The Wonder-Working Queen.
Romance ! O wonder-working Queen ! Romance,1
Immortal mother of the world that seems,2
Thy work alone is safe from time and chance,3
O golden melodizer of sweet dreams !4
Still, far within the haunted forest-glade,5
The demon-lover at the window sings ;6
Still Psyche lifts her lamp and looks, afraid,7
On Eros sleeping in his rose-red wings ;8
Still Lamia, laughing in the flowers undying,9
Lamia, the woman-serpent, wins her thralls ;10
Still Una’s lion at her side is lying ;11
Still Merlin at the spell of Vivian falls
;12
Still in his chariot is Achilles flying,13
And Helen still is watching on the walls.14