 | A Lost Epic and Other Poems |  |
But lust o' the eyes and frolic born of wine
Led forth one wanton rout to hear and see—
Princes and captains riding royally;
Lewd girls with tinkling feet and jewelled ears;
And singing-men; archers and men with spears;
And in the midst one Woman, tall and white—
Beautiful, wondrous—splendid as a light
On some black headland, when the sea-folk make
High beacons in the darkness for the sake
Of their sweet goddess-maid, the Moon.
Led forth one wanton rout to hear and see—
Princes and captains riding royally;
Lewd girls with tinkling feet and jewelled ears;
And singing-men; archers and men with spears;
63
Beautiful, wondrous—splendid as a light
On some black headland, when the sea-folk make
High beacons in the darkness for the sake
Of their sweet goddess-maid, the Moon.
Behold!
This was that mightiest Harlot of the old
Corrupted earth before the great Flood came.
Enchantment fell on those who heard her name;
Her eyes made mad; the breath of her desire
Was wild as wind, inexorable as fire.
Man knew no shame who gazed upon her face.
She broke the giants in the fierce embrace
Of her white limbs, laughing for amorousness.
The young men were as grapes beneath the press;
She crushed their youth, and flung the skins away.
This was that mightiest Harlot of the old
Corrupted earth before the great Flood came.
Enchantment fell on those who heard her name;
Her eyes made mad; the breath of her desire
Was wild as wind, inexorable as fire.
Man knew no shame who gazed upon her face.
She broke the giants in the fierce embrace
Of her white limbs, laughing for amorousness.
The young men were as grapes beneath the press;
She crushed their youth, and flung the skins away.
| A Lost Epic and Other Poems | |