« Than They The Re*- fiound, FlecTion

Till TheiR deliqhTFul devious line be Founds of ThaT The heels, too na^Row, of The HttIc fcct beauTy in Will qive hen STeps a wayw^a«d wav'^inq heR sw^ecT. minnot^.

As when, unpRopped, The heavy dahlias

STOOp,

HeR head nods, nods, and even he« spimTs

dftoop;

For noThinq saw she, save hen Room's fcw^

Thinqs,

BesidcThewell'-conned window --view; and

bRinqs

©achyeaRnoincReascToheRliFe'sThinsTORe

Of siqhTS— The only one noT known bcFORe,

A loRqcR loveliness, ThoT miqhT be Found

By seoRchinq The qReoT miRROR's polished

Round:

This had advenT so impcRcepTible

It dw^elT unnoTiced TheRe; and ycT, w^him-

Ful,

She loved to view (no soil or leviTy

In hcR FResh silenT mind) naked and FRee

HeR beauTy ;— puRely, wiTh no leasT alloy

Of FluRRyinq shame ThoT hindcRed to enjoy;

Nor vain ot all, since she had nevcR seen

Cyes like to Those w^hich modesT maidens

scReen

ix b

DANA© Themselves FjRom, neixhei^ knew Thar any qmls

TheRewene less ram xhan she,o« -who woRe curIs

Less copious on of poo«eR pu«ple sheen On lusTHe'-lackinq black. Oft wouldshe lean As xhRouqh a xhundeH'-Hain, while combinq

IT,

NoK Then alone bcFo^e hen tninnon siT;

FoH when (cool oftck washing w^iTh well'-

waTe«,

XhaT up The w^indinq sToin nuKse daily

bKouqhT hen,)

She qtiavely saT to musinqly commune

WiTh hett companion'-selF a June Forenoon,

To see so q«ave hen qenTle imaqe bnood

WiThiniTSRound,ThaTpensiveness«enewed,

Which, on The w^ane, bniqhT healTh had niqh

dispei^sed;

YeT, Thouqh in Revefiie sTill deep immersed,

To qain a smile's ficTunn someTimes she

smiled;

And FRom hen nurse's knee she, oft bequiled

When HttIc, by The bniqhT Resemblance to

Hei^ younq qlad Hfc, had TOTTCRed Tow^ands

The new

©spied child, w^hose F«esh «osy limbs «esem--

bled

Love's own in Theifi deep-dimpled mould,

ThoT Tfiembled

WiThin The mijRROR's qlimme«inq polished

deeps,—

So aT The foot of forcst T«ees Thei^e peeps

A sky c«esS'-F«amed ThoT lauqhs to necoqnise

AnoThe« blue. And, xhouqh she now knew DANA© berxeK,

She would noT sliqhx hen double noR FOjRqex heR,

BuxsmiledandhalF'-decepxionFRiendly'-w^ise LinqeRed, xhouqh hands no lonqeR paxxed, pleased

1 o meex xhem chubby xwins, as when she, seized

Wixh love, bunched up hen lips xo meex xhe lips

OuxxhRusx xo xhem; sxill no expedience sxRips,

(Thouqh silver disks may qive one xhe cold shoulder,

And xhouqh a dozen yeoRs musx leave one oldcR)

Thax veil, wixh child-dneams bnoidcRed, FRom hcR head;

Sxill someway sepoRaxe exisxence led The xwin, and nox so much moRe silenx, sisxeR

Wixh hcR up'-qRown. Nox once had she yex missed hcR,

As slow xheiR eoRliesx dimpled limbs dis^* covcRed

Mosx qRodual chanqe, and winsome spoRC'- ness hovcRed

WaywoRdly peepinq oux xill plumpness wenx:

O'eR salienx poinxs a ceRxain xiqhxness lenx A peevish pinched appeoRance; in siqhx xoo TheiR shouldeR-'blades moved looselieR ; a

new

*

DANA© Sly mcaqneness Thus cRcpx o'cr Them: like shooTs They sp«ouTed up to Taller q«owTh: as

«OOTS

SenT down iriTO da«k mould, qnew whiTen

daily.

STjRonqe innen eFFeRvescence sparkled qaily

OuTThRouqhTheiReyes. Yea ThusTheyqRew

andqnew,

And many a FKock is old ThoT oncew^asnew,

And ski«T TOO shoHT ThoT had been lonq

enouqh,

While Thin and Faded weans The paTTe«ned

STUFF,

Till hardly can she picTune up iTs ain When FifisT she puT iT on and Found iT Fain Upon hen sisTei^, who wiTh pneTTy qRoce Held iT OUT w^ide wiThin The miRRon's Face.

A Fond Can w^e now TUHn our hu«Ryinq ThouqhTs

plea Fo« away

noT leav'- FRomThosesweeTdaysr^ Theheat^Tmisqives

inq child- us, nay!

hood ycT. But linqei^ o'et^ The lovely, soon, fuU soon.

The moRninq hou«s lose chanm and iT is noon.

Of he« Thouqh eve«y week hen cloThes ane boRne

compan-- away

ionship Soiled, crumpled, limp, waiT seven days and

wiTh ne^ They

FlecTions Come back clean, smooThand neoTlyFolded,

in hejR so

mijRf(oi^ SlumbeReachniqhTRenewsheR. ThusTime's

and in The fIow^ xii

Seems noThinq^TiII she Find two sandals small DANA©

Fan back wixhin a cupboard on xhe wall,

And hardly can believe tHot xhey wene he«s, brazen

Then lauqhs for how xhe mmROR-sisxeR ^walls and

sxanes how it

At Tiny sandals Thefie* Thus lived They on was noT

Most silenT happy Twins, almosT alone enouqh.

And y CT noT quiTC ; for deep Through polished

walls,

InhabiTinq adjacenT dimmen-halls,

ThoT qleamed like vaque peRspecTives

'neoTh a lake

Mid waTCR'-lily sTcms, and halF'-aw^ake

Dusky on silvened Fish, whoT qhosTr^ WhoT

shade

OFhazieRqazer^WhoTdReamienshyeRmaidr^

OnwasiTqhosTs.^ (vaque as hcR sisTCR Fades

When hen b^eoTh dims The mi^ROR) qhosTS

OF maids (^

Friends .^ or one maqic qlidinq FRiend ThoT

ThcRe

Walks as They walk, moRe disTonT combs

hcR haiR (^

The miRROR held w^ho mosT a sisTCR seemed

YeT somcTimes of This OTheR had she

dReamed,

Who sTill was seen ThRouqhThoT poRT of The

wall

WhiTheR hcR qaze w^as TURned— wimpled a

shawl.

