Is Saturn's; tell me, if thou hear'st the voice Of Saturn; tell me, if this wrinkling brow, To make me desolate? whence came the strength? How was it nurtured to such bursting forth, While Fate seem'd strangled in my nervous grasp? But it is so; and I am smother'd up, Here on this spot of earth. Search, Thea, search! She touch'd her fair large forehead to the Open thine eyes eterne, and sphere them Just where her falling hair might be out- Upon all space: space starr'd, and lorn of Or the familiar visiting of one Bastion'd with pyramids of glowing gold, And touch'd with shade of bronzed obelisks, Glared a blood-red through all its thousand courts, Arches, and domes, and fiery galleries; 180 And all its curtains of Aurorian clouds Flush'd angerly: while sometimes eagles' wings, Unseen before by Gods or wondering men, Darken'd the place; and neighing steeds were heard, Not heard before by Gods or wondering O monstrous forms! O effigies of pain! 230 Why do I know ye? why have I seen ye? why Is my eternal essence thus distraught Am I to leave this haven of my rest, 240 I cannot see - but darkness, death and darkness. His voice leapt out, despite of godlike Making slow way, with head and neck con Unused to bend, by hard compulsion bent There as he lay, the Heaven with its stars Look'd down on him with pity, and the voice Of Cœlus, from the universal space, And at the fruits thereof what shapes they be, Distinct, and visible; symbols divine, Manifestations of that beauteous life Diffused unseen throughout eternal space: Of these new-form'd art thou, oh brightest child! Of these, thy brethren and the Goddesses ! 320 Now I behold in you fear, hope, and wrath; Actions of rage and passion; even as Sad sign of ruin, sudden dismay, and fall ! And canst oppose to each malignant hour Ever as if just rising from a sleep, Forehead to forehead held their monstrous horns; And thus in thousand hugest phantasies Made a fit roofing to this nest of woe. Instead of thrones, hard flint they sat upon, Couches of rugged stone, and slaty ridge Stubborn'd with iron. All were not assembled: Some chain'd in torture, and some wandering. Cous, and Gyges, and Briareüs, Meantime I will keep watch on thy bright Typhon, and Dolor, and Porphyrion, 20 With many more, the brawniest in assault, Were pent in regions of laborious breath; Dungeon'd in opaque element to keep Their clenched teeth still clench'd, and all their limbs Lock'd up like veins of metal, crampt and screw'd; Without a motion, save of their big hearts Mnemosyne was straying in the world; Scarce images of life, one here, one there, cirque Of Druid stones, upon a forlorn moor, When the chill rain begins at shut of eve, In dull November, and their chancel vault, The Heaven itself, is blinded throughout night. |