第7章

Ablackbirdinawickercage，Thathungandswung’midfruitsandflowers，Hadlearntthesong-charm，toassuageThedrearnessofitswinglesshours。

Andeverwhenthesongwasheard，FromtreesthatshadethegrassyplotWarbledanotherglossybird，Whosematenotlongagowasshot。

Strangeanguishinthatcreature’sbreast，Unweptlikehumangrief，unsaid，HasquickenedinitslonelynestAlingimpulsefromthedead。

Nottoconsoleitsownwildsmart，-

Butwithakindlinginstinctstrong，ThenovelfeelingofitsheartBeatsforthecaptebirdofsong。

Andwhenthosemellownotesarestill，Ithopsfromoffitschoralperch，O’erpathandsward，withbusybill，Allgratefulgiftstopeckandsearch。

StoreofouzeldaintieschoiceTothosewhiteswingingbarsitbrings；

AndwithalowconsolingvoiceIttalksbetweenitsflutteringwings。

DeeplyintheirbittergriefThosesufferersreciprocate，Theonesingsforitswoodlandlife，Theotherforitsmurderedmate。

Butdeeperdoththesecretprove，Unitingthosesadcreaturesso；

Humanity’sgreatlinkoflove，Thecommonsympathyofwoe。

WelldinedfromdaytodayIstheswiftspeechbetweenthemtwain；

Forwhenthebirdisscaredaway，Thecapteburststosongagain。

Yetdailywithitsflatteringvoice，Talkingamiditsflutteringwings，StoreofouzeldaintieschoiceWithbusybillthepoorbirdbrings。

AndshallIsay，tillweakwithageDownfromitsdrowsybranchitdrops，Itwillnotleavethatcaptecage，Norceasethosebusysearchinghops？

Ah，no!themoralwillnotstrain；

Anothersensewillmakeitrange，Anothermatewillsootheitspain，Anotherseasonworkachange。

Butthro’thele-longsummer，tried，Apuredevotionwemaysee；

TheebbandflowofNature’stide；

Aself-forgetfulsympathy。

BlueJuly，brightJuly，Monthofstormsandgorgeousblue；

oletlightningso’erthysky，Heavyfallsofdrenchingdew；

Summercrown!o’erglenandgladeShrinkinghyacinthsintheirshade；

Iwelcometheewithallthypride，IlovetheelikeanEasternbride。

ThoughallthesingingdaysaredoneAsinthoseclimesthatclaspthesun；

ThoughthecuckooinhisthroatLeavestothedovehislasttwinnote；

Cometomewiththylustrouseye，Golden-dawningoriently，Comewithallthyshiningblooms，Thyrichredroseandrollingglooms。

Thoughthecuckoodothbutsing’cuk，cuk，’

Andthedovealonedothcoo；

Thoughthecushatspinshercoo-r-roo，r-r-roo-

Tothecuckoo’shalting’cuk。’

SweetJuly，warmJuly!

Monthwhenmossesnearthestream，Softgreenmossesthickandshy，Arearaptureandadream。

SummerQueen!whosefootthefernFadesbeneathwhilechestnutsburn；

Iwelcometheewiththyfiercelove，Gloombelowandgleamabove。

Thoughalltheforesttreeshangdumb，Withdenseleafinesso’ercome；

Thoughthenightingaleandthrush，Pipenotfromtheboughorbush；

Cometomewiththylustrouseye，Azure-meltingwesterly，Therapturesofthyfaceunfold，Andwelcomeinthyrobesofgold!

Tho’thenightingalebroods——’sweet-chuck-sweet’-

Andtheouzelflutessochill，Tho’thethrostlegesbutoneshrillytrillTothenightingale’s’sweet-sweet。’

IwouldIwerethedropofrainThatfallsintothedancingrill，ForIshouldseekthererthen，Androllbelowthewoodedhill，UntilIreachedthesea。

AndO，tobethererswiftThatwrestleswiththewilfultide，AndflingthebrinyweedsasideThato’erthefoamybillowsdrift，UntilIcametothee!

Iwouldthatafterwearystrife，Andstormbeneaththepipingwind，ThecurrentofmytruefreshlifeMightcomeunmingled，unimbrined，Towherethoufloatestfree。

Mightfindtheeinsomeamberclime，Wheresunlightdazzlesonthesail，AnddreamingofourplightedvaleMightsealthedream，andblessthetime，Withmaidenkissesthree。

Cometomeinanyshape!