Or laced a slippcR , dim in qold haze dRo wned :

But iF she puzzled, lo! The miRROR FRowned;

So she musT smile to cheeR hcR ThouqhTless

FRiend

Xlll

DANA© And xhus unsolved hen medixaTions end*

No« miqhT she muse, when mom rhe ap*- poinxed place,

New budded bneasTs, dissimuIaTinq qnace As MoHch Flakes reiqn xhe snowdrop's calm, show^ed FOHms

Hazy like mushrooms w^hen xhe niqhx'-xime warms,

Thax qlobe and qleam, yex leave xhe sxars ^in doubx

If on xhe dew^y slopes xhey shiFx aboux. For, did she muse, her sisxer Fir sx qrew^ sxill, Then, as she harder xhouqhx. Frowned and looked ill;

So she For pixy could no lonq xime dwell Upon xhese mysxeries: yex all wenx well. Nor did she Find an urqency For xhouqhx Xo mark evenxs: soluxions came unsouqhx. Or w^ere nox needed: yex she had a need Unhelped, xhouqh chanqe xhus paxienxly proceed.

And she be never lonq whax she haxh been. Yea, even a mere whixe-mouse caqed and seen

ThrouqhclosC'-sxrunq wires, will wrixhe ixs sleek lenqxh hiqh.

And hold wixh pinky paws, and seem xo siqh While, sniFFinq xainxed air, ix seeks a venx From prison; andxhen scurries back,asbenx OnFindinq in xhe OFX'-searched Forxher end Some small escape ; and, since ixs birxh xhere penned,

Y ex lives on, never losinq childish hope Somehow evenxually ixs sense may cope xiv

Wirh mosT pei^plexinq lirc-'iinpHisonnienT: DANA©

Thus Danae, wiTh hoperul disconxeiiT,

Led TO and fro he« whire shape in hei^ lire's

Wall-'hampened home ; and sxill xhis useless

sTRire's

Faxique can bafiely disappoinx a mind

So scanxly versed m Freedom, on unblind

Xo Faxe's Fell FORce eyes closed by cha^ixy

Xo Real and miqhx'-be siqhxs' dispanixy.

'Tisxime,comexuRnxheseloixe«inqxhouqhxs Aqain

away Fondness

Fnomxhose child yea«s. Lack wexhe heanx pleadsFon

sxill .^— ' Yea nor yex

Yex linqejR o'cr xhe lovely; soon, fuU soon, leavinq

The mojRninqhou«s lose cha«m and ix is noon/ childhood.

OFmanne«sandaccomplishmenxs,youdeem, Of how in

So lonely maid had lixxle. This may seem spixe or

Quixe ce«xain; yex, e'en as hen xenden Flesh lack of

Thax«eadilyxookpninxonblenched,soFnesh ensomple

The quiexqods had kepx hen qnow^inq mind; and heR

Leaves, wex wrixh dew in lexxucC'-heanxs seclusion

conFined, she yex

Ane nox mone dainxy on mone clean of hue : came xo

Thouqh, nevenxoFibxempxed, she wasxnue. beormosx

Two chanminq Fcex xauqhx hen how^ besx xo qnacious

w^alk ; disposi"

To please a sensixive ean she xnained hen xion. xalk;

Full OFX xo six upniqhx made hen Feel qood And noised hen lanquon xo a bexxen mood. Concenned xo judqe of objecxs which wene besx,

XV

DANA© WaTchrul fo« inTuixion, she would tcst

Hen leasT decision by f^enewed appeals

Xo quick expedience; how ix is she reels,

Spacing hen conal necklace beads wixh

spmqs

Of hen^-and'-chicken rejRn, and how wixh

xwiqs

Of box, whose leaves resemble beexle^

winqs:

Thus, xHocinq beauxy xh^ouqh a xhousand

xhinqs,

HeHFeaxu«eshadassumedaneaRnesxmien,

Which would have w^ell become enxhjRoned

queen.

Y ex, as a bneeze wixh honeysuckle, she

Had madcap momenxs, and hejR locks w^ould

Fi^ee i> To dance andxwine; xhis Freedom so became

xhem

She OFX indulqed ix and w^as loxh xo xame

xhem;

Yex w^hen she did, xhoRouqhly combed, she

bound xhem

Wixh i^ibbons, on in sx«inqs of peanls en-

w^ound xhem, '' Plaixed xhem now, and now^ would have

xhem c«imple.

On snood xhem up complexely in a wimple :

For each success suqqesxed new successes.

Till she was xauqhx disxincxion by hen

xnesses.

Ax meals, in ordinance for seemliness.

Hen p«acxice like peRFCcxion did express!

Disqusx, waxchinq nen nuRse's commonways,

xvi

>^Sh€ kneels in awe beholdinq lavish liqhx.

Had TauqhThe« whax to avoid, and naxive DANA©

q«ace

Had chosenFinC'-cuT moRsels, modcnaxe sips,

And placed a napkin by to >vipe hen lips :

'Thank you' and 'please' she said, Till nunse

exclaimed

ThoT moTched wiThhen aqoddess miqhTbe

shamed!

Which pHaise qave hen q«eaT pleasuRe; in

Reward

A kiss TO The old c«one she -would accord ;

For she had learned to win hen judqes ovejR.

WheRe is iT women will noTThis discover r'

Hen HttIc Tei^RO'-coTTa dolls to see

HomeTOTheiRcupboaRd,TauqhTheRcouRT'-

esy;

For They wene bniTTle, easily upseT,

As much so as Folk for poliTeness mcT.

To lay FOR meals and puT away hcR Toys

ThusexeRcised hcR toct and FURnishedjoys:

While moThsThaTenTCRed duRinq The w^oRm

niqhTS

WcRe novelTies, exciTcmenTS and deliqhTs.

TheiR mealy winqs,Full eoRly, she RespecTed,

And wiTh boTh hands behind hcR Tnem in*-

specTed,

Snjoyinq qolds and bROwns and moRblinqs

Rich,

In shadinq FineR Than The FinesT sTiTch

ThoT silk embRoidcRy can hope for ; she

TheiR delicoTC cuRved FeoThcRed anTcnnae

AdmiRed, andsupposedThemanhead-dRess.

