IV.

For, where the irresistible storm had cloven
That fearful darkness, the blue sky was seen
Fretted with many a fair cloud interwoven
Most delicately; and the ocean green,
Beneath that opening spot of blue serene,
Quivered like burning emerald. Calm was spread
On all below; but far on high, between
Earth and the upper air, the vast clouds fled,
Countless and swift as leaves on autumn's tempest shed.

V.

For ever, as the war became more fierce

Between the whirlwinds and the rack on high,
That spot grew more serene; blue light did pierce
The woof of those white clouds, which seemed to lie
Far, deep, and motionless; while through the sky
The pallid semicircle of the moon

Passed on in slow and moving majesty;

Its upper horn arrayed in mists, which soon
But slowly fled, like dew beneath the beams of noon.

VI.

I could not choose but gaze; a fascination

Dwelt in that moon and sky and clouds, which drew My fancy thither, and (in expectation

Of what, I knew not) I. remained. The hue Of the white moon, amid that heaven so blue, Suddenly stained with shadow did appear;

A speck, a cloud, a shape, approaching grew, Like a great ship in the sun's sinking sphere Beheld afar at sea, and swift it came anear.

VII.

Even like a bark, which from a chasm of mountains,
Dark, vast, and overhanging, on a river

Which there collects the strength of all its fountains
Comes forth, whilst with the speed its frame doth quiver,

Sails, oars, and stream, tending to one endeavour;

So, from that chasm of light a winged form,

On all the winds of heaven approaching ever,

Floated, dilating as it came: the storm

Pursued it with fierce blasts, and lightnings swift and warm. \

VIII.

A course precipitous, of dizzy speed,

Suspending thought and breath; a monstrous sight!
For in the air do I behold indeed

An Eagle and a Serpent wreathed in fight :-
And now, relaxing its impetuous flight

Before the aërial rock on which I stood,

The Eagle, hovering, wheeled to left and right, And hung with lingering wings over the flood, And startled with its yells the wide air's solitude.

IX.

A shaft of light upon its wings descended,
And every golden feather gleamed therein-
Feather and scale inextricably blended.

The Serpent's mailed and many-coloured skin

Shone through the plumes; its coils were twined within By many a swoln and knotted fold; and high

And far the neck, receding lithe and thin,

Sustained a crested head, which warily

Shifted and glanced before the Eagle's steadfast eye.

X.

Around, around, in ceaseless circles wheeling

With clang of wings and scream, the Eagle sailed Incessantly-sometimes on high concealing

Its lessening orbs, sometimes, as if it failed,

Drooped through the air; and still it shrieked and wailed, ' And, casting back its eager head, with beak

And talon unremittingly assailed

The wreathed Serpent, who did ever seek

Upon his enemy's heart a mortal wound to wreak.

XI.

What life, what power, was kindled and arose
Within the sphere of that appalling fray!
For, from the encounter of those wondrous foes,
A vapour like the sea's suspended spray
Hung gathered: in the void air, far away,
Floated the shattered plumes: bright scales did leap,
Where'er the Eagle's talons made their way,
Like sparks into the darkness;—as they sweep,
Blood stains the snowy foam of the tumultuous deep.

XII.

Swift chances in that combat-many a check,
And many a change, a dark and wild turmoil !
Sometimes the Snake around his enemy's neck
Locked in stiff rings his adamantine coil;
Until the Eagle, faint with pain and toil,
Remitted his strong flight, and near the sea
Languidly fluttered, hopeless so to foil
His adversary, who then reared on high
His red and burning crest, radiant with victory.

XIII.

Smake

Then on the white edge of the bursting surge,
Where they had sunk together, would the Snake
Relax his suffocating grasp, and scourge

The wind with his wild writhings; for, to break That chain of torment, the vast bird would shake The strength of his unconquerable wings,

As in despair, and with his sinewy neck
Dissolve in sudden shock those linkèd rings,—
Then soar, as swift as smoke from a volcano springs.

