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roam

Over these hills and vales, where no joy is,

Empty of immortality and bliss!

Thou art a scholar, Lycius, and must know That finer spirits cannot breathe below 280 In human climes, and live: Alas! poor youth,

What taste of purer air hast thou to soothe My essence? What serener palaces, Where I may all my many senses please, And by mysterious sleights a hundred thirsts appease?

It cannot be - Adieu!' So said, she rose Tiptoe with white arms spread. He, sick to lose

The amorous promise of her lone complain, Swoon'd murmuring of love, and pale with pain.

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The cruel lady, without any show
Of sorrow for her tender favourite's woe,
But rather, if her eyes could brighter be,
With brighter eyes and slow amenity,
Put her new lips to his, and gave afresh
The life she had so tangled in her mesh:
And as he from one trance was wakening
Into another, she began to sing,

Happy in beauty, life, and love, and every

thing,

A song of love, too sweet for earthly lyres, While, like held breath, the stars drew in

their panting fires.

300

And then she whisper'd in such trembling tone,

As those who, safe together met alone For the first time through many anguish'd days,

Use other speech than looks; bidding him raise

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That purple-lined palace of sweet sin,
His spirit pass'd beyond its golden bourn
Into the noisy world almost forsworn.
The lady, ever watchful, penetrant,
Saw this with pain, so arguing a want
Of something more, more than her empery
Of joys; and she began to moan and sigh
Because he mused beyond her, knowing well
That but a moment's thought is passion's
passing bell.

'Why do you sigh, fair creature?' whisper'd he:

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'Why do you think?' return'd she tenderly:

'You have deserted me; - where am I now?

Not in your heart while care weighs on your brow:

No, no, you have dismiss'd me; and I go From your breast houseless: aye, it must be so.'

He answer'd, bending to her open eyes,
Where he was mirror'd small in paradise,
'My silver planet, both of eve and morn!
Why will you plead yourself so sad forlorn,
While I am striving how to fill my heart 50
With deeper crimson, and a double smart?
How to entangle, trammel up and snare
Your soul in mine, and labyrinth you there,
Like the hid scent in an unbudded rose?

Aye, a sweet kiss

woes.

-you see your mighty

My thoughts! shall I unveil them? Listen then!

What mortal hath a prize, that other men May be confounded and abash'd withal, But lets it sometimes pace abroad majestical,

And triumph, as in thee I should rejoice 60 Amid the hoarse alarm of Corinth's voice. Let my foes choke, and my friends shout afar,

While through the thronged streets your bridal car

Wheels round its dazzling spokes.' The lady's cheek

Trembled; she nothing said, but, pale and meek,

Arose and knelt before him, wept a rain Of sorrows at his words; at last with pain Beseeching him, the while his hand she wrung,

To change his purpose. He thereat was stung,

Perverse, with stronger fancy to reclaim 70
Her wild and timid nature to his aim;
Besides, for all his love, in self despite,
Against his better self, he took delight
Luxurious in her sorrows, soft and new.
His passion, cruel grown, took on a hue
Fierce and sanguineous as 't was possible
In one whose brow had no dark veins to
swell.

Fine was the mitigated fury, like
Apollo's presence when in act to strike
Ha! the serpent! certes,

The serpent

she

Was none.

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She burnt, she loved the tyranny,

And, all subdued, consented to the hour When to the bridal he should lead his par

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The glowing banquet-room shone with wide-arched grace.

A haunting music, sole perhaps and lone
Supportress of the faery-roof, made moan
Throughout, as fearful the whole charm
might fade.

Fresh carved cedar, mimicking a glade
Of palm and plantain, met from either side,
High in the midst, in honour of the bride:
Two palms and then two plantains, and

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So canopied, lay an untasted feast
Teeming with odours. Lamia, regal drest,
Silently paced about, and as she went,
In pale contented sort of discontent,
Mission'd her viewless servants to enrich
The fretted splendour of each nook and
niche.

Between the tree-stems, marbled plain at first,

Came jasper panels; then, anon, there burst Forth creeping imagery of slighter trees, 140 And with the larger wove in small intricacies.

Approving all, she faded at self-will, And shut the chamber up, close, hush'd and still,

Complete and ready for the revels rude, When dreadful guests would come to spoil her solitude.

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