第4章

Fainterthantherose-redlip!

Risinginastormofwavelets，Thatforshelter，feigningfright，Presttothosetwin-heanghavens，Harbour’dtherebeneathherlight；

GleaminginawhirlofeddiesRoundherlucidthroatandneck；

EddyinginagleamofdimplesUpagainstherbloomycheek；

BribingallthebreezywaterWithrichwarmth，thenymphtokeepInaself-imprison’dplaisance，Temptingherfromdeeptodeep。

TillatlastdeliriouspassionThrill’dthegodtowildexcess，AndthefervourofamomentMadedinityconfess；

Andhestoodinallhisglory!

Butsoradiant，beingnear，ThathereyeswerefrozenonhimInafascinatedfear!

Allwithorientsplendourshining，Allwithroseatebirthaglow，Gleam’dthegoldengodbeforeher，Withhisgoldencrescentbow。

Soonthedazzledlightsubsided，Andheseem’dabeauteousyouth，Form’dtogainthemaiden’smurmurs，Andtopledgethevowsoftruth。

Ah!thatthushehadcontinued!

O，thatsuchforherhadbeen!

Gracefulwithallgodlikebeauty，Butsohumanlyserene!

Cheeks，andmouth，andmellowringlets，Bounteousasthemid-daybeam；

Pleadinglooksandwistfultremour，Tenderasamaiden’sdream!

Palmsthatlikeabird’sthrobb’dbosomPalpitatewitheagerness，Lips，thebridalsoftheroses，Dewysweetfromthecaress!

Lipsandlimbs，andeyesandringlets，Swaying，prayingtooneprayer，Likealyre，sweptbyaspirit，Inthestill，enraptur’dair。

Likealyreinsomefarvalley，Utteringrashmentsdine!

AllitsstringstoewlessfingersYearning，modulationsfine!

Yearningwithmelodiousfervour!

Likeabeauteousmaidenflower，WhentheyoungbelovedthreepacesHoversfromthebridalbower。

Throbbingthro’thedawningstillness!

Asaheartwithinabreast，WhentheyoungbelovedissteppingRadianttothenuptialnest。

OforDaphne!gentleDaphneEverwarmerbydegreesWhispersfullofhopesandsionsThrongherearslikehoneybees!

NeveryetwaslonelyblossomWoo’dwithsuchdeliciousvoice!

NeversincehathmortalmaidenDweltonsuchcelestialchoice!

Love-suffusedshequers，falters-

Falters，sighs，butneverspeaks，Allherrosybloodup-gushingOverflowsherripeyoungcheeks。

Blushing，sweetwithrginblushes，Allherlovelinessa-flame，Standssheintheorientwaters，Strickeno’erwithspeechlessshame!

Ah!butlovelier，everlovelier，Asmoredeepthecolourglows，Andthehoney-ladenlilyChangestothefragrantrose。

Whilethegodwithmeekembraces，Whisperingallhissacredcharms，Softlyfoldsher，gentlyholdsher，Inhiswhiteencirclingarms!

But，ODian!veilnotwhollyThypalecrescentfromthemorn!

Vanishnot，Orgingoddess，Withthatlookofpallidscorn!

StillthypureprotectinginfluenceShedfromthosefairwatchfuleyes!-

Lo!herangryorbhasvanished，Andthebrightsunthronestheskies!

VoicelesslytheforestrginVanished!butonelookshegave-

KeenasNiobeanarrowThro’themaiden’sheartitdrave。

ThustowardthatthroningbosomWhereallearthiswarmed，——eachspotNourishedwithautumnalblessings-

IcychillwasDaphnecaught。

Icychill!butswiftrevulsionAllhergentlerselfrenewed，EvenasicyWinterquickensWithbud-openingwarmthimbued。

Evenasatorpidbrooklet，Thattothenight-gleamingmoonFlashedinturnthefrozenglances，Meltsuponthebreastofnoon。

Butnomore——Onever，never，Turnsshetothatbosombright，Swiftlyallhersensescounsel，Allhernervesarestrungtoflight。

O’erthebrowsofradiantPindusRollsashadowdarkandcold，AndasoundoflamentationIssuesfromitsmournfulfold。

Voiceofthefar-sightedMuses!

