1920] on Science and Poetry 215 



Of rounded World and globed Skies, 

 And Stars between, and faint Moonrise ; 

 Of black Tarns set 'mid mountain peaks 

 And spouting silver -foamed leaks ; 

 Of Gods reclined, and Maids who move, 

 Unlidding lustrous eyes of love ; 

 Of War ; of Wisdom with a skull. 

 And in the high aisles Fountains full 

 Disperse a stream of coolness there 

 For frosted fern and maidenhair, 

 And sculptured Beauty holds the way. 

 So thither go with me to-day." 



Then She who all in purple dight, 



Brow-star'd with orbed ruby light, 



Lifted from under rich deep locks 



Looks wrapt on Heaven, to earthly shocks 



Descending, thus replied : " Not these 



Flat hapless lands of Towers and Trees 



Ma} T past the morn your spirit please. 



But to some cold Crag, that doth lift 



His brow to Heav'n above the drift, 



And turns beneath the mistless Stars, 



Come. There no dew distilling mars 



With felon fog or frozen haze 



The many hued Sidereal blaze, 



Where Planets pale not age to a^e, 



And mooned Venus in white rage 



Stares down the Dawn. Come ; for that Glow 



There solves to unpolluted flow 



The crumbling crystals of the Snow ; 



And windworn Cataracts wavering plumb 



To lightless pine-valleys. Come, O come ! 



Lest those faint Harmonies be unheard 



Which, as from silver and gold strings stir'd 



By the light fingers of the Wind, 



Bun from the poised orbs swiftly spin'd." 



She ceased, and with her finger tip 

 Made sound the lyre upon her hip, 

 And would have sung ; but I replied, 

 " To be unchosen is descried ; 

 And we shall be made mad in Heaven 

 By need of choice of good things given. 

 I love all Three so passing well 

 Which I love best I cannot tell. 

 Alas ! " — I cried, but checked the word, 

 For close behind a footstep heard 

 Comperd me turn ; when, lo ! that Maid, 

 Dress'd in black velvet, who bewray'd 

 Plump Popes and Pastors once to fear, 

 Came up and took me by the ear. 



