370

The misery his brilliance had betray'd
To the most hateful seeing of itself.
Golden his hair of short Numidian curl,
Regal his shape majestic, a vast shade
In midst of his own brightness, like the
bulk

Of Memnon's image at the set of sun
To one who travels from the dusking
East:

Sighs, too, as mournful as that Memnon's harp,

He utter'd, while his hands contemplative
He press'd together, and in silence stood.
Despondence seized again the fallen Gods
At sight of the dejected King of Day, 380
And hid their faces from the light:
many
But fierce Enceladus sent forth his eyes
Among the brotherhood; and, at their
glare,

Uprose Iäpetus, and Creus too,

And Phorcus, sea-born, and together strode

their woes;

And their eternal calm, and all that face,

Or I have dream'd.' 'Yes,' said the su

preme shape,

61

Feel cursed and thwarted, when the liegeless air

Yields to my step aspirant? why should I

Could bend that bow heroic to all times.
Show thy heart's secret to an ancient
Power

Who hath forsaken old and sacred thrones
For prophecies of thee, and for the sake
Of loveliness new-born.' Apollo then,
With sudden scrutiny and gloomless eyes,
Thus answer'd, while his white melodious
throat

81