Her Hero slain upon the beach of Troy? Mild Hermes spake-and touched her with his wand That calms all fear; "Such grace hath crowned thy prayer, Laodamía! that at Jove's command Thy Husband walks the paths of upper air: He comes to tarry with thee three hours' space; Accept the gift, behold him face to face!"" Forth sprang the impassioned Queen her Lord to clasp ; Again that consummation she essayed; "Protesiláus, lo! thy guide is gone! Not to appal me have the Gods bestowed This precious boon; and blest a sad abode." "Great Jove, Laodamía! doth not leave And something also did my worth obtain ; "Thou knowest, the Delphic oracle foretold That the first Greek who touched the Trojan strand Should die; but me the threat could not withhold; A generous cause a victim did demand; 66 Supreme of Heroes-bravest, noblest, best! Thy matchless courage I bewail no more, Which then, when tens of thousands were deprest By doubt, propelled thee to the fatal shore; Thou found'st-and I forgive thee-here thou art A nobler counsellor than my poor heart. "But thou, though capable of sternest deed, Wert kind as resolute, and good as brave; And he, whose power restores thee, hath decreed That thou should'st cheat the malice of the grave. "No Spectre greets me,-no vain Shadow this; Come, blooming Hero, place thee by my side! Give, on this well known couch, one nuptial kiss To me, this day, a second time thy bride!"' Jove frowned in heaven: the conscious Parcæ threw Upon those roseate lips a Stygian hue. "This visage tells thee that my doom is past: Nor should the change be mourned, even if the joys Of sense were able to return as fast And surely as they vanish. Earth destroys "Be taught, O faithful Consort, to control Thy transports moderate; and meekly mourn "Ah, wherefore ?-Did not Hercules by force Wrest from the guardian Monster of the tomb Alcestis, a reanimated corse, Given back to dwell on earth in vernal bloom? Medea's spells dispersed the weight of years, And son stood a Youth 'mid youthful peers. "The Gods to us are merciful-and they Is love, though oft to agony distrest, And though his favourite seat be feeble woman's breast. "But if thou goest, I follow-" "Peace!" he said, She looked upon him and was calmed and cheered; The ghastly colour from his lips had fled; Brought from a pensive though a happy place. He spake of love, such love as Spirits feel Of all that is most beauteous-imaged there An ampler ether, a diviner air, And fields invested with purpureal gleams; Climes which the sun, who sheds the brightest day Earth knows, is all unworthy to survey. Yet there the Soul shall enter which hath earned That privilege by virtue.-" Ill," said he, 66 The end of man's existence I discerned, Who from ignoble games and revelry Could draw, when we had parted, vain delight, While tears were thy best pastime, day and night: And while my youthful peers before my eyes The wished-for wind was given :-I then revolved The oracle, upon the silent sea; And, if no worthier led the way, resolved sand. |