"O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, Leading a jet-black goat white-horn'd, white-hooved, "O mother Ida, harken ere I die. Far-off the torrent call'd me from the cleft: Far up the solitary morning smote The streaks of virgin snow. With down-dropt eyes I sat alone white-breasted like a star : Fronting the dawn he moved; a leopard skin And his cheek brighten'd as the foam-bow brightens 66 Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. He smiled, and opening out his milk-white palm "My own Enone, Beautiful-brow'd Enone, my own soul, Behold this fruit, whose gleaming rind ingrav'n "For the most fair,” would seem to award it thine, As lovelier than whatever Oread haunt The knolls of Ida, loveliest in all grace Of movement, and the charm of married brows.' "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. This meed of fairest. Thou, within the cave "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. It was the deep midnoon: one silvery cloud Had lost his way between the piney sides Of this long glen. Then to the bower they came, Naked they came to that smooth-swarded bower, And at their feet the crocus brake like fire, Lotos and lilies and a wind arose, And overhead the wandering ivy and vine, “O mother Ida, harken ere I die. On the tree-tops a crested peacock lit, Wherewith to embellish state, from many a vale Honour,' she said, 'and homage, tax and toll, 66 O mother Ida, harken ere I die. Still she spake on and still she spake of power, 'Which in all action is the end of all ; Power fitted to the season; wisdom-bred And throned of wisdom-from all neighbour crowns Alliance and allegiance, till thy hand Fail from the sceptre-staff. Such boon from me, "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. She ceased, and Paris held the costly fruit Out at arm's-length, so much the thought of power Flatter'd his spirit; but Pallas where she stood Somewhat apart, her clear and bared limbs O'erthwarted with the brazen-headed spear Upon her pearly shoulder leaning cold, The while, above, her full and earnest eye Over her snow-cold breast and angry cheek Kept watch, waiting decision, made reply. "Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control, Acting the law we live by without fear; "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. Again she said: 'I woo thee not with gifts. Sequel of guerdon could not alter me To fairer. Judge thou me by what I am, If gazing on divinity disrobed Yet, indeed, Thy mortal eyes are frail to judge of fair, To push thee forward thro' a life of shocks, "Here she ceased, And Paris ponder'd, and I cried, 'O Paris, Or hearing would not hear me, woe is me! |