Rests like a shadow, and the winds are dead. My eyes are full of tears, my heart of love; 30 My heart is breaking, and my eyes are dim, “O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. Hear me, O Earth, hear me, O Hills, O Caves 35 That house the cold crown'd snake! O mountain brooks, I am the daughter of a River-God, Hear me, for I will speak, and build up all My sorrow with my song, as yonder walls "O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, 40 45 And dewy-dark aloft the mountain pine: Beautiful Paris, evil-hearted Paris, Leading a jet-black goat white-horn'd, white-hooved, 5C Came up from reedy Simois all alone. "O mother Ida, harken ere I die. Far-off the torrent call'd me from the cleft: Far up the solitary morning smote The streaks of virgin snow. With downdropt eyes 55 I sat alone: white-breasted like a star Fronting the dawn he moved; a leopard skin Droop'd from his shoulder, but his sunny hair And his cheek brighten'd as the foam-bow brightens 60 "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. He smiled, and opening out his milk-white palm 65 That smelt ambrosially, and while I look'd 666 'My own Enone, Seautiful-brow'd Enone, my own soul, Behold this fruit, whose gleaming rind ingrav'n 70 "For the most fair," would seem to award it thine, As lovelier than whatever Oread haunt The knolls of Ida, loveliest in all grace Of movement, and the charm of married brows.' "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. 75 He prest the blossom of his lips to mine, When all the full-faced presence of the Gods Rose feud, with question unto whom 't were due: 80 But light-foot Iris brought it yester-eve, Delivering, that to me, by common voice, Elected umpire, Heré comes to-day, Pallas and Aphrodité, claiming each This meed of fairest. Thou, within the cave 85 Behind yon whispering tuft of oldest pine, "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. Of this long glen. Then to the bower they came, Violet, amaracus, and asphodel, Lotos and lilies and a wind arose, : And overhead the wandering ivy and vine, Ran riot, garlanding the gnarled boughs With bunch and berry and flower thro' and thro'. 100 "O mother Ida, harken ere I die. Wherewith to embellish state, from many a vale Honor,' she said, and homage, tax, and toll, "O mother Ida, harken ere I die. 105 ΙΙΟ 115 Still she spake on and still she spake of power, 120 Power fitted to the season; wisdom-bred And throned of wisdom from all neighbor crowns Fail from the sceptre-staff. Such boon from me, From me, Heaven's Queen, Paris, to thee king-born, 125 A shepherd all thy life but yet king-born, Should come most welcome, seeing men, in power, Only, are likest gods, who have attain'd "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. She ceased, and Paris held the costly fruit Out at arm's length, so much the thought of power 130 Flatter'd his spirit; but Pallas where she stood "Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control, 135 140 145 "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. 150 Yet, indeed, If gazing on divinity disrobed Thy mortal eyes are frail to judge of fair, 155 That I shall love thee well and cleave to thee, So that my vigor, wedded to thy blood, To push thee forward thro' a life of shocks, "Here she ceased, 160 And Paris ponder'd, and I cried, "O Paris, 165 Or hearing would not hear me, woe is me! "O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. Idalian Aphrodité beautiful, 170 Fresh as the foam, new-bathed in Paphian wells, From her warm brows and bosom her deep hair 175 "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. 180 She spoke and laugh'd: I shut my sight for fear: But when I look'd, Paris had raised his arm, 185 And I beheld great Here's angry eyes, 190 "Yet, mother Ida, harken ere I die. 195 200 "O mother, hear me yet before I die. They came, they cut away my tallest pines, 205 |