Filling the chilly room with perfume light.-"And now, my love, my seraph fair, awake! Thou art my heaven, and I thine eremite : Open thine eyes, for meek St. Agnes' sake, Or I shall drowse beside thee, so my soul doth ache." XXXII. Thus whispering, his warm, unnerved arm The lustrous salvers in the moonlight gleam; XXXIII. Awakening up, he took her hollow lute,Tumultuous, and, in chords that tenderest be, He play'd an ancient ditty, long since mute, In Provence call'd "La belle dame sans mercy:" Close to her ear touching the melody ;Wherewith disturb'd, she utter'd a soft moan: He ceased-she panted quick-and suddenly Her blue affrayed eyes wide open shone: Upon his knees he sank, pale as smooth-sculptured stone. XXXIV. Her eyes were open, but she still beheld, And moan forth witless words with many a sigh; While still her gaze on Porphyro would keep; Who knelt, with joined hands and piteous eye, Fearing to move or speak, she look'd so dreamingly. XXXV. "Ah, Porphyro!" said she, "but even now Those looks immortal, those complainings dear! For if thou diest, my Love, I know not where to go." XXXVI. Beyond a mortal man impassion'd far Solution sweet: meantime the frost-wind blows : XXXVII. 'Tis dark quick pattereth the flaw-blown sleet: "This is no dream, my bride, my Madeline !" "Tis dark the iced gusts still rave and beat: "No dream, alas! alas! and woe is mine! Porphyro will leave me here to fade and pine.Cruel! what traitor could thee hither bring? I curse not, for my heart is lost in thine, Though thou forsakest a deceived thing;A dove forlorn and lost with sick unpruned wing." XXXVIII. "My Madeline! sweet dreamer! lovely bride! Say, may I be for aye thy vassal blest ? Thy beauty's shield, heart-shaped and vermeil dyed? Ah, silver shrine, here will I take my rest After so many hours of toil and quest, XXXIX. ; "Hark! 'tis an elfin-storm from faery land, For o'er the southern moors I have a home for thee." XL, She hurried at his words, beset with fears, A chain-droop'd lamp was flickering by each door; And the long carpets rose along the gusty floor. XLI. They glide, like phantoms, into the wide hall! The wakeful bloodhound rose, and shook his hide, By one, and one, the bolts full easy slide:- The key turns, and the door upon its hinges groans. XLII. And they are gone: ay, ages long ago For aye unsought-for slept among his ashes cold. HYPERION. BOOK I. DEEP in the shady sadness of a vale Like cloud on cloud. No stir of air was there, Robs not one light seed from the feather'd grass, Spreading a shade: the Naiad 'mid her reeds Along the margin-sand large foot-marks went, No further than to where his feet had stray'd, And slept there since. Upon the sodden ground His old right hand lay nerveless, listless, dead, Unsceptred; and his realmless eyes were closed; While his bow'd head seem'd listening to the Earth, His ancient mother, for some comfort yet. It seem'd no force could wake him from his place; But there came one, who with a kindred hand Touch'd his wide shoulders, after bending low With reverence, though to one who knew it not. She was a Goddess of the infant world; |