Page:Keats - Poetical Works, DeWolfe, 1884.djvu/131

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An immortality, and how espouse Jove's daughter, and be reckon'd of his house. Now was he slumbering towards heaven's gate, That he might at the threshold one hour wait To hear the marriage melodies, and then Sink downward to his dusky cave again; His litter of smooth semilucent mist, Diversely tinged with rose and amethyst, Puzzled those eyes that for the centre sought; And scarcely for one moment could be caught His sluggish form reposing motionless. Those two on winged steeds, with all the stress Of vision search'd for him, as one would look Athwart the sallows of a river nook To catch a glance at silver-throated eels,— Or from old Skiddaw's top, when fog conceals His rugged forehead in a mantle pale, With an eye-guess towards some pleasant vale, Descry a favorite hamlet faint and far.


 * These raven horses, though they foster'd are

Of earth's splenetic fire, dully drop Their full-vein'd ears, nostrils blood wide, and stop; Upon the spiritless mist have they outspread Their ample feathers, are in slumber dead,— And on those pinions, level in mid-air Endymion sleepeth and the lady fair Slowly they sail, slowly as icy isle Upon a calm sea drifting: and meanwhile The mournful wanderer dreams. Behold! he walks On heaven's pavement, brotherly he talks To divine powers: from his hand full fain