The Complete Poetical Works, vol 3 | Page 8

To make all mortal business ebb and flow?By roguery:--now, Hermes, if you dare?By sacred Styx a mighty oath to swear
89.?'That you will never rob me, you will do?A thing extremely pleasing to my heart.' _700 Then Mercury swore by the Stygian dew,?That he would never steal his bow or dart,?Or lay his hands on what to him was due,?Or ever would employ his powerful art?Against his Pythian fane. Then Phoebus swore _705 There was no God or Man whom he loved more.
90.?'And I will give thee as a good-will token,?The beautiful wand of wealth and happiness;?A perfect three-leaved rod of gold unbroken,?Whose magic will thy footsteps ever bless; _710 And whatsoever by Jove's voice is spoken?Of earthly or divine from its recess,?It, like a loving soul, to thee will speak,?And more than this, do thou forbear to seek.
91.?'For, dearest child, the divinations high _715 Which thou requirest, 'tis unlawful ever?That thou, or any other deity?Should understand--and vain were the endeavour;?For they are hidden in Jove's mind, and I,?In trust of them, have sworn that I would never _720 Betray the counsels of Jove's inmost will?To any God--the oath was terrible.
92.?'Then, golden-wanded brother, ask me not?To speak the fates by Jupiter designed;?But be it mine to tell their various lot _725 To the unnumbered tribes of human-kind.?Let good to these, and ill to those be wrought?As I dispense--but he who comes consigned?By voice and wings of perfect augury?To my great shrine, shall find avail in me. _730
93.?'Him will I not deceive, but will assist;?But he who comes relying on such birds?As chatter vainly, who would strain and twist?The purpose of the Gods with idle words,?And deems their knowledge light, he shall have missed _735 His road--whilst I among my other hoards?His gifts deposit. Yet, O son of May,?I have another wondrous thing to say.
96.?'There are three Fates, three virgin Sisters, who?Rejoicing in their wind-outspeeding wings, _740 Their heads with flour snowed over white and new,?Sit in a vale round which Parnassus flings?Its circling skirts--from these I have learned true?Vaticinations of remotest things.?My father cared not. Whilst they search out dooms, _745 They sit apart and feed on honeycombs.
95.?'They, having eaten the fresh honey, grow?Drunk with divine enthusiasm, and utter?With earnest willingness the truth they know;?But if deprived of that sweet food, they mutter _750 All plausible delusions;--these to you?I give;--if you inquire, they will not stutter;?Delight your own soul with them:--any man?You would instruct may profit if he can.
96.?'Take these and the fierce oxen, Maia's child-- _755 O'er many a horse and toil-enduring mule,?O'er jagged-jawed lions, and the wild?White-tusked boars, o'er all, by field or pool,?Of cattle which the mighty Mother mild?Nourishes in her bosom, thou shalt rule-- _760 Thou dost alone the veil from death uplift--?Thou givest not--yet this is a great gift.'
97.?Thus King Apollo loved the child of May?In truth, and Jove covered their love with joy.?Hermes with Gods and Men even from that day _765 Mingled, and wrought the latter much annoy,?And little profit, going far astray?Through the dun night. Farewell, delightful Boy,?Of Jove and Maia sprung,--never by me,?Nor thou, nor other songs, shall unremembered be. _770
NOTES:?_13 cow-stealing]qy. cattle-stealing??_57 stony Boscombe manuscript. Harvard manuscript; strong edition 1824. _252 neighbouring]neighbour Harvard manuscript.?_336 hurl Harvard manuscript, editions 1839; haul edition 1824. _402 Round]Roused edition 1824 only.?_488 wrath]ruth Harvard manuscript.?_580 heifer-stealing]heifer-killing Harvard manuscript.?_673 and like 1839, 1st edition; as of edition 1824, Harvard manuscript. _713 loving]living cj. Rossetti.?_761 from Harvard manuscript; of editions 1824, 1839.?_764 their love with joy Harvard manuscript; them with love and joy,
editions 1824, 1839.?_767 going]wandering Harvard manuscript.
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HOMER'S HYMN TO CASTOR AND POLLUX.
[Published by Mrs. Shelley, "Poetical Works", 1839, 2nd edition; dated 1818.]
Ye wild-eyed Muses, sing the Twins of Jove,?Whom the fair-ankled Leda, mixed in love?With mighty Saturn's Heaven-obscuring Child,?On Taygetus, that lofty mountain wild,?Brought forth in joy: mild Pollux, void of blame, _5 And steed-subduing Castor, heirs of fame.?These are the Powers who earth-born mortals save?And ships, whose flight is swift along the wave.?When wintry tempests o'er the savage sea?Are raging, and the sailors tremblingly _10 Call on the Twins of Jove with prayer and vow,?Gathered in fear upon the lofty prow,?And sacrifice with snow-white lambs,--the wind?And the huge billow bursting close behind,?Even then beneath the weltering waters bear _15 The staggering ship--they suddenly appear,?On yellow wings rushing athwart the sky,?And lull the blasts in mute tranquillity,?And strew the waves on the white Ocean's bed,?Fair omen of the voyage; from toil and dread _20 The sailors rest, rejoicing in the sight,?And plough the quiet sea in safe delight.
NOTE:?_6 steed-subduing emend. Rossetti; steel-subduing 1839, 2nd edition.
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HOMER'S HYMN TO THE MOON.
[Published by Mrs. Shelley, "Poetical Works", 1839, 2nd edition; dated 1818.]
Daughters of Jove, whose voice is melody,?Muses, who know and rule all minstrelsy?Sing the wide-winged Moon! Around the earth,?From her immortal head in Heaven shot forth,?Far light is scattered--boundless