Asactorcrown’dwithne，Inthycurlstheclusteringgrape，-

Oravanquishedslave：

’TisthycomingthatIcrave，Andthyfoldingserpenttwine，Closeanddumb；

Ne’erfromthatwouldIescape；

Cometomeinanyshape!

Onlycome!

Onlycome，andinmybreastHidethyshameorshowthypride；

Inmybosombecaressed，Nevermoretopart；

Comeintomyyearningheart；

I，theserpent，golden-eyed，Twineroundthee；

Twinetheewithnovenomedtest；

Absencemakesthevenomednest；

Cometome!

Cometome，mylover，come!

oletsonthetenderstemDieandwitherintheirbloom，Underdewygrass；

Come，mylover，or，alas!

Ishalldie，shalldielikethem，Frailandlone；

Cometome，mylover，come!

Letthybosombemytomb：

Come，myown!

SweptfromhisfleetuponthatfatalnightWhengreatPoseidon’ssudden-veeringwrathScatteredthehappyhomeward-floatingGreeksLikefoam-flakesoffthewaves，theKingofCreteHeldloftycommunewiththedarkSea-god。

Hisbrowswerecrownedwithctory，hischeeksWereflushedwithtriumph，butthemightyjoyOfTroy’sdestructionandhisowngreatdeedsPassed，forthethoughtsofhomeweredearernow，Andsweetthememoryofwifeandchild，Andwearynowthetenlong，foreignyears，Andterriblethedoubtofshortdelay-

Moreterrible，OGods!hecried，butstopped；

Thenraisedhisvoiceuponthestormandprayed。

Othou，ifinjured，injurednotbyme，Poseidon!whomsea-deitiesobeyAndmortalsworship，hearme!forindeedItwasouroathtoaidthecauseofGreece，NotunespousedbyGods，andmostofallBythee，ifgentlecurrents，havenscalm，Fairwindsandprosperousvoyage，andtheShapeImpersonateinmanyaperiloushour，BothinthestatelycouncilsoftheKings，Andwhenthehuskybattlemurmuredthick，Maytestifyofsercesperformed!

Butnowtheseasarehaggardwiththywrath，Thybreathistempest!neverattheshoresOfhostileIliumdidthystormfulbrowsBetraysuchfiercemagnificence!notevenOnthatwilddaywhen，madwithtorchandglare，ThefranticcrowdswitheyeslikestarngwolvesBurstfromtheirportsimpregnable，astreamOfheadlongfurytowardthehissingdeep；

Wherethenfull-armedIstoodinguard，compactBesidethee，andalone，withbrandandspear，Weheldatbaytheswarmingbrood，andpouredBloodofchoicewarriorsonthefoot-ploughedsands!

Thou，meantime，darkwithconflict，asacloudThatthickensinthebosomoftheWestOverquenchedsunset，circledroundwithflame，HugeasabillowrunningfromthewindsLongdistances，tillwithblackshipwreckswoln，Itflingsitsangrymaneaboutthesky。

Andlikethatbillowheangereitburst；

AndlikethatcloudurgedbyimpulsestormWithchargeofthunder，lightning，andthedrenchOftorrents，thouinallthymajestyOfmightinessdidstfalluponthewar!

Rememberthatgreatmoment!NorforgetTheaidIgavethee；howmyreadyspearFlewswiftlysecondingthymortalstroke，Where’erthepresswashottest；neverslackedMyarmitsduty，normineeyeitsaim，Thoughterriblytheycompassedus，andstoodThickasanAutumnforest，whosebrownhair，Lustrouswithsunlight，bythestillincreaseOfheattoglowingheatconceeslikezealOfradiance，tillatthepitchofnoon’TisseizedwithconflagrationanddistendsHorridlyoverleaguesofdoom’ddomain；

Minglingthescreamsofbirds，thecriesofbrutes，Thewailofcreaturesinthecovertpent，Howls，yells，andshrieksofagony，thehissOfseethingsap，andcrashoffallingboughsTogetherinitsdullvoraciousroar。

