 | In Russet & Silver |  |
64
THE NAUTILUS
Venus, take this shell,
Offering of a bride!
Once it rose and fell
On thy mooney tide;
Let its pearly bulwarks dwell
By thy side.
Offering of a bride!
Once it rose and fell
On thy mooney tide;
Let its pearly bulwarks dwell
By thy side.
Rigged with gossamer,
O'er thy seas it flew;
Never a wind would stir
Cord or sail or crew;
Halycon-like, this mariner
Cleft the blue.
O'er thy seas it flew;
Never a wind would stir
Cord or sail or crew;
Halycon-like, this mariner
Cleft the blue.
Blithe even so was I,
Gay, light-hearted maid;
Now my sails are dry,
My fond crew afraid;
Goddess, goddess; come, I cry,
To my aid!
Gay, light-hearted maid;
Now my sails are dry,
My fond crew afraid;
65
To my aid!
Is it bliss or woe,
Nevermore to flee
O'er the full heart's flow,
Indolent and free,
As this shell strayed long ago
O'er the sea?
Nevermore to flee
O'er the full heart's flow,
Indolent and free,
As this shell strayed long ago
O'er the sea?
Venus, take this shell,
Pearly like a tear!
Ah! I cannot tell
What I wish or fear;
Guard me through the miracle,
Dread and dear.
Pearly like a tear!
Ah! I cannot tell
What I wish or fear;
Guard me through the miracle,
Dread and dear.
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