Of which Love scooped this boat-and with soft motion Piloted it round the circumfluous ocean. XXXIV. This boat she moored upon her fount, and lit A living spirit within all its frame, Breathing the soul of swiftness into it. Couched on the fountain like a panther tame, One of the twain at Evan's feet that sitOr as on Vesta's sceptre a swift flameOr on blind Homer's heart a wingèd thought,In joyous expectation lay the boat. XXXV. Then by strange art she kneaded fire and snow XXXVI. A sexless thing it was, and in its growth In gentleness and strength its limbs were decked; The bosom swelled lightly with its full youth, The countenance was such as might select Some artist that his skill should never die, Imaging forth such perfect purity. XXXVII. From its smooth shoulders hung two rapid Fit to have borne it to the seventh sphere, Tipped with the speed of liquid lightnings, Dyed in the ardours of the atmosphere: She led her creature to the boiling springs Where the light boat was moored, and said: Sit here!" 66 And pointed to the prow, and took her seat XXXVIII. And down the streams which clove those mountains vast, Around their inland islets, and amid The panther-peopled forests, whose shade cast XXXIX. The silver noon into that winding dell, With slanted gleam athwart the forest tops, Tempered like golden evening, feebly fell; A green and glowing light, like that which drops From folded lilies in which glow-worms dwell, When earth over her face night's mantle wraps; Between the severed mountains lay on high XL. And ever as she went, the Image lay With folded wings and unawakened eyes; And o'er its gentle countenance did play The busy dreams, as thick as summer flies, Chasing the rapid smiles that would not stay, And drinking the warm tears, and the sweet sighs Inhaling, which, with busy murmur vain, They had aroused from that full heart and brain. XLI. And ever down the prone vale, like a cloud Upon a stream of wind, the pinnace went ; Now lingering on the pools, in which abode The calm and darkness of the deep content In which they paused; now o'er the shallow road Of white and dancing waters, all besprent With sand and polished pebbles : mortal boat In such a shallow rapid could not float. XLII. And down the earthquaking cataracts which shiver Their snow-like waters into golden air, Or under chasms unfathomable ever Sepulchre them, till in their rage they tear A subterranean portal for the river, It fled the circling sunbows did upbear Its fall down the hoar precipice of spray, Lighting it far upon its lampless way. XLIII. And when the wizard lady would ascend And heavy hue which slumber could extend A rapid shadow from a slope of grass, XLIV. And it unfurled its heaven-coloured pinions, All interwoven with fine feathery snow XLV. And then it winnowed the Elysian air Which ever hung about that lady bright, Breasting the whirlwind with impetuous flight, The pinnace, oared by those enchanted wings, Clove the fierce streams towards their upper springs. XLVI. The water flashed like sunlight by the prow 1 The sense seems to be that the water flashed like sunlight flung to heaven by the prow of a noon-wandering meteor-the attributes of the pinnace and of the meteor being mingled in the comparison.—ED. The lady's radiant hair streamed to and fro : XLVII. Or, when the weary moon was in the wane, Her spirit; but sailed forth under the light dite; She to the Austral waters took her way, XLVIII. Where, like a meadow which no scythe has shaven, Which rain could never bend, or whirl-blast shake, With the Antarctic constellations paven, Canopus and his crew, lay the Austral lakeThere she would build herself a windless haven Out of the clouds whose moving turrets make The bastions of the storm, when through the sky The spirits of the tempest thundered by: XLIX. A haven beneath whose translucent floor 'Mentioned by Ptolemy in his Geography, and now supposed to be identical with Timbuctoo.-ED. |