Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/961

 MATTHEW ARNOLD

Seven-gated Thebes, or Troy; Or where the echoing oars Of Argo first Startled the unknown Sea.

The old Silenus

Came, lolling in the sunshine,

From the dewy forest coverts,

This way, at noon.

Sitting by me, while his Fauns

Down at the water side

Sprinkled and smooth'd

His drooping garland,

He told me these things.

But I, Ulybses, Sitting on the warm steps, Looking over the valley, All day long, have seen, Without pain, without labour, Sometimes a wild-hair'd Maenad; Sometimes a Faun with torches; And sometimes, for a moment, Passing through the dark stems

Flowmg-rob'd the beloved,

The desir'd, the divine, Belov'd lacchus.

Ah cool night-wind, tremulous stars!

Ah glimmering water

Fitful earth-murmur

Dreaming woods *

Ah golden-hair'd, strangely-smiling Goddess,

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