Rests like a shadow, and the winds are dead. My eyes are full of tears, my heart of love; "O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. 30 Hear me, O Earth, hear me, O Hills, O Caves 35 That house the cold crown'd snake! O mountain brooks, I am the daughter of a River-God, Hear me, for I will speak, and build up all 66 O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, I waited underneath the dawning hills, 40 45 And dewy-dark aloft the mountain pine: Beautiful Paris, evil-hearted Paris, Leading a jet-black goat white-horn'd, white-hooved, 50 Came up from reedy Simois all alone. "O mother Ida, harken ere I die. Far-off the torrent call'd me from the cleft: Far up the solitary morning smote The streaks of virgin snow. With downdropt eyes 55 I sat alone: white-breasted like a star Fronting the dawn he moved; a leopard skin Droop'd from his shoulder, but his sunny hair And his cheek brighten'd as the foam-bow brightens 60 "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. He smiled, and opening out his milk-white palm 6 "My own Enone, Beautiful-brow'd (Enone, my own soul, Behold this fruit, whose gleaming rind ingrav'n 65 70 66 For the most fair," would seem to award it thine, As lovelier than whatever Oread haunt The knolls of Ida, loveliest in all grace Of movement, and the charm of married brows.' 75 "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. He prest the blossom of his lips to mine, When all the full-faced presence of the Gods Ranged in the halls of Peleus; whereupon Rose feud, with question unto whom 't were due: 80 But light-foot Iris brought it yester-eve, "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. It was the deep midnoon: one silvery cloud Had lost his way between the piney sides 85 90 Of this long glen. Then to the bower they came, Naked they came to that smooth-swarded bower, And at their feet the crocus brake like fire, 95 Violet, amaracus, and asphodel, Lotos and lilies: and a wind arose, And overhead the wandering ivy and vine, Ran riot, garlanding the gnarled boughs With bunch and berry and flower thro' and thro'. 66 "O mother Ida, harken ere I die. On the tree-tops a crested peacock lit, And o'er him flow'd a golden cloud, and lean'd 6 from many a vale And river-sunder'd champaign clothed with corn, Honor,' she said, and homage, tax, and toll, 66 O mother Ida, harken ere I die. Still she spake on and still she spake of power, And throned of wisdom - from all neighbor crowns Fail from the sceptre-staff. Such boon from me, From me, Heaven's Queen, Paris, to thee king-born, 125 Should come most welcome, seeing men, in power, "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. She ceased, and Paris held the costly fruit Out at arm's length, so much the thought of power 130 Flatter'd his spirit; but Pallas where she stood 666 'Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control, 135 140 145 "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. 150 Yet, indeed, If gazing on divinity disrobed Thy mortal eyes are frail to judge of fair, 155 That I shall love thee well and cleave to thee, So that my vigor, wedded to thy blood, To push thee forward thro' a life of shocks, 66 160 Here she ceased, And Paris ponder'd, and I cried, ‘O Paris, 165 Or hearing would not hear me, woe is me! “O mother Ida, many-fountain’d Ida, Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. Idalian Aphrodité beautiful, 170 Fresh as the foam, new-bathed in Paphian wells, From her warm brows and bosom her deep hair 66 Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. 180 She spoke and laugh'd: I shut my sight for fear: 185 And I beheld great Heré's angry eyes, And from that time to this I am alone, 190 66 Yet, mother Ida, harken ere I die. "O mother, hear me yet before I die. They came, they cut away my tallest pines, 175 |