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Orion.
[Book III.
He wandered lost and lone, and often prayed,
Standing beside the tree 'neath which he slept,
And would have offered pious sacrifice,
But that himself a victim blindly strayed.
His forehead's dark with wrinkles premature
Of vexing action; his cheek scored all down
With debts of will that never can be paid;
Chagrin, pain, disappointment, and wronged heart.
At length, one day, some shepherd as he passed,
With voice that mingled with the bleat of lambs,
Cried "Seek the source of light!—begin anew!"
Standing beside the tree 'neath which he slept,
And would have offered pious sacrifice,
But that himself a victim blindly strayed.
His forehead's dark with wrinkles premature
Of vexing action; his cheek scored all down
With debts of will that never can be paid;
Chagrin, pain, disappointment, and wronged heart.
At length, one day, some shepherd as he passed,
With voice that mingled with the bleat of lambs,
Cried "Seek the source of light!—begin anew!"
On went he thinking, pausing, listening,
Till sounds smote on his ear, whereby he knew
That near the subterranean palace gates
Which for Hephæstos he of iron had framed,
His feet approached. He entered there, and found
Brontes, the cyclops, whom he straight besought
His shoulders to ascend, and guide his course
Eastward, to meet the Morning as she rose.
'T was done. Their hazy forms erewhile we saw.
Till sounds smote on his ear, whereby he knew
That near the subterranean palace gates
Which for Hephæstos he of iron had framed,
His feet approached. He entered there, and found
Brontes, the cyclops, whom he straight besought
His shoulders to ascend, and guide his course
Eastward, to meet the Morning as she rose.
'T was done. Their hazy forms erewhile we saw.
And where was Merope? The cruel deed
Her sire had compassed for Orion's fall,
Smote through her full breast, and at every beat
Her sire had compassed for Orion's fall,
Smote through her full breast, and at every beat
