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And a whole age of lingering moments crept
Sluggishly by； ere more contentment swept
Away at once the deadly yellow spleen。
Yes； thrice have I this fair enchantment seen；
Once more been tortured with renewed life。
When last the wintry gusts gave over strife
With the conquering sun of spring； and left the skies
Warm and serene； but yet with moistened eyes
In pity of the shatter'd infant buds；…
That time thou didst adorn； with amber studs；
My hunting cap； because I laugh'd and smil'd；
Chatted with thee； and many days exil'd
All torment from my breast；… 'twas even then；
Straying about； yet； coop'd up in the den
Of helpless discontent；… hurling my lance
From place to place； and following at chance；
At last； by hap； through some young trees it struck；
And； plashing among bedded pebbles； stuck
In the middle of a brook；… whose silver ramble
Down twenty little falls； through reeds and bramble；
Tracing along； it brought me to a cave；
Whence it ran brightly forth； and white did lave
The nether sides of mossy stones and rock；…
'Mong which it gurgled blythe adieus； to mock
Its own sweet grief at parting。 Overhead；
Hung a lush screen of drooping weeds； and spread
Thick； as to curtain up some wood…nymph's home。
'Ah！ impious mortal； whither do I roam？'
Said I； low voic'd： 'Ah； whither！ 'Tis the grot
'Of Proserpine； when Hell； obscure and hot；
'Doth her resign； and where her tender hands
'She dabbles； on the cool and sluicy sands：
'Or 'tis the cell of Echo； where she sits；
'And babbles thorough silence； till her wits
'Are gone in tender madness； and anon；
'Faints into sleep； with many a dying tone
'Of sadness。 O that she would take my vows；
'And breathe them sighingly among the boughs；
'To sue her gentle ears for whose fair head；
'Daily； I pluck sweet flowerets from their bed；
'And weave them dyingly… send honey…whispers
'Round every leaf； that all those gentle lispers
'May sigh my love unto her pitying！
'O charitable Echo！ hear； and sing
'This ditty to her！… tell her'… so I stay'd
My foolish tongue； and listening； half afraid；
Stood stupefied with my own empty folly；
And blushing for the freaks of melancholy。
Salt tears were coming； when I heard my name
Most fondly lipp'd； and then these accents came：
'Endymion！ the cave is secreter
'Than the Isle of Delos。 Echo hence shall stir
'No sighs but sigh…warm kisses； or light noise
'Of thy combing hand； the while it travelling cloys
'And trembles through my labyrinthine hair。'
At that oppress'd I hurried in。… Ah！ where
Are those swift moments？ Whither are they fled？
I'll smile no more； Peona； nor will wed
Sorrow the way to death； but patiently
Bear up against it： so farewell； sad sigh；
And come instead demurest meditation；
To occupy me wholly； and to fashion
My pilgrimage for the world's dusky brink。
No more will I count over； link by link；
My chain of grief： no longer strive to find
A half…forgetfulness in mountain wind
Blustering about my ears： aye； thou shalt see；
Dearest of sisters； what my life shall be；
What a calm round of hours shall make my days。
There is a paly flame of hope that plays
Where'er I look： but yet； I'll say 'tis naught…
And here I bid it die。 Have not I caught；
Already； a more healthy countenance？
By this the sun is setting； we may chance
Meet some of our near…dwellers with my car。〃
This said； he rose； faint…smiling like a star
Through autumn mists； and took Peona's hand：
They stept into the boat； and launch'd from land。
BOOK II。
O sovereign power of love！ O grief！ O balm！
All records； saving thine； come cool； and calm；
And shadowy； through the mist of passed years：
For others； good or bad； hatred and tears
Have become indolent； but touching thine；
One sigh doth echo； one poor sob doth pine；
One kiss brings honey…dew from buried days。
The woes of Troy； towers smothering o'er their blaze；
Stiff…holden shields； far…piercing spears； keen blades；
Struggling； and blood； and shrieks… all dimly fades
Into some backward corner of the brain：
Yet； in our very souls； we feel amain
The close of Troilus and Cressid sweet。
Hence； pageant history！ hence； gilded cheat！
Swart planet in the universe of deeds！
Wide sea； that one continuous murmur breeds
Along the pebbled shore of memory！
Many old rotten…timber'd boats there be
Upon thy vaporous bosom； magnified
To goodly vessels； many a sail of pride；
And golden keel'd； is left unlaunch'd and dry。
But wherefore this？ What care； though owl did fly
About the great Athenian admiral's mast？
What care； though striding Alexander past
The Indus with his Macedonian numbers？
Though old Ulysses tortured from his slumbers
The glutted Cyclops； what care？… Juliet leaning
Amid her window…flowers；… sighing；… weaning
Tenderly her fancy from its maiden snow；
Doth more avail than these： the silver flow
Of Hero's tears； the swoon of Imogen；
Fair Pastorella in the bandit's den；
Are things to brood on with more ardency
Than the death…day of empires。 Fearfully
Must such conviction come upon his head；
Who； thus far； discontent； has dared to tread；
Without one muse's smile； or kind behest；
The path of love and poesy。 But rest；
In chaffing restlessness； is yet more drear
Than to be crush'd； in striving to uprear
Love's standard on the battlements of song。
So once more days and nights aid me along；
Like legion'd soldiers。
Brain…sick shepherd prince；
What promise hast thou faithful guarded since
The day of sacrifice？ Or； have new sorrows
Come with the constant dawn upon thy morrows？
Alas！ 'tis his old grief。 For many days；
Has he been wandering in uncertain ways：
Through wilderness； and woods of mossed oaks；
Counting his woe…worn minutes； by the strokes
Of the lone woodcutter； and listening still；
Hour after hour； to each lush…leav'd rill。
Now he is sitting by a shady spring；
And elbow…deep with feverous fingering
Stems the upbursting cold： a wild rose tree
Pavillions him in bloom； and he doth see
A bud w