Now had Poseidon with tridental spear
Torn up the smitten sea, which raged on high
With grief and anger for Orion slain;
And black Hephæstos deep beneath the earth
A cold thrill felt through his metallic veins,
Which soon with sparkling fire began to writhe
Like serpents, till from each volcanic peak
Burst smoke and threatening flames. Day hid his head,
And while the body of Orion sunk,
Drawn down into the embraces of the sea,
The four Winds with confronting fury arose,
And to a common centre drove their blasts,
Which, meeting, brake like thunder-stone, or shells
Of war, far scattering. Shipwreck fed the deep.
No moon had dared the ringing vault to climb;
No star, no meteor's steed; and ancient Night
Shook the dishevelled lightning from her brows,
Then sank in deeper gloom. Ere long the roar
Rolled through a distant yawning chasm of flame,
Dying away, and in the air obscure,
Feverish and trembling,—like the breath of one
Recovering from convulsion's throes,—appeared
Two wavering misty shapes upon a mount:
Whence now a solemn and reproachful voice,
With broken pauses spake, and thus lamented.
Torn up the smitten sea, which raged on high
With grief and anger for Orion slain;
And black Hephæstos deep beneath the earth
A cold thrill felt through his metallic veins,
Which soon with sparkling fire began to writhe
Like serpents, till from each volcanic peak
Burst smoke and threatening flames. Day hid his head,
And while the body of Orion sunk,
Drawn down into the embraces of the sea,
The four Winds with confronting fury arose,
And to a common centre drove their blasts,
Which, meeting, brake like thunder-stone, or shells
Of war, far scattering. Shipwreck fed the deep.
No moon had dared the ringing vault to climb;
No star, no meteor's steed; and ancient Night
Shook the dishevelled lightning from her brows,
Then sank in deeper gloom. Ere long the roar
Rolled through a distant yawning chasm of flame,
Dying away, and in the air obscure,
Feverish and trembling,—like the breath of one
Recovering from convulsion's throes,—appeared
Two wavering misty shapes upon a mount:
Whence now a solemn and reproachful voice,
With broken pauses spake, and thus lamented.
