134
Orion.
[Book III.
"I came into the world a mortal creature,
Lights flitting upwards through my unwrought clay,
Not knowing what they were, nor whither tending,
But of some goodness conscious in my soul.
With earth's rude elements my first endeavour
I made; attained rare mastery, and was proud:
Then felt strange longings in the grassy woodlands,
And hunted shadows under the slant sun.
Lights flitting upwards through my unwrought clay,
Not knowing what they were, nor whither tending,
But of some goodness conscious in my soul.
With earth's rude elements my first endeavour
I made; attained rare mastery, and was proud:
Then felt strange longings in the grassy woodlands,
And hunted shadows under the slant sun.
"O Artemis! bright queen! high benefactress!
My love forgive, that with its human feet
Could not to thy pure altitude ascend,
Nor couldst thou stoop to me. A fiery passion,
Deep as mortality, possessed my life;
Nor shall I from my destiny, star bright
Henceforth, and from transforming change exempt,
Banish the grateful thoughts of Merope,
Though blindness followed that ecstatic dream."
My love forgive, that with its human feet
Could not to thy pure altitude ascend,
Nor couldst thou stoop to me. A fiery passion,
Deep as mortality, possessed my life;
Nor shall I from my destiny, star bright
Henceforth, and from transforming change exempt,
Banish the grateful thoughts of Merope,
Though blindness followed that ecstatic dream."
"On thee I gaze, blest Goddess of the Morning!
In whose sweet smile these stars shall ever melt,
All human beauty perfected in thee,
Divine with human blending. In my heart
Bared full before thee, to the essence fine
In whose sweet smile these stars shall ever melt,
All human beauty perfected in thee,
Divine with human blending. In my heart
Bared full before thee, to the essence fine
