22. 1'he Ocean-nymphs and Hamadryades,

23.

24.

Oreads and Naiads with long weedy locks,
Offered to do her bidding through the seas,

Under the earth, and in the hollow rocks,
And iar beneath the matted roots of trees,

And in the gnarlèd heart of stubborn oaks;
So they might live for ever in the light
Of her sweet presence—each a satellite.

66

"This may not be," the Wizard Maid replied.
"The fountains where the Naiades bedew
Their shining hair at length are drained and dried;
The solid oaks forget their strength, and strew
Their latest leaf upon the mountains wide;

The boundless ocean like a drop of dew
Will be consumed; the stubborn centre must
Be scattered like a cloud of summer dust.

"And ye, with them, will perish one by one.
If I must sigh to think that this shall be,
If I must weep when the surviving Sun

Shall smile on your decay-oh ask not me
To love you till your little race is run;

I cannot die as ye must

-Over me

Your leaves shall glance-the streams in which ye dwell
Shall be my paths henceforth; and so farewell!"

25. She spoke and wept.

The dark and azure well

Sparkled beneath the shower of her bright tears,
And every little circlet where they fell

Flung to the cavern-roof inconstant spheres
And intertangled lines of light. A knell

Of sobbing voices came upon her ears
From those departing forms, o'er the serene
Of the white streams and of the forest green.

26. All day the Wizard Lady sat aloof;

Spelling out scrolls of dread antiquity
Under the cavern's fountain-lighted roof;
Or broidering the pictured poesy

Of some high tale upon her growing woof,
Which the sweet splendour of her smiles could dye
In hues outshining heaven-and ever she

Added some grace to the wrought poesy :

27. While on her hearth lay blazing many a piece
Of sandal wood, rare gums, and cinnamon.
Men scarcely know how beautiful fire is;
Each flame of it is as a precious stone
Dissolved in ever-moving light, and this
Belongs to each and all who gaze thereon.
The Witch beheld it not, for in her hand

She held a woof that dimmed the burning brand.

34. This boat she moored upon her fount, and lit
A living spirit within all its frame,
Breathing the soul of swiftness into it.

Couched on the fountain-like a panther tame
(One of the twain at Evan's feet that sit),
Or as on Vesta's sceptre a swift flame,
Or on blind Homer's heart a winged thought-
In joyous expectation lay the boat.

35. Then by strange art she kneaded fire and snow
Together, tempering the repugnant mass
With liquid love-all things together grow
Through which the harmony of love can pass;
And a fair Shape out of her hands did flow-
A living image which did far surpass
In beauty that bright shape of vital stone
Which drew the heart out of Pygmalion.
36. A sexless thing it was, and in its growth

It seemed to have developed no defect
Of either sex, yet all the grace of both.

In gentleness and strength its limbs were decked;
The bosom lightly swelled with its full youth;
The countenance was such as might select
Some artist that his skill should never die,
Imaging forth such perfect purity.

37. From its smooth shoulders hung two rapid wings
Fit to have borne it to the seventh sphere,
Tipped with the speed of liquid lightenings,
Dyed in the ardours of the atmosphere.

She led her creature to the boiling springs

Where the light boat was moored, and said "Sit here," And pointed to the prow, and took her seat

Beside the rudder with opposing feet.

38. And down the streams which clove those mountains vast, Around their inland islets, and amid

The panther-peopled forests (whose shade cast
Darkness and odours, and a pleasure hid
In melancholy gloom) the pinnace passed;
By many a star-surrounded pyramid
Of icy crag cleaving the purple sky,
And caverns yawning round unfathomably.

39. The silver noon into that winding dell,

With slanted gleam athwart the forest tops,
Tempered like golden evening, feebly fell;
A green and glowing light, like that which drops
From folded lilies in which glow-worms dwell,
When Earth over her face Night's mantle wraps;
Between the severed mountains lay on high,
Over the stream, a narrow rift of sky.