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ERÔS AND PSUCHÊ.
I. The Wonder.
He comes to me—a bliss without a name.
Like a blind flower in the bright sun I bask
Till the warm mystery fills my inmost frame.
Like a blind flower in the bright sun I bask
Till the warm mystery fills my inmost frame.
Till I am mirrored sunlight, and the mask
Of this fair body for a while doth seem
Mastered by some diviner self. To ask
Of this fair body for a while doth seem
Mastered by some diviner self. To ask
For open vision of the heavenly dream,
For sight of this wild gladness at my heart,
For glory of the eyes whose violet beam
For sight of this wild gladness at my heart,
For glory of the eyes whose violet beam
Burns in my soul's hid treasuries, were to part
From secrets that are gifts. Oh, had I missed
The darksome wonder, had I dared to start,
From secrets that are gifts. Oh, had I missed
The darksome wonder, had I dared to start,
When, trembling, from the rubied lips that kissed,
I learnt the glowing eyes' deep amethyst!
I learnt the glowing eyes' deep amethyst!
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But mine I hid, of the great flame afraid
That breathed on me, as of the lightning's fire,
When its keen radiance round my bosom played.
That breathed on me, as of the lightning's fire,
When its keen radiance round my bosom played.
Sweeter that moment of illumed desire,
That broidered darkness, that love-limnèd guess,
Than were thy brow's clear majesty to tire
That broidered darkness, that love-limnèd guess,
Than were thy brow's clear majesty to tire
My memory with its fixèd loveliness.
Now the winged Iris in her transient grace
Gives me the fleeting image to express
Now the winged Iris in her transient grace
Gives me the fleeting image to express
The aye-illuding charm, the godlike face,
Dimly divined through dreams that grow more fair;
While down of dovelike plumes meseems I trace
Dimly divined through dreams that grow more fair;
While down of dovelike plumes meseems I trace
When my arms ply with amorous touch the air
For the rich freight that darkling it will bear.
For the rich freight that darkling it will bear.
II. The Unrest.
Sweet, I must see thee, for the dream doth fade,
My morning dream of thy lost loveliness,
When in mine arms thy living beauty laid,
My morning dream of thy lost loveliness,
When in mine arms thy living beauty laid,
Pricks my keen sense more passionate to guess
How glows the jewel sheathing night doth hide.—
Are the curls gold my wandering fingers press?
How glows the jewel sheathing night doth hide.—
Are the curls gold my wandering fingers press?
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Do the smiles break in dimples when I chide
Caressingly, and with soft touch entreat?
Thou hast enriched me with thy voice to guide
Caressingly, and with soft touch entreat?
Thou hast enriched me with thy voice to guide
My spirit to the gaze, divinely sweet,
Where Love's mute lyre makes music.—Pityingly,
Dreading a rapture for my soul unmeet,
Where Love's mute lyre makes music.—Pityingly,
Dreading a rapture for my soul unmeet,
Dost thou the bliss of thy great boon deny?
Nay, I must gaze in worship, or I die!
Nay, I must gaze in worship, or I die!
III. The Watching.
I stand beside thee, tremblingly upborne
The lamp that pales before thy lustrous brow,
Like moonbeams blanching in the fervid morn.
The lamp that pales before thy lustrous brow,
Like moonbeams blanching in the fervid morn.
Nay, thine own beauty as in awe doth bow,
Quelled by the majesty of slumbering might
Sovereign within thee. Shouldst thou waken now
Quelled by the majesty of slumbering might
Sovereign within thee. Shouldst thou waken now
Thou wouldst not need to slay me; for the light
Of those consuming eyes would be my doom;
Yet my hot tears, down-raining for delight
Of those consuming eyes would be my doom;
Yet my hot tears, down-raining for delight
Of thee, thy perfect body, bowered in bloom
Of the closed pinion's tender coverlet,
Will surely stir thee.—O my heart, make room
Of the closed pinion's tender coverlet,
Will surely stir thee.—O my heart, make room
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For great desires! He doth not chide thee yet;
In its sweet guerdon thy vast sin forget.
