Of syllabubs and jellies and mince-pies, Feasting on which we will philosophize! And we'll have fires out of the Grand Duke's wood, To thaw the six weeks' winter in our blood. And then we'll talk ;—what shall we talk about? Oh! there are themes enough for many a bout - as to nerves Of thought-entangled descant ;· With cones and parallelograms and curves THE WITCH OF ATLAS. I. BEFORE those cruel Twins, whom at one birth The pains of putting into learnèd rhyme, II. Her mother was one of the Atlantides: In his wide voyage o'er continents and seas In the warm shadow of her loveliness; He kissed her with his beams, and made all golden The chamber of grey rock in which she lay She, in that dream of joy, dissolved away. III. Tis said, she first was changed into a vapour, On hill-tops when the moon is in a fit: Which hide themselves between the Earth and Mars. IV. Ten times the Mother of the Months had bent The sea-deserted sand—like children chidden, Since in that cave a dewy splendour hidden Took shape and motion: with the living form Of this embodied Power, the cave grew warm. v. A lovely lady garmented in light From her own beauty — deep her eyes, as are Two openings of unfathomable night Seen through a Temple's cloven roof — her hair Dark- the dim brain whirls dizzy with delight, Picturing her form; her soft smiles shone afar, And her low voice was heard like love, and drew All living things towards this wonder new. VI. And first the spotted cameleopard came, Of his own volumes intervolved; - all gaunt VII. The brinded lioness led forth her young, That she might teach them how they should forego Their inborn thirst of death; the pard unstrung His sinews at her feet, and sought to know With looks whose motions spoke without a tongue How he might be as gentle as the doe. The magic circle of her voice and eyes All savage natures did imparadise. VIIL And old Silenus, shaking a green stick IX. And universal Pan, 'tis said, was there, And though none saw him, — through the adamant Of the deep mountains, through the trackless air, And through those living spirits, like a want He past out of his everlasting lair Where the quick heart of the great world doth pant, And felt that wondrous lady all alone, And she felt him, upon her emerald throne. X. And every nymph of stream and spreading tree, |