TheiR jew^elled eyes she knew^ ot once. Oh

yes!

xvii c

DANAG Thouqh some bo«e eyes upon Them pinions painxed,

Wirh such deceivinq VNriles shevsras acquain- Ted,

The bRonze'-q«een Rose'-buq and xhe lady- bind

Paid visixs ; calls of buxxenrlies occunned MoHe Ranely ; spa^Ko ws could be luned wixh CRumbs,

And even doves; while wasps would liqhx on plums.

The cha^acxens of all she soon divined; And F«om xhe rinsx, xhese lasx disxnessed hcR mind;

For cRuelxy seemed such a p«ooF of xhouqhx, She deemed xhis insecx wiscR xhan she ouqhx, AndhaxedixFaRmoRexhanxhe«ew^asneed; Xo womenpoRxial judqmenxs Zeus decreed.

A xhind Come xui^n, xhouqh laxe, xhese xoo Fond

xime xhouqhxs away

Fondness F^om hen fuU days. Sxill, sxill, Love plead'-

pleadsFO« exh, ' nay !

linqemnq Bux linqen o*en xhe lovely, soon, fuU soon,

oveH The monninq houRs lose chanm and ix is

childhood noon!'

OFhe« bed How lonq ix xook bcFORe hen bed was made ! wixh xhe Such precious canes expended, overpaid monninq InselF-appRovalsw^eexxhemselves! Ixsxood, and even *- A scoFFold house of slender painxed wood, inq joys Secluded like a shi^ine ran in xhe i^oom Relaxed Whe^e cuRxains xhnouqh xhe day made xheRCTO. hallowed qloom. xviii

Deep (many a dove qavG eveny bosom fgQ'- DANA©

tHcr)

The maxTHCss hunq on sT^aps of plianx lea--

xheK,

Which, xhRouqh each oThe« plaiTed, joined

xhe FKame;

Soft we«e xhe pillows ; oven all xhe^ecame

A covcRlex which made sheexs qleam so

w^hixe,

Heaven's lininq, ouxwa«d xuRned, less dazzl-

inq bniqhx

Appea«sxoxhosewho,axxheheiqhxoFnoon,

Loll back on scenxed heaxhen laxe in June

And sound, beyond blue, blue and blue be^-

yond.

Blue dKunk inxo sea sleepinq like a pond

Beneaxh such heavens, could scarcely maxch

xhax quilx,

Whene xhe pROFusion of xhe niqhx w^as spilx !

Numberless sxaRs, yea, sxa«s of every size!

Thus Friendly niqhx and day did Fr axer nize ;

Only xhe jealous sun, he w^as nox xhere ;

He wixh a silver crowd wouldnoxhinq share,

Neixher a spanqled cloxh nor day'slonq void,

Throuqh which he rides in pomp, sole, sad

and cloyed :

Yex o'er her navel, w^hen she lay supine,

In ixs Fir sx quar xer meek xhe moon did shine :

This served Forw^armxh; buxoh! above her

head, ^

Hunq xhe real qlory of xhax lovely bed;

Which she, halF'-dreaminq, sxudied many a

morn

Wixh inFanx happiness, Sleep's newly-'bor n.

xix

.DANA© Fanwise did Icary bouqhs deprh o'eK depxh mse,

Like upward caves ok undei^'-sea qneen skies ; In whose aerial vaulxs xhe small s\veeT'- voiced

And neveR-weajRied choKisxe^s Rejoiced; And some had nesxs, and some wene build-- inq xhem,

And all made silence sinqinq ! Folk condemn Lonq houf(s spenx in xhis delicious -way ; Leave xhem xhe busy middle of xhe day ! Waxch Danac xhouqh, as pensive she un^- daessed

Like nun Rexi^inq Fi^om a wonld unblessed To deoR hcRselF and one qod's sei^vice vowed. When naked^ove^het^ limp weeds she bowed, As Hypnos bends above a cold sad coRse ToexxmcaxexhesoulsomesxRanqefiemoRsc Fofi xhinqs dispajRoqed once keeps clinqinq xhei^e,

Touched home xoo laxe; so bowed she and such coRe

She xook xo exxt^icaxe all knoxs and Fold HeHpjRexxysheddinqsneaxly;xhen,halFCold, Whipped in bexween xhe sheexs, and, wakened halF,

DRewonhejRsimpleniqhxdRessw^ixhalauqh To xhink how^ lazy she in xhis was pi^oved: Buxoux she qox xhax all ixs Folds be smooxh-- ed»

Chanxinq xo Anxemis hen eveninq hymn Wixh Raised hands, lookinq skywand, sxood a slim And pallid upniqhx, like a sxyle of sxone,

XX

On like xhe moon-Iix paxh on wqtcrs lone. DANA©

Then, qlidinq back to bed, she made a nesx

RemembeRinq all xhe qames xhax pleased

hen besx

Whax xime she, younqe«, raised up xenx or

cave

And head xh^usx downward did xhe dank'-

ness bfiave*

So, smilinq like a moxhejR o'cjr such xhouqhx.

Sank, as lear rloaxs downxh^ouqh axemple

COURX,

DownxhROuqh Sleep's vasxy halls of marble

black—

Like sxaR-Koy xhRouqh dank sea, sank down

and back.

Bux O RexujRn, «exuf^n FRom xhose swcex Of xhe days ! bt^azen

Behold xhe xheme of oun Fond wande^inq xowe«,

E Raise, xhe sieqe

len Foxhe^'s should'-be deanesx, FRom his of xhe couRx qolden

Cxiled, xhax lonely lies, swooned and amoRx! liqhx and WhcRe b^illianx wixh bniqhx biiass xhe mot^e of xowejR decides xhax

Xhe sun's qold shoFxs ; which sxnike and on swecx all sides, comrade-

Like ridicule-lix lauqhxer, spread; w^hilc ship wixh some xhe re-

in bravery bend back whence xhey have Flecxed come, imaqe of

And xry xheir sxrenqxh wixh xhose xhax herselF come direcx, xhax con-

Wixh Firsx impexuous masxery unchecked xinues xxi

'•'%*

DANA© FnomThe qod's bow ! ThencTheRe ! as orchid

may, even inxo To make an oak's xop mossy hollow qay, he« Be fiea^ed and blossom out of Reach and

swoon* siqhx,

Wind'-sown, The nuRslinq of wa^m qenial

liqhT,

She dw^ells; and The^e dw^ells deep in pol*-

ished walls

The one companion to hen Iot ThoT Falls,

He^body's double, FOR hejR soul's one Fmend,

ThoT STill wiTh hcRTO evcRy Task doTh bend

And lends a hand w^hen she hen needle

ThjReads,

In STep wiTh hen acRoss The coRpeTTReCids,

And qhosT'-like heaves a siqh ThoT is noT

heaRd,

And shapes wiTh shadowy lips a soundless

WORd,

Whene'eR Danae has a siqh to heave

Or dRops a woRd ThoT makes The silence

qRieve

To Think iT was buT one* This sisTCR STRonqe,

ThoT ciRclinq wideR Round hcR Ufc doTh

Ranqe,

She haTh believed moRe neaT, qRaccFul and

kind;—

Since in hcRselF she blemishes can Find;

And, when she does, hcR quick eyes TURn

wiThin,

So nevcR coTch The FoiR RepeoTcd sin:

And, w^hen aqain she qlances TOwoRd hcR

qlass.