Cryofkeenforebodingsong!

EverycleftofstartledTempeTingleswithitsharpandlong。

Overbournandboskanddingle，Overrers，overrills，RunsthesadsubserentEchoTowardthedimbluedistanthills!

Andanotherandanother!

’Tisacrymorewildthanall；

AndthehillswithmuffledvoicesAnswer’Daphne!’tothecall。

Andanotherandanother!

’Tisacrysowildlysweet，ThathercharmedheartturnsrebelTotheinstinctofherfeet；

Andshepausesforaninstant；

ButhisarmshavescarcelyslidRoundherwaistincestiangirdles，AndhislowvoluptuouslidLiftedpleading，andthehoneyOfhismouthforhersathirst，Rubyglistening，raisedformoisture-

LikeabudthatwaitstoburstInthesweetespousingshowers-

AndhistonguehasscarcebegunWithitsinarticulateburthen，AndthecloudsscarceshowthesunAsitpiercesthro’acreceOfthemassthatclosedito’er，Whenagainthehorrorflashes-

Andsheturnstoflightoncemore!

Andagaino’erradiantPindusRollstheshadowdarkandcold，AndthesoundoflamentationIssuesfromitssablefold!

AndagainthelightwindschideherAsshedartsfromhisembrace-

Andagainthefar-voicedechoesSpeaktheirtidingsofthechase。

Loudlynowasswiftly，swiftly，O’ertheglimmeringsandsshespeeds；

WildlynowasinthefurzesFromthepiercingspikesshebleeds。

Deeplyandwithdirefulanguish，AsaboveeachcrimsondropPassionchecksthegodApollo，Andlovebidshimweepandstop-

HeaboveeachdropofcrimsonShadowing——likethelaurelleafThatabovehimselfwillshadow-

Shedsafadelesslookofgrief。

Thenwithlove’sremorsefuldiscord，Withitsowndesireatwar，Sighingturns，whiledimlyfleetingDaphnefliesthechaseafar。

Butallnatureisagainsther!

Pan，withallhissylvantroop，Thro’thesta’dwoodlandvalleysBlockshercoursewithcryandwhoop!

InthetwilightsofthethicketsTreesbenddowntheirgnarledboughs，WildgreenleavesandlowcurvedbranchesHoldherhairandbeatherbrows。

Manyabrakeofbrushwoodcovert，Wherecolddarknessslumbersmute，Slipsashrubtothwartherpassage，Slidesahandtoclutchherfoot。

GlensandgladesoflushestverdureToilherintheirtawnymesh，Wilder-woofedwaysandalleysLockherstrugglinglimbsinleash。

Featherygrasses，flowerymosses，Knotthemselvestomakehertrip；

SpraysandstubbornsprigsoutstretchingPutabridleonherlip；

Manyawindinglanebetraysher，Manyasuddenboskyshoot，AndherkneemakesmanyastumbleO’ersomehiddendampoldroot，Whosequaintfacepeersgreenanddusky’Mongstthemattedgrowthofplants，Whilesheriseswildandweltering，Speedingonwithmanypants。

TanglesofthewildredstrawberrySpreadtheirfreckledtrammelsfrail；

InthepathwaycreepingbramblesCatchherintheirthornytrail。

AllthewidelysweepinggreenswardShiftsandswimsfromknolltoknoll；

Greyrough-fingeredoakandelmwoodPushherbyfromboletobole。

Grovesoflemon，grovesofcitron，Tallhigh-foliagedplaneandpalm，Bloomymyrtle，light-blueole，Waveherbackwithgustsofbalm。

Languidjasmine，scramblingbriony，Wallsofclose-festooningbraid，Flingthemselvesabouther，minglingWithherwaftedlooks，waylaid。

Twistingbindweed，honey’dwoodbine，Clingtoher，while，redandblue，OnherroundedformripeberriesDashanddieingorydew。

