Endymion

Book Excerpt: ...ceive our humble Pæan, Upon thy Mount Lycean!Even while they brought the burden to a close, A shout from the whole multitude arose, That lingered in the air like dying rollsOf abrupt thunder, when Ionian shoals 310 Of dolphins bob their noses through the brine. Meantime, on shady levels, mossy fine, Young companies nimbly began dancingTo the swift treble pipe, and humming string. Aye, those fair living forms swam heavenlyTo tunes forgotten--out of memory: Fair creatures! whose young childrens' children bredThermopylæ its heroes--not yet dead, But in old marbles ever beautiful. High genitors, unconscious did they cull 320 Time's sweet first-fruits--they danc'd to weariness, And then in quiet circles did they pressThe hillock turf, and caught the latter endOf some strange history, potent to sendA young mind from its bodily tenement. Or they might watch the quoit-pitchers, intentOn either side; pitying the sad...