She views hcR ow^n RepRoachFul muTC ' alas ' ;

xxii

FoK F«om The wralls across xhe disk it stcqIs DANA©

Like a dean Friend come close to say she

reels

AH soRi^ow QT hen misbehavinq rniend;

But, ene she speak, Those admoniTions end

On rindinq sonnoysr^ all as deep as hens,

Welcome hen own, STKeTched upon qlisTen*-

inq runs

TheRe,like sTill, Fallen STaTues on old lawns,

Deep puzzles FOjRThe counTRy '-minded Fauns,

These sisTCRs slumbeninq lie. While mimic

sun

Up one ouTSTKCTchedaHm, cauTious,c«awls,

up pne

Real sun^-lips sTcal, a^'quiven ycT to scane.

So lose, TheiR pnize; whom Zeus is well

awai^e

Lies noT a-puRpose in his poTh. Fnom Fean

He e'en Fonbids The swallows Tw^iTTCR nean.

While in hen boTh she w^ashed henselF ThaT How and nionn aT whaT

A dizzy w^hi«l had F«om hen senses boi^ne Time The The sTajRTled soul ; FinsT, ene she strovc to swoon mse ToofcheR

All TRemblinq wiTh The blankness of sur-- dui^inq pmse, w^hichshe

(She may have been day'-dneaminq in The became waTe«) endued to

Flashinq upon iTs suRFOce sunliqhT cauqhT ThaT ele*- hen ; menT of

NexT, sTRuqqlinq up and out on Tow^els love; , spi^ead Thence--

iSoFT snowy for hen wct bane fcct to Ti^ead, FOjRwand xxiii

DANA© The baxh she Fancied sTood nox whene ix used;

xo dwell The «oom swam Round hen xhen* Dizzy,

xhenein. conrused,

Thouqh Tu«ninq hat w^ildefied wixh xhe «ockinq

escapinq liqhx

xhaxex*- Thax leapx up off xhe new quix waxen

XRavO" bniqhx

qance of And qave hen chase, she xufins, and xuRns,

know*- and sinks,

ledqe HoIf xnies xo xhink, yex knows she noxhinq

which xhinks,

know^s Bux droops alonq beyond xhe xow^elled

w^hax ix is space

nox, she r eels a woRm dai^kness close dow^n o'en hen

beinq Face.

qood shall And Feels no mot^e no« heoRs hen nuRse's

xhink no knocks

evil. Or voice xhax bids hcR Raise xhe laxch xhax

locks

The dooR FRom xhe inside : xhe liqhx is Round hcR

And Zeus as in a qolden sea has dRowned hcR To which she is nox naxive, bux endued Shallbe ene lonq,and xhen w^ixh Hfc Renew^ed Shall,sweex soul,xoixsdepxhs beamuxeFish, Yex nox know Zeus*s w^ill, he doxh nox w^ish Thax she should know,bux is moRe xhan con- xenx

SeoRchinq xo Find hcR all his love had meanx, As FResh, as qladdeninq as hcR body's beauxy, In xhouqhx and will, which call xhemselves nox duxy,

Bux ane w^hax xhey should be,— enxiRely qive xxiv

The quendon fo« which lire is bound to live, DANA© SelF'-appHobaxion of such inw^a^dness; It could qRow conscious buT by beinq less.

Daily, iT had been, when some houR enTCRed Of hen

In OT hen casemenT hiqh, Zeus even daned coy dis--

Come close up to The Tail embi^oideninq trust of

FRame:-^ The LiqhT

Just as his FinqejRs sct hen wools OFlame, and hov^r

She sTOjRTed up to move mo«e in The shade; she be*-

STill on he cRepT, and STill she was OFRoid came

To Feel his Touch; so his liqhT widened, Till mo«c

No shade, excepT beneaTh The window'-sill, Friendly

Was Icft; Thene cnouched she in The bRoad*- wiTh it.

'ninq belT

And w^aTched The ci^imson of his lasT «ays

melT.

She liked to see and dodqe him nound The

Room,

Which was qReoT Fun; he qone, all qiiew to

qloom.

So had she done, oh OFTen, veny oft!

BuTchanqehad come, a q«adual chanqe and

SOFT,

STealinq as in ran slippei^s to hen side,

AndTouqhThei^ less to hu«Ry,mof^e to qlide.

She sTole away STill when bfioad Rays en*-

cRoached;

But now^, as Thouqh she Feared to be Re*-

pRoached,

Would hold hcR hand back in Thein qolden

showe«.

Then insTonTly wiThdnaw^ iT: Round hen

bowcR

XXV d

DANA© Was xhus pursued and sxooped bencaxh xhc

Like one whom awe and silence wholly rill,

And wonder ax xhe expense of w^anmxh, of

powen,

Of liqhx, of qloKy : and xhe xwiliqhx houR

Had OFX sufipnised hen in such ecsxasies.

Then had she nisen sxirrly FRom hen knees

Xo qaze oux on xhe xRanquillizinq hues,

Blues xhax ane almosxqjRay, q^aysxhaxajRe

blues;

And as xhe sxa«s came oux w^ouldxhen recall

Xhe xhouqhxs xhax houH would bjRinq when

she w^as small.

For xhen of old he^ nuRse would Hfx hen

whene

She miqhx w^ellwaxch old darkness ovenbean

Xhe youxhFul liqhx w^hom all xhinqs plead

FOR,— sheep

Whobleax,andlowinqheRds,and,halFasleep,

BiRds, even loaxh xo noxe how day's cup Fills

Wixh joy; and sxables, xhen, and w^oods and

hills

Hush up; nymphs, cenxauRs, Folk wixh xails

and hoRns,

Sexxle xhemselves in nooks neoR luUinq

bouRns.

