that which for giving Nature to her gave.
Spent by the race he stayed his steps to say:—
“O thou too beauteous cruelty to crave,
when of my life the palm to thee is dight,
ah! wait this body since thou hast its sprite!”
77
“All rest of running weary, Nymph divine!
Each yields her wishes to her en’emy’s will;
Why to the wood alone fly only mine?
Who told thee I am I, who chase thee still?
If told thee so mine angry doom malign,
which allwheres dogs me always to mine ill,
believe it not, e’en I when I believèd,
each hour a thousand times my heart deceivèd.
78
“Tire not thyself, to tire me; for if I
must chase those flying charms and chase in vain,
such is my Fortune an thou wait and try
her will perverse shall never gar me gain.
Wait! if thou will I would again descry,
what subtle mode of ’scape for thee remain,
and thou in fine shalt note, and fain confess so,
Tra la spiga e la man qual muro è messo.190
79
“Ah, fly me not! E’en so may Time foot-fleet
ne’er from thy youthful beauties urge his flight!
For only stay the twinkling of thy feet
and thou shalt vanquish Fortune’s dure despight.
What Emp’eror, nay what mighty Host dare meet
the force array’d by Chance’s furious might,
which in whate’er I wished still hounds my way,
this canst thou do, thou only, an thou stay?
80
“Wouldst in my roll of foes thyself enrol?
To back the stronger is not bravely done!
Wouldst steal my lib’eral heart that was so whole?
Loose it me then, the faster thou shalt run!
Burdens thee not this Soul, my mesquin Soul,
which in those threads of glancing gold bespun,
tangled thou bearest? or thus won the prize,
hast lightened Fortune which so heavy lies?
81
“In this sole Esp’erance thee, my Fair, I chase;
that or thou weary her sad load to bear;
or haply shall thy Beauty’s magick grace
have power to change her sour malignant Star:
And if thus change she, cease this useless race,
for Love shall smite thee, gentle Ladye fair:
And thou shalt wait when Love shall smite thee sore;
and if thou wait what wait I, want I more?”
82
No longer fled the lovely Nymph, to play
her sad pursuer’s heart, her pow’er to try;
as still to revel in the lovely lay
which told the soldier’s loving agony:
Bending her brow that beamed a holy ray,
all bathed with sweetest smiles of gentle joy,
she falls a victim at the victor’s feet,
melted with purest love by dear defeat.
83
Ah me! what hungry kissings wake the wood!
What choirs in suavest unison acclaim!
What pretty pettings! What coy pettish mood
which pleasant laughter presently became!
What Morn and Noontide saw and understood,
as Venus joyed her lovers’ joys to ’flame,
were better far t’ experience not to judge,
yet judge it he whose Fate such boon shall grudge.
84
This way in fine conform the fair and bright
Nymphs, and each Bride with love her Groom endowers,
all heads are crowned with chaplets of delight,
of bays and gold and amaranthine flowers:
Their soft white palms they prest in wedded plight:
With formal phrase and stipulating powers
that pledge for endless time their mutual Faith,
honour and joyaunce, till life end in Death.
85
One, chiefest She, whose mandate proudly led
the Nymphs, obedient vassals of her throne,
Coelus and Vesta’s progeny ’twas said,
as by her queenly bearing might be known;
who over Earth and Ocean glamour shed,
the noble Captain, digne such boon to own,
with honest princely pomp comes forth to greet
as for such great egregious Ladye meet:
86
And, told the station and the name of her,
in high exordium with high grace ornate,
her cause of coming ’gan to him prefer,
by the high influ’ence of immobile Fate;
and ope before his eyne the gen’eral sphere
of vasty regions, seas unnavigate,
the secret knowledge couched in prophecy,
which he and his alone deserved to see;
87
Taking his hand in hers she guides her guest
straight to a tow’ering head of Hill divine,
whereof a splendid Pleasaunce is the crest,
plated with purest gold and crystal shine.
Therein the greater part of day they rest
where loving play and lasting pleasures reign:
The Queen enjoys her loves in palace-bowers,
the Nymphs in sylvan shades amid the flowers.
88
Thus Fair and Brave in fittest union meet,
while minute by the merry hours of light;
and taste the genial gladness rare as sweet
which their long labours and dark days turn bright:
Man’s high heroick deed, and daring feat
of famous force, the World shall aye requite
with guerdon merited, and boon sublime—
a Name and Fame that stand the test of Time.
89
For, all our Ocean-maids so fair, so sprightful,
Tethys, and eke her Isle of angel-ground,
None other thing be they, but the delightful
Honours that make our human life renown’d:
That high pre-em’inence and that glory rightful
are but the Triumphs, and the brows becrown’d
with Palms and Bay-wreaths, wond’ering gaze and praise:
Such the delights my fabled Isle displays;
90
These Immortalities—in young world feignèd
by men who cherisht toils of noble aim,
there on Olympus’ starlit heights, attainèd
on inclyt wings that soar to deathless Fame,
whose Deeds of Derring-do the guerdon gainèd,
by dint of endless toil and moil we name
the Path of Virtue, stony, steep t’ ascend,
but joyous-glad, delicious-sweet at end:
91
Were nought but prizes brother-men impart
in change for Feats immortal, sovereign,
to that baronial Host, whose Arm and Art
made to be Gods that had been only men:
Jupiter, Phoebus, Mercury, and Mart,
Aeneas, Rom’ulus, and the Theban twain,
Ceres, Diana, Juno, Pallas, were
but human flesh to human weakness heir.
92
Yet Fame, that trumpet of Man’s high emprize,
on Earth bestowed them names of strange estate,
Godheads, and deathless Semi-deities,
Indigetes and Heroes, “Grand” and “Great.”
Wherefore, oh, ye! who Fame’s fair guerdon prize,
if in the World with these ye lief would mate,
awake from Slumber, shake off Sloth ignave
that sinks Man’s freeborn
