Held struggle with his throat but came not forth; Hubbub increases more they call out "Hush!" 255 260 265 The planet orb of fire, whereon he rode Each day from east to west the heavens through, 270 Spun round in sable curtaining of clouds ; Not therefore veiled quite, blindfold, and hid, But ever and anon the glancing spheres, Glow'd through, and wrought upon the muffling dark 275 Up to the zenith,-hieroglyphics old, Which sages and keen-ey'd astrologers Then living on the earth, with labouring thought 280 Ever exalted at the God's approach : 285 And now, from forth the gloom their plumes immense Fain would he have commanded, fair took throne 290 He might not :-No, though a primeval God: Stay'd in their birth, even as here 'tis told. 295 Open'd upon the dusk demesnes of night; And the bright Titan, phrenzied with new woes, 300 His spirit to the sorrow of the time; And all along a dismal rack of clouds, Upon the boundaries of day and night, He stretch'd himself in grief and radiance faint. 305 Look'd down on him with pity, and the voice Thus whisper'd low and solemn in his ear. 310 " "O brightest of my children dear, earth-born "All unrevealed even to the powers " Manifestations of that beauteous life "Diffus'd unseen throughout eternal space : "Of these new-form'd art thou, oh brightest child! 315 "Of these, thy brethren and the Goddesses! "There is sad feud among ye, and rebellion "Of son against his sire. I saw him fall, "I saw my first-born tumbled from his throne! "To me his arms were spread, to me his voice "Found way from forth the thunders round his head! "Pale wox I, and in vapours hid my face. "Art thou, too, near such doom? vague fear there is: "Unruffled, like high Gods, ye liv'd and ruled : My life is but the life of winds and tides, "No more than winds and tides can I avail :"But thou canst.-Be thou therefore in the van "Of circumstance; yea, seize the arrow's barb "Before the tense string murmur.-To the earth! "For there thou wilt find Saturn, and his woes. "Meantime I will keep watch on thy bright sun, "And of thy seasons be a careful nurse."Ere half this region-whisper had come down, - 320 326 330 335 340 345 Hyperion arose, and on the stars 350 Lifted his curved lids, and kept them wide Until it ceas'd; and still he kept them wide : And still they were the same bright, patient stars. Then with a slow incline of his broad breast, Forward he stoop'd over the airy shore, And plung'd all noiseless into the deep night. 355 |