Xhen, Floaxed xo hcR head, came childRen's

chaxxeR,

And she, ixmay be, sxoRxled by such claxxeR,

Would lex hcR eyes dRoop down xo doRk'ninq

eoRxh,

And waxch xhem playinq in xheiR noisy

miRxh.

XX vi

OFTTimes They, quaRnellinq, Fell by xhe ea«s DANA©

For some small sudden play '-chance; xhen

hen xeatis

Ran rasT, and such upheaving sobs vsrould

Rend

Hen sliqhx pRail F^ame as would nox know

an end,

Till she was xucked up in he« neax w^hixc

bed;

When would commence a cou«sinq xhjRouqh ,

hen head

Of wond'^inq queries, how^ xhein love and

haxe

WejRe i^oused, xill sxunned by sleep impoR--

xunaxe.

Why! a^ew^e back aqaininchildhood'sximet' A conres- NevcR bux xhus Hfc leaves xhax balmy clime, sion xhax To sxRonq Rexunns of inFonx xendenness childhood Yieldinq, and wiselv; and we likewise, yes, has nox Will yield and slowly xnavelFRomxhose days been lerx As she made journey slow^ly, ofx wixh qnacc andanex^- TuRned and kissed moods w^hich had been cuse for poRxed wixh. Fondness.

And, qaininq joy hcRselF, xo us shall qive.

So xall and slendeR laxeR on she qRew Of hcR

Thax, planxed on a fooxsxooI, she could view small The many lanes xhax led up xhRouqh xhe knoTV'- Fields, ledqecon*-

In which sxroU, xow^ORds wheRe deepCR ccRninq shadow^ shields love and

FiRsx Fallen leaves, xwo, whose younq sum- xhe uni-- mcR qRieves veRse.

xxvii

DANA© Thax auxumn Uttgr should as wixhcned leaves

Haunx xhc hedqe skmx, hanq «ound xhem bowret^inq bliss—

Dead moods of liqhx-FOOX spRinq which now xhey miss*

They loixen on and xhe wixhdnawinq sky Pixies reex slow^ in dusx, hiqhen, mone hiqh Recedexh and expandexh wideR o'en xhem SoFxened wixh prescience of xhe years bc'- Fore xhem,

Xhey, laxe, in mosx reposcFul counxry liFe, Have Found unresx and somexhinq of xhe sxriFe

Of hearxs, which cruel Cros loves xo see. Whax balm was xheirs xo sooxhe, as peace^' FuUy

Xhey wenx, arm^-linkedr^ whax made xhem so conxenx

In silence xhus xo walk, xoqexher leanx .^ Boundless and vaque, deep wishes welled in her;

Wide qrew^her eyes; and xhrouqh xheecho^- inq air

A memory (sad, sinqle, precious scrap Of love-lore) sanq, (while round her eyes she'ld wrap

Her hair xo blind xhem), whax she once had heard

A poor qir 1 sinq :— -so sorrow's xide recurred : '' Hasxe xhee, hasxe xhee xo my arms; Cmpxily

Hanq xhey, voided of xhy charms. Marry me!"

xxviii

Like some sick lear a rience wind hunxs alone DANA©

Pnovinq ixs qold ninq raise on sxem and

sTone,

This FeaxhejR mom Love's wrinq xo Danae

blew*

IqnoKonx of his name was she, non knew^

Auqhx OF his anxic qambols wixh xhe maids,

As, when she quesxions, hen old nuRse up*-

b^aids*

This c«one, be su«e, had had insxRucxion

sx^icx,

To"see how 'xis she lexs heRset be x«icked

To xalk OF love, men's manners, women's

wiles;

TheReFOHe, well'-xauqhx how innocence be*-

quiles

The weak lips xo unwise discovery.

Has bound hen xonque xo sxay mosx silenxly

Wixhin hen mouxh, xill, qRown so xacixuRn,

HejR qossip's'-heai^x has leannx xo nevcR

yca«n

FoH converse, xhouqh she x«uly loves xhe

child-

Who, xhe sonq sunq, lex loose hen hain and

smiled.

Soon liFxed eyes w^ene xempxed off anew

Amonq xhe sxors, xhose eyes mosx simply

x«ue,

Thouqhx bux small holes drilled xhnouqh a

KooF, xhe sky:

Whax should she know of qods on desxiny,

Of Zeus, sky^-kinq, on Kypnis andhen doves .^

Whax was xo xell of xhem excepx xhein

loves/

xxix

DANA© No pKayen she said; non had she leai^nx to muse

How lire's a d«eam, o« OFxhe soulxhax sues Foi^ speech FKom oux xhe FKosx-'boundlips of Faxe;

Non knew she auqhx of xhe omniscience qneax,

On how^ hejR small mind some would FOxheK so.

Yex xheRe of mysxeny w^as whax she miqhx know,

Who had Found xokens in he« xiny Round:— • Xhax lixxle limix of hen lire was qnound SuFFicienx for a lanqen, lovelier q«ow^xh, Axxachinq meaninqsxoxheliqhx ; howloaxh Ix was xo shine, she xhouqhx, xh^ouqh such small holes,

Whenxhevasxvoid,xhRouqhw^hichxheday's sun Rolls,

Ix could Flood, endinq niqhx's lonq xhijRSX unslaked;

Yex could nox cloxhe in w^onds hen Fancy's naked

Beauxy. Since hen vocabulary small, DRaFxedFRomouxheRnuRse's,miqhxnoxcall Hen xhouqhxs by name, she smiled xhem xo hen side,

A mind's eye^-harvesx sweexcR, nox more wide,

Than Filled a miseR'-baRRel's cynic'-round Of sky-blue. Disenxanqled and unw^ound. Hen idea of xhe home of blessedness. Whence sxans shone, could nox bind such vaque disxRess

XXX

As bosky qaRdens reed in qlow'-woi^m eyes,— DANA© Could noT release frohi rean or auxhoftize The hopes it red ; buT as xhax insecxcReeps, Pee«inq xhnouqh haze which ixs own Radi- ance sxeeps,

And shown by liqhx, xhax haunxs ix like a qhosx,

Afcwxufxs; so xhexhinqs hen lire loves mosx Arc shown xo he« wixh dispRoponxionaxe w^oRxh,

Lix by a heoRX as lonely FRom ixs binxh, As onxhe mooRs a qlow-wonm sxa^axniqhx : Poo« lone heoRx w^ande^inq foi^ FKom^ealms OF liqhx ! Hen swoon's di^eam is, xhax she, xi^ans*-

Eonxed xhixhen, oves, w^andeKs, closc'-companioned, nea« a mven ;

Un-chaRacxei^ized xhe Friend, w^hose anms embrace he«,

SlowpacinqdownapaxhsxaR-daisiesx^ace xhejRe.

