Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/493

Rh The Boy his nurse forgot,

And bore a mortal lot.

Long since, his name is heard on earth no more.

In some chance battle on Cithæron-side

The nursling of the Mighty Mother died,

And went where all his fathers went before.

—On thee too, in thy day

Of childhood, Arthur! did some check have power,

That, radiant though thou wert, thou couldst but stay,

Bringer of heavenly light, a human hour?

Therefore our happy guest

Knew care, and knew unrest,

And weakness warn'd him, and he fear'd decline.

And in the grave he laid a cherish'd wife,

And men ignoble harass'd him with strife,

And deadly airs his strength did undermine.

Then from his Abbey fades

The sound beloved of his victorious breath;

And light's fair nursling stupor first invades,

And next the crowning impotence of death.

But hush! This mournful strain,

Which would of death complain,

The oracle forbade, not ill-inspired.—

That Pair, whose head did plan, whose hands did forge

The Temple in the pure Parnassian gorge,33

Finish'd their work, and then a meed required.

"Seven days," the God replied,

"Live happy, then expect your perfect meed!"

Quiet in sleep, the seventh night, they died.

Death, death was judged the boon supreme indeed.