 | Fantasy and Passion |  |
162
GENIUS.
As haughty Artemis, virgin without stain,
Once drooped, in passionate grace, her mouth's warm flower
To young Endymion's lips amid the bower
Where tired on shady turf the boy had lain,
Even thus, at moments rare, some youth will gain
The kiss of another goddess, great in power,—
And all his spirit is troubled, from that hour,
Perpetually by sweet unearthly pain!
Once drooped, in passionate grace, her mouth's warm flower
To young Endymion's lips amid the bower
Where tired on shady turf the boy had lain,
Even thus, at moments rare, some youth will gain
The kiss of another goddess, great in power,—
And all his spirit is troubled, from that hour,
Perpetually by sweet unearthly pain!
Either among the future's visitant dreams,
Pale Sculpture's calm ideals his soul entrance,
Or round him Painting's heavens of color rise,
Or through his thought strange eloquent Music streams,
Or Poesy lures him with her velvet glance
And white limbs lovelier than the Lorelei's!
Pale Sculpture's calm ideals his soul entrance,
Or round him Painting's heavens of color rise,
Or through his thought strange eloquent Music streams,
Or Poesy lures him with her velvet glance
And white limbs lovelier than the Lorelei's!
| Fantasy and Passion | |