TENNYSON. OENONE. THERE lies a vale in Ida, lovelier The swimming vapor slopes athwart the glen, Behind the valley topmost Gargarus Stands up and takes the morning: but in front The crown of Troas. Hither came at noon Mournful Enone, wandering forlorn Of Paris, once her playmate on the hills. Her cheek had lost the rose, and round her neck Floated her hair or seem'd to float in rest. She, leaning on a fragment twined with vine, Sloped downward to her seat from the upper cliff. "O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. For now the noonday quiet holds the hill: 25 Rests like a shadow, and the winds are dead. My eyes are full of tears, my heart of love; 66 O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. Hear me, O Earth, hear me, O Hills, O Caves 30 35 That house the cold crown'd snake! O mountain brooks, I am the daughter of a River-God, Hear me, for I will speak, and build up all My sorrow with my song, as yonder walls 40 45 And dewy-dark aloft the mountain pine: Leading a jet-black goat white-horn'd, white-hooved, 50 "O mother Ida, harken ere I die. Far-off the torrent call'd me from the cleft: Far up the solitary morning smote The streaks of virgin snow. With downdropt eyes 55 I sat alone: white-breasted like a star Fronting the dawn he moved; a leopard skin Droop'd from his shoulder, but his sunny hair And his cheek brighten'd as the foam-bow brightens 60 "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. He smiled, and opening out his milk-white palm 666 "My own Enone, Beautiful-brow'd Enone, my own soul, Behold this fruit, whose gleaming rind ingrav'n 66 For the most fair," would seem to award it thine, As lovelier than whatever Oread haunt The knolls of Ida, loveliest in all grace Of movement, and the charm of married brows.' "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. Rose feud, with question unto whom 't were due: 80 Pallas and Aphrodité, claiming each This meed of fairest. Thou, within the cave "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. It was the deep midnoon: one silvery cloud Had lost his way between the piney sides 85 90 Of this long glen. Then to the bower they came, Naked they came to that smooth-swarded bower, And at their feet the crocus brake like fire, Violet, amaracus, and asphodel, Lotos and lilies and a wind arose, And overhead the wandering ivy and vine, 95 Ran riot, garlanding the gnarled boughs With bunch and berry and flower thro' and thro'. 66 O mother Ida, harken ere I die. And o'er him flow'd a golden cloud, and lean'd Wherewith to embellish state, from many a vale Honor,' she said, and homage, tax, and toll, "O mother Ida, harken ere I die. Still she spake on and still she spake of power, Power fitted to the season; wisdom-bred from all neighbor crowns Alliance and allegiance, till thy hand 100 105 IIO 115 120 Fail from the sceptre-staff. Such boon from me, From me, Heaven's Queen, Paris, to thee king-born, 125 A shepherd all thy life but yet king-born, Should come most welcome, seeing men, in power, Only, are likest gods, who have attain'd 130 "Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. She ceased, and Paris held the costly fruit Out at arm's length, so much the thought of power Flatter'd his spirit; but Pallas where she stood "Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control, Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. Yet, indeed, If gazing on divinity disrobed 135 140 145 150 Thy mortal eyes are frail to judge of fair, 155 That I shall love thee well and cleave to thee, So that my vigor, wedded to thy blood, To push thee forward thro' a life of shocks, "Here she ceased, 6 160 And Paris ponder'd, and I cried, O Paris, 165 "O mother Ida, many-fountain'd Ida, Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die. |