For never her lips should be caressed
By love’s exulting stings,
Whose starry shape shone in the west,
Held of the glimmering wings.
Her shadowy soul perceived the jest
Of man and mortal things.
And there I vowed a solemn oath
To Aphrodite fair,
Sealing that sacramental troth
With a long curl of hair,
And the strange prayer’s reiterant growth
Sent shining through the air.
(Invoking Aphrodtte)
Daughter of Glory, child
Of Earth’s Dione mild
By the Father of all, the A‘gis-bearing King!
Spouse, daughter, mother of God,
Queen of the blest abode
In Cyprus’ splendour singly glittering.
Sweet sister unto me,
I cry aloud to thee !
I laugh upon thee laughing, O dew caught up
from sea!
Drawn by sharp sparrow and dove
And swan’s wide plumes of love,
And all the swallow’s swifter vehemence,
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