Poems By William Bell Scott. Ballads, Studies from Nature, Sonnets, etc. Illustrated by Seventeen Etchings by the Author and L. Alma Tadema |
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THE SWAN.
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 | Poems |  |
194
THE SWAN.
With broad soft breast, with pliant neck and long
To reach the small fish down among the reeds,
Hitherward scattering the fresh water-beads
The snowy beauty comes. O fair and strong,
Thou Laïs, queen of pleasure, with my song
I would enrich thee were it worthier,
And if it could be but the minister
Of love, that to such goddess should belong.
To reach the small fish down among the reeds,
Hitherward scattering the fresh water-beads
The snowy beauty comes. O fair and strong,
Thou Laïs, queen of pleasure, with my song
I would enrich thee were it worthier,
And if it could be but the minister
Of love, that to such goddess should belong.
So I held out to her this page where lay
Some dainty fruits, and flowers, a rare bouquet;—
Whereat she smote her ample wings abroad,
Raised her black mouth from whence a bruised worm fell,
And hissed, as good deeds may be hissed in hell:
The spray fell over me upon the sod.
Some dainty fruits, and flowers, a rare bouquet;—
Whereat she smote her ample wings abroad,
Raised her black mouth from whence a bruised worm fell,
And hissed, as good deeds may be hissed in hell:
The spray fell over me upon the sod.
| Poems | |