LA MIA. PART I. UPON a time, before the faery broods Drove Nymph and Satyr from the prosperous woods, Sceptre, and mantle, clasp'd with dewy gem, Frighted away the Dryads and the Fauns 5 From rushes green, and brakes, and cowslip'd lawns, His golden throne, bent warm on amorous theft: On this side of Jove's clouds, to escape the sight Ah, what a world of love was at her feet! > So Hermes thought, and a celestial heat ΤΟ 15 20. Burnt from his winged heels to either ear, Fallen in jealous curls about his shoulders bare. From vale to vale, from wood to wood, he flew, 25 To find where this sweet nymph prepar'd her secret bed: 30 In vain; the sweet nymph might nowhere be found, Pensive, and full of painful jealousies Of the Wood-Gods, and even the very trees. 35 40 Round bush and tree, soft-brushing, in his speed, 45 Bright, and cirque-couchant in a dusky brake. She was a gordian shape of dazzling hue, 50 So rainbow-sided, touch'd with miseries, She seem'd, at once, some penanc'd lady elf, Her head was serpent, but ah, bitter-sweet! 55. She had a woman's mouth with all its pearls complete: 60 65 70 "Fair Hermes, crown'd with feathers, fluttering light, "I had a splendid dream of thee last night : "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 chaunting clear, "Nor even Apollo when he sang alone, "Deaf to his throbbing throat's long, long melodious moan. "I dreamt I saw thee, rob'd in purple flakes, 75 "Break amorous through the clouds, as morning breaks, "And, swiftly as a bright Phoebean dart, "Strike for the Cretan isle; and here thou art! "Too gentle Hermes, hast thou found the maid?" 80 "Thou smooth-lipp'd serpent, surely high inspired! 85 "Where she doth breathe!" "Bright planet, thou hast said," Return'd the snake, "but seal with oaths, fair God!" "I swear," said Hermes, "by my serpent rod, "And by thine eyes, and by thy starry crown!" 90 Light flew his earnest words, among the blossoms blown. Then thus again the brilliance feminine: "Too frail of heart! for this lost nymph of thine, "Free as the air, invisibly, she strays "About these thornless wilds; her pleasant days "Of Satyrs, Fauns, and blear'd Silenus' sighs. 95 100 105 "Thou shalt behold her, Hermes, thou alone, Blush'd a live damask, and swift-lisping said, "Give me my woman's form, and place me where he is. 120 Stoop, Hermes, let me breathe upon thy brow, "And thou shalt see thy sweet nymph even now." The God on half-shut feathers sank serene, She breath'd upon his eyes, and swift was seen Of both the guarded nymph near-smiling on the green. 125 It was no dream; or say a dream it was, Real are the dreams of Gods, and smoothly pass Their pleasures in a long immortal dream. One warm, flush'd moment, hovering, it might seem 135 And towards her stept: she, like a moon in wane, Faded before him, cower'd, nor could restrain But the God fostering her chilled hand, She felt the warmth, her eyelids open'd bland, Left to herself, the serpent now began To change; her elfin blood in madness ran, Her mouth foam'd, and the grass, therewith besprent, Wither'd at dew so sweet and virulent; Her eyes in torture fix'd, and anguish drear, Hot, glaz'd, and wide, with lid-lashes all sear, 140 145 150 Flash'd phosphor and sharp sparks, without one cooling tear. The colours all inflam'd throughout her train, |