THE waves were plashing against the lone strand, The moon had risen lately, The knight was lying upon the white sand, In vision musing greatly. The beauteous nymphs arose from the deep, Their veils around them floated; They softly approach'd, and fancied that sleep The youth's repose denoted. The plume of his helmet the first one felt, To see if perchance it would harm her; The second took hold of his shoulder belt, And handled his heavy chain armour. The third one laugh'd, and her eyes gleam'd bright, As the sword from the scabbard drew she; On the bare sword leaning, she gazed on the knight, And heartfelt pleasure knew she. The fourth one danced both here and there, And breath'd from her inmost bosom: "O would that I thy mistress were, "Thou lovely mortal blossom!" The fifth her kisses with passionate strength On the hand of the knight kept planting; The sixth one tarried, and kissed at length His lips and his cheeks enchanting. The knight was wise, and far too discreet To open his eyes midst such blisses; He let the fair nymphs in the moonlight sweet Continue their loving kisses. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NEEDLE THREADER IN NEED OF A NEEDLE by DARA WIER A NOCTURNAL UPON ST. LUCY'S DAY, BEING THE SHORTEST DAY by JOHN DONNE THE BRIDGE BUILDER by WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE NOCTURNAL SKETCH; BLANK VERSE IN RHYME by THOMAS HOOD THE TRAGICAL HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS by CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE THE CLIFF SWALLOWS by DEBRA NYSTROM THE OWL by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS |