But if I dream that all these are, LVII THE HESPERIDES Hesperus and his daughters three, That sing about the golden tree. -COMUS. THE Northwind fall'n, in the new-starrèd night The hoary promontory of Soloë Past Thymiaterion, in calmèd bays, Between the southern and the western Horn, Nor melody o' the Lybian lotusflute Blown seaward from the shore; but from a slope SONG THE golden apple, the golden apple, the hallowed fruit, Guard it well, guard it warily, Singing airily, Standing about the charmed root. Round about all is mute, As the snowfield on the mountain-peaks, As the sandfield at the mountain-foot. Sleep and stir not: all is mute. If ye sing not, if ye make false measure, Worth eternal want of rest. Laugh not loudly: watch the treasure Of the wisdom of the west. In a corner wisdom whispers. Five and three (Let it not be preached abroad) make an awful mystery. For the blossom unto threefold music bloweth ; Evermore it is born anew; And the sap to threefold music floweth, From the root Drawn in the dark, Up to the fruit, Creeping under the fragrant bark, Liquid gold, honeysweet, thro' and thro'. Looking warily Every way, Guard the apple night and day, Lest one from the East come and take it away. II Father Hesper, Father Hesper, watch, watch, ever and aye, Looking under silver hair with a silver eye. Father, twinkle not thy stedfast sight; Kingdoms lapse, and climates change, and races die; Honour comes with mystery; Hoarded wisdom brings delight. Number, tell them over and number How many the mystic fruit-tree holds, Lest the redcombed dragon slumber Rolled together in purple folds. Look to him, father, lest he wink, and the golden apple be stol'n away, For his ancient heart is drunk with overwatchings night and day, Round about the hallowed fruit-tree curled Sing away, sing aloud evermore in the wind, without stop, Lest his scalèd eyelid drop, For he is older than the world. If he waken, we waken, Rapidly levelling eager eyes If he sleep, we sleep, Dropping the eyelid over the eyes. If the golden apple be taken The world will be overwise. Five links, a golden chain, are we, Hesper, the dragon, and sisters three, Bound about the golden tree. III Father Hesper, Father Hesper, watch, watch, night and day, Lest the old wound of the world be healed, The glory unsealed, The golden apple stol'n away, And the ancient secret revealed. Look from west to east along: Father, old Himala weakens, Caucasus is bold and strong. Wandering waters unto wandering waters call; Let them clash together, foam and fall. Out of watchings, out of wiles, Comes the bliss of secret smiles. Half-round the mantling night is drawn, Hesper hateth Phosphor, evening hateth morn. IV Every flower and every fruit the redolent breath Two streams upon the violet deep : For the western sun and the western star, And the low west wind, breathing afar, The end of day and beginning of night Make the apple holy and bright; Holy and bright, round and full, bright and blest, Watch it warily day and night; All good things are in the west. Till midnoon the cool east light Is shut out by the round of the tall hillbrow; The world is wasted with fire and sword, Bound about All round about The gnarlèd bole of the charmed tree. The golden apple, the golden apple, the hallowed fruit, Watch it warily, Singing airily, Standing about the charmèd root. LVIII ROSALIND I My Rosalind, my Rosalind, My frolic falcon, with bright eyes, Whose free delight, from any height of rapid flight, Stoops at all game that wing the skies, My Rosalind, my Rosalind, My bright-eyed, wild-eyed falcon, whither, II The quick lark's closest-carolled strains, Life shoots and glances thro' your veins, To pierce me through with pointed light; And your words are seeming-bitter, Sharp and few, but seeming-bitter III Come down, come home, my Rosalind, And your cheek, whose brilliant hue Fast, fast, my wild-eyed Rosalind, And clip your wings, and make you love : When we have lured you from above, And that delight of frolic flight, by day or night, From North to South; We'll bind you fast in silken cords, And kiss away the bitter words From off your rosy mouth. LIX KATE I KNOW her by her angry air, Her bright-black eyes, her bright-black hair, As laughters of the woodpecker 'Tis Kate—she sayeth what she will: For Kate hath an unbridled tongue, Clear as the twanging of a harp. Her heart is like a throbbing star. Like a new bow, and bright and sharp Whence shall she take a fitting mate? As pure and true as blades of steel. Kate saith" the world is void of might." The blackest files of clanging fight, In dreaming of my lady's eyes. Oh! Kate loves well the bold and fierce ; But none are bold enough for Kate, She cannot find a fitting mate. |