HYLAS. The dances ended, the SPIRIT epiloguizes. SPI. To the ocean now I fly, Of Hesperus, and his daughters three Waters the odorous banks that blow And from her fair unspotted side Quickly to the green earth's end, Mortals that would follow me, JOHN MILTON. HYLAS. 563 Whence Jove-begotten Heracles, the mighty, His white, round shoulder shed the dripping crystal. To men though terrible, to him was gentle, The thick, brown locks, tossed backward from And still the ripples murmured, "Hylas Fell soft about his temples; manhood's blos- He thought: "The voices are but ear-born som Not yet had sprouted on his chin, but freshly Curved the fair cheek, and full the red lips' parting, music. Pan dwells not here, and Echo still is calling From some high cliff that tops a Thracian valley; Like a loose bow, that just has launched its So long mine ears, on tumbling Hellespontus, arrow. His large blue eyes, with joy dilate and beamy, Have heard the sea waves hammer Argo's | forehead, That I misdeem the fluting of this current Were clear as the unshadowed Grecian heav- For some lost nymph-" Again the murmur, Dewy and sleek his dimpled shoulders rounded | And with the sound a cold, smooth arm To the white arms and whiter breast between them. Downward, the supple lines had less of soft ness: around him Slid like a wave, and down the clear, green darkness Glimmered on either side a shining bosom His back was like a god's; his loins were Glimmered, uprising slow; and ever closer Sloped to his knee, and, lightly dropping Their loose hair made, in silken mesh enwound downward, him. Drew the curved lines that breathe, in rest, Their eyes of clear, pale emerald then upliftof motion. Within the glimmering caves of Ocean hol- Close my drowsed eyes to hear your rippling Dance in my heart and flood my sense with rapture; The joy, the warmth and passion now awaken, Promised by thee, but erewhile calmly sleeping. O, leave me, Naiads! loose your chill embraces, Lock round his limbs, and bear him, vainly Or I shall die, for mortal maidens pining." But still with unrelenting arms they bound him, striving, Down from the noonday brightness. "Leave me, Naiads! Leave me!" he cried; "the day to me is dearer Than all your caves deep-sphered in Ocean's quiet. I am but mortal, seek but mortal pleasure: I would not change this flexile, warm exist ence, Though swept by storms, and shocked by Love us, whose milky arms will be thy cra Jove's dread thunder, To be a king beneath the dark-green waters." Still moaned the humid lips, between their kisses, dle Far down on the untroubled sands of ocean, Where now we bear thee, clasped in our embraces." "We have no love. O, love us, we who love And slowly, slowly sank the amorous Naiads; And soon the galley, stirring from her slum- The sunset died behind the crags of Imbros. shadow Falls o'er the towers of Jason's sea-girt city. billows. The voice of Jason roused the dozing sailors, And up the mast was heaved the snowy canvas. GOD sends his teachers unto every age, And with a thoughtless footstep loitered on. Stirred by a passing breath, had murmured And shape of mind, nor gives the realm of And, while he paused bewildered, yet again Truth Into the selfish rule of one sole race. It murmured "Rhocus!" softer than a breeze. Therefore each form of worship that hath He started and beheld with dizzy eyes swayed The life of man, and given it to grasp 'There is an instinct in the human heart Which makes that all the fables it hath coined, To justify the reign of its belief And strengthen it by beauty's right divine, What seemed the substance of a happy dream Within the green glooms of the shadowy oak. words, Serene, and full, and clear, as drops of dewWhich, like the hazel-twig, in faithful hands," And with it I am doomed to live and die; Points surely to the hidden springs of truth. Its needful food of truth, there ever is The rain and sunshine are my caterers, Then Rhocus, with a flutter at the heart, But with a glimpse of sadness in her tone, "I give it, Rhocus, though a perilous gift; RHECUS. 567 An hour before the sunset meet me here." And straightway there was nothing he could see Feeling how red and flushed he was with loss, "By Venus! does he take me for a rose?" But the green glooms beneath the shadowy And brushed him off with rough, impatient oak; And not a sound came to his straining ears Now, in those days of simpleness and faith, Men did not think that happy things were dreams Because they overstepped the narrow bourne So Rhocus made no doubt that he was blest; Earth seemed to spring beneath him as he walked; The clear, broad sky looked bluer than its wont, And he could scarce believe he had not wings Such sunshine seemed to glitter through his veins Instead of blood, so light he felt and strange. Young Rhœcus had a faithful heart enough, But one that in the present dwelt too much, And, taking with blithe welcome whatsoe'er Chance gave of joy, was wholly bound in that, Like the contented peasant of a vale, Deemed it the world, and never looked beyond. So, haply meeting in the afternoon Some comrades who were playing at the dice, He joined them and forgot all else beside. hand. But still the bee came back, and thrice again, And Rhocus, tracking him with angry eyes, By the low sun thrown forward broad and dim, Darkened well-nigh unto the city's wall. Quite spent and out of breath, he reached the tree; And, listening fearfully, he heard once more The low voice murmur "Rhocus!" close at hand Whereat he looked around him, but could see Nought but the deepening glooms beneath the oak. Then sighed the voice, “O, Rhœcus! never more Shalt thou behold me, or by day or night— Me, who would fain have blest thee with a love More ripe and bounteous than ever yet We spirits only show to gentle eyes— And he who scorns the least of Nature's works The dice were rattling at the merriest, And Rhocus, who had met but sorry luck, Just laughed in triumph at a happy throw, Is thenceforth exiled and shut out from all. When through the room there hummed a yel-Farewell! for thou canst never see me more." low bee That buzzed about his ear with down-dropped Then Rhocus beat his breast, and groaned As if to light. And Rhocus laughed and And cried, "Be pitiful! forgive me yet said, This once, and I shall never need it more!" |