Page:Hephaestus, Persephone at Enna, and Sappho in Leucadia.djvu/51

 :Have lived so far from Earth, they scarce would know
 * The odour of my incense, nor how white
 * My piteous altars stand; for as the Moon
 * Smiles sadly disempassioned over men
 * And their tumultuous cities crowned with song,
 * Where live by night so many heavy hearts,
 * So smile the gods on my pale-lipped despairs.
 * On to the end these feet must walk alone,—
 * Alone, once more, and unillumined, fare;
 * For I am far from home to die, and far
 * From any voice to comfort me beyond
 * The cypress twilight and the hemlock gloom!
 * Not evermore, O blue Ionian Sea,
 * And vine-clad valleys, shall these eyes behold
 * My Lesbos, still my first and last of loves!
 * But take me, mother Ocean, while I feel
 * Burn thro’ my blood this magic ecstasy!
 * Take me, O take me in your cooling arms,
 * And let the ablution of soft waters lave
 * Old sorrows from these eyes, and wash the pain
 * From this poor heart, that sinned, but suffered more!