In its sweet guerdon thy vast sin forget.
Fairer than seemed Endymiôn in his sleep,
When Cynthia through his slumbers shot desire,
Thou seemest; her sweet state she could not keep,
When Cynthia through his slumbers shot desire,
Thou seemest; her sweet state she could not keep,
Lured to her shepherd boy.—Love lights the pyre
Of pride, then leaps to heaven; yea, at sight
Of simple girlhood, Erôs feels the fire
Of pride, then leaps to heaven; yea, at sight
Of simple girlhood, Erôs feels the fire
That frees him, captive to the prisoning white
Of Aphrodîtê's arms. Imperial child,—
Peerless among the immortals!—for delight
Of Aphrodîtê's arms. Imperial child,—
Peerless among the immortals!—for delight
Didst thou seek Psuchê's bosom? Could the wild
Young wings so close? And have I cradled thee
Who art the great gods' conqueror? Defiled
Young wings so close? And have I cradled thee
Who art the great gods' conqueror? Defiled
By the pure past's reproach, I wait to see
Thy trustful eyes wake to my treachery.
Thy trustful eyes wake to my treachery.
Not by thy mother's myrtle in the hair,
Not by the apple's scent, or lily's shine
Round opal temples, nor by wings that wear
Not by the apple's scent, or lily's shine
Round opal temples, nor by wings that wear
Eôs' faint saffron tinct, do I divine
Thine awful majesty; it brands its name
In my revealèd sin. I am not thine
Thine awful majesty; it brands its name
In my revealèd sin. I am not thine
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But for thy vengeance, that my very shame
May give proud pleasure to thy wrath; to feel
All thou wouldst have me suffer, bear the blame
May give proud pleasure to thy wrath; to feel
All thou wouldst have me suffer, bear the blame
Of lips, whose hurt no other praise can heal,
Is the one hope of my poor loyalty.
Torture me, and my patience shall reveal
Is the one hope of my poor loyalty.
Torture me, and my patience shall reveal
How my dross-mingled gold is thine to try
Till the fire slake. I will not ask to die.
Till the fire slake. I will not ask to die.
IV. The Awakening.
He stirred.—I stooped to kiss him as he lay,
To bid farewell, lest I should find him fled,
Hurled by a spurning ire, ere I could pray
To bid farewell, lest I should find him fled,
Hurled by a spurning ire, ere I could pray
That he would pour his anger on my head.
So stooping, dizzy with great love's restraint,
The lamp shook in my loosened hand, and shed
So stooping, dizzy with great love's restraint,
The lamp shook in my loosened hand, and shed
One drop on the bright shoulder. I grew faint
As the swift lids unfolded, and the clear
Sweet eyes looked straight at my soul's hidden taint,
As the swift lids unfolded, and the clear
Sweet eyes looked straight at my soul's hidden taint,
Then slowly darkened; yet I could not moan,
Awed by the still face, withering in the blast
Of a great hope's extinction. “Thou hast shown
Awed by the still face, withering in the blast
Of a great hope's extinction. “Thou hast shown
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“To me a woman's frailty, thou who hast
Strength for immortal spousals.” So he passed.
Strength for immortal spousals.” So he passed.
V. The Trial.
If he had cursed me, I had lived to drink
Even to the dregs my bitter punishment;
Being deserted merely, to the brink
Even to the dregs my bitter punishment;
Being deserted merely, to the brink
Of the sweet river's cooling waves I went
To bathe my heavy eyes, and soothe the cheek
Fresh tears were ever staining. Then I leant
To bathe my heavy eyes, and soothe the cheek
Fresh tears were ever staining. Then I leant
Over the rippling stream, and let it streak
My drooping hair, and round my bosom close.
