University of Virginia Library

IV

And, when the night was far advanced, the youths,
Ere parting, set beneath a niche apart
An upright lance, and cross'd it with another,
Whence hung two empty bowls at either end,
Much like to scales; and underneath they placed
Twin vessels brimm'd with water, in the midst
Whereof two brazen statues stood immerged.
The youths stood round intent upon their play,
Each with a cup of wine held in his hand,
To fling into the bowls suspended from
The cross-lance, that the weight might bear them down
To strike the statues on their heads of brass.
For in the pastime was an augury:
And he who threw his wine, and spilt it least,
And struck the bowl down on the head of brass
With the most force, was master of the game;
And he would reign unrivall'd in the heart
Of his beloved. So they sped their sport
With laughter, and with shouting: some had miss'd
Their mark, and all their wine was shed aside,
And stain'd the marble floor; some hit the edge,
And tilted up the bowl; some shook with mirth,
And cast the wine with so unsteady hand
That part was splash'd upon the robes of friends,
And part on their own sandals; one or two
Emptied their goblets with a better sight;
But not with force to make the head beneath
Ring to the bowl, and totter: last came he
Who own'd the omen most; he had no fear
That he should fail; and, if he fail'd, what then?
He had no fear: all his young heart was strong
In faith: was it not twofold, his and hers?
Laughing he poised his chalice, and he threw
With such sure aim that all the golden rain
Fell, without loss of one of its bright drops,
Right in the middle of the pendent bowl;
That lighting on the brazen head below
Made all the chamber echo to the clang,
The image totter'd, and the water waved,
And every voice gave “Victory!” with a shout!