And, all subdu'd, consented to the hour When to the bridal he should lead his paramour. Whispering in midnight silence, said the youth, “Sure some sweet name thou hast, though, by my truth,

85 "I have not ask'd it, ever thinking thee "Not mortal, but of heavenly progeny, “ As still I do. Hast any mortal name, “Fit appellation for this dazzling frame? "Or friends or kinsfolk on the citied earth,

90 "To share our marriage feast and nuptial mirth?” "I have no friends," said Lamia, "no, not one;

My presence in wide Corinth hardly known : "My parents' bones are in their dusty urns Sepulchred, where no kindled incense burns,

95 “Seeing all their luckless race are dead, save me, “And I neglect the holy rite for thee. “Even as you list invite your many guests; "But if, as now it seems, your vision rests "With any pleasure on me, do not bid “Old Apollonius—from him keep me hid.” Lycius, perplex'd at words so blind and blank, Made close inquiry ; from whose touch she shrank,

66

Feigning a sleep; and he to the dull shade
Of deep sleep in a moment was betray'd.

105

IIO

It was the custom then to bring away
The bride from home at blushing shut of day,
Veil'd, in a chariot, heralded along
By strewn flowers, torches, and a marriage song,
With other pageants : but this fair unknown
Had not a friend. So being left alone,
(Lycius was gone to summon all his kin)
And knowing surely she could never win
His foolish heart from its mad pompousness,
She set herself, high-thoughted, how to dress

115
The misery in fit magnificence.
She did so, but 'tis doubtful how and whence
Came, and who were her subtle servitors.
About the halls, and to and from the doors,
There was a noise of wings, till in short space
The glowing banquet-room shone with wide-arched

grace.
A haunting music, sole perhaps and lone
Supportress of the faery-roof, made moan
Throughout, as fearful the whole charm might fade.
Fresh carved cedar, mimicking a glade

125
Of palm and plantain, met from either side,
High in the midst, in honor of the bride :
Two palms and then two plantains, and so on,
From either side their stem's branch'd one to one
All down the aisled place; and beneath all

130

I 20

(112) Cancelled manuscript reading, being for was. (121) Cancelled manuscript reading, high-lamp'd for glowing:

(122-4) Hunt notes (see Appendix).—“This is the very quintessence of the romantic.”

There ran a stream of lamps straight on from wall to

wall.
So canopy'd, lay an untasted feast
Teeming with odours. Lamia, regal drest,
Silently pac'd about, and as she went,
In pale contented sort of discontent,

135
Mission'd her viewless servants to enrich
The fretted splendour of each nook and niche.
Between the tree-stems, marbled plain at first,
Came jasper pannels; then, anon, there burst
Forth creeping imagery of slighter trees,

140 And with the larger wove in small intricacies. Approving all, she faded at self-will, And shut the chamber up, close, hush'd and still, Complete and ready for the revels rude, When dreadful guests would come to spoil her solitude.

145

The day appear'd, and all the gossip rout. O senseless Lycius! Madman! wherefore fout The silent-blessing fate, warm cloister'd hours, And show to common eyes these secret bowers ? The herd approach'd; each guest, with busy brain, 150 Arriving at the portal, gaz'd amain, And enter'd marveling : for they knew the street, Remember'd it from childhood all complete

(133) Cancelled manuscript readings, Teeming a perfume, and Teeming wing'd odours. (138) Rejected reading, wainscoated for marbled plain.

(146) In the manuscript the words came soon are struck out in favour of appears.

(150) The manuscript reads The Herd arrivd, the word arriv'd being substituted for came, and.

(152) Cancelled manuscript reading, wondring for marveling.

155

Without a gap, yet ne'er before had seen
That royal porch, that high-built fair demesne ;
So in they hurried all, maz'd, curious and keen:
Save one, who look'd thereon with eye severe,
And with calm-planted steps walk'd in austere ;
'Twas Apollonius : something too he laugh'd,
As though some knotty problem, that had daft
His patient thought, had now begun to thaw,
And solve and melt :-'twas just as he foresaw.

160

He met within the murmurous vestibule His young disciple. “ 'Tis no common rule, “Lycius,” said he, " for uninvited guest

165 “ To force himself upon you, and infest “With an unbidden presence the bright throng "Of younger friends; yet must I do this wrong, “ And you forgive me.” Lycius blush’d, and led The old man through the inner doors broad-spread; 170 With reconciling words and courteous mien Turning into sweet milk the sophist's spleen.

Of wealthy lustre was the banquet-room,
Fill'd with pervading brilliance and perfume :
Before each lucid pannel fuming stood
A censer fed with myrrh and spiced wood,

175

(163-72) This passage was an afterthought. The line following 162 in the manuscript in the first instance was

Of wealthy Lustre was the Banquet room, but this is cancelled, and lines 163-72 are interpolated, first on the back of the preceding page of the manuscript, and then rewritten on a separate leaf. (174) Cancelled reading

Fill'd with light, music, jewels, gold, perfume.

I So

Each by a sacred tripod held aloft,
Whose slender feet wide-swerv'd upon the soft
Wool-woofed carpets : fifty wreaths of smoke
From fifty censers their light voyage took
To the high roof, still mimick'd as they rose
Along the mirror'd walls by twin-clouds odorous.
Twelve sphered tables, by silk seats inspher'd,
High as the level of a man's breast rear'd
On libbard's paws, upheld the heavy gold
Of cups and goblets, and the store thrice told
Of Ceres' horn, and, in huge vessels, wine
Come from the gloomy tun with merry shine.
Thus loaded with a feast the tables stood,
Each shrining in the midst the image of a God.

185

190

When in an antichamber every guest Had felt the cold full sponge to pleasure press'd, By minist'ring slaves, upon his hands and feet, And fragrant oils with ceremony meet Pour'd on his hair, they all mov'd to the feast 195 In white robes, and themselves in order plac'd Around the silken couches, wondering Whence all this mighty cost and blaze of wealth could

spring.

Soft went the music the soft air along,
While fluent Greek a vowel'd undersong
Kept up among the guests, discoursing low
At first, for scarcely was the wine at flow;
But when the happy vintage touch'd their brains,
Louder they talk, and louder come the strains

(177) The manuscript has slender in lieu of sacred, and in the next line tripple instead of slender.

(203) Cancelled reading, Sicilian vintage.