 | Mansoul or The Riddle of the World |  |
From that balsamic Paradise soon we pass:
Of harmonies full and silver trembling streams.
Whose sound breeds dreamless sleep, whose freshing brinks,
Be bordered all with amaranthine flowers
Of orient hews, so blissful to behold.
And there an orchard, whereof who shall taste,
Shall live eternally: where, (their hearts desire;)
Sounds to few chosen ears, the Muses' voice.
Of harmonies full and silver trembling streams.
Whose sound breeds dreamless sleep, whose freshing brinks,
Be bordered all with amaranthine flowers
Of orient hews, so blissful to behold.
And there an orchard, whereof who shall taste,
Shall live eternally: where, (their hearts desire;)
Sounds to few chosen ears, the Muses' voice.
And there more quick is found a breathing air
Than in the world without. A garden set,
Midst wildernéss of fórlorn sliding sand.
Which chequered, wreathed and weaved, in wild cross-paths,
Of thousand-fóoted Earth-ríding Spirits of Winds.
Than in the world without. A garden set,
Midst wildernéss of fórlorn sliding sand.
Which chequered, wreathed and weaved, in wild cross-paths,
Of thousand-fóoted Earth-ríding Spirits of Winds.
27
But entered cragged place, towards Valley-of-Death;
Cumbered with shapeless quarters óf swart rocks;
Where dívine footsteps might not further pass;
She stayed and spake:
Cumbered with shapeless quarters óf swart rocks;
Where dívine footsteps might not further pass;
She stayed and spake:
To Mansouls Underworlds voyage;
Know, (I hardly, óf the inéxorable Fates,
It yester have obtained, to whom I sought:)
Appointed is a month of the Suns days.
Know, (I hardly, óf the inéxorable Fates,
It yester have obtained, to whom I sought:)
Appointed is a month of the Suns days.
Whiles yonder New Moon fills Her horns, increase
Shall your souls' force beneath. What days She wanes;
They promise (so ye fail not in your faiths);
Home-coming safe, from thát dread Enterprise.
Shall your souls' force beneath. What days She wanes;
They promise (so ye fail not in your faiths);
Home-coming safe, from thát dread Enterprise.
Thus saying, She deigned breathe on me: and ín that seemed
The deathless Muses dívine foster spirit;
Like wafted sunbeams fróm some primrose bank.
With her last words yet sounding ín mine ears.
Celestial, ás a voice from holy stars;
Nourseling, farewell, the Gods thee speed and save!
Her divine presence faded from my seeing.
The deathless Muses dívine foster spirit;
Like wafted sunbeams fróm some primrose bank.
With her last words yet sounding ín mine ears.
Celestial, ás a voice from holy stars;
Nourseling, farewell, the Gods thee speed and save!
Her divine presence faded from my seeing.
28
'Gan, ás enforcedly, then my steps to trace;
Towards mountain-strait, where Mansoul lately passed:
Walled up to skies, where broods eternal Night,
O'er mournful steeps. Swart-leaved wood-shaw I pass;
Neath crumpled boughs, aye dripping baleful mist!
On sleep-compelling canker-worts beneath,
Black hellebore ánd rank-smelling déadly dwale,
Morel, with other more, I know not well:
The Furies' garden-knots; whose snaky locks
Be wrapped about my feeble knees and feet.
Towards mountain-strait, where Mansoul lately passed:
Walled up to skies, where broods eternal Night,
O'er mournful steeps. Swart-leaved wood-shaw I pass;
Neath crumpled boughs, aye dripping baleful mist!
On sleep-compelling canker-worts beneath,
Black hellebore ánd rank-smelling déadly dwale,
Morel, with other more, I know not well:
The Furies' garden-knots; whose snaky locks
Be wrapped about my feeble knees and feet.
And must I, a mortal wight, of few days' life;
Thy glory, O Sun, High Father óf days light;
And benign warmth, whence kindly life on earth;
For shadow of deadly Underworld, now forsake!
Thy glory, O Sun, High Father óf days light;
And benign warmth, whence kindly life on earth;
For shadow of deadly Underworld, now forsake!
| Mansoul or The Riddle of the World | |