Lycius,' said he, 'for uninvited guest
To force himself upon you, and infest
With an unbidden presence the bright throng
Of younger friends; yet must I do this wrong,
And you forgive me.' Lycius blush'd, and led
The old man through the inner doors broad-spread;
With reconciling words and courteous mien0 appearance
Turning into sweet milk the sophist's0 spleen. scholar's
Of wealthy lustre was the banquet-room,
Fill'd with pervading brilliance and perfume:
Before each lucid pannel fuming stood
A censer fed with myrrh and spiced wood,
Each by a sacred tripod held aloft,
Whose slender feet wide-swerv'd upon the soft
Wool-woofed? carpets: fifty wreaths of smoke woven
From fifty censers their light voyage took
To the high roof, still mimick'd as they rose
8. Adorned with fretwork (interlaced patterns).
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LAMIA / 923
Along the mirror'd walls by twin-clouds odorous. Twelve sphered tables, by silk seats insphered, High as the level of a man's breast rear'd
is? On libbard's0 paws, upheld the heavy gold leopard's Of cups and goblets, and the store thrice told Of Ceres' horn,s and, in huge vessels, wine Come from the gloomy tun with merry shine. Thus loaded with a feast the tables stood,
iso Each shrining in the midst the image of a God.
When in an antichamber every guest Had felt the cold full sponge to pleasure press'd, By minist'ring slaves, upon his hands and feet, And fragrant oils with ceremony meet? suitable
195 Pour'd on his hair, they all mov'd to the feast In white robes, and themselves in order placed Around the silken couches, wondering Whence all this mighty cost and blaze of wealth could spring.
Soft went the music the soft air along,
200 While fluent Greek a vowel'd undersong Kept up among the guests, discoursing low At first, for scarcely was the wine at flow; But when the happy vintage touch'd their brains, Louder they talk, and louder come the strains
205 Of powerful instruments:?the gorgeous dyes, The space, the splendour of the draperies, The roof of awful richness, nectarous cheer, Beautiful slaves, and Lamia's self, appear, Now, when the wine has done its rosy deed,
210 And every soul from human trammels freed, No more so strange; for merry wine, sweet wine, Will make Elysian shades not too fair, too divine.
Soon was God Bacchus at meridian height; Flush'd were their cheeks, and bright eyes double bright:
215 Garlands of every green, and every scent From vales deflower'd, or forest-trees branch-rent, In baskets of bright osier'd1 gold were brought High as the handles heap'd, to suit the thought Of every guest; that each, as he did please,
220 Might fancy-fit his brows, silk-pillow'd at his ease.
What wreath for Lamia? What for Lycius? What for the sage, old Apollonius? Upon her aching forehead be there hung The leaves of willow and of adder's tongue;2
225 And for the youth, quick, let us strip for him The thyrsus,3 that his watching eyes may swim Into forgetfulness; and, for the sage,
9. The horn of plenty, overflowing with the prod-2. A fern whose spikes resemble a serpent's ucts of Ceres, goddess of grain. tongue. 1. Plaited. An 'osier' is a strip of willow used in 3. The vine-covered staff of Bacchus, used to sigweaving baskets. nify drunkenness.
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92 4 / JOHN KEATS
Let spear-grass and the spiteful thistle wage War on his temples. Do not all charms fly
230 At the mere touch of cold philosophy?4 There was an awful? rainbow once in heaven: awe-inspiring We know her woof, her texture; she is given In the dull catalogue of common things. Philosophy will clip an Angel's wings,
235 Conquer all mysteries by rule and line, Empty the haunted air, and gnomed mine5? Unweave a rainbow, as it erewhile made The tender-person'd Lamia melt into a shade.
