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88
THE PRAISE OF ARTEMIS.
By Cephissus'
Silver stream,
White narcissus
Blossoms gleam,
And the chilly
Waterlily
Opens stilly
Cups of cream.
Silver stream,
White narcissus
Blossoms gleam,
And the chilly
Waterlily
Opens stilly
Cups of cream.
The soft night
Scarce forgets
Scent of white
Violets,
Ere there blows
Rose on rose,
And their snows
The wind frets.
Scarce forgets
Scent of white
Violets,
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Rose on rose,
And their snows
The wind frets.
Through the shadows
And perfume,
By the meadows
Deep in bloom,
Who comes singing
Blithe, and bringing
Light upspringing
Through the gloom?
And perfume,
By the meadows
Deep in bloom,
Who comes singing
Blithe, and bringing
Light upspringing
Through the gloom?
At her feet
Breaks the dawn,
Fond and fleet
As a fawn
Up the skies
See! it flies,
And night dies
On the lawn.
Breaks the dawn,
Fond and fleet
As a fawn
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See! it flies,
And night dies
On the lawn.
By her fingers
Hangs a bow,
While there lingers
Round her so
A god's glory
Dim and hoary,
Wreathed in story
Long ago.
Hangs a bow,
While there lingers
Round her so
A god's glory
Dim and hoary,
Wreathed in story
Long ago.
Round her mild
Brows and fair
Clings a wild
Huntress air,
At her side,
Girdled, hide
Arrows tried,
And a spear.
Brows and fair
Clings a wild
Huntress air,
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Girdled, hide
Arrows tried,
And a spear.
And the leopard
Fears her skill,
But the shepherd
On the hill
Never misses
Warm love-blisses,
Whispers, kisses
All his fill.
Fears her skill,
But the shepherd
On the hill
Never misses
Warm love-blisses,
Whispers, kisses
All his fill.
He alone
Hears her breast
Pant and moan
In unrest,
None else knows
How these snows
Flush with rose,
Love-opprest.
Hears her breast
Pant and moan
In unrest,
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How these snows
Flush with rose,
Love-opprest.
She can follow,
Fierce, elate,
White Apollo
Grim and great;
Shrilly sang her
Shafts' wild clangour,
When his anger
Flashed in fate.
Fierce, elate,
White Apollo
Grim and great;
Shrilly sang her
Shafts' wild clangour,
When his anger
Flashed in fate.
When the morn
Wept to see,
Through the corn,
Niobe
Cold and slain,
And the twain
Turned again
Haughtily.
Wept to see,
Through the corn,
Niobe
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And the twain
Turned again
Haughtily.
Like a lion
Shot and shent,
Falls Orion,
Hellward sent;
Nymph and satyr
Part and scatter,
Trembling at her
Pure intent.
Shot and shent,
Falls Orion,
Hellward sent;
Nymph and satyr
Part and scatter,
Trembling at her
Pure intent.
For she brooks not
Mortal pride,
And she looks not
Near or wide,
Heeds no praying,
Makes no staying,
Hastes the slaying,
Once defied.
Mortal pride,
And she looks not
Near or wide,
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Makes no staying,
Hastes the slaying,
Once defied.
Then with humble
Looks and dread,
Let us crumble
Holy bread,
Feed the flying
Birds undying,
Wheeling, crying,
Round our head.
Looks and dread,
Let us crumble
Holy bread,
Feed the flying
Birds undying,
Wheeling, crying,
Round our head.
With elation
Half divine,
Pour libation,
Oil and wine;
While it blazes,
Chaunt her praises,
Crowned with daisies,
Wreathed with pine.
Half divine,
Pour libation,
Oil and wine;
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Chaunt her praises,
Crowned with daisies,
Wreathed with pine.
And narcissus
Blossoming,
From Cephissus
Duly bring,
At her altar
Praise, exalt her,
Never falter,
Ever sing.
Blossoming,
From Cephissus
Duly bring,
At her altar
Praise, exalt her,
Never falter,
Ever sing.
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