Page:Lyra heroica.djvu/163

 Listened to fondly, and awakened me

To hear ray voice amid the voice of birds,

When it was inarticulate as theirs,

And the down deadened it within the nest? '

He moved her gently from him, silent still,

And this, and this alone, brought tears from her,

Although she saw fate nearer: then with sighs,

'I thought to have laid down my hair before

Benignant Artemis, and not have dimmed

Her polisht altar with my virgin blood;

I thought to have selected the white flowers

To please the Nymphs, and to have asked of each

By name, and with no sorrowful regret,

Whether, since both my parents willed the change,

I might at Hymen's feet bend my dipt brow;

And (after those who mind us girls the most)

Adore our own Athena, that she would

Regard me mildly with her azure eyes.

But, father ! to see you no more, and see

Your love, O father! go ere I am gone.'. ..

Gently he moved her off, and drew her back,

Bending his lofty head far over hers,

And the dark depths of nature heaved and burst.

He turned away; not far, but silent still.

She now first shuddered; for in him, so nigh,

So long a silence seemed the approach of death,

And like it. Once again she raised her voice.

'O father! if the ships are now detained,

And all your vows move not the Clods above,

When the knife strikes me there will be one prayer

The less to them : and purer can there be

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