 | Mansoul or The Riddle of the World |  |
Days light in wilderness ceased;
Blind Night, without dew-fall, descends anon.
Then saw I, ón last twilight ray, down slide
Star-wain to Earth, from Mánsion of the Gods.
Whence, toucht to dim now confines of the World:
Stept Hertha forth, Earth-goddess, on Worlds mould;
Returned then, from an heavenly See She hath,
On mountain top; where with sky-dwelling Gods,
She Earth-Mother useth daily to converse.
(Of pearl that chariot seemed, She left on ground.)
Blind Night, without dew-fall, descends anon.
Then saw I, ón last twilight ray, down slide
Star-wain to Earth, from Mánsion of the Gods.
Whence, toucht to dim now confines of the World:
Stept Hertha forth, Earth-goddess, on Worlds mould;
8
On mountain top; where with sky-dwelling Gods,
She Earth-Mother useth daily to converse.
(Of pearl that chariot seemed, She left on ground.)
Though Night Earth shrouds, about Hér there is light;
Save that veils Her majestic countenance such,
Wreathed vapouring mist, as shrouds oft an hills height.
Save that veils Her majestic countenance such,
Wreathed vapouring mist, as shrouds oft an hills height.
As Hertha incedes divine; from distaff pressed,
Twixt cubit and lithe venerable flank:
She outdraweth and spinneth much carded golden fleece.
And nimble-fingered, multipresent Goddess;
She eachwhére, (though úneath to be understood);
In so wide World, continually weaves thereof;
The seemly raiment, óf all living things.
Twixt cubit and lithe venerable flank:
She outdraweth and spinneth much carded golden fleece.
And nimble-fingered, multipresent Goddess;
She eachwhére, (though úneath to be understood);
In so wide World, continually weaves thereof;
The seemly raiment, óf all living things.
Immortal words, Her august lips divided,
Tongue of the Gods! Methought the sense in part,
As thus, amidst my trance, I understood.
When I bethink me óf my former births:
Whether they go on ground, or fly amidst
The winds of heaven, or ín my waters swim;
I endowed them each one ín their several kinds,
As might serve, tó fulfilling of their lives.
Tongue of the Gods! Methought the sense in part,
As thus, amidst my trance, I understood.
When I bethink me óf my former births:
Whether they go on ground, or fly amidst
The winds of heaven, or ín my waters swim;
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As might serve, tó fulfilling of their lives.
Last I, child of mine age, brought forth Mans kin;
Founded, like framed as theirs, his mortal being;
But more infirm than most: nor clothed his flesh,
With fur or feathers, fróm skies' crabbéd cold:
When winds blow out and Sun forsakes the Earth,
And rain beats on wood-leaves. In recompense
Whereof; I mind and speech, to his souls health,
Him gave.
Founded, like framed as theirs, his mortal being;
But more infirm than most: nor clothed his flesh,
With fur or feathers, fróm skies' crabbéd cold:
When winds blow out and Sun forsakes the Earth,
And rain beats on wood-leaves. In recompense
Whereof; I mind and speech, to his souls health,
Him gave.
Whence then Worlds bitter cries, that cease
Not in mine ears, of human souls undone.
What, ánd thy days be pain and few, O Man!
Sufficeth thee not, thy mind the Lordship hath;
O'er all that liveth and moveth upón Earths dust?
Ceiled with the Glory of Heavens Firmament.
Not in mine ears, of human souls undone.
What, ánd thy days be pain and few, O Man!
Sufficeth thee not, thy mind the Lordship hath;
O'er all that liveth and moveth upón Earths dust?
Ceiled with the Glory of Heavens Firmament.
| Mansoul or The Riddle of the World | |