University of Virginia Library

He ceased, and Bacchus, standing near the throne,
Turned to the assembled princes, speaking thus:
“Hesperian Powers! that in the earlier days
“Scarce knew me for the father of the world,
“Through whom all life to present beauty grows
“And to the full-orbed splendour that shall be—
“So lone, remote, so self-contained I dwelt
“In the calm depths of godhead, to myself
“A joy, a glory, pure and bodiless thought.
“Now know me as I know myself thro' love,
“For the true knowledge dwells with love alone;
“And Gods are then most Gods when most they love.
“Once, in the sceptred circle of the kings,
“That make all rule, all law, elate I stood
“And told them thought was life, that to behold
“Beauty and weigh it in the even scale
“Of Judgment that preserves an equal soul,
“Was the fit work of Gods. I said that love,
“And all frail passion felt by dying men,
“Might yearn or sob upon melodious strings,
“To round the life of Heaven's immortal sons
“To fuller knowledge, but that godlike brows
“Should not flush high, nor deathless pulses throb
“With the sweet fire which burns in lowlier blood,
“And so forsaking all the gentler Powers
“I stood alone, nor lov'd, nor was belov'd,
“And I knew life, not knowing what life was;
“But this was in the Past. Henceforth I live
“Among the other Gods, and love like them:
“To-morrow ye shall hear gold trumpets blow,
“See garlands twine round white celestial brows,
“And triumph fill the heavens: And now farewell,
“Princes that rule a world where azure calm
“Lulls the tranced spirit in ambrosial dreams,
“Or lifts it singing to the golden homes,
“Where endless morning dwells.”

He ending thus,
The hall and all the stately palace rang
With joyful shouts, and as they died away
Thro' gorgeous portals opening evermore,
Down glimmering avenues of purple light,
Walked the great lords of that resplendent world;
Nor paused until beneath the breathing sky
They stood, and there the glorious tidings told
To all the starry people crowding near;
Who heard, and with loud voices murmured joy.
But now the Gods paced down the marble street,
And ever as they went, or bloom or branch
From crocus, rose and lily, white or red,
Orange or laurel, or the honied lime,
That there have fairer growth than here with us,
Made beautiful their going. Far away,
The restless glory of that mighty march
Unbroken shone, nor was there any end,
But in egression infinite they moved,
And ever coming ever seemed to come,
Till, self-unfolding, as they won the plain
That, overblown by odorous summer winds,
Smoothed its green level, opening left and right,
The shining pomp dissolved; and while a moon,
Sweeter than ours, and leading sweeter stars,
Travelled the placid skies, from east to west,
To chiming harp, and warbling lotus-flute,
And beat of dulcimer, they danced and sung;
And as they danced, a ringing murmuring sound,
A long melodious storm of keen delight,
Now rose, now fell, as when the inconstant winds
Now fall, now rise, in hollows of old rocks.

So danced and sang the Gods, but Bacchus left
Dionium and the palace of the Queen,
And plunging low into the purple depths
Of surging air, with stedfast motion flew,
Like a continual brightness, down the night.