Collected Works (Vol. I)

THE TALE OF ARCHAIS 25 CHARICLES. Join our chorus, tread the turf ‘Yo the beating of the surf. Dance together, ere we part, And Selene’s dart Give the signal for your slumber and the rapture of our heart. Sentt-Chorus of Mer. Exalted with immeasurable gladness ; Bonds touched with tears and melted like the snow :— Wake the song loudly; loose the leash of madness, Beat the loud drum, and bid the trumpet blow ! Semt-Chorus of Women. Let the lute thrill divinely low, Let the harp strike a tender note of sad- ness5 Louder and louder, till the full song flow, One earth-dissolving stream of utter glad- ness ! CHORUS. Free! ye are free! hear us ! Smile, Artemis, thy virgin leaves thy fold ! Star of the morning, fling thy blussom near us ! Phoibos, re-kindle us with molten gold ! Starbeams and woven tresses of the ocean, Vlowers of the rolling mountains and the lea, Trees, and innumerable flocks and herds, Wild cattle and bright birds, Tremble above the sea With song more noble, the divinest potion Of poet’s wonder and bard’s melody. Delight, thou Moon, to ARCHAIS, Cold is the kiss of the stars to the sea, The kiss of the earth to the orient grey That heralds the day ; Warmer the kiss of a love that is free As the wind of the sea, Quick and resurgent and splendid. CIARICLES, Night her bright bow-string has bended ; last flies her arrow unsparing Through the beech-leaves, “lsther it cleaves Rapid and daring. Ah! how it strikes as with silver! how the sun’s laughter is ended ! ARCHAIS. Llow the moon’s arms are extended ! Semi-Chorus of Men. Rejoicing, inarticulate with pleasure, Joy streams a comet in the strong con- trol Of the sun’s love; weave, weave the eager measure, Fill the sea’s brim from vleasure’s foaming bowl]! Semt-Chorus of Women. Weave, weave the dance; the stars are not your goal. Freed slaves of Fortune, love’s your only treasure, While the gold plancts toward the sunlight roll, Weave, weave the dance! the eager measure ! Weave, weave CIARICLES., Of your revels I’ll be king, ARCHAIS. I the queen of your array. Foot it nimbly in the ring, CHARICLES. Strewn with violet and may. 9 ARCHAIS. Apple-blossom pile on high, Till the bridal bed is duly Panoplied with bloonis that sigh.