64
Orion.
[Book II.
Looked land-ward o'er the sea, and flapped his vans,
Until Poseidon drew them swirling down.
Until Poseidon drew them swirling down.
Along the courts and lofty terraces,
Within Œnopion's palace echoing,
The choral voices and triumphal clang
Of music, ordered by the royal maid,
Advanced to greet Orion. She with flushed neck
And arms; large eyes of flashing jet and fire,
And raven tresses fallen from their bands,
The loud procession led. But soon they met
A phalanx armed with mandate from the king,
And all the triumph ceased. Œnopion
Gnawed on his lip, and gathered up his robe
In one large knot. Forthwith the whispering guards
His daughter to the strongest tower convey;
Then silently return. Orion comes:
"The work is done, O king! and Merope
My bride, I claim—my second father thou!"
This said, he bent his knee. With wandering eye,—
Like one who seems to seek within the air
An object, while his thoughts would gather time
For guile—and with averted face, the king
Answered "Thou claim'st too soon!"—and inwardly
Within Œnopion's palace echoing,
The choral voices and triumphal clang
Of music, ordered by the royal maid,
Advanced to greet Orion. She with flushed neck
And arms; large eyes of flashing jet and fire,
And raven tresses fallen from their bands,
The loud procession led. But soon they met
A phalanx armed with mandate from the king,
And all the triumph ceased. Œnopion
Gnawed on his lip, and gathered up his robe
In one large knot. Forthwith the whispering guards
His daughter to the strongest tower convey;
Then silently return. Orion comes:
"The work is done, O king! and Merope
My bride, I claim—my second father thou!"
This said, he bent his knee. With wandering eye,—
Like one who seems to seek within the air
An object, while his thoughts would gather time
For guile—and with averted face, the king
Answered "Thou claim'st too soon!"—and inwardly
