Drawn to its gaze with troubled whirr, As 'twere to feed, on slanting wings While Music swims away in death Man's spell is passing to his slaves: Then mounts the eagle-flame-flecked folds Belt its proud plumes; a feather falls: He hears the death-cry, he beholds The king-bird in the serpent's thralls, He looks with terror on the feud,— The deadly spell a moment gone Birds, from a distant Paradise, Strike the winged signal and have flown, Trailing rich hues through azure skies: The serpent falls; like demon wings The far-out-branching cedar swings. The wood swims round; the pool and skies Have met; the death-drops down that cheek Fall faster; for the serpent's eyes Grow human, and the charmer's seek. A gaze like man's directs the dart Which now is buried at his heart. The monarch of the world is cold: The serpent gathers up its fold To wind about its human prey. The red mouth darts a dizzy sting, And clenches the eternal ring. AUBREY DE VERE Born 1814 SONG When I was young, I said to Sorrow, Through the woods we walk together; And all night in rainy weather, FROM "ODE ON THE ASCENT OF THE ALPS" All night as in my dreams I lay The shout of torrents without number No time have we for slumber! Through echoing caves and gorges rocking, The voices of the night and morn Are crying louder in their scorn, My tedious languor mocking. Alas! in vain man's wearied limbs would rise To join in elemental ecstasies! "But thou, O Muse, our heavenly mate, Unclogged art thou by fleshly weight! Among the mountains higher and higher. Leap from the forest on the snow: And while from snow to cloud thou soarest Where from the glacier bursts the river With iron clang, pursue it ever; Where Eagles through the tempest break, Fling from thy tresses fire on fire." I spake-Behold her o'er the broad lake flying: Green through the shades the waters rush and roll, Onward! the swan's flight with the eagle's blending, That mighty sweep, one orbit of her flight, Not noontide suns alone, but suns of even, The green streams flushing with the hues of heaven. с |