Page:Poet Lore, volume 34, 1923.djvu/309

 

 

The furnace glows; coated the plaque; take up your lamp. The paillon striped with colors of the rainbow mold, And now make fast with fire the sparkling dust of gold In pigments thick and dull with which your brush is damp.

With laurel leaves will you the brow with glory stamp Of dreamer, lover, potentate, or hero bold? With what god will you paint coiled fold on fold 'Gainst sombre skies scaled hydra, and green hippocamp?

No. Rather on this radiant discus of sapphire Trace the proud profile of a warrior of Ophir, Bradamante, Aude, Penthesilee, or Thalestriste;

And that her beauty become still more terrible Casque her bright tresses with a writhing winged beast, And under golden Gorgons make her bosom swell. 