Tale of Archais

10 THE TALE OF ARCHAIS Across the velvet sward, towards the brook, That now sang dances over pebble bed, Now sighs of vain love-longing whisperéd, Now broke in madrigals, and now forsook The cadence of its various melody For music’s deepest mood—a silence dim, Now under willows bubbled to the brim, Now over mosses murmured quietly, And now spread out into an azure pool Whose floor was pearl, whose walls were adamant, Behold there came a sylph, whose dreamy eyes Lit all the lawn, clear-glancing, deep and cool ; Whose curls were billowy gold luxuriant With stars and scents of summer woods and skies.