XIV.

Wile baffled wile, and strength encountered strength,
Thus long, but unprevailing. The event

Of that portentous fight appeared at length.
Until the lamp of day was almost spent

It had endured; when, lifeless, stark, and rent,
Hung high that mighty Serpent, and at last

Fell to the sea,-while o'er the continent,

With clang of wings and scream, the Eagle passed, Heavily borne away on the exhausted blast.

XV.

And with it fled the tempest, so that ocean

And earth and sky shone through the atmosphere. Only, 'twas strange to see the red commotion

Of waves like mountains o'er the sinking sphere Of sunset sweep, and their fierce roar to hear Amid the calm. Down the steep path I wound To the sea-shore-the evening was most clear And beautiful; and there the sea I found Calm as a cradled child in dreamless slumber bound.

XVI.

There was a woman, beautiful as morning,
Sitting beneath the rocks upon the sand
Of the waste sea-fair as one flower adorning
An icy wilderness. Each delicate hand
Lay crossed upon her bosom, and the band
Of her dark hair had fallen, and so she sate,

Looking upon the waves. On the bare strand
Upon the sea-mark a small boat did wait,
Fair as herself, like Love by Hope left desolate.

XVII.

It seemed that this fair shape had looked upon
That unimaginable fight, and now

That her sweet eyes were weary of the sun,

As brightly it illustrated her woe;

For in the tears, which silently to flow

Paused not, its lustre hung. She, watching aye

The foam-wreaths which the faint tide wove below

Upon the spangled sands, groaned heavily, And after every groan looked up over the sea.

XVIII.

And, when she saw the wounded Serpent make
His path between the waves, her lips grew pale,
Parted, and quivered: the tears ceased to break
From her immoveable eyes; no voice of wail
Escaped her; but she rose, and, on the gale
Loosening her star-bright robe and shadowy hair,
Poured forth her voice; the caverns of the vale
That opened to the ocean caught it there,
And filled with silver sounds the overflowing air.

XIX.

She spake in language whose strange melody
Might not belong to earth. I heard alone-
What made its music more melodious be-

The pity and the love of every tone;

But to the Snake those accents sweet were known,
His native tongue and hers: nor did he beat
The hoar spray idly then, but, winding on
Through the green shadows of the waves that meet
Near to the shore, did pause beside her snowy feet.

Gord or Love

XX.

Then on the sands the woman sate again,

And wept and clasped her hands, and, all between, Renewed the unintelligible strain

Of her melodious voice and eloquent mien ; And she unveiled her bosom, and the green And glancing shadows of the sea did play

O'er its marmoreal depth-one moment seen:

For ere the next the Serpent did obey

Her voice, and, coiled in rest, in her embrace it lay.

XXI.

Then she arose, and smiled on me with eyes
Serene yet sorrowing, like that planet fair,
While yet the daylight lingereth in the skies,

Which cleaves with arrowy beams the dark-red air,--
And said: "To grieve is wise, but the despair
Was weak and vain which led thee here from sleep.
This shalt thou know, and more, if thou dost dare,

With me and with this Serpent, o'er the deep (A voyage divine and strange), companionship to keep."

XXII.

Her voice was like the wildest saddest tone,

Yet sweet, of some loved voice heard long ago.
"Shall this fair woman all alone

I wept.

Over the sea with that fierce Serpent go?

His head is on her heart, and who can know

How soon he may devour his feeble prey?"

Such were my thoughts, when the tide gan to flow; And that strange boat like the moon's shade did sway Amid reflected stars that in the waters lay :

XXIII.

A boat of rare device, which had no sail
But its own curvèd prow of thin moonstone,
Wrought like a web of texture fine and frail,

To catch those gentlest winds which are not known
To breathe, but by the steady speed alone
With which it cleaves the sparkling sea. And, now
We are embarked, the mountains hang and frown
Over the starry deep that gleams below

A vast and dim expanse, as o'er the waves we go.