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Offensive to the heavenly power？ Caught
A Paphian dove upon a message sent？
Thy deathful bow against some deer…herd bent
Sacred to Dian？ Haply； thou hast seen
Her naked limbs among the alders green；
And that； alas！ is death。 No； I can trace
Something more high perplexing in thy face！〃
Endymion look'd at her； and press'd her hand；
And said； 〃Art thou so pale； who wast so bland
And merry in our meadows？ How is this？
Tell me thine ailment： tell me all amiss！…
Ah！ thou hast been unhappy at the change
Wrought suddenly in me。 What indeed more strange？
Or more complete to overwhelm surmise？
Ambition is so sluggard； 'tis no prize；
That toiling years would put within my grasp；
That I have sighed for： with so deadly gasp
No man e'er panted for a mortal love。
So all have set my heavier grief above
These things which happen。 Rightly have they done：
I； who still saw the horizontal sun
Heave his broad shoulder o'er the edge of the world；
Out…facing Lucifer； and then had hurl'd
My spear aloft； as signal for the chace…
I； who； for very sport of heart； would race
With my own steed from Araby； pluck down
A vulture from his towery perching； frown
A lion into growling； loth retire…
To lose； at once； all my toil…breeding fire；
And sink thus low！ but I will ease my breast
Of secret grief； here in this bowery nest。
〃This river does not see the naked sky；
Till it begins to progress silverly
Around the western border of the wood；
Whence； from a certain spot； its winding flood
Seems at the distance like a crescent moon：
And in that nook； the very pride of June；
Had I been used to pass my weary eves；
The rather for the sun unwilling leaves
So dear a picture of his sovereign power；
And I could witness his most kingly hour；
When he doth tighten up the golden reins；
And paces leisurely down amber plains
His snorting four。 Now when his chariot last
Its beams against the zodiac…lion cast；
There blossom'd suddenly a magic bed
Of sacred ditamy； and poppies red：
At which I wondered greatly； knowing well
That but one night had wrought this flowery spell；
And； sitting down close by； began to muse
What it might mean。 Perhaps； thought I； Morpheus；
In passing here； his owlet pinions shook；
Or； it may be； ere matron Night uptook
Her ebon urn； young Mercury； by stealth；
Had dipt his rod in it： such garland wealth
Came not by common growth。 Thus on I thought；
Until my head was dizzy and distraught。
Moreover； through the dancing poppies stole
A breeze； most softly lulling to my soul；
And shaping visions all about my sight
Of colours； wings； and bursts of spangly light；
The which became more strange； and strange； and dim；
And then were gulph'd in a tumultuous swim：
And then I fell asleep。 Ah； can I tell
The enchantment that afterwards befel？
Yet it was but a dream： yet such a dream
That never tongue； although it overteem
With mellow utterance； like a cavern spring；
Could figure out and to conception bring
All I beheld and felt。 Methought I lay
Watching the zenith； where the milky way
Among the stars in virgin splendour pours；
And travelling my eye； until the doors
Of heaven appear'd to open for my flight；
I became loth and fearful to alight
From such high soaring by a downward glance：
So kept me stedfast in that airy trance；
Spreading imaginary pinions wide。
When； presently； the stars began to glide；
And faint away； before my eager view：
At which I sigh'd that I could not pursue；
And dropt my vision to the horizon's verge；
And lo！ from opening clouds； I saw emerge
The loveliest moon； that ever silver'd o'er
A shell for Neptune's goblet： she did soar
So passionately bright； my dazzled soul
Commingling with her argent spheres did roll
Through clear and cloudy； even when she went
At last into a dark and vapoury tent…
Whereat； methought； the lidless…eyed train
Of planets all were in the blue again。
To commune with those orbs； once more I rais'd
My sight right upward： but it was quite dazed
By a bright something； sailing down apace；
Making me quickly veil my eyes and face：
Again I look'd； and； O ye deities；
Who from Olympus watch our destinies！
Whence that completed form of all completeness？
Whence came that high perfection of all sweetness？
Speak； stubborn earth； and tell me where； O where
Hast thou a symbol of her golden hair？
Not oat…sheaves drooping in the western sun；
Not… thy soft hand； fair sister！ let me shun
Such follying before thee… yet she had；
Indeed； locks bright enough to make me mad；
And they were simply gordian'd up and braided；
Leaving； in naked comeliness； unshaded；
Her pearl round ears； white neck； and orbed brow；
The which were blended in； I know not how；
With such a paradise of lips and eyes；
Blush…tinted cheeks； half smiles； and faintest sighs；
That； when I think thereon； my spirit clings
And plays about its fancy； till the stings
Of human neighbourhood envenom all。
Unto what awful power shall I call？
To what high fane？… Ah！ see her hovering feet；
More bluely vein'd； more soft； more whitely sweet
Than those of sea…born Venus； when she rose
From out her cradle shell。 The wind out…blows
Her scarf into a fluttering pavillion；
'Tis blue； and over…spangled with a million
Of little eyes； as though thou wert to shed；
Over the darkest； lushest blue…bell bed；
Handfuls of daisies。〃… 〃Endymion； how strange！
Dream within dream！〃… 〃She took an airy range；
And then； towards me； like a very maid；
Came blushing； waning； willing； and afraid；
And press'd me by the hand： Ah！ 'twas too much；
Methought I fainted at the charmed touch；
Yet held my recollections； even as one
Who dives three fathoms where the waters run
Gurgling in beds of coral： for anon；
I felt upmounted in that region
Where falling stars dart their artillery forth；
And eagles struggle with the buffeting north
That balances the heavy meteor…stone；…
Felt too； I was not fearful； nor alone；
But lapp'd and lull'd along the dangerous sky。
Soon； as