endymion- a poetic romance-第21节
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A Jovian thunderbolt： arch Hebe brings
A full…brimm'd goblet； dances lightly； sings
And tantalizes long； at last he drinks；
And lost in pleasure at her feet he sinks；
Touching with dazzled lips her starlight hand。
He blows a bugle；… an ethereal band
Are visible above： the Seasons four；…
Green…kyrtled Spring； flush Summer； golden store
In Autumn's sickle； Winter frosty hoar；
Join dance with shadowy Hours； while still the blast
In swells unmitigated； still doth last
To sway their floating morris。 〃Whose is this？
Whose bugle？〃 he inquires； they smile… 〃O Dis！
Why is this mortal here？ Dost thou not know
Its mistress' lips？ Not thou？… 'Tis Dian's： lo！
She rises crescented！〃 He looks； 'tis she；
His very goddess； good…bye earth； and sea；
And air； and pains； and care； and suffering；
Good…bye to all but love！ Then doth he spring
Towards her； and awakes… and； strange； o'erhead；
Of those same fragrant exhalations bred；
Beheld awake his very dream： the gods
Stood smiling； merry Hebe laughs and nods；
And Phoebe bends towards him crescented。
O state perplexing！ On the pinion bed；
Too well awake； he feels the panting side
Of his delicious lady。 He who died
For soaring too audacious in the sun；
When that same treacherous wax began to run；
Felt not more tongue…tied than Endymion。
His heart leapt up as to its rightful throne；
To that fair shadow'd passion puls'd its way…
Ah； what perplexity！ Ah； well a day！
So fond； so beauteous was his bed…fellow；
He could not help but kiss her： then he grew
Awhile forgetful of all beauty save
Young Phoebe's； golden hair'd； and so 'gan crave
Forgiveness： yet he turn'd once more to look
At the sweet sleeper；… all his soul was shook；…
She press'd his hand in slumber； so once more
He could not help but kiss her and adore。
At this the shadow wept； melting away。
The Latmian started up： 〃Bright goddess； stay！
Search my most hidden breast！ By truth's own tongue；
I have no daedale heart： why is it wrung
To desperation？ Is there nought for me；
Upon the bourne of bliss； but misery？〃
These words awoke the stranger of dark tresses：
Her dawning love…look rapt Endymion blesses
With 'haviour soft。 Sleep yawn'd from underneath。
〃Thou swan of Ganges； let us no more breathe
This murky phantasm！ thou contented seem'st
Pillow'd in lovely idleness； nor dream'st
What horrors may discomfort thee and me。
Ah； shouldst thou die from my heart…treachery！…
Yet did she merely weep… her gentle soul
Hath no revenge in it： as it is whole
In tenderness； would I were whole in love！
Can I prize thee； fair maid； all price above；
Even when I feel as true as innocence？
I do； I do。… What is this soul then？ Whence
Came it？ It does not seem my own； and I
Have no self…passion or identity。
Some fearful end must be： where； where is it？
By Nemesis； I see my spirit flit
Alone about the dark… Forgive me； sweet：
Shall we away？〃 He rous'd the steeds： they beat
Their wings chivalrous into the clear air；
Leaving old Sleep within his vapoury lair。
The good…night blush of eve was waning slow；
And Vesper； risen star； began to throe
In the dusk heavens silverly； when they
Thus sprang direct towards the Galaxy。
Nor did speed hinder converse soft and strange…
Eternal oaths and vows they interchange；
In such wise； in such temper； so aloof
Up in the winds； beneath a starry roof；
So witless of their doom； that verily
'Tis well nigh past man's search their hearts to see；
Whether they wept； or laugh'd； or griev'd； or toy'd…
Most like with joy gone mad； with sorrow cloy'd。
Full facing their swift flight； from ebon streak；
The moon put forth a little diamond peak；
No bigger than an unobserved star；
Or tiny point of fairy scymetar；
Bright signal that she only stoop'd to tie
Her silver sandals； ere deliciously
She bow'd into the heavens her timid head。
Slowly she rose； as though she would have fled；
While to his lady meek the Carian turn'd；
To mark if her dark eyes had yet discern'd
This beauty in its birth… Despair！ despair！
He saw her body fading gaunt and spare
In the cold moonshine。 Straight he seiz'd her wrist；
It melted from his grasp： her hand he kiss'd；
And； horror！ kiss'd his own… he was alone。
Her steed a little higher soar'd； and then
Dropt hawkwise to the earth。
There lies a den；
Beyond the seeming confines of the space
Made for the soul to wander in and trace
Its own existence； of remotest glooms。
Dark regions are around it； where the tombs
Of buried griefs the spirit sees； but scarce
One hour doth linger weeping； for the pierce
Of new…born woe it feels more inly smart：
And in these regions many a venom'd dart
At random flies； they are the proper home
Of every ill： the man is yet to come
Who hath not journeyed in this native hell。
But few have ever felt how calm and well
Sleep may be had in that deep den of all。
There anguish does not sting； nor pleasure pall：
Woe…hurricanes beat ever at the gate；
Yet all is still within and desolate。
Beset with plainful gusts； within ye hear
No sound so loud as when on curtain'd bier
The death…watch tick is stifled。 Enter none
Who strive therefore： on the sudden it is won。
Just when the sufferer begins to burn；
Then it is free to him； and from an urn；
Still fed by melting ice； he takes a draught…
Young Semele such richness never quaft
In her maternal longing！ Happy gloom！
Dark Paradise！ where pale becomes the bloom
Of health by due； where silence dreariest
Is most articulate； where hopes infest；
Where those eyes are the brightest far that keep
Their lids shut longest in a dreamless sleep。
O happy spirit… home！ O wondrous soul！
Pregnant with such a den to save the whole
In thine own depth。 Hail； gentle Carian！
For； never since thy griefs and woes began；
Hast thou felt so content： a grievous feud
Hath led thee to this Cave of Quietude。
Aye； his lull'd soul was there； although upborne
With dangerous speed： and so he did not mourn
Because he knew not whither he was going。
So happy was he； not the aerial blowing
Of trumpets at clear parley from the east
Could rouse from that fine relish； that high feast。
They stung the feather'd horse： with fierce alarm
He flapp'd towards the sound。 Alas； no charm
Could lift Endymion's head； or he had view'd
A skyey mask； a pinion'd multitude；…
And silvery was its passing： voices sweet
Warbling the while as if to lull and greet
The wanderer in his path。 Thus warbled they；
While past the vision went in bright array。
〃Who； who from Dian's feast would be away？
For all the golden bowers of the day
Are empty left？ Who； who away would be
From Cynthia's wedding and festivity？
Not Hesperus： lo！ upon his silver wings
He leans away for highest heaven and sings；
Snapping his lucid fingers merrily！…
Ah； Zephyrus！ art here； and Flora too！
Ye tender bibbers of the rain and dew；
Young playmates of the rose and daffodil；
Be careful； ere ye enter in； to fill
Your baskets high
With fennel green； and balm； and golden pines；
Savory； latter…mint； and columbines；
Cool parsley； basil sweet； and sunny thyme；
Yea； every flower and leaf of every clime；
All gather'd in the dewy morning： hie
Away！ fly； fly！…
Crystalline brother of the belt of heaven；
Aquarius！ to whom king Jove has given
Two liquid pulse streams 'stead of feather'd wings；
Two fan…like fountains；… thine illuminings
For Dian play：
Dissolve the frozen purity of air；
Let thy white shoulders silvery and bare
Show cold through water pinions； make more bright
The Star…Queen's crescent on her marriage night：
Haste； haste away！…
Castor has tamed the planet Lion； see