Meanwhile ax home and FaR FHom such a place,

jThe sun, sxRexched o'eR he«, showe«s on hen race

Kisses,xhaxmeexnoblush,noRdinxxhesnow: Thus summei^ w^asxes, fo« all xhe hiqh peaks know.

Yex,btiillianx wixh biiiqhx b«ass,xhe xowe« Of xhe decides b«azen

The sun's qold shoFxs; w^hich sx^ike and on xowe« all sides, andorhen

xxxi

DANA©

FarheR's Folly.

Of hew The love vvixh

vsrhich she was loved alxhouqh unknown TO heR caused a bRiqhTen'-

Glance like bRiqhT ^ poRRied lauqhTeR,

spRead; and some

In bRoveRy bend back whence They have

come,

And TRy TheiR sTRenqTh wiTh Those ThoT

come diRecT,

WiTh TheiR Full qenial pOTency unchecked,

FRom The qod's heoRT. Oh vaniTy of pRide f

In which a Royal miscR hopes to hide

His cow^oRd puRpose, ot his child's expense,

STORvinq heR of Those beneriTs immense

Which, TO The qRowinq soul, FRiendship and

love

Yield like boon climoTes. Is noT Zeus

above r^

And will he be accomplice to Thy fcors r^

WhoT w^eapons hasT Thou 'qainsT him, save

Thy TeoRs,

If Thou dosT Think to oppose r^ How ! has he

qiven

His oRacle, ycT, sTill ouT'-bRovinq heaven,

STondcTh Thy cowoRd boasT of hollow

bROSS .^

Oh vaniTy of vaniTies, alas !

YcT she is loved: Zeus w^ell has w^eiqhed heR

need;

AlThouqh The w^ealTh wiThin heR be noT

FReed;

And she know noT, as oft iT is noT known

To maids whom heoRTs of woRTh have

claimed TheiR ow^n,

ThoT she is loved* No haunTinq of heR mind

By qaze or voice scts in ; sTill shall she Find

xxxii

>^Danae ax hen xwiliT laxrice pondens.

Solace in xhinqs unxhankruI^Fo^ hcR yea^n- DAN AG

inq.

YcT now dank silence wa«ms, hen raxe is itiq in hen

Tunninq days*

FRom lire love-sxinxed overmuch; foh save

Hen nunse, no one xo love, on xhax could

cfiave

Men love^she kne w,— «xhus lex heanx- worship

Fall

PoRxioned xo dead xhinqs— as some silken

shawl, XhaxshewouldholdaqainsxheRcheek,kissix,

Space oux, and bid ixs Folds hen Fancy Fix;

Till xhus an aFxennoon was w^hiled away,

Fondlinq ixs Foolish ya«ds. Anoxhen day

Bnouqhx fIow^chs xhax came in pixche«s, of^

a load

Plumpinq an apnon, o« else sinqly sxowed

I n w^ixh xhe buxxen, sprinkled o'en xhe FHuix,

On makinq dewy nesxs for eqqs, Finsx muxe

For qladness, nexx wixh clappinq hands, on

Feex

Thax xoxxeR wrixh impaxience, see hen qneer

Wixh ainy kisses lixxle Friends— small eyes

Glorious wixh qazinq on xhe liberal skies,

Senxbyxheopen-heoRxedFolkwho wonder

"How FORessmall pmsone« princess penned

up yondcR.^"

Fkiends, bux ah! xorxurc like xo xonque^-

xied love,

She knew no names for heoRxsease, or fox--

qlove;

The spindle-paRsley, puRple vexch, xhe

cloyeR

xxxiii t>

SweeT " AphRodixe's navel/' ''Nipple-«ed/' Jrien "Fly^-TRap/* on hen son "Love in a misx/'

Oi^ cmmson may called ''Kisses double*- kissed''—

Such wene xhe only names he« old nuRse knew,

Bux xold nox rea^inq she 'Id explain xhem xoo.

Nexx in hcRravouR sxood some exile shells— La^qe lips, aqape wixh wondeR^-wonkinq spells,

Which xhe ean hea«inq, vainly xhe mind sxi^ove

To dRedqe a meaninq FRom. So ofx she-wove Wixh nexs and xoils of hain one xo hen eoR, Deep in xhax cushion sunk she Found mosx dea«,— '

Hen Feex oux-'xhi^usx on xhe max mosx xo hcR mind,

Because, 'mid qneen w^aved lines, ix showed a kind

Of Ready needle-picxuRed likeness xo HeRvsrholebaRebody,oveRwrhichxheReFlew Much smaller poRxnaixs of he^selF, as she Is xo he« mind bnouqhx back by memory. As xhus she sixs, hejR xneasuRes piled aboux, Wo«dsFoilheReaRsxhax,inasailoR's,shoux— ''Aph^odixe,

Cach wave moxhcRs ,

Thine almiqhxy xxxiv

Fonm; uncovers DANA0

It each b«ceze, Thee TO please, And TO Tease All Thy love«s/'

Sun down, The Thick swoon FHom hen body Of heR liFTed : s'woon's

So, F«om FROST'-Film^d Tonn, a misT un-* endinq mFTed and of a

Lifts ycT hanqs wamnq nea«. A vivid qney conFused Blinded hcR; niqhT's cold cominqdnove away inTenval Hen sense once mone ; she slepT, while pain of pain did dRum which

WiTh muFFled hands hen Temples dull and conTinued numb. inTO hen

ConFusedly capi^icious dreams have w«unq dneams. Those Tones FRom hen wiTh w^hich ThoT qi^I had sunq,

While, as sea'-chanTs climb TwisTcd shells to bed,

Male woRds Th^ouqh dainTy doons have Reached hen head.