Socloselyandsofearfullytheythrong’d，Savagewithphantasiesofctory，Aseaofduskyshapes；fordayhadpassedAndnightfellontheirdarkenedfaces，redWithfightandtorchflare；shrilltheresonantairWitheagershouts，andhoarsewithangrygroans；

Whileoverallthedenseandsullenboom，Thedinandmurmurofthemyriads，Rolledwithitsawfulintervals，asthoughThebattlebreathed，orasagainsttheshoreWavesgatherbacktoheavethemselvesanew。

Thatnightsleepdroppednotfromthedrearyskies，NorcouldtheprowessofourchiefsopposeThatseaofragingmen。Butwhatwerethey？

Orwhatismanopposedtothee？ItshopesArewrecks，himselfthedrowning，driftingweedThatwandersonthywaters；suchasI

Whoseethescatteredremnantsofmyfleet，Rememberingthedaywhenfirstwesailed，EachgladshipshininglikethemorningstarWithpromisefortheworld。Oh!suchasI

Thusdarklydriftingonthedrowningwaves。

OGodofwaters!’tisadreadfulthingTosufferforanelunrevealed；

DreadfulitistoheartheperishingcryOfthosewelove；thesilencethatsucceedsHowdreadful!StillmytrustisfedontheeForthosethatstillremainandformyself。

AndifIhearthyswiftfoam-snortingsteedsDrawingthyduskychariot，asinThepausesofthewindIseemtohear，Deafthouartnottomyentreatingprayer!

Hastethentogeushelp，forcloselynowCretewhispersinmyears，andallmybloodRunskeenandwarmforhome，andIhaveyearning，SuchyearningasIneverfeltbefore，Toseeagainmywife，mylittleson，MyQueen，myprettynurslingoffeyears，Thedarlingofmyhopes，ourdearestpledgeOfmarriage，andourbrightestprizeoflove，Whosepartingcryringsclearestinmyheart。

Olaythishorror，much-offendedGod!

AndmakingallasfairandfirmaswhenWetrustedtothymightydepthsofold，

IvowtosacrificethefirstwhomZeusShallprompttohailusfromthewhiteseashoreAndwelcomeourreturntoroyalCrete，Anoffering，Poseidon，untothee!

Amidthedinofelementalstrife，NovoicemaypiercebutDeitysupreme：

AndDeitysupremealonecanhear，Abovethehurricane’sdiscordantshrieks，Thecryofagonizedhumanity。

NotunappeasedwasHewhosmitesthewaves，Whentohisstormyearsthewarrior’svowEntered，andfromhisfoamypinnacleTumultuoushebeheldtheprostrateform，Andknewthemightyheart。Awhilehegazed，Asdoubtfulofhispurpose，andthestorm，Consciousofthatdinedebate，withheldItsfierceemotion，intheluminousgloomOfthosesodarkirradiatingeyes!

BeneathwhosewaveringlustreshonerevealedThetumultofthepurplingdeeps，andallThethrobbingofthetempest，asitpaused，Slowlysubsiding，seemingtoawaitThesuddensignal，asafaithfulhoundPantswiththeforepawsstretchedbeforeitsnose，Athwartthegreensward，afteraneagerchase；

Itshottonguethrusttocool，itsfoamyjawsOpentolettheswiftbreathcomeandgo，ItsquickinterrogatingeyesfedkeenUponthehuntsman’scountenance，andeverLashingitssharpimpatienttailwithhaste：

Promptattheslightestsigntoscouraway，Andhangitselfafreshbythebleedingfangs，Upontheneckofsomedeath-singledstag，Whoseroyalantlers，eyes，andstumblingkneesWillsupplicatetheGodsinmutedespair。

Thistimenotmute，noryetinvainthistime!

ForstilltheburdenoftheearnestvoiceAndallthedgloriesitrevokedSankintheGod，withthatabsorbedsuspenseFeltonlybytheOlympians，whosemindsUnboundedlikeourmortalbrain，perceeAllthingscomplete，theend，theaimofall；

TowhomthecrownandconsequenceofdeedsAreeverpresentwiththedeeditself。

Andnowthepouringsurges，vastandsmooth，Grewwearyofrestraint，andheavedthemselvesHeadlongbeneathhim，breakingathisfeetWithwildimportunatecriesandangrywail；

Likecrowdsthatshoutforbreadandhungermore。