The Black Swans 



And sang a low sweet song that made him 



hark and smile. 

 A sylvan nook it was, grown round with trees, 

 Poplars, and elms, and odorous cypresses, 

 In which all birds of ample wing, the owl 

 And hawk, had nests, and broad-tongued 



waterfowl. 

 The cave in front was spread with a green 



vine, 

 Whose dark round bunches almost burst with 



wine; 

 And from four springs, running a sprightly 



race, 

 Four fountains clear and crisp refreshed the 



place; 

 While all about a meadowy ground was seen, 

 Of violets mingling with the parsley green." 



And then I wake. Around about me 

 the enchanted island washed by blue 

 Aegean waves ! No, it cannot be, for it 

 is mint I smell, not cedar nor yet citron 

 wood. And those fountains, are they 

 really racing through the violets and 

 asphodel? It is not so. No Mercury 

 appears; only Henry in blue overalls 

 and he has just laid the nozzle of the 

 garden hose down there among the 



[34] 



