Laughing at the clear stream and setting sun,
As though they jests had been: nor had he done

His laugh at nature's holy countenance,

Until that grove appear'd, as if perchance,
And then his tongue with sober seemlihed
Gave utterance as he entered: "Ha!" I said,
King of the butterflies; but by this gloom,
And by old Rhadamanthus' tongue of doom,
This dusk religion, pomp of solitude,

And the Promethean clay by thief endued,
By old Saturnus' forelock, by his head
Shook with eternal palsy, I did wed
Myself to things of light from infancy;
And thus to be cast out, thus lorn to die,

Is sure enough to make a mortal man
Grow impious." So he inwardly began

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On things for which no wording can be found;

Deeper and deeper sinking, until drown'd

Beyond the reach of music: for the choir

Of Cynthia he heard not, though rough briar

Nor muffling thicket interpos'd to dull

The vesper hymn, far swollen, soft and full,

Through the dark pillars of those sylvan aisles.
He saw not the two maidens, nor their smiles,
Wan as primroses gather'd at midnight

By chilly finger'd spring. "Unhappy wight!
Endymion!" said Peona, "we are here!

What wouldst thou ere we all are laid on bier ?
Then he embrac'd her, and his lady's hand
Press'd, saying: "Sister, I would have command,
If it were heaven's will, on our sad fate."
At which that dark-eyed stranger stood elate
And said, in a new voice, but sweet as love,
To Endymion's amaze: "By Cupid's dove,
And so thou shalt ! and by the lily truth

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Of my own breast thou shalt, beloved youth!"
And as she spake, into her face there came

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Light, as reflected from a silver flame :

Her long black hair swell'd ampler, in display

Full golden; in her eyes a brighter day

Dawn'd blue and full of love. Aye, he beheld
Phoebe, his passion! joyous she upheld

Her lucid bow, continuing thus; "Drear, drear
Has our delaying been; but foolish fear

Withheld me first; and then decrees of fate;

And then 'twas fit that from this mortal state

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Thou shouldst, my love, by some unlook'd for change

Be spiritualiz'd. Peona, we shall range

These forests, and to thee they safe shall be

As was thy cradle; hither shalt thou flee

To meet us many a time." Next Cynthia bright
Peona kiss'd, and bless'd with fair good night:
Her brother kiss'd her too, and knelt adown
Before his goddess, in a blissful swoon.
She gave her fair hands to him, and behold,

Before three swiftest kisses he had told,

They vanish'd far away!-Peona went

Home through the gloomy wood in wonderment.

THE END.

T. Miller, Printer, Noble Street, Cheapside.

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