In vain; the sweet nymph might nowhere be found,

And so he rested, on the lonely ground,
Pensive, and full of painful jealousies

Her throat was serpent, but the words she spake

Came, as through bubbling honey, for Love's sake,

And thus; while Hermes on his pinions lay, Like a stoop'd falcon ere he takes his prey:

'Fair Hermes! crown'd with feathers, fluttering light,

70

I saw thee sitting, on a throne of gold,
Among the Gods, upon Olympus old,
The only sad one; for thou didst not hear
The soft, lute-finger'd Muses chanting
clear,

Nor even Apollo when he sang alone, Deaf to his throbbing throat's long, long melodious moau.

I dreamt I saw thee, robed in purple flakes, Break amorous through the clouds, as morning breaks,

And, swiftly as a bright Phœbean dart, Strike for the Cretan isle; and here thou art!

Too gentle Hermes, hast thou found the maid?'

80

So done, upon the nymph his eyes he bent Full of adoring tears and blandishment, And towards her stept: she, like a moon in

wane,

Faded before him, cower'd, nor could restrain

Her fearful sobs, self-folding like a flower
That faints into itself at evening hour:
But the God fostering her chilled hand, 140
She felt the warmth, her eyelids open'd
bland,

And, like new flowers at morning song of bees,

Bloom'd, and gave up her honey to the

lees.

Into the green-recessed woods they flew; Nor grew they pale, as mortal lovers do.

Why this fair creature chose so fairly By the wayside to linger, we shall see; 201 But first 't is fit to tell how she could muse And dream, when in the serpent prisonhouse,

Of all she list, strange or magnificent: How, ever, where she will'd, her spirit went;

Whether to faint Elysium, or where Down through tress-lifting waves the Nereids fair

Wind into Thetis' bower by many a pearly stair;

Or where God Bacchus drains his cups divine,

Stretch'd out, at ease, beneath a glutinous

bright!

And will you leave me on the hills alone?
Lycius, look back! and be some pity shown.'
He did; not with cold wonder fearingly,
But Orpheus-like at an Eurydice;
For so delicious were the words she sung,
It seem'd he had loved them a whole sum-
mer long:
250

And soon his eyes had drunk her beauty up,
Leaving no drop in the bewildering cup,
And still the cup was full, while he, afraid
Lest she should vanish ere his lips had paid
Due adoration, thus began to adore;
Her soft look growing coy, she saw his

chain so sure:

Over these hills and vales, where no joy is,

Empty of immortality and bliss!

Thou art a scholar, Lycius, and must know That finer spirits cannot breathe below 280 In human climes, and live: Alas! poor youth,

What taste of purer air hast thou to soothe My essence? What serener palaces,

Where I may all my many senses please, And by mysterious sleights a hundred thirsts appease?

It cannot be - Adieu!' So said, she rose Tiptoe with white arms spread. He, sick to lose

The amorous promise of her lone complain, Swoon'd murmuring of love, and pale with pain.

A song of love, too sweet for earthly lyres, While, like held breath, the stars drew in their panting fires.

300

And then she whisper'd in such trembling tone,

As those who, safe together met alone
For the first time through many anguish'd

days,

Use other speech than looks; bidding him

raise