Page:The city of dreadful night - and other poems (IA cityofdreadfulni00thomrich).pdf/103

 Of stars above, the silent plain below, Until the East resumes its furnace-glow; This same night twenty thousand years ago.

Ten thousand years before, ("But if you take Such mouthfuls, you will soon eat up Time's cake!") Where we are sitting rose in splendid light A broad cool marble palace; from the height Broad terrace-gardens stairlike sank away Down to the floor of a deep sapphire bay. Where the last slope slid greenly to the wave, And dark rich glossy foliage shadow gave, Four women or four goddesses—leaned calm, Of mighty stature, graceful as the palm: One stroked with careless hand a lion's mane, One fed an eagle; while a measured strain Was poured forth by the others, harp and voice, Music to make the universe rejoice. An isle was in the offing seen afar, Deep-purple based, its peak a glittering star; Whence rowed a galley (drooped the silken sails), A dragon-barque with golden burning scales. Then four bronzed giants leapt to land, embraced The glorious women, chanting: "Did we haste?