Daphne.
By the Author of “ The White Rose of Chayleigh.”
I.
Loved of gods and loved of mortal, Daphne, by what magic pow’r1
Did you draw all brightness to you, as the sunshine draws the flow’r ?2
Was it that resistless beauty was your glorious woman’s dow’r ?3
When you lay at listless leisure by the sparkling river’s side,4
Dreaming sweetly the long noon-day in your careless girlhood’s pride ;5
Letting drift your maiden-fancies with the motion of the tide ;6
Did the rippling wavelets whisper of the love that gave you birth—7
Of the love that wholly vanquished your great goddess-mother, Earth,8
When your water-father wooed her in his blithe and buoyant mirth ?9
Did they murmur softer stories ; tell into your list’ning ear10
Of a love about you lying, yet unknown, but ever near ;11
Stirring in your soul emotions strangely swayed by hope and fear ?12
When you roved beneath the mountains, through Arcadia’s shady groves,13
Did your cheek flush bright with crimson as you heard the mated doves14
Cooing softly to each other of a thousand happy loves ?15
Did your heart ne’er hint the secret of her voice’s tender tone,16
Who amongst your young companions was the ever-favoured one ;17
Of her hand’s fond clasp; caresses kept for you, and you alone ?18
We who know the ancient story—how the king of Pisa’s heir,19
Robed in habit of a huntress, left his princely state and fare,20
All for love of Ladon’s daughter—forest-maiden, Daphne rare ;21
Smile to think how he deceived you ; how he sought and won your grace22
With his gay and courteous bearing and his dainty woman-face ;23
Joined your train of girl-attendants ; laughing followed to the chase.24
Ah, you loved him, never guessing all the meaning of your love—25
Of his passionate devotion it required no vows to prove—26
What it was that woke the feelings he alone had pow’r to move.27
All your earlier friendships faded down in Memory’s cold abyss,28
When this new endearment shrouded your whole life in wondrous bliss,29
And you knew the thrilling rapture of his long and burning kiss.30
Happy maiden, idly weaving garlands gay of joyous youth ;31
Taking all the fairest blossoms, heedless of the gath’ring ruth32
Which shall scathe the very sweetest when you find the hidden truth—33
Truth that gives the flowers their sweetness ; dyes their petals deepest gold,34
Mocking e’en the sun-god’s glory as their treasures they unfold ;35
Rousing in him envious hatred of his skilful rival bold.36
Shall Leucippus, only mortal, dare provoke immortal ire ;37
Claim the gift Apollo covets ; cross him in his fond desire ?—38
Fanning thus a smould’ring fancy into fierce and quenchless fire.39
Who may strive with powers eternal ; who may turn aside his fate ?40
Woe to him who rashly rouses one of Jove’s proud sons to hate—41
Seeks to win the luckless maiden he has chosen for his mate !42
II.
See, a long, dark stain of crimson carried down old Ladon’s stream ;43
And their blood-dyed darts of silver flashing out a lurid gleam,44
As the ruthless girl-avengers rage where they were wont to dream !45
See, a fair but lifeless body, pierced with death-wounds, floating by ;46
And a white face, still and ghastly, turned up to th’ unpitying sky !47
Ah, Leucippus, hapless lover ! did you only love to die ?48
Did your mistress then forsake you, or was she without the pow’r49
To allay the storm of anger in that dark, disastrous hour,50
When, your stratagem discovered, spears fell round you in a show’r ?51
Ah, she lost all force of action in the sudden, sweet surprise—52
As, in tremulous surrender, heart met heart without disguise,53
Answering each other’s passion through the pleading of the eyes.54
Perfect bliss, but oh, how fleeting ! one glad moment, full and bright ;55
Then the darkness closed around you, quenching ev’ry ray of light :—56
Your freed soul had passed to Hades, and her noon was lost in night.57
III.
Hark ! strange footsteps in the forest. Who is this that passes there ?58
Haughty in his god-like presence, and of all the gods most fair,59
With his noble face and stature ?— Phœbus of the golden hair.60
Hark again !— a voice entreating ; then a loud and frantic cry61
Rings out through the woodland shadows to the placid evening sky,62
Echo’d back in faintest cadence from the mountains mournfully.63
Daphne flies ; Apollo follows :— which shall win that desperate race,64
Where the hunter goads his victim like a creature of the chase,65
Calling out in her wild terror many a new, unconscious grace ?66
On she hurries, panting, breathless ; then looks back with heightened fear,67
For her merciless pursuer nearer draws, and yet more near—68
He who moved her maids to vengeance ; lost her all that made life dear.69
One more effort ! Ah, ’tis useless ! He is close upon her now,70
With his eager arms out-stretching ; lordly triumph on his brow :71
And her feet have touched the borders where her sire’s broad waters flow.72
Heav’n defend her ! Shall he triumph ; shall he gain her for his own73
Who beside that very river turned her women’s hearts to stone,74
And with cruel exultation heard her darling’s dying groan ?75
No, the gods must needs protect her ; they will hear her urgent cry :76
So she calls on them to help her—on the pow’rs of earth and sky ;77
And Olympus deigns to listen and to send a swift reply.78
IV.
Daphne, Daphne, by the river still you stand, a creature fair ;79
Safe from Phœbus’ warm caresses ; freed from human life and care ;80
Only vowed with drowsy fragrance to perfume the summer air ;81
Loved of gods and loved of mortal ; dear to hero and to sage ;82
Gracing many a victor’s temples ; gilding many a poet’s page ;83
Sacred to all high achievement ; kingliest crown of every age.84