第26章

O，thesonginitsburdenranpure，Andburdentosongwasacrown。

Callistes，asinger，skilledInthegifthecouldmeasureandpraise，Byaral’sartwasthrilled，ThoughshesangbutaSongofDays，Wherethehusbandman’stoilandstrifeLittlevariestostrifeandtoil：

Butthemilkykerneloflife，Withhernumbered：corn，wine，fruit，oilThesongdidgehimtoeat：

GavethefirstraptsionofGood，AndthefreshyoungsenseofSweetThegraceofthebattleforfood，WiththeissueEarthcannotrefuseWhenmentotheirlabouraresworn。

’TwasasongoftheGodoftheMuseTotheforeheadofMorn。

Himlovedshe。Lo，nowwasheveiled：

Overseastoodaswelledcloud-rack：

Thefishing-boatheavenwardsailed，Bentabeam，withawhitenedtrack，Surprised，fasthaulingthenet，Asitflew：seadashed，earthshook。

Shesaid：Isitnight？Onotyet!

Withatravailofthoughtsinherlook。

Themountainheaveduptoitspeak：

Seadarkened：earthgatheredherfowl；

Ofbirdorofbranchrosetheshriek。

Night？butneversofellascowlWorenight，northeskysincethenWhenoceanranswallowingshore，AndtheGodslookeddownformen。

BroketempestwiththatsternroarNeveryet，savewhenblackonthewhirlRodewrathofasovereignPower。

Thentheyouthandtheshudderinggirl，Dimasshadesintheangryshower，JoinedhandsanddescendedamazeOfthepathsthatwereracingaleRoundboulderandbush，cleangways，Incessant，withsoundofahe。

Theheightwasafountain-urnPouringstreams，andthewholesolidheightLeaped，chasingateveryturnThepairinonespiritofflightTothefoldingpineforest。Yethere，Likethepausetothingshunted，indoubt，ThestillnessbredspectralfearOftheawfulnessrangingwithout，Andimminent。Downwardtheyfled，Fromunderthehauntedroof，TothevalleyaquakewiththetreadOfaniron-resoundinghoof，AsoflegionsofthunderfulhorseBrokenlooseandinlinetrampinghard。

FortherageofahungryforceRoamedblindofitsmarkoversward：

TheysawitrushdenseinthecloakOfitstravellingswatheofsteam；

Allthevalethroughathinthread-smokeWasthrownbacktodistanceextreme：

Anddullthefullbreastofitblinked，Likeabucklerofsteelbreathedo’er，Diminished，instrangenessdistinct，Glowingcold，unearthly，hoar：

AnEnnaoffieldsbeyondsun，Outoflight，inaluridweb；

AndthetraversingfuryspunUpanddownwithawave’sflowandebb；

Asthewavebreakstograspandtospurn，Retire，andinravenousgreed，Inveterate，swellitsreturn。

Upanddown，asifwringingfromspeedSightsthatmadetheunsightedappear，Deludeanddissolve，onitscoured。

Lo，aseauponlandheldcareerThroughtheplainofthevalehalf-devoured。

CallistesofhomeandescapeMutteredswiftly，unwittingofspeech。

ShegazedattheVoidofshape，Sheputherwhitehandtohisreach，Saying：NowhavewelookedontheThree。

Anddidedfromday，fromnight，Fromairthatisbreath，stoodshe，Likethevale，outoflight。

ThenagainindisorderlywordsHemutteredofhome，andwasmute，WiththeheartofthecoweringbirdsEretheyburstoffthefowler’sfoot。

HegavehersomerednessthatstreamedThroughherlimbsinaflittingglow。

Thesighofourlifesheseemed，Theblissofitclothinginwoe。

FrailerthanflowerwhentheroundOfthesickleencirclesit：strongTotellofthethingsprofound，Ourinmostutteringsong，Unspoken。SostoodsheawhileInthegloomoftheterrorafield，AndthesilenceabouthersmileSaidmorethanoftongueisrevealed。

Ihavebreathed：Ihavegazed：Ihavebeen：

Itsaid：andnotjoylesslyshoneTheremembranceoflightthroughthescreenOfafacethatseemedshadowandstone。

Sheledtheyouthtrembling，appalled，Tothelake-bankshesawsinkandriseLikeapanic-struckbreast。Thenshecalled，Andthehurricaneblacknesshadeyes。

ItlaunchedliketheThunderer’sbolt。

Paleshedrooped，andtheyouthbyhersideWouldhaveclaspedheranddaredarevoltSacrilegiousaseverdefiedHighOlympus，butvainlyforstrengthHiscompassionateh