THE NYMPH
FROM forest paths we turned us, nymphs, new-made,
And, lifting eyes abashed with great desire
Before high Jove, the gift of souls we prayed.
And, lifting eyes abashed with great desire
Before high Jove, the gift of souls we prayed.
Whereat he said: "O perfect as new leaves
New glossed and veined with blood of perfect days
And stirred to murmured speech in fragrant eves,
New glossed and veined with blood of perfect days
And stirred to murmured speech in fragrant eves,
"Still ask ye souls? Behold, I give instead
Into each breast a bird with lettered wings,
A bird fast holden with a silken thread:
Into each breast a bird with lettered wings,
A bird fast holden with a silken thread:
"To fall from trial of flight with strength swift spent,
To sing of mating and the brooding grass,
To turn thy being earthward to content."
To sing of mating and the brooding grass,
To turn thy being earthward to content."
Within me sudden wrath and terror strove,
And, casting forth his gift I cried aloud:
"I pray thee for a soul in truth, great Jove!"
And, casting forth his gift I cried aloud:
"I pray thee for a soul in truth, great Jove!"
Then smiled he slowly, lifting to my look
A fabric where the rippled lustre played
And shifted like the humor of a brook—
A fabric where the rippled lustre played
And shifted like the humor of a brook—
All prism-hued, as upward eyes may see
The sun through dazzled lashes. Straight I cried:
"I know not this!" "Thy soul," he answered me.
The sun through dazzled lashes. Straight I cried:
"I know not this!" "Thy soul," he answered me.
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