Of flutes and viols, ravishing his heart, Endymion from Glaucus stood apart, And scatter'd in his face some fragments light. How lightning-swift the change! a youthful wight Smiling beneath a coral diadem,
Out-sparkling sudden like an upturn'd gem, Appear'd, and, stepping to a beauteous corse, Kneel'd down beside it, and with tenderest force Press'd its cold hand, and wept-and Scylla sigh'd! Endymion, with quick hand, the charm applied- The nymph arose: he left them to their joy, And onward went upon his high employ, Showering those powerful fragments on the dead And, as he pass'd, each lifted up its head, As doth a flower at Apollo's touch.
Death felt it to his inwards; 'twas too much : Death fell a-weeping in his charnel-house. The Latmian persevered along, and thus All were reanimated. There arose A noise of harmony, pulses and throes Of gladness in the air-while many, who Had died in mutual arms devout and true, Sprang to each other madly; and the rest Felt a high certainty of being blest.
They gazed upon Endymion. Enchantment Grew drunken, and would have its head and bent. Delicious symphonies, like airy flowers,
Budded, and swell'd, and, full-blown, shed full showers Of light, soft, unseen leaves of sounds divine. The two deliverers tasted a pure wine
Of happiness, from fairy press oozed out. Speechless they eyed each other, and about The fair assembly wander'd to and fro, Distracted with the richest overflow Of joy that ever pour'd from heaven.
Shouted the new-born god; "Follow, and pay Our piety to Neptunus supreme!"-
Then Scylla, blushing sweetly from her dream, They led on first, bent to her meek surprise, Through portal columns of a giant size Into the vaulted, boundless emerald. Joyous all follow'd, as the leader call'd, Down marble steps; pouring as easily As hour-glass sand-and fast, as you might see Swallows obeying the south summer's call, Or swans upon a gentle waterfall.
Thus went that beautiful multitude, nor far, Ere from among some rocks of glittering spar, Just within ken, they saw descending thick Another multitude. Whereat more quick Moved either host. On a wide sand they met, And of those numbers every eye was wet; For each their old love found. A murmuring rose, Like what was never heard in all the throes Of wind and waters: 'tis past human wit To tell; 'tis dizziness to think of it.
This mighty consummation made, the host Moved on for many a league; and gain'd and lost Huge sea-marks; vanward swelling in array, And from the rear diminishing away,
Till a faint dawn surprised them. Glaucus cried, "Behold! behold, the palace of his pride! God Neptune's palaces!" With noise increased, They shoulder'd on towards that brightening east. At every onward step proud domes arose In prospect, diamond gleams and golden glows Of amber 'gainst their faces levelling. Joyous, and many as the leaves in spring, Still onward; still the splendour gradual swell'd. Rich opal domes were seen, on high upheld By jasper pillars, letting through their shafts A blush of coral. Copious wonder-draughts Each gazer drank; and deeper drank more near: For what poor mortals fragment up, as mere
As marble was there lavish, to the vast Of one fair palace, that far, far surpass'd, Even for common bulk, those olden three, Memphis, and Babylon, and Nineveh.
As large, as bright, as colour'd as the bow Of Iris, when unfading it doth show Beyond a silvery shower, was the arch
Through which this Paphian army took its march, Into the outer courts of Neptune's state: Whence could be seen, direct, a golden gate, To which the leaders sped; but not half raught Ere it burst open swift as fairy thought,
And made those dazzled thousands veil their eyes Like callow eagles at the first sunrise. Soon with an eagle nativeness their gaze Ripe from hue-golden swoons took all the blaze, And then, behold! large Neptune on his throne Of emerald deep: yet not exalt alone; At his right hand stood winged Love, and on His left sat smiling Beauty's paragon.
Far as the mariner on highest mast Can see all round upon the calmed vast, So wide was Neptune's hall: and as the blue Doth vault the waters, so the waters drew Their doming curtains, high, magnificent,
Awed from the throne aloof;-and when storm-rent Disclosed the thunder-gloomings in Jove's air; But soothed as now, flash'd sudden everywhere, Noiseless, sub-marine cloudlets, glittering Death to a human eye: for there did spring From natural west, and east, and south, and north, A light as of four sunsets, blazing forth
A gold-green zenith 'bove the Sea-God's head. Of lucid depth the floor, and far outspread As breezeless lake, on which the slim canoe Of feather'd Indian darts about, as through The delicatest air: air verily,
But for the portraiture of clouds and sky: This palace floor breath-air, but for the amaze Of deep-seen wonders motionless,—and blaze Of the dome pomp, reflected in extremes, Globing a golden sphere.
They stood in dreams Till Triton blew his horn. The palace rang; The Nereids danced; the Syrens faintly sang; And the great Sea-King bow'd his dripping head. Then Love took wing, and from his pinions shed On all the multitude a nectarous dew.
The ooze-born Goddess beckoned and drew Fair Scylla and her guides to conference; And when they reach'd the throned eminence She kiss'd the sea-nymph's cheek, who sat her down A toying with the doves. Then, "Mighty crown And sceptre of this kingdom!" Venus said, "Thy vows were on a time to Nais paid: Behold!"-Two copious tear-drops instant fell From the God's large eyes; he smiled delectable, And over Glaucus held his blessing hands. "Endymion! Ah! still wandering in the bands Of love? Now this is cruel. Since the hour I met thee in earth's bosom, all my power Have I put forth to serve thee. What, not yet Escaped from dull mortality's harsh net? A little patience, youth! 'twill not be long, Or I am skilless quite: an idle tongue, A humid eye, and steps luxurious,
Where these are new and strange, are ominous. Ay, I have seen these signs in one of heaven, When others were all blind; and were I given To utter secrets, haply I might say
Some pleasant words: but Love will have his day, So wait awhile expectant. Pr'ythee soon, Even in the passing of thine honey-moon,
Visit my Cytherea: thou wilt find
Cupid well-natured, my Adonis kind;
And pray persuade with thee-Ah, I have done, All blisses be upon thee, my sweet son !"— Thus the fair Goddess: while Endymion Knelt to receive those accents halcyon.
Meantime a glorious revelry began Before the Water-Monarch. Nectar ran In courteous fountains to all cups outreach'd; And plunder'd vines, teeming exhaustless, pleach'd New growth about each shell and pendent lyre; The which, in entangling for their fire, Pull'd down fresh foliage and coverture For dainty toy. Cupid, empire-sure,
Flutter'd and laugh'd, and oft-times through the throng Made a delighted way. Then dance, and song, And garlanding, grew wild; and pleasure reign'd. In harmless tendril they each other chain'd, And strove who should be smother'd deepest in Fresh crush of leaves.
For one so weak to venture his poor verse In such a place as this. O do not curse, High Muses! let him hurry to the ending.
All suddenly were silent. A soft blending Of dulcet instruments came charmingly; And then a hymn.
Brother of Jove, and co-inheritor
Of elements! Eternally before
Thee the waves awful bow. Fast, stubborn rock, At thy fear'd trident shrinking, doth unlock Its deep foundations, hissing into foam. All mountain-rivers lost, in the wide home Of thy capacious bosom ever flow. Thou frownest, and old Eolus thy foe Skulks to his cavern, 'mid the gruff complaint
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