Canto I.]
Orion.
49
Whose lovely depths of mirrored blackness clear—
Oblivion's lucid-surfaced mystery—
Their earnest faces and enraptured eyes
Visibly, and to each burning heart, revealed.
"And art thou mine to the last gushing drop
Of these high throbbing veins?" each visage said.
Orion straightway to Œnopion sped,
And his life's service to the gloomy king
He proffered for the hand of Merope.
Oblivion's lucid-surfaced mystery—
Their earnest faces and enraptured eyes
Visibly, and to each burning heart, revealed.
"And art thou mine to the last gushing drop
Of these high throbbing veins?" each visage said.
Orion straightway to Œnopion sped,
And his life's service to the gloomy king
He proffered for the hand of Merope.
Œnopion strode about his pillared hall,
And the dun chequers of its marble floor
Counted perplexed, while pondering his reply.
Orion's strength and giant friends he feared;
Nor to accept the alliance, nor refuse,
Seemed wise. Thereto, Poseidon's empire rolled
Too near, and might surround his towers with waves;
Wherefore the king a double face assumed.
"Orion, I consent," mildly he said:
"Thy service I accept, and to thee give,
When thou shalt have performed it, Merope.
Clear me our Chios of its savage beasts,
Dragon and hippogrif, wolves, serpents dire,
Within six days, and Merope is thine."
And the dun chequers of its marble floor
Counted perplexed, while pondering his reply.
Orion's strength and giant friends he feared;
Nor to accept the alliance, nor refuse,
Seemed wise. Thereto, Poseidon's empire rolled
Too near, and might surround his towers with waves;
Wherefore the king a double face assumed.
"Orion, I consent," mildly he said:
"Thy service I accept, and to thee give,
When thou shalt have performed it, Merope.
Clear me our Chios of its savage beasts,
Dragon and hippogrif, wolves, serpents dire,
Within six days, and Merope is thine."
