Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/492

454 And on that countenance bright

Shone oft so high a light,

That to my mind there came how, long ago,

Lay on the hearth, amid a fiery ring,

The charm'd babe of the Eleusinian king—32

His nurse, the Mighty Mother, will'd it so.

Warm in her breast, by day,

He slumber'd, and ambrosia balm'd the child;

But all night long amid the flames he lay,

Upon the hearth, and play'd with them, and smiled.

But once, at midnight deep,

His mother woke from sleep,

And saw her babe amidst the fire, and scream'd.

A sigh the Goddess gave, and with a frown

Pluck'd from the fire the child, and laid him down;

Then raised her face, and glory round her stream'd.

The mourning-stole no more

Mantled her form, no more her head was bow'd;

But raiment of celestial sheen she wore,

And beauty fill'd her, and she spake aloud:—

"O ignorant race of man!

Achieve your good who can

If your own hands the good begun undo?

Had human cry not marr'd the work divine,

Immortal had I made this boy of mine;

But now his head to death again is due

And I have now no power

Unto this pious household to repay

Their kindness shown me in my wandering hour."

—She spake, and from the portal pass'd away.