Ebony and Crystal/A Fragment
For works with similar titles, see A Fragment.
A FRAGMENT
Autumn far-off in memory,That saw the crisping myrtles fade!****Aeons agone, my tomb was made,Beside the moon-constrainèd sea.
Ah, wonderful its portals were!With carven doors of chrysolite,And walls of sombre syenite,They wrought mine olden sepulchre!
About the griffin-guarded plinth,White blossoms crowned the scarlet vine;And burning orchids opalineIllumed the palm and terebinth.
On friezes of mine ancient fame,The cypress wrought its writhen shade;And through the boughs the ocean madeMoresques of blue and fretted flame.
Poet or prince, I may not knowMy perished name, nor bring to mindYears that are one with dust and wind,Nor songless love, and tongueless woe—:
Only the tomb they made for me,With carven doors of chrysolite,And walls of sombre syenite,Beside the moon-constrainèd sea.