Were closed in sullen moisture, and quick The while one hand, that erst upon his

Lay dormant, moved convulsed and gradu- Of these first minutes? The unchariest ally

Unto the clover-sward, and she has talk'd
Full soothingly to every nested finch:
Rise, Cupids! or we'll give the bluebell
pinch

To your dimpled arms. Once more sweet
life begin!'

At this, from every side they hurried in,
Rubbing their sleepy eyes with lazy wrists,
And doubling overhead their little fists
In backward yawns. But all were soon
alive:

510

For, as delicious wine doth, sparkling, dive
In nectar'd clouds and curls through water

fair,

So from the arbour roof down swell'd an air
Odorous and enlivening; making all
To laugh, and play, and sing, and loudly call
For their sweet queen: when lo! the
wreathed green

Disparted, and far upward could be seen
Blue heaven, and a silver car, air-borne,
Whose silent wheels, fresh wet from clouds
of morn,
Spun off a drizzling dew,

chill

muse

To embracements warm as theirs makes

coy excuse.

O it has ruffled every spirit there,
Saving Love's self, who stands superb to
share

The general gladness: awfully he stands;
A sovereign quell is in his waving hands;
No sight can bear the lightning of his bow;
His quiver is mysterious, none can know
What themselves think of it; from forth
his eyes

540

There darts strange light of varied hues
and dyes:

A scowl is sometimes on his brow, but who
Look full upon it feel anon the blue
Of his fair eyes run liquid through their
souls.

Endymion feels it, and no more controls
The burning prayer within him; so, bent
low,

He had begun a plaining of his woe.
But Venus, bending forward, said: 'My
child,

Favour this gentle youth; his days are wild
With love-he- but alas! too well I see
Thou know'st the deepness of his misery.
Ah, smile not so, my son: I tell thee true,
which falling | That when through heavy hours I used to

On soft Adonis' shoulders, made him still
Nestle and turn uneasily about.

520

Soon were the white doves plain, with necks

stretch'd out,

And silken traces lighten'd in descent;
And soon, returning from love's banish-

ment,

Queen Venus leaning downward openarm'd:

Her shadow fell upon his breast, and
charm'd

A tumult to his heart, and a new life
Into his eyes. Ah, miserable strife,
But for her comforting! unhappy sight, 530
But meeting her blue orbs! Who, who
can write

Gold dome, and crystal wall, and turquois To these founts Protean, passing gulf, and

With starlight gems: aye, all so huge and Through unknown things; till exhaled as