“If I should drown myself, he would not seek
My drooping hair, and round my bosom close.
“If I should drown myself, he would not seek
Even my corpse for burial.” I uprose
And leapt in the mid current, proud to gain
The pitiless oblivion he chose
And leapt in the mid current, proud to gain
The pitiless oblivion he chose
For my poor memory, in his god's disdain
Of the slight heart he coveted in vain.
Of the slight heart he coveted in vain.
But me the heaving water safely bore,
As some strong arm were pillow to my head;
Nor loosed its chafing waves, till, on the shore,
As some strong arm were pillow to my head;
Nor loosed its chafing waves, till, on the shore,
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As softly o'er the golden sand they spread,
The creeping ripples laid me; and a dim
Gladness came o'er me that I was not dead,
The creeping ripples laid me; and a dim
Gladness came o'er me that I was not dead,
Being still beloved. And from the river's brim
Meseemed I tracked a rugged path, until
It broke among the jutting crags that rim
Meseemed I tracked a rugged path, until
It broke among the jutting crags that rim
The far-uplifted azure. I lay still,
Counting the steps to the lone summit gray
I felt my feet must traverse to fulfil
Counting the steps to the lone summit gray
I felt my feet must traverse to fulfil
Love's bidding; then I faced the stony way
As pardoned, being prompted to obey.
As pardoned, being prompted to obey.
VI. The Dream.
On the chill mountain-side I lay and wept;
(Oh bitter in the dark to weep alone!)
And to escape my loneliness I slept.
(Oh bitter in the dark to weep alone!)
And to escape my loneliness I slept.
Might I not dream the golden wings were thrown
Around me? Not illusive was the thrill
Of hope; he came to me, as erst, unknown,
Around me? Not illusive was the thrill
Of hope; he came to me, as erst, unknown,
A Presence, not a Vision. I lay still
And quieted my heart, lest it should crave,
Should beat in quick rebellion to the will
And quieted my heart, lest it should crave,
Should beat in quick rebellion to the will
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I would make wholly mine. “Thou must be slave
To Aphrodîtê; till thy beauty flit,
Till thou art marred and humbled, from the wave
To Aphrodîtê; till thy beauty flit,
Till thou art marred and humbled, from the wave
Thou must draw water for her. I have lit
The insufferable wrath with foolish fame
Of thy rare beauty, and she dreams thee smit
The insufferable wrath with foolish fame
Of thy rare beauty, and she dreams thee smit
With pride of rivalry, now thou canst name
Erôs, thine hid delight. With daylight thou
Wilt scan her palace; hie thee to thy shame;
Erôs, thine hid delight. With daylight thou
Wilt scan her palace; hie thee to thy shame;
Suffer the scorn ineffable. Not now
Forbidden, to the scathing lustre bow.”
Forbidden, to the scathing lustre bow.”
VII. The Bondage.
I am her slave, and in the noontide heat
Must bear bright water from the spring that brims
Her shadeless fountains; and the doom is sweet!
Must bear bright water from the spring that brims
Her shadeless fountains; and the doom is sweet!
Still through my weariness the vision swims
Of that unutterable grace—the hair
That sweeps the massive glory of her limbs
Of that unutterable grace—the hair
That sweeps the massive glory of her limbs
Goldening their soft-veined marble; cheeks that wear
Pink of the oleander, when it glows
Athwart the snows of Pindos; and more fair
Pink of the oleander, when it glows
Athwart the snows of Pindos; and more fair
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Than the white doves, that in its soft warmth close
Their wings and nestle, is the glancing breast
Where the Bright Child was pillowed, ere he chose
Their wings and nestle, is the glancing breast
Where the Bright Child was pillowed, ere he chose
To kindle my girl-passion, and give rest
To the desire he quickened. Sweet, more blest
To the desire he quickened. Sweet, more blest
Is Psuchê, longing, desolate, denied,
And loving on simply in love's sweet name,
Than in her untried loyalty, her pride,
And loving on simply in love's sweet name,
Than in her untried loyalty, her pride,
Self-thought, and restless wonder. With the same
Fond tendrils of desire my spirit clings
To thy unseen divineness; yet no claims
Fond tendrils of desire my spirit clings
To thy unseen divineness; yet no claims
Urges, craves no requital, simply flings
Herself in prone submission to the will
Her goal of worship. Proudest pleasure springs
Herself in prone submission to the will
Her goal of worship. Proudest pleasure springs
From the mute trust that calls her to fulfil
Command inexplicable, suffer blight
Of labour, pain, and loneliness, and still
Command inexplicable, suffer blight
Of labour, pain, and loneliness, and still
Find that the only task beyond her might
Were not to worship with a free delight.
