endymion- a poetic romance-第20节
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For wine we follow Bacchus through the earth；
Great God of breathless cups and chirping mirth！…
Come hither； lady fair； and joined be
To our mad minstrelsy！'
〃Over wide streams and mountains great we went；
And； save when Bacchus kept his ivy tent；
Onward the tiger and the leopard pants；
With Asian elephants：
Onward these myriads… with song and dance；
With zebras striped； and sleek Arabians' prance；
Web…footed alligators； crocodiles；
Bearing upon their scaly backs； in files；
Plump infant laughers mimicking the coil
Of seamen； and stout galley…rowers' toil：
With toying oars and silken sails they glide；
Nor care for wind and tide。
〃Mounted on panthers' furs and lions' manes；
From rear to van they scour about the plains；
A three days' journey in a moment done：
And always； at the rising of the sun；
About the wilds they hunt with spear and horn；
On spleenful unicorn。
〃I saw Osirian Egypt kneel adown
Before the vine…wreath crown！
I saw parch'd Abyssinia rouse and sing
To the silver cymbals' ring！
I saw the whelming vintage hotly pierce
Old Tartary the fierce！
The kings of Inde their jewel…sceptres vail；
And from their treasures scatter pearled hail；
Great Brahma from his mystic heaven groans；
And all his priesthood moans；
Before young Bacchus' eye…wink turning pale。…
Into these regions came I following him；
Sick hearted； weary… so I took a whim
To stray away into these forests drear
Alone； without a peer：
And I have told thee all thou mayest hear。
〃Young stranger！
I've been a ranger
In search of pleasure throughout every clime：
Alas； 'tis not for me！
Bewitch'd I sure must be；
To lose in grieving all my maiden prime。
〃Come then； Sorrow！
Sweetest Sorrow！
Like an own babe I nurse thee on my breast：
I thought to leave thee
And deceive thee；
But now of all the world I love thee best。
〃There is not one；
No； no； not one
But thee to comfort a poor lonely maid；
Thou art her mother；
And her brother；
Her playmate； and her wooer in the shade。〃
O what a sigh she gave in finishing；
And look； quite dead to every worldly thing！
Endymion could not speak； but gazed on her；
And listened to the wind that now did stir
About the crisped oaks full drearily；
Yet with as sweet a softness as might be
Remember'd from its velvet summer song。
At last he said： 〃Poor lady； how thus long
Have I been able to endure that voice？
Fair Melody！ kind Syren！ I've no choice；
I must be thy sad servant evermore：
I cannot choose but kneel here and adore。
Alas； I must not think… by Phoebe； no！
Let me not think； soft Angel！ shall it be so？
Say； beautifullest； shall I never think？
O thou could'st foster me beyond the brink
Of recollection！ make my watchful care
Close up its bloodshot eyes； nor see despair！
Do gently murder half my soul； and
Shall feel the other half so utterly！…
I'm giddy at that cheek so fair and smooth；
O let it blush so ever！ let it soothe
My madness！ let it mantle rosy…warm
With the tinge of love； panting in safe alarm。…
This cannot be thy hand； and yet it is；
And this is sure thine other softling… this
Thine own fair bosom； and I am so near！
Wilt fall asleep？ O let me sip that tear！
And whisper one sweet word that I may know
This is this world… sweet dewy blossom！〃… Woe！
Woe！ Woe to that Endymion！ Where is he？…
Even these words went echoing dismally
Through the wide forest… a most fearful tone；
Like one repenting in his latest moan；
And while it died away a shade pass'd by；
As of a thunder cloud。 When arrows fly
Through the thick branches； poor ring…doves sleek forth
Their timid necks and tremble； so these both
Leant to each other trembling； and sat so
Waiting for some destruction… when lo；
Foot…feather'd Mercury appear'd sublime
Beyond the tall tree tops； and in less time
Than shoots the slanted hail…storm； down he dropt
Towards the ground； but rested not； nor stopt
One moment from his home： only the sward
He with his wand light touch'd； and heavenward
Swifter than sight was gone… even before
The teeming earth a sudden witness bore
Of his swift magic。 Diving swans appear
Above the crystal circlings white and clear；
And catch the cheated eye in wide surprise；
How they can dive in sight and unseen rise…
So from the turf outsprang two steeds jet…black；
Each with large dark blue wings upon his back。
The youth of Caria plac'd the lovely dame
On one； and felt himself in spleen to tame
The other's fierceness。 Through the air they flew；
High as the eagles。 Like two drops of dew
Exhal'd to Phoebus' lips； away they are gone；
Far from the earth away… unseen； alone；
Among cool clouds and winds； but that the free；
The buoyant life of song can floating be
Above their heads； and follow them untir'd。…
Muse of my native land； am I inspir'd？
This is the giddy air； and I must spread
Wide pinions to keep here； nor do I dread
Or height； or depth； or width； or any chance
Precipitous： I have beneath my glance
Those towering horses and their mournful freight。
Could I thus sail； and see； and thus await
Fearless for power of thought； without thine aid？…
There is a sleepy dusk； an odorous shade
From some approaching wonder； and behold
Those winged steeds； with snorting nostrils bold
Snuff at its faint extreme； and seem to tire；
Dying to embers from their native fire！
There curl'd a purple mist around them； soon；
It seem'd as when around the pale new moon
Sad Zephyr droops the clouds like weeping willow：
'Twas Sleep slow journeying with head on pillow。
For the first time； since he came nigh dead born
From the old womb of night； his cave forlorn
Had he left more forlorn； for the first time；
He felt aloof the day and morning's prime…
Because into his depth Cimmerian
There came a dream； showing how a young man；
Ere a lean bat could plump its wintery skin；
Would at high Jove's empyreal footstool win
An immortality； and how espouse
Jove's daughter； and be reckon'd of his house。
Now was he slumbering towards heaven's gate；
That he might at the threshold one hour wait
To hear the marriage melodies； and then
Sink downward to his dusky cave again。
His litter of smooth semilucent mist；
Diversely ting'd with rose and amethyst；
Puzzled those eyes that for the centre sought；
And scarcely for one moment could be caught
His sluggish form reposing motionless。
Those two on winged steeds； with all the stress
Of vision search'd for him； as one would look
Athwart the sallows of a river nook
To catch a glance at silver…throated eels；…
Or from old Skiddaw's top； when fog conceals
His rugged forehead in a mantle pale；
With an eye…guess towards some pleasant vale
Descry a favourite hamlet faint and far。
These raven horses； though they foster'd are
Of earth's splenetic fire； dully drop
Their full…vein'd ears； nostrils blood wide； and stop；
Upon the spiritless mist have they outspread
Their ample feathers； are in slumber dead；…
And on those pinions； level in mid air；
Endymion sleepeth and the lady fair。
Slowly they sail； slowly as icy isle
Upon a calm sea drifting： and meanwhile
The mournful wanderer dreams。 Behold！ he walks
On heaven's pavement； brotherly he talks
To divine powers： from his hand full fain
Juno's proud birds are pecking pearly grain：
He tries the nerve of Phoebus' golden bow；
And asketh where the golden apples grow：
Upon his arm he braces Pallas' shield；
And strives in vain to unsettle and wield
A Jovian thunderbolt： arch Hebe brings
A full…brimm'd goblet； dances li
