Page:The poems of George Eliot (Crowell, 1884).djvu/320

 And in that heaven wept. But younger limbs

Thrilled toward the future, that bright land which swims

In western glory, isles and streams and bays,

Where hidden pleasures float in golden haze.

And in all these the rhythmic influence,

Sweetly o'ercharging the delighted sense,

Flowed out in movements, little waves that spread

Enlarging, till in tidal union led

The youths and maidens both alike long-tressed,

By grace-inspiring melody possessed,

Rose in slow dance, with beauteous floating swerve

Of limbs and hair, and many a melting curve

Of ringéd feet swayed by each close-linked palm:

Then Jubal poured more rapture in his psalm.

The dance fired music, music fired the dance,

The glow diffusive lit each countenance,

Till all the gazing elders rose and stood

With glad yet awful shock of that mysterious good.

Even Tubal caught the sound, and wondering came,

Urging his sooty bulk like smoke-wrapt flame

Till he could see his brother with the lyre,

The work for which he lent his furnace-fire

And diligent hammer, witting naught of this—

This power in metal shape which made strange bliss,

Entering within him like a dream full-fraught

With new creations finished in a thought.

The sun had sunk, but music still was there,

And when this ceased, still triumph filled the air:

It seemed the stars were shining with delight

And that no night was ever like this night.

All clung with praise to Jubal: some besought

That he would teach them his new skill; some caught,

Swiftly as smiles are caught in looks that meet,

The tone's melodic change and rhythmic beat: