The Poetical Works Of Robert Bridges Part 33

He guess'd all, flew down, and beside her knelt, With both his hands stroking her temples wan; And for the poison with his fingers felt, And drew it gently from her; and anon She slowly from those Stygian fumes was freed; Which he with magic handling and good heed Replaced in pyx, and shut the lid thereon.

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'O Psyche,' thus, and kissing her he cried, 'O simple-hearted Psyche, once again Hast thou thy foolish longing gratified, A second time hath prying been thy bane.

But lo! I, love, am come, for I am thine: Nor ever more shall any fate malign, Or spite of G.o.ddess smite our love in twain.

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'Let now that I have saved thee twice outweigh The once that I deserted thee: and thou Hast much obey'd for once to disobey, And wilt no more my bidding disallow.

Take up thy pyx; to Aphrodite go, And claim the promise of thy mighty foe; Maybe that she will grant it to thee now.

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'If she should yet refuse, despair not yet!'

Then Psyche, when she felt his arms restore Their old embrace, and as their bodies met, Knew the great joy that grief is pardon'd for; And how it doth first ecstasy excel, When love well-known, long-lost, and mourned well In long days of no hope, comes home once more.

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But Eros leaping up with purpose keen Into the air, as only love can fly, Bore her to heaven, and setting her unseen At Aphrodite's golden gate,--whereby They came as night was close on twilight dim,-- There left, and bidding her say nought of him Went onward to the house of Zeus most high.

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Where winning audience of the heavenly sire, Who well disposed to him was used to be, He told the story of his strong desire; And boldly begg'd that Zeus would grant his plea That he might have sweet Psyche for his wife, And she be dower'd with immortal life, Since she was worthy, by his firm decree.

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And great Zeus smiled; and at the smile of Zeus All heaven was glad, and on the earth below Was calm and peace awhile and sorrow's truce: The sun shone forth and smote the winter snow, The flowers sprang, the birds gan sing and pair, And mortals, as they drew the brighten'd air, Marvel'd, and quite forgot their common woe.

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Yet gave the Thunderer not his full consent Without some words: 'At length is come the day,'

Thus spake he, 'when for all thy youth misspent, Thy mischief-making and thy wanton play Thou art upgrown to taste the sweet and sour: Good shall it work upon thee: from this hour Look we for better things. And this I say,

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'That since thy birth, which all we took for bliss, Thou hast but mock'd us; and no less on me Hast brought disfavour and contempt, ywiss, Than others that have had to do with thee: Till only such as vow'd themselves aloof From thee and thine were held in good approof; And few there were, who thus of shame went free.

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'That punishment is shapen as reward Is like thy fortune: but our good estate We honour, while we sit to be adored: And thus 'twas written in the book of Fate.

Not for thy pleasure, but the general weal Grant I the grace for which thou here dost kneel; And that which I determine shall not wait.'

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So winged Hermes through the heaven he sped, To warn the high celestials to his hall, Where they should Psyche see with Eros wed, And keep the day with feast ambrosial.

And Hermes, flying through the skiey ways Of high Olympus, spread sweet Psyche's praise, And bade the mighty G.o.ds obey his call.

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Then all the Kronian G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses a.s.sembl'd at his cry,--and now 'twas known Why Zeus had smiled,--the lesser majesties Attending them before his royal throne.

Athena, mistress good of them that know, Came, and Apollo, warder off of woe, Who had to Psyche's sire her fate foreshown;

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Demeter, giver of the golden corn, Fair Hebe, honour'd at her Attic shrine, And Artemis with hunting spear and horn, And Dionysos, planter of the vine, With old Poseidon from the barren sea, And Leto, and the lame Hephaestos, he Himself who built those halls with skill divine.

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And ruddy Pan with many a quip and quirk Air'd 'mong those lofty G.o.ds his mirth illbred, Bearing a mighty bowl of cretan work: Stern Ares, with his crisp hair helmeted, Came, and retired Hestia, and the G.o.d Hermes, with winged cap and ribbon'd rod, By whom the company was heralded.

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And Hera sat by Zeus, and all around The Muses, that of learning make their choice; Who, when Apollo struck his strings to sound, Sang in alternate music with sweet voice: And righteous Themis, and the Graces three Ushering the anger'd Aphrodite; she Alone of all were there might not rejoice

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But ere they sat to feast, Zeus bade them fill The cup ambrosial of immortal life, And said 'If Psyche drink,--and 'tis my will,-- There is an end of this unhappy strife.

Nor can the G.o.ddess, whose mislike had birth From too great honour paid the bride on earth, Forbid her any more for Eros' wife.'

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Then Aphrodite said 'So let it be.'

And Psyche was brought in, with such a flush Of joy upon her face, as there to see Was fairer to love's eye than beauty's blush.

And then she drank the eternal wine, whose draught Can Terror cease: which flesh hath never quafft, Nor doth it flow from grape that mortals crush.

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And next stood Eros forth, and took her hand, And kisst her happy face before them all: And Zeus proclaim'd them married, and outban'd From heaven whoever should that word miscall.

And then all sat to feast, and one by one Pledged Psyche ere they drank and cried _Well done!_ And merry laughter rang throughout the hall.

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