Were not to worship with a free delight.
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VIII. The Redemption.
Was it but yesterday that I drew near
The shadeless fount, then paused a little space
To pierce its sunlit depths? The well was clear,
The shadeless fount, then paused a little space
To pierce its sunlit depths? The well was clear,
And mirrored in its surface was the face
My tears remembered, with the smile that he
Ne'er gave me for remembrance. To embrace
My tears remembered, with the smile that he
Ne'er gave me for remembrance. To embrace
That softened reflex I stooped tremblingly,
Kissing the stream, and ever downward drew
In awe of the Great Presence that must be
Kissing the stream, and ever downward drew
In awe of the Great Presence that must be
Guardian to that pale image. But he threw
Round me his wings' warm darkness, and in shade
Of those dove-feathered plumes, the voice I knew
Round me his wings' warm darkness, and in shade
Of those dove-feathered plumes, the voice I knew
Stole softly. “Sweet, thy tender trust hath made
Thee for my love immortal. I have prayed
Thee for my love immortal. I have prayed
“The inexorable Mother. She, who first
Urged me thy lovely maidenhood to wrong,
Finding me amorous of the thing she cursed,
Urged me thy lovely maidenhood to wrong,
Finding me amorous of the thing she cursed,
“Closed her for-ever-parting lips, in strong
Purpose full vengeance on my head to wreak;
But I, immortal from her bosom, young
Purpose full vengeance on my head to wreak;
But I, immortal from her bosom, young
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“And careless of her anger, sought the cheek
Of fresher flower than Hêbê's. Ah, how sweet
The child-like trust and wonder, and the weak
Of fresher flower than Hêbê's. Ah, how sweet
The child-like trust and wonder, and the weak
“Childish caprice how pitiful! Unmeet
For my great love, I mourned thee as the dead
Are mourned; then she I trembled to entreat
For my great love, I mourned thee as the dead
Are mourned; then she I trembled to entreat
“Yet fled to, parted her proud lips, and said,
‘Psuchê must be my bondmaid, ere she wed
‘Psuchê must be my bondmaid, ere she wed
“‘The boy forgetful that he is my son.
Leave her to me, through toil and punishment
Slowly to teach her the dishonour done
Leave her to me, through toil and punishment
Slowly to teach her the dishonour done
“‘Unto thy love, my beauty; till, content
With harshest usage, she shall only ask
For thee in memories; and in soul be bent
With harshest usage, she shall only ask
For thee in memories; and in soul be bent
“‘To serve my awful queenliness in task
The slave is born to.’ Sweetest bondmaid, thou
Art free. Bright Aphrodîtê bids thee bask
The slave is born to.’ Sweetest bondmaid, thou
Art free. Bright Aphrodîtê bids thee bask
“In love's mid blisses; thou canst bear them now.”
Slowly I felt the glorious wings divide;
Faced the full smile, the lustres of the brow,
Slowly I felt the glorious wings divide;
Faced the full smile, the lustres of the brow,
The amethystine fire; then to his side
I sprang, his peer and his immortal bride.
I sprang, his peer and his immortal bride.
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