In Cornwall and Across the Sea :: :: University of Virginia Library

It was the death-night of the year;
The night was frost-begemmed and clear;
The Poet in his study sate,
And cried, “Upon this magic night
A glittering poem will I write
To make my name for ever great.”

The Poet in his study sate
Prepared to woo his Genius late
And watch the crowding thoughts appear,
While, echoing through the frosty air,
In clear voice should the chimes declare
The dying moments of the year.

239

He watched the crowding thoughts appear,
And looked forth on the dying year,
And saw the moon illume the trees;
The stars were vigilant on high,
A low wind from the sea did sigh,
And bells were borne upon the breeze.

He saw the moon illume the trees,
And heard the murmur of the seas;
Already seemed his Genius by;
The nearer silence, distant bells,
Clear frost and starry sentinels
All waked the soul of Poesy.

Already seemed his Genius by,
When Beauty with her pleading eye
Soft-stealing to the Poet's side,
Sat on a footstool at his feet,
As richly, confidently sweet
As though she were his wedded bride.

240

Soft-stealing to the Poet's side,
She wistfully his glances eyed,
Her face transfigured by the fire,
Her clear cheek spirit-touched, her hair
Shot-sungold in its flickering glare,
Her mien instinct with sweet desire.

Her face, transfigured by the fire,
Was raised to deprecate his ire;
Her hands upon his knee she clasped,
And looked at him as if to say,
“Be gracious to me if you may,
Love's fetters on these hands are hasped.”

Her hands upon his knee she clasped,
And in her thrall his soul she grasped;
A moment was there struggle keen,
Between the shapes that crowded round,
Waiting with language to be crowned,
And her—the crowned by Beauty queen.

241

A moment was there struggle keen,
Then the shapes vanished, for his queen
Opened her lips—'twas but to kiss—
The ring upon her fair hand set,
As love-knot, keep-sake, amulet
When she had promised to be his.

Opened her lips—'twas but to kiss—
When, taking both her hands in his,
He rose beside her, with his eyes
Deep-fathoming the liquid blue,
To sound the sweet soul whence he drew
Love in mute eloquent replies.

He rose beside her, with his eyes
Afire with love and sweet surprise,
But with the hauntive look, which told
The seer of shapes beyond the ken
Of unitiated men,
Already from his visage rolled,

242

But with the hauntive look, which told
That he could mysteries unfold,
Replaced by that ecstatic gaze,
Which says that fear nor fire nor death
Will move him, while he draws his breath,
From the rapt worship, which he pays.