RunningiesdarkandlingeringRoundherlightlimbsdragandtwine；

RoundherwaistwithlanguoroustendrilsReelsandwreathesthejuicyne；

ReiningintheflyingcreatureWithitsarmsabouthermouth；

BurstingallitsmellowingbunchesToseduceherhuskydrouth；

Crowningherwithamorousclusters；

PouringdownherslopingbackFresh-bornwinesinglitteringrillets，Followingherincrimsontrack。

Buried，drenchedindewyfoliage，Thussheglimmersfromthedawn，Watchedbyeveryforestcreature，Fleet-footOread，frolicFaun。

Silver-sandalledArethusaNotmoreswiftlyfledthesands，Fledtheplainsandfledthesunlights，Fledthemurmuringoceanstrands。

O，thatnowtheearthwouldopen!

O，thatnowtheshadeswouldhide!

O，thatnowthegodswouldshelter!

Cavernsleadandseasdide!

Notmorefaintsoft-lowingIoPantedinthosestarryeyes，WhenthesleeplessmidnightmeadowsPiteouslyimploredtheskies!

StillherbreathlessflightsheurgesBythesanctuarystream，AndthegodwithgoldenswiftnessFollowslikeaneasternbeam。

HertheclosebewilderinggreeneryDarkenswithitsduskiestgreen，-

Himeachlittleleafletwelcomes，Flushingwithanorientsheen。

Thushenears，andnowallTempeRingswithhismelodiouscry，AvenuesandblueexpansesBeaminhislargelustrouseye!

Allthebranchesstarttomusic!

AsiffromasecretspringThousandsofsweetbillsarebubblingInthenestandonthewing。

GleamsandshinestheglassyrerAndrichvalleyseveryone；

ButofallthethrobbingbeautyBrightest!singledbythesun!

yroundherglimmeringancle，neaboutherglowingbrow，Neversurewasbridesobeauteous，Daphne，chosennymph，asthou!

Thushenears!andnowshefeelshimBreathinghotoneverylimb；

Andhehearsherownquickpantings-

Ah!thattheymightbeforhim。

O，thatliketheflowerhetramples，Bendingfromhisgoldentread，Fulloffaircelestialardours，Shewouldbowherbridalhead。

O，thatliketheflowershepresses，Noddingfromherlilytouch，Lightasintheharmlessbreezes，Shewouldknowthegodforsuch!

See!thegoldenarmsareroundher-

Totheairshegraspsandclings!

See!hisglowingarmshavewoundher-

Totheskysheshrieksandsprings!

See!theflushingchaceofTempeTrembleswithOlympianair-

See!greensprigsandbudsareshootingFromthosewhiteraisedarmsofprayer!

Intheearthherfeetarerooting!-

Breastsandlimbsandliftedeyes，Hairandlipsandstretchingfingers，Fadeaway——andfadelessrise。

AndthegodwhoseferventraptureClaspsherfindshiscloseembraceFullofpalpitatingbranches，Andnewleavesthatbudapace，Boundhiswonder-strickenforehead；-

WhileinebbingmeasuresslowSoundsofsoftlydyingpulsesPauseandquer，pauseandgo；

Go，andcomeagain，andflutterOnthevergeoflife，——thenflee!

AllthewhiteambrosialbeautyIsalustrousLaurelTree!

Stillwiththegreatpantinglove-chaseAllitsrunningsapiswarmed；-

ButfromheadtofoottherginIstransfiguredandtransformed。

Changed!——yetthegreenDryadnatureIsinstinctwithhumanties，Andaboveitsanguish’dloverBreathespatheticsympathies；

Sympathiesofloveandsorrow；

Joyinherdineescape；

BreathingthroughherburstingfoliageComforttohisbendingshape。

VainlynowthefloatingNaiadsSeektopiercethelaurelmaze，Noughtbutlaurelmeetstheirglances，Laurelglistensastheygaze。

Noughtbutbrightpropheticlaurel!

Laurelovereyesandbrows，Overlimbsandoverbosom，Laurelleavesandlaurelboughs!

AndinvainthelisteningDryadShellsherhandagainstherear!-

Allissilence——savetheechoTravellinginthedistancedrear。