THE VALLEY OF THE NYMPHS. 153 



Give the loveliest marble breath, melt the chili stone 



With the warmth of life and love, that Form divine 



Would turn its very spirit into dust, 



And make its beauty earthly. There she lay, 



Stretched on the turf, which seemed illumined round 



By a lustre from her limbs beside the brook, 



Which gave a glowing image of her charms, 



In all their naked purity. The eyes, 



Burning with beautiful divinity 



The clear, serene and glory-breathing brow 



The lip of conscious lightning the bent neck, 



Half hid with clusters of immortal hair, 



Which strayed o'er the white bosom, lovingly, 



Like the fond moonbeams on the Latmian snow, 



Away with words ! There the bright Being lay, 



Smiling serenely o'er her own deep charms, 



And looking upon loveliness in love.' 7 . pp. 15, 16. 



The approach of the Youths and Virgins and their 

 arrival at the altar are very pleasingly depicted. 



" And now they neared the Isle, 

 And moored their barks beside the steps of marble 

 Ascending to the fane. There the twelve formed 

 Themselves in order. The white-vested virgins 

 Led the fair pomp, each bearing a light basket 

 Laden with gifts, and a pale twine of roses 

 On her chaste head, still warbling 1 , as they went, 

 Praises to those they saw not. Side by side 

 Behind them carne the Youths, clad, like themselves, 

 In sacred white, but crowned with blushing roses. 

 Two struck the lyre, two touched the mellow flute, 

 And two attuned the cadenced reeds of Pan. 

 Slowly they moved, yet soon they reached the Temple : 

 There, at the altar, they laid down their gifts, 

 Kindled the incense, hung with wreaths the columns, 

 And then by turns the male and maiden chorus 

 Danced round the altar; chanting a glad paean 

 To the unearthly dwellers of the vale. 

 Richly it melted o'er the lake, and fell 

 On the ears of the mute listeners ; for pure praise 

 And love are dear to Woman, though immortal, 

 And song has charms for those that live for ever." p. 21. 



The Dryad describes a very tender scene, which all 

 young ladies will be obliged to us for quoting. 



" 1 have a favorite haunt : there y ester-even 

 That Youth, with the fair Maid I spoke of, came, 

 And, as they strayed within the leafy twilight, 

 They poured their young hearts out in burning words, 



