第37章

Shortthetriumph，briefhisrapture：seeahurricanesuddenlyBeattheliftingbillowcrestless，rollitbrokenthiswayandthat；

Attheleaponyieldingether，indespiteofhisreprimand，Swayedtumultuousthefire-steeds，plungingrecklesshitherandyon；

Untomenagreatamazement，allagazeattheTroubledEast：-

Pitifullyformasterystringinascension，thecharioteer，Reminiscent，driftsofcounselcaughtconfusedinhisaridwits；

Thereinsstiffahindhisshouldermadlypulledforthemastery，Tillathunderoffthetensechordsthro’hisearsdinnedhorrible。

Panicseizedhim：fledhissionofinolability；

Fledthedreamthatheofmortalsrodemischancespredominant；

Andhecried，’HadIpetitionedforacupofchillaconite，MydescenttoawfulHadeshadbeensoft，fornowmustIgoWiththecursebyfatherZeuscastonambitionimmoderate。

Oh，mysisters!Thou，myGoddess，inwhoseloveIwasenable，FromwhosearmsIrushedbefrenzied，whatawreckwillthisbodybe，Thatadmiredoftheestoodrose-warminthecourtswherethymysteriesCelebrationhadfromme，methemostsplendidlyprileged!

NevermoreshallIthytemplefillwithincensesbewildering；

Notagainhearthyhalf-murmurs——Iamlost!——never，nevermore。

Iamwreckedonseasofair，hurledtomydeathinavesselofflame!

Hither，sisters!Father，saveme!Hither，succourme，Cypria!’

NowawailofmentoZeusrang：fromOlympustheThundererSawtherageofthehavocwide-mouthed，thebrightcarsuperimpendingOverAsia，Africa，lowdown；ruinflamingoverthevales；

Lightdisastrousrisingsavageoutofsmokeinveterately；

Beast-black，conflagrationlikeamenacingshadowmoveWithvoraciousroaringsouthward，whereaslant，insufferable，Thebrightsteedscareeredtheirparchedwaydownanarcofthefirmament。

Forthedaygrewliketothicknight，andtheorbwasitsbeacon-

fire，Andfromhilltohillofdarknessbursttheday’sapparitionforth。

Lo，awrestler，notaGod，stoodinthecharioteverlowering：

Lo，theshapeofonewhoracedtheretooutstripthelegitimatehours：

Lo，therash’dbeamsofPhoebusdraggedinshameatthechariot-

wheels：

Lightofdaysofhappypipingsbythemead-singingrulets!

Lo，lo，increasinglustre，torridbreathtothenostrils；lo，Torridbrillianciesthro’thevapourslightenswifter，penetratethem，Fastenmerciless，ruminant，hueless，onearth’sframecracklingbusily。

Healoft，thefrenzieddrer，intheglowoftheunerse，Likethepalingofthedawn-starwitherssibly，healoft：

Bitterfuryinhisaspect，bitterdeathintheheartofhim。

Crouchtheherds，contractthereptiles，crouchthelionsundertheirpaws。

Whiteasmetalinthefurnacearethefacesofhuman-kind：

Inarticulatecreaturesofearthdumballawaittheultimateshock。

Tothebolthelaunched，’Strikedead，thou，’utteredZeus，veryterrible；

’Perishfolly，else’tisman’sfate’；andtheboltflewunerringly。

Thenthekindlerstooped；fromthetorch-cardownthemeasurelessaltitudesLeanedhisraylesshead，relinquishedreinandfooting，raisednotacry。

Liketheflowerontherer’ssurfacewhenexpandingitvanishes，Gavehislimbstorightandleft，quenched：andsofellheprecipitate，Seenofmenasagladrain-fall，sendingcoolnessyetereitcomes：

Soheshoweredabovethem，shadowedo’erthebluearchipelagoes，O’erthesilken-shiningpasturesofthecontinentsandtheisles；

Sodescendingbroughtrevaltothegreeneryofourearth。

Lither，noisyinthebreezesnowhissisterssheringweep，BythererflowingsmoothouttothevexedseaofAdria，Wherehefell，andwheretheysufferedsuddenchangetothetremulousEver-wailfultreesbemoaninghim，abruisedpurplecyclamen。

Flowersofthewillow-herbarewool；

Flowersofthebriarberriesred；

Speedingtheirseedasthebreezemayrule，Flowersofthethistleloos