LXXXVII. "Or, when thy furious rage was round him dealing, Love should have grown from touching of his skin, But like cold marble thou art all unfeeling, And hast no ruddy springs of warmth within, And being but a shape of freezing bone, Thy touching only turn'd my love to stone! LXXXVIII. "And here, alas! he lies across my knees, LXXXIX. "For art thou not a sleep where sense of ill, "O poppy Death! XC. sweet poisoner of sleep! Where shall I seek for thee, oblivious drug, XCI. "Put out, put out these sun-consuming lamps, I do but read my sorrows by their shine, O come and quench them with thy oozy damps, And let my darkness intermix with thine; Since love is blinded, wherefore should I see, Now love is death, death will be love to me! XCII. "Away, away, this vain complaining breath, It does but stir the troubles that I weep, The wind must settle ere the wave can sleep, Since love is silent, I would fain be mute, O Death, be gracious to my dying suit!" XCIII. Thus far she pleads, but pleading nought avails her, For Death, her sullen burthen, deigns no heed, Then with dumb craving arms, since darkness fails her, She prays to heav'n's fair light, as if her need Inspir'd her there were Gods to pity pain, Or end it, but she lifts her arms in vain! XCIV. Poor gilded Grief! the subtle light by this There, falling on her arms, the crystal skin Reveals the ruby tide that fares within. XCV. Look how the fulsome beam would hang a glory XCVI. Or else, thou maid! safe anchor'd on Love's neck, Listing the hapless doom of young Leander, Thou would'st not shed a tear for that old wreck, Sitting secure where no wild surges wander; XCVII. Thus having travell'd on, and track'd the tale, XCVIII. Then whilst the melancholy muse withal Resumes her music in a sadder tone, Meanwhile, the sunbeam strikes upon the wall, Conceive that lovely siren to live on, Ev'n as Hope whisper'd, the Promethean light XCIX. "'Tis light," she says, "that feeds the glittering stars, And those were stars set in his heavenly brow, Their radiant breathing, and obscures them now, And see how these dull orbs will kindle there." C. Swiftly as dolphins glide, or swifter yet, CI. There, like a pearly waif, just past the reach And watch her doings till their rude hearts ache. |