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God Neptune’s palaces!” With noise increas’d, They shoulder’d on towards that brightening cast.

       At every onward step proud domes arose

       In prospect,–diamond gleams, and golden glows

       Of amber ‘gainst their faces levelling.

       Joyous, and many as the leaves in spring,

       Still onward; still the splendour gradual swell’d.

       Rich opal domes were seen, on high upheld

       By jasper pillars, letting through their shafts

       A blush of coral. Copious wonder-draughts

       Each gazer drank; and deeper drank more near: For what poor mortals fragment up, as mere

       As marble was there lavish, to the vast

       Of one fair palace, that far far surpass’d,

       Even for common bulk, those olden three,

       Memphis, and Babylon, and Nineveh.

      As large, as bright, as colour’d as the bow

       Of Iris, when unfading it doth shew

       Beyond a silvery shower, was the arch

       Through which this Paphian army took its march,

       Into the outer courts of Neptune’s state: Whence could be seen, direct, a golden gate,

       To which the leaders sped; but not half raught

       Ere it burst open swift as fairy thought,

       And made those dazzled thousands veil their eyes

       Like callow eagles at the first sunrise.

       Soon with an eagle nativeness their gaze

       Ripe from hue-golden swoons took all the blaze,

       And then, behold! large Neptune on his throne

       Of emerald deep: yet not exalt alone;

       At his right hand stood winged Love, and on His left sat smiling Beauty’s paragon.

      Far as the mariner on highest mast

       Can see all round upon the calmed vast,

       So wide was Neptune’s hall: and as the blue

       Doth vault the waters, so the waters drew

       Their doming curtains, high, magnificent,

       Aw’d from the throne aloof;–and when storm-rent

       Disclos’d the thunder-gloomings in Jove’s air;

       But sooth’d as now, flash’d sudden everywhere,

       Noiseless, submarine cloudlets, glittering Death to a human eye: for there did spring

       From natural west, and east, and south, and north,

       A light as of four sunsets, blazing forth

       A gold-green zenith ‘bove the Sea-God’s head.

       Of lucid depth the floor, and far outspread

       As breezeless lake, on which the slim canoe

       Of feather’d Indian darts about, as through

       The delicatest air: air verily,

       But for the portraiture of clouds and sky:

       This palace floor breath-air,–but for the amaze Of deep-seen wonders motionless,–and blaze

       Of the dome pomp, reflected in extremes,

      Globing a golden sphere.

      They stood in dreams

      Till Triton blew his horn. The palace rang;

       The Nereids danc’d; the Syrens faintly sang;

       And the great Sea-King bow’d his dripping head.

       Then Love took wing, and from his pinions shed

       On all the multitude a nectarous dew.

       The ooze-born Goddess beckoned and drew Fair Scylla and her guides to conference;

       And when they reach’d the throned eminence

       She kist the sea-nymph’s cheek,–who sat her down

       A toying with the doves. Then,–”Mighty crown

       And sceptre of this kingdom!” Venus said,

       “Thy vows were on a time to Nais paid:

       Behold!”–Two copious tear-drops instant fell

       From the God’s large eyes; he smil’d delectable,

       And over Glaucus held his blessing hands.–

       “Endymion! Ah! still wandering in the bands Of love? Now this is cruel. Since the hour

       I met thee in earth’s bosom, all my power

       Have I put forth to serve thee. What, not yet

       Escap’d from dull mortality’s harsh net?

       A little patience, youth! ‘twill not be long,

       Or I am skilless quite: an idle tongue,

       A humid eye, and steps luxurious,

       Where these are new and strange, are ominous.

       Aye, I have seen these signs in one of heaven,

       When others were all blind; and were I given To utter secrets, haply I might say

       Some pleasant words:–but Love will have his day.

       So wait awhile expectant. Pr’ythee soon,

       Even in the passing of thine honeymoon,

       Visit my Cytherea: thou wilt find

       Cupid well-natured, my Adonis kind;

       And pray persuade with thee–Ah, I have done,

       All blisses be upon thee, my sweet son!”–

       Thus the fair goddess: while Endymion

       Knelt to receive those accents halcyon.

      Meantime a glorious revelry began

       Before the Water-Monarch. Nectar ran

       In courteous fountains to all cups outreach’d;

       And plunder’d vines, teeming exhaustless, pleach’d

       New growth about each shell and pendent lyre;

       The which, in disentangling for their fire,

       Pull’d down fresh foliage and coverture

       For dainty toying. Cupid, empire-sure,

       Flutter’d and laugh’d, and ofttimes through the throng

       Made a delighted way. Then dance, and song, And garlanding grew wild; and pleasure reign’d.

       In harmless tendril they each other chain’d,

       And strove who should be smother’d deepest in

      Fresh crush of leaves.

      O ’tis a very sin

      For one so weak to venture his poor verse

       In such a place as this. O do not curse,

       High Muses! let him hurry to the ending.

      All suddenly were silent. A soft blending

       Of dulcet instruments came charmingly;950

      And then a hymn.

      “King of the stormy sea!

      Brother of Jove, and co-inheritor

       Of elements! Eternally before

       Thee the waves awful bow. Fast, stubborn rock,

       At thy fear’d trident shrinking, doth unlock

       Its deep foundations, hissing into foam.

       All mountain-rivers lost, in the wide home

       Of thy capacious bosom ever flow.

      

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