хот. JUDITII. THERE was a gleam of jewels in the tent A dusky evil light that came and went. Ilis red lascivious lips, and smile beneath His curled and scented beard, and mutter love. XCVI. IDLE CHARON. THE shores of Styx are lone for evermore, But tintless rushes all about the shore Have hemmed the old boat in, where, locked in sleep, Hoar-bearded Charon lies; while pale weeds creep With tightening grasp all round the unused oar. For in the world of Life strange rumours run And in the loved one's mouth, now, after death, To pay the ferry in the world beneath. XCVII. LETHE. I HAD a dream of Lethe, of the brink Dead, pallid loves, while others, old and sore, Brought but their tottering selves, in haste to drink. And, having drunk, they plunged, and seemed to sink Their load of love or guilt for evermore, Reaching with radiant brow the sunny shore That lay beyond, no more to think and think. Oh, who will give me, chained to Thought's dull strand, A draught of Lethe, salt with final tears, Were it no more than fills the hollow hand? Oh, who will rid me of the wasted years, The thought of Life's fair structure vainly planned, And each false hope, that mocking re-appears? G XCVIII. SUNKEN GOLD. IN dim green depths rot ingot-laden ships, While gold doubloons that from the drowned hand fell Lie nestled in the ocean-flower's bell With Love's gemmed rings once kissed by now dead lips. And round some wrought-gold cup the sea-grass whips And seek dim sunlight with their countless tips. So lie the wasted gifts, the long-lost hopes, Beneath the now hushed surface of myself, ΧΟΙΧ. TO DEATH. (ON HEARING OF THE ILLNESS OF E. DE V.) HAST thou then wrapped us in thy shadow, Death! And in cold triumph dreamest to destroy The young unfolding bud? and dash away, O Impotent! O very Phantom ! know, Are in the heart of man while yet below: |