The Poetical Works Of Robert Bridges Part 17

MAY

1

After long sleep when Psyche first awoke Among the gra.s.ses 'neath the open skies, And heard the mounting larks, whose carol spoke Delighted invitation to arise, She lay as one who after many a league Hath slept off memory with his long fatigue, And waking knows not in what place he lies:

2

Anon her quickening thought took up its task, And all came back as it had happ'd o'ernight; The sad procession of the wedding mask, The melancholy toiling up the height, The solitary rock where she was left; And thence in dark and airy waftage reft, How on the flowers she had been disburden'd light.

3

Thereafter she would rise and see what place That voyage had its haven in, and found She stood upon a little hill, whose base Shelved off into the valley all around; And all round that the steep cliffs rose away, Save on one side where to the break of day The widening dale withdrew in falling ground.

4

There, out from over sea, and scarce so high As she, the sun above his watery blaze Upbroke the grey dome of the morning sky, And struck the island with his level rays; Sifting his gold thro' lazy mists, that still Climb'd on the shadowy roots of every hill, And in the tree-tops breathed their silvery haze.

5

At hand on either side there was a wood; And on the upward lawn, that sloped between, Not many paces back a temple stood, By even steps ascending from the green; With shaft and pediment of marble made, It fill'd the pa.s.sage of the rising glade, And there withstay'd the sun in dazzling sheen.

6

Too fair for human art, so Psyche thought, It might the fancy of some G.o.d rejoice; Like to those halls which lame Hephaestos wrought, Original, for each G.o.d to his choice, In high Olympus; where his matchless lyre Apollo wakes, and the responsive choir Of Muses sing alternate with sweet voice.

7

Wondering she drew anigh, and in a while Went up the steps as she would entrance win, And faced her shadow 'neath the peristyle Upon the golden gate, whose f.l.a.n.g.es twin-- As there she stood, irresolute at heart To try--swung to her of themselves apart; Whereat she past between and stood within.

8

A foursquare court it was with marble floor'd, Embay'd about with pillar'd porticoes, That echo'd in a somnolent accord The music of a fountain, which arose Sparkling in air, and splashing in its tank; Whose wanton babble, as it swell'd or sank, Gave idle voice to silence and repose.

9

Thro' doors beneath the further colonnade, Like a deep cup's reflected glooms of gold, The inner rooms glow'd with inviting shade: And, standing in the court, she might behold Cedar, and silk, and silver; and that all The pargeting of ceiling and of wall Was fresco'd o'er with figures manifold.

10

Then making bold to go within, she heard Murmur of gentle welcome in her ear; And seeing none that coud have spoken word, She waited: when again Lady, draw near; Enter! was cried; and now more voices came From all the air around calling her name, And bidding her rejoice and have no fear.

11

And one, if she would rest, would show her bed, Pillow'd for sleep, with fragrant linen fine; One, were she hungry, had a table spread Like as the high G.o.ds have it when they dine: Or, would she bathe, were those would heat the bath; The joyous cries contending in her path, Psyche, they said, What wilt thou? all is thine.

12

Then Psyche would have thank'd their service true, But that she fear'd her echoing words might scare Those sightless tongues; and well by dream she knew The voices of the messengers of prayer, Which fly upon the G.o.ds' commandment, when They answer the supreme desires of men, Or for a while in pity hush their care.

13

'Twas fancy's consummation, and because She would do joy no curious despite, She made no wonder how the wonder was; Only concern'd to take her full delight.

So to the bath,--what luxury could be Better enhanced by eyeless ministry?-- She follows with the voices that invite.

14

There being deliciously refresht, from soil Of earth made pure by water, fire, and air, They clad her in soft robes of Asian toil, Scented, that in her queenly wardrobe were; And led her forth to dine, and all around Sang as they served, the while a choral sound Of strings unseen and reeds the burden bare.

15

P athetic strains and pa.s.sionate they wove, U rgent in ecstasies of heavenly sense; R esponsive rivalries, that, while they strove C ombined in full harmonious suspense, E ntrancing wild desire, then fell at last L ull'd in soft closes, and with gay contrast L aunch'd forth their fresh unwearied excellence.

16

Now Psyche, when her twofold feast was o'er, Would feed her eye; and choosing for her guide A low-voiced singer, bade her come explore The wondrous house; until on every side As surfeited with beauty, and seeing nought But what was rich and fair beyond her thought, And all her own, thus to the voice she cried:

17

'Am I indeed a G.o.ddess, or is this But to be dead: and through the gates of death Pa.s.sing unwittingly doth man not miss Body nor memory nor living breath; Nor by demerits of his deeds is cast, But, paid with the desire he holdeth fast, Is holp with all his heart imagineth?'

18

But her for all reply the wandering tongue Call'd to the chamber where her bed was laid With flower'd broideries of linen hung: And round the walls in painting were portray'd Love's victories over the G.o.ds renown'd.

Ares and Aphrodite here lay bound In the fine net that dark Hephaestus made:

19

Here Zeus, in likeness of a tawny bull, Stoop'd on the Cretan sh.o.r.e his mighty knee, While off his back Europa beautiful Stept pale against the blue Carpathian sea; And here Apollo, as he caught amazed Daphne, for lo! her hands shot forth upraised In leaves, her feet were rooted like a tree: