endymion- a poetic romance-第7节
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Along the pebbled shore of memory！
Many old rotten…timber'd boats there be
Upon thy vaporous bosom； magnified
To goodly vessels； many a sail of pride；
And golden keel'd； is left unlaunch'd and dry。
But wherefore this？ What care； though owl did fly
About the great Athenian admiral's mast？
What care； though striding Alexander past
The Indus with his Macedonian numbers？
Though old Ulysses tortured from his slumbers
The glutted Cyclops； what care？… Juliet leaning
Amid her window…flowers；… sighing；… weaning
Tenderly her fancy from its maiden snow；
Doth more avail than these： the silver flow
Of Hero's tears； the swoon of Imogen；
Fair Pastorella in the bandit's den；
Are things to brood on with more ardency
Than the death…day of empires。 Fearfully
Must such conviction come upon his head；
Who； thus far； discontent； has dared to tread；
Without one muse's smile； or kind behest；
The path of love and poesy。 But rest；
In chaffing restlessness； is yet more drear
Than to be crush'd； in striving to uprear
Love's standard on the battlements of song。
So once more days and nights aid me along；
Like legion'd soldiers。
Brain…sick shepherd prince；
What promise hast thou faithful guarded since
The day of sacrifice？ Or； have new sorrows
Come with the constant dawn upon thy morrows？
Alas！ 'tis his old grief。 For many days；
Has he been wandering in uncertain ways：
Through wilderness； and woods of mossed oaks；
Counting his woe…worn minutes； by the strokes
Of the lone woodcutter； and listening still；
Hour after hour； to each lush…leav'd rill。
Now he is sitting by a shady spring；
And elbow…deep with feverous fingering
Stems the upbursting cold： a wild rose tree
Pavillions him in bloom； and he doth see
A bud which snares his fancy： lo！ but now
He plucks it； dips its stalk in the water： how！
It swells； it buds； it flowers beneath his sight；
And； in the middle； there is softly pight
A golden butterfly； upon whose wings
There must be surely character'd strange things；
For with wide eye he wonders； and smiles oft。
Lightly this little herald flew aloft；
Follow'd by glad Endymion's clasped hands：
Onward it flies。 From languor's sullen bands
His limbs are loos'd； and eager； on he hies
Dazzled to trace it in the sunny skies。
It seem'd he flew； the way so easy was；
And like a new…born spirit did he pass
Through the green evening quiet in the sun；
O'er many a heath； through many a woodland dun；
Through buried paths； where sleepy twilight dreams
The summer time away。 One track unseams
A wooded cleft； and； far away； the blue
Of ocean fades upon him； then； anew；
He sinks adown a solitary glen；
Where there was never sound of mortal men；
Saving； perhaps； some snow…light cadences
Melting to silence； when upon the breeze
Some holy bark let forth an anthem sweet；
To cheer itself to Delphi。 Still his feet
Went swift beneath the merry…winged guide；
Until it reach'd a splashing fountain's side
That； near a cavern's mouth； for ever pour'd
Unto the temperate air： then high it soar'd；
And； downward； suddenly began to dip；
As if； athirst with so much toil； 'twould sip
The crystal spout…head： so it did； with touch
Most delicate； as though afraid to smutch
Even with mealy gold the waters clear。
But； at that very touch； to disappear
So fairy…quick； was strange！ Bewildered；
Endymion sought around； and shook each bed
Of covert flowers in vain； and then he flung
Himself along the grass。 What gentle tongue；
What whisperer disturb'd his gloomy rest？
It was a nymph uprisen to the breast
In the fountain's pebbly margin； and she stood
'Mong lillies； like the youngest of the brood。
To him her dripping hand she softly kist；
And anxiously began to plait and twist
Her ringlets round her fingers； saying： 〃Youth！
Too long； alas； hast thou starv'd on the ruth；
The bitterness of love： too long indeed；
Seeing thou art so gentle。 Could I weed
Thy soul of care； by heavens； I would offer
All the bright riches of my crystal coffer
To Amphitrite； all my clear…eyed fish；
Golden； or rainbow…sided； or purplish；
Vermilion…tail'd； or finn'd with silvery gauze；
Yea； or my veined pebble…floor； that draws
A virgin light to the deep； my grotto…sands
Tawny and gold； ooz'd slowly from far lands
By my diligent springs； my level lillies； shells；
My charming rod； my potent river spells；
Yes； every thing； even to the pearly cup
Meander gave me；… for I bubbled up
To fainting creatures in a desert wild。
But woe is me； I am but as a child
To gladden thee； and all I dare to say；
Is； that I pity thee； that on this day
I've been thy guide； that thou must wander far
In other regions； past the scanty bar
To mortal steps； before thou canst be ta'en
From every wasting sigh； from every pain；
Into the gentle bosom of thy love。
Why it is thus； one knows in heaven above：
But； a poor Naiad； I guess not。 Farewell！
I have a ditty for my hollow cell。〃
Hereat； she vanished from Endymion's gaze；
Who brooded o'er the water in amaze：
The dashing fount pour'd on； and where its pool
Lay； half asleep； in grass and rushes cool；
Quick waterflies and gnats were sporting still；
And fish were dimpling； as if good nor ill
Had fallen out that hour。 The wanderer；
Holding his forehead； to keep off the bur
Of smothering fancies； patiently sat down；
And； while beneath the evening's sleepy frown
Glow…worms began to trim their starry lamps；
Thus breath'd he to himself： 〃Whoso encamps
To take a fancied city of delight；
O what a wretch is he！ and when 'tis his；
After long toil and travelling； to miss
The kernel of his hopes； how more than vile：
Yet； for him there's refreshment even in toil；
Another city doth he set about；
Free from the smallest pebble…head of doubt
That he will seize on trickling honey…combs；
Alas； he finds them dry； and then he foams；
And onward to another city speeds。
But this is human life： the war； the deeds；
The disappointment； the anxiety；
Imagination's struggles； far and nigh；
All human； bearing in themselves this good；
That they are still the air； the subtle food；
To make us feel existence； and to show
How quiet death is。 Where soil is men grow；
Whether to weeds or flowers； but for me；
There is no depth to strike in： I can see
Naught earthly worth my compassing； so stand
Upon a misty； jutting head of land…
Alone？ No； no； and by the Orphean lute；
When mad Eurydice is listening to't；
I'd rather stand upon this misty peak；
With not a thing to sigh for； or to seek；
But the soft shadow of my thrice…seen love；
Than be… I care not what。 O meekest dove
Of heaven！ O Cynthia； ten…times bright and fair！
From thy blue throne； now filling all the air；
Glance but one little beam of temper'd light
Into my bosom； that the dreadful might
And tyranny of love be somewhat scar'd！
Yet do not so； sweet queen； one torment spar'd；
Would give a pang to jealous misery；
Worse than the torment's self： but rather tie
Large wings upon my shoulders； and point out
My love's far dwelling。 Though the playful rout
Of Cupids shun thee； too divine art thou；
Too keen in beauty； for thy silver prow
Not to have dipp'd in love's most gentle stream。
O be propitious； nor severely deem
My madness impious； for； by all the stars
That tend thy bidding； I do think the bars
That kept my spirit in are burst… that I
Am sailing with thee through the dizzy sky！
How beautiful thou art！ The world how deep！
How tremulous…dazzlingly the wheels sweep
Around their axle！ Then these gleaming reins；
How lithe！ When this thy chariot attains
Its airy goal； haply some bower veils
Those twilight eyes？ Those eyes！… my spirit fails…