And FRom This niqhT, as some Fond woman Of The siTs chanqe

Beside hcR love, she wiTh The sun, when iTS ThoT FijRSTmaTin w^ealThplunqed onhcRshouldeR, FRom Till, ThaT

Havinq boThed and blessed hcR, iT slipped Time w^as o*eR The silL woRkedin

HeR soul subdued to miqhT of Thinqs hcR, and concealed, how^ she

The puRpose of hcR beinq unRevealed made a

XXXV

Fcmalc swan, lixrle Who, younq, Till xhen witHout a ca«e sailed

STone OF ^^\

T«ea'- Quits The deliqhTPul mm«oR of The lake

suites for And mid The flushes doTh hei^selF beToke

hejR baby '^o build a nesT; The FifisT ThoT she hoTh

Thouqh made,

she knewr Nor yeT Foresees iTs use. So now obeyed

noT OF his Doinac insTincT^s deep impeROTive;

cominq. GReaTTendeRnesssheToheR voice doThqive,

And how^ HeR movemenTS qRow^moRe lulling and w^oo

OT The moRe,

same HeR smiles come TRemblinqFRomheRheoRT's

Time she fuUcorc;

beqan to Like a bRimmed bowl in qlecFul anxioushands

neclecT HeR fcoturcs shake wiTh RopTURe : ThcRe

TheRe^ shesTonds

FlecTions TRonced, while The futurc ThRills hcR

OF hcRselF ThRouqh and ThRouqh,

boTh in Feelinq moRe qoodThan she knows Reason to,

miRROR As Thouqh she had been conqucRed FRom

and wall wiThin

and Took And hcR loRd, Love, ThRouqh hcR The woRld

TO siTTinq would win.

in The sun. While, FRom dim disTonce, dRowned in w^alls

ThoT qleam,

TheRe waiTs for hcR appRoach, as iT would

seem,

HeR hazy qolden double, waiTS and smiles.

Poor w^oRdeR shade, w^ho nevcR moRe be*-

quiles

HeR choRqe of inTCResT ; for squiRRel'-souled

Danac now puTs by. HeR hooRd will hold

xxxvi

Fot^ some one; wrho xhax some one is hen

mind

Has no clean knowledge ; yex hen wealxh sex

oux,

HeR xenna'-coxxa F«iends sxood all aboux,

She sixs amonq xhem and she smiles ax each

And someximes seems suRpaised xhey sxill

lack speech.

Then xakes xhe dea«esx wixh bnown curIs

and cap

Pale blue: him smilinq, naked, will she wRap

In hen besx kenchier, and away he qoes

TowaixinxhedankhoaRd. Zeusonlv knows

Who 'xis he waixs for xheRe w^ixh balls of silk,

Shells, silveR xRinkexs, and qold muqs ; hcR

milk

She now dRinksFRom a bowl of maple wood,

Yex suRely Finds ix xwice as Rich and qood.

So chanqed she w^as. The woRld xoo seemed

becalmed :

All summeR wonxs sxill linqeRed unaloRmed.

For xhe FicRCCFOResX'-FiRes of auxumn sped

SlowcR, qlow^ed loRqcR wixh less hecxic Red,

To equal xhe qReax qlow^ of July qold.

Ix seemed xhax ne'cR, xhey Fallen low, xheiR

cold

Whixe ashes would be huddlinq Round xhe

FaRms

And chokinq in ax dooRs. On False aloRms

BiRds Flew xo sea: sxill xhe bland weaxheR

sxayed;

LaxeR, xhe roof of clouds, Renx xhRouqh or

FRayed,

xxxvii

Men's heaKxs. Such Fondlinq had xhc xowc« deai^,

Whc«e each and all xhose qleams aRe welcomed like A lover's lexxen.

How xhe When younq breezes sx«ike

spRinqRe'- A xune, and SpRinq, sp«y wanxon, comes, xu«ninq hen nuRse

made Looks puzzled, makes heRpinched-up lips xo

many pu«se,

xhinqs Andheneyesblink, bewildered, axxhemaid, apparenx Who qoldly qlimmens in xhe qleam,— OFRoid xhax be-- XheyhavenoxxoldhejROFxhexhinqamqhx, FORe wene She Falls xo rubbinq xhem "wixh all hen miqhx ; hid and of Foh, lo ! a wroman w^ixh child, no maid,isxhax hci^ Sixs w^henexhe maid ayearbeFORe had sax,

Faxhe^'s She Fain had qox xo scoldinq bux delayed, conse*- So clean xhe eyes she mex; and xhen she

quenx pnayed

panic and She miqhx be much misxaken, and sxill knew cRuelxy. She was nox; such a queen knox how undo r'

Fonshehadne'enaninsxanxlcFxxhexow^en,

Scancely xhe noom Fon much mone xhan an

houn*

Who could have done xhisxhinq (^ O ye qneax

qods.

Walls, locks, and all man's canes make lixxle

odds

To you, when once ye have a mind, a xhinq

Shall be: well may a man sxane, whisxle,

sinq* xxxviii

And blow upon his nails, ir ye have enTe«ed DAN AC

Wixh him a Race on \vhich perhaps had

cenxRed

Dozens of spanqled hopes— o« lire ; 'xis one,

And xhe Race won berone xis even Run.

So, when a boy'-child came to liqhx, hcR

FaxheR

Had xo be xold he was qRandsiRe; xhouqh

RaxheR

His eaRshadheaRdhisdauqhxeR,pined away

In pRison lone, was qone xo sw^ell, xhax day,

The dim Ranks of his dead who waix m

eoRxh's

SxRonqholds, all kinqs, or issue by xheiR

biRxhs

Of kinqs, or queens, or queenly ^-moxhcR^d.

He Felx as xhouqh an iRe^-FORqed bolx

o'eRhead

Was huRxlinq wilFuUy, like xo xhe disc

Younq men in RivalRy huRl, wheReby qReax

Risk

Is Run by such as waxch : so, all ax once,

FeaR,woRsxmidwiFeFORacxion,didensconce

HcrscIf w^ixhin xhe unheRoic head

Of kinq AcRisius ; and sxRoiqhxway FRom bed

Women she knows nox dRoq xhe hapless qiRl.

A chesx xhey bRouqhx inlaid wixh jex and Qf hcR

peaRl, jouRney

Wixh ivoRy incRusxaxions held by nails xow^aRd

Of oRichalc : yex seasoned, such as sails ^he open

For monxhs uninjuRed o'eR xhe salx Levanx, sea : xhe

The dovexailed cedoR FRame. Bevelled, I q«cax

^^apT, elemenx xxxix

wixhin: whose And yeT xhem purpose witH it was buT sin ! enei^qy The cumbrous lid had been ptiized F«om its conquers hinqes,

Feanand Blood, FKom Tonn Finqei^s shed Then, qRimly qives Tinqes

Freedom, DankeR The dank wood nean Thei^ FORmen Teachinq place;

TO oilmen Oh, deep and b^oad and lonq enouqh The a TKue space

know-- Its scenTcd sides enclosed; cushion and shawl ledqe of TheysTinTnomoRCThanFORanalcovesmall, Them" Draped ThoT a queen miqhT choT wiTh a selves : so princess ;—

