In My Lady's Praise Being Poems, Old and New: Written to the Honour of Fanny, Lady Arnold and Now Collected for her Memory: By Sir Edwin Arnold |
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 | In My Lady's Praise |  |
19
A.
[Herewith, an Amethystine Cup! see, Dear!]
Herewith, an Amethystine Cup! see, Dear!
How soft and pure the liquid purple swims!
'Tis the Maid's stone: she hath no fault or fear
Whose untouched lips drink from such chalice-brims;
How soft and pure the liquid purple swims!
'Tis the Maid's stone: she hath no fault or fear
Whose untouched lips drink from such chalice-brims;
Whose virginal cold fingers clasp this stem
To quaff the sober wavelet of the streams;
And, if she wear an Amethyst, the gem
Keeps her sleep calm, and innocent her dreams.
To quaff the sober wavelet of the streams;
And, if she wear an Amethyst, the gem
Keeps her sleep calm, and innocent her dreams.
It should be coloured as though violet satin
Changed to translucent crystal—with clear glow
Of rose-red 'gainst the Sun:—the learnëd Latin
“Eyelid of Venus” styles it, tinted so.
Changed to translucent crystal—with clear glow
Of rose-red 'gainst the Sun:—the learnëd Latin
“Eyelid of Venus” styles it, tinted so.
Or you may wear Avanturine with spangles
Of golden brown; or Chrysoprase which gleams
Pale apple-green; or Rose-quartz that entangles
Blushes of dawn, with white and lilac beams:
Of golden brown; or Chrysoprase which gleams
Pale apple-green; or Rose-quartz that entangles
Blushes of dawn, with white and lilac beams:
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Or Sard, the Carver's gem; or Bloodstone sombre
Spotted from veins of Christ—the legend says—
Or Prase; or Plasma, sea-grey stained with umber;
Or Chalcedony, quenching silver rays
Spotted from veins of Christ—the legend says—
Or Prase; or Plasma, sea-grey stained with umber;
Or Chalcedony, quenching silver rays
In milk. These all be sister-miracles
Of Amethyst; treasures of gnomes, brought up
From distant caverns where the chill snake dwells
'Mid poisonous flow'rs. Yet, most regard my cup
Of Amethyst; treasures of gnomes, brought up
From distant caverns where the chill snake dwells
'Mid poisonous flow'rs. Yet, most regard my cup
Far-fetched and wonderful! If you would know
Whence came so fair a work of mortal hands,
Learn it lay buried many fathoms low
Under a temple-tank in Indian lands.
Whence came so fair a work of mortal hands,
Learn it lay buried many fathoms low
Under a temple-tank in Indian lands.
Œlian—“the honey-tongued”—its story writes
In pleasant Greek; one, named Heraclia,—
A great Dame—in her Garden of Delights
Saw a young stork fall on the public way:
In pleasant Greek; one, named Heraclia,—
A great Dame—in her Garden of Delights
Saw a young stork fall on the public way:
Some cruel arrow-barb had hurt its wing
Spread for long flight to Coromandel's shore;
Piteous, in dust and blood, the affrighted thing
Lay:—but she sped, and gathered it, and bore—
Spread for long flight to Coromandel's shore;
Piteous, in dust and blood, the affrighted thing
Lay:—but she sped, and gathered it, and bore—
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Soft-folded on her breast—into her bower;
And there, with soothing balms and unguents strange,
Healed his harsh wound, and gave him back the power
Of those broad painted pinions, to outrange
And there, with soothing balms and unguents strange,
Healed his harsh wound, and gave him back the power
Of those broad painted pinions, to outrange
The flying crudded rack, poised in high air.
Ah, the stork's happy cry when first he rose
Over the city-roofs, and spied full clear
His road athwart the blue—as a fowl goes
Ah, the stork's happy cry when first he rose
Over the city-roofs, and spied full clear
His road athwart the blue—as a fowl goes
On shoulder of West wind—to warm Malay!
A little grieved she that her bird sprang forth
So gladsome. Afterwards—on that same way—
When Spring brings back the storks from South to North;
A little grieved she that her bird sprang forth
So gladsome. Afterwards—on that same way—
When Spring brings back the storks from South to North;
While she did pace towards the Altar-stair,
Out from the clouds that glad cry rang again:
And lo! th' astonished people were aware
Of a great fowl, which clanged, and left his train
Out from the clouds that glad cry rang again:
And lo! th' astonished people were aware
Of a great fowl, which clanged, and left his train
Of friends ranged wedge-wise. Lighting at her feet
There he let fall this beauteous sculptured cup,
And laid his neck against her bosom sweet
For love of her: then, swiftly soaring up,
There he let fall this beauteous sculptured cup,
And laid his neck against her bosom sweet
For love of her: then, swiftly soaring up,
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Was never seen again! Heraclia
Quaffed from no other vessel, all her life;
And poisons could not harm her; nor—books say—
Pains or plagues touch her; widow, maid, or wife!
Quaffed from no other vessel, all her life;
And poisons could not harm her; nor—books say—
Pains or plagues touch her; widow, maid, or wife!
But when she died, and this rare goblet lay
Beside her bier, there came a whirr of wing
Under the marble porch; and bore away
The precious gift. So fell it to the King
Beside her bier, there came a whirr of wing
Under the marble porch; and bore away
The precious gift. So fell it to the King
Of Coromandel: and when he was slain
In Chittûr, some one hid it in the tank.
I bade my minion fish it up again,
And bear to thee. Drink as Heraclia drank!
In Chittûr, some one hid it in the tank.
I bade my minion fish it up again,
And bear to thee. Drink as Heraclia drank!
| In My Lady's Praise | |