What though thy time-garment fade
And vanish from out of my sight,
Thy beauty shall never know shade
With the Chief of the sons of light—
Redeemed from under the sod,
Ravishing beauty of God!
[THE WAR HERCULES.]
Under Mount Œta
The blue Artemisium,
Flanked about with huge crags,
Stilled its wild winter drum,—
The sun turned aside,
The sea nestled in calm,
Zeus's wisdom of calm,—
Rude Hercules died!
A wine-glass of azure
From the breast of the bay,
Caught up by the sun,
Smiled on by the sun,—
Hope's halcyon ray!
Kiss of love for a bride,
Kiss of peace and of calm,
Zeus's wisdom of calm,—
Wild Hercules died!
A nest and a home
On the wintry sea,
On the blue Artemise,
In the rough country,
Heaven set in the azure tide!
The sea nestled in calm,
Zeus's wisdom of calm,—
Fierce Hercules died!
O halcyon of rest,
Sweet azure of peace,
Brood thy sky-tinted eggs,
Fill the world with increase—
On the sea's bosom ride!
Now it nestles to calm,
Zeus's wisdom of calm,—
Mad Hercules died!
January, 1896.