ThoTsome Thein heaRTsw^ene handasnaked planks no become less!

beasTS They placed The FKiqhTened moThcR in This Th«ouqh box

sojourn STill in hejRniqhT-'shiFT. NouqhTshe STtiives, The«eon, buT i^ocks

and And i^ocks hen baby, Rocks hen own heafiT's

some tcrhor;

heroes. And by This meekness doubles-dyes Thein But she ennon,

shall be Who Hft hei^ dow^n and Round The towcr TauqhTTO sToii^

know he« And ST^ap The huqe chesT rinmly to a pain happiness Of lonq stout liTTe« poles; The slaves Flaq ThoT she noT,

may con^- But sct iT swinqinq, bjReakinq to a TfiOT, Tinue in And on she passes Thnouqh The Tow^n, shawl •- blessed- hid, ness. Like muFFled q^anddame to a banqucT bid.

xl

But scenxs no dnuqqd wrhiFFS FRom xhem

shaken cukIs;

She hea«s xhe slaves hail xhose who block

xhe way,

Sees noxxhe xonchlix ma^kexbi^iqhx as day ;

She heoRs loud heanxy sailoRs, in xheif^

xavei^n,

Rousinq ixs qaunx d«iFX'-ximbe«s like a

cavern.

"Aphnodixe's

In xhe ocean;

All, xhen, niqhx is

Wixh ixs moxion ..."

Sees nox xhe painxed qoddess, ixs lewd siqn,

Soused by xhe hiccupinq i^oysxeneRs, dnip

wixh wine ;

Sees nox xhe pine bnand blaze above xhe

guay, lUxheaKsanmedheelscKunchshinqleheavily* While FO« xhis causexhe chesx uneasy i^eels, UndeH and xh^ouqh xhe w«aps ix sxii^s she Feels

A FResh w^ex wind, and hea^s xhe welxeninq wash

Of waxejRs; xhen xhe poles «un oux, reex splash :

And, when, sex dow^n aqain, she raised hen eyes.

She saw xhe simple sxa«s, xhax in suRpnise We^e cRow^ded close xoqexheR. Lonq, she, dazed.

Lay like a Fallen winq'd'-xhinq; w^hile xhe Raised

To i^ow'-lock's duUM beax, processional Parade blackbloxxedqroups of poplar xall Like muxes; bexween xheir xrunks, like lines OF xombs,

On eixher side behind, xhe niqhx misx qlooms : Andlike some br oken'-hearxed woman benx, Xhax heaves her hair wrixh sobs,— -as on she wenx— •

Awillow^kneelsamonqxhemhereandxhere. The waxer wakes and louder w^ailsxo her— Nay, w^ails w^ixh old choked sorrows now^ no more:

Triumphanxshouxs, borne From a sonorous shore,

Break up her xrance, and happy hurried airs

Make hasxe— lesx she, when shaken un-- awares

On Aphrodixe's cradle-rockers, Fear- To whisper qood-'will xidinqs in her ear* Aboaxhadlabouredwixhxhechesxinxow: Dull wooden sounds Foinx; homeward ix doxh qo.

All xhis lonq xime she held her baby xiqhx, And sxared xhe poor sxars oux wixh all her miqhx:

Now,lookinq down, she sees his wakinqeyes Claim— as his curled qold locks xhe sun— xhe skies

In parenxaqe. She dandles in xhe air The prexxy w^anxon; who xhen clips her hair xlii

spies

HcRmes wixh Zephyrs vsrinq'd like dRaqon--

Flies;

Who, waxchFul how such Frolic cRew be'-

haves,

PiloTs Them o'en blue inlv'-vanied waves.

(So many blues, yex each unlike xhe oxheR,

Grow all qneens, when a ZephyR Flies his

bRoxhcR.)

In vain xhe qallanx HeRmes doFFs his hax;

For jealousZeusqave sxRicx commandmenx

xhax

His messenqcR should do his duxy, diqhx

In FORm impalpable xo moRxal siqhx :

Yex, w^ell seen of xhe baby demi-qod,

He FRom xhe mcRRy knave Receives a nod.

For, for behind xhe xall qRey xowreR sxands

Aqainsx xhe noRxh, as Icfx by Niqhx's Rash

hands

On bRillianX'-bReasxed Daw^n, a bRuise of

blue.

To Fade as hcR hale pulse Revives anew !

O happicR xhou, xhan women who musx Of w^hy

know she should

Ax lasx by day'-liqhx, nox moon's opal qlow, be con'-

Him whom xhey loved,— -xhou, loved by xhe sideRed

unknow^n, mosx

A moxhcR, all a moxhcR's joys xhine own, blessed.

Wixhoux xhe pain xhax oveRxakes a wiFe

To leoRn love lasxs a season, nox for Ufc ;

Musx be Replaced by FRiendship ax xhe

besx,—

xliii

Not to have loved, noT to have known a loveR,

And yeT wiTh kisses Thus Thy babe to coven ! XhaTWill,ThaTlovesThee,qivesyeTasksnoT love;

So Thou maysT Hft Those happy eyes above, And see unclouded heavens all Thy days, UnTaxed,unTROubled by an husband's wrays, Which ane noT as Love's penrecT way, and ycT

Demand,asThey wene Love's own, to be mcT: To Thee The qirT is Thine ow^n Tranquil heafiT, In which no ToinT on Failure claimcTh poRT; FjRom Thee The qipT Received shall be Thy son. When Thou in him Thy peRrecT w^onk hasT done,

ThoT he may rill The w^onld wiTh heno deeds, And answer all men's even as Thou his needs.

Of joy seT This qod'-Fi^eed,qod'-lovedwoman hail aloud, Fi^ee* Breezes! youn kinq The sun mounTs o'e« yon

cloud.

Swell Those biq'-chesTed conchs, sTftain

Ti^umpeT'-ThnoaTs ;

He hea«s and knovv^s you, Thouqh she liTTle

noTes.

STillThe sad silenThome,ThaT disTonce veils,

To new Hfc, Ht wiTh lanqe OFFiniTies;

And FOH hen son Penseus w^hoT desTinies

AvsraiT, beyond The soundinq sTnaiTs ThoT

sunden

xliv

undcH

The Tinqlinq blue, Till, lo! Semphos, Reaped

Above a million movinq waves, appealed.

xlv

BY CHARL©S RICK©TTS,

THCBALLANTYN©

M.C.M.

III.

The LasT Book

And by John Lane, New Yonk.

\

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
BERKELEY
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This book is DUE on the last date stamped below.
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NOV 10 1965	25	!
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i

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