University of Virginia Library

HIPPOLYTUS TO ARTEMIS

Mine own, my one desire,
Virgin most fair
Of all the virgin choir!
Hail, O most pure, most perfect, loveliest one!
Lo, in my hand I bear,
Woven for the circling of thy long gold hair,
Culled leaves and flowers, from places which the sun
The spring long shines upon,
Where never shepherd hath driven flock to graze,
Nor any grass is mown;
But there sound through all the sunny sweet warm days,
Mid the green holy place,
The wild bee's wings alone.
Yea, and with jealous care
The maiden Reverence tends the fair things there,
And watereth all of them with sprinkling showers
Of pearled grey dew from a clear running river.
Whoso is chaste of spirit utterly,
May gather there the leaves and fruits and flowers—
The unchaste, never.
But thou, O goddess, and dearest love of mine—
Take, and about thine hair
This anadem entwine—
Take, and for my sake wear,
Who am more to thee than other mortals are,
Whose is the holy lot
As friend with friend to walk and talk with thee,
Hearing thy sweet mouth's music in mine ear,
But thee beholding not.