IX. And Universal Pan, 'tis said, was there, And though none saw him,-through the adamant Of the deep mountains, through the trackless air, And through those living spirits, like a want He past out of his everlasting lair Where the quick heart of the great world doth pant, And felt that wondrous lady all alone,— And she felt him, upon her emerald throne. X. And every nymph of stream and spreading tree, Who drives her white waves over the green sea; And quaint Priapus with his company All came, much wondering how the enwombed rocks Could have brought forth so beautiful a birth;Her love subdued their wonder and their mirth. XI. The herdsmen and the mountain maidens came, Stirred by the air under a cavern gaunt: XII. For she was beautiful: her beauty made The bright world dim, and every thing beside No thought of living spirit could abide, XIII. Which when the lady knew, she took her spindle And twined three threads of fleecy mist, and three Long lines of light, such as the dawn may kindle The clouds and waves and mountains with, and she And with these threads a subtle veil she wove- XIV. The deep recesses of her odorous dwelling D XV. And there lay Visions swift, and sweet, and quaint, With the soft burthen of intensest bliss; It is its work to bear to many a saint Whose heart adores the shrine which holiest is, Even Love's-and others white, green, grey and black, And of all shapes-and each was at her beck. XVI. And odours in a kind of aviary Of ever-blooming Eden-trees she kept, Clipt in a floating net, a love-sick Fairy Had woven from dew-beams while the moon yet slept; As bats at the wired window of a dairy, They beat their vans; and each was an adept, When loosed and missioned, making wings of winds, To stir sweet thoughts or sad in destined minds. XVII. And liquors clear and sweet, whose healthful might And change eternal death into a night Of glorious dreams—or if eyes needs must weep, She in her chrystal vials did closely keep: XVIII. Her cave was stored with scrolls of strange device, Men from the Gods might win that happy age And which might quench the earth-consuming rage Of gold and blood-till men should live and move Harmonious as the sacred stars above. XIX. And how all things that seem untameable, Time, Earth and Fire-the Ocean and the Wind, And all their shapes-and man's imperial will; And other scrolls whose writings did unbind The inmost lore of Love-let the prophane Tremble to ask what secrets they contain. XX. And wondrous works of substances unknown, In their own golden beams—each like a flower, XXI. At first she lived alone in this wild home, Or with the wind, or with the speed of fire, Into her mind; such power her mighty Sire Had girt them with, whether to fly or run, Through all the regions which he shines upon. XXII. The Ocean-nymphs and Hamadryades, Of her sweet presence-each a satellite. XXIII. "This may not be," the wizard maid replied; "The fountains where the Naiades bedew Their shining hair, at length are drained and dried ; The solid oaks forget their strength, and strew Their latest leaf upon the mountains wide; The boundless ocean, like a drop of dew Will be consumed-the stubborn centre must Be scattered, like a cloud of summer dust. |