Tale of Archais

THE TALE OF ARCHAIS 15 That these woods build me ; hold my trembling hand, Teach me to love ; I do not understand.” He clasped her to him, but no word might say, And led her from the pool a little way, And there he laid her on the flowery mead, And watched her weeping. His forgotten reed Floated away, a ship for fairy folk, Along the limpid rivulet. Then broke From smitten heart and ravished lips the tongue Of fire that clad its essence with the robe of song. SONG OF CHARICLES O fountains of pale sapphire, and clear green, O hills of purple, and ye olive vales, Being music to my wing, and echo seen Of no man being, for now my spirit fails To shrill its clearest notes, and golden gales Of sound, and breezes of delighted sighs. Bring music, hear me chant the world that is, And how Love’s ambush in all nature lies, And I will tell how for one eager kiss My soul is fain to forget Paradise In Archais.