THE BEGGAR MAID. HER arms across her breast she laid; She was more fair than words can say: Bare-footed came the beggar maid Before the king Cophetua. In robe and crown the king stept down, To meet and greet her on her way: "It is no wonder," said the lords, "She is more beautiful than day." As shines the moon in clouded skies, One her dark hair and lovesome mien. So sweet a face, such angel grace, In all that land had never been: Cophetua sware a royal oath : "This beggar maid shall be my queen!" THE VISION OF SIN. I HAD a vision when the night was late: A youth came riding toward a palace-gate. He rode a horse with wings, that would have flown, A sleepy light upon their brows and lips As when the sun, a crescent of eclipse, Dreams over lake and lawn, and isles and capes - By heaps of gourds, and skins of wine, and piles of grapes. Then methought I heard a mellow sound, Narrowing in to where they sat assembled Swung themselves, and in low tones replied; ; Then the music touch'd the gates and died; Storm'd in orbs of song, a growing gale; Till thronging in and in, to where they waited, As 'twere a hundred-throated nightingale, The strong tempestuous treble throbb'd and palpitated; Ran into its giddiest whirl of sound, Caught the sparkles, and in circles, Purple gauzes, golden hazes, liquid mazes, Flung the torrent rainbow round: Then they started from their places, Moved with violence, changed in hue, Caught each other with wild grimaces, Wheeling with precipitate paces To the melody, till they flew, Hair, and eyes, and limbs, and faces, Twisted hard in fierce embraces, Like to Furies, like to Graces, Dash'd together in blinding dew: Flutter'd headlong from the sky. And then I look'd up toward a mountain-tract, That girt the region with high cliff and lawn: Beyond the darkness and the cataract, |