1 EARLY YEARS OF THE REIGN (TRANSITION PERIOD) CLOSE OF SOUTHEY'S LAUREATESHIP: 1837-43 Accession of Victoria R., June 20, 1837 fall: He held it upright. "There are bees about, Or wasps, or hornets," said the cautious eld, “Look sharp, O son of Thallinos!" The youth Inclin'd his ear, afar, and warily, And cavern'd in his hand. He heard a buzz At first, and then the sound grew soft and clear, And then divided into what seem'd tune, And there were words upon it, plaintive words. He turn'd, and said, "Echion! do not strike That tree it must be hollow; for some god Speaks from within. Come thyself near." Again Both turn'd toward it: and behold! there sat Upon the moss below, with her two palms "What dost thou here?" Echion, half- Half-angry, cried. She lifted up her eyes, But nothing spake she. Rhaicos drew one step Backward, for fear came likewise over him, But not such fear: he panted, gasp'd, drew in His breath, and would have turn'd it into words, But could not into one. "O send away That sad old man!" said she. The old man went Without a warning from his master's son, Glad to escape, for sorely he now fear'd, And the axe shone behind him in their eyes. Hamad. And wouldst thou too shed the most innocent Of blood? No vow demands it; no god wills The oak to bleed. Rhaicos. Who art thou? whence? why here ? And whither wouldst thou go? Among the rob'd In white or saffron, or the hue that most Like moss to stones adhering, leaves to trees, Yet lets thy bosom rise and fall in turn, As, touch'd by zephyrs, fall and rise the boughs Of graceful platan by the river-side? Hamad. Lovest thou well thy father's house? Are very soft; I will not come too nigh; Do but sit there, nor tremble so, nor doubt. Stay, stay an instant : let me first explore If any acorn of last year be left Within it; thy thin robe too ill protects Thy dainty limbs against the harm one small Acern may do. Here 's none. Another day Trast me; till then let me sit opposite. Hamad. I seat me; be thou seated, and content. Rhaicos. O sight for gods! ye men be- The Aphroditè! Is she there below? The Hellespont, and brought his kindred. Hamad. Nay and of mine I cannot give thee part. Rhaicos. Where is it? Hamad. Rhaicos. In this oak. Ay; now begins The tale of Hamadryad: tell it through. Hamad. Pray of thy father never to cut down My tree; and promise him, as well thou mayst, That every year he shall receive from me More honey than will buy him nine fat sheep, More wax than he will burn to all the gods. Why fallest thou upon thy face? Some thorn May scratch it, rash young man! Rise up; for shame! Rhaicos. For shame I cannot rise. O pity me! I dare not sue for love—but do not hate! Let me once more behold thee-not once more, But many days let me love on : - unlov'd! I aim'd too high on my own head the bolt Falls back, and pierces to the very brain. Hamad. Go rather go, than make me say I love. Rhaicos. If happiness is immortality, (And whence enjoy it else the gods above?) I am immortal too: my vow is heard Hark! on the left - Nay, turn not from me now, I claim my kiss. Hamad. Do men take first, then claim? Do thus the seasons run their course with them? Her lips were seal'd; her head sank on his breast. |