Collected Works (Vol. III)

LIBER PRIMUS VEL CARMINUM 137 THE LAKES. In the hollow of the mountain, In the bosom of the plain, Fed by river, stream, and fountain, Slain by sun, reborn of rain ; In the desert green-engirded, Lying lone in waste and wood, To my breast the many-herded Lowing kine in gracious mood Come, drink deeply, and are glad of me, my pleasant solitude. ORPHEUS. From the breast of the snow As a life-swollen stream, Your !ove-rivers flow Soft hued as a dream, Adrift and aglow With the sunlight supreme. Come forth! I invoke ye, O torrents that fall in the mazes and gleam ! THE MOUNTAIN TORRENTS. Falling fast or lingering love-wise, Gathered into mirror-lakes, Floating sprayed through heaven dove- wise, Dreaming, dashing ; sunlight shakes Into million-coloured petals All our limpid drops, and wraps Earth with green, as water settles On the rocks and in their gaps, Mossy rainbow-tinted maidens, flowers and fernshoots in their laps. ORPHEUS, Low down in the hollows And vales of the earth, What eagle-sight follows Your length and green girth ? Your light is Apollo’s, Diana’s your mirth ! THE RIVERS. In the lowland gently swelling, Born and risen out of rain, Wide the curves and arrowy dwelling Where we rest or roll again. There our calm sides shield the mortal, Bears his bark our breast, and we Follow to the mystic portal Where we mingle with the sea. Every life of earth we list to: should not we then answer thee? ORPHEUS. O see mixt with acther In whirls that awake, Roar skywards and wreathe her Bright coils as a snake, In agony seethe her Sad cries for the sake Of peace—I invoke ye! Come forth! spouts in the wave’s wild wake! O THE WATERSPOUTS. Whirling over miles of ocean, Lowering o’er the solemn sea, Hears our life the deep commotion That we know—thy witchery. Wheeling, hating, fearing ever As we thunder o’er the deep, Death alone our path can sever, Death our guerdon if we weep. We obey thee, we are with thee! Wilt thou ! never let us sleep? ORPHEUS. © rolled on the river By might of the moon, Ye tremble and quiver, Ye shudder and swoon ! The cities ye shiver : The ships know your tune. Come forth! I invoke ye, O rivers, I have Come forth! I invoke ye, O eagres! dread watched your mysterious birth! | rivals of shoal and typhoon !