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And a few gurgling bubbles rose where her boy lover sank。
And the mast shuddered as the gaunt owl flew
With mocking hoots after the wrathful Queen；
And the old pilot bade the trembling crew
Hoist the big sail； and told how he had seen
Close to the stern a dim and giant form；
And like a dipping swallow the stout ship dashed through the storm。
And no man dared to speak of Charmides
Deeming that he some evil thing had wrought；
And when they reached the strait Symplegades
They beached their galley on the shore； and sought
The toll…gate of the city hastily；
And in the market showed their brown and pictured pottery。
II。
But some good Triton…god had ruth； and bare
The boy's drowned body back to Grecian land；
And mermaids combed his dank and dripping hair
And smoothed his brow； and loosed his clenching hand；
Some brought sweet spices from far Araby；
And others bade the halcyon sing her softest lullaby。
And when he neared his old Athenian home；
A mighty billow rose up suddenly
Upon whose oily back the clotted foam
Lay diapered in some strange fantasy；
And clasping him unto its glassy breast
Swept landward； like a white…maned steed upon a venturous quest！
Now where Colonos leans unto the sea
There lies a long and level stretch of lawn；
The rabbit knows it； and the mountain bee
For it deserts Hymettus； and the Faun
Is not afraid； for never through the day
Comes a cry ruder than the shout of shepherd lads at play。
But often from the thorny labyrinth
And tangled branches of the circling wood
The stealthy hunter sees young Hyacinth
Hurling the polished disk； and draws his hood
Over his guilty gaze； and creeps away；
Nor dares to wind his horn； or … else at the first break of day
The Dryads come and throw the leathern ball
Along the reedy shore； and circumvent
Some goat…eared Pan to be their seneschal
For fear of bold Poseidon's ravishment；
And loose their girdles； with shy timorous eyes；
Lest from the surf his azure arms and purple beard should rise。
On this side and on that a rocky cave；
Hung with the yellow…belled laburnum； stands
Smooth is the beach； save where some ebbing wave
Leaves its faint outline etched upon the sands；
As though it feared to be too soon forgot
By the green rush； its playfellow； … and yet； it is a spot
So small； that the inconstant butterfly
Could steal the hoarded money from each flower
Ere it was noon； and still not satisfy
Its over…greedy love； … within an hour
A sailor boy； were he but rude enow
To land and pluck a garland for his galley's painted prow；
Would almost leave the little meadow bare；
For it knows nothing of great pageantry；
Only a few narcissi here and there
Stand separate in sweet austerity；
Dotting the unmown grass with silver stars；
And here and there a daffodil waves tiny scimitars。
Hither the billow brought him； and was glad
Of such dear servitude； and where the land
Was virgin of all waters laid the lad
Upon the golden margent of the strand；
And like a lingering lover oft returned
To kiss those pallid limbs which once with intense fire burned；
Ere the wet seas had quenched that holocaust；
That self…fed flame； that passionate lustihead；
Ere grisly death with chill and nipping frost
Had withered up those lilies white and red
Which； while the boy would through the forest range；
Answered each other in a sweet antiphonal counter…change。
And when at dawn the wood…nymphs； hand…in…hand；
Threaded the bosky dell； their satyr spied
The boy's pale body stretched upon the sand；
And feared Poseidon's treachery； and cried；
And like bright sunbeams flitting through a glade
Each startled Dryad sought some safe and leafy ambuscade。
Save one white girl； who deemed it would not be
So dread a thing to feel a sea…god's arms
Crushing her breasts in amorous tyranny；
And longed to listen to those subtle charms
Insidious lovers weave when they would win
Some fenced fortress； and stole back again； nor thought it sin
To yield her treasure unto one so fair；
And lay beside him； thirsty with love's drouth；
Called him soft names； played with his tangled hair；
And with hot lips made havoc of his mouth
Afraid he might not wake； and then afraid
Lest he might wake too soon； fled back； and then； fond renegade；
Returned to fresh assault； and all day long
Sat at his side； and laughed at her new toy；
And held his hand； and sang her sweetest song；
Then frowned to see how froward was the boy
Who would not with her maidenhood entwine；
Nor knew that three days since his eyes had looked on Proserpine；
Nor knew what sacrilege his lips had done；
But said； 'He will awake； I know him well；
He will awake at evening when the sun
Hangs his red shield on Corinth's citadel；
This sleep is but a cruel treachery
To make me love him more； and in some cavern of the sea
Deeper than ever falls the fisher's line
Already a huge Triton blows his horn；
And weaves a garland from the crystalline
And drifting ocean…tendrils to adorn
The emerald pillars of our bridal bed；
For sphered in foaming silver； and with coral crowned head；
We two will sit upon a throne of pearl；
And a blue wave will be our canopy；
And at our feet the water…snakes will curl
In all their amethystine panoply
Of diamonded mail； and we will mark
The mullets swimming by the mast of some storm…foundered bark；
Vermilion…finned with eyes of bossy gold
Like flakes of crimson light； and the great deep
His glassy…portaled chamber will unfold；
And we will see the painted dolphins sleep
Cradled by murmuring halcyons on the rocks
Where Proteus in quaint suit of green pastures his monstrous
flocks。
And tremulous opal…hued anemones
Will wave their purple fringes where we tread
Upon the mirrored floor； and argosies
Of fishes flecked with tawny scales will thread
The drifting cordage of the shattered wreck；
And honey…coloured amber beads our twining limbs will deck。'
But when that baffled Lord of War the Sun
With gaudy pennon flying passed away
Into his brazen House； and one by one
The little yellow stars began to stray
Across the field of heaven； ah！ then indeed
She feared his lips upon her lips would never care to feed；
And cried； 'Awake； already the pale moon
Washes the trees with silver； and the wave
Creeps grey and chilly up this sandy dune；
The croaking frogs are out； and from the cave
The nightjar shrieks； the fluttering bats repass；
And the brown stoat with hollow flanks creeps through the dusky
grass。
Nay； though thou art a god； be not so coy；
For in yon stream there is a little reed
That often whispers how a lovely boy
Lay with her once upon a grassy mead；
Who when his cruel pleasure he had done
Spread wings of rustling gold and soared aloft into the sun。
Be not so coy； the laurel trembles still
With great Apollo's kisses； and the fir
Whose cluster